Minutes – Workshop Meeting – Board of Education – New Paltz Central High School – February 4, 2009 – 7:00 PM
CALL MEETING TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 6:04 PM by David Dukler, Board President.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
Edgar Rodriguez
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools
ROLL CALL
The roll was called as reflected above.
EXECUTIVE SESSION EXECUTIVE
Motion made by Rod Dressel and seconded by Patrick Rausch that the Board of SESSION
Education move into Executive Session at 6:04 PM for the purpose of discussing the
employment history of particular individuals, matters made exempt under FERPA and
contract negotiations.
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
Out of Executive Session - Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by
Edgar Rodriguez that the Board return to Public Session at 6:55 PM.
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
CALL TO ORDER CALL TO ORDER
The Public Meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM by David Dukler, Board President.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
Edgar Rodriguez
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools
Richard Linden, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Connie Hayes, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Barbara Clinton, Principal, New Paltz Central High School
Richard Wiesenthal, Principal, New Paltz Middle School
Stephanie Giammatteo, Principal, Lenape Elementary School
Debra Hogencamp, Principal, Duzine Elementary School
Dennis DiBari, Assistant Principal, High School
Natalie Rooney, Assistant Principal, Middle School
Antonia Woody, Athletic Director
Bill Richers, Director of Information & Communications Technology
Maureen Ryan, Supervisor of Transportation
Mike Robinson, Director of Food Services
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 PLEDGE
AGENDA CHANGES AGENDA
CHANGES
President Dukler asked the board to consider moving the presentation by District Superintendent
Marty Ruglis to the beginning of the meeting so that he could leave for another appointment.
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Steve Greenfield that the presentation by
District Superintendent Martin Ruglis be moved to after the Spotlight on Program.
Motion carried 6 – 0 with 6 members voting.
SPOTLIGHT ON PROGRAM – LENAPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Lenape Principal Stephanie Giammatteo introduced Foreign Language Teacher Jenny Knotek who along with students from the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades demonstrated their skills in speaking French and Spanish. The students sang, recited and posed questions and answers in the two languages. The demonstration was well received by the audience.
BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Ruglis suggested new ways of leveraging BOCES money through future collaboration in purchasing goods and services as a means of cost savings. He covered current issues that would enhance BOCES services and effectiveness through legislation.
RESIGNATION OF BOARD MEMBER LAURA WALLS
President Dukler announced the resignation of Board Vice President Laura Walls to pursue other endeavors in the Ulster County Comptroller’s Office. The board will take action to accept her resignation with regrets later this evening.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC
COMMENT
KT Tobin Flusser, New Paltz – Budget Reductions & Use of Plastic Cups
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT – Anthony Zraly, Student Representative, reported on activities and events at the New Paltz High School.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORTS & DISCUSSION ITEMS
Questions, answers, and input from the board followed.
Superintendent Rice announced that on February 25 there will be a Community Forum to gather input from the community on alternative revenue sources. The forum will take place at 7:00 PM at the high school. In addition there will be a blog for community members to provide input. Members expressed the need to lower the tax levy even further. It is hoped that additional revenues will be available in order to accomplish this. Mrs. Rice asked that a revised budget proposal not be expected until after the Community Forum and targeted the March 4th board meeting for another presentation. Members will communicate their suggestions in the meantime.
In summary, Mrs. Rice agreed that she will take one month to meet with administrators and union heads in order to see how the district can scale back $600,000 to bring the tax levy down to 5%. She will present a revised budget at the March 4, 2009 meeting of the Board of Education.
COMMITTEE REPORTS – Reports of committee activities and announcements of upcoming meeting dates were made as follows:
FACILITIES COMMITTEE CHARGE: President Dukler asked that the Facilities Committee create a Charge by the time of the Organizational Meeting in order to have an understanding of how and why the committee operates.
MINUTES OF MEETING
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Rod Dressel
that the Board of Education accept the following recommendation: MINUTES
BE IT RESOLVED that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education accept the minutes 1/21/09
of the Regular Meeting of the Regular Business Meeting of January 21, 2009.
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
PERSONNEL (CONSENT AGENDA) PERSONNEL
Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Rod Dressel that the Board of
Education approve the following personnel (consent agenda) resolutions:
It was noted that Kathleen Mironchik, a long time employee of the district, was retiring (Item 12.3). Members of the board expressed their regret and many thanks for her service to the school district.
12.1 Instructional Substitute Appointments - 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 teachers at a per diem rate of $100 for the 2008-2009 school year:
Felipe Antonio Benitez
Katherine L. Fracchia
Scott Timpano
12.2 Instructional Substitute Appointments - 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 teachers at a per diem rate of $80 for the 2008-2009 school year:
John Burdick
Amy Mottola
Jamie Woodcock
12.3 Non-Instructional Resignation – Purpose of Retirement
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 for the purpose of retirement:
Kathleen Mironchik Typist Effective 6/30/09
12.4 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
Tarik Miller Substitute Custodial Worker 1/21/09 $11.00/hr as needed
Emily Tokarz Substitute Custodial Worker 1/21/09 $11.00/hr as needed
12.5 Non-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 non-instructional employee:
Andrea Fekishazy Food Service Helper Effective 1/5/09 to 3/2/09
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.
Sherry Kitay AnnMarie Dixon
Dawn Britton
12.7 Spring Coaching Appointments
Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent, does hereby appoint the following coaches for the 2008-2009 school year:
Coach |
Position |
Stipend |
Kerri Hirsch |
Varsity Girls Lacrosse |
$3,430.00 |
Barry Lipsius |
Varsity Boys Lacrosse |
$3,430.00 |
William Defino |
Junior Varsity Baseball |
$2,910.00 |
Roger Norcross |
Modified Baseball |
$2,080.00 |
Samuel Phelps |
Varsity Baseball |
$3,430.00 |
Thomas Tegeler |
Varsity Girls Golf |
$3,430.00 |
Kieran Bell |
Varsity Boys Tennis |
$3,430.00 |
Michael Vance |
Boys Track Assistant |
$3,330.00 |
Donald Bartlett |
Varsity Boys Track |
$4,420.00 |
Patrick Barberio |
Girls Track Assistant |
$3,330.00 |
Ann Gregory |
Varsity Girls Track |
$5,093.00 |
Jon Stern |
Track Assistant |
unpaid |
George Vladick |
Track Assistant |
unpaid |
Nicole Vitale |
Varsity Girls Lacrosse |
unpaid |
12.8 Appointment of Chaperone/Ticket Taker
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 chaperone/ticket taker:
Tomi Stern Effective 2/5/09 - 6/25/09 $30.00 per evening
MOTION carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
NEW BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Rod Dressel that the Board of Education with regrets and many thanks for her service on the Board of Education accept the resignation of Laura Walls, Board Member and Vice President, as follows:
RESIGNATION OF VP LAURA WALLS
14.1 Request for Approval to Accept Resignation of Board Member Laura Walls
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accept the resignation of Laura Walls as a member of the Board of Education effective January 23, 2009. (The three year term of Ms. Walls expires June 30, 2009.)
Motion carried 6 – 0 with 6 members voting.
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Don Kerr that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
CSE & CPSE PLACEMENTS
14.2 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: 6829, 8127, 10610, 5930, 11328, 10311, 2032, 2546, 1843, 2506, 427, 10581, 10582, 10583, 10742, 2006B.
Motion carried 6 – 0 with 6 members voting.
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Don Kerr that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
DONATION OF MINI SHOPPING CART
14.3 Request for Approval to Accept Donation of a Mini Shopping Cart
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the New Paltz Central School District accept the donation of a mini-shopping cart.
Motion carried 6 – 0 with 6 members voting.
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Steve Greenfield that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:
PHASE OUT APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE
14.4 Request for Approval to Phase Out the Budgeted Appropriated Fund Balance
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accept the recommendation of the Audit Committee to phase out the budgeted appropriated fund balance concurrently with increasing the unappropriated fund balance, and that this be done over a three-year period by reducing the budgeted appropriated fund balance to the following levels: 2009 – 2010 $1,000,000; 2010 – 2011 $500,000; 2011 – 2012 $200,000; and 2012 – 2013 $0 and increasing the unappropriated fund balance to between 3 and 4% by 2012- 2013.
Discussion followed with a variety of changes to the resolution being suggessted. A final version of the resolution was read by Superintendent Rice as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education phase out the budgeted appropriated fund balance concurrently with increasing the unappropriated fund balance, and that this be done over a three-year period by reducing the budgeted appropriated fund balance to the following level: 2009 – 2010 $1,000,000 and increasing the unappropriated fund balance to between 3 and 4% by 2012- 2013.
Don Kerr, who initially suggested that the resolution be altered, withdrew his suggestion. President Dukler asked Patrick Rausch and Steve Greenfield (they made the original motion) if they would accept the friendly amendment to the original resolution. They both agreed.
Mr. Dukler Called the Question.
Motion carried as amended 6 – 0 with 6 members voting
OTHER DISCUSSION OTHER DISCUSSION
Don Kerr suggested that a compilation DVD be made of the Spotlights on Program by someone who has volunteered to take on this task. This will be put on the Comeback List.
PUBLIC COMMENTS PUBLIC
COMMENT
KT Tobin Flussser, New Paltz – Budget & Vacant Board Seat
ADJOURN ADJOURN
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Rod Dressel that the Board
adjourn at 10:00 PM.
Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
Beverly J. Sickler
District Clerk