Warren Township Schools: Minutes for January 5, 2015

Minutes for January 5, 2015 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 Secretary Patricia Leonhardt.

Open Public Meeting Statement – Mrs. Leonhardt 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. Leonhardt led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Oath of Office

The Oath of Office was administered by Mrs. Leonhardt to Mrs. Christina ‘Tia’ Allocco, Mr. Len deMontagnac and Dr. Joan Schiller.

IV. Roll Call

Present: Tia Allocco, Celeste Campos, Len deMontagnac, Desiree DeNourie, Lisa DiMaggio, Kathy Helewa, Joan Schiller, Jim Sena and Greg Steier

Absent:

Also Present: Dr. Tami Crader, Superintendent, Patricia Leonhardt, Board Secretary, and member of the press

V. Discussion

Dr. Crader discussed the options regarding the election process for the board’s leadership positions.

VI. Election of Board Officers

The nominations for Board President were opened by Mrs. Leonhardt.

Mrs. Tia Allocco was nominated by Mr. deMontagnac and Mr. Jim Sena was nominated by Mrs. Helewa.

With five votes (Ms. Campos, Mrs. Helewa, Dr. Schiller, Mr. Sena and Mr. Steier) to Mrs. Allocco’s four votes (Mrs. Allocco, Mr. deMontagnac, Ms. DeNourie and Mrs. DiMaggio), Mr. Sena was elected president.

Board President Sena presided over the remainder of the meeting.

The nominations for Board Vice President were opened by Board President Sena.

Mrs. Tia Allocco was nominated by Mr. deMontagnac and Mrs. Kathy Helewa was nominated by Mr. Steier.

With five votes (Ms. Campos, Mrs. DiMaggio, Mrs. Helewa, Mr. Steier and Mr. Sena) to Mrs. Allocco’s four votes (Mrs. Allocco, Mr. deMontagnac, Ms. DeNourie and Dr. Schiller), Mrs. Helewa was elected vice president.

The Board discussed the open positions as noted in G1 and G3 and completed the motions as follows:

Somerset County Educational Services Commission - Ms. Campos as Representative, Mr. deMontagnac as Alternate

NJSBA Delegate Assembly - Mrs. DiMaggio as Delegate, Dr. Schiller as Alternate

VII. Annual Reorganization Action Items

On motion by Mrs. Helewa, seconded by Dr. Schiller and approved by a 9-0 roll call vote, the board approved reorganizational agenda items, A through G.

A. Policies
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves adoption of current Board Policies & Bylaws for the Calendar Year 2015.

B.Service Appointments
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the following:

1. The Echoes Sentinel as the official school district newspaper for the Calendar Year 2015.

2. The Courier News and Star Ledger as official alternate newspapers to be used in lieu of The Echoes Sentinel, when necessary, for the Calendar Year 2015.

3. The appointment of Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs, LLC as Board Attorneys for the Calendar Year 2015 at an hourly rate of $150.

4. The appointment of Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook and Cooper, P.C. as limited counsel for ongoing construction and Special Education matters for the Calendar Year 2015 at an hourly rate of $160.

5. The appointment of USA Architects as the architect of record for the Calendar Year 2015 at the following hourly rates:

a) Principal $150 - $185 (depends on individual)
b) Associates/Project Manager $115
c) Project Manager/Sr. Architect $105
d) Project Architect $87
e) Staff Architect/Designer $72
f) Technical Assistant $60
g) Intern $45

and additional terms as specified in the contract.

C. Board Committees

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the plan to work generally as a committee of the whole, with a limited number of standing committees as follows (membership to be designated at a future Board meeting):

Committees Liaisons

- Finance/Operations - Recreation Commission

- Negotiations - Township

- Personnel - WHRHS

- Policy/Legislative - SCESC (see G.1. below)

- MUJC (see G.2. below)

- NJSBA (see G.3. below)

- Senior Citizens

D. Board Meeting Dates

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the following list of meetings for the Calendar Year 2015.

WARREN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

2015 MEETING SCHEDULE

(NOTE: All meetings will be held on a Monday in the BOE Administration Building unless otherwise noted)

DATE	TIME	TOPICS/NOTES
January 5, 2015	7:00pm	REORGANIZATION Update on Teacher Evaluation Implementation
January 20	7:00pm (@CS)	Note: Tuesday Central School Presentation HIB semi-annual report for July 1-December 31, 2014
February 2	7:00pm
February 17	7:00pm (@WMS)	Note: Tuesday Warren Middle School Presentation
March 2	7:00pm (@ALT)	ALT School Presentation Board Secretary Evaluation
March 16	7:00pm	Preliminary Budget Approval
April 13	7:00pm (@WS)	Woodland School Presentation
April 27	7:00pm	Budget Hearing/Adoption Non-tenured Staff review
May 11	7:00pm (@MHS)	MH School Presentation 2015-2016 Staff Appointment Superintendent Evaluation
May 26	7:00pm (@WMS)	Note: Tuesday WMS Student Achievement Recognition 2015-2016 Staff transfers if needed
June 8	7:00pm	2014-2015 Excellence in Education award recognition
June 22	7:00pm	Student Achievement Report
July 13	7:00pm	EVVRS/HIB Report January 1-June 30, 2015 Goal Setting
August 10	7:00pm
August 24	7:00pm
September 7	7:00pm (@WMS)	New Staff Welcome Reception 6:30
September 21	7:00pm
October 12	7:00pm
October 26	7:00pm
November 9	7:00pm
November 23	7:00pm	Standardized Testing Results
December 7	7:00pm	Non-tenured Staff Review
December 21	7:00pm
January 4, 2016	7:00pm	REORGANIZATION

E. Board Member Code of Ethics

RESOLVED, the Board of Education acknowledges that each Board Member has received a copy of the Code of Ethics as follows:

1. I will uphold and enforce all laws, state board rules and regulations, and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes should be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures.

2. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools which meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social standing.

3. I will confine my board action to policymaking, planning, and appraisal and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them.

4. I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.

5. I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action which may compromise the board.

6. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends.

7. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. But in all other matters, I will provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members, interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its schools.

8. I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the Superintendent.

9. I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties.

10. I will refer all complaints to the Superintendent and will act on such complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution.

F. District Mission Statement

RESOLVED, the Board of Education readopts the district’s mission statement as follows:

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.

G. Appointments

1. The election of Ms. Campos as the Board Representative to the Somerset County Educational Services Commission for the Calendar Year 2015 and the election of Mr. deMontagnac as the alternate.

2. The appointment of the Superintendent of Schools as the Board Representative to the Morris Union Jointure Commission Board of Education for the Calendar Year 2015.

3. The election of Mrs. DiMaggio as Board Representative to the NJSBA Delegate Assembly for the Calendar Year 2015 and the election of Dr. Schiller as the alternate.

Other Agenda Items:

VIII. Presentations

Dr. Crader provided an overview of the TeachNJ Process as implemented in the Warren Township School District.

IX. Minutes

Mrs. Helewa moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the December 15, 2014 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mr. deMontagnac and approved by 7-0-2 roll-call vote. (Dr. Schiller and Mr. Steier abstained.)

X.Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

· Fire Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

December 5 December 1 December 1 December 16 December 16

· Security Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

December 11 December 17 December 22 December 19 December 17

Active Shooter Active Shooter Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown

Dr. Crader directed the board’s attention to Mr. Wick’s latest correspondence and discussed the district’s response.

XI. President's Remarks - Jim Sena

Mr. Sena expressed his hopes for a successful 2015 board year.

XII. Superintendent’s Remarks – Tami Crader

Dr. Crader reported on her visit to the Middle School boardcasting class, which led to a satisfying conversation with students regarding Shinging Brighter Every Day.

XIII. Committee Reports

N/A

XIV. Discussion

N/A

XV. 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

XVI. Items for Board Consideration/Action

Mr. Steier asked a question regarding motion A.5.

Mr. Steier requested a minor language change in the policy (D.1.).

Dr. Schiller asked a question regarding B.3.

Based on Dr. Schiller’s new tenure on the board, Motion D.1. was pulled for separate vote.

On motion by Mrs. Helewa seconded by Mr. deMontagnac the consent items A.1. through A.5., B.1. through B.3., and C.1. and C.2., were approved by a 9-0 roll-call vote.

On motion by Mrs. Helewa seconded by Ms. Campos the consent item D.1., was approved by a 8-0-1 roll-call vote. (Dr. Schiller abstained.)

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 23, 2014.

A.2. HIB Summary Report

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the HIB Summary Report submitted by the Superintendent for the period of July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

A.3. HIB Self-Assessment

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the HIB Self-Assessment for the 2013-2014 school year.

A.4. QSAC Equivalency Waiver

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the submission to the Department of Education of the QSAC Equivalency Waiver.

A.5. Home Instruction

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves 10 hours per week of home instruction for Student #6966351129, beginning on or about December 23, 2014 through January 5, 2015, 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 November 2014.

WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on November 30, 2014

FUND	CASH BALANCE	APPROPRIATION BALANCE	FUND BALANCE
(10) General Current Expense Fund	$7,665,217.17		$1,553,121.66
(11) Current Expense		$1,857,674.66
(12) Capital Outlay		$1,507,036.08
(13) Special Schools		$1,262.47
(20) Special Revenue Fund	$15,617.77	$14,947.41	$0.00
(30) Capital Projects Fund	$722,011.26	$2,225,616.23	$869,199.44
(40) Debt Service Fund	$556,130.71	$0.00	$164.71
TOTAL	$8,958,976.91	$5,606,536.85	$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. 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
Paula Pontoriero	MHS	Legally Compliant IEPs	Monroe	March 2015	$182 Funded through IDEA
Emily Niclas	WS	Timesaving Strategies for SLPs	New Brunswick	Jan 2015	$235 Funded through IDEA
Paula Pontoriero	ALT	Tech for Special Needs Students	West Orange	Feb 2015	$266 Funded through IDEA

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. Transportation for Out of District Student - 2014-2015 School Year

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the 2014-2015 school year transportation for an out of district student as follows, from January 5, 2015 through June 30, 2015:

Contractor Student ID# School Cost

MRESC 4058597640 ARC Kohler $15,648.78

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 2014-2015 school year:

a. Edyta Sellinger

b. Jessica Tsui (former Paraprofessional)

C.2. Summer Fun Nurse

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Alexis Sacks, Nurse, Central School, as the 2015-2016 Summer Fun/ESY Nurse, at an hourly rate of $40, effective June 29, 2015 through July 31, 2015, for a cost not to exceed $4,000.

D. Policy

D.1. Policies – Second Reading

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the second and final reading of the following policies:

a. 6153 Field Trips

XVII. Old Business

Mr. Sena requested that all Board of Education members email their committee preferences to him, including noting a desire to be chair if applicable.

XVIII. New Business

N/A

XIX. Public Commentary

N/A

XX. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Helewa, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio, the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.