The Webutuck Board
of Education held their December 7, 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
Andrew Jablonsky
Also Present:
David Paciencia,
Superintendent
Therese Trotter,
District Clerk
Linda Peters, School Business Administrator
Absent:
Joseph Herald
Susan Lounsbury
CALL TO ORDER
President Culver
called the business meeting of December 7,
2009 to order at 7:37 p.m.
President Culver welcomed Katie Ruppel, the 2009-2010 Student
Representative to the Board.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following are
comments made by audience members:
-Thank you for the
upgrades to the bus garage.
-Wayne Euvrard, Town of
Amenia Supervisor updated the Board on the process the Town of Amenia is
following to purchase the Amenia School building. They have done an environmental
study and energy audit. They also will
be doing a SEQRA. He is looking to move
in the building in late spring.
-Thank you for the
upgrade to the security that is being implemented to the school.
-More information should
be sent out about Special Education to parents.
-Look at Driver’s
Education for Webutuck.
Presentation on FFA National Convention – Anna
Duffy and Sienna Finkle
Ms. Duffy and Ms. Finkle
spoke about their trip to the FFA National Convention. The two representatives
of Webutuck were able to go into Coal Mines in Pennsylvania, tour the Harley
Davidson Museum in OH, visit Longaberger Basket Factory and a candy shop in
Indiana and tour the Louisville Slugger Museum in Kentucky besides attending
the Convention. They also were able to listen to inspirational speakers such as
Mike Rowe from the TV show Dirty Jobs and Josh Sandquist who lost a leg. He recently wrote a book about his
ordeal. Sienna Finkle spoke about the
different workshops she attended which she found interesting. Ms. Duffy had a chance to converse with other
teachers about developing the FFA program and generating interest. She also went to a several workshops that
gave her many resources to pull information from. She thanked the Board for allowing them to go
on the field trip.
Discussion ensued.
Mr. Matteo left the meeting at 8:05 pm.
CONSENSUS AGENDA VOTE
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky 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 November 9, 2009 Board meeting as presented.
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded a motion to accept the Minutes stated above as submitted:
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2. Acceptance of Financial Reports as Submitted
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded a motion to accept the Financial Reports as submitted:
Treasurer’s Report for the month
ending September and October.
Comprehensive Budget Status Report
ending September and October.
Comprehensive Revenue Status Report
ending September and October.
Warrants #20-28
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. Delegations - None
4. Non-Staff Communications - None
PERSONNEL
*1. Instructional Appointment Increase
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education hereby accepts the following Instructional Appointment
increase to from part-time to full-time (.5 to 1.0 FTE) status:
Christine Henderson Speech
and Hearing Teacher
Effective: September 1,
2009 Tenure
Area: Speech
Probation ends: August 31, 2012 Annual Salary: Step 4 $56, 078
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*2. Substitute Support Staff Appointments
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky 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:
Edward Ostrander Substitute
Bus Driver
Effective: December 8,
2009 ($16.80/hr.
per CSEA contract)
Edward Ostrander Substitute
Bus Monitor
Effective: December 8,
2009 ($11.29/hr.
per CSEA contract)
Joan Goller
Effective: December 8,
2009 ($82.80
daily per CSEA contract)
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*3. Leave of Absence
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Leave of Absence for
the purpose of Family Medical Leave Act:
Jennifer Gdula Elementary
Teacher
Effective:
January 19, 2010 – March 29, 2010
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*4. Revised Leave of Absence
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the revised
Leave of Absence, for an extension of one day, for the following individual to fulfill her
Master of Science for Teachers in Childhood (Gr. 1-6) Program.
Jacquelyn
Woodruff Teaching
Assistant
Effective:
January 25 – May 21, 2010 (was
May 20, 2010)
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*5. Extra-Curricular
Appointment for the 2009-2010 School Year
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky 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 appointment for the
2009-2010 school year:
Henry
Pollinger MSG
Varsity Advisor
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*6. Administrative Resignation
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education hereby accepts the following administrative
resignation:
Linda
Peters School
Business Administrator
Effective: January 2, 2010
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*7. Revised Extra-Curricular
Appointment for the 2009-2010 School Year
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the
following revised Extra-Curricular appointment for the 2009-2010 school year:
Jennifer
Brandt JV
Volleyball Coach (was originally
appointed
as Varsity Coach)
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*8. Approval
of Individual Contracts
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board
of Education approves the contracts for the Business Office Clerk and Personnel
Clerk/Administrative Clerk for the 2009-2010 school year.
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
*9. Amendment of Appointments
of Members of the Committee on Special Education and Pre-School Special
Education from July 7, 2009 Agenda
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT
RESOLVED, that for the
school year 2009-2010 the following individuals shall be appointed to the
positions as indicated and they shall be authorized to act on the Board's
behalf in said positions:
Mig McDonald Parent
Advocate
Robert
Boyles Parent
Advocate
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
1. 403b
Retirement Eligibility
Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, WHEREAS, the Board of Education desires to restate and amend the Plan as regards section 2.1 Eligibility;
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that section 2.1 of the Plan is hereby restated and
amended to read as follows:
Each
Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and elect to have
Elective Deferrals made on his or her behalf hereunder immediately upon
becoming employed by the Employer.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Plan, as restated and amended is hereby approved and adopted.
Ayes 4 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Mr. Matteo re-entered
the meeting at 8:08 pm.
2. Acceptance
of Donations
Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:
Upon the Recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby accepts the following grants, Robert R. Chapman Fund of the Community Foundation of Dutchess County in the amount of $500.00 for the use towards the Webutuck High School Travels in France; and the Field Trip Fund at Community Foundation of Dutchess County in the amount of $521.00 for the purpose of field trip transportation cost.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
3. Authorization for Filing of 2009-2010 Returned Tax Claims (Resolution
distributed in Board Packet).
Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
*1. Committee
on Special Education Monthly Reports
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation by the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby accepts the Committee on Special
Education report for November 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 0 The motion carried.
2.
District Wellness Committee
The Superintendent spoke about restructuring the Wellness Committee. He explained that it has been unclear if the
Committee reports to the Board, who should be on the Committee, and what their
function should be. Restructuring allows
for clarity so that the people serving on the Committee know what their purpose
is, what the authority is, what the charges are of the Board to them and what
the membership should consist of. It will help the Board, the District and the
Wellness Committee to have clarity on the Policy and Committee. The Board had received a rough draft of the
Committee parameters and policy in their packet for review. He would like to get the Committee back on track
and reduce the frustration that some Committee members have felt. The President felt it was a good working
draft. It was noted that Mrs. McEnroe
will Chair the meeting for this year.
The Superintendent discussed with the Board where they saw this policy
fitting within their policies. He explained
that it could be located under the Foundation and Basic Commitments section, or
Support Services. The Board was in
agreement that the Wellness Policy should be located under Foundation and Basic
Commitments sections and be known as Policy #115. Discussion ensued. The Superintendent asked Board members if
there were any changes to the Policy.
Board members decided further discussion would take place during the Policy
Committee meeting.
3. Policy #115 Wellness Policy
Mr. Matteo made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Board of Education hereby approves and adopts the Policy #115 Wellness Policy
as presented for its first reading.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
4.
Revise 2009-2010 Webutuck
Mr. Matteo made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:
The Superintendent explained the revisions to the District Calendar.
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby revises the 2009-2010 School
District Calendar as presented.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
5.
Millerton Overlook Meeting
The Superintendent explained he has gone to two Millerton Planning Board
meetings regarding the building of the Millerton Overlook Apartments next to
the Millerton Elementary building. He
then had a meeting with President Culver and Kevin O’Neil, Executive Director
of the Housing Resources of Columbia County after having written a letter to
him stating the School Districts concerns with the affordable house project. A
draft lease clause was given to the District meeting all of the concerns the
District had with the project. Board members again reiterated concerns about
the project. It was stated that the
language on the piece of paper from the developer of the project will be
enforceable when push comes to shove. The
President suggested sending the letter from the Housing Resources of Columbia
County and the draft lease clause to the school attorney to have them review
the language before the Superintendent writes back to the project developer. Discussion ensued.
6.
Policy #906 Use of School-Owned Materials and Equipment
Mr. Matteo made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
Board of Education hereby approves and adopts the Policy #906 Use of
School-Owned Materials and Equipment as presented for its first reading.
(The Board President felt this was a good point to get it on the books
and then the Board can review it in Policy Committee.)
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
A Webutuck Alumni, from the late 1970’s, Richard Zartman works for Brooks
Sports and would like to donate 20 women and 20 men’s cross country uniforms. Total value of the donation is $2080.00. He would like approval from the Board before
the end of the year.
Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education accepts the donation from Richard Zartman, of school
uniforms specifically 20 men’s and 20 women’s cross country uniforms and thank
him for his continued interest in Webutuck.
(The Board President stated we should make sure the local newspaper is aware
because these gifts are greatly appreciated.)
Ayes 5 Nays O the
motion Carried.
Rachael’s Challenge has been scheduled for March 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm in
the Auditorium.
The next Board meeting is Monday January 4th , the
Superintendent wanted the Board to be aware that it is the first day back after
the Holiday break and questioned if they would like to move the meeting to a
following Monday. The Board was fine
with January 4th as the first Board meeting in January.
The District has several schools interested in the football uniforms. The Superintendent stated it would be a good
time to declare this equipment surplus if the Board still feels that it should
be sold. A Board member asked about
where the sled is. It was noted that it
was one of the most expensive pieces of equipment the District had purchased
for football. The Superintendent will look into it. Discussion ensued.
Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED,
that the Board of Education declares the football equipment surplus and requests
the Superintendent to seek sale of the equipment.
(The Board would like to have a report on what was sold and how much money
was brought in.)
Ayes 5 Nays O The
motion carried.
The Superintendent spoke about a system for extra security within the
buildings that he has used in previous school districts. The Superintendent asked permission to replicate
the exact information and he was approved to use it. If the Board approves of the idea he would
like to give every staff member one. It
will remain a confidential document with staff members and will be explained to
substitutes. Board members approved of
the document.
The Superintendent spoke about the flu season and about a surgical mask
called a N95 which nurses and medical people should use when they know someone
has the flu. They are disposable and he
was able to get them at no cost through Dutchess County Department of Health.
In your packet is the list of chaperones for the Costa Rica trip that the
Board had requested previously.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
1. A Board member spoke about the
confusion of traffic in the morning at the high school. The Superintendent stated he had a meeting with
Deputy Strid and Mr. Bullymont this morning which provided more suggestions for
a solution to the traffic flow and student issues of entering the school. The Superintendent will discuss those suggestions
with Administration tomorrow. Discussion
ensued regarding morning security.
2. The Board President asked the Superintendent
to check on the status of the E2s.
3. The Board President reported
that the student, who last year needed Board intervention because he was
struggling in school, is doing very well.
4. We need to continue or attempt
to reach out to the Community on events happening in the school.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following are
comments made by audience members:
-Thank you for the work on the Wellness Policy. Change the eating habits of the whole
community.
-Who put the people in charge of the cafeteria, who is in charge of
bidding?
-Do the people ordering the food have nutrition education?
-Thank you John Perotti for the use of the wagon and Bill McGhee for use
of lights.
-Will there be a reading of the Wellness Policy?
-There seems to be confusion of the charge of the Wellness Committee and
the Wellness Policy.
-Thank the Board for the support of the FFA.
-FFA could use same direction as the Wellness -we would like community members
to be on the Ag Advisory Board
-The Affordable Housing Project looks like it will be on the aquifer;
that will be a problem.
-Think about the kids parking in the back and needing to get into the
building without having to walk around the front of the building.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Matteo made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:30 pm for the
purpose of discussing particular persons’ employment history.
Ayes 5 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 10:52 pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. McGhee seconded the
following motion:
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education appoints Mary Grden as
part-time Interim Business Manager beginning January 4, 2010 and concluding no
later than July 1, 2010 at a daily rate of $325.00 contingent upon successful
receipt of a waiver to hold this position for this length of time.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The
motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Perotti made and Mr. McGhee
seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of December 7, 2009 at 10:54
pm.
Ayes 5 Nays 0 The motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Therese M. Trotter
District Clerk