PROPOSED                                                 APPROVED MINUTES

MINUTES                                                          APRIL 6, 2006

of the                                        SPECIAL MEETING of the BOARD OF EDUCATION

of the

SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Held in the Senior High School, Room 11

Conklin, New York, County of Broome

 

 

MEMBERS     Mrs. Janice Young                                                

PRESENT:      Mrs. Eleanor Hamilton                                         

                       Mr. John Pollock                                                  

                       Mrs. Mary Haskell                                   

                       Mrs. Alicia Bishop                                               

                       Mrs. Christine Moriarty 

                       Mr. Raymond Storm (arrived at 7:04 p.m., personal)

                       Mr. Kevin McGuigan

                       Mrs. Julia Bowers

 

ALSO             Mrs. Carol Boyce, Superintendent

PRESENT:      Dr. Renee Stalma, Assistant Superintendent

                       Mr. Mark Gorgos, Legal Advisor to the Board

                       Ms. Diane Kalmen, District Clerk

                       Ms. Celia Bucek, District Business Coordinator

                       Mr. Jim Hull, Public Information Specialist

                       Mr. David Daniels, High School Principal

                       Mr. Charles Hutchinson, High School Assistant Principal

                       Mr. Gerardo Tagliaferri, Middle School Principal

                       Ms. Joanne Simpson, Brookside Principal

                       Ms. Mary Frances Charsky, Donnelly Principal

                       Mr. Angelo Ranieri, Director of School Facilities

                       Ms. Maureen Kline, Director of Special Services (CSE)

                       Mr. Joel Wilson, Director of Health, P.E. and Athletics

                       Mr. Cliff Kasson, Administrative Intern, Donnelly, and Technology Teacher, High School

                       Mrs. Karen Bidwell, Physical Education Teacher and Administrative Intern, Middle School

                       Mr. Jack Bell, resident, and member of Budget Advisory Committee

                       Mrs. Mary Rader, resident, and member of Facilities and Capital Projects Advisory Committee

                       Mrs. Sandra Ruffo, resident, and member of Program and Restructuring Committee

                       Mr. Bill Bialy, resident, and member of Audit Committee

                       Ms. Marcia Guardia, Country Courier

                       2 residents, 1 student

 

Mrs. Young, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and led the salute to the American flag.

 

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, to accept into record the attendance for the April 6, 2006 Special Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pollock, to approve the minutes of March 9, 2006 Special Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses) 

 

Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bishop, to approve the minutes of March 16, 2006 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses) 

 

VOICE OF THE PUBLIC #1 – Mr. Jon Burgman spoke regarding publicizing the proposed 2006-07 budget.  Mr. Burgman stated that the publicity was better last year than it has been in previous years.  Mr. Burgman also stated that the residents need to know that the difference in their taxes between the budget being approved and being defeated is very small.

 

Mrs. Mary Rader reported that Kara Gorgos has been named Scholar Athlete of the Week on WBNG-TV.

 

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Mrs. Boyce

Resolutions – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, to approve the following resolutions:

Special Education Recommendations – That the Susquehanna Valley Board of Education:

*    Authorize the 1 service recommended on CSE list dated March 6, 2006

*    Authorize the 17 services recommended on CSE list dated March 8, 2006

*    Authorize the 10 services recommended on CSE list dated March 15, 2006

*    Authorize the 14 services recommended on CSE list dated March 21, 2006

*    Authorize the 13 services recommended on CSE list dated March 28, 2006

*    Authorize the 1 service recommended on CSE list dated March 28, 2006

*    Authorize the 5 services recommended on CSE list dated March 29, 2006

*    Authorize the 3 services recommended on CPSE list dated March 17, 2006

 

Appointments – That the following emergency conditional appointments be approved pending fingerprint

clearance and criminal background check:

Name                                Position                          Certified                    Rate of Pay          Effective Date

Beverly McKenzie          Substitute Teacher Aide                                       $7.06 Per Hour            4/7/06

Laura Goldberg              Substitute Teacher               Non-Certified             As Per Contract            4/7/06

Laura Goldberg              Substitute Teacher Aide                                       $7.06 Per Hour            4/7/06

Karen Hansen                Substitute Teacher               Certified                    As Per Contract            4/7/06

Heather Yurka               Substitute Teacher               Non-Certified             As Per Contract            4/7/06

 

Instructional Resignation – That the resignation of Tonia Warpus, reading recovery teacher, Brookside, be accepted effective June 23, 2006. 

 

Senior Class Trip Donation – That be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accept the donation of

snack food from Frito Lay for the senior class trip to Orlando, Florida;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education extends its sincere appreciation for this generous donation.

 

Band Disposal – That 16 Wenger band shells be disposed of due to their age and they have had to use some to repair others, and are now a safety hazard to students and staff.

                                                                                                        

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (9 yeses)

 

Biennial Review – Dr. Stalma gave an overview of the Biennial Review.  Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that the Board of Education acknowledge the Biennial Review that recertifies the District Plan for the participation of parents and teachers in School Based Planning and Shared Decision Making.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses, Mrs. Bishop stepped out)

 

Mrs. Boyce reported that there has been a possible exposure to shingles in one of the elementary schools.  The appropriate notices have been sent out regarding this.

 

Mrs. Boyce reported that there is no information yet on how much an extended teacher retirement incentive would cost.  She will let the Board know when information is available.

 

Mrs. Boyce reported that the Audit Committee met and reviewed the RFPs for auditors.  The committee will be meeting next week to finalize a recommendation for the Board.

 

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Dr. Stalma

High School Presentation – Mr. David Daniels gave a presentation on the Building Leadership Team, talking about the initiatives that have been formed and the changes that have occurred in the last five years.  Dr. Stalma talked about the task force for student transition from 8th to 9th grade and thanked Mr. Hutchinson for heading this.  Dr. Stalma also talked about podcasting, which puts classes on the internet for students to download and watch.

Mrs. Young reported that the Budget Advisory Committee, the Facilities and Capital Projects Advisory Committee and the Program and Restructuring Advisory Committee have been meeting.  A Community Forum Night with Carol Boyce, Conklin Town Supervisor Debra Preston, Town of Binghamton Supervisor Tim Whitesell, and Town of Kirkwood Supervisor Gordon Kniffen has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 19.

 

VOICE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS – Mr. Wilson reported that the Health and Safety Committee met.  The Committee is working on a Wellness Plan which is required to be in place for the 2006-07 school year.  The Plan will be brought to the Board in June.

 

Mr. Tagliaferri reported that Karen Bidwell is an administrative intern in the Middle School.  Mr. Tagliaferri also reported on events at the Middle School:  Odyssey of the Mind – six teams competed, four placed; Drug Quiz Show – placed fourth out of nine teams; BCMEA All County Music Festival; Science Olympiad; Music in Our Schools month; ADSIP peer leader presentations; and high school planning meeting for parents.  Mr. Tagliaferri also reported that students Vincent Chong, Matt Cornwell, Sarah Haskell, Emily Schuster and J.P. Yezzi were chosen, from essays they wrote, to appear in a Keeping Youth Drug-Free and Safe (KYDS) Coalition commercial.

 

Ms. Charsky reported that Cliff Kasson has been an administrative intern at Donnelly this year.  Ms. Charsky reported on events at Donnelly:  the scoring of math tests; emergency drill week; fundraising project for sister school in Uganda which raised $2,500; Odyssey of the Mind teams; Music in Our Schools month; volunteer appreciation dinner being held on April 24; and the annual art show being held April 27.

 

Mrs. Simpson reported on events at Brookside:  kindergarten registration for all the elementary schools; Taylor Wolfe, student, was in a YESCAP commercial; after-school enrichment program; and science fair.  Mrs. Simpson thanked Lori Coe for coordinating the poetry recitation and Laura Pilotti for coordinating the 2nd annual math night.  Beth Bieber will be named the Educator of the Week on WBNG-TV next week.

 

Mrs. Kline reported that CSE is also getting ready for kindergarten registration.

 

Mr. Daniels reported that Community Night is being held on April 7 and on May 19 a talent show, Saber Follies, will be held for Dollars for Scholars.

 

Mrs. Boyce stated that she would like to recognize the hard work of the administrative team, especially during this budget time.  Mrs. Boyce stated that every decision made has been made to put the students first.

 

Keith Gorgos, senior at the University of Rochester, has been invited to join Phi Beta Kappa.  Keith was the 2002 valedictorian at Susquehanna Valley.

 

Executive Session – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that the Board of Education meet in

Executive Session to discuss personnel and negotiations.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (9 yeses)

At   8:25 p.m. the Board recessed

At   8:45 p.m. the Board met in Executive Session

At 10:55 p.m. the Board returned to Regular Session

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Storm, that the meeting be adjourned.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (9 yeses)

 

There being no further business, Mrs. Young adjourned the meeting at 10:58 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Diane M. Kalmen

School District Clerk