Webutuck Board of Education held the May 5, 2008 Business/Public Budget Hearing meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

 

 

The following Board members were present:

Dale Culver, President

Bernadette Coniglio

Joseph Herald arrived at 7:49 pm

Andrew Jablonsky

Susan Lounsbury

John Perotti

 

Also Present:

Dr. Richard N. Johns, Superintendent

Linda Peters, School Business Administrator

Therese Trotter District Clerk

 

Absent:

William McGhee

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Culver called the business meeting of May 5, 2008 to order at 7:40 p.m.  

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Audience members had the following comments:

- wondering if there is ability grouping going on in the 9th Grade.

- would like the # of 9th graders on Honor Roll and the history of the class make up in the core curriculum

-If a large amount of students do not pass Earth Science how will the District address that need in their schedules next year.  Is it possible to have a block Earth Science next year?

-There are not enough computer classes currently unless students go through BOCES.

-What is the current status of security in the District?  The project is moving ahead w/ bidding happening in last spring or early summer.

 

2008-2009 PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING

Mr. Perotti made and Ms. Coniglio seconded a motion to open the 2008-2009 Public Budget Hearing.  The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

The School Business Administrator stated the Board and Superintendent have worked very hard on this budget.  They made an effort to listen to the public, looked at the Superintendent’s proposed budget, heard suggestions from the Board and incorporated all into the budget.  The Board was able to arrive at a tax levy of 4.7% by taking $100,000 out of reserves.  We did have to make cost reductions to keep taxes down. The reductions were; cutting 4 teachers, 1 teacher aide, eliminating two sports programs and reducing maintenance program (through BOCES).

 

 

 

An audience member asked who are the four teachers that will be cut.  The Superintendent stated a sixth grade teacher, an ACE teacher and two additional teachers however the District is waiting to see who resigns.  The District will attempt to spread 91 teachers over 95 assignments next year.  Discussion ensued.

 

A Board member stated she like the report card attached to the budget this year.

 

Ms. Coniglio made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded a motion to close the 2008-2009 Public Budget Hearing.  The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

DISCUSSION

1.  French Trip April 2009

A Board member stated students going on these trips need to live by the rules of this District and of the Country they are visiting.  Safety has to be a major concern.   Other Board members want to see a more detailed itinerary and how much unsupervised time there would be.

 

CLERK’S REPORT

1.  Delegations

There was none.

2.  Non-Staff Communications

There was none.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Perotti made and Ms. Coniglio seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussing the recent student trip at 8:05 pm.  The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION 

 Ms. Coniglio made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 8:25 pm.  The six Board members present voted.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

PERSONNEL

1.  Substitute Appointment

Mrs. Lounsbury made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby approves the following Substitute appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

 

            Victoria Jasmin                                   Substitute Teacher Aide

            Effective:  May 6, 2008

The six Board members voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

2.  Non-Instructional Appointment

Mr. Jablonsky made and Ms. Coniglio seconded the following motion:

A Board member questioned if the District found a place for the person who was bumped from this position.  The Superintendent stated yes.  Discussion ensued.

Mr. Perotti moved to table the motion and Mr. Herald seconded it.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the following Non-Instructional Appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

 

            Michael Keupp                                    Sr. Typist

            Effective:  April 21, 2008                   (Replaces Carol Fuller)

The six Board members voted to table the vote.  The motion was tabled.

Dale Culver                 Yes                  Susan Lounsbury        Yes                                         

Bernadette Coniglio    No                   Andrew Jablonsky      Yes

Joseph Herald             Yes                  John Perotti                 Yes

 

3.  Instructional Appointment

Mrs. Lounsbury made and Ms. Coniglio seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Instructional Appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

            Anthony DiUglio                                Secondary Math Teacher

            Effective: April 7, 2008                      (Replaces Erica Dinsmore)

            Tenure Area:   Math 7-12                   Estoppel Date:  August 31, 2010

The six Board members voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried.

