APPROVED MINUTES      

PROPOSED                                                     MARCH 5, 2007

MINUTES                             SPECIAL 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                                                                

                        Mr. John Pollock                                                           

                        Mrs. Mary Haskell                                                          

                        Mrs. Julia Bowers                                                          

                        Mr. Kevin McGuigan                                                                  

                        Mr. Rusty Storm                                                                        

                       

ABSENT:         Mrs. Christine Moriarty (conference)

                        Mr. Bill Yelverton (personal)

 

ALSO               Mr. Gerardo Tagliaferri, Interim Superintendent

PRESENT:       Dr. Renee Stalma, Assistant Superintendent

                        Mr. Mark Gorgos, Legal Advisor to the Board

                        Ms. Diane Kalmen, District Clerk

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

                        Mr. Jim Hull, Public Information Specialist

                        2 residents

 

Mrs. Young, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:03 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 March 5, 2007 Special Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Middle School Word of the Month – Mrs. Young read the Middle School Word of the Month – "Resourceful – Able to think of creative ways to do things."

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Mrs. Bowers made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGuigan, to approve as amended the minutes of the February 15, 2007 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)


 

VOICE OF THE PUBLIC #1 – No Comments

 

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Mr. Tagliaferri

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

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

á    Authorize the 14 services recommended on CSE list dated January 24, 2007

á    Authorize the 10 services recommended on CSE list dated January 31, 2007

á    Authorize the 5 services recommended on CSE list dated February 2, 2007

á    Authorize the 15 services recommended on CSE list dated February 7, 2007

á    Authorize the 5 services recommended on CPSE list dated February 9, 2007

The Board ratifies the services to commence on March 1, 2007.

 

Substitute Instructional Appointment – that the following emergency conditional appointment be approved

pending fingerprint clearance and criminal background check:                                                 

Name                              Position                 Certified              Rate of Pay           Effective Date   

Corey J. Luce                Substitute Teacher       Non-Certified       As Per Contract             3/2/07

 

Long-Term Substitute Teacher – that the appointment be approved of Cindi Pace as a non-certified long-term substitute teacher, assignment at Brookside Elementary, during Kelly McMahon's leave of absence, effective February 16, 2007 through April 17, 2007, at a $79.00 per diem, with no sick days or personal days.

 

Driver Education Instructor – that Hugh Baird be approved as Driver Education Instructor for the remainder of the 2006-07 school year, at a stipend of $3200 per semester, to be paid bi-weekly.  This expense will be offset by student fees, managed by the Central Business Office.

 

Instructional Leave of Absence – that a medical leave of absence be granted for the following teacher:

Name               Building      Paid/Unpaid      Anticipated Dates                 Medical/Personal

Alexia Miller     Donnelly      Paid/Unpaid      Starting on 3/26/07,                              -Sick Leave

                                                               through the remainder of        Medical      - Sick Bank

                                                               the 2006-07 school year                         - Unpaid

 

Retirements – that the following retirements be accepted with much regret:

Name                        Position                Building             Years of Service       Effective Date

Sandra Whitehouse      Teacher                 RTS MS                      17                  July 1, 2007

Steve Youngs             Head Mechanic       Transportation               31                  July 1, 2007

 

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

 

Appointment Acting Assistant Principal – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that be it RESOLVED, that Robert Callahan is appointed to the position of Acting Assistant Principal of the Richard T. Stank Middle School to serve in that capacity until further action by the Board of Education, and at a rate of $250 per diem, effective March 6, 2007.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

 

Retirements – Mrs. Haskell made a motion, seconded by Mr. McGugian, that the following retirements be

accepted with much regret:

Name                        Position                Building             Years of Service       Effective Date

Karen Phelps              Food Service         High School                 20                  July 1, 2007

Gary Dwornik             Teacher                 Brookside                     30                  July 1, 2007

April Lucas                Teacher                 Donnelly                      15                  July 1, 2007

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

 

Mr. Tagliaferri reported that the History of the District book will be going to the publisher soon and should be back within a month.  The CPR Committee and involved community members will need to meet to discuss dedication, cost to public, distribution of the book, and what to do with the proceeds from the sale of the book. Mr. Storm will serve as contact person.

 

Mr. Tagliaferri reported that the first draft of the first section of the policy manual should be received from Erie I BOCES within a month.  There are email updates from Erie I BOCES that the Policy Committee will need to review.  Mr. McGuigan, Mrs. Hamilton, and Mr. Storm are serving on the committee. Mr. McGuigan will serve as the contact person.

 

Mr. Tagliaferri addressed the faculties at the High School and Middle School to talk about the budget and aid (state and additional aid for flood relief).  He will be meeting with elementary faculty in the next few weeks.  Board budget workshops will be held March 8, 15, and 22. 

 

Mr. Tagliaferri indicated that requested information on salary and benefits was included in Board packets.  Mr. Tagliaferri provided the Board with an updated enrollment report which included enrollment in classrooms, full-time BOCES students, and private schools/homeschooling.  A Facilities and Capital Improvement Advisory Committee update was provided to the Board.  Information regarding the flyer that was mailed to District residents alerting them to a registered sex offender living in the area of Millburn Drive was provided to the Board. 

 

Mr. Tagliaferri met with Mr. Doig, Mr. Hutchinson, Mrs. Simpson, Miss Charsky, and Mrs. Kline at Cedarhurst to walk through the building to identify potential items for transfer to the other buildings in the District.  A list of identified items is being compiled. 

 

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Dr. Stalma

Dr. Stalma reported on the February 27 meeting of the mentors and mentees and the in-service professional development training for the mentees, which focused on effective teaching.  Dr. Stalma also reported on the NYS Math Assessments taking place March 5-9 for grades 3-5 and March 12-16 for grades 6-8.  A SuperintendentÕs Conference Day is being held on March 30.

 

VOICE OF THE ADMINISTRATORS – Mrs. Kline reported on the NYS Math Assessments taking place March 5-9 for grades 3-5 and March 12-16 for grades 6-8.  Mrs. Kline also reported on the NYS Alternative Assessments.  Discussion followed on how the demographics have changed in the elementary buildings and whether that will change the scores in the NYS Assessments.

 

Mr. Hull reported that SV will be featured on some Newschannel 34 news broadcasts.  The High School Media Arts Class will be featured as the "Classroom of the Day," singers from the High School Drama Club will perform songs from  The Sound of Music, and the Jazz Band will perform.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT REPORT – Mrs. Hamilton reported that on March 14 the Broome-Tioga School Boards Association will sponsor its annual panel presentation "So You Want to Be a School Board Member." A Board President/Vice President conference will be held on March 28 at BOCES.  On March 9 Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Bowers, along with representatives from other Broome-Tioga BOCES districts, will meet with Assemblyman Crouch, Senator Libous, and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo.  Mrs. Hamilton reviewed the topics that will be discussed.  Mrs. Hamilton will speak about the impact of the flooding at the meeting. 

 

Correspondence – A letter was received from Broome County Legislator Joseph Sanfillipo asking for information regarding the availability of defibrillators in the school and the training of staff.  Mr. Tagliaferri stated a response is being formulated with the assistance of Mr. Dancesia.  Workshops are being held at the March 30 Superintendent's Conference Day on CPR and the use of the defibrillators.

 

Old Business – Mr. Storm stated that he has received positive feedback on the mailing of the flyer alerting residents to a registered sex offender residing in the District.

 

New Business – None

 

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

Executive Session to discuss negotiations.  Upon vote the motion was approved unanimously.  (7 yeses)

At  7:45 p.m. the Board recessed

At  7:53 p.m. the Board met in Executive Session

At  8:47 p.m. the Board returned to Regular Session

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN – Mrs. Hamilton made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, 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 8:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Diane M. Kalmen

School District Clerk