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February Minutes
DATE
FEBRUARY 12, 2008
KIND OF MEETING
REGULAR
WHERE HELD HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY PRESIDING OFFICER Naomi O'Reilly
Members Present: Naomi O'Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Members Absent:
Robert Bolen, Daniel Cracco,
James Fuchs, Linda King,
Wendy Matthews, Supt. Mary Cahill, Elem Prin Mark
Bessen,
Fair-Sears, Assist Prin
Robert Monahan, Deputy Treas Lyn Derway
OTHERS PRESENT
K-12 Science Guidance Department Members
Meeting called to order 7:00
p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was
recited.
Motion by Gerard Humiston,
second by Robert Bolen, that the minutes of the Regular Meeting of
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Ann
Hall – Email on condition of tennis courts.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Motion by Gerard Humiston,
second by James Fuchs, that the Treasurer's Report for the month of January 2008
be approved. Ayes – Naomi
O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy Matthews.
Nays - None. Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously.
REPORTS:
1. Printed Material:
a)
Second Quarter Honor Roll
b)
February Elementary Newsletter
2. Members
of the K-12 Guidance Department presented highlights of their program.
Using a Power Point presentation,
members of the department reviewed the programs and services offered.
The issue of homelessness was discussed.
3. Robert
Monahan, Assistant Principal, presented highlights of the Mental Health/Health
Advisory Committee. He reviewed the
history and role of the committee and the issues and programs that the committee
examines and advises on. He informed
the Board that funding will be cut by ten percent.
4. Naomi
O’Reilly, Board member, reported on recent meeting of the Curriculum
Committee. The 7-12 technology
program was reviewed along with a tour of their classrooms.
The K-12 physical education program was highlighted.
The department is requesting an additional full time teacher.
The 7-12 business department reported that the department offers more
business courses than other schools. Mr.
Cocozza, secondary principal, presented a request to add a social worker to the
high school staff. The committee
supports his request.
5. Wendy
Matthews, Board member, reported on a recent Audit Committee meeting.
The 2008-09 budget is progressing. Increases
in health and retirement are expected along with utilities and fuel.
Two new buses will be purchased along with a van.
Digital cameras for the buses and a heat detection system for the bus
garage will also be purchased. The
new District Treasurer was introduced. A
new office software program is being reviewed by the business office.
RFPs for the school attorney and third party administrator will be
developed. The business office will
look at auctioning surplus buses on E-Bay. The
cafeteria is maintaining a profit at this time.
6. Robert
Bolen, Board member, reported on a recent Buildings and Grounds Committee
meeting. The district passed a fire
inspection conducted in January. Several
items will be reviewed with the new fire inspector.
The EXCEL building project is going well.
Asbestos was discovered and removed.
This committee will begin planning for new building projects.
An RFP for architect and engineering services will be issued.
Andrew Caruso, Buildings and Grounds Superintendent, submitted his budget
requests for next year.
7. Francis Cocozza, principal of the junior-senior high school, reported that the school has been selected by State Education Department to have the ELA tests audited for scoring. We are one of many schools who are being audited this year. He reported that the Honors Group was announced, three winter teams were selected as Scholar/Athlete Teams, on February 25 a multi-media presentation on drugs and alcohol prevention will be presented to students, and that a committee has been formed to look at the policies on drug and alcohol prevention. He met with the special education department to discuss alignment of the program. He will be addressing teacher reviews to determine if they are being evaluated correctly.
a)
Rosemary Earl, Director of Guidance and Counseling, showed a CD of the
recent
8. Mark
Bessen, principal of the elementary school, reported that author Susan Bloom
visited the school recently, that the ELA tests had been scored, the math tests
were coming up, and the teachers were working on Buckle Down, Math Week, and the
St. Jude Math-A-Thon. All students
have been tested using AimsWeb. Teachers
were able to test growth from the last cycle which was positive.
Students are able to receive the right help at the right time.
9. Supt. Cahill reported:
a)
on the NYSSBA SLN Issues Conference on March 2-4, 2008.
b)
on a letter received from the Make-A-Wish Foundation thanking the school
for its donation.
c)
on NYCOSS Talking Points about capping property tax.
It gave the background and potential impact on schools.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
1. Approximately 13 community members attended. There were no public comments.
BUSINESS:
1. Motion by Gerard Humiston,
second by Robert Bolen, that the Board accept the resignation of
Gretchen Steen, Spanish
Teacher, for the purpose of retirement effective June 30, 2008.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard
Humiston, Robert Bolen,
James Fuchs, Wendy Matthews. Nays -
None. Absent – Daniel Cracco,
Linda King. Motion carried
unanimously.
1a. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board accept the resignation of Paula Barclay,
Elementary
Teacher, for the purpose of retirement effective June 30, 2008.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen,
James
Fuchs, Wendy Matthews. Nays - None. Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously.
2. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board accept the resignation of Michele Therrien,
Teacher
Assistant, effective June 30, 2008. Ayes
– Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews.
Nays - None. Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously.
3. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, upon the recommendation of Supt. Cahill, that the Board approve
the
extension of the long term substitute position of Denise Bardin, Elementary
Teacher, from February 29, 2008 to June 30, 2008.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly,
Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy Matthews.
Nays - None. Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously.
4. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board accept the resignation of Susan Mellon,
Administrative
Assistant, for the purpose of retirement effective June 30,
2008. Ayes – Naomi
O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously.
4a. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard Humiston,
that the Board accept the resignation of Joan
Lange, Teacher Aide, for the purpose of retirement
effective June 30, 2008. Ayes
– Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously.
5. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board accept the recommendations
of the Committees on Special Education. Ayes
– Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously. (See
supplemental file dated
2/12/08.)
6. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board authorize the participation in the Cooperative
Purchasing
Program coordinated by Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES for the
2008-2009 school year for the following
commodities: Ice Cream, Milk,
Bread and Bread Products, Pizza, Meat, Canned and Frozen Goods, Copy/Computer
Paper, O & M Paper Products, and Cafeteria Paper Products.
Ayes –
Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays -
None. Absent – Daniel
Cracco, Linda King. Motion carried
unanimously. (See
supplemental file dated 2/12/08.)
7. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board approve the changes to the Conditional and
Emergency
Conditional Appointments of Substitutes in Substitute Teacher Registry.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert
Bolen,
James Fuchs,
Wendy Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously. (See supplemental
file dated 2/12/08.)
8. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board approve the changes to the Conditional and
Emergency Conditional
Appointments of Substitute Aides, Custodians,
Cafeteria Staff, Bus Drivers, Nurses, and Other Employees.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard
Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy Matthews.
Nays - None. Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously. (See
supplemental file dated 2/12/08.)
9. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board approve changes to the Extracurricular and
Co-Curricular and Additional Hourly Personnel List.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously. (See
supplemental file dated 2/12/08.)
10. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard Humiston,
that the Board approve the change in location
for the Board of Education
March meeting from the High School Library to the
Elementary School. Ayes –
Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen,
James Fuchs,
Wendy Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously.
11. Motion by Gerard Humiston, second by Robert Bolen, that
the Board approve the request of Youtheatre
to use the high school
facilities from July 7, 2008 to August 3, 2008, per the
agreement with the district. Ayes
– Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston,
Robert Bolen, James
Fuchs, Wendy Matthews. Nays -
None. Absent – Daniel Cracco,
Linda King. Motion
carried
unanimously.
12. Motion by Robert Bolen, second by Gerard Humiston, that
the Board accept the proposal from SERAPH, Inc.,
Southeastern,
Pennsylvania, for a security audit of the school district at
the cost of $6,300. Ayes –
Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston,
Robert Bolen, James Fuchs,
Wendy Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried
unanimously. (See
supplemental file dated 2/12/08.)
13. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard Humiston, that
the Board accept the Inter-municipal Agreement for Internal
Audit Services with
Capital Region BOCES at the rate of
$681 per day. Ayes – Naomi
O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen,
James Fuchs, Wendy Matthews.
Nays - None. Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously. (See
supplemental file dated 2/12/08.)
14. Motion by James
Fuchs, second by Gerard Humiston, that the Board approve the Biennial Review and
continue the Shared Decision Making Plan. Ayes
– Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously. (See
supplemental file dated 2/12/08.)
15. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard Humiston,
that the Board establish the date of
16. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard Humiston, that the Board approve
Randy’s Run as
a fundraiser to be held on May 31, 2008, to
benefit the Randal Madison Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard
Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously.
17.
Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard
Humiston, that the Board appoint Andrew Caruso, Buildings and
Grounds
Superintendent as the Clerk of the Works for the EXCEL Building Project at the
salary of one-half day of comp time each day for as long as the project
continues. Ayes – Naomi
O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy
Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously.
18. Motion by James Fuchs, second by Gerard Humiston,
that the Board approve the FBLA Student
Trip to the Nevele Grand Hotel,
MISCELLANEOUS:
1. Wendy
Matthews reported on the recent Cross Country Ski Meet which was the first to be
hosted by
Motion by James Fuchs,
second by Gerard Humiston, that the meeting be recessed into Executive Session
to discuss the employment history of a particular person.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs,
Wendy Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting recessed 8:48 p.m.
Motion by Gerard Humiston,
second by Wendy Matthews, that the meeting be reconvened.
. Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly,
Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs, Wendy Matthews.
Nays - None. Absent –
Daniel Cracco, Linda King. Motion
carried unanimously.
Meeting reconvened 9:24 p.m.
Motion by James Fuchs,
second by Robert Bolen, that the meeting be adjourned.
Ayes – Naomi O’Reilly, Gerard Humiston, Robert Bolen, James Fuchs,
Wendy Matthews. Nays - None.
Absent – Daniel Cracco, Linda King.
Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned 9:25 p.m.
Patricia A. Dougall
Clerk
