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APPROVED MINUTES PROPOSED JUNE 30, 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 (arrived at 7:08 p.m. personal) Mrs. Eleanor Hamilton Mrs. Susan Pollock
ABSENT: Mrs. Alicia Bishop (out of town)
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Richard T. Stank, Interim Superintendent Mr. Michael Melamed, Interim Assistant Superintendent 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 Mr. Norman Cline, Social Studies Teacher, High School Ms. Mary Frances Charsky, Donnelly Principal Mrs. Sue Ganoung, 2nd Grade Teacher, Cedarhurst Mr. Charles Hutchinson, High School Assistant Principal Mrs. Sue Woolsey, Special Education Teacher Aide Mr. Roland Doig, Middle School Assistant Principal and SVESSA President Ms. Oneitta Ludwig, English Teacher, High School and Mrs. Gert Jenkins, Cook Manager, High School Cafeteria SVTA President Mrs. Terri Howard, English Teacher, Middle School Mr. Robert Callahan, Cedarhurst Principal Mrs. Sheri Brewer, Social Studies Teacher, Middle School Mr. Angelo Ranieri, Director of School Facilities Mrs. Lila Acker, Teacher Aide, High School Mr. Joel Wilson, Director of Health, P.E. and Athletics Mr. Kevin McGuigan Ms. Lorraine Buckley, Science Teacher and Mrs. Mary Haskell Department Chair, High School Mr. George Basler, Press & Sun-Bulletin Mrs. Sharon Rowe, Foreign Language Department, Mrs. Elizabeth Einstein, Country Courier High School Approximately 25 residents and 10 students Mrs. Anita Gabriel, Secretary, School Facilities Office
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. Pflanz-May made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, to accept into record the attendance for the June 30, 2005 Special Meeting of the Board of Education. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (7 yeses)
VOICE OF THE PUBLIC #1 – Mrs. Mary Rader publicly thanked the SVTA for their sacrifice in giving up their retroactive raises. Mrs. Rader stated that in all the years she served on the Board she has never seen a sacrifice like this. Mrs. Rader also talked about the situation a few years ago when Town of Binghamton residents were complaining about their taxes. Mrs. Rader stated back then that employees would need to pick up more of their health insurance premiums and the teacher's group has come through. Mrs. Rader thanked Mr. Richard Stank and Mr. Michael Melamed for the job they have done the past few months, stating that it was a difficult time to help us through. Ms. Laurie Henderson also thanked the SVTA. Ms. Henderson stated that as an educator herself she knows the extra time teachers put in and the money they spend out-of-pocket for their classroom. Ms. Henderson also went on to say that she has been talking with people in the community and there are a lot of very uneducated people that do not understand the budget. Ms. Henderson stated that as a result of this the children will have to feel pinches that they should not have to feel. Ms. Henderson feels that the District needs to do a better job of educating the community. Mrs. Elizabeth Finch also thanked the SVTA and stated that she hopes that this sacrifice will trickle up and more people will do the same.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Mr. Stank SVTA Contract – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that the President of the Susquehanna Valley Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools have authorization to execute the proposed agreement between the District and the Susquehanna Valley Teachers Association (SVTA) for the school years July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2009, in accordance with the attached outline. Mrs. Young stated that she hopes everyone realizes what an incredible sacrifice the teachers have made and that she is humbled by it. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
Instructional Appointments – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, that the emergency conditional appointment be approved of Laura Aleksivich, Special Education Teacher, current assignment ½ Middle School, ½ High School, at a salary of $35,111, effective September 6, 2005, eligible for tenure September 6, 2008, pending fingerprint clearance and criminal background check. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
CNCT Contract – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, that the Susquehanna Valley Board of Education approve the funds for the contract between the District and the Susquehanna Valley Certified Non-Classroom Teachers' (CNCT) for the school years July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2008. Upon poll vote the motion was not carried, tie vote. (4 yeses, 4 noes) (Finch, no; Pflanz-May, no; Bowers, yes; Moriarty, no; Storm, yes; Hamilton, yes; Pollock, no; Young, yes)
Adoption of 2005-06 Contingency Budget – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Finch, that the contingency budget for the 2005-06 school year in the amount of $27,985,366 be adopted by the Board of Education. Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)
Mr. Stank presented plaques to Donna Pflanz-May and John Finch for all their dedication and hard work with the Board of Education. Susan Pollock had asked not to receive a plaque, she asked that the money be put into the SV Scholarship Fund instead. Mr. Stank presented Mrs. Pollock with a certificate.
Voice of the administrators – Mr. Stank stated that it has been a pleasure to come back to work at SV, that it has been an unusual year but by working together we have accomplished a great deal. Mr. Stank stated that he is proud of the teachers for giving back their retroactive raises to save jobs. Mr. Stank thanked the SVTA for their sacrifice and also the administrative council for their contributions in coming up with the $250,000 left to cut in the budget. Mr. Stank also thanked the Board of Education for their support and Mr. Melamed, who has done an outstanding job as Interim Assistant Superintendent.
Mr. Melamed has worked in education for 37 years and stated that he has never worked in a district like SV, with such a sense of community. Mr. Melamed stated that all the leaders go out of their way and that the Board of Education's job is thankless and voluntary. Mr. Melamed commented on the number of hours the Board members put in. Mr. Melamed stated that he learned a tremendous amount from Mr. Stank and that it has been a wonderful experience working with him.
SVTA Representative – Oneitta Ludwig thanked Mr. Stank and Mr. Melamed for their work with the negotiating team, stating that she has the utmost respect for them and will miss them. Ms. Ludwig expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Young and Mrs. Bowers for improving communication with the SVTA. Ms. Ludwig stated that she is incredibly proud of the teachers' unselfishness. Ms. Ludwig also stated that the people who voted no for the budget or did not vote at all should be the ones to suffer the consequences of their actions, not the teachers.
MOTION TO ADJOURN – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mr. Finch, 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 7:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted,
Diane M. Kalmen School District Clerk |