The Webutuck Board
of Education held their October 18, 2010 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck
High School Library.
The following
Board members were present:
Dale Culver,
President
Joanne Boyd
Joseph Matteo
John Perotti
Casey Swift
Also Present:
Steven D.
Schoonmaker, Superintendent
Mary Grden, School
Business Manager
Therese Trotter,
District Clerk
Absent:
Joseph Herald
William McGhee
CALL TO ORDER
President Culver
called the business meeting of October 18, 2010 to order at 7:39 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following topics
were discussed by audience members:
-fill nurse position
PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS
Mr. Sauer reported on
the week since he has been back. He
spoke to each class from Grades 9-12 to discuss language and dress code
expectations. He will meet with the
class officers once a month. Mr. Sauer
discussed the students in the GED program.
The students stated they had made mistakes when in school and they got
behind, the GED teacher feel they are well prepared at this time and will be
testing sometime in May. Mr. Sauer plans
to reach out to dropouts so they are aware of the GED program opportunity here
at Webutuck. Lastly, he mentioned he
would like to increase school spirit and school pride.
Mrs. McEnroe agreed with
Mr. Sauer that the school environment is pretty calm overall. She commented that homecoming week was enjoyable
because the whole complex Grades 4-12 participated and it was a nice feeling. Mrs. McEnroe reported the Elementary BET met
and will have finalized goals in the next couple of weeks. The BET is looking at instructional practices
in the classroom, co-teaching models, NYS scores as well as local assessments. Grades 4-6 are not moving to the earlier time
this year but they are still working towards a better schedule. Board
member asked if discussion for the earlier start time for next year is still ongoing. The Principal did say they are still
reviewing the change for the future.
DISCUSSION
1. Field Trip Form
The Superintendent spoke about field trip form and process. The process needs to be more detailed and the form previously was only a Transportation Request form. The updated form is in the Board packet. The Superintendent asked for the Board’s approval to use the form. The Board members agreed.
2. Board Goals
A Board member commented that most of the draft goals pointed to the secondary level. A point was made that while aligning with State standards was prudent, the District should look towards mastery and not just meeting State standards. A completion date was discussed and decided that by the next Board meeting the Board should approve the goals. Any questions or comments can be sent to the Superintendent or Board President.
3. Elementary Report Cards
The K-6 report card format is now consistent throughout the elementary grades. The Superintendent would like the Board’s approval to move forward in using the report cards. It was mentioned that Principal can get feedback after the report card goes out, on user friendliness for both teachers and parents. The Board approved of using the report cards. Discussion ensued.
4. Educational
The Board had previously discussed how to better gather information and communicate with the Community. John Oates had used the Educational Summit at the different districts he had worked for and found it successful. The Summit allowed development of advisory groups that can give feed back on various topics and gather community input. The Board agreed that an Educational Summit would be advantageous. The Superintendent spoke further on a more informal forum with parents that could take place once a month at the school on a Saturday in the morning with coffee and donuts. The administrators and Superintendent are interested in hosting a forum such as this.
CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda as amended.
The amendment by the Superintendent called for removing Sean Hosier from #1 under Personnel and Mary Grden called for removing #3 under Personnel for further 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 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
CLERK’S REPORT
*1. Approval of Minutes for October 4, 2010 Board meeting.
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to approve the minutes as submitted.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2. Acceptance of Financial Reports as Submitted
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to accept the Financial Reports as submitted.
Treasurer’s
Report for the month ending August, September
Comprehensive
Budget Status Report ending August, September
Comprehensive
Revenue Status Report ending August, September
Warrants #16 – 22
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. Delegations - None
4. Non-Staff Communications - None
PERSONNEL
*1. Extra-Curricular
Appointments for the 2010-2011 School Year
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo 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 appointments for the 2010-2011 school year:
Christine
Henderson Student
Council Co-Advisor
Anna
Duffy Student
Council Co-Advisor
Salvatore
Rosa Varsity
Boys’ Basketball
Rebecca
Knapp Girls’
Junior Varsity Cheerleading
Michelle
Adrian Girls’
Varsity Cheerleading
Trisha Lawrence Girls’
Varsity Basketball
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2. Substitute Support Staff Appointments
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo 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:
Helen Brandt Substitute
Bus Driver
Effective: October 19,
2010 $16.80/hour
Jennifer Hafner Substitute
Teacher Aide/Assistant
Effective: October 19,
2010 $11.96/hour
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. Revised Leave of Absence
This item was pulled from the consent agenda for further discussion in
Executive Session.
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education hereby approves the following revised unpaid Leave
of Absence.
Jennifer Jaffe Elementary Education
Effective: October 12, 2010- June 30, 2010
(Original Effective
dates: September 1, 2010 – October 8, 2010)
*4. Substitute Instructional Appointments
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo 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:
Carl Hood Substitute
Teacher
Effective: October 15, 2010 $90.00/day
Jennifer Hafner Substitute
Teacher
Effective: October 15, 2010 $90.00/day
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*5. Amendment of Support Staff
Appointment
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the
following support staff amendment for the 2010-2011 school year:
Trini Stevens Substitute
Cleaner
Effective: October 5, 2010 $13.36/hour
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
1.
