The Webutuck Board
of Education held their March 22, 2011 meeting
at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.
The following
Board members were present:
Dale Culver,
President
Joanne Boyd
Joseph Herald arrived
at 7:49 pm
Joseph Matteo
William McGhee
Casey Swift
Also Present:
Steven D.
Schoonmaker, Superintendent
Therese Trotter,
District Clerk
Absent:
John Perotti
Mary Grden, School Business Administrator
CALL TO ORDER
President Culver
called the business meeting of March 22,
2011 to order at 7:36 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following topics
were commented on by audience members:
-WTA President attended rally in
-attend Executive Session
-letter asking for open negotiations with WTA
PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS
High School
Mr. Sauer spoke about receiving
a letter of an award recognition on Bill Havranek, our Jr./Sr. High School secondary
social studies teacher. He noted he
would write about Bill’s honor in the Weekly Warrior. He spoke about the budget and in particular
AP courses versus Dutchess Community College (DCC) courses. He explained that
fifty-two Advanced Placement (AP) exams were administered last year, twenty-one
of those students scored 3, 4, or 5.
Those are not strong results and many colleges will only give credit for
the course if the score is a 4 or 5. However,
if students receive DCC college credit; those courses will transfer for credit
to colleges. The Board President asked
for more detailed information to be presented to the Board for them to review.
Mr. Wood announced that
nine out of ten girls on the basketball team made high honor roll and four out
of eight boys on the basketball team made high honor roll. He congratulated them all. He also announced
the Scholar Athletes for this year which are Alura Penny and Andrew Schultz.
SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
DISCUSSION
1. District Calendar
The Superintendent explained the impact of the additional snow days used on our District Calendar. The give back days will be April 14 and April 15, 2011 which will now be full school days.
2. 2011-2012 School Budget
Discussion
The Superintendent presented his preliminary budget for next year. Currently, the 2010-2011 budget is $19,780,957. The cost to roll over the exact same program to next year will cost the District $20,826,792; an increase of $1,045,835. The Board and Superintendent continued to work on the budget which resulted in reductions that brought the overall budget increase to 1.32% with the new proposed budget of $20,081,763. This budget yields a tax levy of 2%. The reductions came in health insurance premiums, retirements, BOCES services, CAPE, mentor stipends, contractual and salaries and benefits totaling $745,029. The tax levy increase is $237,765 or 2%. The Superintendent also spoke about the current status of the Albany budget and proposals that are out there.
The Superintendent explained the decrease in the health insurance expense for this year. Webutuck budgeted for a 5% increase and after the recent DEHIC meeting it now stands at 2.5% increase. Discussion ensued.
CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda (as amended). Mrs. Boyd noted changes for the minutes. It was also noted that effective date for #4 under Personnel should read March 23. 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 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
CLERK’S REPORT
*1. Approval of Minutes for February 7, and February 14, 2010 and March 14, 2011 Board meetings.
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following minutes (stated above) as submitted:
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
2. Delegations - None
3. Non-Staff Communications - None
PERSONNEL
*1. Approval of Tenure Recommendations for
Teacher
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education does hereby grant tenure to the following teachers:
Teacher Tenure Area Effective
Date
Jean Roccanova Elementary
Reading August 31, 2011
Karen Rubin Special
Education August 31,
2011
Damian Whittaker Social
Studies August 31,
2011
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2.
Extra-Curricular
Appointment for the 2010-2011 School Year
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift 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:
Rebecca
Knapp Girls
Modified Softball
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*3. Support Staff Resignation
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the
Superintendent, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby accepts the
following Support Staff Resignation:
Herbert
Day Monitor
Effective:
March 18, 2011
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*4. Substitute Support Staff
Appointment
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift 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 appointment:
Herbert Day Substitute
Monitor
Effective:
March 23, 2011 $11.29/hour
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
1. Approval
of 2011-2012 Webutuck
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Board of Education hereby approves the 2011-2012 Webutuck
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Amend 2010-2011 District Calendars
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:
Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED the Webutuck
Board of Education amends the 2010-2011 District Calendar for the month of
April only. Thursday, April 14 and Friday,
April 15, 2011 will be a full day of school.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
1. Changed BOCES dates
Superintendent explained the changes for the BOCES vote from April 19 to April 26.
Public Comment
The following topics
were commented on by audience members:
-Health Insurance
BOARD OF EDUCATION
1. A Board member asked if there were any other
avenues to search in regards to building a new School District sign on Route
22. Discussion ensued.
2. A Board member asked about the possibility of
a referendum to put to the voters regarding the $300,000 that has been encumbered
for a number of years for a new transportation garage. Discussion ensued.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. McGhee made and Mrs. Swift seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 8:45 pm for the
purpose of discussing the employment history of a particular person or persons.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION
Mr. made and Mr. seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and
to reconvene the public session at 9:42 pm.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. made and Mr. seconded a motion to
adjourn the meeting of March 22, 2011 at 9:43 pm.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Therese M. Trotter
District Clerk