The Webutuck Board of Education held their November 15, 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 Herald

Joseph Matteo

John Perotti

Casey Swift

 

Also Present:

Steven D. Schoonmaker, Superintendent

Mary Grden, School Business Manager

Therese Trotter, District Clerk

 

Absent:

William McGhee

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Culver called the business meeting of November 15, 2010 to order at 7:39 p.m.  

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

-personnel issues in exec session

 

PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS

Principal McEnroe reported that Wednesday is Parent Conference day.  AlertNow was used to send out a reminder to parents.  Thursday is WES’s annual Grandparent’s Day.  The response has been wonderful, over 300 grandparents that have RSVP.  The most we have had in years.  The Wellness Committee meeting took place last month.  Drug and Alcohol the Board suggested as an additional focus for the Wellness Committee.

 

Principal Sauer reported that soccer season has concluded.  It was the best season in twenty years.  He stated that it was great that we were able to provide two chartered buses for spectators.  He commented that Superintendent’s Conference Day focused on staff and how to move forward positively.  He feels that student morale is increasing.  This Thursday is Report Card pick-up.  An Alert Now will be going out as a reminder.  Lastly, he reported that the dance company Nego Gato will perform for the 7 -1 2 grade students tomorrow.  The Arts in Education program funded this assembly.  Rachel’s Challenge follow-up meeting is being scheduled in the near future.

 

DISCUSSION

1.  Youth Board

The Superintendent explained that the NECC would like to use MES to operate a program designed for teens and young adults who have dropped out of school.  They would complete their education and also train for careers.  The Board President would like to know the fiscal impact for the District.  Other Board members questioned liability insurance and what the construction training lab would consist of.  Board members were concerned with liability.  The Business Manager will research the program further and bring information back to the Board.  A Board member stated the District can provide a provisional letter of commitment which would allow NECC to apply for the grant.  Further discussion was had on Webutuck’s GED program.  A Board member asked what the maximum number of students that can be allowed in the Youth Build program.  Discussion ensued.

 

2.  Board Goals

The President asked if any member had any changes.  There was an addition per the Board President which is number six on the document.  It was decided that the goals would be for 2010-2011 and not through 2013. 

 

Board members asked that the climate survey be done sooner than later possibly completed by March 1, 2011 and wording to that effect inserted to the goals.  Discussion was had about when to implement the survey and whether it was tied to the Educational Forum.  Discussion ensued.

 

3.  Hazardous/Universal Waste Management Procedure

The School Business Manager spoke to Mike Needham of Needham Risk Management and there is a requirement that the District needs this or we would be out of compliance.  Discussion ensued.

 

CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE

Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda as amended.

The amendment called by Mr. Herald called for renumbering the personnel items; the second #2 moves to #3 etc.  Mrs. Swift 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    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

CLERK’S REPORT

1.  Acceptance of Financial Reports as Submitted

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following Financial Reports as submitted:

Treasurer’s Report for the month ending October

Comprehensive Budget Status Report ending October

           Comprehensive Revenue Status Report ending October

            Warrants #23-36

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  Delegations - None

3.  Non-Staff Communications - None

 

PERSONNEL

*1. Extra-Curricular Appointments for the 2010-2011 School Year

Mrs. Boyd 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 appointments for the 2010-2011 school year:

            Susan Pomeisl                                     Class of 2017 Co-Advisor

            Mari –Ann Hoke                                 Class of 2017 Co-Advisor

            Andre Lassuer                                     Modified Girls’ Basketball Coach

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

           

*2.  Extra-Curricular Appointments for the 2010-2011 School Year

Mrs. Boyd 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 appointments for the 2010-2011 school year pending approval of their certification of their First Aid courses:

            Susan Pomeisl                                     Modified Boys’ Basketball Co-Coach

            Daniel Hart                                         Modified Boys’ Basketball Co-Coach                                   Ayes    6            Nays    0          The motion carried.

                                               

*3.  Substitute Support Staff Appointments

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 Substitute Support Staff appointments:

            Ruben Long                                                    Substitute Cleaner

            Effective: November 8, 2010                         $13.36/hour

 

            Susan Herald                                                   Substitute Food Service Helper

            Effective: November 16, 2010                       $10.69/hour

 

*4.  Support Staff Appointment

Mrs. Boyd 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 Support Staff appointment:

            Bonnie Mead                                                  Bus Driver

            Effective: November 16, 2010                       $16.87/hour as per CSEA

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

 

*5.  Support Staff Resignation

Mrs. Boyd 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:

            Lucinda Williams                                            Monitor

            Effective: November 2, 2010

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

*6.  Substitute Instructional Appointments

Mrs. Boyd 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 Instructional appointments:

            Avery Rathjen                                                 Substitute Teacher

            Effective:  November 16, 2010                      $90.00/day

 

            Jonathon Megna                                              Substitute Teacher

            Effective:  November 16, 2010                      $90.00/day

 

Deborah Rost                                                  Substitute Teacher

            Effective:  November 16, 2010                      $90.00/day

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

           

*7.  Position Authorizations

Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that for the school year 2010-2011 the School Business Manager, Mary Grden, shall be appointed to the position as indicated, at no additional compensation,  and she shall be authorized to act on the Board's behalf in said positions:

            Dutchess County Workmen’s Compensation Board Trustee

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

1. Committee on Special Education Monthly Reports

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Swift seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby accepts the Committee on Special Education report for October 2010, prepared by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Pre-School Education and by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Special Education, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

1.  Approval of Hazardous/Universal Waste Management Procedure

Mr. Matteo made and Mr. Herald seconded the following motion:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby approves Hazardous/Universal Waste Management Procedure for the 2010-2011 school year.

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

The Superintendent spoke about the Superintendent’s Conference Day this past Friday.  The Safety Committee met and reviewed safety plan, table top drills and the building condition survey.  They have scheduled real drills to be done through out the year.  We have received a response to intervention training for our staff in the morning which is part of the compliance for new requirement that goes into place later this year.  The teachers did work on Curriculum mapping.   Betty Chin returned to do a presentation for entire staff that focused on going over the data and analysis on the first quarter bench mark assessments for grades K - 6.  He reported that Reading around the World is moving forward.  Mr. Fitzgerald is working on the maps to be painted on the wall.

The Instructional Council continued to work on upgrading some of our educational activities.  They talked about additional honors courses for next year.  The Superintendent asked the Board for approval to have Heidi Hayes Jacobs come to the District.  She is available on Tuesday, February 22 therefore we would move Superintendent Conference day from Friday, February 18 to that Tuesday.  The cost will be approximately $5000 , it will be BOCES aidable and the Superintendent explained that if we invite neighboring districts in it will cut the cost.  Lastly, the Educational Summit will be December 9 from 6:30 –9:30 pm.  We would like as many people to be involved so everyone is invited.  Discussion ensued.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

1.  Approval of Board Goals

Mrs. Boyd made and Mr. Herald seconded the following motion as edited:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby adopts the Board of Education Goals for the 2010-2011 school year as edited.

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  A Board member stated she would like to attend the Principal and Superintendent evaluation conference if the Board approves.  It is in the budget and the Board would like a summary after going to the conference.

 

The Board President stated he was approached by the PTA as to whether the Board had any restrictions to an afterschool language program for some of the younger students.  The Board President stated that the Board did not have any problems with it.

 

The School Business Manager and Board President will walk through Millerton building next Monday.

 

Mr. Matteo reported on the Audit Finance Committee meeting.  They spoke about potential cuts in State Aid, they generically started discussion on areas that we need to look at and also one of the key points the Board had to look at is what to do with the Millerton building.  Discussion ensued.

 

It was noted that December 6 will be the first policy meeting and the Finance Committee is  meeting also on the same night.

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

-good to see faculty/staff and students at the boys’ soccer game

-Status of social worker

-taking Attendance during emergency situations.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mrs. Swift made and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 8:47 pm for the purpose of discussing the employment history of a particular person or persons and the item pulled off the consent agenda.

Ayes    6          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

John Perotti left at 10:02 pm.

 

RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and to reconvene the public session at 10:25 pm. 

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

Substitute Support Staff Appointments

Mrs. Swift made and Mrs. Boyd 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:

 

            Ruben Long                                                    Substitute Cleaner

            Effective: November 8, 2010                         $13.36/hour

 

            Susan Herald                                                   Substitute Food Service Helper

            Effective: November 16, 2010                       $10.69/hour

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

Mr. Herald abstained from the vote.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Boyd seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of November 15, 2010 at 10:26 pm.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Therese M. Trotter

District Clerk