APPROVED MINUTES      

PROPOSED                                                 SEPTEMBER 15, 2005

MINUTES                             REGULAR MEETING of the BOARD OF EDUCATION

of the                                                                        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                                                    

                        Mrs. Mary Haskell                                                          

                        Mrs. Alicia Bishop                                                         

                        Mrs. Christine Moriarty

                        Mr. Rusty Storm                                                            

                        Mr. Kevin McGuigan

                       

ABSENT:         Mr. John Pollock (personal)

                        Mrs. Julia Bowers (personal)                                                                    

 

ALSO               Mrs. Carol Boyce, Superintendent

PRESENT:       Dr. Renee Stalma, Assistant Superintendent

                        Mr. Mark Gorgos, Legal Advisor to the Board

                        Ms. Diane Kalmen, District Clerk

                        Mr. Jim Hull, Public Information Specialist

                        Mr. David Daniels, High School Principal

                        Mr. Charles Hutchinson, High School Assistant Principal

                        Mr. Roland Doig, Middle School Assistant Principal

                        Ms. Ellen McCormick, High School Social Studies Teacher and Mentoring Coordinator

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

                        7 residents, 2 students

 

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

 

RECORD OF ATTENDANCE – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bishop, to accept into record the attendance for the September 15, 2005 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bishop, to approve the minutes of the September 1, 2005 Special Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

VOICE OF THE PUBLIC #1 (Agenda Items) – Mrs. Lorraine Perez voiced her concerns with some of the classes her daughter takes as an 11th grade high honors program student.  One college credit class has a substitute teacher for the year while the regular teacher is on maternity leave, and double periods and labs have been cut in the match and science classes.   Mrs. Perez feels that the students are not being given the tools to succeed in the classes this year.  Mrs. Young stated that this is the first the Board has heard of this and she would like the opportunity to have the Board discuss it further.  Mrs. Young will respond to Mrs. Perez after the Board discussion of the situation.  Mr. Roger Conklin stated that no layoff of teachers was supposed to take place after the SVTA contract was approved and then asked why a math teacher was laid off.  Mrs. Young replied that no one was laid off, with the contingency budget positions were removed through attrition.  One math teacher was moved from the high school to the middle school to replace a teacher that had retired.  Mr. Conklin asked about the labs being eliminated.  Mrs. Young replied that they were eliminated as part of the contingency budget.  Mr. Daniels stated that no one has come to him to discuss this, and he would have been the proper place to start with the chain of command.  Mr. Daniels stated that the math and science labs SV offered were a luxury.  SV was offering three labs, other districts in the area offer only one.  Mr. Conklin questioned having the substitute teacher in the college credit course.  Mr. Daniels explained that it is very difficult to get certified substitute teachers at this level.  Mr. Daniels also explained that the regular teacher was included in the process of hiring the substitute.  Mrs. Boyce explained what the district is doing to find certified teachers; canvassing universities and working through BOCES.  Mrs. Boyce stated that the district is working through the State Education Department and universities to meet requirements.  Mr. Daniels talked about the benefit of taking college credit classes in high school – the credits earned and not having to take the class in college.  Mr. Conklin asked if he could speak to the Board in Executive Session regarding a personnel matter.  Mrs. Young stated that this could be put on the agenda for the next Board meeting so the Board could obtain information on the situation.  Mr. Conklin stated that he would go through the proper channels and bring his concern to Mr. Daniels first.  Mr. Conklin also stated that the community has lost confidence in the school system and it will be a big job turning this around by the budget vote in May.  Mrs. Boyce stated that she would like to have his help and asked him to meet with her to discuss his perceptions.  Mrs. Young stated that she would like to ask Mr. Conklin to serve on the Reorganizational Committee when the committee is formed.  Mrs. Jackie DeVoe also voiced her concern about the programs and about the state making adjustments to the Regents grades in Chemistry.  Mrs. Boyce stated that the Commissioner and Board of Regents should listen and that parents should contact Albany when they have concerns about these issues. 

 

Mrs. Lisa Wilson asked again that transportation be provided to her son, who is in a Pre-K program at St. John's.  Mrs. Wilson provided a letter from the teacher at St. John's regarding the Pre-K program and how it is necessary to prepare for the kindergarten program.  Mrs. Young replied that she was absent from the last meeting when this was brought to the Board's attention.  Mrs. Young will get information on the situation, discuss it with the Board and respond to Mrs. Wilson.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mr. Storm, that the Board acknowledge receipt of the August financial reports.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Mrs. Boyce

SVESSA Contract – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Storm, 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 Education Support Staff Association (SVESSA) for the school years July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2008, in accordance with the attached outline.  This motion is being held for discussion in Executive Session.

 

Substitute Teacher – 2005-06 – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Haskell, that the following substitute

teacher appointment be approved for the 2005-06 school year, effective September 16, 2005:

John Burd          Certified

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Leave of Absence – Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGuigan, that Kimberly Hatch, Middle School teacher aide, be granted an unpaid leave of absence, effective for the 2005-06 school year, she will use FMLA.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Swim Equipment Donations – Mr. Storm made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accept the following donations to the Girls Varsity Swim Program: 21 Century Pools, swim training equipment valued at $2500; K.J. Mullins Building & Remodeling, divers tub and pace clock valued at $650; and

the Binghamton City Police Department for a donation of $250.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education extends its sincere appreciation for these generous donations

to the Girls Varsity Swim Program.  

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Substitute (Reappointment) – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGuigan, that the following substitute

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

Alan Rowe         Substitute Custodian        $6.75 per hour

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Policy #4190 – 2nd Reading – Mrs. Hamilton made a  motion, seconded by Mrs. Moriarty, that School Board Policy #4190, Student Attendance be reviewed and approved effective September 15, 2005.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Special Education Recommendation – Mrs. Moriarty made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGuigan, that the Susquehanna

Valley Board of Education:

*       Authorize the 1 service recommended on CPSE list dated September 12, 2005.

Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Mrs. Boyce read a Senate resolution from Thomas Libous honoring the Girls Varsity Softball Team for winning the 2005 NYS Softball Championship.

 

Mrs. Boyce reported on the Worth the Wait abstinence program which is run through the Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network.  SVÕs results are very positive for middle school students, showing that they have a sense of self-worth and presence.

 

Mrs. Boyce reported on the air quality issues at Cedarhurst.  The District will continue to be on top of it as well as monitoring air quality in the other schools.

 

The Board will be asked to consider community use of the pool and the fee that should be charged for this use at the next meeting.  The Board was provided with a report of what other districts charge.

 

Mrs. Boyce reported on a meeting of Superintendents she attended.  The price of fuel is impacting all the school districts and how it will impact SV needs to be looked at.  Other school districts are eliminating field trips and cutting back on athletic contests to deal with the situation.

 

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Dr. Stalma

Presentation – Dr. Stalma, Mrs. McCormick, and Mr. Doig gave a presentation on the New York State Mandated Teacher Mentoring Program.

 

BOARD DEVELOPMENT REPORT – Mrs. Young reminded the Board of the next work session:

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

Mrs. Young stated that since the Board's budget was cut, Board members are paying for the training themselves.  Mr. McGuigan asked if the budget work session was open to the public.  Mrs. Young and Mrs. Boyce explained that it is but the public has to be clear about the subject, this is for training for the Board, not for the public to comment about the budget.  A work session on the Taylor Law will be set up for November 10. 

 

Mrs. Young provided the Board with the schedule for Open Houses.  The Board discussed the comment sheet available at Open Houses and how it needs to be revised.  The CPR Committee will work on the comment sheet. 

 

Mrs. Boyce stated that the state will be requiring new Board members to attend six hours of training on fiscal responsibility and budgeting.  BOCES is looking into bringing someone into the region to do the training.

 

OLD BUSINESS – None

NEW BUSINESS – None

VOICE OF THE Administrators – Mr. Doig reported that the Middle School had a great opening.  Mr. Doig also praised the new administration computer package.

 

Mr. Daniels reported that the High School had a great opening.  Mr. Daniels praised Don Gerlach, Director of Technology, on the great job he is doing.  Curriculum night was held last night.  Molly McGuigan will be named a "Class Act" in the Press & Sun-Bulletin.

 

Mr. Wilson reported that athletics is off to a great start.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mrs. Bishop made a motion, seconded by Mr. Storm, that the Board of Education meet in Executive Session to

discuss a pupil/personnel matter and negotiations.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

At   8:35 p.m. the Board met in Executive Session.

At 10:45 p.m. the Board returned to Regular Session.

 

SVESSA Contract – Upon vote the motion made by Mrs. Hamilton, and seconded by Mr. Storm, 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 Education Support Staff Association (SVESSA) for the school years July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2008, in accordance with the attached outline was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Hamilton, that the meeting be adjourned.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

There being no further business, Mrs.Young adjourned the meeting at 10:46 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Diane M. Kalmen

School District Clerk