Warren Township Schools

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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 7:05 p.m. by the Board President, Dr. Przybylski.

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT - Dr. Przybylski read the following Statement:

Re: Chapter 231 P.L. 1975: "The adequate notice of this regular meeting as required by the open public meetings act was provided by the posting, mailing/delivery, and filing of this notice on March 2, 2012. This notice was on that date posted on the bulletin board in the Township Office, mailed to the Courier News and the Echoes Sentinel, and filed with the Township Clerk of the Township of Warren, all in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act."

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

III. ROLL CALL

Present: Tia Allocco, Sue Burman, Kathy Helewa, Donald Huber, Roberta Monahan, Gregory Przybylski, and Mildred Spiller

Absent: James Sena arrived at 7:37 p.m.

John De Bellis

Also Present: Dr. Tami Crader, Superintendent, Patricia Leonhardt, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, members of public, and press

IV. Presentation

• Resolutions for Dr. Przybylski and Mrs. Burman
  

  Dr. Crader thanked Dr. Przybylski and Mrs. Burman for their years of service. Mrs. Spiller read resolutions for the departing Board members, followed by a presentation of tokens of the district's appreciation.

  Former Board members Kathy Winter, Pam Coley and David Ricci echoed appreciation for the years of service to the Board and district.

  Mrs. Burman and Dr. Przybylski spoke of the pleasure Board service had given them and the high level of comfort they feel with current district leadership. 

V. Minutes

Mrs. Spiller moved the following:

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

November 26, 2012 public session

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Burman and approved by a 7-0 roll call vote.

VI. Correspondence and Information

• HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:			Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:
	0			0

• Fire Drills

ALT	Central	Mt. Horeb	Woodland	Middle
November 29	November 15	November 21	November 16	November 21

• Security Drills

ALT	Central	Mt. Horeb	Woodland	Middle
November 29 Bomb Threat	November 20 Bomb Threat	November 29 Bomb Threat	November 26 Bomb Threat	November 19 Bomb Threat

VII. President's Remarks - Gregory Przybylski

Dr. Przybylski offered Happy Holiday wishes to all, and discussed his mixed feelings regarding his departure from the Warren Township Board of Education to go to the Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education.

VIII. Superintendent's Remarks - Tami Crader

Dr. Crader thanked Mr. Comba on behalf of the entire Middle School for their work regarding Superstorm Sandy victims.

VIII. Committee Reports

In Mr. Sena's absence, Mr. Huber reported on the Finance Committee. The list of discussion items included the 2013/14 budget, the 2011-12 audit, the status of Emergency Reserve, protection of facilities during power outages and the NJSBA sequestration resolution.

X. Discussion

• Summer Fun
  Dr. Crader provided an overview of the Summer Fun program, its financial interaction with the remedial program, and modifications planned for next year. 

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

The Board discussed item A.2.b with Mr. Comba answering some questions.

At this time Mr. Huber expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to have worked with Dr. Przybylski and Mrs. Burman.

Mr. Sena arrived at this time (7:37 P.M.).

On motion by Mrs. Burman, seconded by Mrs. Spiller, the consent agenda items A.1. through A.7., B.1. through B.6., and C.1 through C.5. were approved by an 8-0 roll-call vote.

A. Education

A.1. HIB Report

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the HIB Report submitted by the Superintendent for the period ending on December 4, 2012.

A.2. Middle School Overnight Trips

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

a) Grade 7, to Fairview Lakes YMCA Camp, Sparta, NJ, June 6, 2013 - June 7, 2013.

b) Grade 8, to Camden, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA, May 30, 2013 - May 31, 2013.

A.3. Violence and Vandalism Report

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the first Violence and Vandalism Report for the 2012-2013 school year dated December 10, 2012.

A.4. Tuition-In Student

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the placement of Watchung Student #121423 in the Project Grow program, retroactive to September 10, 2012, at an annual tuition of $15,683.

A.5. Election Results

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the Certificate of Election as presented by the Board of County Canvassers of Somerset County regarding the election held in Warren Township on November 6, 2012, whereby Ms. Desiree DeNourie, Mrs. Kathy Helewa and Mr. Gregory Steier were each elected members of the Warren Township Board of Education for full three (3) year terms and Dr. Gregory Przybylski was elected to the Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education for a full three (3) year term.

A.6. Home Instruction

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves up to 10 hours of home instruction per week for an initial 30 day period for Student #120537 beginning December 10, 2012. The cost to the district is not to exceed $ 2,000.

A.7 Tuition Out Student

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the transfer of an out-of-district placement, Student #120483, from DLC Warren to William Annin Middle School (Bernards Township Schools), beginning January 7, 2013. The cost to the district is not to exceed $36,457.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills from December 1, 2012 through December 10, 2012 in the amount of $1,472,028.53.

B.2. Partial Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education authorizes the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, pursuant to Policy 3326, to audit pending bills and claims, to pay qualifying bills and claims within approved budget line item amounts, from December 11, 2012 to December 31, 2012, and to submit those bills to the Board of Education for approval at its next regular meeting.

B.3. Board Secretary's and Treasurer's Report

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the attached report of the secretary for the month of October 2012.

WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on October 31, 2012

FUND	CASH BALANCE	APPROPRIATION BALANCE	FUND BALANCE
(10) General Current Expense Fund	$7,907,771.80		$1,573,466.18
(11) Current Expense		$4,293,766.70
(12) Capital Outlay		$1,072,174.23
(13) Special Schools		$1,675.38
(20) Special Revenue Fund	($151,243.68)	$34,281.27
(30) Capital Projects Fund	$0.00		$0.00
(40) Debt Service Fund	$587,329.04	$0.00	$84.65
TOTAL	$8,343,857.16	$5,401,897.58	$1,573,550.83

WHEREAS, in compliance with law and code the secretary has certified that, as of the date of the reports, no budgetary line item account has obligations and payments (contractual orders) which in total exceed the amount appropriated by the district board of education, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts the above reference reports and certifications and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, in compliance with law and code, the Board of Education certifies that, after review of the secretary's monthly financial report (appropriation section), to the best of its knowledge, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of law and code and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the year.

B.4. Budget Transfers for Month of October 2012

RESOLVED, the Board of Education ratifies the following transfers between budget line items that have been approved by the Superintendent of Schools and that are now being reported to the Board pursuant to Policy 3160:

TO:		FROM:
11-000-213-600-03-00	Health Supplies - Central	11-000-213-100-00-02	Substitutes - Nurses	$245
11-000-213-600-04-00	Health Supplies - Mt. Horeb	11-000-213-100-00-02	Substitutes - Nurses	$245
11-000-213-600-05-00	Health Supplies - ALT	11-000-213-100-00-02	Substitutes - Nurses	$245
11-000-213-600-06-00	Health Supplies - Woodland	11-000-213-100-00-02	Substitutes - Nurses	$245
11-000-213-600-07-00	Health Supplies - Middle	11-000-213-100-00-02	Substitutes - Nurses	$245
11-000-222-600-07-13	Periodicals & Subscriptions - Middle	11-000-222-600-07-12	Library Books - Middle	$250
11-000-262-100-09-08	Chargeable Custodian Wages	11-000-262-100-09-16	Summer Maintenance Workers	$5,000
11-000-270-518-10-00	Contracted Special Ed Transp. - ESC	11-000-270-420-10-00	Repairs & Maintenance - Transportation	$20,000
11-000-270-518-10-00	Contracted Special Ed Transp. - ESC	11-000-270-442-10-00	Rental - School Bus	$2,000
11-000-270-518-10-00	Contracted Special Ed Transp. - ESC	11-000-270-511-10-71	Contracted Bus Transportation	$8,000
11-000-270-518-10-00	Contracted Special Ed Transp. - ESC	11-000-262-621-00-04	Heat - Mt. Horeb	$15,000
12-000-400-450-04-02	Construction - MH Resurfacing	11-000-262-621-00-03	Heat - Central	$140
	GRAND TOTAL			$51,615

B.5. Acceptance of Audit for the 2011-2012 School Year WHEREAS, the Board of Education has engaged the firm of T. M. Vrabel, & Associates, LLC, of Denville, New Jersey, to audit the district's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, in compliance with N.J.S.A.18A:23-1 et seq, and,

WHEREAS, this audit has been completed and the CAFR filed with the State Department of Education and submitted to the Warren Township Board of Education along with a synopsis of the audit report and recommendations, which synopsis and recommendations are available for public review, and,

WHEREAS, pertinent results of operations during the 2011-2012 school year are:

School Year 2011-2012
REVENUES	Final Budget	Actual
Local Sources	$36,771,488	$36,940,918
State Sources	$1,114,039	$4,544,838
Federal Sources	$70,877	$70,877
TOTAL	$37,956,404	$41,556,633
EXPENDITURES
Regular Instruction	$12,793,540	$11,628,082
Special Education	$4,393,840	$4,044,535
Other Instruction	$1,337,779	$1,224,850
Undistributed Expenditures	$19,461,119	$21,354,105
Total General Expenses	$37,986,278	$38,251,572
Capital Outlay	$1,663,642	$733,551
Special Schools	$180,800	$172,812
Charter Schools	$0	$0
TOTAL	$39,830,720	$39,157,935
OTHER SOURCES/USES
Transfer in from Capital Projects	$0	$0
Transfer to Capital Projects	$0	$0
EXCESS (DEFICIENCY)	($1,874,316)	$2,398,698
Fund Balance July 1, 2011	5,014,425	$5,014,425
Fund Balance June 30, 2012	$3,140,108.45	$7,413,123
Analysis of Fund Balance
Reserved
Excess Surplus- subsequent year's expenditures		$439,876
Excess Surplus		$468,028
Emergency Reserve Account		$375,000
Capital Reserve Account		$2,924,225
Encumbrances		$2,100,555
TOTAL		$1,105,439
Source: Audit Report Exhibit C-1

