Minutes for April 3, 2017History 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.

II. Pledge of Allegiance - Mrs. Allocco led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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, sent to the Courier News, 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.”

III. Roll Call

Present: Paige Albano, David Brezee, Len deMontagnac, Lisa DiMaggio,

Andrea Freijomil, Jeannine Sarosy, Joan Schiller, Patricia Zohn and Tia Allocco

Absent:

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

IV. Minutes

Mr. deMontagnac moved the following:

  • RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public session minutes of the March 20, 2017 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio and approved by 8-0-1 roll-call vote. (Dr. Schiller abstained.)

V. Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

5

  

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

1

· Fire Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

March 30 March 9 March 30 March 27 March 1

· Security Drills

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle

March 28 March 13 March 29 March 28 March 2

Active Shooter Active Shooter Active Shooter Active Shooter Active Shooter

VI. President's Remarks

Mrs. Allocco welcomed all to this wonderful celebration of Woodland School, especially New Jersey Commissioner of Education, Kimberley Harrington and former School District Superintendent, Dr. Tami Crader.

Mrs. Allocco also congratulated all involved with Woodland’s nomination for the Blue Ribbon School Award.

Mrs. Allocco congratulated Inica Kotasthane, Middle School Student, who won 1st place in the Time Magazine Poetry Contest.

Mrs. Allocco reminded all about the district’s communication survey and encouraged responses.

Mrs. Allocco referred all board members to the notice regarding an upcoming meeting with State Senator Tom Kean and Township and School District Administration.

VII. Superintendent’s Remarks

Dr. Mingle welcomed all, especially Commissioner Harrington.

Dr. Mingle also provided follow up regarding the PILOT program, and an update regarding the Warren Middle School Principal search.

VIII. Presentation

  • Woodland School Students and Staff - Blue Ribbon Nomination - Mr. Heaney presented students, staff and parents, who spoke about the value of Woodland School.
  • Commissioner Harrington shared how happy she was to have interacted with such special students and staff today, and spoke to the importance of giving our students their voices.

At 7:37 p.m., the board took a 10 minute recess.

At 7:47 p.m., the board reconvened.

IX. Discussion

  • Schedule Recommendations - The board asked some questions as follow up to last meeting’s presentation on the proposal.

A question was asked regarding the Middle School Principal search.

X. Committee Reports

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).

  • Heather Silver, Quail Run, asked a question regarding parental input for the Middle School Principal search.
  • Gina Valente, Providence Road, spoke to publicizing the April 19th Middle School PTO session, at which input regarding the principal search will be accepted.

XII. Items for Board Consideration/Action

Mrs. Freijomil mentioned the EpiPen recall (B.6).

Mrs. DiMaggio spoke of the importance of Mr. Berry’s professional development request and asked follow-up questions regarding other entries.

Mrs. Allocco thanked Bioridge Pharma for the EpiPens and wished retiring staff well.

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio the consent items A.1. through A.3., B.1. through B.6, C.1. through C.8., and D.1., were approved by a 9-0 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 30, 2017.

A.2. Elementary School Specials Schedule

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Elementary School Specials Schedule for the 2017-2018 school year.

A.3. Middle School Master Schedule

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Middle School Master Schedule for the 2017-2018 school year.

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

Michael Pate

District

Coaching the Lift Truck Operator - Train the Trainer

Cranford

April 2017

$525

Nicole Ravettina

MTH

The Power of Play - Effective Play - Based Therapy and Early Intervention

Hasbrouck Heights

May 2017

$230

Emily Niclas

WS

NJSHA

Long Branch

April 2017

$387

Frances Blabolil

CS

Strengthening Your Special Needs Students’ Executive Function Skills

Somerset

May 2017

$245

Kate Zaleski

WS

Judy Freeman Winners! Workshop

Somerset

May 2017

$209

Shannon Sharkey

District

UDL for Social Justice: CAST 3rd Annual Symposium

Boston

July and Aug 2017

$1,464

 

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.2. NJSIG - ERIC North Sub-Fund Application for Safety Grant Program

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the submission of the grant application for the Safety Grant Program through the New Jersey School Insurance Group’s ERIC North Sub-Fund for the qualified purposes of offsetting the cost of the district’s Visitor Management System, in the amount of $6,652.75, for the period of July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

B.3. Submission of Amendment for Federal Grant Monies

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the submission to the Department of Education of an amendment of the application for 2016-17 NCLB Title I Federal Grant Programs as follows:

● NCLB - Title IA - $ 54,901

Amendment reflects a reallocation of monies among account lines for instructional supplies, attendance at workshops and contract with an educational consultant.

B.4. Field Trip Approval

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Warren Middle School E2 overnight trip to the National Academic Championship in Alexandria, Virginia.

B.5. Field Trip Destination Approval

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Sandy Hook as a field trip destination for the Warren Middle School 6th grade.

B.6. Donation Acceptance - Bioridge Pharma

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts, with gratitude, a donation of 10 EpiPen packages and 5 EpiPen storage units from BioRidge Pharmaceutical, at an approximate value of $3,000. EpiPens and storage units to be distributed to all 5 Warren Township School District schools.

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. Patricia Paradiso, School Nurse, Woodland School, MA, Step 1 of the 2016-2017 salary guide, at a per diem rate of $313.61, for a number of days not to exceed 35, at a salary not to exceed $10,976.35, effective April 6, 2017 through June 30, 2017. (New position)

b. Richard Bardy, 0.54 Classroom Paraprofessional, Warren Middle School, Step 1-5 of the 2016-2017 salary guide, $10,668 (prorated), plus a stipend of $1,800 for a teaching certificate, effective April 6, 2017 through June 30, 2017. (This motion supersedes previous motion dated February 6, 2017.)

C.2. Job Description

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

  1. Purchasing and Accounts Payable Coordinator

C.3. Substitute Teachers

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

a. Carlie Goode

b. Stacey Meltzer

c. Michaela Porras

C.4. First Aid Training

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff to present First Aid training on April 26, 2017, at the contractual rate of $40 per hour, for the total cost of $720:

  • Jan Brennan
  • Lisa Lontai
  • Doris Zanchelli

C.5. Retirement/Resignation

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

a. Marne Angarola, Assistant to the Business Office, District, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for her 25 years of service to the Warren Township staff and students, effective July 31, 2017.

b. Angela Della Ventura, Spanish Teacher, Warren Middle School, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for her 16 years of service to the Warren Township students, effective June 30, 2017.

c. Michele Stein, School Psychologist, District, for the purpose of retirement, with appreciation for her 19 years of service to the Warren Township students, effective June 30, 2017.

C.6. Additional Hours

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following additional hours:

  1. Lisa Lontai to accompany Student #7048289004 to after school Track at the Middle School, not to exceed 50 hours beginning March 28, 2017, at a cost not to exceed $2,000.
  2. Karen Balich to accompany Student #8281299312 to after school Softball, not to exceed 50 hours beginning March 23, 2017, at a cost not to exceed $2,000.
  3. Laurie Pelosi-Fetten to accompany Student #1627617084 to After School Clubs not to exceed 8 hours beginning March 29, 2017, at a cost not to exceed $320 (previously approved for Lesley Duncan).
  4. Ricky Bardy to accompany Student #7022552774 to After School Clubs not to exceed 7 hours starting on or about April 17, 2017, at a cost not to exceed $146 (previously approved for Carolyn Wells).
  5. Jan Brennan for 6 hours and Lisa Lontai for 2 hours, to accompany Student #6767554116 to after school Basketball Club, starting on or about April 21, 2017 for a total of 8 hours, at a cost not to exceed $320.

C.7. Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a. Employee #1105 for leave (unpaid according to legal and contractual entitlement), effective April 25, 2017 through on or about June 30, 2017.

C.8. Long Term Substitute

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Laura Colantoni as a Long Term Substitute, effective April 3, 2017 through on or about June 30, 2017. (Ms. Colantoni is LTS for Employee #1105.)

D. Policy

D.1. Policy – First Reading

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the first reading of the following policy:

a. Policy 6171.4 Special Education

XIII. Unfinished Business

  • Board Communication - Mrs. Allocco addressed the updated timeline for response to questions regarding the agenda.

XIV. New Business

  • Middle School PTO meeting - Mrs. Freijomil asked if parents of rising 6th graders will be invited.
  • Legislator meeting - Mrs. Allocco advised that based on headcount, the attorney will be advising whether advertising needs to occur.
  • Board of Education meetings - A reminder to all BOE members that the April 24th meeting will start with an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m., with the public session to follow at 7 p.m. In addition, the dates for the board’s second June and July meetings are subject to change.
  • School Calendar - A request was made for additional communication regarding the last day of school and status of half days.
  • SCESC - Mrs. Zohn asked that any items for discussion at SCESC board meeting be emailed to her.

XV. 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).

  • Sammy Silver, Quail Run, asked about a Middle School Archery Club.

XVI. Adjourn

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio, the meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

Minutes submitted by,

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary