Minutes for April 4, 2016History icon Archived Minutes

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A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day at the Woodland School, 114 Stirling 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 Tia Allocco.

Open Public Meeting Statement – Mrs. Allocco 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 5, 2016. 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 TAP into Warren, 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. Allocco led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Roll Call

Present: Paige Albano, Celeste Campos, Andrea Freijomil, Kathy Helewa, Joan Schiller,

Jim Sena and Tia Allocco

Absent: Len deMontagnac

Also Present: Dr. Elizabeth Nastus, Interim Superintendent, Patricia Leonhardt, Board Secretary,

and members of the public and press.

Lisa DiMaggio arrived at 7:02 p.m.

IV. Presentation

  • Woodland School Presentation
    Mr. Heaney introduced Mrs. Krumm and her students, who demonstrated two inventions to be included at Invention Convention. He also introduced Ms. Wisher and her students, who presented Bitsbox, a coding application with shared debugging capabilities.

V. Minutes

Ms. Campos moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the March 7, 2016 Board Meeting.

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

Ms. Campos moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the March 21, 2016 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Helewa and approved by 7-0 roll-call vote. (Mr. Sena abstained.)

VI.Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

 0  

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

 0

· Fire Drills

ALT
March 8

Central
March 9

Mt. Horeb
March 11

Woodland
March 22

Middle
March 10

· Security Drills

ALT
March 18
Active Shooter

Central
March 17
Active Shooter

Mt. Horeb
March 18
Active Shooter

Woodland
March 17
Active Shooter

Middle

March 17
Active Shooter

Active Shooter Active Shooter Active Shooter Active Shooter Active Shooter

VII. President's Remarks – Tia Allocco

Mrs. Allocco thanked Mr. Heaney and Woodland School for hosting tonight’s meeting and the wonderful presentations.

Mrs. Allocco reminded all about the public session for STEEP, scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th.

Lastly, Mrs. Allocco congratulated the Angelo L. Tomaso students who won the N.J. State Elementary Schools Archery sectionals.

VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks – Elizabeth Nastus

Dr. Nastus thanked Mr. Heaney and all Woodland staff, students and families for their support this evening and in general.

IX. Committee Reports

  • Curriculum Committee Report

    Mrs. Campos reported on the recent meeting, which discussed funding of cultural arts currently supported by the PTO.

    Additionally, Ms. Campos stated that the committee sought direction from the board regarding its research into the curriculum aspect of Summer Fun, with changes to be effective Summer 2017. The board supported the review.

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

Mrs. Freijomil asked a question regarding travel approval.

On motion by Ms. Campos seconded by Dr. Schiller the consent items A.1., B.1., C.1. through C.3., 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 March 31, 2016.

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

Paula Pontoriero

ALT

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia

Parsippany

May 2016

$216

Allison Reu

CS

Theory of the MInd

Somerset

June 2016

$199

Jennifer McMahon

MHS

Theory of the Mind

Somerset

June 2016

$199

Laurie Green

MHS

Guided Reading

New Brunswick

May 2016

$152

Mary Lou Psak

CS

Guided Reading

New Brunswick

May 2016

$154

Sherri Strauss

ALT

Newmark Behavioral Disabilities Training

Scotch Plains

May 2016

$229

Rebecca Hartman

CS

CPI Renewal Training

Edison

October 2016

$1,214

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. Movement on the Guide

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

a. Amy Jensen, with congratulations, for movement from MA to MA+15, effective March 1, 2016.

b. Terry Godfrey, with congratulations, for movement from MA to MA+15, effective March 1, 2016.

C.2. Motion to Amend Temporary Leave of Absence

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the amended temporary leave of absence for Carolyn Wells, Classroom Paraprofessional, Warren Middle School, effective January 4, 2016 through on or about April 22, 2016. (This motion supersedes a previous motion from September 21, 2015.)

C.3. Substitute Teachers

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

a. Carolyn Wells (effective on or about April 22, 2016)

D. Policy

D.1. Policies – Second Reading

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

a. 1220 – Ad hoc Committee

XIII. Old Business

  • Amended 2016-2017 Calendar

Dr. Nastus distributed the amended calendar, which reflects the adjusted dates formerly discussed.

XIV. New Business

N/A

XV. Public Commentary

N/A

XVI. Executive Session

At 7:31 p.m. Ms. Campos 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 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 Mrs. Helewa and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Ms. Campos, seconded by Mrs. Helewa, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:42 p.m.

Personnel/Student Services

On motion by Ms. Campos seconded by Dr. Schiller the consent item C.4. was approved by a 8-0 roll-call vote.

C.4. Employment Termination

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education terminates the 2015-2016 employment contract for Employee #3039, in accordance with the notice provision, effective May 4, 2016.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Ms. Campos, seconded by Dr. Schiller, the meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.

Minutes submitted by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary