The Webutuck Board of Education held their May 25, 2010 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

 

The following Board members were present:

Dale Culver, President

Joseph Herald

William McGhee

John Perotti

Casey Swift

 

Also Present:

Lee Bordick, Superintendent

Therese Trotter District Clerk

 

Absent:

Andrew Jablonsky

Joseph Matteo

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Culver called the business meeting of May 25, 2010 to order at 7:33 p.m.  

 

ADMINISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBER

Mrs. Trotter administered the Oath of Office to Casey Swift.  The Oath of Office is on file.

           

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

 

DISCUSSION

1.  Wellness Policy

 

2.  Second Reading:

Policy #507a Identification of Homeless Student Policy

Many of the federal grants require that there be in place a Homeless Policy.

 

3.  Academic Policies and Placement

The Board and Superintendent have been in discussion about developing programs where students feel more connected to their school and also having the school environment in general more inviting.  Concerns were expressed particularly in the middle school about academic policies.  It was noted that high school students that were falling through the cracks seemed to begin struggling in middle school when looking at their history.  The question was posed “How do we begin to solve that problem is the question”.  Practices need to be evaluated such as social promotion.  Some ideas were posed such as operating a targeted summer school and after school academic support.  Discussion ensued.

 

 

CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Herald seconded the following motion to approve the consent agenda

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 April 28 and May 3, 2010 Board meetings.

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Herald seconded a motion to accept the Board minutes stated above as submitted.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  Delegations -None

3.  Non-Staff Communications - None

 

PERSONNEL

*1.   Substitute Support Staff Appointment

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

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the following substitute support staff appointment:

 

Richard Stackow                                            Substitute Teacher Aide/Assistant

            Effective:  May 10, 2010                                $11.96/hr. per CSEA

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

*2.  Support Staff Resignation

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

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the following Support Staff Resignation of the following individual:

 

            Amy McEnroe                                                            Part Time Teacher Aide

            Effective:  May 18, 2010

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

*3.  Abolishment of Positions

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

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby abolishes the following positions:

           

Full-Time Bus Drivers (2)

Part-time Bus Driver (.5)

School Monitor (1)

Head Maintenance Worker (1)

Custodial Workers (1.5)

Long Term Itinerant Substitutes (2)

Teacher Aides (2 part-time)

Teaching Assistants (4)

Math (1)

English (1)

Special Education (1)

Curriculum Coordinator (.2)

Teacher on Special Assignment (.2)

Guidance Counselor (1)

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

1.  Other - None

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

1.  National and Jr. National Honor Society

More than 30 students were inducted into each society last Friday evening.  Congratulatory letters went out to the students on behalf of the Board and Superintendent.  It was the first year it was held at night and many parents enjoyed the night ceremony.

 

2.  Audit/Finance Meeting Summary

There will be a summary at the June 7 Board meeting.

 

3.  School Climate 

The Superintendent remarked that the District is continuing to address school climate in a proactive approach.  There is a second Rachel’s challenge meeting tomorrow night at 6:30 pm; also the last Superintendent’s Conference day on June 25 will address school climate.

 

4.  Second Rachael’s Challenge Follow-Up Meeting May 26 @ 6:30 HS Auditorium

The Superintendent announced this second follow-up meeting for parents and guardians of Rachel’s Challenge.  A Board member suggested combining districts for the follow-up parent meetings so that more people would come.  Discussion ensued.

 

5.  Student Council

This was a suggestion that came out of Rachael’s Challenge.  Students will be running for office in the upcoming weeks.

 

6.  Guidance Plan

A plan has been submitted by Guidance for the Board to review.  The Superintendent sees this as a building block and remarked that the Board needs to approve a guidance plan annually.  The Superintendent suggested surveying our first year and fifth year graduates.  Discussion ensued.

 

7.  Probationary Staff

The Board will be looking at these individuals in executive session.

 

8.  College Fair Article

The Superintendent commented that many schools participate in the college fair.  Cory Allyn, of the Millerton News wrote a nice article on the fair.

 

9.  Prom Summary

Everything went very well at the prom this year.  Everyone involved had very positive feedback on it.

 

10.  HS Spring Concert

Last week the HS concert took place and it was very well done.  The District has a great orchestra for such a small school.

 

11.  WES Family Dinner for Family Wellness Month, June 3, 6-7:30 pm

The Superintendent announced May is National Wellness month and this year WES will celebrate that by having a family dinner.  Parents and Guardians are invited to bring a dish.

 

12.  Diversity Dinner June 10, 6:00 pm

The Diversity dinner is coming up and is an annually event.  Parents come and bring a dish to pass.

 

13.  Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is part of project SAVE.  A committee has been established and they will evaluate the District wide Code of Conduct and make recommendations to the Board.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

1.  Adoption of Policy#115 Student Wellness

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

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby adopts the following policy as presented.

 

            Policy #115 Student Wellness

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  Adoption of Plans

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

Mike Needham recommended these plans and will bring the District into compliance.  BOCES had not suggested these in the past.  Discussion ensued.

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED the Board of Education hereby adopts the following plans:

 

Technology Plan

            Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan

            Exposure Control Plan

            Hazard Communication Program

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

3.  Acceptance of Vote Results

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

BE IT RESOLVED, the Webutuck Board of Education accepts the following vote results from the May 18, 2010 vote: 2010-2011 School Budget Vote, Transportation Vote and Board Member Vote as follows:

 

PROPOSITION I:  2010-2011 SCHOOL BUDGET

Shall the Board of Education of the Webutuck Central School District be authorized to expend the sum of $19,780,957.00 for School District purposes for the 2010-2011 school year (the Budget) and to levy the necessary tax therefor?

 

VOTE RESULTS:

 

PROPOSITION I

 

YES                 344             

              NO                   99             

TOTAL VOTES          443 

 

PROPOSITION II: 2010-2011 TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE PURCHASE

Shall the Board of Education of the Webutuck Central School District, be authorized to (1) purchase one 30-passenger school bus at a maximum estimated cost of $46,000, two 7-passenger minivans at a maximum estimated cost of $17,000 each, for an aggregate maximum estimated cost of $80,000, (2) and equipped with related optional equipment to be determined (3) expend such sum for such purposes, (4) 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 (5) 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 principle amount at a aggregate maximum estimated cost of $80,000, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due.

 

VOTE RESULTS:

 

PROPOSITION I

 

YES                256                             

              NO                161                                 

TOTAL VOTES         417      

 

 

VOTE RESULTS FOR THREE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER SEATS

MAY 18, 2010

(Two of the seats are for three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2010 and expiring on June 30, 2013.   The third seat, an unexpired remainder of term, will commence on May 25, 2010 and expire on June 30, 2011)

 

VOTE RESULTS:

    

 BOARD MEMBERS

Heidi Dean                              150                 

*Joanne Boyd                         291

*Casey Swift                          213

Ann Sheeley                            166

Victoria Alexander                   94

Andrew Jablonsky                  123

*William McGhee                   261

 

Joanne Boyd and William McGhee will serve the 2 three-year-terms and Casey Swift will serve the unexpired remainder of term expiring on June 30, 2011.

 Ayes   5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

-Summer school this summer

-Advisor for Student Council

-members on the Code of Conduct Committee

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. McGhee made and Mr. Perotti seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 8:11 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. Perotti made and Mr. Herald seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and to reconvene the public session at 9:06 pm. 

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Herald seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of May 25, 2010 at 9:07 pm.

Ayes    5          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Therese M. Trotter

District Clerk