Minutes for July 25, 2016History icon Archived Minutes

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A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day at the Warren Middle School, 100 Old Stirling Road. The following is a record of that meeting.

I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 4:00 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 May 25, 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, Jim Sena,

and Tia Allocco

Absent: Len deMontagnac

Also Present: Dr. Matthew Mingle, Superintendent, Patricia Leonhardt, Board Secretary,

and members of the public and press.

Joan Schiller arrived at 4:04 p.m.

Lisa DiMaggio arrived at 4:10 p.m.

IV. Board of Education Retreat

Mrs. Allocco welcomed Dr. Mingle to the district on this, his first official board meeting.

Dr. Mingle provided an overview of the evening’s schedule then introduced Matt Giacobbe, board attorney, who provided Ethics training.

At the completion of the Ethics training, Dr. Mingle guided the board through its retreat, discussing the Whole Child, reviewing the feedback gathered from the board’s self evaluation, and assisting the board as they crafted 2016-2017 goals.

V. Minutes

Ms. Campos moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of June 27, 2016 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Freijomil and approved by 7-0-1 roll-call vote. (Ms. Campos abstained.)

VI.Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

  0  

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

  0

· Fire Drills

 ALT
 June 16

Central
June 6

Mt. Horeb
June 9

Woodland
June 17

Middle
June 9

· Security Drills

ALT
June 8

Central 
June 14

Mt. Horeb 
June 7

Woodland 
June 9

Middle
June 17

Bomb Threat Bomb Threat Bomb Threat Bomb Threat Bomb Threat

VII. President's Remarks – Tia Allocco

Mrs. Allocco again welcomed Dr. Mingle and shared the positive feedback she is already hearing.

Mrs. Allocco also thanked the Middle School PTO for its generous donation, which is to be used for large screen televisions.

VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks - Matt Mingle

Dr. Mingle shared his joy with his presence in Warren and discussed his meetings with stakeholders to date and future plans.

Dr. Mingle thanked the board for their participation in the evening’s retreat.

Lastly, Dr. Mingle announced the two candidates who filed for open board seats for the November election (Lisa DiMaggio and Patricia Zohn) and thanked Mr. Sena and Ms. Campos, whose seats are expiring, for their service to the board.

Dr. Mingle also thanked the board for its support of the hiring of a Security Compliance Manager.

IX. Committee Reports

N/A

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. DiMaggio asked a question regarding an entry on Motion B.3.

On motion by Ms. Campos seconded by Mrs. Helewa the consent items A.1. and A.2., B.1. through B.10., and C.1. through C.11., 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 July 21, 2016.

A.2. Out-of-District Placements School Year 2016-2017

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the out-of-district 2016-2017 School Year placement list dated July 08, 2016. (This motion supersedes previous motion from June 27, 2016.)

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the period June 28, 2016 through June 30, 2016 in the amount of $386,964.68.

B.2. Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the month of July 2016 in the amount of $1,551,445.61.

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

Max Achtau

MS

ACTFL Conference for World Language

Boston, MA

Nov 2016

$630

Melissa Stoeckel

MHS

Daily 5 and Math Daily 3

New Brunswick

July 2016

$301

Michelle Cebula

WS

Daily 5 and Math Daily 3

New Brunswick

July 2016

$303

Matt Mingle

District

NJSBA Workshop

Atlantic City

Oct 2016

$756

 

Brenda Sasso

MS

Conference on Reading and Writing

New Brunswick

Oct 2016

$180

 

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. Summer Fun Tuition Contracts

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves tuition contracts for five full session and two partial session students from Watchung Borough for a total tuition of $10,450. (This motion supersedes previous motion from June 27, 2016.)

B.5. Application and Acceptance of Federal Grant Monies

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application submission

to the Department of Education and accepts the award itself for the following 2016-17 Federal Grant Programs:

● IDEA Basic $ 422,658

● IDEA PreSchool $ 16,079

B.6. Donation Acceptance - Warren Middle School PTO

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts, with gratitude, a donation of approximately $2,000 from Warren Middle School PTO. This donation will be used to purchase a big screen television for the Middle School’s All Purpose room.

B.7. Extraordinary Aid 2015-2016 - Acceptance

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts Extraordinary Aid funding from the 2015-2016 school year in the amount of $402,720.

B.8. Extraordinary Aid 2015-2016 - Allocation

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an increase to the 2016-2017 budget to recognize 2015-2016 Extraordinary Aid in the amount of $402,720 and allocates the $152,720 which is above the budgeted $250,000 as follows:

  • Revenue Account: 10-3131 Extraordinary Aid (10-303 Budgeted Fund Balance)
  • Expense Acct:11-000-100-562–Tuition–Other LEA - $152,720

B.9. Nonpublic Transportation 2015-2016 - Acceptance

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts Nonpublic Transportation funding from the 2015-2016 school year in the amount of $25,578.

B.10. Nonpublic Transportation 2015-2016 - Allocation

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an increase to the 2016-2017 budget to recognize 2015-2016 Nonpublic Transportation in the amount of $25,578 and allocate the monies as follows:

  • Revenue Account: 10-3190 Other State Aid (10-303 Budgeted Fund Balance)
  • Expense Acct:11-000-270-161–Transportation-Sp Ed To & From School-Salaries - $25,578

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Employment for the 2016-2017 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 2016-2017 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. Luis Marciscano, Head Night Custodian, Warren Middle School, at an annual salary of $43,959 (prorated), effective August 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. (He replaces C. Grundman.)

b. Cristina Trump, transfer from Grade 4 Teacher, Angelo L. Tomaso School to Grade 5 Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, effective September 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017.

c. Ronald Berry, Security Compliance Manager, District, 80 days per year (prorated) at a daily rate of $300, effective August 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017.

d. Lindsay Rosenberg, Grade 2 Teacher, Woodland School, MA, Step 2 of the 2016-2017 salary guide, $63,668, effective September 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017.

e. Maria Rodriguez, Night Custodian, Warren Middle School, at an annual salary of $31,750 (prorated), effective August 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. (She replaces L. Marciscano.)

f. Melissa Katchen, Leave Replacement Guidance Counselor, Central School, MA, Step 1 of the 2016-2017 salary guide, $62,722 (prorated), effective September 1, 2016 through on or about December 2, 2016. (She continues as LRT for Employee #2495.)

C.2. Employment Contract – Business Administrator

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the contract of employment dated July 1, 2016 between the Warren Township Board of Education and Mrs. Patricia Leonhardt for the position of Business Administrator for the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. A copy of this contract is on file at the Board of Education Office and will be posted on the district website.

C.3. Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a. Employee #1944 for leave (unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement), effective June 22, 2016 through June 30, 2016.

C.4. Retirement/Resignation

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the retirement/resignations of the following staff:

a. Michele Stora de Cruz, World Language Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, for the purpose of resignation, with appreciation for her 15 years of service to the Warren Township students, effective June 30, 2016.

b. Kara Miletic, Grade 5 Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, for the purpose of resignation, with appreciation for her 11 years of service to the Warren Township students, effective June 30, 2016.

C.5. Contracted Services

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following rate change for provider Vanna Amorapanth, M.D., F.A.A.P., to $850 per neurodevelopmental evaluation with report.

C.6. Approval of IDEA Preschool Payroll Monies

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the use of the FY2017 IDEA Preschool Grant monies in the amount of $16,079 for salary support as follows:

Employee ID Full Salary Salary Funds from IDEA %

#1859 $22,985 $11,492 50%

#1391 $28,485 $ 4,587 16%

C.7. Substitute Custodian

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following as substitute custodians, effective July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 at the approved substitute custodian pay rate:

  1. Spencer Adriaanse
  2. Lauralee Dupper
  3. Deborah Novy
  4. Iberca Jimenez
  5. Gabrielle Snead
  6. Roberta Snead

C.8. Summer Employees - 2016 Revised

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the revised list of summer employees, dated July 14, 2016, at the listed hourly rates.

 C.9. Additional Staffing for Summer Fun 2016

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Kristy Kubala as a Summer Fun teacher at the rate of $40 per hour and as a Summer Fun paraprofessional at the rate of $15 per hour, effective June 27, 2016 through July 29, 2016.

C.10. Child Study Team Summer 2016-Additional Evaluations and Case Management

RESOLVED that the Board of Education approves the additional Child Study Team Summer Work evaluations and case management for three students, for a total of 7 days, at a cost not to exceed $3,046.

C.11. Substitute Van Driver/Substitute Bus Monitor

RESOLVED that the Board of Education approves Maria Rodriguez as a substitute bus monitor and substitute van driver at the approved pay rates for the 2016-2017 school year.

XIII. Old Business

N/A

XIV. New Business

Mrs. Albano discussed the deadline for submittal of resolutions for the NJSBA Delegate Assembly and it was recommended that ideas be submitted to Dr. Mingle.

Mrs. Helewa reported on the cancelled NJSBA Legislative Committee with Assemblyman Bramnick.

XV. Public Commentary

N/A

XVI Executive Session

Mrs. DiMaggio and Mrs. Leonhardt left the meeting at this time.

At 7:10 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:

a collective bargaining agreement and/or negotiations related to it

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 Mrs. Helewa and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Ms. Campos, seconded by Mrs. Helewa, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:16 p.m.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Ms. Campos, seconded by Mrs. Albano, the meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.

Minutes submitted by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary