Webutuck Board of Education held the DATE meeting at TIME p

Webutuck Board of Education held the June 4, 2007 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

The following Board members were present:

Bernadette Coniglio, President

Joanne Boyd

Dale Culver

Joseph Matteo

John Perotti

Also Present:

Dr. Richard N. Johns, Superintendent

Kevin Geoghan, School Business Administrator

Tracy Trotter, Superintendentï¿½s Secretary

Absent:

Joseph Herald

Susan Lounsbury

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Coniglio called the Business meeting of June 4, 2007 to order at 7:38 p.m.ï¿½ï¿½

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

No comment.

Amenia Recreation Summary ï¿½ Peter Clair

Peter Clair, Recreation Committee Chairperson for the Town of Amenia came to publicly thank the Webutuck School District for the use of their facilities through this past year.ï¿½ He also thanked Mark Lounsbury and his custodial staff for their support of all of the programs.ï¿½ Amenia Town Recreation Committee had the following activities at Webutuck: tennis, scrapbooking and card making classes, cooking class, kick boxing, aerobics, volleyball, basketball, walkers club and tae kwon do.

Members of 2008 Class ï¿½ Sr. Trip

The 2008 Class President Chris Altmann spoke about seeking permission for the 2008 Senior Class to take an overnight trip the later part of May next year.ï¿½ They are looking at Cape Cod, Boston or Virginia to find the best prices or deals.ï¿½ They plan to fundraise to help students with the trip so as many students that want to may go.ï¿½ Approximately 50-60 students are interested in going. Discussion ensued.

Mrs. Panzer, a parent of the School District spoke about the recent 5th grade trip to Montreal and how wonderful it was for both her child and herself.ï¿½ Mrs. Baker did an outstanding job getting the trip together. Mrs. Panzer is concerned with the possibility of there being no more overnight field trips.ï¿½ The Board stated no action has been taken on overnight field trips.ï¿½ Discussion ensued.

SUPERINTENDENTï¿½S REPORT

The Superintendent reported the Webutuck School District was commended for being a high performing/gap closing school.ï¿½ It is a great compliment to the Board, staff and students.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Finance/Audit Committee:ï¿½ the focus was Internal Audit report and choosing an area of High Risk. It was decided that the area would be Financial Accounting and Reporting (Documentation of Procedures). Discussion ensued.

DISCUSSION

1. Personnel

Board members said thank you and good luck to the teachers who are retiring.

2. Board Policies

First Reading

The Board will review the following policies as a first reading:

Policy #502 Student Conduct and Discipline

A Board member stated it looked like some of the policy was missing from one copy to the current copy. The original document will be reviewed and the necessary changes made. Appropriate cell phone language in the policy was discussed at length. Discussion ensued.

Second Reading

No Discussion.

The Board will review the following policies as a second reading:

Policy #008 Meetings

Policy #008a Consent Agenda

Policy #009 Annual Meeting, Election and Budget Vote

Policy #010 Legal Duties of Officers

Policy #011 Delegations

Policy #012 Minutes

Policy #013 Internal Board Policy on Self Evaluation

Policy #100 Purpose, Beliefs and Responsibilities

Policy #101a Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco and Other Substances

Policy #101c Dangerous Weapons in School

Policy #102 Nondiscrimination

3. Approval of Policies

A Board member questioned the exclusion of any mention about mandated Fiscal Oversight Course and whether it should be added to Policy #005. It was decided the wording should be “Newly elected Board members will attend any training as required by law”. Discussion ensued.

The Board will review the following policies as a third reading:

Policy #005 Membership

Policy #006 Meeting Times

Policy #007 Reorganization Meeting

Policy #412 Family Medical Leave Act

4. Creation of EBMS Cooking Club, EBMS Digital Photography Club, EBMS Stamping Club, Safesitter Club

It was noted that these clubs are great. The more clubs offered the more children will be involved.

5. Approval of Negotiator for WTA negotiations

A Board member stated in his experience impasse is not good. Collaboration is better but if neither side is willing – it is not possible.

6. Creation of Athletic Club

Gate receipts would be collected at Varsity events. A Board member asked how they would collect gate receipts at a soccer game here at Webutuck. Who will decide how much is charged? There is a standard fee. Will the Board get a report on this club? It will come to the Board same way the Board get reports on other clubs. Discussion ensued.

7. Approval of EBMS Social Studies Textbooks

No comment.

8. June 25 Board Meeting

Several things need to be discussed whether the Budget passes or fails.

9. Retreat Date

New Board members are invited to attend. Mr. Jablonsky would like to see an agenda before deciding on attending.

10. Senator Leibell Money

The Board has to make a decision on how to book that money for next year. The Superintendent is recommending $10,000 go to support the Millerton Playground, a decision on the remainder of the money needs to be made. Discussion ensued.

11. MES Building

The five year Building Condition Survey identified three unsatisfactory items at Millerton Elementary: the windows, the roof, and the driveway. The Superintendent stated the District could use EXCEL funds for any of these items. If the District uses some of the EXCEL funds for these items how far can the District go with updating the security system in all the buildings? The Superintendent stated what he is hearing from the Board is EXCEL funds should be used for a new well, a new roof and begin to update the security system. Discussion ensued.

12. Medicare Part B Payments to WTA Members

Board members spoke that the payment language should be put into a policy and not added to the contract.

13. Used Oil

Ms. Lounsbury emailed the Superintendent and wanted to wait and discuss this issue when she was present. No action will be taken at this Board meeting therefore discussion took place. A Board member asked if the oil could be used anywhere in the District. It is being stored on District property and the District has to pay to have it removed. The District will look into what it would cost to buy a furnace to use the oil. Discussion ensued.

14. Donation of Computers

No comment.

15. Reserve Fund Year-End Adjustments: Tax Cert. & Unemployment Insurance Reserves

No comment.

The Board President asked about the Internal Audit. Internal Auditors have five areas of high risk. The State is mandating at least one area be looked at. The Finance Committee Chair suggested Financial Accounting and Reporting (Documentation of Procedures). He felt it would look at the whole process of documenting procedures.

16. Psychological Principals I & II

No comment.

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following comments/questions were brought up by audience members

Will teachers and staff have to conform to the no cell phone rules? The Board has discussed during classroom teaching there should be no cell phone use.

Where would we be transporting the used oil from? It was clarified for the audience member that if we used it onsite there would be no need for transportation.

An audience member stated the roadway going into the Millerton Elementary building needs repairs. The District could talk to the Town of Northeast or Village of Millerton and ask them to take over the maintenance of the road.

The used oil issue is an excellent opportunity for the District to show they recycle and save taxpayers dollars.

A bus driver stated recently there have been problems with skate boards on busses. The two Principals have different views on the issue. The Bus Drivers feel it is a lethal weapon and do not want them on the bus. This is not a policy, it is a safety issue. Discussion ensued.

BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS

A bus driver stated the road to Millerton Elementary School can be fixed by in-house staff with bags of coal patch and save taxpayers dollars.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mrs. Boyd made and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:10 pm for the purpose of discussing Superintendent Evaluation, contracts and negotiations. The five Board members present voted. The motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Perotti made and Mr. Matteo seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 11:17 pm. The five Board members present voted. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mrs. Boyd made and Mr. Perotti seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of June 4, 2007 at 11:18 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Tracy Trotter

District Clerk