PROPOSED                                                       APPROVED MINUTES

MINUTES                                                          SEPTEMBER 1, 2005

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. Eleanor Hamilton                                         

PRESENT:      Mr. John Pollock                                                 

                       Mrs. Mary Haskell                                               

                       Mrs. Alicia Bishop                                              

                       Mrs. Christine Moriarty                                        

                       Mr. Raymond Storm

                       Mrs. Julia Bowers

                       Mr. Kevin McGuigan

                      

ABSENT:        Mrs. Janice Young (personal)

 

ALSO             Mrs. Carol Boyce, Superintendent

PRESENT:      Dr. Renee Stalma, Assistant Superintendent

                       Mr. Mark Gorgos, Legal Advisor to the Board

                       Mr. David Daniels, High School Principal

                       Mr. Jim Hull, Public Information Specialist

                       5 residents

 

Mrs. Hamilton, Board Vice President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the salute to the American flag.

 

Mrs. Hamilton asked for a moment of silence for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

 

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE – Mr. Storm made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bishop, to accept into record the attendance for the September 1, 2005 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously. (8 yeses)

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, to approve as amended the minutes of August 18, 2005 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses) 

 

VOICE OF THE PUBLIC #1 – Mrs. Sandra Reifler voiced her concern regarding transportation not being provided for her son.  Mrs. Reifler currently does not reside in the District, but pays tuition for her son to attend SV.  The daycare provider is on a bus route to Brookside and Mrs. Reifler had requested that transportation be provided.  Mrs. Boyce replied that under state law, districts are not obligated to provide transportation to nonresident students.  Mrs. Boyce also stated that it is Board policy not to provide transportation for nonresident students.  Mrs. Lisa Wilson, Conklin resident, voiced her concern over transportation not being provided to her son, who will be attending Pre-Kindergarten at St. Johns.  Mrs. Boyce replied that the District is obligated to provide transportation for students in programs that SV offers.  SV does not offer Pre-Kindergarten.  SV offers Beginning Kindergarten, which is for students, age 5, who score on screening as not ready for kindergarten curriculum.  Pre-Kindergarten is a totally different curriculum for younger children.

 

SUPERINTENDENTÕS REPORT – Mrs. Boyce

Motion Withdrawn – Mrs. Boyce reported that the motion made at the August 18, 2005 meeting by Mrs. Moriarty, and seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, that the emergency conditional appointment be approved of Autumn Thabet as School Nurse, currently assigned at Donnelly, at a rate of $13.36 per hour, effective August 29, 2005, pending fingerprint clearance and criminal background check is being withdrawn.

 

Special Education Recommendations – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pollock, that the Susquehanna

Valley Board of Education:

*       Authorize the 6 services recommended on CPSE list dated August 17, 2005.

*       Authorize the 1 service recommended on CSE list dated August 22, 2005.

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

Instructional Status Change – Mr. Pollock made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that the part-time resignation as a Title I Reading teacher be approved of Tonia Warpus, effective September 6, 2005, but she will continue as a part-time Reading Recovery Instructor at Brookside for the current school year.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Policy #4190 Student Attendance – 2nd Reading – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGuigan, that School Board Policy #4190, Student Attendance be reviewed and approved effective September 1, 2005.  The 2nd Reading is being held until after Executive Session so that wording can be worked on.

 

Policy #4005 Nonresident Pupils – 1st Reading – The Board was provided with the 1st reading of Policy #4005, Nonresident Pupils.

 

Professional Services Agreement – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pollock, that a professional service agreement with Elizabeth Hektor be approved for interpreter services to hearing impaired students, at an hourly rate of $26.00 per hour, on an as needed basis, effective August 24, 2005, through June 30, 2006.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Resignation – Teacher Aide – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Haskell, that the resignation of Antoinette Masciarelli, teacher aide, Cedarhurst, be accepted effective August 22, 2005.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Teacher Aide – Special Education – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that the emergency conditional appointment be approved of Christina Preston, special education teacher aide, current assignment at the High School, at a rate of $6.92 per hour, subject to any increases due to negotiated contracts covering the periods 2004-05 and 2005-06, effective September 6, 2005, pending fingerprint clearance and criminal background check.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Auction Bus – Mr. Pollock made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that bus #123, a 1984 Blue Bird/International, VIN #1HVLPHYN1EHA60950, that no longer passes DOT inspection be sold at the Whitney Point auction.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Instructional Leave of Absence – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bishop, that the following teachers be

granted a medical leave of absence:

Laura Parsons                Brookside            Paid/Unpaid            11/23/05 – 6/23/06           Sick, Personal, FMLA

Lynn Goetz                  Cedarhurst           Paid/Unpaid            9/6/05 – 6/23/06              Sick, Personal, FMLA

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Instructional Appointment – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bishop, that the emergency conditional appointment be approved of Patricia Westgate, Librarian, current assignment at the High School, at a salary of $36,321, pending fingerprint clearance and criminal background check, with a three year probation, tenure effective September 6, 2008.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Long-Term Substitute Teacher – Mr. Storm made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that the appointment be approved of Merwin Fuller as a certified long-term substitute teacher, assignment at the High School, during Katherine Engle's leave of absence, effective September 6, 2005 through November 25, 2005, at a $185.33 per diem with no sick days or personal days.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Substitute (Reappointments) – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that the following substitutes from the

2004-05 school year be reappointed for the 2005-06 school year:

Barbara Sabine                             Substitute Teacher Aide                $6.50 per hour

Christine Kearse (Keegan)              Substitute Teacher                        Certified

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Resignation – Custodian – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pollock, that the resignation of Jim Adams, custodian, High School, be accepted effective August 31, 2005.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Teacher Aide – Mr. Pollock made a motion, seconded by Mr. Storm, that the appointment of Deborah Weir be approved as a special education teacher aide, currently assigned at Cedarhurst, at a rate of $6.92 per hour, effective September 6, 2005.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Substitute Teacher Aide – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that the emergency conditional substitute teacher aide appointment be approved of Lindsey Travers, at a rate of $6.50 per hour, pending fingerprint clearance and criminal background check.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Senior Typist – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pollock, that the emergency conditional appointment be approved of Linda Landis as senior typist, currently assigned at the High School, at a rate of $8.25 per hour, effective September 6, 2005, pending fingerprint clearance and criminal background check.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Instructional Resignation – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that the resignation of Jennifer Bittler, elementary teacher, Cedarhurst, be accepted effective September 30, 2005.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

Textbook Disposal – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pollock, that be it RESOLVED, that the Superintendent be authorized to dispose of outdated and inactive textbooks and instructional materials as recommended by district administrators.  Mrs. Bowers asked how the books are disposed of.  Mrs. Boyce explained that first the district tries to sell them to used book companies.  Books that don't sell are then donated to other school districts that can use them.  If books cannot be sold or donated they are then recycled and disposed of.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTÕS REPORT – No Report

VOICE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS – Mr. Daniels reported that everything is going well for the opening of school.  Mr. Hull reported on updates to the website and articles that will be in the Press & Sun-Bulletin.

 

BOARD DEVELOPMENT REPORT – Mrs. Hamilton reported on the work session held on August 29 on "What it means to be a Board of Education Member."  Mrs. Hamilton stated that the expertise of the presenters, Ken Goldberg and Sandy Ruffo (former Board officers), made aspects of being a Board member clearer to the present Board.  Mrs. Hamilton reminded the

Board of the next two sessions: 

*       Developing our Budget – Presenter: CBO.  Scheduled for September 22, at 7 p.m.

*       Team Building – Presenter:  Al Buyck.  Scheduled for October 13, at 7 p.m.

Mrs. Boyce asked if the Board would like a session scheduled to learn more about the Taylor Law and what is expected of employees and employers under this law.  This session will be arranged.

 

Mrs. Boyce asked if the Board had ever considered going to a consent agenda.  The Board discussed this and will try it for a month.

 

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

Session to discuss personnel and negotiations.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

At   7:37 p.m. the Board recessed

At   7:52 p.m. the Board met in Executive Session

At   8:09 p.m. the Board returned to Regular Session

 

Policy #4190 Student Attendance – 2nd Reading – Upon vote the motion made by Mrs. Moriarty, and seconded by Mr. McGuigan, that School Board Policy #4190, Student Attendance be reviewed and approved effective September 1, 2005 was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Pollock, that the meeting be adjourned.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (8 yeses)

 

There being no further business, Mrs. Hamilton adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Diane M. Kalmen

School District Clerk