Minutes for November 8, 2010History icon Archived Minutes

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A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day in the Middle School, Old Stirling Road. The following is a record of that meeting.

I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the Board Vice-President, Mrs. Winter

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

III. ROLL CALL
Present: Sue Burman, Donald Huber, Roberta Monahan, James Sena, and Kathleen Winter
Absent: Dr. Gregory Przybylski arrived at 6:15 p.m.
Tony Sardis arrived at 6:10 p.m.
Patricia Toubin arrived at 6:25 p.m.
Mildred Spiller

Also Present: Dr. Tami Crader, Superintendent, MaryGrace Suitovsky, Assistant School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, members of the staff, and public

IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION:

At 6:02 p.m. Mrs. Burman 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:

matter rendered confidential by federal or State law

pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation and/or matters of attorney-client privilege

a matter in which release of information would impair the right to receive government funds

material the disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of individual privacy

a collective bargaining agreement and/or negotiations related to it

a matter involving the purchase, lease, or acquisition of real property with public funds

protection of public safety and property and/or investigations of possible violations or violations of law

specific prospective or current employees unless all who could be adversely affected request an open session

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. Monahan and approved by unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Sardis arrived at this point in the meeting (6:10 p.m.)

Dr. Przybylski arrived at this point in the meeting (6:15 p.m.)

Mrs. Toubin arrived at this point in the meeting (6:25 p.m.)

On motion by Mr. Sardis, seconded by Mrs. Toubin, the board reconvened in open session at 7:00 p.m.

V. PRESENTATION

  • 2009-2010 Standardized Testing Results NJ-ASK/Algebra End Of Year Exam
    Middle School Principal, Mr. Robert Comba, and Curriculum Supervisor, Mrs. Sondra Markman, presented and discussed the results of the NJASK Grades 3 - 8 and the Algebra end of course exam.
  • Warren Middle School Happenings
    Mr. Comba presented a summary of what is occurring at the Middle School.

VI. MINUTES

Mrs. Winter moved the following:

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes, of the following meeting:

October 12, 2010 public and private session

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Toubin and approved by 6-1-1 roll call vote. (Mr. Sardis voted no and Mrs. Monahan abstained.)

VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION
Fire Drills

The superintendent reported the following fire drills had been held.

ALT

Central

Mt. Horeb

Woodland

Middle

October 8, 19

October 5, 15

October 13, 28

October 25, 26

October 8, 28

VIII. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS
Dr. Przybylski expressed congratulations to the WHRHS girls' soccer team for placing 1st in the county.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
None

X. DISCUSSION
Nursing Services Plan (see agenda item A.1.)

Dr. Crader discussed the nursing services plan.

XI. 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

XII. ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION/ACTION
Various board members asked questions about agenda items C.4 and C.7.

On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Toubin, the consent agenda items A.1 through C.3. C.5, C.6 and D.1., were approved by an 8-0 roll-call vote.

On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Toubin, agenda item C.4 was approved by a 6-2 roll-call vote. (Mrs. Burman, and Mr. Sardis, voted no.)

On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Toubin, agenda item C.7 was approved by a 5-3 roll-call vote. (Mr. Huber, Mr. Sardis, and Mrs. Toubin voted no.)

A. Education

A.1. Nursing Services Plan

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Nursing Services Plan for the 2010-2011 school year dated November 8, 2010.

A.2. Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the Annual Update to the Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement, dated October 26, 2010.

(The Agreement between education and law enforcement officials is approved on an annual basis. No changes to the original Agreement dated 2007 have been made.)

A.3. Home Programming

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves one student (ID#121209) to receive two hours per week of home programming coordination at an hourly cost of $90 and two hours per week of home programming consultation at an hourly cost of $55, effective November 9, 2010 through June 30, 2011 for a total cost to the district of $8,990.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Warren Middle School Mini Grants

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the acceptance from the Warren Middle School, with appreciation, of mini grants for the following items:

a) Seven packages (12 aprons per package) of medium duty rubberized lab aprons $768.

b) Four Yamaha Gigmaker deluxe acoustic guitar packs $738.

B.2. 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:

December 2010

  •  
    • Jennifer Curran, SPS - Mid Atlantic Speech Pathologists Conference, Cherry Hill, NJ $250
    • Pat LaPensee, SPS - Mid Atlantic Speech Pathologists Conference, Cherry Hill, NJ $250
    • Jamie Perry, SPS - Mid Atlantic Speech Pathologists Conference, Cherry Hill, NJ $250
    • Allison Reu, SPS - Mid Atlantic Speech Pathologists Conference, Cherry Hill, NJ $250
    • Janice Anderson, SPS - Mid Atlantic Speech Pathologists Conference, Cherry Hill, NJ $250

January 2010

  •  
    • Margee Pfeifer, Woodland - BER P.D.D. & Asperger's Workshop, East Hanover, NJ $225
    • Rebecca Maag, Mt. Horeb - Guided Reading, Piscataway, NJ $225
    • Darlene Bernhard, Mt. Horeb - Guided Reading, Piscataway, NJ $225

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

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Family Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the family leave request for the following:

a) Leslie Ortega, Special Education Teacher, Middle School, (unpaid with no benefits due to ineligibility for benefits) from February 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011 and child rearing leave (unpaid and no benefits) from June 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011. Returning September 1, 2011.

b) Tara Lento, Special Education Teacher, Angelo L. Tomaso School, (unpaid with benefits) from April 18, 2011 through June 30, 2011. Returning September 1, 2011.

C.2. Middle School Overnight Trips AMENDED

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the following Middle School overnight trips as follows:

a) 7th grade to Fairview Lakes Environmental Trip - June 9-10, 2011

b) 8th grade to Gettysburg and Philadelphia - June 2-3, 2011.

C.3. Temporary Multi Duty Paraprofessional

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Sharyn Baier as a temporary Multi Duty Paraprofessional, Middle School, 35 hours per week, effective November 1, 2010 through November 3, 2010 for a total cost not to exceed $350. (Mrs. Baier is a former employee and will be replacing Ms. Tlumacki who is out on workers' comp.)

C.4. Per Diem Deduct Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following per diem deduct request for:

a) Paul Duncan, Grade 5 Teacher, Central School, for two days, October 28-29, 2010.

C.5. 2010-2011 Sport Coaches

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the appointment of the following sport coaches for the 2010-2011 school year:

a) Zachary Liu - Boys Basketball at a stipend of $3,360.

b) Dave Arnold - Boys Baseball at a stipend of $2,900 (replacing Sean Mealey).

C.6. Substitute Teachers

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Substitute Teachers for the 2010-2011 school year:

a) Joan Skorupski

b) Helena Rohal

c) Michelle Marone

d) Michael Ramirez

C.7. Creation of a Behavioral Disabilities Special Education Program Class for the 2010-2011 School Year

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the creation of a new Behavioral Disabilities Special Education Program Class and special education teaching position at Angelo L. Tomaso School for the 2010-2011 school year.

D. Policy

D.1. Policy Revision - First Reading

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the first reading of the following revised policies:

a) Policy 1100 - Communication With The Public

b) Policy 4112.8 - Nepotism

XIII. OLD BUSINESS
Mrs. Monahan disused the idea of coming up with a presentation prioritizing possible budget cuts for next school year.

XIV. NEW BUSINESS
None

XV. PUBLIC COMMENTARY
Patricia Zohn indicated she was disappointed not to see Middle School's parents attending this meeting. She is concerned that agenda item C.2 was approved without discussion or comment of how the trips will be paid.

XVII. ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Mrs. Burman seconded by Mrs. Toubin, the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Minutes recorded by: