The Webutuck Board
of Education held their November 1, 2010 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck
High School Library.
The following
Board members were present:
Dale Culver,
President
Joseph Herald arrived
at 7:45 pm
William McGhee
John Perotti
Casey Swift
Also Present:
Steven D.
Schoonmaker, Superintendent
Mary Grden, School
Business Manager
Therese Trotter,
District Clerk
Absent:
Joanne Boyd
Joseph Matteo
CALL TO ORDER
President Culver
called the business meeting of November 1, 2010 to order at 7:37 p.m.
Presentation by Jeff Zimar: Propane Gas Powered School Busses
Mr. Zimar is a consultant with New York Bus Sales. He spoke about the pros
and cons of Propane School Buses. He listed websites up on a
Power Point presentation for anyone who wants to learn more information about
propane school buses. He explained that LP
is not compressed natural gas. It is a byproduct
of the refining of natural gas domestically produced. It is very clean fuel. The key to this system is that the propane is liquid
from the fuel tank all the way to the gas tank.
They have eliminated the mixture of air and gas and eliminated cold air
and moisture problems. Safety has been a
misunderstanding or misconception because people think a propane school bus
would be a bomb read to blow up. He
stated that a gas bus is more dangerous on the road than a propane bus. The tanks on a propane bus cannot be split
open but because of the size of the tank he noted that they are limited to
seventy-two gallon tanks. The average
mileage is four to six and it has a two hundred and forty mile range on a
tank. He noted the advantages: due to of
the shape of the tank, salt and dirt could not sit on the tank because they are
cylindrical and diesel is the least ignitable, then gasoline then propane. Mr. Zimar reported that the pad and power for
the propane bus would be what the school is responsible for. He also went over fuel cost comparison noting
that the Vtech credit for 2011 is tied up in Congress. Lastly Mr. Zimar summarized the pros over
diesel buses which are: less expensive, cleaner burning, greenest of the green,
and does not require particulate filters or traps. The cons are: filling takes longer and filters
should be checked depends on how clean your fuel is. The Board President stated that they most
likely would not look at purchasing a propane bus for at least a couple of
years due to the economic condition we are currently in.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following topics
were commented on by audience members:
-student questioned Board
about education at the school
DISCUSSION
1. Board Goals
The Board President asked for any further changes for the Board goals. A Board member stated the goals should be succinct and concise and #1 thing is the need for addressing difficulties and maintaining excellence in this District. The Board President spoke about the fiscal focus for the District in the next several years and he added that there should be a goal that emphasizes fiscal restraint due to the economic state of New York State and the local economy. Discussion ensued.
2. Wall Mural
The Superintendent spoke about the program in Grades 4-6 called Reading Around the World that will begin the first of the year. The students will begin in Amenia and each class will travel to different countries based on the number of pages they read as a class. The program includes using math, geography, topography, culture etc. The music department will provide music and the gourmet foods class will make foods from the different cultures and countries the classes visit. The bonus of this program is students will be reading more. A mural of the world will be painted across from the High School library on the wall by the art class.
The German class would also like to paint a mural in the German Class room. The Board approved of both murals.
CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE
Mrs. Swift made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda as amended.
The amendment by the Superintendent called for removing #1 (only Boys Modified Basketball) under Personnel for further discussion in Executive Session. 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. Delegations - None
2. Non-Staff Communications - None
PERSONNEL
*1. Extra-Curricular
Appointments for the 2010-2011 School Year
Mrs. Swift 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
following extra-curricular appointments for the 2010-2011 school year:
Dana Scarpa Girls’ JV
Basketball
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2. Substitute Support Staff
Appointments
Mrs. Swift 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 following Substitute Support
Staff appointments:
Ronald Piper Substitute
Bus Driver
Effective: November 2,
2010 $16.80/hour
Joseph Murtaugh Substitute
Bus Driver
Effective: November 2,
2010 $16.80/hour
Kathleen Sullivan Substitute
Monitor
Effective: November 2,
2010 $11.29/hour
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*3. Revised Leave of Absence
Mrs. Swift 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 following revised unpaid Leave
of Absence
Jennifer Jaffe Elementary
Education
Effective: September 1, 2010- November 10, 2010
(Original Effective
dates: September 1, 2010 – October 8, 2010)
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*4. Support Staff Resignation
Mrs. Swift made and Mr. Perotti 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:
Gladys
Chapman Custodial
Worker
Effective:
November 5, 2010
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*5. Support Staff Resignation
Mrs. Swift made and Mr. Perotti 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 for the purpose of retirement:
Doris
Ostrander Custodian
Effective: December 30, 2010
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
1. Approval of Budget Transfers
Mrs. Swift made and Mr. Herald seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the attached budget transfer schedule #4 and #5 over five thousand dollars ($5,000) per Board resolution dated 7/6/10 .
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
2. Approval of Surplus Equipment
Mrs. Swift made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:
The President of
the Board asked that the language in the resolution add “to be put out to bid”
Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board
of Education approves the following surplus computer equipment (see attached)
to be put out to bid:
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. A Board Member reported that Marilyn Najeck had
contacted her and asked to use the Millerton School building for approximately ten
days in December for Adopt a Family program.
They could use the space to collect things for the families. They will have to fill out a Building Use Form
and make sure they have insurance.
4. The Board President and School Business
Manager toured through WES and will continue with the different buildings to develop
a punch list and bring to the Facilities Committee. discuss in the
SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
The Superintendent reported on the boys and girls sectional playoff
results. He also explained that there
was a break in computer line to WES, they were down for two days but we are back
up currently. Other topics he mentioned:
A Board member spoke about the Fresh Town program that allows businesses
to collect points by purchasing items; other people can donate their points to
businesses also. The District has 4
million points at Fresh Town. School
Business Manager has received an email from
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no comments from the public.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. McGhee made and Mrs. Swift seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:14 pm for the
purpose of discussing the employment history of a particular person or persons and the item
pulled off the consent agenda.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION
Mrs. Swift made and Mr. Herald seconded a motion to adjourn the executive
session and to reconvene the public session at 10:14 pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mrs. Swift made and Mr. McGhee seconded
a motion to adjourn the meeting of November 1, 2010 at 10:15 pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Therese M. Trotter
District Clerk