Warren Township Schools: Minutes for December 1, 2014

Minutes for December 1, 2014 Archived Minutes

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, Kathy Helewa, Jim Sena, Mildred Spiller and Greg Steier

Absent: Len deMontagnac

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

IV. Presentation

Mr. Comba, Mr. Cook, Mr. Achtau and Mrs. Zgombic provided a presentation regarding the district’s 1:1 Chromebook initiative.

V. Minutes

Mrs. Allocco moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public minutes of the November 17, 2014 Board Meeting.

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

VI.Correspondence and Information

Dr. Crader called the board’s attention to correspondence regarding the Mt. Horeb School roof.

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

· Fire Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

November 25 November 10 November 24 November 11 November 24

· Security Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

November 24 November 13 November 25 November 25 November 12

Bomb Threat Bomb Threat Bomb Threat Bomb Threat Bomb Threat

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 Friends of Youth Services of Somerset County for their generous donation and expressed her hope that all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Lastly Mrs. Spiller complimented the artwork displayed in the District Conference Room.

VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks – Tami Crader

Dr. Crader reported that Director of Special Personnel Services Candie Hengemuhle will be presenting at the December 17, 2014 Board of Education meeting regarding Special Education in the District.

Dr. Crader shared that the second of the instructional rounds are scheduled next week.

IX. Committee Reports

Mr. Steier reported on the November 24, 2014 Finance Committee meeting, which discussed disability insurance, the Mt. Horeb School roof project and the 2015-2016 budget.

X. Discussion

N/A

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

Mr. Steier asked questions regarding Motion B.4. There was follow up from additional board members.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Mrs. Helewa the consent items A.1. and A.2., B.1. through B.6., and C.1. through 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 November 25, 2014.

A.2. Home Instruction

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves up to 10 hours per week of home instruction for Student #9506981705, beginning on or about December 2, 2014 through December 23, 2014, at a rate of $40 per hour.

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 October 2014;

WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on October 31, 2014:

FUND	CASH BALANCE	APPROPRIATION BALANCE	FUND BALANCE
(10) General Current Expense Fund	$7,035,942.76		$1,553,121.66
(11) Current Expense		$1,553,511.94
(12) Capital Outlay		$92,845.08
(13) Special Schools		$1,262.47
(20) Special Revenue Fund	-$138,192.18	$18,621.04	$0.00
(30) Capital Projects Fund	$1,138,601.43	-$5,484.77	$869,199.44
(40) Debt Service Fund	$556,130.71	$0.00	$164.71
TOTAL	$8,592,482.72	$1,660,755.76	$2,422,485.81

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 October 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:
11-000-100-566-08-01	Tuition - Private Schools	11-000-100-562-08-02	Tuition - Other LEAs	$8,401
11-230-100-610-12-04	Basic Skills Supplies - MH	11-190-100-610-04-10	Instructional Supplies - MH	$400
11-401-100-500-07-00	Co-Curricular - Purchased Services	11-401-100-600-07-00	Co-Curricular - Supplies - Middle	$473
11-401-100-600-05-00	Co-Curricular Supplies-ALT	11-190-100-610-05-10	Instructional Supplies- ALT	$400
12-000-262-730-09-00	Operations & Maintenance- Equipment	11-000-262-610-09-00	Building Supplies - Maintenance	$7,500
12-000-263-730-09-00	Grounds - Equipment	11-000-262-610-09-00	Building Supplies - Maint.	$3,790
12-000-270-732-10-00	Transportation - Equipment	11-000-270-511-10-71	Contracted Bus Transp.	$7,500
12-130-100-730-07-00	Instructional Equip. - MS	11-190-100-610-07-10	Instructional Supplies - MS	$365

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:

Name	School	Workshop/ Conference	Location	Month/Yr	Cost
Jeff Heaney	WS	NJ Leadership Academy	Monroe	Jan - May 2015	$815
Scott Cook	MHS	NJ Leadership Academy	Monroe	Jan - May 2015	$841
Max Achtau	MS	NJ Leadership Academy	Monroe	Feb - Apr 2015	$750
Janice Anderson	MHS	Northeast Speech Conference	West Orange	Dec 2014	$235
Emily Niclas	WS	Northeast Speech Conference	West Orange	Dec 2014	$389
Lance Riegler	District	Techspo	Atlantic City	Jan 2015	$245

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. Approval for Technology Purchase

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the purchase of 155 Dell Laptops and cases through WSCA, state contract M0483, at a cost of

$176,639.55.

B.5. Approval to Change Long Term Disability Carrier

RESOLVED, that per the recommendation of its group insurance broker-of-record, Brown & Brown Benefit Advisors, the Warren Township Board of Education hereby resolves, effective January 1, 2015, to make the following changes to its long-term disability carrier for non - WTEA members:

Terminate its Long Term Disability insurance policy with Prudential, Control Number 14793.
Select Guardian as its Long Term Disability insurance provider.
Designate Brown & Brown Benefit Advisors as the Board’s Broker-of-Record for the new Guardian Long Term Disability program. Brown & Brown Benefit Advisors is authorized to act on behalf of the Board in all matters related to this program.
All appropriate Board of Education staff are authorized to take such action and affect such documentation as necessary to implement this change.

B.6. Donation - Friends of Youth Services of Somerset County

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts, with gratitude, a donation from the Friends of Youth Services of Somerset County, $1,300 to be allocated to the Homework Help Club at the Warren Middle School.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Warren Middle School Musical

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following personnel and stipends in support of the Warren Middle School production:

a. Director, Diane McCloskey, at a stipend amount of $2,640.

b. Production Manager, Bev MacGorman, at a stipend amount of $2,640.

c. Assistant Director, Amy Jensen, at a stipend amount of $1,430.

d. Stage/Sound, Joel Van Tine, at a stipend amount of $1,430.

e. Set Designer, Susan Sage, at a stipend amount of $1,430.

f. Choreographer, Jennifer Zimmerman, at a stipend amount of $1,430.

C.2. Substitute Teacher

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

a. Sandra Shpunder

C.3. Movement on the Guide

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff for amended placements on the 2014-2015 salary guide:

a. Justina Thomson, with congratulations, for movement from BA to BA+15, effective November 1, 2014.

C.4. Approval of 21st Century Fluencies Training Presenters

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following 21st Century Fluencies Training Presenters, to be paid the contractual rate of $400 per person, for total cost of $2,400:

November 11, 2014 (Lynn Degen and Myranda Shimko)
December 3, 2014 (Michele Stora de Cruz and Shannon O’Shea)
January 15, 2015 (Lynn Degen and Myranda Shimko)

C.5. Resignation

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the resignation of the following staff:

a. Jessica Szekai Tsui, Paraprofessional, Angelo L. Tomaso School, with appreciation for her service to the Warren Township students, effective on or about December 31, 2014.

XIII. Old Business

N/A

XIV. New Business

Mrs. Allocco asked a question regarding the process of tasking district administrators.

XV. Public Commentary

N/A

XVI. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Allocco, seconded by Ms. Campos, the meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.

Minutes recorded by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary