The Webutuck Board
of Education held their March 14, 2011 meeting
at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.
The following
Board members were present:
Dale Culver,
President
Joseph Matteo
William McGhee
John Perotti
Casey Swift
Also Present:
Steven D. Schoonmaker, Superintendent
Mary Grden, School Business Administrator
Therese Trotter,
District Clerk
Absent:
Joanne Boyd
Joseph Herald
CALL TO ORDER
President Culver
called the business meeting of March 14,
2011 to order at 7:41 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following are
comments made by audience members:
-Master Class Schedule
and Budget
-Administrator
with no student contact
-Effect
of budget on Special Education
program
Presentation: Robert Meade BOCES Budget
Mr. Meade explained what
BOCES is and talked about the BOCES budget.
He is Webutuck School District’s representative on the Board at BOCES (Board
of Cooperation Educational Services BOCES).
There are seven trustees responsible for the vision of shared services
for the Dutchess County public schools.
He noted the most common
shared services which are special education, classes shared between districts
and career and technical education. They
also provide shared maintenance, print shop and offer adult education services. He explained that there are three pieces to
the budget; administrative, capital and the third piece is everything
else. The Administrative budget is voted
on directly by the Districts, everything else is in support of the programs
that are being purchased by those districts.
The vote on the BOCES budget and the election of two trustees will take
place on Tuesday, April 26th.
Mr. Meade went on to say
that including the part of which we have no control, retiree health costs, the
charge is going to be around approximately $100,000 this year He explained that
this is pure administration, facilities cost, and retiree health cost. Vote on just under $70,000. The Board President questioned Mr. Meade
about the capital project that was recently voted down and if BOCES was voting
on that in the near future. Mr. Meade
stated that presently BOCES is negotiating rental cost at a favorable
rate. He also explained that BOCES is
still discussing the budget in three principal venues; brainstorming between business
manager’s at monthly meetings, at Chief School Officer’s monthly meetings, and
lastly at the County School Board Association that get together monthly. Discussion ensued.
PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS
Elementary
Mrs. McEnroe reported
that One Book One School just kicked off this past Friday with an assembly and
they integrated technology with an interactive robot online. For the past three years Grades K-3 have
participated in the One Book One School program, where all students and staff read
the same book and discuss the content with each other. The book this year is Wonderful flight to
the Mushroom Plant.
Jr./Sr. High School
Mr. Sauer reported that Report
Card Pick-up Night takes place tomorrow night beginning at 5:30 pm. The German Club is offering dinner. He also
commented on the play “Fiddler On the Roof” that the school presented to the
public this past weekend. It was a huge
success and the cast did an excellent job.
They sold out every night.
Mr. Sauer also reported
that the Dean of Students seems to be working well. Mr. Sauer attended the CAPE Conference last
Friday, where they discussed the 40 Developmental Assets, a philosophical
program. Several districts in the area already
have adopted these assets and Mr. Sauer would like to implement the assets at
Webutuck.
SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
The Superintendent reported he is dealing with new
State mandates such as the Common Core Standards in ELA and Math. Webutuck will need to do work in curriculum
in those subjects for them to be implemented in September. He has been working on the APPR (Annual
Personnel Professional Review), for teacher and administrator evaluations based
on the new teaching standards that have just come out. They have been spending time understanding
those new teaching standards such as what qualifies as excellence, minimal competency,
needs improvement, etc. It will make evaluations
much more thorough then they have been in the past. The Superintendent explained the timeline of
APPR to the Board which he noted had minimal specifics from the State at this
point.
Race to the Top – The District has received an
allotment of money and part of that process includes having a team. Webutuck has joined with most of districts in
the county as a cooperative team that BOCES will coordinate. Training for the cooperative team begins in
July. The RTTT award totaled just under
$30,000, the District will only be able to use $2,800 over four years.
The District Leadership Team (DLT) has seventeen
interested volunteers that will meet this week for the first time.
Presently, the District has been working on 21 Century
skills facilitated by the Instructional Council. The District had Heidi Hayes Jacobs present at
Superintendent’s Conference Day. She is renowned
in her curriculum work for 21 Century learning.
Several teachers have sent the Superintendent exhibits of student using
technologies for 21 Century learning. The
new instructional techniques being used in the classroom are great.
Finance Committee – Mr. Matteo reported on
the Committee which met before the Board meeting tonight. They had continued discussions of additions
and subtractions on the upcoming budget and their impact on the students. They will meet again next Monday night 4:00 –
6:00 pm and again on Tuesday night at 6:30 pm.
Mr. Matteo invited all Board members again to
attend these meetings if they can.
DISCUSSION
1. Building Use
The Business Manger reported to the Board that there were a couple of red flags on the building use process that caught her attention. One program flyer stated that it was charging an amount to participants. The Business Manager has not been signing off on these forms per a directive from a former administrator. The Business Manager wanted to be sure that proper insurance was in place and what was happening with the money being charged. A baseball clinic, which has run for the past five years, is taking place presently; the money for the clinic is collected and given to the Booster Club to be used for baseball. The individuals running the clinic were under the impression that the school is sponsoring this clinic which translates to them being covered by our insurance. Another program that is presently using our building was sponsored by Town of Amenia but the Town ceased sponsoring the program, however the program continued using our building with no insurance and collecting monies.
The individuals running the Baseball Clinic explained how the clinic worked for the last five years and that the Booster Club had previously sponsored it. The Business Manager will look into if the Booster Club is listed as an entity on our insurance policy. The Board will approve the Business Manager having final approval of all building use requests.
Lastly, Jenny Hansell contacted the Business Manager to question what the Board is looking at with NECC renting space next year at MES. Ms. Hansell suggested maybe a month to month rent. The Business Manager noted there are other individuals that are looking at renting space at MES as well as the American Legion who is interested. She will be in contact with those individuals for further information.
CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda. Mr. McGhee asked questions about a Substitute under personnel. A consent agenda is a single vote, which approves all asterisked items. Board policy (#008a) prohibits discussion of consent agenda items. Asterisked items can be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion by any one Board member.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
CLERK’S REPORT
*1. Acceptance of Financial Reports as Submitted
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following Financial Reports as submitted:
Treasurer’s Report for the month ending January
Comprehensive Budget Status Report ending January
Comprehensive
Revenue Status Report ending January
Warrants #51-60
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
2. Delegations
3. Non-Staff Communications
PERSONNEL
*1. Instructional Substitute Leave Replacement Appointments
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Instructional Substitute
Leave Replacement appointments:
Danielle Weckesser Substitute
Leave Replacement
Effective:
approx. Feb. 22, 2011-May 16, 2011 Art
(M. Molloy)
Jason Gray Substitute
Leave Replacement
Effective:
approx. Mar. 7, 2011- April 25, 2011 Elementary
(Margaret Brizzie)
Corinna Deigan Substitute
Leave Replacement
Effective:
approx. Mar. 3, 2011- June 24, 2011 Elementary (Jamie Quaranto)
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2. Substitute Instructional Appointments
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Substitute
Instructional appointments:
Margaret Runge Substitute
Teacher
Effective: March 15, 2011 $85/day
Louis Simmons Substitute
Teacher
Effective: March 15, 2011 $75/day
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*3. Substitute Support Staff
Appointments
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Substitute Support
Staff appointments:
Kenneth Birdsall Substitute
Bus Driver
Effective: March 15, 2011 $16.80/hour
Vicky Couglar Substitute
Food Service Helper
Effective: March 15, 2011 $10.69/hour
Louis Simmons Substitute
Teacher Aide/Assistant
Effective: March 15,
2011 $11.96/hour
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*4. Instructional Resignations
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the
Instructional Resignations, of the following individuals:
David
Friedmann Special
Education Teacher
Effective: August 30, 2011
Julie
Taft Guidance
Counselor
Effective: June 30, 2011
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*5.
Extra-Curricular
Appointment for the 2010-2011 School Year
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the
following extra-curricular appointment for the 2010-2011 school year:
Barbara
Riley Student
Data Coordinator
Stipend:
$1,500
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
6. Amend
Extra-Curricular Appointment
Mr. Matteo made and Mr. Perotti
seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education hereby approves the amendment of mentor as follows:
Susan Harrington (was
David Reagon) Robert
Bredow Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
7. Support Staff Resignation
Mr. Matteo made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Board members stated thanks for Mrs. Place’s years
of service.
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the
Support Staff Resignation, for the purpose of retirement of the following
individual:
Carol
Place Food
Service Helper
Effective: March 31, 2011
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
*1. Committee on Special Education
Monthly Reports
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of
Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby accepts
the Committee on Special Education report for February 2011, prepared by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on
Pre-School Education and by the Webutuck Central School District Committee
Special Education.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
1. Authorization for Tax Adjustments
Mr. McGhee made
and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:
WHEREAS, by Order
of Honorable James V. Brands, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of
Dutchess, dated December 16, 2010, in the matter of Application for Refund of
Taxes for the 2010 assessment years were
adjusted in favor of petitioner, Amenia Sand & Gravel Co. Inc., for
property owned in the Town of Amenia, in the Webutuck Central School District,
Tax Parcel No. 132000-7267-00-325320-0000,132000-7267-00-335155-0000,
132000-7267-00-264108-0000, &
132000-7165-00-572374-0000 said reductions in assessment.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School
Tax Collector is hereby authorized to issue a refund for the 2010-2011 school
year, on Tax Parcel No. 132000-7267-00-325320-0000, said taxes should be based
on assessed value of $310,755 instead of $382,000. The taxes levied were $4,554.98 and should be
$3,705.45.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School
Tax Collector is hereby authorized to issue a refund for the 2010-2011 school
year on Tax Parcel No. 132000-7267-00-335155-0000, should be based on
assessed value of $1,187,606 instead of
$2,750,000. The taxes levied were $32,791.08
and should be $14,161.05.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School
Tax Collector is hereby authorized to issue a refund for the 2010-2011 school
year on Tax Parcel No. 132000-7267-00-264108-0000, should be based on assessed
value of $38,754 instead of $95,000. The
taxes levied were $1,132.78 and should be $462.10.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School
Tax Collector is hereby authorized to issue a refund for the 2010-2011 school
year on Tax Parcel No. 132000-7165-00-572374-0000 , should be based on assessed
value of $781,160 instead of $1,300,000.
The taxes levied were $15,501.24 and should be $9,314.58.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED, that the Business Administrator is hereby authorized to correct
the 2010 assessments to reflect such
valuation reductions, with a notation in the margin, opposite said entries that
the corrections are by authorization of the above-referenced Order; and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School
Treasurer is hereby authorized to refund any overpayments of school taxes for
the above school year, said refund in the amount of $ 26,336.90 to Amenia Sand
& Gravel Inc. as stated in the agreement and reduce the tax certiorari reserve by said amount.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
2.
Approval of Business Manager Authorization
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:
Mr. Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board
of Education authorizes Mary Grden, Business Manager,
to sign all Building Use form requests for final approval.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. Approval of Automated External Defibrillator Program
Mrs. Swift made
and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:
All public
entities are mandated to have AED and a policy/process of updating and who
administers AEDs, training on use of AED etc.
We spoke about training staff on one of the make-up days. Discussion ensued.
Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of
Education hereby approves the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
1. The Board
President asked for a moment to reflect two tragedies that have local
connections. Zach Cuddebach
who was killed in Germany and a police officer killed in Poughkeepsie saving a
child.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following topics
were commented on by audience members:
-Mary Hendricks and John Roccanova working with
eagle scouts – good role models
-Domestic Violence
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. McGhee made and Mrs. Swift seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:30 pm for the
purpose of discussing the employment history of a particular person or persons.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded a
motion to adjourn the executive session and to reconvene the public session at 9:42
pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Perotti made
and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to adjourn the
meeting of March 14, 2011 at 10:59 pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Therese M. Trotter
District Clerk