Now therefore be it,

RESOLVED, the Board of Education hereby accepts the report, notes the following recommendations, and directs that appropriate corrective action be taken:

Recommendations Corrective Action

None N/A

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 RESOVED, 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:

January 2013

 

• Karen Leski, SPS, NJ Assoc of School Psychologist Conf, Jamesburg $155
• Michael Bracken, B&G, Boiler's License Classes, Kenilworth $550

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. Employment for the 2012-2013 School Year

RESOLVED, upon recommendation from the Superintendent that the Board of Education approve the following Personnel items including the emergent employment of the following employees (indicated by *) conditional upon the final approval by the New Jersey Department of Education, for the 2012-2013 school year and the Board further authorizes the submission of an application for emergency hiring pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1, et. Seq., N.J.S.A. 18A:6.14.12, et. Seq."

a) Melissa Fedosh, Leave Replacement OT, effective December 5, 2012 through December 21, 2012, for a maximum of 13 days, at a per diem rate of $307.26, not to exceed $3,995.

b) Lauren Jacobus, Leave Replacement Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, BA+15, Step 1-3 of the 2012-2013 salary guide, $56,621, effective December 10, 2012 through on or about April 30, 2013. (There is a revised start date to accommodate an earlier than anticipated maternity leave.)

c) James Zilinski, Long Term Substitute Paraprofessional, Warren Middle School, $95 per diem, effective January 22, 2013, through on or about May 3, 2013. (He is currently an approved Substitute and will be a long term substitute for Zachary Liu.)

d) Steven Rizzoli, Leave Replacement Teacher, Woodland School, MA, Step 1-3 of the 2012-2013 salary guide, $59,318, effective January 2, 2013 through June 30, 2013. (He is replacing Employee #1752 who is on leave. He is a currently a substitute in the district.)

e) Amy Hold, Classroom Paraprofessional, 30 hours, Woodland School, Step 1 of the 2012-2013 salary guide, $16,740, plus a stipend of $1,800 for her teaching certificate, effective December 11, 2012 through June 30, 2013. (This is a new position. She is currently a substitute in the district.)

f) Shari De Carli, Classroom Paraprofessional, Woodland School, increase from 30 hours to 32.5 hours, Step 12-13 of the 2012-2013 salary guide, $22,458, effective December 10, 2012. (The increase is to comply with IEP requirements.)

g) Jacqueline Fattell, LDTC, MA+15, Step 12-13 of the 2012-2013 salary guide, $68,442, effective on or about February 12, 2013 (or before) through June 30, 2013. (She is replacing Alida Gorin who retired.)

C.2. Student Teacher

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following student teachers:

a) Fairleigh Dickinson University student Colleen Kennedy as a Student Teacher, Grade 2, Central School, with Laura Rodaman and Patricia Iannacone, effective January 21, 2013 to May 3, 2013.

b) Manhattanville student Zachary Liu as a Student Teacher, Physical Education Grade K-5, Woodland School, with Nancy Harter, effective January 22, 2013 to March 15, 2013.

C.3. Substitute Teachers

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute teachers for the 2012-2013 school year:

a) Fatima Fateh Ghahreman

b) Rachel Orshan-Kramer

c) Kathryn Miller

d) Laura Kerr

C.4. Family Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a) Employee #1952 for family leave (paid with benefits) under FMLA from November 14, 2012 through on or about December 18, 2012 and (unpaid with benefits) under FMLA from on or about December 19, 2012 to on or about January 2, 2013.

b) Employee #0590 for family leave (paid with benefits) under FMLA from November 27, 2012 through on or about December 14, 2012, with an anticipated return date of on or about December 17, 2012.

c) Employee #2106 for family leave (paid with benefits) under FMLA from a revised date of December 12, 2102 to on or about January 31, 2013, and (unpaid with benefits) under NJFLA from on or about February 1, 2013 through on or about April 30, 2013.

C.5. Temporary Leave of Absence

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a temporary leave of absence for Zachary Liu, Classroom Paraprofessional, Warren Middle School, effective January 22, 2013 through May 3, 2013, unpaid without benefits, with an expected return date of May 6, 2013. (Mr. Liu will be student teaching during this time.)

XIII. Old Business

Mrs. Monahan congratulated Mrs. Leonhardt and the entire Business Office on the successful audit.

XIV. New Business

NONE

XV. Public Commentary

NONE

XVI. Executive Session

At 7:54 p.m. Mrs. Spiller 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:

Non-tenured staff review, a matter rendered confidential;

Action will not be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 45 minutes; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, the minutes of this closed session be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists.

On motion by Mrs. Spiller, seconded by Mrs. Burman the board reconvened in open session at 8:30 p.m.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Burman seconded by Mrs. Helewa the meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.

Minutes recorded by:

Patricia Leonhardt