CALL MEETING TO ORDER                                                                                                                                 CALL TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 6:34 PM by David Dukler, Board President.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                                                                                              QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield (arrived at 6:37 PM)
Kate Hymes-Flanagan
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
Edgar Rodriguez (left at 6:55 PM)
                                                               
ALSO PRESENT:                 Maria Rice, Superintendent of Schools
                                                               
ROLL CALL
The roll was called as reflected above.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

EXECUTIVE SESSION                                                                                                                                                      EXECUTIVE
Motion made by Rod Dressel and seconded by Don Kerr that the Board of                                                             SESSION
Education move into Executive Session at 6:34 PM for the purpose discussing matters made exempt
under FERPA, negotiations and the employment history of particular individuals.

Motion carried 6 - 0 with 6 members voting.

Out of Executive Session - Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Rod Dressel
that the Board return to Public Session at 7:01 PM.

Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.

CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                                                     CALL TO ORDER
The Public Meeting was called to order at 7:09 PM by David Dukler, Board President.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                                                                                             QUORUM CHECK
Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield
Kate Hymes-Flanagan
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
                                                                Bill Richers, Director of Information & Communications Technology
                                                                Mike Robinson, Director of Food Services
                                                                Barbara Hastie, Coordinator of Special Education
                                                                Kathleen Clark, Coordinator of Special Education
                                                                Beverly Sickler, District Clerk
                                                                Noah Dukler, Substitute Student Representative
                                                                Members of the Public and Press

ROLL CALL                                                                                                                                                                        ROLL CALL
The roll was called as reflected above.

AGENDA CHANGES                                                                                                                                                          AGENDA
                                                                                                                                                                                                CHANGES
President Dukler announced the following Addendum to the Agenda:

Mr. Dukler requested that the board take action on all business items at the beginning of the meeting in order to allow sufficient time for the middle school renovation discussion.

Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Rod Dressel that the board accept the agenda as amended.

Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS                                                                                                                                       PUBLIC COMMENTS

KT Tobin Flusser - Greenworks       
                                                                                                                               
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT – Substitute Student Representative, Noah Dukler, reported on activities and events at the high school.

PERSONNEL                                                                                                                                                                  PERSONNEL

President Dukler requested that the board take action on Personnel Item 7.1 prior to voting on the consent agenda.  Mr. Dukler announced the retirement of Lenape School Principal Stephanie Giammatteo.  Members approved the following resolution with well wishes and regrets.

Motion made by Rod Dressel and seconded by Don Kerr that the Board of
Education approve the following personnel resolution:

7.1          Administrative Resignation for Purposes of Retirement
Recommendation – that the Board of Education, upon the recommendation of Maria C. Rice, Superintendent of Schools, does hereby accept the resignation of the following administrator for purposes of retirement:
               
Stephanie Giammatteo                          Lenape Principal                              Effective 8/28/09

Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.

PERSONNEL (CONSENT AGENDA)                                                                                                                             PERSONNEL
Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Patrick Rausch that the Board of
Education approve the following personnel (consent agenda) resolutions:

7.2          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 teachers at a per diem rate of $100 for the 2008-2009 school year:

Hacker, Cynthia J.

7.3          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:

Kimberly Tvelia
Michael Wilcock
Jena C. Homsey
Edward T. Gluckmann
Tracy L. Corbett

7.4          Home Tutor – Instructional Appointment
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 instructional employee (s) on an as-needed basis with remuneration as per NPUT contract effective for the 2008-2009 school year:
 
Lauren O’ Malley                 Effective 3/18/09 – 06/25/09

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    

Jacqueline LeFevre              Sub. Food Service Helper                   3/5/09                                     $9.50/hr                  as needed

7.6          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 employees:

Name                                      Title                                                       Effective

Hilda Figueroa                      School Bus Attendant                        2/19/09 - 2/18/2010

7.7          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

7.8        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:

Name                                      Title                                                       Effective Date

Andrea Fekishazy                Food Service Helper                            2/27/09
Marion Andola                     Teacher Aide                                        10/16/09 (for purpose of retirement)

7.9          Non-Instructional Hourly Rate Increase

Recommendation - that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee does hereby increase the hourly pay rate for the following:

Name                                                      Title                                                       Increase                                Effective Date
Susan S. Popieluszko                          Claims Auditor                                     $16.50 per hour                     April 1, 2009         

MOTION carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.

OLD BUSINESS                                                                                                                                            OLD BUSINESS

Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Edgar Rodriguez that the Board of Education, after a second reading, adopt the following Policy 3160.

                                                                                                                                                                           ADOPT POLICY 3160
NAMING AND DEDICATING SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERY

The Board of Education is responsible for naming any new facility.  The Board, in its discretion, may establish procedures for the naming of any building or other district property.  In selecting a name for any facility, the Board may take into account those persons who have been involved in the planning, construction or renovation of the facility, or any other relevant considerations. Suitable building plaques or other memorials may be authorized by the Board.

The Board of Education recognizes the importance and benefit of publicly recognizing the outstanding performance and contributions of people associated with our school district. This recognition can take many forms, including a board resolution or proclamation, a memento awarded to the individual, a plaque affixed to a wall in a hallway of a school building designated as a “Hall of Fame”, a plaque affixed to a district facility, the dedication of a facility or part of a facility to an individual or individuals, or other form of recognition deemed suitable by the board.

This recognition should be for a person or persons who have attained substantial national or local prominence, or who have provided significant benefit to the district either in the course of his/her employment or volunteer efforts on behalf of the district.  The recognition may be purchased with district funds authorized by the board, or through funds received by the district from student, community or parent groups or individuals.  The board reserves the right to approve the materials, design and wording of all forms of recognition.

The board also reserves the right to hold a public dedication of any new facilities, structures, plaques or other form of public recognition.  Sufficient notice to the community regarding the date and time of such dedication will be made.

Naming and Dedicating School District Property in Honor of Individuals

I.              Qualifying School District Property

A portion of the school district property can be named, renamed, dedicated or rededicated (collectively referred to as naming) if the property is not presently named or dedicated in honor of an individual and not presently named.   One or more of the following conditions must exist for the property to qualify (the naming shall apply only to that portion of the district’s property as described in each of the four categories):

                Category 1 – Major Enclosed Buildings and Facilities

• Construction or acquisition of a new school district building
• Refurbishment of an existing school district building or consolidation of multiple existing school district buildings for alternative use
• An existing school district building carrying only a numeric designation

                Category 2 – Major Support Facilities and Outdoor Athletic Facilities

• Significant major addition to, or major construction of, a special use area in an existing school district building (e.g. gymnasium, library)
• Construction, reconstruction or extensive refurbishment of a major open area outside and contiguous with a school district building, or a substantially non-enclosed facility not directly adjacent to a school district building and not in Category 1 (e.g. athletic track and/or field not within a stadium, a sports stadium and the associated track and/or field)

               
Category 3 – All Other Outdoor Facilities

• Construction, reconstruction or extensive refurbishment of an ancillary facility outside a school district building and not in Category 1 or 2 (e.g. playground)

               
                Category 4 – All Other Property

• All other minor school district property not in Categories 1-3 (e.g. a newly planted tree on school district property for the specific purpose of dedication as a memorial to an individual)

II.            Qualifying Individuals

• For an individual to qualify, he or she must meet the following criteria:

Category 1 – For the naming of school district property in Category 1, the individual must be recognized nationally or internationally for significant and far-reaching positive contributions in his or her lifetime that have lasting and enduring value to the community in one or more of the areas of Education, the Arts, Science, Medicine, History, Government, Law, Human Rights or Civil rights.

Category 2 – For the naming of school district property in Category 2, the individual must be recognized district-wide, regionally, state-wide, nationally or internationally, for significant positive contributions in his or her lifetime or in service to the school district that have lasting and enduring value to the community in one or more areas of Education, the arts, Science, Medicine, History, Government, Law, Human Rights, Civil Rights or sports.

Category 3 – For the naming of school district property in Category 3, the individual must be recognized community-wide for significant positive contributions in service to the subject or the school district.

III.           Procedures
                                               
1.             A written request for the naming must be submitted to the President of the Board, accompanied by supporting documentation and narrative to illustrate compliance with the above criteria. Residents and/or employees of the district may nominate a person or persons for recognition by submitting a written proposal to the District Clerk.  The request will be forwarded to the Policy Committee for an initial determination of compliance with district naming and dedication criteria. The proposal must include clear justification for the recognition, a specific description of the recognition proposed, the exact wording of any inscriptions, and the materials to be used to fabricate the recognition.  Items should be fabricated so they are as maintenance free as possible.

2.             Hypothetical proposals may also be submitted for an advance indication of technical compliance with the aforementioned criteria subject to a Public Hearing, as described below, and final discretionary approval of the Board.  Such hypothetical proposals shall be forwarded to the Policy Committee for a determination and an indication to the Board of technical compliance.

3.             The Chairperson of the Policy Committee shall call a meeting within 30 days to review the request and supporting documentation.  If the Facilities Committee finds that the request substantially meets the required criteria, and in the judgment of its Committee member’s merits recommendation to the Board of Education, it will forward its findings and a rationale for its recommendation.

4.             For the naming of school district property falling into Categories 1-3, where the Policy Committee recommends acceptance of the proposal, a resolution shall be prepared for review by the board, and if acceptable to a majority of the board, presented to an ad-hoc action team built from one member of public from each standing committee/bldg. level team/DWC that has a member of public, chosen by that committee/team for additional review, and the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s appointed representative. The ad-hoc team will report and recommend to the full board within one month from the Board’s initial vote. Any changes resulting from the ad-hoc action team’s recommendation(s) must be approved by a majority vote of the Board.

5.             Following the conclusion of step 4, if the majority of the board votes to proceed, the board will hold two Public Hearings prior to the board’s final action. A final vote by the full board may be held after the conclusion of the second hearing.

6.             The board shall, by two thirds vote, approve any of the above forms of recognition to be displayed or placed on, or in, or affixed to, district property

7.             The President of the Board of Education shall communicate in writing a response to the proposed naming to the requesting party.
8.             The materials and wording for the plaque commemorating the naming of property in Categories 2-4 shall be approved by the Board of Education by majority vote, and shall be permanently affixed by the school district at, in, or near the property dedicated, as it deems appropriate.

9.             Costs related to approved namings in Categories 2-4 shall not be borne by the school district.

Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.

NEW BUSINESS (Consent Agenda Items 9.1 through 9.3)                                                                               NEW BUSINESS                                                                                                                  
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Rod Dressel to approve a New Business Consent Agenda Items 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 as follows:

9.1          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 approves the following Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) recommendations and student placements: 444, 727, 864, 1694, 11186, 11162, 1789, 10179, 512, 869, 8412, 1792, 1752, 8140, 8141, 6994, 1737, 2611, 8409, 6939, 11309, 9030, 1332, 1697, 8938, 1706, 636, 8162, 11152, 464, 6940, 10650, 9834, 9531, 1084B, 10751, 11291, 11293, 11299, 1039B, 10381, 9618, 1059B, 11287, 10522, 10880, 9127, 9301, 9317, 10965, 9623, 10881

            9.2     Request for Approval to Dispose of Surplus Equipment
Recommendation – that the following resolution be approved:  BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education declares
the items listed below as excess, unneeded property and authorize the sale/disposition of the items.  

Musical Instruments

BOOKS:
Encyclopedia Americana 1986, Academic American Encyclopedia 1988, Collier’s Encyclopedia 1992

9.3    Request for Approval of Health & Welfare Contract – Saugerties Central School District 2008-2009
Recommendation – that the following resolution be approved:  BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education approve the Health and Welfare Contract, forwarded under separate cover, for Saugerties Central School District for a total amount of $526.54 for the 2008-2009 school year for one child who is a resident in the New Paltz Central School District attending a school in the Saugerties Central School District.

                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:
                                                                                                                MIDDLE SCHOOL RENOVATION PROCESS
                                                                                                                         RESOLUTION WITHDRAWN
9.4.   Approval of Middle School Renovation 
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education approve the recommendation of the Facilities Committee to proceed with the process to renovate the New Paltz Middle School at the current site using green construction methods.

Discussion followed regarding the wording of the resolution and the wording of the title of the resolution.
It was suggested that the voting be postponed until all members had a greater understanding of the scope of the
resolution and so that the resolution could be fine tuned.  The purpose of the resolution was questioned.

It was suggested that the resolution be amended to read a follows:

9.4   Approval of Middle School Renovation Process
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education approve the recommendation of the Facilities Committee to proceed with the process to renovate the New Paltz Middle School at the current site using green construction guidelines such as LEED and CHPS.

Steve Greenfield and Don Kerr agreed to amend their original resolution.

Discussion continued.

Steve Greenfield agreed to withdraw the resolution.  No vote was taken.

The following new policy was presented to the board for a first reading.

                                                                                                                                                                FIRST READING
                                                                                                                                POLICY 5260

POLICY 5260 - ADVERTISING, SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDRAISING BY ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY,                   AND BOARD OF EDUCATION

School-business relationships based on sound principles can contribute to high quality education.  However, compulsory student and employee attendance confers on educators an obligation to protect the welfare of their students and employees and the integrity of the learning and professional environments.  Positive school-business relationships should be ethical and structured in accordance with the principle that “Selling or providing access to a captive audience during the mandatory school day for commercial purposes is exploitation and a violation of the public trust.”

The sale of advertising or sponsorship tag lines must be directly related to the educational purpose of the district. 

For purposes of this policy the following definitions apply:

Advertising is the written or graphic statement made by a seller which calls for the public’s attention to it by emphasizing the desirable qualities of the product or service so as to arouse a desire to buy or patronize the advertiser’s product or service.

Sponsorship provides financial or resource support in exchange for ‘tag line’ recognition spoken by a program announcer or printed in a font comparable to those used in the educational production. 

Tag lines are simple statements such as “This [program, segment, publication] is sponsored by [name of sponsor]” and do not include statements made by a seller.

In accordance with this policy, the district will not engage in advertising in its announcements of fundraising and grant awards. Sponsorship tag lines may be employed in both print and visual media as well as in verbal announcements. 

Fund raising projects in which students or employees sell merchandise, provide services, or in other ways solicit money for school activities may be sponsored by school organizations. Any such plan shall have a clearly defined purpose and, in general, shall contribute to the educational experience of students and shall not conflict with instructional programs or state mandates. Fund raising activities away from school property shall be held to a minimum and subject to approval by the Superintendent.

The School District will only pursue grants and fundraising from sponsors whose business activities conform to Board of Education standards as outlined in Policy 5410 Section M. All merchandise used in fundraising will conform to Board of Education standards as outlined in Policy 5410 section M.

Motion mad by Rod Dressel and seconded by Don Kerr that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:

                                                                                                                                                                SEQRA FOR LENAPE VAULT
9.6          Request to Approve the SEQRA for the Lenape Vault

Recommendation - that the Board of Education approve the following resolution:

                WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the New Paltz Central School District is contemplating a capital project involving the construction of a vault in a storage room at Lenape Elementary School (the “Proposed Action”); and

                WHEREAS, the Board of Education wishes to comply with the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); and

                WHEREAS, the Board of Education has reviewed the proposed Scope of Work and the Type II criteria set forth in the SEQRA Regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617.5 and has determined that the Proposed Action is a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(8) of the SEQRA Regulations;

                THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the New Paltz Central School District is hereby designated as lead agency under SEQRA for the Proposed Action and determines that the proposed construction of a vault in a storage room at the Lenape School is a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c) (8) of the SEQRA Regulations and will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment, and that no further review of the Proposed Action is required.

Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.
                                                                                                                                                                               
BOARD COMMUNICATIONS

• OATH OF OFFICE – For the record, District Clerk Beverly Sickler announced that Kate Hymes-Flanagan had taken her Oath of Office as a newly appointed member of the Board of Education in the presence of a notary public on March 13, 2009.  Ms. Hymes-Flanagan was appointed by the Board of Education to fill the vacancy left when Laura Walls resigned to pursue other endeavors.  Ms. Hymes-Flanagan will serve on the board until the May 19, 2009 election.

• ELECTRONIC BOARD PACKET – Members offered their opinions regarding the newly implemented electronic packet.   The advantages and disadvantages were discussed for purposes of coming to a decision on if and how to proceed.  It was decided that the electronic packet would continue to be available via the district’s website but that hard copies would also be made for members who wish to pick them up at the District Office.  Hard copies of the agenda will always be provided at the board table.  Patrick Rausch suggested that the number of files in the electronic packet be minimized for ease in doing searches and to eliminate confusion.

• SCOPE OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT – Chair of the Facilities Committee Don Kerr opened the discussion regarding the scope of the Middle School Project.  Using the Existing Facilities Evaluation document provided by Rhinebeck Architects, numerous issues including the possibility of an RFP were discussed.

EXECUTIVE SESSION                                                                                                                                        EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Steve Greenfield to move into Executive Session to discuss contractual issues at 8:30 PM.

Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                                                                                              QUORUM CHECK
                                                                Roderick Dressel Jr.
David Dukler
Steven Greenfield
Kate Hymes-Flanagan
Don Kerr
Patrick Rausch
                                                                Edgar Rodriguez
                                                               
ALSO PRESENT:                 Maria Rice, Superintendent

President Dukler appointed Maria Rice to serve as Clerk Pro Tempore for the remainder of the meeting. 

Out of Executive Session
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Patrick Rausch that the Board                                                            RETURN
return to Public Session at 9:30 PM.                                                                                                                 PUBLIC
                                                                                                                                                                                                SESSION
Motion carried 7 - 0 with 67members voting.

MINUTES OF MEETING   

Motion made by Steve Greenfield and seconded by Rod Dressel
that the Board of Education approve the following:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      MINUTES
                                                                                                                                                                                                3/4/09
BE IT RESOLVED that the New Paltz Central Schools Board of Education accept the minutes of the
Community Budget Forum Meeting of February 25, 2009 and the Regular Workshop Meeting of 
March 4, 2009.

Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.

Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Kate Hymes-Flanagan that the Board of
Education approve the following resolution:

                                                                                                                         PROCESS TO RENOVATE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

9.4   Approval of the Process to Renovate the Middle School
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education approve the recommendation of the Facilities Committee to proceed with the process to renovate the New Paltz Middle School at the current site using green construction guidelines such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) and CHPS (The Collaborative for High Performance Schools).

Motion carried 6 YES – 1 NO (Rod Dressel) with 7 members voting.

Rod Dressel noted for the record that he voted against the resolution because it is to renovate at the current location and he is still not convinced that the current site is the best decision.  However, once approved he is giving his support.

Steve Greenfield asked to be on the record as being disappointed with the wording in the title of the resolution but he voted yes and will support the resolution as well.

FINANCIAL REPORTS                                                                                                                                   FINANCIAL REPORTS
                                                                                                                                                                                FEBRUARY 2009
Motion made by Don Kerr and seconded by Steve Greenfield that the Treasurer’s Report for            
February 2009 and Budget Transfer Schedules #7 be approved.               

Motion carried 7 – 0 with 7 members voting.

ADJOURN                                                                                                                                                                            ADJOURN
Motion made by Patrick Rausch and seconded by Kate Hymes-Flanagan that the Board
adjourn at 9:51 PM.

Motion carried 7 - 0 with 7 members voting.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________
Beverly J. Sickler
District Clerk

________________________
Maria C. Rice
Clerk Pro Tempore