Minutes for March 14, 2011History 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 7:01 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: Donald Huber, Roberta Monahan, Dr. Gregory Przybylski, James Sena, Patricia Toubin, and Kathleen Winter

Absent: Sue Burman

Mildred Spiller

Tony Sardis arrived at 7:07 p.m.

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

IV. PRESENTATION

Dr. Crader introduced Mr. Scott Cook, Dean of Students, who directed the budget promotion video. The video was shown to the BOE and public. Dr. Crader reported that the video will be shown at the budget promotion meetings in addition to financial discussions, and will be posted on the district's website.

Mr. Sardis arrived at this point in the meeting (7:07 p.m.).

V. MINUTES

Mrs. Winter moved the following:

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

February 28, 2011 public and private session

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Toubin and approved by 5-1--1 roll call vote. (Dr. Przybylski abstained. Mr. Sardis voted no.)

VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION

The superintendent reported the following drills had been held.

Fire Drills

ALT

Central

Mt. Horeb

Woodland

Middle

February 18

February 16

February 18, 2011

February 18

February 18

Security Drills

ALT

Central

Mt. Horeb

Woodland

Middle

February 25

Active Shooter

February 18

Lockdown

February 17, 2011 Lockdown

February 24

Lockdown

February 24

Active Shooter

VII. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS

Dr. Przybylski offered the board & town's sympathy to the Schmidts on the loss of their daughter. He offered his thoughts for the people of Japan and asked for a moment of silence for both the Japanese people and the Schmidt family.

VIII. SUPERINTENDENT'S REMARKS

Dr. Crader has been reading to many classes across the district and reported that the students are progressing.

She reported on the superintendent's coffee and discussions with the group.

Dr. Crader also read a brief testimonial to Elaine Hoffman on her retirement after 23 years of service to Warren.

She reported that the E2 mock trial has been accepted into the NJ Bar Association's mock trial program.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mrs. Winter reminded the board that the details on the self-evaluation and superintendent's evaluation are due to Mrs. Burman by March 22nd.

X. DISCUSSION

Pre-engineering Program

Dr. Crader introduced Mr. Comba, Middle School Principal, Mr. Cook, and Mrs. Roberts, Technology Coordinator. A presentation on the Innovation & Design & Exploratory Program was presented. The BOE discussed the presentation and the new programs.

100-Day Report Summary

This item was tabled until the next agenda due to the absence of 2 board members.

Superintendent and Board Secretary Evaluation Process

Dr. Crader reminded the board that information is needed for the superintendent's evaluation and input to the board secretary's evaluation by 3/22/11.

Board Self-Evaluation Process

Dr. Crader reminded the BOE that info is due to Mrs. Burman by 3/22/11.

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).

Dr. James Baratta, Thistle Lane, spoke about the introduction of Mandarin at the Middle School and how this may affect the math instruction.

Dr. Crader responded that math instruction would not be affected.

XII. ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION/ACTION

Mr. Huber asked what the dates were of the conference referenced in agenda item B.2. Mr. Daquila responded 6/1, 6/2, and 6/3.

Mr. Huber asked a question on the evaluations and the extent of the evaluation referenced in agenda item C.2. D. Crader responded.

Regarding agenda item C. 3: Mr. Huber wanted to verify that Mr. Duncan's salary would not be exceeded. Dr. Crader verified that the sub costs will not exceed Mr. Duncan's salary.

Regarding agenda item C. 5: Mr. Huber asked about the mileage and tolls that are part of the evaluator's costs. Dr. Crader responded and amounts will be included in the future.

Regarding agenda item C. 6: Mr. Huber asked why this is required. Dr. Crader responded that this is required by law.

Regarding agenda item D. 1.c.6121: Mr. Huber questioned certain aspects of the policy. The board discussed the wording and will pull the policy and change the wording.

D.1.c. was pulled from the vote.

On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Toubin, the consent agenda items A.1., B.1. & 2., C.1. - 6., and D.1.a.,b.,d.,& e., were approved by a 7-0 roll-call vote.

A. EDUCATION

A.1. Home Instruction

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves one student (ID#0120864) to receive 10 hours per week of home instruction for a period of 30 days, beginning on or about March 7, 2011, when the student is out of the hospital, for a cost to the district of $2,000.

B. FINANCE/OPERATIONS/TRANSPORTATION

B.1. Transportation

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves and amends the following transportation items:

a) Approve one Watchung student to be transported by Warren Township Schools to Cedar Hill School, Basking Ridge, NJ, (W-147), effective February 28, 2011 through June 22, 2011 at a cost of $31.50 per diem for a total received by the district of $1,764.

b) Amend the transportation contract (W141) with the Green Brook BOE to the DLC to end, effective March 14, 2011. The contracted amount is amended to only 117 days at $28.30 per diem for a total of $3,311.10 (instead of the previously approved $5,094.00).

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:

March 2011

  • Doris Zanchelli, Mt Horeb - NJ State School Nursing Conference New Brunswick, NJ $175

June 2011

  • Peter Daquila BOE - NJASBO Annual Conference, Atlantic City, NJ $600

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. Extension of Family Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the extension of a family leave request for Leslie Ortega, Special Education Teacher, Middle School, from September 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 (unpaid without benefits), with a return date on or about January 1, 2012.

C.2. Out of District Bilingual Evaluator

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Hillmar, LLC to conduct bilingual (Spanish/English) Child Study Team evaluations for a cost of $525 per evaluation for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year not to exceed $2,625.

C.3. Change of Assignment

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the change of assignment for Briana McLeroy, from Classroom Paraprofessional to long term Substitute Teacher, Central School, effective April 11, 2011 through June 30, 2011, (replacing Paul Duncan on family leave), at an additional per diem rate of $48.18.

C.4. Resignation (Attachment 1)

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the resignation of Elaine Hoffman, Guidance Counselor, Angelo L. Tomaso School, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for the 23 years of service to the children of Warren, effective June 30, 2011.

C.5. Extension of Out of District Evaluator Contract

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves to extend the Douglass Outreach contract for on-site consultation to school based Applied Behavior Analysis Program for one 2 hour session per month, beginning April through June at $150 per hour for a total cost to the district of $900 plus mileage and tolls.

C.6. After School Club One on One Aide

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the requirement for Kim Miller, Classroom Paraprofessional, to attend two hours per week after school club with one Warren out-of-district student, effective March 14, 2011 at an additional cost of $15.34 per hour at a total cost to the district not to exceed $245.44.

D. POLICY

D.1. Policies

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the second and final reading of the following policies:

a) Policy 4112.2/4212.2 - Certification.

b) Policy 5131.5 - Vandalism/Violence

c) Policy 6121 - Nondiscrimination/Affirmative Action Pulled

d) Policy 6142.2 - English As A Second Language; Bilingual Programs

e) Policy 6178 - Early Childhood Education/Preschool

XIII. OLD BUSINESS

Summer Friday Schedule

Mr. Daquila presented the proposed summer Friday schedule. The board approved the summer schedule for 2011.

Summer Help 2011

Mr. Daquila presented and asked the board if summer help can again be utilized in 2011. The board agreed to hire summer employees at the same rates as 2010.

XIV. NEW BUSINESS

Mrs. Monahan reported that the Middle School play presented on March 24th & 25th is Thoroughly Modern Millie. She indicated that tickets are available and that the BOE can purchase reserved seats at the regular price.

Mr. Huber asked about the purchase of electricity and how the district is purchasing electricity.

Mr. Daquila responded that the district purchases its gas and electricity from ACES and receives a discount in comparison to the JCP&L and PSE&G rates.

XV. PUBLIC COMMENTARY

Patricia Zohn asked if there was an update on teacher's negotiations. Dr. Crader responded.

Ms. Linda Kang/Baratta, Thistle Lane, asked about the cost of a new program in the district if a corporation could sponsor a new subject i.e. Korean Language. Dr. Crader responded.

She asked about the SMART boards and the number of boards still needed at each school and how instruction has been affected by the SMART boards.

Celeste Campos asked about the costs of the new pre-engineering program. Dr. Crader responded.

XVI. EXECUTIVE SESSION:

At 8:14 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:

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. Toubin and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mrs. Winter, seconded by Mrs. Toubin the board reconvened in open session at 8:40 p.m.

XVII. ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Mrs. Winter seconded by Mrs. Toubin, the meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

Minutes recorded by:

Peter Daquila