The Webutuck Board of Education held their October 5, 2009 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

 

The following Board members were present:

Dale Culver, President

Joseph Matteo

William McGhee

John Perotti

 

Also Present:

Therese Trotter District Clerk

Linda Peters, School Business Administrator

 

Absent:

Joseph Herald

Andrew Jablonsky

Susan Lounsbury

David Paciencia

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Culver called the October 5, 2009 business meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.  

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

Clerk of the Works

Certification of Coaches on Agenda

 

PRESENTATION: 2009-2010 Agriculture Program and FFA – Mr. Hopkins and Anna Duffy

Mr. Hopkins explained about the Webutuck Agricultural Education Program for this year.  The Program offers a lot of hands on activities.  He noted the course offerings for this year with an emphasis on experiential education.  Mr. Hopkins explained what has happened with the Agricultural Program and what will take place going forward such as putting in place long term lesson plans, looking at prerequisites for taking these courses etc.

FFA Aspect -  Ms. Duffy has mentors to help make FFA successful.  The group is looking at going to the National Convention.  Ms. Duffy spoke about the participation level of her classes.  There has been an increase in all classes since the beginning of the year.  Ms. Duffy gave class size numbers in each class.  Discussion ensued.

 

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS

The District Clerk spoke on behalf of the Superintendent who could not be in attendance due to a critical family illness.  The District Clerk conveyed to the Board members appreciation for all of the volunteer hours they have given and are giving to the Webutuck School District.  The Superintendent, on behalf of the District, acknowledged the Board members with a memento and a framed letter thanking them for their years of service.  Cake and coffee followed.

CONSENT AGENDA (Signified by an Asterisk*)

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded a 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    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

CLERK’S REPORT

*1   Approval of Minutes for September 14, September 21 and September 30, 2009 Board meetings.

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to accept the Minutes stated above as submitted:

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2.  Delegations - None

3.  Non-Staff Communications - None

 

PERSONNEL

*1. Extra-Curricular Appointments for the 2009-2010 School Year

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo 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 2009-2010 school years:

 

Jennifer Jaffe                                      Social Studies Co-Department Head (K-5)

            Margaret Brizzie                                 Social Studies Co-Department Head (6-12)

            Michelle Adrian                                  Cheerleading

            Trisha Lawrence                                  Girls Varsity Basketball

            Ann Sartori                                         Girls JV Basketball

            Christine Mathers                                Babysitter Club

            Anna Duffy                                        FFA Head Advisor

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

*2.  Support Staff Substitute Appointment

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo 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 appointments:

 

            Holly Schrom                                      Part Time Bus Driver

Effective:  October 6, 2009                (Step 1 at $16.87hr

                                                            per CSEA contract)

 

Mary Brandt                                       Bus Driver

Effective: October 6, 2009                 (Step 1 at $16.87hr

                                                            per CSEA contract)

Susan Jackson                                     Monitor (full time)

Effective: October 6, 2009                 (Step 3 at $12.04

                                                            per CSEA contract)

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

3. Instructional Increase for the 2009-2010 School Year

Mr. Matteo made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion as amended stating the starting date as October 6, 2009:

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an increase of the ESL teacher from .5 to .7 for the 2009-2010 school year beginning on October 6, 2009 based on the current enrollment need.

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

1.  Authorization for Tax Adjustments

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

Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, WHEREAS, the District has received an Application for Corrected Tax Roll for the Year 2009 for property located within the Webutuck Central School District, as follows:

Donald Rosendale  - regarding property owned on  4848 Route, in the Town of Amenia, described as Grid No. 132000-7067-00-428206-0000, on the basis that a clerical error was made, incorrect assessment by reason of exemption amount incorrectly calculated on roll.  The taxes should be based on assessed value of $226,028 instead of $489,635.  The taxes levied were $5,530.40 and should be $2,552.97; and

WHEREAS, the Director and Investigator of Dutchess County Real Property Tax Service have determined, that a clerical error was made and the assessed value should be changed, as described above, and has recommended that the Applications for Corrected Tax Roll should be approved; and

WHEREAS, we have examined such application and the County Director's recommendations and determine that a clerical error pursuant to Section 550(2)(b) of the Real Property Tax Law as made;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Application for Corrected Tax Roll

for the Year 2009 be approved, that the tax rolls be corrected to reflect the correct assessment, as set forth above, and that notice of approval of such application and a corrected tax bill be issued to the applicant reflecting the change in assessment and taxes to be paid.

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

2. Authorization for Tax Adjustments

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

Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, WHEREAS, by Order of Walter Blank, Hearing Officer, State of New York, County of Columbia, dated September 18, 2009, reductions in assessment and corrected tax bill for the 2009 assessment year were adjusted in favor of petitioner, Joseph & Donna Hoyt, for property owned in the Town of Ancram, in the Webutuck Central School District, Tax Parcel No. 102000 221.1.42, said reductions in assessment.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School Tax Collector is hereby authorized to issue a corrected tax bill for the 2009-2010 school year, said taxes should be based on assessed value of $341,350 instead of $356,850 less STAR Exemption.  The taxes levied were $4,290.15 and should be $4,103.81.

 

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Application for Corrected Tax Roll

for the Year 2009 be approved, that the tax rolls be corrected to reflect the correct assessment, as set forth above, and that notice of approval of such application and a corrected tax bill be issued to the applicant reflecting the change in assessment and taxes to be paid.

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

3.  Authorization for Tax Refund

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

Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, WHEREAS, the Tax Collector has certified that duplicate tax payments have been made on the 2009-2010 school taxes regarding the following taxpayers and property and that refunds for overpayment of such taxes be issued:

                                                                                                Amount of

Taxpayer                                 Grid No.                                  Refund                 Refund To

 

George/Beverly Gordon         133801-7271-13-129310-0000      827.52                  First Niagara

Mutual Bank Washington       132000-7165-01-020900-0000    2544.75        Washington Mutual

(Property sold Paid by Abstract Company)

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

4.  Approval of Track Bid

This item was removed from the agenda for further discussion by Mr. McGhee.

Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby accepts the bid from Copeland Paving Company to resurface the track at a cost of $77,750. (No action taken)

 

5.  Acceptance of Donation

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

Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby accepts the donation of three thousand dollars ($3,000) from Silo Ridge to be used for transportation costs for college visits for students of Webutuck Central School.

(It was stated that this is a great chance for students to visit other colleges and Silo Ridge is willing to continue the support into the future.  A letter of thanks will be sent to them.)

 

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

6.  County Executive Letter

The County, due to fiscal reasons, will not fund the school resource officer in their 2010 budget.  Board members discussed exploring different options in the near future.  Board member Mr. Matteo is in management in the County and he stated he seriously doubts the SRO program will be added back into the County budget.  Discussion ensued.

 

7.  Class Enrollment Data

The Board will need to refer to this information during budget discussions in the future.

 

 

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

*1.  Committee on Special Education Monthly Reports

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

Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby accepts the Committee on Special Education report for September 2009, prepared by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Pre-School Education and by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Special Education.

Ayes    4          Nays    o          The motion carried.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

1.  There will be an Audit/Finance meeting next week.

2.  The Board President asked for the September Enrollment data by grade level in the next Board packet

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following topics were commented on by audience members:

Enrollment Data that was discussed

College field trips

BOCES presentation

The possibility of Mr. Steinhaus coming to Webutuck

BOCES capital project

Generator

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION (To discuss the employment history of a particular person or persons)

Mr. Matteo made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 8:35 pm for the purpose of discussing the employment history of a particular person or persons.

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

 

 

RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and to reconvene the public session at 9:02 pm. 

Ayes    4          Nays    0          The motion carried.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Herald made and Mr. Perotti seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of October 5, 2009 at 9:03 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Therese M. Trotter

District Clerk