BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
August 6, 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
Members Excused
Miriam Zubal
Also Present
Jennifer Dove, Eric Hartz, Tim Heller, Brenda Myers, Michelle Pronti, Sheri Shurtleff
Present in the Audience
Bill Kulikowsky
Call to Order
Vice President Jeanne Petrella called the meeting to order at 6:00 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 Chris Montreuil, and carried – 6 ayes, to approve the agenda (revised) as presented.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Chris Montreuil, seconded by Martha Smith, and carried – 6 ayes, to approve the minutes from July 9, 2007, Board of Education meeting with the following correction:
“Linda Competillo made a motion, seconded by Martha Smith, to nominate Miriam Zubal as the 2007-08 School Board President.”
Acceptance of June 2007 Treasurer’s Report
A motion was made by Michael Lockwood, seconded by Martha Smith, and carried – 6 ayes, to accept the June 2007 Treasurer’s Report.
Open Forum with Community/Staff/Association Representatives
Bill Kulikowsky, Summer Driver Education Teacher, commented on the recently completed summer program:
· very successful summer – 18 students participated in the program
· GCS students are very respectful
· students changed tires, met with DMV road examiner and Chris Dempsey, insurance agent
· thanked all the staff for their helpfulness
· Mr. Hartz thanked Mr. Kulikowsky for the great job he did
Presentations
Eric Hartz, High School Principal, distributed copies of and went over the Code of Conduct:
· a few changes/additions
· alignment of code
· appendices
· progressive discipline
Dr. Brenda Myers, Superintendent, reviewed the 2006-07 Board of Education Goals to make changes/updates for the 2007-08 Board of Education Goals and will make the changes to be presented at the next Board meeting.
Staff and/or Board Committee Reports
Dr. Brenda Myers, Superintendent:
1. Facility Update
· met timeline with submission to NYS Education Department
· Randy Sovocool has put in much time working on this project
· October 29, 2007, architects and construction management firm will present at the BOE meeting
2. Hiring Update
· very little turnover in staff
· Tim Heller reported:
- hope to have Secretary to the Principal recommendation at August 20th BOE meeting
- will need to replace Tiffany Mersfelder in 12:1+1 class
- teacher aide positions to be filled
· Eric Hartz reported:
- working on music substitute position
· Mary Walker reported:
- letters sent to all substitutes
- will attend Teacher Substitute Fair to be held at TST BOCES in August
Sheri Shurtleff, Business Manager:
1. Distributed and went over Fund Balance Report
· now allowed to keep 3%
2. Worker’s Comp
· new legislation
· some changes not until 2010
· cap on permanent partial disability
·
3. 2007-08 Tax Rates
·
rate increase for
·
STAR exemption for
Michelle Pronti, Director of Special Education:
· July 16 & 17 – Co-Teaching Workshop done with Tim Heller
· Inclusion Teams
· thanked all staff participating in summer CSE meetings
Tim Heller, Elementary School Principal:
· Co-Teaching Workshop – shared strategies and technologies
· thanked Marilyn Levine and Stacey Whitsell-Dickenson for participating in secretary interviews
· thanked Stacey Whitsell-Dickenson, Melanie Morton and Cheryl Neville for helping in the elementary school office
Jennifer Dove, Directory of Teaching, Learning & Technology:
· Math Curriculum Camp was held – thanked Dr. Myers
· thanked Cheryl Neville - worked with Deb VanZandt, Eric Hartz and Gretchen Pratt on Data Warehouse
· thanked Joe Urda and Judy Swartwout for getting computers ready for new school year
Eric Hartz, High School Principal:
· thanked Randy Sovocool and Buildings and Grounds crew for all their work on the school and rearrangement of high school office
· thanked Mike Petrella for all his work refurbishing the piano – will also have it rekeyed and tuned
· team came in 13th at Coughlin and Gerhart golf tournament – came home with check for student scholarship
·
attended
Board President’s Report
1. Jeanne Petrella went over the School Board
Protocol and Board members signed
2. Update on Board of Education/Leadership Team
Retreat
· nice meeting
· brainstorming, wish list
· what our norms are
· nice to hear of successes
· expectations
· “measures of success”
· have everyone focused on same thing –
acknowledging successes and challenges
· supporting each other
· shared vision
· school parallel with private business
Approval
of Substitutes
A motion was made by Linda Competillo,
seconded by Chris Montreuil, and carried - 6 ayes, to approve the following
substitutes:
1. Lisa Bell, Uncertified Teacher
2. Samantha Perkins, Uncertified Teacher
Approval of Veteran’s Diploma
A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Linda Competillo, and carried - 6 ayes, to approve a
Veteran’s Diploma for Albert J. Bennett, Jr.
