Warren Township Schools

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A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day in the Angelo L. Tomaso School, 46 Washington Valley 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, 2014. 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, Celeste Campos, Len deMontagnac, Lisa DiMaggio, Kathy Helewa, Jim Sena, Mildred Spiller and Greg Steier

Absent: Desiree DeNourie

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

IV. PRESENTATION

Dr. Crader introduced Mrs. Ordner and her fourth graders, who provided presentations using Glogster.

V. MINUTES

Mrs. Allocco moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the February 18, 2014 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Helewa and approved by 8-0 roll-call vote.

VI. Correspondence and Information

• HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

4

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

4

• Fire Drills

ALT	Central	Mt. Horeb	Woodland	Middle
February 20	February 20	February 25	February 24	February 27

• Security Drills

ALT	Central	Mt. Horeb	Woodland	Middle
February 10 Lockdown	February 25 Sheltering In	February 26 Lockdown	February 25 Lockdown	February 24 Lockdown

VII. President's Remarks - Mildred Spiller

Mrs. Spiller read the district 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 expressed her gratitude for today's lack of snow. She also thanked Mrs. Bond, Mrs. Ordner and the students for the Glogster demonstration.

Mrs. Spiller welcomed the Middle School's new Dean of Students, Mr. Max Achtau.

Mr. Spiller congratulated Mrs. Leonhardt on achieving the status of Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations.

VIII. Superintendent's Remarks - Tami Crader

Dr. Crader also congratulated Mrs. Leonhardt, as well as Mrs. Bond and Mrs. Milita for their schools' perfect scores on the recent fire inspections.

Dr. Crader discussed the increased state aid and an upcoming presentation from the Curriculum Department regarding PARCC.

Dr. Crader presented a comprehensive review of the School Performance Reports.

Lastly, Dr. Crader reported on her attendance at the Chamber of Commerce meeting, where she advertised the Educational Foundation.

IX. Committee Reports

Mr. Steier reported on the Finance Committee meeting which discussed the Demographic Study, a Transportation Analysis and the results of the Green Solutions project.

X. Discussion

Mrs. Spiller led the board in a discussion regarding a revised Mission Statement. The board will continue a review of the options, and Mrs. Spiller and Dr. Crader will create a composite for presentation at the board's March 17^th meeting.

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).

N/A

XII. Items for Board Consideration/Action

The board discussed motion A.2. (calendar revision). Motion C.4. was pulled, to be voted on after Executive Session.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Mrs. Helewa the consent items A.1. through A.4., B.1. through B.6., and C.1. through C.3. and C.5., were approved by a 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 February 27, 2014.

A.2. Calendar Revision

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves April 21, 2014 as a student school day and June 26, 2014 as a Staff Development Day.

A.3. Home Instruction Hours (Amended)

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an additional 10 hours per week of home instruction for Student #620743, for a 60 day period beginning on or about February 18, 2014, at a cost not to exceed $3,600.

A.4. Tuition Out Student

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an out of district placement for Student #121289, to Morris-Union Jointure Commission Developmental Learning Center in Warren, beginning March 4, 2014 through June 12, 2014, at a cost not to exceed $33,444.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Board Secretary's and Treasurer's Report

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the report of the secretary for the month of January 2014,

WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on January 31, 2014,

FUND	CASH BALANCE	APPROPRIATION BALANCE	FUND BALANCE
(10) General Current Expense Fund	$9,204,370.52		$1,544,279.57
(11) Current Expense		$2,426,809.68
(12) Capital Outlay		$733,621.03
(13) Special Schools		$7,129.88
(20) Special Revenue Fund	($110,910.94)	($4,683.39)
(30) Capital Projects Fund	($5,500.00)	($13,650.00)	$0.00
(40) Debt Service Fund	$573,528.71	$0.00	$83.04
TOTAL	$9,661,488.29	$3,149,227.20	$1,544,362.61

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.2. Budget Transfers for Month of January 2014

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:
11-000-222-600-05-12	Library Books - ALT	11-190-100-610-05-10	Instructional Supplies - ALT	$1,000
11-000-223-580-11-02	Workshops & Travel - Tech.	11-000-222-610-11-02	Library Supplies (Tech)	$1,000

B.3. 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 2014

• Emily Niclas, MHS/MS, Intro to Prompt Technique,

New Providence $700

• Gina Cocivera-Wright, ALT, Rutgers Reading and Writing

Conference, New Brunswick $180

• Jan Donlay, District, STS Annual Convention, Atlantic City $449

April 2014

• Jamie Perry, WS, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Parsippany $229
• Allison Reu, CS, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Parsippany $229

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.4. Joint Agreements between SCESC and Warren BOE

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves entering into the following joint agreements between Somerset County Educational Services Commission (SCESC) and the Warren Township Board of Education:

• Nonpublic School Textbook Services agreement, dated July 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year, with no administrative fee charged;
• Nonpublic School Technology Initiative Program agreement, dated July 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year, with a state-approved administrative percentage (5% in 2013-2014);
• Nonpublic School Nursing Services agreement, dated July 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year, with an administrative fee of 6%;
• Nonpublic Instructional Services Agreement, Chapters 192/193, dated July 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year, including addendum of the same date, with an administrative fee of 6%;
• Nonpublic IDEA, dated July 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year, with an administrative fee of 6%.

B.5. Joint Transportation Agreement

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education authorizes a Joint Transportation Agreement for the 2013-2014 school year with Union County Educational Services Commission, which includes an administrative fee of 4%.

B.6. Transportation for Out of District Student (Amended)

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves (amended) transportation for the 2013-2014 school year for an out of district student as follows:

Contractor Student ID School Cost_____

Union County ESC 620750 Reed Academy $ 19,063.20

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 2013-2014 school year:

a. James Huff

b. Jennifer Forton

C.2. Appointment of 2014-2015 Summer Fun Staff

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the attached list of Summer Fun Staff dated March 3, 2014, at the following hourly rates:

a. Assistant Teachers - $25

b. Teachers and Guidance Counselors - $40

c. Speech Teachers - $70

C.3. Teacher Evaluation System

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Sean Convery to design an evaluation system that will replace Teachscape as the platform for the Danielson model, at a rate of $40 per hour, for 80 hours, totaling $3,200, effective Summer 2014.

C.5. Employment for the 2013-2014 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 2013-2014 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. Donald Strickland, Mechanic/Groundskeeper/Substitute Bus Driver and Transportation Monitor, $37,440 (pro-rated), effective on or about March 5, 2014 through June 30, 2014. (He is replacing M. Bobadillo and covering additional responsibilities.)

XIII. Old Business

The board discussed at length the fundraising policy, specifically the prohibiting objective regarding fundraising for organizations with direct employee governance or oversight.

XIV. New Business

Mrs. Helewa expressed her thanks for the invitation to read to the students as part of Read Across America. Mrs. Allocco concurred.

XV. Public Commentary

Mrs. Nemcek, Old Smalleytown Road, provided input regarding charity selection last year.

XVI. Executive Session

At 8:50 p.m. Mrs. Allocco 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:

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

Action may be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 15 minutes; 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. Helewa and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Mrs. Helewa the Board reconvened in open session at

9:14 p.m.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Mrs. Helewa the consent item C.4. was approved by a 8-0 roll-call vote.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.4. Employee Discipline

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the suspension, without pay, of employee #2851 for two working days on or about the week of March 10, 2014.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Mrs. Helewa the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Minutes recorded by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary