Minutes for November 7, 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 6:40 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 September 27, 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

III. Roll Call

Present: Celeste Campos, Len deMontagnac, Andrea Freijomil, Joan Schiller and Tia Allocco

Absent: Paige Albano

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

Matt Giacobbe, Board Attorney, and members of the public and press.

Lisa DiMaggio arrived at 7:30 p.m.

Jim Sena arrived at 7:35 p.m.

IV. Executive Session

At 6:42 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:

collective bargaining agreements with the WTAA and WTEA and/or negotiations related to it

Action will be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 60 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 Dr. Schiller and approved by unanimous voice vote.

The board and attorney Giacobbe left the room at 6:42 p.m. for Executive Session.

The board re-entered the room at 7:30 p.m..

On motion by Ms. Campos, seconded by Mr. deMontagnac, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:30 p.m.

V. Presentation

  • Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) - Leanna Wellerding and Louis Cunha represented the group, with Mrs. Wellerding providing an overview of its role.

VI. Minutes

Ms. Campos moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of October 4, 2016 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mr. deMontagnac and approved by 5-0-2. (Dr. Schiller and Mr. Sena abstained.)

VII. Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:  1   Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:  1

· Fire Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle
October-14 October-07 October-06 October-20 October-18

· Security Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle
October-04 October-24 October-27 October-07 October-13
Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown Lockdown

VIII. President's Remarks – Tia Allocco

Mrs. Allocco reported on the NJSBA Workshop at which she attended many meaningful sessions, including Dr. Mingle’s one-to-one presentation.

Mrs. Allocco referred to the one page handout regarding public comment distributed this evening..

Lastly, Mrs. Allocco called everyone’s attention to the retirement of Mr. Tribelhorn, and thanked him for his many years of service and the loss this represents for the district.

IX. Superintendent’s Remarks – Matthew Mingle

Dr. Mingle reported on:

  • His attendance at NJSBA workshop, which he found beneficial
  • The outcome of student focus groups, which he held at each elementary school, providing an overview of recurrent themes. (District administration will be reviewing for possible action items.)
  • The election tomorrow, reminding all of the local Board of Education seats on the ballot
  • The Warren Township Police Department training scheduled for December 11 and 18, which will be communicated repeatedly to the community
  • The loss to the district regarding Mr. Tribelhorn’s retirement.

X. Committee Reports

N/A

XI. Discussion

  • YMCA - Facilities Usage - The board discussed the YMCA’s use of district facilities for aftercare, with the matter then being called for a vote as follows:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby directs the Finance/Operations/Security committee to reconsider its recommendation not to change the terms of the district’s financial agreement with the YMCA’s child care program after conducting additional research into how other districts handle similar arrangements.

On motion by Mrs. Allocco seconded by Ms. Campos the motion failed by a 1-6 roll-call vote.

XII. Public Commentary (agenda items only)

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);

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

  1. 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

XIII. Items for Board Consideration/Action

Mrs. Freijomil asked a question regarding C.1.a. and C.2.

Mrs. DiMaggio asked a question regarding a professional development approval.

Dr. Schiller asked separate vote for D.1.a.

On motion by Ms. Campos seconded by Dr. Schiller the consent items A.1., B.1., C.1. through C.6., and D.1.b. through D.1.f., were approved by a 7-0 roll-call vote.

On motion by Ms. Campos seconded by Mr. deMontagnac the consent item D.1.a., was approved by a 4-0-3 roll-call vote. (Mrs. Freijomil, Dr. Schiller and Mrs. Allocco 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 November 3, 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

Melissa Stoeckel

MHS

Strategies & Structures for Teaching Reading

New Providence

Dec 2016

$185

Michelle Cebula

WS

Strategies & Structures for Teaching Reading

New Providence

Dec 2016

$189

Christine Smith

ALT

Leading the Co-teaching Dance

Monroe

Nov 2016

$158

Tara Keller

MHS

Implementing High Quality Preschool Instruction

Sparta

Dec 2016

$201


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 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. Kathryn Gausz, Grade 6 Math Teacher, Warren Middle School, BA, Step 1 of the 2016-2017 salary guide, $57,020 (prorated), effective January 3, 2017 through June 30, 2017.

C.2. Substitute Teachers

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute teachers for the 2016-2017 school year:

a. Alexandra Boni

b. Kathryn Gausz

C.3. Warren Middle School Stipend Positions

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following stipend position appointments (prorated) as per the WTEA agreement:

    1. Simone Miller, Grade 6 Team Leader, effective January 3, 2017 through June 30, 2017. (Mrs. Miller will replace Barbara LaSaracina who is retiring.)
    2. Sean Mealey, Grade 6 Lunchroom Supervisor, effective January 3, 2017 through June 30, 2017. (Mr. Mealey will replace Barbara LaSaracina.)

C.4. Retirement/Resignation

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

a. Tyler Tribelhorn, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, District, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for his 24 1/2 years of service to the Warren Township School District, effective December 31, 2016.

C.5. Long Term Substitute

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Judy Maddalone as a Long Term Substitute, effective November 23, 2016 through December 23, 2016. (Mrs. Maddalone will be LTS for Employee #1245.)

C.6. Approval In District Training

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following for a Crisis Prevention Intervention Certification Training to be held on October 24, November 3, December 6 and 8, 2016, and January 11, 2017, to be paid the contractual rate of $40 per hour, for a total cost not to exceed $5,400:

    • Rebecca Olszyk
    • Beatrice Schwarzkopf

D. Policy

D.1. Policies – Second Reading

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

a. Policy 2224 Nondiscrimination/Affirmative Action

b. Policy 4111.1, 4211.1 Nondiscrimination, Affirmative Action

c. Policy 6142.2 English as a Second Language; Bi-Lingual

d. Policy 6142.12 Career and Technical Education

e. Policy 6147 Standards of Proficiency

f. Policy 6172 Alternative Educational Programs

 

XIV. Unfinished Business

N/A

XV. New Business

N/A

XVI. Public Commentary (any topic)

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).

  • Heather Silver, Quail Run, complimented Mrs. Wellerding on her presentation this evening.
  • Board member Len deMontagnac requested a re-vote on motion D.1.a. It was recommended that he bring the topic up for discussion under New Business at a future Board of Education meeting.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Ms. Campos, seconded by Dr. Schiller, the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.

Minutes submitted by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary

2016-2017 Board Goals

  1. Refresh the district mission statement by focusing on the whole child, whole school, and whole community approach to education.
  2. Continually create and support an environment where a definition of student achievement and how we measure it empowers the whole child.
  3. Establish a clear line of communication to keep all stakeholders fully informed on matters of board business and other district news by maintaining effective board discussions and decision-making processes.

 

2016-2017 District Goals

  1. Continue to focus on elements of instruction that impact student achievement within the context of the whole child and “the five” belief statements.
  2. Continue to develop consistent practices that support a culture of attention to safety and security.
  3. Recommend plans to the board of education that addresses challenges of declining enrollment while seeking to identify expanded program and instructional opportunities for students.