Minutes – Regular Business Meeting – Board of Education – New Paltz Central High School – January 21, 2009 – 7:00 PM
CALL MEETING TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 6:05 PM by David Dukler, Board President.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
Edgar Rodriguez
Laura Walls
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools
Richard Linden, Assistant Superintendent for Business
ROLL CALL
The roll was called as reflected above.
EXECUTIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE
Motion made by Laura Walls and seconded by Rod Dressel that the Board of SESSION
Education move into Executive Session at 6:05 PM for the purpose of discussing the
employment history of particular individuals, matters made exempt under FERPA
and contract negotiations.
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
Out of Executive Session - Motion made by Laura Walls and seconded by
David Dukler that the Board return to Public Session at 7:00 PM.
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
CALL TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER
The Public Meeting was called to order at 7:12 PM by David Dukler, Board President.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
Edgar Rodriguez
Laura Walls
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools
Richard Linden, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Connie Hayes, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Bill Richers, Director of Information & Communications Technology
Beverly Sickler, District Clerk
Anthony Zraly, 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 Dukler announced that there are no agenda changes. Don Kerr asked that an agenda change be considered.
(The following conversation is recorded verbatim because a motion was introduced by Don Kerr and seconded by Steve Greenfield at the outset of the conversation but not refined or fully articulated until later in the discussion. A vote was taken later on with wording that evolved and developed after it was first stated by Don Kerr. BOLD print highlights verbiage relating to board action.)
MOTION
Don Kerr: I would like to make a motion for an agenda change. As I looked at this agenda…. it seems lacking in discussion of educational matters and when I come to these meetings I like to devote a good chunk of the meeting to education… I’m looking at a 40 minute block of time to discuss Operational Guidelines. I kind of think we can do this in a little less time. Looking later in the agenda there is the request for the board to pass approval of an Educational Master Plan for the district and I guess my suggested agenda change would be that I’d like to devote 20 minutes of that 40 minute block of time to education because it seems to my way of looking at things to discuss Board Operational Guidelines for 40 minutes and not discuss at all something as fundamental and major and central to our duty as the passage of an Education Master Plan I just would request that change. It seems it would be more balanced.
David Dukler: Don is proposing to ……
Don Kerr: …to maintain the time…..
David Dukler: to have 20 minutes noted as a guideline on the agenda as we have in the past – that’s your proposal? Do we have a second so we can discuss it?
Steve Greenfield: I second it.
David Dukler: OK – Let’s see if we can in the spirit of that have a discussion on the motion, but kind of keep our discussion pointed please.
Discussion continued with members expressing their opinions on the merits and disadvantages of holding a retreat to discuss the Operational Guidelines.
David Dukler: Can we Call the Question?
Rod Dressel: So we’re voting on the educational part and it’s not only about a retreat now? Just so I’m clear.
Laura Walls: Don suggested we take 20 minutes from Guidelines and put it to the Educational Master Plan.
David Dukler: Was there a part in the motion to move it up?
Don Kerr: ….take that discussion to Board Communications.
Patrick Rausch: We should still move #5 (Board Communications) to the end of the agenda because it’s clear that the students won’t be here when we get to this item.
David Dukler: Let’s move expeditiously. Maria, can we read back the motion that we’re voting on?
MOTION
Maria Rice: Motion moved by Don Kerr and seconded by Steve Greenfield was to change the agenda so that the Educational Master Plan could be discussed during 5.0 Board Communications. That’s exactly what it is. Others talked about 20 minutes here, 20 minutes there, but the concept is to have a conversation about education.
David Dukler: Does everybody understand the motion? A yes vote means we will discuss the Educational Master Plan at item 5.
Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
MOTION
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Laura Walls to take the Operational Guidelines discussion from the agenda in favor of discussing this at a Board Retreat
Discussion followed.
Motion carried 5 YES to 2 NO (Rod Dressel and Patrick Rausch)
MOTION
Motion made by Laura Walls and seconded by Don Kerr that the board approve the agenda as amended.
Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC
Rachel Busher, NPUT President – Budget
Michael Swigart, New Paltz – Education
Anthony Zraly, Student Representative reported on recent achievements of high school students.
BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
President Dukler asked that the board move Old Business item 8.1 to this part in the meeting for action.
Motion made by Laura Walls and seconded by Don Kerr that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
EDUCATIONAL MASTER PLAN OUTLINE ACCEPTED
8.1 Request for Approval to Accept the Educational Master Plan dated January 2009
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the Educational Master Plan outline dated January 2009 from the Superintendent of Schools and approves the Educational Standards by which the Educational Master Plan will be built. The Board of Education recognizes that such plan is a living and flexible document designed to breathe life into the learning process by guiding and focusing educational programs and practices, administrative procedures, and the board’s decision making and planning process.
Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
MINUTES OF MEETING
Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Patrick Rausch
that the Board of Education approve the following resolution: MINUTES
BE IT RESOLVED that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education accept the minutes of the 1/14/09
Regular Workshop Meeting of January 14, 2009.
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
PERSONNEL (CONSENT AGENDA) PERSONNEL
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Patrick Rausch that the Board of
Education approve the following personnel (consent agenda) resolutions:
7.1 Instructional Substitute Appointment - Certified
Recommendation that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent, does hereby appoint the following certified substitute teacher at a per diem rate of $100 for the 2008-2009 school year:
Frank Ciliberto
7.2 Instructional Substitute Appointment - Uncertified
Recommendation that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent, does hereby appoint the following uncertified substitute teacher at a per diem rate of $80 for the 2008-2009 school year:
Azeem Mallick
7.3 Instructional 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 an unpaid leave of absence for the following instructional employee:
Jenny Denman Effective 1/8/09 – 3/8/09
7.4 Instructional Leave Replacement
Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent, does hereby appoint the following instructional employee:
Marsha Waldman English Effective 2/1/09-3/6/09 MA, Step A
(Replacing Jenny Denman) ($56,920 pro-rated)
7.5 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 Other
AnnMarie Dixon Sub. School Monitor 1/12/09-1/21/09 $8.75/hr as needed
AnnMarie Dixon School Monitor 1/22/09 $9.56/hr 2 hours per day
Dawn Britton Sub. Food Service Helper 12/22/08 $9.50/hr as needed
Dawn Britton Food Service Helper 1/22/09 $10.50/hr 4 hrs per day
Julian Baker Sub. School Bus Driver 1/9/09 $19.00/hr as needed
7.6 Non-Instructional Leave of Absence – Change to Effective Date
Recommendation – that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent of Schools, does hereby approve a change to the effective date for the following non-instructional unpaid leave of absence:
Name Title Effective
Frank Hilton School Bus Driver From To
11/16/08-1/16/09 11/16/08-12/17/08
7.7 Non-Instructional Extended Emergency Conditional Appointment
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 employee for an additional 20 days in anticipation of fingerprinting clearance.
Sherry Kitay
MOTION carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
OLD BUSINESS OLD BUSINESS
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Rod Dressel that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
CORRECT RECORD REGARDING FALSE STATEMENTS AND INACCURATE STATEMENTS
8.2 Request for Approval to Correct the Record Regarding False and Inaccurate Statements
Whereas, Board member Steve Greenfield wrote a letter to the editor that was published in the New Paltz Times on January 1, 2009 that contained certain statements and allegations regarding the actions of the Superintendent of Schools and Board of Education involving the alleged improper use of money designated for the middle school renovation study; and
Whereas, the Board of Education disputes the accuracy of Mr. Greenfield’s statements and allegations contained in the letter to the editor and, therefore, deems it necessary and appropriate to issue an official response correcting the factual inaccuracies and innuendo in such letter; and
Whereas, the Board President issued a media response by letter to the editor to the New Paltz Times, which was signed by him on January 6, 2009, correcting certain factual inaccuracies, misleading statements and innuendo in Mr. Greenfield’s letter;
Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that in the interest of creating an enduring and accurate public record describing the actions of the Superintendent of Schools and Board of Education involving the use of money in the school budget for the middle school renovation study as well as for development of the District’s Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan, the Board hereby votes to have its District Clerk spread across the minutes of this meeting (see page 8 of these minutes) the full text first four paragraphs of the letter to the editor issued by Board President David Dukler as the official position statement of the Board of Education regarding the facts and circumstances surrounding the budgeting and use of funds for the middle school renovation study.
Discussion followed. Steve Greenfield explained his intentions in the use of the word “improper” in his letter to the editor. He agreed to approve the above resolution if the board would entertain omitting the last three paragraphs of David Dukler’s letter to the editor from the record in the minutes of this meeting. Objection to altering David Dukler’s letter was expressed by Rod Dressel and Patrick Rausch since the letter was already put out to the public. Members continued to share their views.
Mr. Greenfield confirmed that it was not his intent in his letter to the editor to imply that anything unethical was done by other board members or the superintendent.
Laura Walls asked if Patrick Rausch would be willing to amend his original resolution by agreeing to remove the last three paragraphs of David Dukler’s letter to the editor from the record so that only the first four paragraphs of the original letter will be memorialized in these minutes.
Patrick Rausch agreed to amend the resolution by changing the words “full text” to “first four paragraphs” and Rod Dressel who seconded the original motion also agreed.
Motion to approve the resolution as amended carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
NEW BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS
Motion made by Laura Walls and seconded by Rod Dressel that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
CSE & CPSE PLACEMENTS
9.1 Request for Approval of Committee on Special Education Recommendations and Student Placements
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: 1068B, 10001, 9827, 10060, 10135, 10043, 10186, 10032, 10946, 10901, 1063B, 11298, 9531, 1072B, 1056B, 9623, 11299, 9317, 10516, 10515, 1070B, 10927, 10139, 9579: 9101, 10234, 1697, 6804, 6043.
Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Don Kerr that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT STUDENT NO. 2453
9.2 Request for Approval of Settlement Agreement in the Matter of Student No. 2453.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves a Settlement Agreement in the matter of Student No. 2453;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Superintendent of Schools shall be authorized to sign such agreement on behalf of the Board of Education.
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting. (Patrick Rausch was not in the room.)
FINANCIAL REPORTS FINANCIAL REPORTS
Motion made by Laura Walls and seconded by Don Kerr that the Treasurer’s Report for
December 2008 and Budget Transfer Schedules #5 be approved.
Motion carried 6 – 0 with 6 members voting. (Patrick Rausch was not in the room.)
PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC
COMMENT
None
EXECUTIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE
SESSION
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Laura Walls to move into
Executive Session at 9:33 PM to discuss
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
Edgar Rodriguez
Laura Walls (left 10:35 PM)
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Rice, Superintendent
Out of Executive Session
Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Patrick Rausch that the Board RETURN
return to Public Session at 10:46 PM. PUBLIC
SESSION
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
ADJOURN ADJOURN
Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Patrick Rausch that the Board
adjourn at 10:47 PM.
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
Beverly J. Sickler
District Clerk
January 6, 2009
Letter to the Editor of the New Paltz Time:
In the most recent issue of the New Paltz Times, a letter to the editor was written by a member of the Board about an educational facilities master plan that had been discussed publicly at the previous meeting. In the letter, certain statements were made that contained factual inaccuracies as well as errors implying future actions and intent of the Board members. It is my purpose to clarify those statements so members of the public can have correct information available to them. My comments are in no way meant to be interpreted as commentary upon the motives, passions or opinions of my fellow Board members. My comments are meant to address two areas only: the accuracy of the statements in the letter and how Board members should operate after a majority of the Board makes a decision by public action.
First, the letter makes statements which do not reflect an accurate understanding of what transpired at the December 17, 2008 meeting. After Board discussion in open meeting on that evening, a majority of the Board asked the Superintendent of Schools to place an item on the agenda at an upcoming meeting to create and issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) “for the services of a consultant/firm to facilitate the development of the district’s Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan.” The Board indicated that the work must include an assessment of all demographic information available so as to have the best possible information about the future growth of the district’s school-age population so that a Facilities Master Plan can be created that would be based on “agreed upon demographics to be provided by a demographics consultant. The letter alleges that the Board is looking to move forward without that data. That is clearly not the case.
The letter also states that the monies for this project were going to be inappropriately taken from funds committed, by voter approval, to the middle school renovation study. Further, money is available in the 2008-09 school year budget for consultant services for facilities planning in budget line A1621-435. A school district budget is a dynamic document and changes as the school district’s circumstances and needs change. The statements in the letter imply that the proposal for a consultant to facilitate the development of the district’s Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan is improper and that the Board is acting improperly in using the funds in budget line A1621-435 for that purpose. The Board’s actions are legal and the funds are being used appropriately.
The writer states that “…hiring the planner means not advancing the middle school study--period…” The implication is that this is an either/or proposition. Again, this is inaccurate. There is nothing in the request that the Board has made that indicates a desire, intent or a “reality” that would preclude action continuing on the middle school study. While the letter would leave the public with the impression that the Board is reneging on its commitment to address the condition of the middle school, in fact, as promised, we are currently in the final phases of working with a consultant who is performing a Facilities Assessment focused on the middle school so we will be able to move to the next phase of understanding the nature of the work that needs to be done to rehabilitate the middle school onsite.
David Dukler
David Dukler
President
New Paltz CSD Board of Education