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APPROVED MINUTES PROPOSED JUNE 28, 2005 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING of the BOARD OF EDUCATION of the of the SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Held in the Senior High School Auditorium Conklin, New York, County of Broome
MEMBERS Mrs. Janice Young PRESENT: Mrs. Christine Moriarty Mr. John Finch, Jr. Mrs. Donna Pflanz-May Mrs. Julia Bowers Mr. Rusty Storm Mrs. Eleanor Hamilton Mrs. Susan Pollock (arrived at 7:06 p.m. (personal)
ABSENT: Mrs. Alicia Bishop (out of town)
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Richard T. Stank, Interim Superintendent Mrs. Eileen Miller, Music Teacher, High School Mr. Carl Kieper, Coughlin & Gerhart Mr. Evan Romer, Math Teacher, High School Ms. Diane Kalmen, School District Clerk Mr. Richard Brice, Math Teacher, High School Mr. Jim Hull, Public Information Specialist Mr. Don Gerlach, Director, Technology Department Ms. Maureen Kline, Director of Special Services (CSE) Mr. Herman Tio, Psychologist, Special Services Mrs. Joanne Simpson, Brookside Principal Mrs. Jennifer King, 1st Grade Teacher, Cedarhurst Ms. Mary Frances Charsky, Donnelly Principal Mrs. Roxanne Terry, Kindergarten Teacher, Cedarhurst Mr. Charles Hutchinson, High School Assistant Principal Mrs. Sue Woolsey, Special Education Teacher Aide Mr. Gerardo Tagliaferri, Middle School Principal and SVESSA President Mr. Roland Doig, Middle School Assistant Principal Mrs. Gert Jenkins, Cook Manager, High School Cafeteria Mr. Robert Callahan, Cedarhurst Principal Ms. Sue Dean, Secretary, Special Services Mr. Angelo Ranieri, Director of School Facilities Mrs. Christine LaBarre, Senior Typist, Guidance Mr. Joel Wilson, Director of Health, P.E. and Athletics Office and Technology Department Ms. Lorraine Buckley, Science Teacher and Mr. John Pollock Department Chair, High School Mrs. Mary Haskell Mrs. Sharon Rowe, Foreign Language Department, Mr. George Basler, Press & Sun-Bulletin High School Approximately 30 residents and 15 students Mrs. Lila Acker, Teacher Aide, High School
Mrs. Young, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and led the salute to the American flag.
RECORD OF ATTENDANCE – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, to accept into record the attendance for the June 28, 2005 Special Meeting of the Board of Education. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (7 yeses)
VOICE OF THE PUBLIC #1 – Mr. Fran Larkin, President and Head Coach for the Saber Swim Club, asked that the District renew the Club's contract for use of the school facilities for the 2005-06 year. Mr. Larkin also provided the Board with a proposal to take over the modified and varsity swim program. Mr. Larkin reviewed what the Saber Swim Club has done for the District in providing CPR and first aid classes, purchase of equipment, and paying the salary of a diving coach. Mr. Larkin provided the Board with a list of questions he would like answers to regarding the use of facilities, asking what the policies and procedures are for usage requests, what the criteria is for approval of a request, how many outside organizations pay for the use, the facilities request form and liability form, how many groups provide financial reports and have certified coaches. Mr. Larkin also asked how much it costs to run the pool. Ms Claire Pecka also spoke regarding the renewal of the Sabers Swim Club for 2005-06 and how it is a win-win situation for the District.
Mrs. Holly Finch, Mrs. Tina Corbin, Mrs. Elizabeth Finch, Mrs. Debra Wheelock, Mrs. LuAnn Parkhurst, Mr. Jon Burgman, Mrs. Sue Sutton, Mrs. Jennifer Ewanow, Pat Griffin voiced their concerns with teacher cuts, bigger class sizes, and test scores going down because of this. They voiced their concern that administration is top heavy at SV and that better communication with the public is needed. They feel the District and the Board do not listen to their concerns. Mrs. Elizabeth Finch and Mrs. Chris Miller also talked about other school districts in this area offer more to the students such as field trips. Mr. Burgman stated that there was no information given on what the difference in the tax levy would be for the budget that was voted on June 22 and the contingency budget. Mrs. Bonnie Ailport asked why the administrative component of the budget is higher on contingency than it was on the budget voted on June 22. Mr. Frank Lipski voiced his concern over the tax increases for the past three years. Mr. Lipski stated that Owego cut over $300,000 before they put their second budget up to vote and he feels SV did not make an effort. Mr. John Pollock stated that there have been serious financial difficulties for everyone for a few years now. Mr. Pollock stated that he feels the administration does a valuable job for our District, that good teachers need good leadership. Mr. Pollock stated that he agrees with what has been said about communication, that the community needs thorough information. Mr. Pollock stated that we cannot just have complaint sessions without the community knowing what is behind the decisions. Mrs. Sandra Ruffo stated that it is the voters' responsibility to know what they are voting on and if they don't have all the information they feel they need to make the decision, they need to go get it. Mrs. Ruffo stated that SV's administration is not top heavy and that the administrators are necessary to do curriculum development and run the District. Mrs. Ruffo also stated that everything we have here is valuable to the students and we now have to concentrate on fixing the problem rather than pointing fingers. Mrs. Ruffo talked about how complex the budget process is and how other districts have a bigger tax base. Ms. Lorraine Buckley talked about how the District and the Board does listen. Ms. Buckley pleaded with them not to cut the third science lab from the budget that was voted on June 22. The lab was kept in the budget. Ms. Buckley talked about how her biggest fear is that math and science will now be sliced and diced and what the impact of cutting the labs would be.
Mrs. Young stated that the Board has heard everyone's comments and does take them seriously. The Board has always strived to maintain positions. Mrs. Young stated that it is difficult to sit here and look at what cuts might have to be made. Mrs. Young also stated that we will strive to improve communication. Mrs. Young stated that the Board has the children's and the District's best interests at heart. Mrs. Young said she sincerely hopes that the community trusts the Board and the District with the decisions that have to be made.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Mr. Stank 2005-06 Calendar Modifications – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that the Susquehanna Valley School District hold a Superintendent's Conference Day for staff training on Wednesday, September 7, 2005; and the first day of school for students will be Thursday, September 8, 2005. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
July Board Meetings – Mrs. Pollock made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, that the Reorganizational Board of Education meeting be held July 7, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
Summer Student Transportation – Mr. Finch made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that be it RESOLVED, that the bid 04-05:5 Summer Student Transportation was opened and read on June 24, 2005, in the BOCES Central Business Office. The bid is for the transportation of one special education student from their home to school and back home. Let it be resolved that this bid be awarded to Serafini Transportation starting the first day of summer school and ending the last day of summer school at a rate of $40.00 for each one-way trip. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
2005-06 Department Chairpersons – Mrs. Pollock made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that the following Department Chairpersons be approved: Jeff Renner HS Art $3995 Kathleen Searing HS English 5645 Sharon Rowe HS Foreign Language 5385 Jayne Benson MS Library 3960 Ann Laczak MS Life Skills 5475 Evan Romer HS Math 5725 James Apicella HS Music 4035 Lorraine Buckley HS Science 5685 Gina Rachmaninoff HS Social Studies 5645 Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
Leave of Absence – Mr. Storm made a motion, seconded by Mr. Finch, that Christine LaBarre, Senior Typist, assignment H.S. Guidance Office & Technology Department, be granted an unpaid medical leave of absence, effective July 12, 2005 through August 2, 2005. She will use Family and Medical Leave. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Mr. Stank Laborers – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Pflanz-May, that the Laborer appointments be approved of Jonathan Wdowiak (student, son of head groundsman), Eric Freije (current student), Bryan Daniels (student, David Daniels' son), all at a rate of $6.66 per hour, effective July 5, 2005. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
Summer Bus Monitor – Mrs. Pollock made a motion, seconded by Mr. Finch, that the following Bus Attendants (Monitors) be approved of Mark Hunsinger (regular bus driver) and Susan Martin (regular bus driver), both at a rate of $6.41 per hour, effective July 11, 2005, for six weeks. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
BOARD DEVELOPMENT REPORT – No Report
Voice of the administrators – No Report
EXECUTIVE SESSION Mrs. Pollock made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, that the Board of Education meet in Executive Session to discuss negotiations and potential budget cuts. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses) At 7:59 p.m. the Board recessed. At 8:20 p.m. the Board met in Executive Session. At 9:32 p.m. the Board returned to Regular Session.
MOTION TO ADJOURN – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mr. Storm, that the meeting be adjourned. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
There being no further business, Mrs. Young adjourned the meeting at 9:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Diane M. Kalmen School District Clerk |