Minutes for January 17, 2017History 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 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 4, 2017. 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, David Brezee, Len deMontagnac, Lisa DiMaggio,

Andrea Freijomil, Joan Schiller, Patricia Zohn and Tia Allocco.

Absent: Jeannine Sarosy

Also Present: Dr. Matthew Mingle, Superintendent, Patricia Leonhardt, Board Secretary, and members of the public and press.

IV. Presentation

N/A

V. Minutes

Mr. deMontagnac moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the January 3, 2017 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Dr. Schiller and approved by 8-0 roll-call vote.

VI.Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

2

 

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

1

VII. President's Remarks

Mrs. Allocco acknowledged the new committee membership, and thanked those who agreed to chair.

VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks

Dr. Mingle addressed the following items:

  • The district’s 2015-2016 HIB self assessment, which is on the agenda for acceptance tonight.
  • The proposed revised class size guidelines.
  • The proposed expansion of preschool program for 2017-2018.
  • Middle School Homework, for which positive feedback has been received in light of implemented changes.

IX. Committee Reports

N/A

X. Discussion

  • Class Size Guidelines Recommendation - The board asked a variety of associated questions regarding the proposal on tonight’s agenda for approval..
  • Norms for Board Communication Mid-Year Review - Mrs. Allocco provided an review of the norms. A recommendation was made and accepted for the section on Public Commentary and the board discussed routing protocol for board members questions, who can either be sent to the board president or appropriate committee chair. Lastly, the board discussed the introduction of a new topic. It was determined that this can either be introduced under New Business or broached via a conversation with the board president.

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

Mr. deMontagnac asked a question regarding motion C.7., and the evaluation of district coaches.

Mrs. DiMaggio asked a question regarding some bill list items.

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio the consent items A.1. through A.5., B.1. and B.2., and C.1. through C.9., 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 January 12, 2017.

A.2. Home Instruction

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves up to 10 hours per week of home instruction for Student #3385531519, beginning on or about January 18, 2017, at a rate of $40 per hour, at an approximate cost not to exceed $4,800. Instruction to be provided by Jill Graef.

A.3. Class Size Guidelines

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Revised Class Size Guidelines.

A.4. HIB Self-Assessment

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the HIB Self-Assessment for the 2015-2016 school year.

A.5. Home Instruction

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves up to 10 hours per week of home instruction for Student #9506981705, starting January 17, 2017, at a rate of $40 per hour.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the month of January 2017 in the amount of $2,523,758.93.

B.2. 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

Andrew Ahimovic

MHS

NJAHPERD Annual Convention

Long Branch

Feb 2017

$226

Sean Mealey

MS

NJAHPERD Annual Convention

Long Branch

Feb 2017

$215

Jeff Sutherland

MS

NJAHPERD Annual Convention

Long Branch

Feb 2017

$170

Rebecca Hartmann

CS

Interventions for Autism

Parsippany

Feb 2017

$236

 

Sharon Carroll

CS

Practical Strategies to address the challenges of today’s School Nurse

West Orange

Mar 2017

$245

Michael Pate

District

NJSBGA Expo

Atlantic City

Mar 2017

$480

Frances Blabolil

CS

Nutritional and Integrative Interventions for Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, ODD and Depression

Parsippany

Feb 2017

$240

Donald Strickland

District

Baseball and Softball Skin Surface Selection and Management

New Brunswick

Feb 2017

$175

 

Michael Gonnella

District

Baseball and Softball Skin Surface Selection and Management

New Brunswick

Feb 2017

$175

 


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.”

    1. Linda Hatcher, Classroom Paraprofessional, 32.5 hours, Mt. Horeb School, Step 6-7 of the 2016-2017 salary guide, $21,873 (prorated), effective January 18, 2017 through June 30, 2017. (This is a new position.)

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. Jill Graef

b. Michelle Keane

c. Timothy Luong

d. Jessica Weiss (nurse)

C.3. Creation of Additional Preschool Teacher Position

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the creation of an additional full-time position for a preschool teacher for the 2017-2018 school year.

C.4. Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a. Employee #1752 for leave (paid and unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement), from on or about May 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, with an anticipated return date of September 1, 2018.

C.5. Retirement/Resignation

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

a. Caroline Barany, Multi-duty Paraprofessional, Angelo L. Tomaso School, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for her 12 years of service to the Warren Township students, effective March 31, 2017.

C.6. Approval of Title I - Extended Day Coordinator Increased Stipend

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an increase in the stipend for Melissa Stoeckel as Title I - Extended Day Coordinator from $5,000 to $8,000, in recognition of appointment as Coordinator rather than Co-Coordinator. (This motion supersedes the previous motion from October 4, 2016.) Stipend to be fully funded by NCLB - Title I.

C.7. After School Clubs/Activities

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Lesley Duncan, Middle School, as Archery Club Advisor for 15 sessions at a cost of $715.

C.8. Revised School Calendar - Woodland

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the amended 2016-2017 calendar to include a half day make-up for Woodland School, on June 22, 2017.

C.9. Long Term Substitute

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Judy Maddalone as a Long Term Substitute, effective December 16, 2016 through on or about January 27, 2017. (This represents a change from daily substitute to long term substitute.)

XIII. Unfinished Business

N/A

XIV. New Business

  • Policy Services - Mrs. Allocco discussed the possibility of engaging Strauss Esmay Associates, LLP. This will be a discussion item on the board’s next agenda.

XV. Public Commentary

  • Heather Silver, Quail Run, discussed the sharing of club activities across elementary schools.

XVI. Adjourn

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Mrs. Albano, the meeting adjourned at

7:42 p.m.

Minutes submitted by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary