GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

 

November 13, 2007

 

District Office

 

The minutes are unofficial pending Board of Education approval.

 

Members Present

Linda Competillo, Michael Lockwood, Bob Miller, Chris Montreuil, Jeanne Petrella, Martha Smith,

and Miriam Zubal

 

Also Present

Jennifer Dove, Connie Miller Filzen, Eric Hartz, Tim Heller, Brenda Myers, Michelle Pronti,

David Remick, and Sheri Shurtleff

 

Present in the Audience

Matt Cooper and Alberto Maccou

 

Call to Order

Miriam Zubal called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.  There was a quorum check, assurance of meeting posting and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Approval of Agenda

A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve the agenda with the following changes:

Add 5.D. Recreation Committee Report – C. Montreuil

Add 6.D. Presentation

Delete from 7.C.4 “26-week probationary”

 

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Linda Competillo, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve the minutes from the October 29, 2007, Board of Education meeting with the following corrections:

- Change Kennedy to Canada

- Change MSRA to MRSA

 

Acceptance of October 2007 Treasurer’s Report

A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Linda Competillo, and carried – 7 ayes, to accept the October 2007 Treasurer’s Report as presented.

 

Summary of Executive Session

Dr. Brenda Myers reported that at the October 29, 2007 Executive Session, the following topics were discussed:

- CSE/CPSE Recommendations

- Employment History of a Specific Individual

- Superintendent’s Evaluation

 

Celebration

The Board acknowledged the note and cheesecake provided by the Groton Faculty Association in recognition of Board Appreciation Week.

 

Presentations

1.   International Spanish Trip:

      - Dr. Myers introduced Alberto Maccou, who presented requested additional information

         on the proposed trip to the Dominican Republic

      -  she stated her appreciation for the details provided and informed the Board the trip had been opened to all foreign language students, not just those taking Spanish

      -  Mr. Maccou’s wife, who will also accompany the students, is a nurse and has been approved as a school volunteer

      -  the students’ parents are responsible for transportation from Groton to Philadelphia – the airport

         they are leaving from - and the parents are working together to rent a mini-van

       - fund raising has been difficult, but parents are planning a spaghetti dinner

      -  the Board requested the students come to BOE meeting and talk about their trip after they return

2.   Wellness Update – David Remick:

      -  distributed handout of Wellness Action Plans, which included their vision statement: In the next

         five years, Groton Central Schools will work with staff, students, families and the community to

         produce healthier children who are better learners and high achievers.

-   areas addressed in the plans were physical education time, staff wellness, nutritional choices, and

   tobacco free schools

      -  spoke about the new Conditioning Room and its use by students, sports teams and staff members

      -  Wellness Committee met on October 29th

         - discussed the Health Index completed last year -  each building had different needs and

            challenges

3.   Elementary School Shared Decision-Making Plan – Timothy Heller:

      -  distributed handout which included the goals for 2007-08: The team will continue to work on the goal of “improving the school climate” by focusing on bullying in the elementary school.  Our first step will be to create and distribute surveys to the students, their parents, and staff to determine the level of bullying that is occurring at GES.  Based upon this information, anti-bullying education can be researched and implemented in a two prong approach which will reinforce anti-bullying strategies at both school and home.

      -  Michael Lockwood asked about adding another box for anonymous student submissions at another spot in the school

4.   Safety Plan – Dr. Brenda Myers:

      -  working with Jim Drew of TST BOCES

      -  Level I – evacuation from one school building to another

      -  Level II – evacuation from all school buildings – current plan unacceptable

      - have new forms for AED Protocol and Incident Report Form

      -  thanked Sheri Shurtleff for updating Accident Report Form

      - will start including the new form with our Building Use Form to make sure all groups, including external groups, complete the form if there is an accident

   -  action analysis on communicating MRSA information – how did we do?

      - need to include on our web page (link to Tompkins County Health Department)

 

Staff and/or Board Committee Reports

Dr. Brenda Myers, Superintendent:

1.   Revision to Extended Assignment Substitute Teachers

      -  the purpose for considering the change is to ensure quality and stability when a teacher is out for an extended absence
-  recommended revision: A. pre-arranged and intermittent, same assignment; B. accrued or

         consecutive/pre-arranged, same assignment and if a daily assignment becomes an extended assignment, the pay will be back-dated

      -  the proposed revisions will be on the Board’s next agenda – November 26th

2.   Distinguished Alumni Award

      -  working with Honor Society Advisor Cathy Spallone, the Groton Faculty Association, and the Groton Alumni Association to establish this annual award

      -  honoree would be invited to the Honors Banquet

        

Sheri Shurtleff, Business Manager:

1.   Change in Tax Levy

      -  distributed handout showing corrections in STAR and revised agricultural exemptions (county didn’t have agriculture exemptions on bills)

      -  need to reduce spending by $10,000 to year to recoup the tax lost

      -  tax collection ended on November 5th

2.   Health Insurance

      - Katie Payne, retired teacher, wanted Sheri to thank the BOE for the excellent health insurance available for her husband, who recently died

 

Connie Miller Filzen, Middle School Principal:
-     Chad DeVoe – Apple for the Teacher Award Winner

 

David Remick, Director of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics:

-     cross country team placed 6th at States

-     wonderful display of spirit and support for the team

 

Timothy Heller, Elementary School Principal:

-     Family Reading Partnerships – reading to UPK and K

 

Eric Hartz, High School Principal”

-     Senior Samantha Lockwood won the cosmetology competition

-     our science teachers won about $2,000 worth of materials at the STANYS conference

      -  Chad DeVoe presented the composting project

 

Michelle Pronti, Director of Special Education:

-     thanked Teri Evener, Linda Gobel, and principals – CSE meetings

-     thanked Gretchen Pratt – went with students to BOCES

-     thanked Jennifer Dove

 

Dr. Jennifer Dove, Director of Teaching, Learning & Technology:

-     appreciates principals’ help in collecting data

-     thanked Barb Nelson and Deb VanZandt for their help

-     thanked Deb VanZandt and Tim Heller for being on the interview team for secretary

 

Chris Montreuil, Groton Recreation Committee Report:

-     coaches from the Groton Youth Soccer program want a Coaches Code of Conduct – will be working on this

-     at last meeting, Groton Recreation Director Viola Fitzgerald reported that the Halloween Party went well and this year’s Winterfest will be a two-day event at GES and Stonehedges

-     brought up his concern about how long teams should be on the field with the threat of thunderstorms

 

Board President’s Report – Miriam Zubal

1.   Work Session – reviewed twelve financial policies

2.   Conversation – School Events

      -    Fall Sports Awards was very nice

      -    Cross County – Linda Competillo went to the State meet

             -  bus driver said that it was the nicest and best behaved group of boys he’d ever driven

      -     Michael Lockwood – went to parent-teacher conference

             -  integrated reading

3.   Presidents’ Round Table

      -     heard Rick Timms – Statewide School Finance

             -  he is in contact with Manny Rivera

             -  will be receiving copy of the PowerPoint

             -  Groton would have had an additional 4% with the Statewide formula

4.   Presentation

      - presented certificate to Linda Competillo for 40 credits in Leadership Development

 

Approval of Substitutes

A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Jeanne Petrella, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve Lauren LaFrance as an Uncertified Teacher Substitute.

 

Accept Changes to the Tax Warrant

A motion was made by Jeanne Petrella, seconded by Martha Smith, and carried – 7 ayes, to accept the change in the 2007-08 Tax Warrant from the original amount of $4,526,470.00 to $4,517,297.04 due to STAR and agriculture exemption corrections.

 

Appointments

A motion was made by Michael Lockwood, seconded by Chris Montreuil, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve the following appointments:

1.   Sallie Ivory, Permanent Appointment as Cleaner, effective November 20, 2007, with successful

      completion of Probationary Appointment

2.   Michael Day, 26-week Probationary Appointment as Regular Bus Driver, effective November 14,

      2007, Rate of Pay: $13.15/hour

3.   James Burch, Conditional, 26-week Probationary Appointment as Regular Bus Driver, effective

      November 14, 2007, Rate of Pay: $13.15/hour (pending fingerprint clearance)

4.   Denise Sedorus, Provisional, Conditional, Secretary to the Principal, effective          November 26, 2007, 12-month/8 hours/day, Rate of Pay: $10.75/hour (pending fingerprint clearance and successful Civil Service test)

5.   Judith Brechbiel, Change of Appointment from .5 f.t.e. to .75 Extended-Day Substitute Teacher for

      ESL, Conditional, effective October 29, 2007 to no later than June 30, 2008, Rate of Pay: A2, $34,229

      (pro-rated)

 

Approval of 2007-08 Extra-Classroom Clubs

A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Chris Montreuil, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve the following 2007-08 Extra-Classroom Clubs:

  1.      Class of 2008 – Senior Class

  2.      Class of 2009 – Junior Class

  3.      Class of 2010 – Sophomore Class

  4.      Class of 2011 – Freshman Class

  5.      French Club

  6.      Generation Z

  7.      Leaders Club

  8.      High School Drama Club

  9.      High School National Honor Society

  10.    High School Student Council

  11.    High School Year Book

  12.    Middle School Student Council

  13.    National Junior Honor Society

  14.    Outing Club

  15.    Spanish Club

Mr. Hartz will check on the secretaries for the Junior Class and Generation Z.

 

Approval of International Spanish Trip

A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve the Spanish Trip to the Dominican Republic April 12-19, 2008.

 

Calendar Announcements

The Board reviewed the calendar announcements.

 

Meeting Summary

-                              approval of clubs

-                              approval of positions

-                              Spanish Trip

-                              update on Wellness Committee

-                              planning for safety

 

Executive Session – 8:17 p.m.

A motion was made by Jeanne Petrella, seconded by Chris Montreuil, and carried – 7 ayes, to go into Executive Session to discuss:

1.   CSE/CPSE Recommendations

2.   Legal Matter

3.   Superintendent’s Evaluation

 

Board Members Present in Executive Session

Linda Competillo, Michael Lockwood, Bob Miller, Chris Montreuil, Jeanne Petrella, Martha Smith, and Miriam Zubal

 

Also Present

Michelle Pronti (left at 8:38 p.m.) and Brenda Myers

 

Reconvene Meeting – 9:03 p.m.

A motion was made by Jeanne Petrella, seconded by Martha Smith, and carried – 7 ayes, to reconvene to regular session.

 

Acceptance of CSE/CPSE Recommendations

A motion was made by Jeanne Petrella, seconded by Linda Competillo, and carried – 7 ayes, to accept the CSE/CPSE recommendations as presented.

 

Adjournment – 9:04 p.m.

On a motion made by Jeanne Petrella, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 7 ayes, the meeting adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Mary Walker

District Clerk