Minutes for September 22, 2008History icon Archived Minutes

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A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day in the Board of Education Administration Building, Mt. Horeb Road. The following is a record of that meeting.

I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by the Board President, Dr. Przybylski

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT - Dr. Przybylski read the following statement:
In accordance with the provisions New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law, the Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be posted in the Board Office and in the Township Office, mailed to the Courier News and Echoes Sentinel, and filed with the Clerk of the Township of Warren.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Dr. Przybylski led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. ROLL CALL 
Present: Susan Burman,  Roberta Monahan, Dr. Gregory Przybylski, David Ricci, Tony Sardis, Mildred Spiller, Gina Voorhees and Kathleen Winter 
Absent: Patricia Toubin arrived at 7:05 p.m.                                                                                                                   
Also Present: Dr. James Crisfield, Superintendent, Peter Daquila, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, and members of the public

IV. PRESENTATION

  • Long Range Capital Planning Update (USA Architects)
    Andrew Adornato of U.S.A. Architects presented an update on the district's facility analysis.  BOE discussed various items regarding the future projects.

V. MINUTES
Mrs. Winter moved the following:
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes, as amended, of the following meeting:

September 8, 2008 public and private session

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Voorhees and approved by 9-0 voice vote.   

VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION

QSAC
Mr. Daquila reported that Trudy Doyle, Executive County Superintendent, Tyler Tribelhorn, and he conducted the QSAC facility review of Middle School and ALT.  Ms. Doyle was impressed with both buildings and only found minor issues.

Solar Update
Mr. Daquila reported that he met with Eric Bigelson of Infinity Resource Group regarding solar energy.  Mr. Bigelson will introduce the district to two different companies that will assess the district's ability to install solar power.  The initial reviews will be at no cost to the district.

VII. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS
Dr. Przybylski thanked the teachers and staff for all their additional efforts at back to school nights. He also congratulated all of the staff that have recently had children and wished them all the best with their new family members.

VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Communications
Mrs. Spiller attended the PTO Presidents Council meeting to discuss board presence at PTO meetings.  Mrs. Spiller will discuss issues with the presidents prior to their PTO meetings to verify if board presence is desired or needed for any reason.

Education
Mrs. Voorhees reported that the Education Committee met to discuss admission age policy and issues in the district.  The majority of the committee decided that admission age will not be researched at this time.  The cutoff date should remain October 1st at this time.

BOE discussed the admission age topic and decided not to pursue the issue at this time.  Mr. Sardis noted that he does not feel it is appropriate that the board does not gather the data and research the issue. 

IX. Discussion
None

X. PUBLIC COMMENTARY (including opportunity to speak about items for Board Consideration/Action)
Note on public input at BOE meetings:  Board Policy #9322, adopted on April 14, 2008, provides for and encourages public participation in Board of Education meetings.  Such participation is governed by the following rules:

  • 1. A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name and place of residence;
  • 2. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes' duration (limit may be adjusted at the discretion of the presiding officer as circumstances dictate);
  • 3. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard; and
  • 4. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer-no participant may address or question Board members individually.

The portion of the meeting during which participation of the public is invited shall be limited to fifteen minutes (limit may be adjusted at the discretion of the presiding officer as circumstances dictate).

There was no public commentary at this point in the meeting.

XI. ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION/ACTION (CONSENT AGENDA)
The board discussed agenda item A.3.a. The board pulled agenda items A.3. and D.1.   

On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Voorhees, the board approved A.1.& 2., B.1-3. B.4 as amended, B.5. & B.6 as amended, C.1-11.,and C.12. as amended, as a consent agenda.  The consent agenda was approved by unanimous 9-0 roll-call vote

On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Spiller on an 8-1 roll call vote, the board approved agenda item A.3.a. (Mrs. Toubin voted no.)  On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Toubin on a 9-0 roll call vote, the board approved agenda item A.3.b. On motion by Mrs. Monahan, seconded by Mrs. Winter on a 7-2 roll call vote, the board approved agenda item D.1. (Mr. Sardis and Mrs. Toubin voted no.)  A motion to reconsider agenda item D.1 was raised but failed on a 3-6 roll call vote.

A. Education

A.1 Out of Zone Request for the 2008-2009 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the out of zone request for one student (ID#1001197) to remain at Central School, grade 5, for the 2008-2009 school year.

A.2. Out of District Related Services
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves one student (ID#0000629) to receive two 30 minute sessions of Occupational Therapy per week for the 2008-2009 school year retroactive to September 3, 2008.  The cost to the district will be $6,600.

A.3. Out of District One on One Aide
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a 1:1 aide for the following students for the 2008-2009 school year:

  • 1. one student (ID#0000629) attending DLC-Warren at a cost to the district of $58,807.99
  • 2. one student (ID#0000031) attending The Children's Institute at a cost to the district of $18,900.

 

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Payment of Bills (Attachment 1)
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the balance of payment of the bill list dated September 30, 2008 in the amount of $2,698,388.30.

B.2. WHRHS Math Program for Middle School Students
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the attendance of seven Middle School students for first period math at Watchung Hills Regional High School for a tuition cost of $681.82 per student for a total cost of $4,772.74 for the 2008-2009 school year.

B.3. Alternate Conformance - Kindergarten Bathroom Facilities
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the district to use an alternate method of bathroom facilities compliance at Woodland School (one classroom) in accordance with N.J.A.C. d:22-5.4(h)4ii, by providing toilet rooms outside the classroom in lieu of individual toilet rooms in each classroom. 

B.4. SMART Board Donation - Woodland School PTO
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves, with appreciation, the donation of $6,000 from the Woodland School PTO towards the purchase of SMART Boards for the 4th grade classrooms.

B.5. Transportation Contracts - Host District
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the transportation contracts with the following districts for the transportation of Out of District Students for the receipt of funds for the 2008/2009 school year as follows:

Contractor          District               School                                       Fee

Warren              Watchung         DLC                                           $   5,429.20

Warren              Watchung         Children's Institute                     $ 10,147.65

Warren              WHRHS               DLC                                           $ 10,858.40

Warren              WHRHS               WHRHS                                      $ 14,760.00

Warren              WHRHS               Ridge High School                       $   8,733.60

Warren              WHRHS               Bernards High School                  $ 11,361.60

Warren              Long Hill             WHRHS to Central Middle School     $     900.00

B.6. Travel Approval
Whereas, in accordance with State of New Jersey School District Accountability Act (A-5) and the Warren Township Schools' policy number 4133 - Travel and Work Related Expense Reimbursement, travel by school district employees and Board of Education members must be approved in advance.

Now Therefore Be It RESOLVED, the Warren Township Schools Board of Education approves the following expenses for faculty, staff, administrators, and board members for seminars, conferences and workshops.  The expense includes travel costs, if applicable:

October 2008

  •  Susan Cooper, Middle - NJ Peer to Peer, Monroe, NJ $ 15
  •  Lynn Degan, Middle - NJ Peer to Peer, Monroe, NJ $ 25
  •  Sandella Marmarato, Middle - Art Educators of NJ, Somerset, NJ $ 100
  •  Susan Cooper, Middle - E2 Competition, West Orange, NJ $ 35
  •  Ann Santee, Woodland - NJ Assoc of School Social Workers, East Windsor, NJ $ 190
  •  Helen Scully, Central - NJ School Counselors Conference, Long Branch, NJ $ 155
  •  Diane Langworthy, Woodland - NJ School Counselors Conf, Long Branch, NJ $ 170
  •  Nancy Darby, Woodland - Showcasing Information Literacy, Newark, NJ $ 80
  •  Lucille Schorr, ALT - Conflict Resolution, East Brunswick, NJ $ 10
  •  Beverly MacGorman, Middle - Home Arts Insights, Hamilton, NJ $ 190
  •  Laura Weitzman, SPS - Childhood Aproxia of Speech, Piscataway, NJ $ 180
  •  Sitta Cohen, Middle - 20th Annual AMTNJ Conference, Somerset, NJ $ 190
  •  Terry Kramitz, SPS - Assessment & Intervention, Union, NJ $ 130
  •  Jeanne Nimmo, Mt Horeb -Music Advisory Board, New Providence, NJ $ 15
  •  Donna Pellagrino, ALT - Art Educators Fall Conference, Somerset, NJ $ 120
  •  Susan Sage, Mt Horeb - AENJ Fall Conference, Somerset, NJ $ 140

November 2008

  • Ann Menken, BOE -Business Grammar & Proofreading, Parsippany, NJ $ 195

January 2009

  • Jeanne Nimmo, Mt Horeb -Music Advisory Board, New Providence, NJ $ 15

February 2009

  • Jeanne Nimmo, Mt Horeb -Music Advisory Board, New Providence, NJ $ 15

March 2009

  • Jeanne Nimmo, Mt Horeb -Music Advisory Board, New Providence, NJ $ 15

May 2009

  • Jeanne Nimmo, Mt Horeb -Music Advisory Board, New Providence, NJ $ 15

June 2009

  • Jeanne Nimmo, Mt Horeb -Music Advisory Board, New Providence, NJ $ 30

All of the above travel has been approved by the Superintendent and the Board of Education.  The School Business Administrator shall track and record these costs to ensure that the maximum amount is not exceeded.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Employment for the 2008-2009 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application for emergent hiring for the following positions for the 2008-2009 school year under the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:16-1 et seq.,  N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 et seq., and N.J.S.A. 6-4.14 et seq., as listed below:

  • a) Christine Geller, Grade 3 Teacher, Central School, BA, step 6-7, effective November 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. (Ms. Geller is replacing Ms. Bultman.)
  • b) Calvin James, Day Custodian, Middle School, at a salary of $36,000, effective October 1, 2008. (Mr. James is replacing David Marin who was transferred to B&G.)
  • c) Iberca Jimenez, Full-time Bus Driver, Transportation, at a salary of $21,000, effective October 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

C.2. Amendment on Salary Guide
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following amended placements on the teachers' negotiated salary guide:

  • a) Christopher Schwallie, MA+30 to MA+45 (remaining at step 10-11), effective September 1, 2008.
  • b) Lynn Alger, MA to MA+15 (remaining at step 10-11), effective September 1, 2008.
  • c) Karen Sutherland, BA to BA+15 (remaining at step 13), effective September 1, 2008.
  • d) Meryl Lettire, MA+15 to MA+30 (remaining at step 12), effective September 1, 2008.
  • e) Anita Brower, MA+30 to MA+45 (remaining at step 14), effective September 1, 2008.
  • f) Andrea Carroll, MA+15 to MA+30 (remaining at step 18), effective September 1, 2008.

C.3. Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Family Leave request for:
a) Anabela Santos-Ordner, Grade 4 Teacher, Angelo L. Tomaso School, family leave (unpaid with benefits) from February 10, 2009 through May 14, 2009, returning May 15, 2009.

C.4. Amend Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education amends the family leave request for Kelly Hawkins, Special Education Teacher, Central School from November 12, 2008 through February 20, 2009 to October 27, 2008 through February 4, 2009 and child care from February 23, 2009 through June 30, 2009 to February 5, 2009 through June 30, 2009 with a return date of September 1, 2009.

C.5. Middle School 8th Grade Advisor
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves Joann Blatchford, grade 8 Science Teacher, as the Middle School 8th grade advisor for the 2008-2009 school year.

C.6. Substitute Teachers
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Substitute Teachers for the 2008-2009 school year:

  • a) Jessica Matos
  • b) Jaclyn Aptekar
  • c) Maria Mattaliano
  • d) Zachary Liu

C.7. Contracted Related Services Request
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves contracted related services for one student (ID#0120949) for the 2008-2009 school year by the following:

  • a) Barbara DeLoretto to devise and supervise the ABA program at a rate of $100 per hour for four hours per month beginning September 4, 2008. The cost to the district will be $4,000.
  • b) Jillian Yospin to provide three hours per week of Oral Motor, feeding therapy and speech/language therapy beginning September 4, 2008 at a rate of $115 per hour. The cost to the district will be $13,800.

C.8. Summer 2008 Hours
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves Nancy Duffy, Multi-Duty Paraprofessional, Mt. Horeb School, to be paid for an additional 6.25 hours of office work, retroactive August 20, 2008, at her hourly rate of 18.25.  Total cost to the district is $114.06.

C.9. Middle School Overnight Trips
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the following Middle School overnight trips as follows:

  • a) 7th grade to Fairview Lakes Environmental Trip - June 5-6, 2009.
  • b) 8th grade to Gettysburg/Philadelphia Trip - May 28-29, 2009.

C.10. E2 Evening and Weekend Coordinator
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves Susan Cooper as the E2 evening and weekend coordinator for the 2008-2009 school year at a stipend of $1,430.

C.11. Increase in Hours
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the increase of hours for Donna Perry, Classroom Paraprofessional, Central School from 27.5 to 32.5 per week, effective October 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

C.12. After School Clubs - 2008-2009 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following after school clubs for the 2008-2009 school year and the instructors for each club at the negotiated stipend rate.

Angelo L. Tomaso School

  • a) Computer Programming Club - advisor Sheila Connelly at a stipend of $1,430.
  • b) Scrabble Club - advisor Mary Lynch at a stipend of $715.

Central School

  • a) Art Club - advisor Meryl Lettire at a stipend of $1,430.
  • b) Homework Club - advisor Megan O'Donnell at a stipend of $1,430.
  • c) Indoor Soccer Club - advisor Patrick Rock at a stipend of $1,430.
  • d) Musical Theater - advisor Laura Rodaman at a stipend of $715.

Mt. Horeb School

  • a) Art Club - advisor Susan Sage at a stipend of $1,430.
  • b) Chorus Grades 4-5 - advisor Mark Weber at a stipend of $1,430
  • c) Computer Club - advisor Janice O'Connor at a stipend of $1,430.
  • d) Creative Creations - advisor Michele Stora deCruz at a stipend of $715.
  • e) Culture Club - advisor Michel Stora deCruz at a stipend of$715.
  • f) Newspaper 1 - advisor Kara Fava at a stipend of $715.
  • g) Newspaper 2 - advisor Kara Fava at a stipend of $715.

Woodland School

  • a) Art Club - advisor Jennifer DePinto at a stipend of $1,430.
  • b) Board Game Club - advisor Anita Brower at a stipend of $1,430.
  • c) Environmental Club - advisor Philip Jones at a stipend of $1,430.
  • d) Lego Club - advisor Christina Beekman at a stipend of $1,430.
  • e) Library Club - advisor Nancy Darby at a stipend of $1,430.
  • f) Video Production - advisor Suzanne Wisher at a stipend of $1,430.

Middle School

  • a) Games of Strategy - advisor Gladys Veitch at a stipend of $1,430.
  • b) Sim City - advisor Steve Verger at a stipend of $1,430.
  • c) Flag Football - advisor Debbie Granrath at a stipend of $1,430.
  • d) Morning Volleyball Club - advisor Amanda Rodrigues at a stipend of $715.

 D. Policy

5000 Policy Series - Second Reading (Attachment 2)
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the second reading and adoption of the revised 5000 policy series - Pupils.

XII.       OLD BUSINESS

  • Teacher Recognition Program
    Dr. Crisfield informed the board of the County's decision to eliminate the Teacher Recognition Program\\
  • Special Education Audit - Need for future discussion?

    Dr. Crisfield noted that the Special Ed Audit was distributed and the board will need to determine if it needs to be discussed at a future meeting.

    Mr. Sardis noted that a few items in the audit report should still be addressed.  He feels that procedures to verify that special ed. spending is appropriate should be developed.

XIII. NEW BUSINESS

  • New Jersey State Pre-School Expansion Program

    Dr. Crisfield reported on the 2 distinctive preschool programs from the State that are in the planning stages.  The district is trying to determine how to create an integrated preschool program.

    The second program is providing a preschool program with students that meet the fiscal criteria established by the State. 

XIV. PUBLIC COMMENTARY
Patricia Zahn questioned agenda item C.1.a & C.14.a.  Dr. Crisfield noted that Ms. Geller will remain in the 3rd grade classroom for the entire school year.

XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION:  
At 9:25 p.m. Mrs. Winter moved the following:

WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A.10:4-11, permits the Board of Education to meet in closed session to discuss certain matters, now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the Board of Education adjourns to closed session to discuss:                  
1)   matter rendered confidential by federal or state law
2)   pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation and/or matters of attorney-client privilege
3)   a matter in which release of information would impair the right to receive government funds
4)   material the disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of individual privacy
5)   a collective bargaining agreement and/or negotiations related to it
6)   a matter involving the purchase, lease, or acquisition of real property with public funds
7)   protection of public safety and property and/or investigations of possible violations or violations of law
8)   specific prospective or current employees unless all who could be adversely affected request an open session
9)   deliberation after a public hearing that could result in a civil penalty or other loss
and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, the minutes of this closed session be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Toubin and approved by unanimous voice vote.
On motion by Mrs. Winter and seconded by Mrs. Burman, the board reconvened in open session at 9:40 p.m.

XV. ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Mrs. Burman, seconded by Mrs. Winter, the meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m.

Minutes recorded by:
Peter Daquila