Minutes – Regular Meeting – Board of Education – New Paltz Central High School – April 9, 2008 – 7:00 PM
CALL MEETING TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 6:05 PM by Roderick Dressel Jr., Board President.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch (arrived at 6:09 PM)
Edgar Rodriguez
Michael Swigart
Laura Walls
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools
ROLL CALL
The roll was called as reflected above.
President Dressel appointed Maria Rice as Clerk Pro Tempore for this portion of the meeting.
EXECUTIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Michael Swigart that the Board of SESSION
Education move into Executive Session at 6:05 PM for the purpose of contract negotiations,
litigation, employment history of particular individual, and the matters made exempt under FERPA
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
Out of Executive Session - Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by
David Dukler that the Board return to Public Session at 7:05 PM.
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
CALL TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER
The Public Meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM by Roderick Dressel, Board President.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
Edgar Rodriguez
Michael Swigart
Laura Walls
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools
Connie Hayes, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Barbara Clinton, Principal, New Paltz Central High School
Stephanie Giammatteo, Principal, Lenape Elementary School
Antonia Woody, Athletic Director
Bill Richers, Technology Coordinator
Beverly Sickler, District Clerk
Michelle Birch, Student Representative
Members of the Public and Press
ROLL CALL ROLL CALL
The roll was called as reflected above.
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
AGENDA CHANGES AGENDA
CHANGES
President Dressel announced an additional non-instructional appointment under Personnel item 12.5 as follows:
Melissa Van Vliet Administrative Aide Effective 4/21/08 $37,000 annually (pro-rated)
Motion made by David Dukler and seconded by Laura Walls that the Board of Education accept the agenda as amended.
Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
SPOTLIGHT ON PROGRAM – RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM DEMO: Third Grade Students, Principal Stephanie Giammatteo and Teacher Ann Macur demonstrated the “Morning Meeting”, an aspect and the heart of the Responsive Classroom Program. The children and staff model and practice social skills such as empathy, self-control, and assertiveness. Both social curriculum and academic curriculum go hand in hand. Ms. Macur allowed the children to demonstrate the various parts of the Morning Meeting such as greeting time and sharing time. The children were well received by the board and audience.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC
COMMENT
KT Tobin Flusser, New Paltz - Budget
Jim O’Dowd, New Paltz – Healthy Foods Healthy Kids
Village Board Member- Appreciation to the Board of Education
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT – Michelle Birch, Student Representative, reported on the New Paltz Youth Commission and events and activities taking place at the high school.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS & DISCUSSION ITEMS
Ø SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS – Mrs. Rice introduced Barbara Clinton, High School Principal, who reported on her attendance at the Annual National Culturally Diverse Minority Careers in Education Exposition which actively helps recruit potential educators nationwide.
Ø 2008-2009 BUDGET – Mrs. Rice presented a third version of the proposed 2008-2009 Budget which reflects the most recent information from Senator Bonacic’s office in Albany. Mrs. Rice reported on her efforts in contacting the Governor’s office as well as Assemblyman Cahill and Senator Bonacic to fight for increased aid to New Paltz. High tax aid has been restored along with other assistance according to Mr. Cahill. Mrs. Rice proposed a $48,050,000 budget which is a 5.48% tax levy increase and a budget increase of 6.72%. Mrs. Rice expressed her desire for the board to support this budget. Questions and answers followed with members making suggestions to reduce the tax levy increase even further. Mrs. Rice summarized the comments made by the board and agreed to come back with additional changes based on expected data.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET
KT Tobin Flusser, New Paltz – Healthy Foods, Energy Reduction, AIS, Coordinator of Student Support
Steve Greenfield, New Paltz – Growth of Budget Tripled Rate of Cost of Living Over Ten Years, NYSERDA Review of Facilities, Alternative Fuel, Support Cahill Bill, Property Tax Relief
Jim O’Dowd – Healthy Foods, Grant
Members of the board provided closing comments. Mrs. Rice will bring another proposal to the next meeting for approval.
Ø CODE OF CONDUCT PRESENTATION – Antonia Woody, Director of Athletics, reviewed the process to revise the Code of Conduct. The Health Advisory Committee approved the document which then went to legal council. Legal council updated a few legal terms resulting in the document presented to the board this evening. No new mandates or major changes other than positive language changes were made to the document. Members were given the opportunity to comment and ask questions. Mrs. Walls suggested that “student” and “violent person” be defined. Mr. Rausch commented on school dress. He asked who defines school dress and expressed concern about enforcement/consequences when the code is violated. Suggested changes will be presented to the committee by Ms. Woody.
BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
Ø SUMMER BOE RETREAT – JULY 9, 2008, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Mr. Dressel asked if the board is interested in having an end of the year retreat. July 8 is an alternative date and fits the schedule of the facilitator, Ann Delehant. Discussion followed. It was agreed that July 8 will work for all members. Time and length will be determined at a future time.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Ø FACILITIES COMMITTEE – Rod Dressel announced a Facilities Committee meeting will be held on April 15th at Noon in the District Office Conference Room. The latest revision to the RFP will be reviewed at that time.
Ø COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE – David Dukler announced that the committee will meet on April 24, 4:45 PM to discuss holding board meetings at sites other than the high school.
Ø POLICY COMMITTEE – Patrick Rausch asked that the District Clerk report back to him with the date that Erie 1 BOCES will be able to provide the committee with draft #3 of the Policy Manual.
Ø AUDIT COMMITTEE – Michael Swigart announced that the committee met on April 2 to review policy items that need to be addressed for the State audit.
Ø HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Don Kerr announced that the committee is fully constituted. Congratulations to the committee.
MINUTES OF MEETING
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Mike Swigart
that the Board of Education approve the following recommendation: MINUTES
Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education accept the minutes of the 3/26/08
Regular Business Meeting of March 26, 2008.
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
PERSONNEL (CONSENT AGENDA) PERSONNEL
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by David Dukler that the Board of
Education approve the following personnel (consent agenda) resolutions:
12.1 Instructional Substitute Appointment
Recommendation that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent, does hereby appoint the following instructional employees for the 2007/2008 school year:
Marisa Nadareski Certified $95/day
Christopher Fassett Certified $95/day
Heather Lerner Certified $95/day
12.2 Instructional Unpaid Leave of Absence
Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent of Schools, does hereby approve unpaid leaves of absence for the following instructional employees:
Jennifer Bruntil 6th Grade Teacher Effective 4/28/08-6/30/08
Tina Cusa-Harris 3rd Grade Teacher Effective 7/1/08-6/30/09
12.3 Instructional Appointment - Long Term Substitute
Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent, does hereby approve the appointment of the following instructional long term substitute with remuneration as per the NPUT contract:
Edward Lackaye English Teacher Effective 3/31/08-5/9/08 MA Step 1 $58,340 (pro-rated)
12.4 Non-Instructional Resignation
Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools, does hereby accept the resignation of the following non-instructional employee:
Laura Freer Custodial Worker Effective 3/12/08
12.5 Non-Instructional Appointments
Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent of Schools, does hereby appoint the following:
Name Title Effective Date Salary/Rate Other
Clarissa Blue Sub. Food Service Helper 3/26/08 $8.50/hr as needed
Ronald Finigan BOE Filming 3/31/08 $20.00/hr as needed
Melissa Van Vliet Administrative Aide 4/21/08 $37,000 annually (pro-rated)
12.6 Non-Instructional Extended Emergency Conditional Appointments
Recommendation – that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent of Schools, does hereby extend the appointment of the following non-instructional employees for an additional 20 days in anticipation of fingerprinting clearance.
Hilda Figueroa Jocelyn Swift Ann Berardinelli
Kevin Lawrence Fern Woolsey
Amity Dippel Elani Ackhart
Virginina DiFazio Laura Eckert
MOTION carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
NEW BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS
Motion made by Laura Walls and seconded by Mike Swigart that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
CSE & CPSE PLACEMENTS
14.1 Request for Approval of Committee on Special Education Recommendations and Student Placements
Recommendation - that the following resolution be approved: BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the following Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) recommendations and student placements: 9078, 4847, 10873, 10277, 256, 8828, 8040, 8916, 8944, 1811, 6988, 1444, 1805, 1821, 2565, 1843, 589, 9020, 8972, 10586, 1792, 8404, 4820, 10584, 8938, 1799, 463, 7010,1013B, 9294, 9458, 9439, 10109, 10774, 9151, 8159, 10515, 10516, 9623.
Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Mike Swigart that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
MICHAEL WITTENSTEIN SCHOLARSHIP
14.2 Request for Approval to Establish High School Student Scholarship Award
Recommendation - that the following resolution be approved: BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent, does hereby approve the establishment of the “Michael Wittenstein Memorial Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000.
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
FINANCIAL REPORTS FINANCIAL REPORTS
None were presented.
OTHER DISCUSSION OTHER DISCUSSION
PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC
COMMENT
None
ADJOURN ADJOURN
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by David Dukler that the Board
adjourn at 9:55 PM.
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
Beverly J. Sickler
District Clerk