Warren Township Schools: Minutes for March 6, 2017

Minutes for March 6, 2017 Archived Minutes

A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day at the Angelo L. Tomaso School, 46 Washington 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,

Jeannine Sarosy, Joan Schiller, Patricia Zohn and Tia Allocco

Absent: Andrea Freijomil

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

IV. Minutes

Mrs. Allocco asked if there were any corrections requested for the distributed minutes.

Mrs. Zohn requested a change in the public session minutes, under New Business, in the item regarding class trips. The minutes were modified as requested.

Mr. deMontagnac moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the February 21, 2017 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Zohn and approved by 7-0-1 roll-call vote. (Mr. deMontagnac abstained.)

V. Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

VI. President's Remarks

Mrs. Allocco welcomed all and thanked Ms. Smith for hosting this evening. Mrs. Allocco also thanked all involved in the Read Across America program.

Mrs. Allocco reported on the recent meeting regarding board document distribution and access. It is proposed that all board members will receive hard copies.

Mrs. Allocco referred to local Pilot tax programs, and Dr. Mingle’s upcoming meeting with the Township Administrator.

Mrs. Allocco thanked the PTOs for their donations for the Technology Safety presentation and congratulated those staff members moving across the guide.

VII. Superintendent’s Remarks

Dr. Mingle thanked Mrs. Smith, Mr. Doug Clark and students for this evening’s planned archery demonstration.

Dr. Mingle also reminded all of the upcoming Whole Child Event to be held Wednesday night night at WHRHS.

VIII. Presentations

ALT Archery Curriculum/Club demonstration - Mr. Clark provided an overview of the Archery Program, with students adding their own personal comments regarding the value of the program. The meeting then moved to the gymnasium for a hands-on presentation.

IX. Discussion

2017-2018 Budget - The board discussed the proposed budget and the role of the district’s capital needs.

X. Committee Reports

Negotiations and Personnel Committee - Mrs. Albano reported on the meeting which set goals and revised the Personnel Committee’s description.
Curriculum, Communications and Technology Committee - Mrs. DiMaggio reported on the evening’s meeting with minutes to follow.
Watchung Hills Municipal Alliance -.Mr. deMontagnac reported on the recent meeting he attended. The group’s goal is to improve the communities’ ability to combat substance abuse.

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:

A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name and place of residence;
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
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 budget transfers (B.1.), goal 2 of the Negotiations and Personnel Committee (B.5.), as well as its description (A.3.).

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac seconded by Dr. Schiller the consent items A.1. through A.4., B.1. through B.5., and C.1 through C.7., 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 2, 2016.

A.2. Home Instruction

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves up to 4 hours per week of home instruction for Student #3385531519, beginning on or about March 7, 2017 through June 30, 2017, at a rate of $40 per hour, at a cost not to exceed $2,400. Instruction to be provided by Hayley Scuderi.

A.3. Personnel Committee Description

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the revised Personnel Committee description.

A.4. Approval of Modified School Hours for 2017-2018 School Year

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following instructional day for the district’s schools, effective with the 2017-18 School Year:

School	Start of Instructional Day	End of Instructional Day
ALT and Middle	8:10 a.m.	2:50 p.m.
Central, Mt. Horeb and Woodland	8:50 a.m.	3:30 p.m.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Budget Transfers for February 1, 2017

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:
1.	11-000-240-199-00-00	Vacation Day Payout - Retirement	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$28,325
2.	11-000-240-600-11-01	Admin. Supplies- Technology	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$25,000
3.	11-000-251-100-01-02	Business Office - Summer	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$2,000
4.	11-000-251-580-00-00	Business Office - Workshops & Travel	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$3,000
5.	11-000-251-600-01-00	Business Office - Supplies	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$7,000
6.	11-000-251-890-01-00	Business Office - Miscellaneous	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$2,000
7.	11-000-252-100-01-01	Technology - Summer Pay	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$5,000
8.	11-000-252-600-11-01	Admin. Technology- Supplies	11-000-100-562-08-01	Tuition - Other LEAs	$20,000

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
Susan Jackson	ALT	Judy Freeman’s Winners Workshop	Somerset	May 2017	$209
Paula Williams	CS	TESOL/NJBE 2017 Spring Conference	New Brunswick	May and June 2017	$319

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.3. 2017-2018 Bus Routes Consolidation Approval

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the consolidation of bus routes for the 2017-2018 School Year, resulting in the reassignment of the riders of the following routes to other already existing routes:

Middle School - 2 routes - M03, M06
ALT - 1 route - T31
Mt. Horeb School - 2 routes - H25, H26
Woodland School - 1 route - W50

B.4. PTO Donations - Always Connected Presentation

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts, with gratitude, donations totaling $2,000 from the PTOs to be allocated for the Always Connected Presentation.

B.5. Negotiations and Personnel Committee Goals

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Negotiations and Personnel Committee goals for the 2017 Calendar Year:

Negotiate successor collective bargaining agreements with the WTAA and the WTEA.
Support the creation of an evaluation system for coaches and advisors.
Support and advise the Superintendent on the efficient use of personnel.

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 2016-2017 salary guide:

a. Andrew Ahimovic, with congratulations, for movement from MA+15 to MA+30, effective February 1, 2017.

b. Nicholas Bayachek, with congratulations, for movement from MA to MA+15, effective February 1, 2017.

c. Catherine Lazas, with congratulations, for movement from MA+15 to MA+30, effective February 1, 2017.

d. Susan Leonard, with congratulations, for movement from MA+30 to MA+45, effective February 1, 2017.

e. Sanjita Livingston, with congratulations, for movement from MA+30 to MA+45, effective February 1, 2017.

C.2. Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a. Employee #0522 for leave (unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement), from March 6, 2017 through March 24, 2017, with an anticipated return date of March 27, 2017.

b. Employee #2495 for extended leave (unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement) from September 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, with an anticipated return date of September 1, 2018.

c. Employee #1879 for extended leave (unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement) from September 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, with an anticipated return date of September 1, 2018.

C.3. Compacted Schedule for Summer 2017

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a 4-day compacted work schedule for Summer 2017, from the week of July 10th, up to and including the week of August 21st.

C.4. Warren Middle School Guidance Additional Hours

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Middle School guidance counselors to work three days prior to June 30, 2017 at the employee’s per diem rate:

Midge Johnson - $412.98 per day, not to exceed $1,238.94
Lauren Regal - $346.34 per day, not to exceed $1,039.02
Helen Scully - $410.69 per day, not to exceed $1,232.07

C.5. Substitute Van Driver/Substitute Bus Monitor

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Adrienne Schillizzi as a substitute bus monitor and substitute van driver at the approved pay rate for the 2016-2017 school year.

C.6. Job Description

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following job description:

Curriculum Director

C.7. Home Instructor

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following individuals to be appointed as home instructors for the 2016-2017 school year, at a rate of $40 per hour:

Jill Graef
Hayley Scuderi

XIII. Unfinished Business

N/A

XIV. New Business

Agenda related questions - Mrs. Zohn discussed the current process for board members asking and receiving answers to agenda-related questions.
Archery - Mr. deMontagnac commented on and complimented Mr. Clark’s work with students and the Archery Program.

XV. Public Commentary (any topic)

A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name and place of residence;
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
All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer—no participant may address or question Board members individually.

Gina Valenti, Providence Road, thanked Mr. Clark and the students for this evening’s program and the positive impression it provides of Angelo L. Tomaso School.
Heather Silver, Quail Run, discussed club sharing among schools.

XVI. Executive Session

At 8:26 p.m. Mr. deMontagnac 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 will not be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 40 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. Brezee and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio, the Board reconvened in open session at 9:08 p.m.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Mr. Brezee, the meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m.

Minutes submitted by

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary

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