Dale Culver                 Yes                  Susan Lounsbury        Yes                                         

Bernadette Coniglio    Yes                  Andrew Jablonsky      Yes

Joseph Herald             No                   John Perotti                 Yes

 

4.  Extra-curricular Appointment

Mrs. Lounsbury made and Mr. Jablonsky seconded the following motion:

A Board member asked if “volunteer” meant that they did not get paid.  The Superintendent stated yes that is correct.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the following Extra-curricular appointment for the 2007-2008 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

            Henry Pollinger                                   Modified Baseball Coach

            Joe McEnroe                                       Volunteer JV Baseball Coach

            John Culligan                                      Volunteer JV Baseball Coach

The six Board members voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

5.  Create One Long-Term Substitute Position

Ms. Coniglio made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the creation of Long-Term Itinerant Substitute, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

The six Board members voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

1.  Increase Short-Term Substitute Teacher Rate

Ms. Coniglio made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:

A Board member asked what the rate had been before the increase.  The Superintendent stated the rates were increased by ten dollars across the board.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Webutuck Central School District approves the increase of Short-term Substitute Rate for the 2007-2008 school year effective May 5, 2008 and amend Policy #402 accordingly, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

 

                                                                                            First 15 days         Days 16-30           Days 31 over          

                Substitute Teachers          

                Certified Teachers                                               $ 90                        $ 95                        $100

                Bachelor Degree College Graduates                $ 85                        $ 90                        $ 95

                Associate Degree School Graduates                                $ 80                        $ 85                        $ 90

                High School Graduates                                      $ 75                        $ 80                        $ 85

The six Board members voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously      

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

1.  Appointment of Officials and Election Inspectors for the May 20, 2008 School Budget Vote for the 2008-2009 School Year

An incorrect vote date was shown in the heading; the revision was made to show the correct date as May 20, 2008.

Mrs. Lounsbury made and Ms. Coniglio seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the appointment of the following persons for the May 20, 2008 School Budget Vote,

 

PERMANENT CHAIRPERSON & CHIEF ELECTION INSPECTOR:

Richard G. Howard

INSPECTORS OF ELECTION

Joan Murphy

Diane Price

Sue McNeil

Mary Ellen Proper

 

Dorothy Newvine

Jane Rossman

Helen Cook

Charlotte Murphy

 

Jean DeWitt

Barbara VandeBogart

 

Peg Coon

Arlene Iuliano                                                

Freida Thompson

Lee Howard                                               

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education requires the Chairperson and each Election Inspector to sign a statement certifying receipt of the “Responsibilities and the Rules of Conduct for School Board Elections”,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Education authorizes the District Clerk to appoint additional officials and inspectors if necessary.

The six Board members voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following comments were made by audience members:

Do we have a long-term substitute position now?  Yes, we have one now.

Is the substitute rate increase retroactive?  No, but it goes into effect today.

#2 Under Personnel the Board talked about the hiring process, did you hire off from that list?  The Board wants to discuss the process that was used to hire the individual.

Has anything been done with the mice issue?  Yes, Terminix is being used.

The students that went into Executive Session, is there anything you want to say to the public?  Why can’t we know?  The Board responded that they are minors.  We cannot discuss any particular individual especially a student.  Discussion ensued.

 

BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS

A Board member stated she wanted to make clear the Board is going to discuss #2 under Personnel in executive session and that the Board’s concern is not with the gentleman or his capabilities but other parts of the process.  The Board President stated that was her opinion.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Jablonsky made and Mr. Herald seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 8:50 pm for the purpose of discussing particular personnel issue. The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION 

Mr. Jablonsky made a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 9:37 pm.  The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Non-Instructional Appointment

Mr. Jablonsky made and Ms. Coniglio seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the following Non-Instructional Appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

 

            Michael Keupp                                    Sr. Typist

            Effective:  April 21, 2008                   (Replaces Carol Fuller)

The six Board members voted to approve the motion.  The motion was defeated.

Dale Culver                 No                   Susan Lounsbury        Yes                                         

Bernadette Coniglio    Yes                  Andrew Jablonsky      Yes

Joseph Herald             No                   John Perotti                 No

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Jablonsky made a motion to adjourn the meeting of May 5, 2008 at 9:43 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Therese M. Trotter

District Clerk