WEBUTUCK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Webutuck Board of Education held the November 5, 2007 Worksession meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

The following Board members were present:

Dale Culver

Joseph Herald

Andrew Jablonsky

Susan Lounsbury

William McGhee

Absent:

Bernadette Coniglio

John Perotti

Also Present:

Dr. Richard Johns

Linda Peters

Therese Trotter

CALL TO ORDER

President Culver called the Worksession meeting of November 5, 2007 to order at 7:35 p.m.ï¿½ï¿½

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

SUPERINTENDENTï¿½S REPORT

The MRSA bacteria is in our area, there are no known cases in our District.ï¿½ The District has taken measure to make our students safe.ï¿½ The Superintendent had a meeting with the nurses, principals, and custodial staff so everyone is on the same page.ï¿½ There is now a Superintendentï¿½s Regulation that most likely will continue to evolve into the future.ï¿½ The new Regulation now makes the cleaning process much more consistent throughout the District.ï¿½ We are hiring temporary cleaners that will help begin the cleaning process and we hope to implement the cleaning process into our permanent cleanersï¿½ routine.ï¿½ Two main areas that are being cleaned are the locker rooms and the busses.ï¿½ A letter went to all students in Middle School and High School about the procedures being done and students must take home their athletic wear every Friday.ï¿½ An audience member stated she never received a letter.ï¿½ The District will resend the Middle School letter.

Discussion ensued.

The Superintendent stated he has been waiting for the State Funding Formula to change.ï¿½ State monies go to the poor achieving schools while the schools that are doing well receive little money.ï¿½ For the second time in a row, the Webutuck School District has four buildings that are all high achieving buildings.ï¿½ This is a great achievement for our District, students and our staff.ï¿½ The Superintendent congratulated them publicly.ï¿½ A Board member stated this is why he likes to remind people to write their local representatives.ï¿½ We are in a local suburban type of model but we are in a rural area as far as income and we end up on the short end.ï¿½ Discussion ensued.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Facility Committee Report 11/5/07

Mr. Jablonsky reported the Facility Committee met with Tom Ritzenthaler from CSArch. ï¿½He provided us with a draft on three transportation options: one for an existing transportation facility, one for a new transportation facility, and an option to purchase property with the a structure on Haight Road and Route #22.ï¿½ The scopes of work were well defined on all three options however the Committee has asked Mr. Ritzenthaler to come back with some different ideas of laying out a new building at our existing site facility and adding on to the Districtï¿½s existing structure.ï¿½ The Committee is in the process of determining the pros and cons but needs more information before the they can make a recommendation to the Board along with the Superintendent.ï¿½ The draft packet will be given to all Board members in the upcoming Board packet.

DISCUSSION

1. Personnel

A Board member questioned if one of the appointees on the agenda is actually a certified teacher, the Superintendent answered yes. The Superintendent explained that this year the State is mandating that 100% of our teaching staff has to be highly qualified in core areas. The certification has to cover the grade level or subject where they are teaching. The District does have 100% certified teachers in core areas and throughout the District.

A Board member pointed out on #5 under Personnel Recommendations that it should read “approves the following Non-Instructional appointments”. It will be amended for the next meeting.

2. Collaboration with Municipal Governments

We sent letters to the three municipalities (Town of Northeast, Village of Millerton and town of Amenia) inviting them to this meeting to discuss acquiring an emergency generator. The Village of Millerton was the only one that responded.

The Superintendent introduced Mike Haggerty who is a grant writer. Mr. Haggerty updated the Board on his new business as a grant writer and stated he does a lot of work for the Town of Amenia presently. He did exchange emails today with Supervisor Reagon about collaboration on sharing of services with the District. There is a program that might be of interest to the District and the District’s future needs. It is called the New York State Department of State Shared Municipal Services Incentive Grant Program. It is a grant program that offers up to $200,000 grant amounts and there is about $13 million dollars available statewide. They are trying to encourage governments to cooperate in identifying areas to share services. The grant could pay up to 90% of the project costs with local governments or school districts paying a10% cash match. This type of grant can pay for engineering studies and/or feasibility studies of particular issues the District might have. It makes sense and qualifies to seek a grant for a capital improvement plan for the Town of Amenia and the Webutuck School District especially in the areas of recreation and sharing in Health Insurance or Administrative purchasing as well as other possibilities. The application is due in December 14 and requires two entities. It would be great if we had all the municipalities applying for a capital improvement plan because then it would be just the local share for engineering costs. A Board member asked if the District could apply at a later time. Mr. Haggerty responded the grant may be applied for once every year. Another Board member asked if there was discussion about a generator with the Town of Amenia. Mr. Haggerty stated there was not; this grant would not pay for a generator however, it would pay for a feasibility study of a generator or an engineering report. It was suggested to Mr. Haggerty to put a document together for the Board to review at the next meeting to meet the December 14 application deadline. Discussion ensued.

3. Agricultural Advisory Board

Dave McGhee could not make the meeting tonight. He stated the Agricultural Board would make the January meeting.

4. NECC Utilities

The NECC proposed to the Board the utilities costs be $1000 for the use of their space at Millerton Elementary. They are providing the community a service and a lot of the costs they have; Millerton will incur anyway. Another Board member agreed and stated they provide a service to our students and parents. It will be on the next agenda for action.

5. MOA Postgraduate Credits

The District pays $61 dollars for every postgraduate hours that are approved after their Bachelor’s degree. An employee in the District took a unique course at Marist where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree simultaneously. The MOA outlines that the District will pay her for her Master’s degree despite it was taken prior to her receiving her Bachelor’s degree and this is the only case where the District will pay for postgraduate hours in such a circumstance.

6. Bus Garage Alternatives

Tom Ritzenthaler from CS Architects presented the Facility Committee transportation options at tonight’s Committee meeting. The Committee had more questions on the options. Mr. Ritzenthaler will present the new information at the next Committee meeting. If you have any questions please get them to Dr. Johns who will get them to CSArch.

7. Adopt 2008-2009 Budget Calendar

There were questions about dates on the Budget calendar and it will be revised before voting on it at the next meeting.

8. .5 Special Education position

Every year the District staffs Special Education with the fewest teachers that the District thinks will cover the student load. If there are more services necessary then the Special Education staff can provide then the District adds a teacher. The Special Education Chairperson has notified the Superintendent that we need to hire .5 teacher to provide the necessary services to the students.

9. Increase Budget for Insurance Recovery

The School Business Administrator stated this was the theft of computers that occurred last year. A Board member questioned if action had already been taken on this at the last Board meeting. It was decided that it was.

10. Explanation of Audit Findings (P.O.’s)

The School Business Administrator explained this is in response to the Auditor’s findings to the purchase orders. Please note the District Office was following procedures from the old Auditors, the new Auditors are now establishing new procedures. The School Business Administrator explained the purchase order findings of the new Auditors and the new procedures. A Board member questioned that we had the same Auditors for the past couple of years. Yes, we had the same Auditors; however, his procedures have changed from the old Auditors. Discussion ensued.

11. Board Goals and Superintendent Goals

At the November 19 meeting the Board of Education will set the Board goals by reviewing input from Board members and then review the Superintendent’s goals after that.

BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS

No questions were asked.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Audience members had the following comments:

-Is there a Board policy on injured students? I would like to meet with the Board. Dr. Johns suggested the parent come and speak with Dr. Johns tomorrow.

-Is Ms. Brady staying in 6^th grade? No, she is not certified. Discussion ensued.

-There is a request for the students and chaperones that went to the FFA convention to make a presentation to the Board at an upcoming meeting.

-Three municipalities could not come to the meeting tonight however, we received 3000 calls to get out and vote. We should make 3000 calls back to them and ask them what they are going to do about the generator.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 9:03 pm for the purpose of discussing negotiations. The five Board members present voted. The motion carried unanimously.

RECONVENE PUBLIC SESSION

Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 10:55 pm. The five Board members present voted. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Herald seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of November 5, 2007 at 11:00 pm.