Webutuck Board of
Education held the
The following
Board members were present:
Dale Culver,
President
Joseph Herald
Andrew Jablonsky
Susan Lounsbury
William McGhee
Joseph Matteo
John Perotti
Also Present:
Dr. Richard N.
Johns, Superintendent
Linda Peters,
School Business Administrator
Therese Trotter
District Clerk
President Culver
called the Business meeting of
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
DISCUSSION
1. Sports Reduction
The Board asked for information on the football program before any
decision is made to cut a sport, which they received. The Board made the decision to field a
Varsity Volleyball team only and a JV Field Hockey team only. A Board member questioned if the integrity of
our budget and vote is intact if the Board does not reduce two sports. It was stated there would be two coaching
reductions and one full sport. The
elimination of football actually is the most expensive sport to run. Discussion
ensued.
2. French Trip
The Board did not receive the requested information on the trip. This item will move to the next agenda.
3. Summer Hiring Program
There was a question on the legality of the District hiring process of the summer workers. The summer workers are not civil service employee or union employees. The EEOC is not driven technically by did the District follow the hiring process of the union or civil service however it looks at is the District excluding a federally protected group (race, creed etc.). The Superintendent stated that in the future the hiring process would be done in a standardized way. A Board member stated going forward we should look to hire through the NECC program first. The District legal council stated that the key in any vacancy would be to look at the bargaining units, does it invade their contract. In this case it does not. The process should be open to all and it should be fair and consistent. What is the response to the District if someone in the community challenges the hiring of these individuals this year. The Legal Council stated the District would have to see what the challenge was. Discussion ensued.
1. Delegations
There were none.
2. Non-Staff Communications
There were none.
BUSINESS AND
OPERATIONS
1. Authorization to increase the 2007-2008
Budget
Mrs. Lounsbury made and Mr. Matteo seconded
the following motion:
The School Business Administrator explained the two options for purchasing the servers. The District could purchase the servers out right or could enter into a three-year lease with BOCES. At the end of those three years the District gives the servers back to BOCES and receives new ones. The District is updating its technology every three years. A Board member asked if the money was to be used specifically for technology. The answer was yes. The Board requested information on what will be done with the money if we lease the servers. The Superintendent recommended spending the Leibell grant money first and the remainder should be used instructionally. Discussion ensued.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby increases the 2007-2008 Budget in the amount of $75,000.00, in Budget Code A2630.200.05 as a result of a grant from Senator Leibell, to be recorded in Revenue Account CodeA3289, with such funds to be expended from A2630.200 05.
The seven Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
CURRICULUM
AND INSTRUCTION
1. Authorization of Sport Program Reductions
Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:
A Board member asked if the motion should be amended to say this
year. It is this years’ budget it cannot
be carried forward.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby authorizes
the elimination of the following athletic programs: Football and JV and Modified Volleyball and Modified
and Varsity Field Hockey in conjunction with the Board’s proposed 2008-2009 budget
and the election results of
1. Approval of French Trip to Europe
This item was removed from the agenda.
The Board is waiting for further information.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the Europe
Trip scheduled for April 5 – April 15, 2009 as a school field trip, as
recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The following are comments made by audience
members:
-What are the academic plans for next
year? We are working within the confines
of the WTA contract with regards to teacher load. The Principals and Superintendent are working
towards who is teaching what.
-What is happening with the Science next
year? Discussion is still taking place.
-Audience member would like to make comments in
Executive Session about student behavior issues.
-The CSEA President stated Rick Ackerman has
stepped down as Vice-President and Jerry Heiser has been voted in as the new
Vice-President.
BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS
The Board President
thanked Mr. McCaffrey for his presentation at the last Board meeting.
Are there
preliminary results on the regents yet?
The Superintendent stated there was no information yet.
There were questions
on the sports camp brochure and on the general camps offered by the
District. The Board requested
information in their Board packets
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session
at 8:29 pm for the purpose of
discussing personnel issues. The seven Board members present voted. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE
SESSION
Mrs. Lounsbury made a motion to adjourn the
executive session and reconvene the public session at 10:40 pm. The seven Board members present
voted. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mr. Perotti made a motion to
adjourn the meeting of
Respectfully submitted,
Tracy Trotter
District Clerk