Approval of NECC Lease
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 approves the NECC Lease between Northeast (Webutuck) Central
School District and Northeast Community Center for the 2010-2011 school year
and directs the Board President to sign the approved lease.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
2. Authorization for Tax Adjustment
Mr. Matteo made
and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:
Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, WHEREAS, the District has received an Application for Corrected Tax
Roll for the Year 2010 for property located within the
Joan Williams
- regarding property owned on 278
Sawchuck Rd. Box 245, in the Town of Millerton, described as Grid No. 133889-7172-00-935019-0000,
on the basis that a clerical error was made, incorrect assessment by reason of
exemption amount incorrectly calculated on roll. The taxes should be based on assessed value
of $58,210 instead of $192,310. The
taxes levied were $2,388.66 and should be $723.02; and
WHEREAS, the Director and Investigator of
Dutchess County Real Property Tax Service have determined, that a clerical
error was made and the assessed value should be changed, as described above,
and has recommended that the Applications for Corrected Tax Roll should be
approved; and
WHEREAS, we have examined such application
and the
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Application for Corrected Tax Roll
for the Year 2010 be approved, that the tax
rolls be corrected to reflect the correct assessment, as set forth above, and
that notice of approval of such application and a corrected tax bill be issued
to the applicant reflecting the change in assessment and taxes to be paid.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. Authorization for Tax Adjustment
Mr. Matteo made
and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:
Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, WHEREAS, the District has received an Application for Corrected Tax
Roll for the Year 2010 for property located within the
Richard A. & Linda M. Da Gasta - regarding property owned on 24 Mountain View Road, in the Town of Amenia,
described as Grid No. 132000-7168-00-318118-0000, on the basis that a clerical
error was made, incorrect assessment by reason of assessment amount incorrectly
calculated on roll. The taxes should be
based on assessed value of $329,110 instead of $368,910. The taxes levied were $4,398.90 and should be
$3,924.32; and
WHEREAS, the Director and Investigator of
Dutchess County Real Property Tax Service have determined, that a clerical
error was made and the assessed value should be changed, as described above,
and has recommended that the Applications for Corrected Tax Roll should be
approved; and
WHEREAS, we have examined such application
and the
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Application for Corrected Tax Roll
for the Year 2010 be approved, that the tax
rolls be corrected to reflect the correct assessment, as set forth above, and
that notice of approval of such application and a corrected tax bill be issued
to the applicant reflecting the change in assessment and taxes to be paid.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
4.
Acceptance of Donation
Mrs. Swift made
and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:
Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board
of Education hereby accepts the generous donation from H.G. Page and Sons, Inc.
to the
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
5.
Acceptance of 2009-2010 Audit
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 accepts the June 30, 2010 District Financial Audit as
presented by Sickler, Torchia, Allen and Churchill for the 2009 – 2010 school
year.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
1. Next week is School Board Recognition
Week; the Superintendent stated that the public does not necessarily realize
the amount of volunteer time Board members put in. They deserve our gratitude for their service
and we thank them.
He announced that the Instructional Council will attend a Curriculum
Workshop this week with Heidi Hayes Jacobs who is the preeminent curriculum
person in the Nation. The Superintendent
went on to say that November 12 is our next Superintendent Conference where the
focus will be technology updates, state mandates and professional development.
He stated that he incorrectly reported to the Board about the Vadir
Report; the District has had a significant decrease in the number of what they
call violent incidence not an increase as he first mentioned. Although, he pointed out that New York State
calls a kindergartener pushing another kindergartener a violent incident.
The Superintendent introduced Andrew Schultz as our student representative
for the Board of Education for this year.
The Board President and Superintendent and Board members welcomed him.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
1. Fingerprinting update: the
Board President asked if potential volunteers were notified that they no longer
have to be fingerprinted. The Superintendent
explained that volunteers needed fingerprints initially but due to a log jam at
NYSED they no longer do. It was
suggested we send that information out over a Key Communicator.
A Board member attended a Dutchess County School Board Association (DCSBA)
meeting. She reported that it was very
informative meeting and they asked why we had not joined this year. She also reported that there was a comment
that we tend to isolate ourselves; Board members felt that was not true. At the meeting she received Superintendent Evaluation
tools for the Board to look at.
It was stated that Board members needed to approve obtaining another
entity to come in to review the District cafeteria program. The Board agreed that it would be a good
idea, the School Business Manager will look into costs.
It was mentioned that not enough fresh food from the garden came to the
kitchen. One of the reasons why fresh food didn’t get
to the kitchen is the growing season. Mr.
Perotti reiterated that the garden should be tied to the FFA or if Mr. Roccanova
is the liaison, the technology class should be tied to the garden.
Discussion was had about there being no surplus bids relative to the stoves
however; a community member did need a stove and put in a request for it. The School Business Manager did not see the
request. The Board President will follow
up tomorrow and get the request to the Business Manager to act on.
Board President spoke about working with Board members and Board
Recognition Week.
The Board President spoke about recent issues on athletic conduct. He stated that those involved all know we are
trying to teach from it and we are working on it however, this is not
acceptable. Going forward we are trying
to do better.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following topics
were commented on by audience members:
-nurse here third
meeting asking for additional nurse decision
-athletic Trainer comes
at 1 or 2 pm
-state always changes
information medically and educationally
-Code of Conduct for
athletes and should be for coaches
-No JV coaches for
basketball
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Perotti made and Mrs. Swift seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:00 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. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift seconded a motion to adjourn the executive
session and to reconvene the public session at 10:40 pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mrs. Swift made and Mr. Matteo seconded a
motion to adjourn the meeting of October 18, 2010 at 10:41 pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried
Respectfully submitted,
Therese M. Trotter
District Clerk