Minutes for April 8, 2013History icon Archived Minutes

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A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day in the Central School, Mt. Bethel 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 Board President Mildred Spiller.

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT - Mrs. Spiller 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 January 8, 2013. 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 - Mrs. Spiller led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. ROLL CALL

Present: Tia Allocco, Donald Huber, Desiree DeNourie, Kathy Helewa, Roberta Monahan, James Sena, Mildred Spiller, and Greg Steier

Absent: John De Bellis

Mr. Huber left at 7:41 p.m.

Mrs. DeNourie left at 8:48 p.m.

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

IV. PRESENTATION

  • Central School 21st Century Learning

Mrs. Milita, Central School Principal, introduced the second graders, who gave a very interesting presentation on black vultures. The fourth graders then gave a very detailed and engaging presentation regarding ideas for playground improvement at Central School.

Mr. Huber left at this point in the meeting (7:41 p.m.).

V. MINUTES

Mrs. Monahan moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public session minutes of the March 21, 2013 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Sena and approved by a 4-0-3 roll call vote. (Mrs. Allocco, Mrs. Monahan, and Mr. Sena abstained.)

VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION

Dr. Crader reported on HIB information from March 13, 2013 through April 8, 2013 as follows:

  • HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

1

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

1

  • Fire Drills

ALT

Central

Mt. Horeb

Woodland

Middle

March 13

March 5

March 13

March 13

March 20

 

  • Security Drills

ALT

Central

Mt. Horeb

Woodland

Middle

March 22

Lockdown

 

March 14

Lockdown

 

March 22

Lockdown

 

March 21

Lockdown

 

March 13

Lockdown

VII. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS

Mrs. Spiller read the District's Mission Statement:

Warren Township Schools' Mission Statement: In partnership with family and community, provide an environment where each child is valued and experiences the challenge and excitement of learning with the expectation that all students shall achieve the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards at all grade levels.

Mrs. Spiller thanked Mrs. Milita and her teachers and students for this evening's wonderful presentations.

Mrs. Spiller also expressed gratitude for the Exxon Mobil donation.

VIII. SUPERINTENDENT'S REMARKS

Dr. Crader read words of appreciation for Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. Maria Stankiewicz as they prepare for their upcoming retirements.

Dr. Crader also discussed the 21st century learning project.

Also discussed was the status of the Strategic Plan, which has the teams finalizing their individual presentations.

Dr. Crader provided an overview of the Teacher and Principal Evaluation programs.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mrs. Monahan, chair of the Personnel Committee, distributed the documents for the evaluations for both Dr. Crader and the Board's self-evaluation. It is requested that the documents be returned to Mrs. Monahan by April 29th.

Finance Committee

Mr. Sena reported on the Finance Committee meeting which discussed the Security Audit, transportation software, pending purchases and 403(b) vendors.

Mrs. Allocco reported on the Communications Committee, which discussed the Strategic Plan and its follow-up.

X. DISCUSSION

Dr. Crader displayed and discussed the award received by the district for its long running Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) program.

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 the proposed 2013-14 calendar. It was determined to table the motion.

On a motion by Mrs. Monahan, seconded by Mrs. DeNourie, the consent agenda items A.1. through A.4. (A.3. was tabled), B.1. through B.3., C.1. through C.6., were approved by a 7-0 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 April 2, 2013.

A.2. Home Instruction
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves 10 hours per week of home instruction for Student #1001301, beginning April 9, 2013 through June 25, 2013, cost not to exceed $4,400.

A.3. 2014-2015 School Year Calendar Tabled
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the calendar for the 2014-2015 school year, dated April 8, 2013.

A.4. 2013-2014 Summer Fun Program
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the 2013-2014 Summer Fun Program from Monday, July 1, 2013 through Friday, August 2, 2013. School will not be in session on Thursday, July 4, 2013.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. 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:

May 2013

  • Tara Keller, MHS, Tools for Tots, Mountainside $191

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.

B.2. Woodland School Playfield Refurbishment Project
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the submission of the documents to the Department of Education for review for the Playfield Refurbishment Project at Woodland School. The documents will be prepared jointly by Page Engineering Consultants and USA Architects. If required, USA Architects is authorized to update the Long Range Facilities Plan for these projects. Approval also includes the solicitation of bids for the project.

B.3. Transportation Software Contract
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a contract with Tyler Technologies, Inc. for the purchase of transportation software package Versatrans, at a cost of $12,312.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Substitute Teachers
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute teachers for the 2012-2013 school year:
a. Seema Anand
b. Stephanie Wangler
c. Lauren Jacobus (current Leave Replacement Teacher)

C.2. Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:
a. Employee #2498 for leave (paid and unpaid with benefits) under FMLA from March 28, 2013 through on or about April 18, 2013.
b. Employee #0193 for leave (unpaid with benefits) under NJFLA from April 4, 2013 through on or about April 15, 2013.

C.3. Retirements
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the retirements of the following staff:
a. Andrea Carroll, Gr 5 Teacher, Mount Horeb School, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for her 26 years of service to the Warren Township students, effective June 30, 2013.
b. Maria Stankiewicz, Music Teacher, Warren Middle School, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for her 15 years of service to the Warren Township students, effective June 30, 2013.

C.4. Donation - ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts, with gratitude, a donation of $500 as an award winner of the 2012-2013 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant. The funds are to be used towards a science or math program at Central School.

C.5. Appointment of 2013-2014 Summer Fun Staff
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the list of Summer Fun Staff dated April 8, 2013, effective July 1, 2013 through August 2, 2013, at the following hourly rates:
a. Assistant Teachers - $25
b. Teachers and Guidance Counselors - $40
c. Speech Teachers - $70

C.6. Resignation
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the resignation of the following staff:
a. Iberca Jimenez, Van Driver, District, with appreciation for her 5 years of service, effective May 3, 2013.

XIII. OLD BUSINESS

None

XIV. NEW BUSINESS

None

XV. PUBLIC COMMENTARY

None

Mrs. DeNourie left at this point in the meeting (8:48 p.m.).

XVI. EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 8:49 p.m. Mrs. Monahan 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 personnel performance.

Action will not be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 30 minutes; and be it

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

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Helewa and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mrs. Monahan seconded by Mrs. Helewa, the board reconvened in open session at 9:12 p.m.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Monahan seconded by Mrs. Helewa the meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m.

Minutes recorded by:

Patricia Leonhardt