Webutuck Board of
Education held the March 16, 2009 meeting
at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.
The following
Board members were present:
Dale Culver,
President
Andrew Jablonsky
Susan Lounsbury
William McGhee
Joseph Matteo
John Perotti
Also Present:
Dr. Richard N.
Johns, Superintendent
Therese Trotter,
District Clerk
Linda Peters,
School Business Administrator
Absent:
Joseph Herald
CALL TO ORDER
President Culver
called the Business meeting of March 16, 2009 to order at 7:39 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following comments
were made by audience members:
-Two historical blows to
this District, overbuilt this campus, and the railroad stopped passing through,
re-localize the primary schools; cut several administrative positions; begin to
lean on residential experienced individuals in the community.
-Concern about the bus accident
is there protocol – ambulance wasn’t there for an hour. 911 was called from the school.
-Fully in support of the
AES building being closed.
-Board received a letter
from parents regarding an incident of their son almost passing away due to lack
of protocol. The Board President stated
they had just received the letter and he will review it in Executive Session.
-Wants to know if she
will get sanctioned again by this school, every time she comes here the next
day she gets sanctioned in some way.
-What course does a
student take if they fail the math Regents – I am not clear. Also the District needs to educate parents on
the drugs that are out there at this time.
-In report cards there
was a notice from NECC for 3 consecutive Wednesdays for parent seminars; one on
drug information.
-The truck issue is more
than just an error, it is approximately $3000 that the tax payers shouldn’t
have to pay for it. How the truck error
occurred and who is responsible was talked about. Discussion ensued.
-I want an attendance
record at Board meetings and I want Board attendance Policy.
DISCUSSION
1. Personnel Alignment
If consolidation happens because AES is coming up to the main campus personnel realignment will happen. We are bringing ten classrooms to the main campus if we close both AES and MES students up here. Student services will double, nurses, speech teachers, social workers. If it does happen Central Office and other things will move to MES. If we don’t have students at MES does that affect our EXCEL project? Yes. However, if we have the after school program there we are looking into if that constitutes students in the building. What if special education students went down to MES periodically – would that constitute having kids. Moving the Central Office to Millerton will not save a lot of money – we will still have to heat and light it and update certain things there. Board members gave there opinion on closing Millerton. There was discussion that not closing MES completely. It is a better idea because if all students move to the main campus and proves to be too much there still is MES to work with. Security issue will be easy to handle when everyone is at one campus. A Board member suggested that we confirm with SED if we can use EXCEL funds if no students are there. Discussion ensued.
2. Budget
The Superintendent Budget Proposal did not include any transportation efficiencies. We still do not know what will happen with the State budget. A Board member asked if there has there been a break down line by line of the Budget. The Superintendent will provide one to them. Discussion ensued.
CLERK’S REPORT
1 Approval of Minutes for February 2 and February 9, 2009 Board meetings.
Mr. Perotti made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded a motion to accept the Minutes as submitted.
The six Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Delegations - There is none.
3. Non-Staff Communications - There is none.
PERSONNEL
1. Non-Instructional Substitute Appointments
Mr. Matteo made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:
A Board member inquired if hiring a new substitute bus driver was in the
new transportation efficiencies? No.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following
Non-Instructional Substitute Appointments, as recommended by the Superintendent
of Schools:
Virgil Shook Substitute
Bus Driver
Effective: March 17, 2009
The six Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Approval of After Hours Nurse
Mrs. Lounsbury made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:
The Superintendent’s 2009-2010 Budget Proposal calls for staggering the start of nurses so the extra-curricular
events after school would be covered.
Discussion ensued.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education herby approves the addition
of an After-Hour Nurse from 3:30-5:00 pm at a rate of $27.00 an hour for the
remainder of the 2008-2009 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent of
Schools.
The six Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
BUSINESS AND
OPERATIONS
1. Approval of Retainer Fee
Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:
The Bond Anticipation notes that are up for renewal should be reviewed by
the District and if they are below a certain amount they should be paid
off. This would save the District
additional fees for renewal and interest.
BE IT RESOLVED, the Webutuck Board of Education
approves Hiscock and Barclay, LLP to act as Bond Counsel for bond anticipation
notes at a fee of seven hundred fifty dollars plus disbursements per bond
anticipation note for the 2008-2009 school year, as recommended by the
Superintendent of Schools.
The six Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
2. Amend 2009-2010 Webutuck
Mrs. Lounsbury made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:
The Superintendent explained the revision.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby amends the 2009-2010
Webutuck
The six Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
3. Other
Tiere Spruill went to Nationals and finished 31st in the 400
meters and then ran a 200 and finished 15th. Congratulations Tiere!
When is the French trip? It is
next year. We have two trips for next
year, the Curriculum Council is looking at both of them.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following comments were made by audience members:
-Son is getting bused up to Columbia County could she get one set driver
for him each day instead of a different one each day? We will look into it.
-When the Board cuts this budget please don’t cut the teachers, cut the
administrators – even with these cuts the transportation budget will still
increase.
-If pre-k stays in Millerton can you look at the transportation on that
and what it would cost; instead of two stops for pre-k can we get it to
one. Also, I would like to see Superintendents
office here but if student classrooms are an issue than it has to be that.
-Want to commend the Board on the closure of two buildings. It will be good opportunities for students
and staff.
-Certification on coaches should be up to date.
-I am a resident, teacher and parent and support the consolidation plan
wholeheartedly.
-I am for the total consolidation.
BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS
There were none.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Jablonsky made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded a motion to adjourn to
executive session at 9:43 pm for the purpose of discussing student issue. The
six Board members present voted. The
motion carried unanimously.
RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION
Mr. Matteo made a motion
to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 11:00
pm. The six Board members present
voted. The motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mrs. Lounsbury made a motion to
adjourn the meeting of March 16, 2009 at 11:00pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Therese M. Trotter
District Clerk