Minutes for September 14, 2009History 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 7:10 p.m. by the Board President, Mrs. Monahan.

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT - Mrs. Monahan 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 - Mrs. Monahan led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

IV. PRESENTATION
None

V. MINUTES
Mrs. Spiller moved the following:

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes, of the following meeting:
August 24, 2009 public & private session
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Winter and approved by 5-1-2 roll call vote. (Mr. Sardis voted no. Mrs. Toubin and Mrs. Voorhees abstained.)

VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION

  • Construction Update
    Mr. Daquila reported on the following projects:
    Central
    Bathroom tile work is finished and the bathrooms look great
    Roof was completed prior to school opening and contractor will finish his punch list items
    ALT - HVAC work has been completed

VII. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS
Mrs. Monahan noted that the first nine days of school have been successful and the opening day for the staff was a great start to the new year.

She congratulated Mrs. Toubin on her becoming Vice Principal at WHRHS.

VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Dr Przybylski reported negotiations will begin discussions with the attorney and schedule the first round of meetings with the WTEA.

Mrs. Winter noted that finance met to discuss the ARRA spending that is on the agenda.

Mrs. Winter noted that policy met and the four policies being revised are on the agenda.

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).

None

XI. ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION/ACTION
Mr. Ricci questioned the wording in agenda item A.4.

Mrs. Winter asked a question about the wording of B.1.

Mrs. Spiller made a correction to wording on policy numbers 3000/3010 and 3600.

On motion by Mrs. Spiller, seconded by Mrs. Winter, the board approved agenda items A.1 through D.1 (as amended). The amended consent agenda was approved by unanimous 8-0 roll-call vote.

A. Education

A.1. Out of Zone Request for the 2009-2010 School Year

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the out of zone request for one first grade student (ID#2008409) to attend Mt. Horeb School for the 2009-2010 school year.

A.2. In District Related Services
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following students to receive out of district related services:

a) One student (ID#0120782) to receive three additional hours of Auditory Verbal Therapy for Cochlear Implant Use (Speech Partners) during the period of July 31, 2009 through August 25, 2009 at a rate of $130 per hour for a total cost to the district of $390.

b) One student (ID#0120782) to receive up to ten hours of Educational Audiological Support services from Lake Drive Program of Mountain Lakes school district for the 2009-2010 school year. The cost to the district is not to exceed $1,500.

A.3. Out of District Related Services
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following students to receive out of district related services:

a) One student (ID#0120483) to receive one additional 30 minute session per week of occupational therapy for the 2009-2010 school year from MUJC at an hourly rate of $175 for a total cost to the district of $3,500.

b) One student (ID#0000629) to receive one 45 minute session of occupational therapy per week for the period of June 5, 2009 through August 5, 2009 from Child Centered Therapeutics at a cost of $90 per session for a total cost to the district of $810.

A.4. Resolution on Proposed Legislation A-4142
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following resolution:

WHEREAS, On June 22, 2009, proposed legislation was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly as A-4142, a bill that would affect collective bargaining, binding arbitration, and disciplinary procedures in school districts across New Jersey; and,

WHEREAS, The proposed legislation A-4142 would greatly limit the ability of a school district to discipline or terminate its employees, even when such action is fully warranted and in the best interest of the children in the district's schools; and,

WHEREAS, The proposed legislation A-4142 would force all districts to include binding arbitration in their collective bargaining contracts, a devastating blow to flexibility school districts need to effectively run their schools; and,

WHEREAS, The proposed legislation A-4142 would result in an avalanche of grievance filings, thereby choking district administrations and diverting valuable resources to the processing of unnecessary and wasteful paperwork; and,

WHEREAS, The proposed legislation A-4142 would prohibit school districts throughout the state from dismissing under-performing employees without an egregiously difficult, long and costly process at a time when districts are being required by the state to reduce their expenses; and,

WHEREAS, The proposed legislation A-4142 would decrease the quality of education in New Jersey school districts while at the same time increasing its cost;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Warren Township Board of Education urges the elected officials of New Jersey to oppose and defeat the proposed legislation A-4142, and directs that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor Jon Corzine, New Jersey Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy, all legislators representing the 21st legislative district, and the New Jersey School Boards Association.

A.5. 2009-2010 Board and District Goals
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the list of 2009-2010 Board and District Goals dated September 14, 2009.

A.6. 2009-2010 Overnight Class Trips
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following two overnight class trips for the 2009-2010 school year:

a) Grade 7 to Fairview Lakes, June 10, 2010 to June 11, 2010.

b) Grade 8 to Philadelphia, June 3, 2010 to June 4, 2010.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. IDEA ARRA Application
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the submission of the 2009-2010 IDEA ARRA (Stimulus Funding) Grant Application to the Department of Education with the following amount for special education programs:
IDEA ARRA - Basic $445,883.00
IDEA ARRA - Pre-School $ 16,141.00

B.2. Central School Roof Replacement Phase 2 DOE Project: 5470-030-09-1001
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the transfer of $240,500 from Capital Reserve to Fund 30 for the district share of the costs for the Central School Roof Replacement Project Phase 2.

B.3. Angelo L Tomaso Rooftop Unit Replacement (HVAC) DOE Project: 5470-040-09-1004
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the transfer of $66,787 from Capital Reserve to Fund 30 for the district share of the costs for the Angelo L Tomaso School Rooftop Replacement (HVAC) Project.

B.4. Central School Tile Abatement and Floor Tile Replacement DOE Project: 5470-030-09-1002
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the transfer of $42,174 from Capital Reserve to Fund 30 for the district share of the costs for the Central School Tile Abatement and Floor Replacement Project. This project was approved in the 2009/2010 budget.

B.5. Mt. Horeb Tile Abatement and Floor Tile Replacement DOE Project: 5470-035-09-1003
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves an additional withdrawal of $3,695 from Capital Reserve to fully fund the district's share of the project costs for the Mt. Horeb Tile Abatement and Floor Replacement Project. This project was approved in the 2009/2010 budget.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Employment for the 2009-2010 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application for emergent hiring for the following positions for the 2009-2010 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) Jaclyn Aptekar, Classroom Paraprofessional, Mt. Horeb School, Step 3-4, 32.5 hours per week, plus a stipend of $1,800 for a teaching certificate, effective September 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

C.2. Amendment on Salary Guide
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following amended placement on the teachers' negotiated salary guide:
a) Dana Matherly, Central School, MA to MA+15 (remaining at step 5-6), effective September 1, 2009.
b) Deanna DeRoner, Angelo L. Tomaso School, MA+15 to MA+30 (remaining at step 9-10), effective September 1, 2009.
c) Robert Hartshorn, Middle School, BA+15 to MA (remaining at step 17), effective September 1, 2009.
d) Paul Duncan, Central School, MA+30 to MA+45 (remaining at step 9-10), effective September 1, 2009.
e) MaryBeth Greco, Angelo L. Tomaso School, MA+15 to MA+30 (remaining at step 9-10), effective September 1, 2009.
f) Cheryl Plager, Angelo L. Tomaso School, MA+30 to MA+45 (remaining at step 11-12), effective September 1, 2009.
g) Helen Scully, Central School, MA+30 to MA+45 (remaining at step 9-10), effective September 1, 2009.
h) Nicole Evins, Central School, MA to MA+15 (remaining at step 11-12), effective September 1, 2009.

C.3. Substitute Teachers
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Substitute Teachers for the 2009-2010 school year:
a) Nicholas Campanella
b) Jennifer Armenti (2008-2009 sub)
c) Erica Weisberg (2008-2009 sub)

C.4. Home Instructors
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves all certificated teachers and classroom paraprofessionals who have a teacher certification as home instructors for the 2009-2010 school year.

C.5. After School Club - 2009-2010 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following after school club for the 2009-2010 school year and the instructors for each club at the negotiated stipend rate.

Angelo L. Tomaso School
a) Girls On The Run - advisors Kathryn DiDia and Ann Marie Vernese at a stipend of $715 each.

Mt. Horeb School
a) Chorus Club - advisor Mark Weber at a stipend of $1,430.

Woodland School
a) Girls On The Run - advisor Jennifer DePinto at a stipend of $1,430.

C.6. Appointment of Temporary Employees
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the appointment of Andrew Klimek, Stephen Ward (up to 5 days a week) and James Rawson (up to 2 days a week) as temporary employees in the Maintenance/Buildings & Grounds Department for the period of September 8, 2009 to November 27, 2009, at a rate of $10.00 per hour.

C.7. Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the family leave request for the following:
a) Michelle Cebula, Grade 5 Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, (unpaid with benefits) from March 24, 2010 through June 30, 2010 returning September 1, 2010.
b) Marianne Larson, Literacy Coach, District, (unpaid with benefits), effective February 2, 2010 through February 10, 2010 and intermittent at two days per week from February 16, 2010 through June 30, 2010 returning September 1, 2010.

C.8. Criminal History Check Guidelines
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Criminal History Check Guidelines for the district dated September 14, 2009.

C.9. Summer Employment Hiring Process
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Summer Employment Hiring Process for the district dated September 14, 2009.

C.10. Summer Fun Hiring Process
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Summer Fun Hiring Process for the district dated September 14, 2009.

C.11. Per Diem Deduct Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following per diem deduct request for Darlene Bernhard, Classroom Paraprofessional, Central School, for five days, October 12-16, 2009.

D. POLICY

D.1. First Reading Four Policies
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the first and only reading of the following policies. as amended:
a) Policy #3000-3010 ("Concepts and Roles in Business and Non-Instructional Operations; Goals and Objectives")
b) Policy #3451 ("Petty Cash Funds")
c) Policy #3600 ("Evaluation of Business and Non-Instructional Operations")
d) Policy #5145.12 ("Search and Seizure")

XII. OLD BUSINESS

  • 2009-2010 Enrollment Update
    Dr. Crisfield reported the district enrollment as of the 1st day of school and noted that all class sizes are at or below district guidelines.
  • Central School Library Mural
    Dr. Crisfield presented a sketch of the mural for the Central School library.

Mrs. Voorhees asked a question about the board's initial input to the negotiations process.

XIII. NEW BUSINESS
December 2009 Board of Education Meeting (December 14, 2009)
Dr. Crisfield noted that the December 14, 2009 BOE meeting will be a special recognition of Dr. Laura Weitzman.

XIV. PUBLIC COMMENTARY
None

XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
None.

XVI. ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Dr Przybylski, seconded by Mrs. Toubin, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes recorded by:
Peter Daquila