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 7:00 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, Desiree DeNourie, Lisa DiMaggio, Mildred Spiller and Greg Steier

Absent: Kathy Helewa and Jim Sena

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

Len deMontagnac arrived at 7:01 p.m.

IV. Presentation

• USA Architects - Architect Andrew Adornato presented an overview of district current and future facilities projects.

V. Minutes

Mrs. Allocco moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the October 6, 2014 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mr. deMontagnac and approved by 6-0-1 roll-call vote.

Mr. deMontagnac abstained.

VI.Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

4

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

2

VII. President's Remarks – Mildred Spiller

Mrs. Spiller read the District Mission Statement:

Warren Township Schools’ Mission Statement: Warren Township Schools’ Mission Statement: The Mission of Warren Township School District is to provide, through a safe, nurturing yet challenging environment, all students with an outstanding education that fosters academic excellence, healthy social and emotional development, and a lifelong passion for learning. In partnership with family, community, and staff, our strategic goals will guide our programs and actions so that students can exceed the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards at all grade levels and leave the district confident in their ability to think critically and independently and to succeed as students and productive citizens of the community and world.

Mrs. Spiller thanked the Lions Club for its generous donation.

VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks – Tami Crader

Dr. Crader will be attending a township meeting regarding a planned Ebola response, as she has been invited by the OEM.

PARCC presentations were held on October 16th at the Warren Middle School. They were well attended and well done.

Lastly, Dr. Crader reminded the board that the NJSBA workshop is next week.

IX. Committee Reports

Personnel Committee - Mrs. Allocco reported that she will be distributing the vehicle to be used for the Board’s self evaluation. It is hoped that members will be able to complete the evaluation within one week.

Mrs. Allocco reported on the Somerset County School Boards Association meeting attended by Ms. Campos, Mrs. Helewa and herself.

X. Discussion

Role of BOE President - Mrs. Spiller discussed at length the roles of the Superintendent and Board President, and distributed supporting documentation.

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).

Patricia Zohn, 157 Mountainview Road, requested that the board review the in-school curriculum offered to students remaining at school when there is a class trip.

Secondly, Ms. Zohn expressed her gratitude for Mrs. Spiller’s years of service to the board and the district.

XII. Items for Board Consideration/Action

Mr. Steier asked a question regarding motion C.1.b.

Mrs. Allocco asked a question regarding participation rates for the 7th and 8th grade class trips. Additionally, the cost of the trips was discussed. The board discussed available options in depth. In response, motion A.2. was pulled for a separate vote.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Ms. Campos the consent items A.1., B.1. through B.5., and 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 October 16, 2014.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the month of October 2014 in the amount of $3,787,108.07.

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:

 

Name	School	Workshop/ Conference	Location	Month/Yr	Cost
Jen SanAntonio	CS	Institute for Ed Development; What’s New in Fifth Grade	West Orange	Dec 2014	$240
Melissa Stoeckel	CS	Google Certification Bootcamp	Wyckoff	Dec 2014	$325

 

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.3. Window Replacement Project at Central School – Change Order #2

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following change order deduct for Hahr Construction as follows:

C/O #2 Credit for unused allowance - Credit of $21,888.

Original contract was for $600,000; previous change order ($300 credit) and current change order ($21,888), net to contract amount of $577,812.

B.4. Donation - Warren Township Lions Club

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts, with gratitude, a donation of $1,000, to support student needs.

B.5. Engineer Appointment

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, per N.J.S.A 18A:18A-4.1, approves the appointment of Strunk Albert for engineering services for the Central School Boiler Replacement project, at an approximate cost of $13,650.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Employment for the 2014-2015 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 2014-2015 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. John Walters, Bus Driver, 5 hours per day, effective on or about October 21, 2014 through June 30, 2015 (pending completion of required paperwork), at an annual salary of $16,200 (pro-rated).

b. Geraldine Vesey, Classroom Paraprofessional, Angelo L. Tomaso School, increase of three extra hours per day, effective October 21, 2014 through on or about January 21, 2015, at an hourly rate of $23.21.

C.2. Substitute Teachers

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute teachers for the 2014-2015 school year:

a. Bruce Cattanach
b. Emilie Gallagher
c. Sarah McGahey
d. Mina Moazamian
e. Pamela O’Neill
f. Margaret Weiss (Substitute Nurse)
g. Alexis Bracken

C.3. Approval of Professional Development Presenters

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Professional Development presenters on October 29, 2014, to be paid the contractual rate of $40 per hour, for total cost of $240:

a. Doris Zanchelli
b. Michelle Barbagallo

C.4. Family Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a. Employee #2496 for FMLA/NJFLA (paid and unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement), from on or about March 16, 2015 through June 30, 2015, with an anticipated return date of September 1, 2015.

C.5. Authorization of Additional Hours

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby authorizes approximately 20 additional hours for Carrie Grapstein, Bookkeeper, for time to be worked by November 30, 2014, at a cost not to exceed $576.

C.6. Memorandum of Agreement between the BOE and WTAA

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Memorandum of Agreement between the Warren Township Board of Education and the Warren Township Administrators’ Association dated December 12, 2013.

XIII. Overnight Trips

A.2. Overnight Trips

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

a. Grade 8 to Philadelphia, May 28 - May 29, 2015.
b. Grade 7 to Fairview Lakes YMCA Camp, June 4 - June 5, 2015.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Ms. Campos the consent item A.2. was approved by a 7-0 roll-call vote.

Ms. DeNourie left at 8:22 p.m.

XIV. Old Business

School Calendar 2015-2016 - The board discussed the fact that the 2015-2016 WHRHS and Warren Township School Districts calendars are not currently in sync for President’s Day break. The board will vote on an updated 2015-2016 calendar at the next meeting.

XV. New Business

N/A

XVI. Public Commentary

N/A

XVII. Executive Session

At 8:25 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:

a matter rendered confidential by federal or state law

Action may be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 10 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 Ms. Campos and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco, seconded by Ms. Campos, the Board reconvened in open session at

8:28 p.m.

XVIII. Personnel/Student Services

C.7. Approval of Non WTEA 2014-15 Salaries

RESOLVED, the board of Education approves the revised list of non WTEA employee assignment and salaries for the 2014-2015 school year dated October 20, 2014.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Ms. Campos the consent items A.2.was approved by a 6-0 roll-call vote.

XVIX. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Allocco, seconded by Ms. Campos, the meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.

Minutes recorded by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary