Minutes for November 23, 2015
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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, Desiree DeNourie, Kathy Helewa, Joan Schiller, Greg Steier and Jim Sena
Absent: Lisa DiMaggio
Also Present: Dr. Elizabeth Nastus, Interim Superintendent, Patricia Leonhardt, Board Secretary, and members of the public and press.
IV. Presentation
Mr. Kimmick provided an overview of the PARCC scoring reports and the timelines, and entertained questions from the board.
V. Minutes
Mrs. Helewa moved the following:
- RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the November 9, 2015 Board Meeting.
The motion was seconded by Dr. Schiller and approved by 7-0-1 roll-call vote. (Ms. DeNourie abstained.)
Mrs. Helewa moved the following:
- RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the November 10, 2015 Board Meeting.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Allocco and approved by 6-0-2 roll-call vote. (Ms. Campos and Ms. DeNourie abstained.)
Mrs. Helewa moved the following:
- RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the November 11, 2015 Board Meeting.
The motion was seconded by Ms. Campos 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 16, 2015 Board Meeting.
The motion was seconded by Ms. Campos 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 17, 2015 Board Meeting.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Steier and approved by 8-0 roll-call vote.
VI.Correspondence and Information
Dr. Nastus referenced the letter received regarding the Elementary School libraries.
· HIB Information
Total # of Investigations: |
0 |
Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents: |
0 |
VII. President's Remarks - Jim Sena
Mr. Sena thanked Mr. Kimmick and Ms. Hann-Modugno for this evening’s PARCC presentation.
Mr. Sena thanked the board for its hours of work already spent on the Superintendent search.
Lastly, Mr. Sena wished all a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.
VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks - Elizabeth Nastus
Dr. Nastus reported on Central School principal interviews.
Dr. Nastus thanked all involved with distribution of the turkeys, especially the Alloccos, and also wished all a Happy Thanksgiving.
IX. Committee Reports
STEEP - Facilities Committee
Mr. deMontagnac reported on the committee’s meeting, which reviewed data. A walk through of buildings is scheduled for December 3rd, with a follow-up committee meeting on December 9th.
Policy Committee
Mrs. Helewa reported on the Committee’s meeting, which discussed medical marijuana legislation, and sports team selection.
Also discussed was the district’s Wellness and Nutrition policy and regulation. The board discussed the implementation date, the need for communication and the future process for policy adoption.
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).
Andrea Freijomil, 30 Christy Drive, asked a question regarding the communication process and timing.
XII. Items for Board Consideration/Action
Mr. deMontagnac asked a question regarding B.3.
On motion by Mrs. Helewa seconded by Mr. deMontagnac the consent items A.1. through A.3., B.1. and B.4., C.1. through C.5., and D.1., 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 19, 2015.
A.2. Tuition-Out Student
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the out-of-district placement for Student #7010304183, to Branchburg School District, effective on or about December 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, at a cost not to exceed $74,183.
A.3. Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the annual update to the Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement, dated November 23, 2015. (The Agreement between education and law enforcement officials is approved on an annual basis.)
B. Finance/Operations/Transportation
B.1. Payment of Bills
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the month of November 2015 in the amount of $3,678,075.93.
B.2. Board Secretary's and Treasurer's Report
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the report of the secretary for the month of October, 2015;
WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on October 31, 2015
FUND |
CASH BALANCE |
APPROPRIATION BALANCE |
FUND BALANCE |
(10) General Current Expense Fund |
$6,444,551.09 |
$1,046,472.82 |
|
(11) Current Expense |
$2,272,672.20 |
||
(12) Capital Outlay |
$68,084.08 |
||
(13) Special Schools |
$8.66 |
||
(20) Special Revenue Fund |
($64,258.35) |
$86,450.08 |
$0.00 |
(30) Capital Projects Fund |
$309,203.95 |
$0.00 |
$1,555,224.63 |
(40) Debt Service Fund |
$538,782.71 |
$0.00 |
($0.29) |
TOTAL |
$7,228,279.40 |
$2,427,215.02 |
$2,601,697.16 |
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.3. Budget Transfers for Month of October 2015
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: |
|||
11-000-218-104-00-00 |
Salaries - Guidance Counselors |
11-000-222-100-00-01 |
Salaries - Media/Library/Tech. |
$2,200 |
11-000-223-500-12-00 |
Staff Training - Other Purchased Services |
11-190-100-640-12-00 |
Textbooks - Series Replacement |
$23 |
11-000-262-100-09-00 |
Salaries - Custodians |
11-000-262-622-00-07 |
Electricity - Middle |
$15,200 |
11-000-263-100-00-00 |
Salaries - Grounds Staff |
11-000-263-420-09-00 |
Cleaning, Repair & Maintenance Services - Grounds |
$2,300 |
11-000-266-610-09-05 |
Security- Maint.Supplies- ALT |
11-000-261-420-09-05 |
Maintenance Repairs - ALT |
$4,485 |
11-000-266-610-09-07 |
Security - Maint.Supplies - MS |
11-000-261-610-09-07 |
Maintenance Supplies - Middle |
$1,200 |
11-000-270-160-10-00 |
Salaries - Transportation |
11-000-270-518-10-00 |
Contracted Transportation-ESC |
$650 |
11-000-270-161-10-00 |
Salaries - Transportation |
11-000-270-518-10-00 |
Contracted Transportation-ESC |
$11,600 |
11-000-270-515-10-00 |
Contracted Transp.- Jointure |
11-000-270-518-10-00 |
Contracted Transportation-ESC |
$5,930 |
11-000-270-800-10-00 |
Transportation - Other |
11-000-270-518-10-00 |
Contracted Transportation-ESC |
$1,200 |
11-190-100-580-07-00 |
Travel (Instructional) - Middle |
11-130-100-101-00-01 |
Salaries - Grade 6-8 Teachers |
$1,000 |
11-204-100-101-00-00 |
Salaries - LLD Teacher |
11-204-100-106-00-00 |
Salaries - LLD Aides |
$3,500 |
11-209-100-106-00-00 |
Salaries - SEED Program Aides |
11-214-100-106-00-00 |
Salaries - Autism Aides |
$22,372 |
11-213-100-101-00-00 |
Salaries - RC Teachers |
11-000-217-106-00-02 |
Salaries - Extraordinary Paras |
$35,000 |
11-213-100-101-00-00 |
Salaries - RC Teachers |
11-204-100-106-00-00 |
Salaries - LLD Aides |
$30,000 |
11-213-100-106-00-00 |
Salaries - RC Aides |
11-000-217-106-00-02 |
Salaries - Extraordinary Paras |
$29,000 |
11-213-100-610-08-00 |
RC - Supplies |
11-214-100-610-08-00 |
Autism - Supplies |
$1,000 |
11-216-100-101-00-00 |
Salaries - Preschool Disabled Teachers |
11-216-100-106-00-00 |
Salaries - Preschool Disabled Aides |
$10,500 |
11-230-100-101-00-00 |
Salaries - Basic Skills Teachers |
11-130-100-101-00-01 |
Salaries - Grade 6-8 Teachers |
$140,000 |
B.4. 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 |
Alexis Sacks |
CS |
Strategies for Today’s Nurse |
Fairfield |
Jan 2016 |
$239 |
Carol Keirstead |
MHS |
Early Childhood Intervention |
Eatontown |
Dec 2015 |
$200
|
Janice Anderson |
MHS |
Conference for School-based Speech-Language Pathologists |
West Orange |
Dec 2015 |
$249 |
Fran Blabolil |
CS |
Best Practices in Co-Teaching |
West Orange |
Mar 2016 |
$262 |
Susan Jackson |
ALT |
Judy Freeman’s Winners Workshop |
Somerset |
May 2016 |
$199 |
Emily Niclas |
WS |
Northeast Conference of Speech-Language Pathologists |
Newark |
Dec 2015 |
$249 |
Maria Rodriguez |
District |
Boiler Training |
Piscataway |
Jan - Feb, 2016 |
$550 |
Ryan Hall |
District |
Boiler Training |
Kenilworth |
Jan - Feb, 2016 |
$550 |
Roberta Snead |
District |
Boiler Training |
Piscataway |
Jan - Feb, 2016 |
$550 |
Lauralee Dupper |
District |
Boiler Training |
Piscataway |
Jan - Feb, 2016 |
$550 |
Lou Marciscano |
District |
Boiler Training |
Piscataway |
Jan - Feb, 2016 |
$550 |
Amanda Rebimbas |
District |
Boiler Training |
Kenilworth |
Jan - Feb, 2016 |
$550 |
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.
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. Ruth Rillo, Multi-Duty Paraprofessional, Central School, increase from 22.5 hours to 30 hours, Step 1-4 of the 2015-2016 salary guide, $17,240 (prorated), effective November 13, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
b. William Axt, Leave Replacement Teacher, Woodland School, BA, Step 1 of the 2015-2016 salary guide, $56,670 (prorated), effective on or about December 16 2016 through on or about May 16, 2016. (Mr. Axt will be LRT for Employee #2042.)
c. Roseanne Weinfeldt, Multi-Duty Paraprofessional, 10 hours, Central School, Step 1-4 of the 2015-2016 salary guide, $5,746.67 (prorated), effective on or about December 4, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
C.2. Substitute Teachers
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute teachers for the 2015-2016 school year:
a. Natalie Flamme
b. Jaclyn Kulich
c. Rosalia Lopa (previously approved as Long Term Substitute)
d. Wendy Milligan
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. Jennifer Ronkiewicz, with congratulations, for movement from MA+30 to MA+45, effective November 1, 2015.
C.4. Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:
a. Employee #0718 for leave (paid and unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement), under FMLA/NJFLA, from on or about January 27, 2016 through June 30, 2016, with an anticipated return date of September 1, 2016.
b. Employee #2060 for leave (unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement) under FMLA/NJFLA from February 19, 2016 through May 20, 2016, with an anticipated return date of May 23, 2016.
C.5. Approval of Title I - Extended Day Tutor
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the additional appointment of the following staff members as Title I - Extended Day Tutor, to be paid the contractual rate of $40 per hour. Total cost dependent upon needs of identified students in the district’s two Title I schools, which are Angelo L. Tomaso School and Central School, for a total program cost not to exceed $39,400:
- Meghan Madden
- Christine Spencer
D. Policy
D.1. Policies
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the first reading of the following Policy and Regulation:
a. 3542.1 - Local Wellness/Nutrition/Food - Policy
b. 3542.1 - Local Wellness/Nutrition/Food - Regulation
XIII. Old Business
N/A
XIV. Public Commentary
N/A
XV. New Business
N/A
XVI. Executive Session - BOE to Interview Superintendent Candidate
At 8:45 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: a matter rendered confidential by federal or state law
specific prospective or current employees unless all who could be adversely affected request an open session
Action will not 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 Mr. deMontagnac and approved by unanimous voice vote.
Dr. Nastus and Mrs. Leonhardt left at this time.
On motion by Mrs. Helewa, seconded by Mr. Schiller, the Board reconvened in open session at 9:19 p.m.
XVII. Adjourn
On motion by Mrs. Helewa, seconded by Mrs. Allocco, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Minutes recorded by
Patricia Leonhardt
Board Secretary
Last modified on Thursday, February 24, 2022