BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
April 7, 2008
District Office
The minutes are unofficial pending Board of Education
approval.
Members Present
Linda Competillo, Michael Lockwood, Robert Miller,
Christopher Montreuil, Jeanne Petrella, Martha Smith,
Miriam Zubal
Also Present
Jennifer Dove, Connie Miller Filzen, Eric Hartz, Timothy
Heller, Brenda Myers, Michelle Pronti, David Remick, Sheri Shurtleff, Mary
Walker
Present in the Audience
Pat Flynn, Roy Herford, Randy Sovocool
Call to Order
Miriam Zubal called the meeting to order at 7:01 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 Robert Miller, seconded by Linda
Competillo, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve the agenda with the following
changes:
- delete 4.A. Body
Mass Index Requirement
- delete 6.E T-S-T
BOCES Meeting Report
- add 8.A.3 James
Burch, Teacher Aide, 26-week Provisional, Conditional, effective April 8, 2008,
Rate of
Pay
$8.00/hour.
Summary of Executive Session
Dr. Brenda Myers reported
that at the January 28, 2008, Executive Session, the following topics were
discussed:
1. CSE/CPSE
Recommendations
2. Specific
Student Issue
3. Employment
History of a Specific Individual
Presentation
Facility
Renovation Project – Update on Bids
Roy Herford and Pat Flynn
gave the Board an update on the current facility project bids:
- had a successful rebid
- battling price escalation – bids came in higher than expected
- opinion of Ashley McGraw Architects and The Greenwood Corp. that
we will have a successful project
- group of contractors is known by the architects
- did not take all the alternate bids
- reviewed bid award recipients
- Robert Miller was present at the bid opening and stated that the
bids were very competitive
- Dr. Myers reported that the part-time laborer (position to be
created later in the meeting) is to help with the
packing of rooms to get ready for the project – the cost for
this position will be billed to the facility project
Dr. Brenda Myers gave the
Board an update on the
- using FEMA renovation money to start
- Meredith Wells will be the Groton Alumni Association liaison to
the Memory Garden Committee
Work Session – 2008-09 Budget
Update on NYS
Budget
- distribution of state aid money is still being worked on by the
legislators
- Sheri Shurtleff distributed pie chart diagram explaining 2008-09
expense increases – BOE asked that “All
Other” section be explained (i.e., fuel, special education) in
the Budget Brochure
Budget
Marketing Plan
- Dr. Myers reported that she will be presenting the proposed
budget to the GBA on April 16th, the GPTO on
April 21st, and the faculty/staff on May 6th.
- the Public Hearing is on May 12th
- the GPTO will be placing an ad in The Shopper, the Booster Clubs will be putting a sign board in front
of
the middle-high school,
and the GFA will also be doing something
- is meeting with reporters of the
- Budget Proposal to be mailed to district residents
Staff and/or Board Committee Reports
Dr. Brenda Myers, Superintendent:
NYS Fiscal Accountability Supplement
- reviewed
the New York State School Report Card Fiscal Accountability Supplement
comparing
- working on
having more than 85% of special education students receiving inclusive
education
- working to
get special education students in regular classrooms with special education
support and helping
the parents
to understand the change
Sheri Shurtleff, Business Manager:
Funding Facility Project
- sale of
Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) will be on May 21, 2008, with closing on June 5,
2008.
- have saved
some interest cost because we’ve been able to put off borrowing
Timothy Heller, Elementary School Principal:
- hiring
teacher aide
- office
staff has been cross training and also working on spaghetti dinner plans to
raise money for the
playground
- thank you
to all staff for their support for the playground
- Katie
Romeo’s mom donated a gas grill to help raise playground money
Michelle Pronti, Director of Special Education:
- thanked
Linda Gobel for helping to train Diane Diedrickson
- thanked
building principals for help in referrals
David Remick, Director of Health, Physical Education,
and Athletics:
- thanked
maintenance staff for all their hard work in getting the fields ready for
spring sports
Eric Hartz, High School Principal:
- great high school concert last Wednesday – thanks to David
Phetteplace and Eric Toyama
- also thank you to David Syracuse for filling in as a
percussionist
Connie Miller Filzen, Middle School Principal:
- thank you
to Drew Davis for taking over for Fred Ott in coaching modified baseball
Jennifer Dove, Director of Teaching, Learning &
Technology:
- TAC
presented mini sessions on March 14th
- working on
data verification
T-S-T BOCES SBA Executive Committee Report – Martha
Smith:
- great
meeting
- presentation from three
-
- last months’ meeting was cancelled
- WinterFest – 300 attended on Saturday; 50 on Sunday
- 14 toboggan
contestants
- 40 volunteers
- Joann Morrison doing a PhotoShop class
- Melissa Sorenson doing an adult kickboxing class
- Scott Weeks and Mark Perosio conducting a track activity for 4th & 6th
graders
- Director Viola Fitzgerald is booking summer concerts and working
on baseball and softball clinics
- Gary Giroux held a free baseball skills clinic for coaches
Board President’s Report
Report on Work
Session
- worked on 6000 series of the policy manual – more work to do
Conversation –
School Events
- high school and elementary concerts were wonderful – working on
educating audience to have greater
respect for the performers
- Author Day at elementary was great – author was amazing, down to
earth
- Michael Lockwood commented on the baseball clinic – older
students have much compassion for younger
students
Discussion –
BOE Goals
- good cooperation, facilitator and meal
- BOE/Leadership Retreat to be held on July 30th
(Wednesday)
- immediate goals
- capital reserve
- staff appreciation
- volunteer
recognition – Groton Emergency Squad
- marketing of budget
- next goals
- proceed with
planning another facility project
- look at
transportation costs
- professional
development – dialogue with Leadership Team, work with Martha’s TST group
- comprehensive review
of data
- continue
partnerships and grants
- work sessions – presentations
- update of 5-Year
Plan
- District brochure
(work on during BOE/Leadership Team retreat)
- map of colleges that
seniors are attending
Appointments
A motion was made by Linda
Competillo, seconded by Martha Smith, and carried – 7 ayes, to grant a tenure
appointment to Eric Hartz in the area of High School Principal, effective July
1, 2008.
A motion was made by Martha
Smith, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 7 ayes, to appoint Linda
Christopher as the 2008 Grade 6 Summer School Teacher.
A motion was made by Martha
Smith, seconded by Jeanne Petrella, and carried – 7 ayes, to appoint James
Burch to a conditional and 26-week provisional position of teacher aide,
effective April 8, 2008, at a rate of pay of $8.00 per hour.
Award Bids
A motion was made by Michael
Lockwood, seconded by Robert Miller, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve the
following bid awards and resolutions:
1. General
Work awarded to: Streeter Associates, Inc.
Base Bid: $4,950,000.00
Alt. Aa-Hs-2: $ 34,000.00
Award Amount: $ 4,984,000.00
BE IT RESOLVED, that the
President of the Board of Education be authorized to sign an agreement with
Streeter Associates, Inc., for general work
in the amount of $4,984,000.00.
2. HVAC
Work awarded to: Piccirilli-Slavik & Vincent Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Base
Bid: $2,783,000.00
Award
Amount: $2,783,000.00
BE IT RESOLVED, that the President
of the Board of Education be authorized to sign an agreement with Piccirilli-Slavik
& Vincent Plumbing & Heating, Inc., for HVAC work in the amount of $2,783,000.00.
3. Plumbing
Work awarded to: Daniel J. D'amico Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc.
Base Bid: $329,000.00
Award Amount: $329,000.00
BE IT RESOLVED, that the President of
the Board Of Education be authorized to sign an agreement with Daniel J. D'amico Plumbing &
Heating Co., Inc., for plumbing work in the
amount of $329,000.00.
4. Electrical
Work awarded to: Weydman Electric, Inc.
Base
Bid: $1,366,000.00
Alt. Aa-Hs-2: $ 40,000.00
Award Amount: $1,406,000.00
BE IT RESOLVED, that the
President of the Board Of Education be authorized to sign an agreement with Weydman Electric,
Inc., for electrical work in the amount of $1,406,000.00.
5. Site Work awarded to: W&D
Smith & Sons, Inc.
Base
Bid: $535,000.00
Award Amount: $535,000.00
BE
IT RESOLVED, that the President of the Board Of Education be authorized to sign
an agreement with
W&D
Smith & Sons, Inc., for site work in the amount of $535,000.00.
Total Contract Awards: $10,037,000.00
Transportation to Private Schools for the 2008-09
School Year
A motion was made by Linda
Competillo, seconded by Jeanne Petrella, and carried – 7 ayes, to approve
transportation requests to
Create Part-Time Laborer Position
A motion was made by Jeanne
Petrella, seconded by Christopher Montreuil, and carried - 7 ayes, to create a temporary, part-time (4
hours per day), laborer position, effective April 8, 2008.
Ratification of
A motion was made by Martha
Smith, seconded by Linda Competillo, and carried – 7 ayes, to ratify the GAA
Contract July1, 2008 to June 30, 2011.
Award Bid -
A motion was made by Robert
Miller, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 7 ayes, to award the bid
for the
Resignation
A motion was made by Martha
Smith, seconded by Robert Miller, and carried – 7 ayes, to accept Michelle
Stewart’s letter of resignation as Senior Typist at the end of the day April
11, 2008.
Calendar Announcements
The Board reviewed the
calendar announcements.
Meeting Summary
- principal received tenure
- capital project
- GAA contract
-
- part-time position
Executive Session – 8:29 p.m.
A motion was made by Jeanne Petrella, seconded by Robert
Miller, and carried – 7 ayes, to go into Executive Session to discuss:
1. CSE/CPSE
Recommendations
2. Review of Specific
Student Issue
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Walker
District Clerk
(Mary
Walker left the meeting at this time.
Miriam Zubal resumed the minutes.)
Board Members Present in Executive
Session
Linda Competillo, Michael Lockwood, Robert Miller,
Christopher Montreuil, Jeanne Petrella, Martha Smith, Miriam Zubal
Also Present
Michelle Pronti (left at 8:45 p.m.), Brenda Myers
Reconvene Meeting – 8:57 p.m.
A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Jeanne
Petrella, and carried – 7 ayes, to reconvene to regular session.
Acceptance of CSE/CPSE
Recommendations
A motion was made by Linda Competillo, seconded by Jeanne
Petrella, and carried – 7 ayes, to accept the CSE/CPSE recommendations as
presented.
Adjournment – 8:58 p.m.
On a motion made by Robert Miller, seconded by Christopher
Montreuil, and carried – 7 ayes, the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Miriam Zubal
Secretary pro tem