The Webutuck Board
of Education held their March 28, 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
William McGhee
John Perotti
Casey Swift
Also Present:
Steven D.
Schoonmaker, Superintendent
Mary Grden, School Business Administrator
Therese Trotter,
District Clerk
Absent:
Joseph Matteo
CALL TO ORDER
President Culver
called the business meeting of March 28,
2011 to order at 7:38 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following topics
were commented on by audience members:
-Staff members have
helped potentially 3 Eagle Scouts
-Teachers slated to be
cut told too early
-Compromise to find a resolution
-Superintendent told
teachers early
-Budget vote &
public comment on budget
-Vacant titles cancelled
-How does school come up
with cuts
- Did teachers have
meeting to discuss cuts
-Amount to keep programs
as is
-Hurting program for a
21 Century School
-Mother heard from son
about cuts
-Son takes Spanish
worried about French cut
-Look at reserves to
offset budget
-What foreign language
is being reduced and why
-Programming electives
available to our students
-Are electives heavy
math and science
-How practical is German
compared to French
-Language is required
for college
-French trip next year
-French historically has
full enrollment
-German regents has been
eliminated, reduces choices for students if French cut too
-Capital project
produced technology and Home and Careers rooms-
-Librarian not being
replaced; not doing justice for students
-Enrollment of Home
& Careers has grown
-Student concerned about
elective choices for next year.
- Afraid teacher’s
course will be cut, a teacher can teach one course out of their
certification
SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
The Superintendent spoke
about the most recent information on the State budget. He named a few of the items that he has heard
would not be cut i.e., pre-k aid, merging of hardware and software aid, building
aid formula will remain stable, summer programs for child with disability has
been restored, and BOCES services will remain aidable. He mentioned a couple of grants such as efficiency
in operations and academic improvement that that are options for additional
monies for the District.
The Superintendent
reviewed the new common core curriculum process in ELA and math. A number of our staff members have received training
on the new core curriculum which is significant because by law it will need to be
implemented by September 1st.
He noted another piece that is
being created is APPR which is the evaluation of teachers and administrators. This program needs to be implemented by July 1st;
however, this will need to be negotiated with the union before implementing. There is also a program for administrative
evaluation and a requirement that administrators need training to be able to do
evaluations. He noted that there is a big
focus at the state level to push requirements to lower grades as in math or
ELA. There will be higher demands and
with those will be benchmarks that will be established by an outside
company. He noted positive and negative of
testing in earlier grades. Discussion
ensued.
DISCUSSION
1. 2011-2012 Budget Discussion
The Business Manager asked if anyone had questions on the data provided in Friday’s packet. She stated we are in a holding pattern until the State makes some decision. She spoke about using reserves noting if they were to be used it would be a one-time fix. She cautioned that we should have long term plan on using reserves.
Central Hudson will be doing an audit review this coming Wednesday at no
cost to the District. The Power Authority will also be suggesting ways to help
us keep our energy cost at the lowest amount possible. Discussion ensued.
2.
The Board President had concerns regarding #4a under Business. He stated it was necessary not to exclude any entity. He would rather it not specify who the school would donate the building too. Discussion took place on the revision of the wording of #3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (which became 4 a, b, c, d) under Business.
It was also decided by the Board members that #4 (Transportation Vehicle Proposition) under Business would be separated into two propositions of one bus each.
The Business Manager asked if all members were comfortable with her recommendations on the requests for rental of space at MES. Board members were in agreement.
CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE
Mr. Herald made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda (as amended). The amendment, by Board members, revised the language of
# 3,4,5,6, and 7 under Business as discussed under Millerton Elementary building discussion. 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. Delegations - None
2. Non-Staff Communications -None
PERSONNEL
*1. Approval
of Impartial Hearing Officer
Mr. Herald made
and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:
Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board
of Education approves Robert
Briglio as the Impartial Hearing Officer, at a rate of pay not to exceed
$100.00 per hour plus expenses,
pursuant to Part 200 of New York State Commissioner Regulations.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
1. Acceptance of Federal Compliance Audit
Mr. Herald made
and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:
Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board
of Education accepts the Federal Compliance Audit dated June 30, 2010 for the
2009-2010 school year.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2. Notice of Annual Meeting Authorization
Mr. Herald 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 authorizes and
directs the District Clerk to give notice to the qualified voters of the School
District of the Annual Public Hearing on the Budget on Monday, May 9, 201 at
7:30 p.m., for the purpose of presenting the budget document for the 2010-2011
School Year and the Annual Meeting, School District Election and Vote on the
Budget to be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. Approval of Millerton Elementary as Surplus
Property
Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, the Board of Education declares Millerton Elementary School,
located at 5833 South Elm
Street, Millerton, New York as surplus property.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
4. Authorization of the following Propositions
to be placed on the ballot at the Annual Meeting of the qualified voters on May
17, 2011.
Mr. Herald made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:
2011-2012 TRANSPORTATION
VEHICLE PROPOSITION
Mr. Herald made
and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following proposition be placed on
the ballot at the Annual Meeting of the qualified voters of the
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Webutuck
Central School District, Dutchess and Columbia Counties, New York, be
authorized to (1) purchase one 65-passenger school bus at a maximum estimated
cost of $110,000 each, for an aggregate maximum estimated cost of $110,000, (2)
equipped with radios and cameras (3) expend such sum for such purposes, (4)
levy the tax necessary therefore, to be levied and collected in annual
installments in such years in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of
Education, taking into account state aid received, and (5) in anticipation of
the collection of such tax, to issue bonds and notes of the District at one
time or from time to time in the principal amount at a maximum estimated cost
of $110,000 and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following proposition be placed on
the ballot at the Annual Meeting of the qualified voters of the
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Webutuck
Central School District, Dutchess and Columbia Counties, New York, be
authorized to (1) purchase one 65-passenger school buses at a maximum estimated
cost of $110,000 each, for an aggregate maximum estimated cost of $110,000, (2)
equipped with radios and cameras (3) expend such sum for such purposes, (4)
levy the tax necessary therefore, to be levied and collected in annual
installments in such years in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of
Education, taking into account state aid received, and (5) in anticipation of
the collection of such tax, to issue bonds and notes of the District at one
time or from time to time in the principal amount at a maximum estimated cost
of $110,000 and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due.
a.) Approval of the Donation of the Millerton
Elementary Building
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Webutuck Central School
District declares the Millerton
Elementary School surplus and approves the proposition to be placed on the May
17, 2011 ballot for the donation of the real property commonly known as the
Millerton Elementary School located at 5833 South Elm Street, Millerton, New
York to the Village of Millerton, or the Town of North East or any other Public
Entity as approved by the Board.
b).
Authorization of the Creation of Bus Purchase Reserve
Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education is hereby authorized and directed to:
(1) establish a
reserve fund to be known as the Bus Purchase Reserve Fund effective July 1,
2011, the purpose of which is to finance the cost of acquisition of school
buses and vehicles, and (2) commencing with the 2011-2012 school year and in
each of the next nine fiscal
years, deposit into said Bus Purchase
Reserve Fund the amount received from the State of New York as transportation
aid, such portion of the unallocated fund balance as determined by the Board of
Education or any other amount authorized by the District voters. The ultimate amount of such Fund is
$2,000,000.00. The probable duration of
such Fund is ten (10) years.
c.) Approval of Capital Reserve Fund Transfer
Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education
approves the authorization to
transfer the remaining monies from the Bus Garage Construction Reserve Fund, to
the Bus Purchase Reserve fund.
d.) Authorization to Expend Bus Purchase Reserve
Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education
approves the authorization to:
(a) acquire school buses at a maximum aggregate cost of $220,000; (b)
expend such sums for such purpose; (c) expend from the Bus Purchase
Reserve Fund an amount not to exceed $220,000 for such purpose; (d) levy the necessary tax therefore, to be levied
and collected in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education
taking into account state aid received and amounts disbursed from the reserve
fund; and (e) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, to issue bonds and
notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount
not to exceed $220,000, and to
levy a tax to pay the interest on such obligations when due.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried
BOARD OF EDUCATION
1. A Board member
questioned the document in the Board packet on buses which led him to believe the
District would be purchasing propane buses. The Business Manager stated that that discussion
still needed to be had on the type of buses to purchase. It was noted that diesel
buses now cost more than propane buses. Discussion ensued.
A Board member also commented on the NutriKids proposal in which the convenience fee was $1.75. He felt that was high while another Board member
felt it was fair. He had concerns about
the safe and harmless liability wording on the contract. The Business Manager stated they have not
signed any documents yet and she will discuss that contract language with the
company and the District lawyer. Discussion ensued.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following topics
were commented on by audience members:
-What happens to bus garage after transferring money
-Think about type of bus we buy, stay with standard fleet
-Mr. Roccanova and Mrs. Hendricks helping student with Eagle Scout badge
-Before conclusion of cuts have to speak with teachers
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:16 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. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn the executive
session and to reconvene the public session at 11:04 pm.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Herald made and Mrs. Boyd seconded a
motion to adjourn the meeting of March 28, 2011 at 11:05 pm.
Ayes 6 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Therese M. Trotter
District Clerk