under the guidelines of Operation Recognition.
Appointments
A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded
by Chris Montreuil, and carried – 6 ayes, to make the following appointments:
1. Michelle Stewart, Senior Typist - hourly appointment effective, July 17, 2007, rate of pay: $10.50;
26-week probationary 11-month/8 hours appointment, effective August 20, 2007
2. Beth O’Brien, Special Education Summer School Teacher, 3 hours per week for 6 weeks
3 Amy Bigelow, 3-year probationary effective September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2010, Initial
Certification: Mathematics 7-12 effective 9/1/2007 to 8/31/2012, Step 4B, Tenure Area:
Mathematics
Leave of Absence
A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 6 ayes, to grant an unpaid leave of absence for Theresa DeVoe for September 4, 5, 6, 7, 2007.
Second
A motion was made by Linda Competillo, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 6 ayes, to approve the second reading of the following policies:
1. 5630 Facilities: Inspection, Operation and Maintenance
2. 5631 Hazardous Waste and Handling Of Toxic Substances By Employees
3. 5640 Smoking/Tobacco Use
4. 5650 Energy/Water Conservation and Recycling Of Solid Waste
5. 5680 Safety and Security
6. 5681 School Safety Plans
7. 5682 Cardiac Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) In Public School Facilities
8. 5683 Fire Drills, Bomb Threats and Bus Emergency Drills
Acceptance of Donation
A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Chris Montreuil, and carried – 6 ayes, to accept the following donation:
Yamaha Electric Organ with Stand and Music Books, value $350.00, from Dee and Jim Wilkinson
Resolution
to Confirm 2007-08 Tax Rolls, Authorize Tax Levy and Annex Tax Warrant
A motion was made by
Martha Smith, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 6 ayes, to approve
the resolution to confirm
2007-08 tax rolls, authorize tax levy and annex tax warrant. (Copy of resolution attached to official
minutes.)
Resignation
A motion was made by Michael Lockwood, seconded
by Chris Montreuil, and carried – 6 ayes, to accept Tiffany Mersfelder’s letter
of resignation as a special education teacher, effective August 21, 2007.
Calendar
Announcements
The
Board reviewed the calendar announcements.
Meeting Summary
§ BOE Goals and Protocol
§ great driver education program
§ sound financial report
§ update on facilities
§ low turnover
§ facility and maintenance added to goals
Executive Session – 8:07 p.m.
A
motion was made by Michael Lockwood, seconded by Chris Montreuil, and carried –
6 ayes, to go into Executive Session to discuss:
1. CSE/CPSE Recommendations
2. Employment History of a Specific Individual
Board Members Present in Executive Session
Linda Competillo, Michael Lockwood, Bob Miller, Chris Montreuil, Jeanne Petrella, and Martha Smith
Also Present
Michelle Pronti (left at 8:10 p.m. and Brenda Myers.
Reconvene Meeting – 8:25 p.m.
A motion was made by Chris Montreuil, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 6 ayes, to reconvene to regular session.
Acceptance of CSE/CPSE Recommendations
A motion was made by Martha Smith, seconded by Chris Montreuil, and carried – 6 ayes, to accept the CSE/CPSE recommendations as presented.
Adjournment – 8:28 p.m.
On a motion made by Martha Smith, seconded by Michael Lockwood, and carried – 6 ayes, the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Walker
District Clerk