Minutes for November 9, 2015History icon Archived Minutes

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A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day in the Board of Education Administration Building, 213 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 President Jim Sena.

Open Public Meeting Statement – Mr. Sena 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 7, 2015. 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 – Mr. Sena led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Roll Call

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

Absent: Desiree DeNourie

Also Present: Dr. Elizabeth Nastus, Interim Superintendent, Patricia Leonhardt, Board Secretary, and members of the public and press.

IV. Executive Session - BOE to Interview Superintendent Candidate

At 7:01 p.m. Mrs. Helewa 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:

specific prospective or current employees unless all who could be adversely affected request an open session

Action will be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 45 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. Allocco and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mrs. Helewa, seconded by Ms. Campos, the Board reconvened in open session at 8:00 p.m.

V. Presentation

  • Architect Presentation regarding Capital Improvement Plan

Architect Andrew Adornato of USA Architects reviewed the status of current and future facility projects.

  • Presentation regarding Visitor Management Systems

Mr. Tribelhorn and Mrs. Leonhardt presented an overview.

VI. Minutes

Mrs. Helewa moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public session minutes of the October 26, 2015 Board Meeting.

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

Mrs. Helewa moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the November 2, 2015 Board Meeting.

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

VII.Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

   

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

 
 

1

   

0

· Fire Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

October 14 October 15 October 8 October 14 October 8

· Security Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

October 27 October 28 October 21 October 28 October 20

Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown

 

VIII. President's Remarks - Jim Sena

Mr. Sena congratulated the winners of the Board of Education election. He spoke of the board unifying in light of the work it is facing.

Mr. Sena congratulated Mrs. Helewa on her appointment to the NJSBA School Finance Committee.

Mr. Sena spoke of his enjoyment at attending the Central School appreciation breakfast.

IX. Superintendent’s Remarks - Elizabeth Nastus

Dr. Nastus also publicly thanked Central School and recognized their energy and spirit in their time of leadership transition.

Dr. Nastus also congratulated the Election winners and spoke of moving ahead collaboratively.

X. Committee Reports

Mr. deMontagnac spoke of the work of the facilities ad hoc committee for the STEEP project. The first meeting will be November 19th. The scope has been expanded to include the Administration building.

Mr. Steier reported the Finance Committee will be establishing a meeting date in November.

XI. Discussion

N/A

XII. 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

Mrs. DiMaggio asked a question regarding C.4.

On motion by Mrs. Helewa seconded by Mr. deMontagnac the consent items A.1., B.1. and B.2., 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 4, 2015.

 

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 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

Scott Cook

MHS

Transitioning to Standards Based Report Cards

Monroe Township

Dec 2015

$167

Michele Stein

MHS

NJASP Winter conference

East Windsor

Dec 2015

$175

Tara Keller

MHS

Early Childhood Intervention and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Parsippany

Dec 2015

$201

Shannon Sharkey

MHS

Early Childhood Intervention and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Parsippany

Dec 2015

$190

 

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. 2016-2017 Integrated Preschool School Year Tuition Rates

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a 2016-2017 Integrated Preschool tuition rate of $3,000.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Employment for the 2015-2016 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 2015-2016 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. Iberca Jimenez, Bus Driver, increase to 7 hours per week, at a salary of $24,255 (prorated), effective October 14, 2015. (She is a replacement for Employee #1596.)

C.2. Substitute Teachers

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute nurse for the 2015-2016 school year:

a. Laura Schechter

C.3. Movement on the Guide

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff for amended placements on the 2015-2016 salary guide:

a. Paul Duncan, with congratulations, for movement from MA+45 to Doctorate, effective October 1, 2015.

C.4. Family Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a. Employee #0690 for leave (paid and unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement), under FMLA/NJFLA, from on or about January 22, 2016 through on or about June 10, 2016, with an anticipated return date of June 13, 2016.

C.5. Resignation

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

a. Jamie Schoenbach, Multi-duty Paraprofessional, Central School, effective November 12, 2015.

 

XIV. Old Business

N/A

XV. Public Commentary

N/A

XVI. New Business

Mrs. Helewa reported on her attendance at the NJSBA Workshop, detailing some highlights.

Mrs. Allocco reported on an article from the Warren Township School District which appeared on the NJSBA website.

XVII. Public Commentary

N/A

XVIII. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Helewa, seconded by Mrs. Allocco, the meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m.

Minutes recorded by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary