Webutuck Board of
Education held the
The following
Board members were present:
Bernadette
Coniglio, President
Joanne Boyd
Dale Culver
Joseph Herald
Susan Lounsbury
Joseph Matteo
John Perotti
Also Present:
Dr. Richard N.
Johns, Superintendent
Kevin Geoghan,
School Business Administrator
Tracy Trotter, Superintendent’s Secretary
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Coniglio
called the business meeting of
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
An audience member stated he represented the Northeast Tax Revolt
Committee. He questioned if the Head
Maintenance position was necessary as his Committee is concerned with rising
taxes. Also, he stated that his
Committee has found that the area farm land is being assessed incorrectly. He asked if farm land exemptions are taken
into account by the State when calculating State Aid to the District. The Superintendent asked the audience member
to call him at school to discuss the information with him. Discussion ensued.
An audience member who is an employee of the District stated for the
record that when he attends a Board meeting he is a community member.
Another audience member who is an employee of the District stated that
there was an appearance in the community of favoritism with regard to the Head
Maintenance position appointment.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Policy Committee (Mtg. 2/26) – Mrs. Boyd reported they have requested all
Policy binders to be brought up-to-date.
Audit/Finance Committee (Mtg. 3/12) Mr. Matteo reported the focus of their
meeting was discussion on the need to decrease the percentages of tax levy,
reserves and fund balance. The Committee
agreed the percentages should be lowered however; it should be a full Board
discussion and decision. Discussion
ensued.
DISCUSSION
1. BOARD POLICIES –
First Reading
Board members commented on #005 in which a spelling mistake was found and
#007 was remanded back to the Board for additional clarification.
The Board will review the following policies as a first reading:
Policy #005 Membership
Policy
#006 Meeting Times
Policy
#007 Reorganization Meeting
Policy
#412 Family Medical Leave Act
Third Reading
There was no discussion.
The Board will review the following policies on
a third reading and act on their approval:
Policy
#111 Display of Flags
Policy
#201 Students with Disabilities
Policy
#411 Conditional Appointment of
Employees
Policy
#413 Employee Wellness
Policy
#905 Freedom of Information Law
2.
Superintendent’s Proposed Budget – Discussion Only
There was discussion on the 5% to 8% parameter the Board set last year
for the Tax Levy increase. A Board member stated the 2007-2008 Projected
Levy is within those parameters. There
were comments from Board members to look at the Budget to see how we could do
things more inexpensively instead of automatically adding on a 5% to 8%
increase. It was decided the Board will
look at the percentage proposal again.
The Board decided they would schedule
CONSENT AGENDA VOTE
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended. The amendment offered by Mr. Herald called for removing item #2 Head Maintenance Worker under Personnel for further discussion. The following asterisked items can be consent agenda items. 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. The seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.
CLERK’S REPORT
*1
Approval of Minutes for February 5 and
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs.
Lounsbury seconded a motion to approve the February 5 and 12, 2007 minutes. The seven Board members present voted to
approve the motion. The motion carried.
*2.
Acceptance of Financial Reports as Submitted
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded a motion to accept the
Financial Reports as Submitted. The
seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report for the month ending January.
Comprehensive Budget Status Report ending January.
Comprehensive Revenue Status Report ending January.
Warrants # 50-62
3.
Delegations
There were none.
4.
Non-Staff Communications
There were none.
PERSONNEL
*1.
Non-Instructional Substitute Appointment
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following
Non-Instructional Substitute appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent
of Schools:
Ben Moyer Substitute
Head Bus Mechanic
Effective:
The seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.
*2.
Non-Instructional Appointment
The Head Maintenance Worker (only) was pulled from the consent agenda to
be discussed further in Executive Session.
A Board member was advised by NYSSBA to check with the District’s
attorney to make sure everything was done properly when creating the position
and choosing the candidate. The Business
Administrator stated the process followed was as advised by the District’s
Attorney.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following
Non-Instructional appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:
Landon Johns Head
Maintenance Worker
Effective:
Mrs. Lounsbury made and Mr. Herald seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following
Non-Instructional appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:
Tracy Ferreri Teacher
Aide
Effective:
The seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.
*3. Instructional Substitute
Appointment
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Instructional Substitute appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of
Schools:
Roy Burdick Substitute Teacher
Effective:
Jennifer Gdula Long Term Substitute Teacher
Effective:
(leave
replacement for Monica Baker-Bozsik)
The seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.
*4.
Approval of Tenure Recommendations
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education
does hereby appoint the following teachers to tenure in their respective tenure
areas, effective
|
NAME |
TENURE AREA |
CERTIFICATION |
ESTOPPLE DATE |
|
|
Nancy Bayersdorfer |
Social Worker |
Perm. Social
Worker |
|
|
|
Denise Conway |
Childhood Education
Gr. 1-6 |
Perm.-Pre-K, K &
Gr. 1-6 |
|
|
|
Heather Farr-Killmer |
Childhood Education
Gr. 1-6 |
Perm. Issued Receipt
Pending |
|
|
|
Patricia Forbes |
Childhood Education
Gr. 1-6 |
Prov. Pre-K, K.,
& Gr. 1-6 thru 8/08 |
|
|
|
William Havranek |
Social Studies (7-12) |
Prov. SS 7-12 thru
1/09 |
|
|
|
Julia Heenan |
Social Studies (7-12) |
Perm. SS 7-12 |
|
|
|
Shawn Hosier |
Mathematics (7-12) |
Prov. Math 7-12 thru 8/08 |
|
|
|
Janice McSpiritt |
Social Worker |
Perm. Social Worker |
|
|
|
Vincent Merendino |
Guidance Counselor |
Perm. School Couns. |
|
|
|
Robert Reid |
Mathematics (7-12) |
Initial Math 7-12
thru 8/09 |
|
|
|
Peter Stefonowich |
Generalist in Middle
School Education (Gr.1-6) |
Prov. Pre-K, K, &
Gr. 1-6 thru 8/07 Must obtain Middle Childhood Ed. Gr. 5-9 by 9/07 |
|
|
|
Mary Tauber |
Language other than
English (Spanish) |
Prov. Pre-K, K. &
Gr. 1-6 thru 1/09 Must obtain Spanish Gr. 7-12 by 9/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.
5.
Approval of Tenure Recommendation
A Board member stated the Board was setting a
bad precedent in granting tenure to a teacher who treats a student badly as
long as he treats the majority well. The
Superintendent stated personnel evaluations cannot be done in public and must
be done in Executive Session. Discussion
ensued.
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education
hereby appoints the following teacher to tenure in their respective tenure
area, effective
|
Stephen Pollak |
English Language Art
(7-12) |
Perm. English 7-12 |
|
The seven Board members present voted. The motion carried.
Bernadette Coniglio Yes Susan Lounsbury Yes
Joanne Boyd Yes Joseph Matteo Yes
Dale Culver No John Perotti No
Joseph Herald No
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
*1.
Authorization to increase the 2006-2007 Budget
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs.
Lounsbury seconded the following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education
hereby increases the 2006-2007 Budget in the amount of $3,060 in Budget Code
A1621.430 00 00 21 as a result of receipt of insurance funds for damage to offset the cost of
repairing the light pole, to be recorded in Revenue Account A2680, with such
funds to be expended from A1621.430 00 00 21.
The seven Board members
present voted to approve the motion. The
motion carried.
*2. Approval
of NYLAF – Municipal Cooperation Agreement (Per the attached resolution)
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs.
Lounsbury seconded the motion to approve the NYLAF – Municipal Cooperation
Agreement (Per the attached resolution):
The seven Board members
present voted to approve the motion. The
motion carried.
*3. Notice
of Annual Meeting Authorization
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs.
Lounsbury seconded the following motion:
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 7, 2007 at 7:30 p.m., for the purpose of
presenting the budget document for the 2007-2008 School Year and the Annual
Meeting, School District election and Vote on the Budget to be held on Tuesday,
May 15, 2007.
The seven Board members
present voted to approve the motion. The
motion carried.
4.
Authorization of Transportation Proposition to be placed on the ballot
at the Annual Meeting of the qualified voters on
(The Board shall choose one of the options
below.)
TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE PROPOSITION
A Board member stated
there seemed to be little difference between the two options.
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded motion to vote on Option A. The vote was as follows:
Bernadette Coniglio Yes Susan Lounsbury Yes
Joanne Boyd Yes Joseph Matteo Yes
Dale Culver Yes John Perotti Yes
Joseph Herald No
The seven Board members present voted. The motion carried.
OPTION A
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 $94,000, one 18 passenger school bus equipped for wheelchair transportation at a maximum estimated cost of $56,000, and 2 cars at a maximum estimated cost of $35,000 ($17,500 each) for an aggregate maximum estimated cost of $185,000, (2) expend such sum for such purposes, (3) 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 (4) 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 $185,000, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due.
OPTION B
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Webutuck Central School District, Dutchess and Columbia Counties, New York, be authorized to (1) acquire school buses and vehicles at a cost not to exceed $185,000, which is estimated to be the maximum cost thereof, (2) expend such sum for such purposes, (3) 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 (4) 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 $185,000, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
*1. Committee on Special Education Monthly Report
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of
Education hereby accepts the Committee on Special Education report for February 2007, 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.
The seven Board members present voted to approve
the motion. The motion carried.
*2. Adoption
of “Social Problems in Today’s World” Course
A Board member suggested formulating what will
be taught next semester as soon as possible so students may be able to make a
decision in a timely manner.
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby approves the adoption of the “Social Problems in Today’s World” Course as per the proposed guidelines outlined in (Policy #204 Course Weighting), as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.
The seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.
BOARD
OF EDUCATION
*1. Adoption of Board Policies
Mrs. Boyd made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the
following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education
hereby adopts the following policy as presented, as recommended by the Superintendent
of Schools.
Policy #111 Display
of Flags
Policy
#201 Students with Disabilities
Policy #411 Conditional Appointment of Employees
Policy #413 Employee Wellness
Policy #905 Freedom of Information Law
The seven Board members present voted to approve
the motion. The motion carried.
2. Land Purchase
The Superintendent asked Board members not to
discuss the figure in public session as it could begin a bidding war. The Superintendent spoke about the Long Range
Plan of the District and the needs it brought to light. More details will be unveiled in closed
session. Discussion ensued.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby authorize the Superintendent of
Schools to execute an agreement to purchase property from Iron Will Farms as
described in the agreement distributed in the Board packet on
PUBLIC
COMMENT
A parent in the audience wanted to express
concern about a situation that had occurred with her son and the High School Principal. The Board decided to invite them into
Executive Session. An audience member
who is an employee of the District wanted to address the Board regarding
concerns with the High School Principal.
The Board decided to invite him in to Executive Session. An audience member asked if there had to be a
referendum for land purchase. The answer
was yes.
BOARD
MEMBER QUESTIONS
A Board member questioned if the District sends
letters to new tenured teachers. The
Superintendent responded yes.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION
Mr. Culver made a motion to adjourn to executive
session at 8:45 pm for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter and land
acquisition. The seven Board members
voted to approve the motion. The motion
carried.
ADJOURNMENT
OF EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Perotti made the following motion to adjourn
the executive session and reconvene the public session at 11:47 pm. The seven Board members voted to approve the
motion. The motion carried.
Land
Purchase
Mrs. Boyd made the following motion and the
motion was seconded:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby authorize the Superintendent of
Schools to execute an agreement to purchase property from Iron Will Farms as
described in the agreement distributed in the Board packet on
Bernadette Coniglio Yes Susan Lounsbury Yes
Joanne Boyd Yes Joseph Matteo Yes
Dale Culver No John Perotti Yes
Joseph Herald No
The seven Board members present voted. The motion carried.
1. Approval
of Tenure Recommendations for Principals
There was no action
taken.
BE IT RESOLVED, that
the Board of Education does hereby appoint the following principals to tenure
in their tenure area effective
Kenneth Sauer High School Principal Permanent School District Administrator
Permanent
Math 7-12
Permanent
Biology, General Science 7-12
Scott Richards
Middle School Principal Prov. School Administrator/Supervisor effective
9/03 thru 8/08
Prov. Pre-K, K, Gr. 1-6 effective 9/03 thru 8/08
2. Action
to be Taken on Denial of Tenure of a Teaching Assistant
Mrs. Boyd made the following motion and the
motion was seconded:
BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Education denies
tenure to the following Teaching Assistant, as recommended by the
Superintendent of Schools:
Stacy
Vitolo Teaching
Assistant
The seven Board members voted to approve the
motion. The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mrs. Boyd motioned to adjourn the
meeting of
Respectfully submitted,
Tracy Trotter
District Clerk