Minutes for November 27, 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 6:30 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 November 24, 2017. This notice was on that date was posted on the Courier News, and TAP into 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, Andrea Freijomil, Jeannine Sarosy, Joan Schiller, Patricia Zohn and Tia Allocco

Absent: Lisa DiMaggio

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

IV. Executive Session

At 6:31 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 be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 30 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.

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Mr. Brezee, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:01 p.m.

V. Minutes

Mr. deMontagnac moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private session minutes of the November 13, 2017 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Dr. Schiller and approved by 6-0-2 roll-call vote. (Mrs. Sarosy and Mrs. Zohn abstained.)

VI. Correspondence and Information

Dr. Mingle called attention to the note of thanks from Ms. Dupper.

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

  0  

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

  0

VII. President's Remarks

Mrs. Allocco welcomed all back from Thanksgiving break.

Mrs. Allocco thanked the Lions Club for eleven dinners with turkey and Mr. Breeze who stored them over the weekend.

Mrs. Allocco acknowledged Sergeant Tom Rich for his Internet Safety presentation.

Mrs. Allocco thanked administrators and staff for welcoming parents and guardians during American Education week.

Mrs. Allocco referenced the fact that the agenda for the next meeting will include a discussion regarding board leadership roles.

Lastly, Mrs. Allocco referenced the effort to organize part one of a two-part orientation for new board members.

VIII. Superintendent’s Remarks

Dr. Mingle reminded everyone about the Woodland School Blue Ribbon award celebration, to be held Thursday, November 30, 6:30-8:00 p.m. All are welcome.

Dr. Mingle called attention to the district’s certification as high performing enabling it to only be subject to a modified and less time-consuming QSAC review.

IX. Presentation

  • Thanksgiving Video - The student video created by Mrs. McGann regarding Thanksgiving was shown.

X. Discussion

  • Recording Board Meetings - The board discussed the topic, deciding to codify the current practice of the posting of studio-based administrator presentations, with exceptions for live taping of selected presentations, i.e., architect presentation of Capital Improvements Plan. A corresponding resolution will be on a future board agenda.

XI. Committee Reports

  • Finance/Operations/Security Committee - Mrs. Freijomil reported on the recent meeting which discussed the Capital Improvements Plan and recommended modifications, security topics, policy review and the food service management companies resolution.

XII. Public Commentary (agenda items only)

Note on public input at BOE meetings: Board Policy #9322, adopted on January 21, 2013, 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).

  • Heather Silva, Quail Run, discussed ancillary issues regarding the taping of board meetings and presentations.
  • Deanna DeRoner, Angelo L. Tomaso staff member, discussed some pitfalls of board meeting recording.

XIII. Items for Board Consideration/Action

Mrs. Zohn asked that B.6. be pulled for separate vote.

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Dr. Schiller, the consent items A.1., through A.5., B.1., through B.5., B.7., and C.1., through C.6., were approved by a 8-0 roll-call vote.

Motion B.6. was modified to reflect small language changes.

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Mrs. Freijomil, the consent item B.6., was approved by an 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 November 22, 2017.

A.2. Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) Equivalency

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the submission of an equivalency application to extend the district’s QSAC certification as a high performing district for three additional years.

A.3. 2018-2019 Calendar

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the 2018-2019 calendar.

A.4. Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the annual update to the Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement, dated November 27, 2017. (The Agreement between education and law enforcement officials is approved on an annual basis.)

A.5. Bedside Instruction

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves bedside instruction through Professional Education Services, Inc. for Student #6894416342, beginning November 21, 2017, at an hourly rate of $50, at a cost not to exceed $3,000.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the month of November 2017 in the amount of $3,715,668.98.

B.2. Board Secretary's and Treasurer's Report

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the report of the secretary for the month of October, 2017; and

WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on October 31, 2017:

 

FUND

CASH BALANCE

APPROPRIATION BALANCE

FUND BALANCE

(10) General Current Expense Fund

$9,628,406.77

  

$990,303.32

(11) Current Expense

  

$1,687,692.87

  

(12) Capital Outlay

  

$412,501.93

  

(13) Special Schools

  

$14,937.47

  

(20) Special Revenue Fund

($55,964.77)

$38,757.69

$0.00

(30) Capital Projects Fund

$63,040.94

$0.00

$297,136.05

(40) Debt Service Fund

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

TOTAL

$9,635,482.94

$2,153,889.96

$1,287,439.37

WHEREAS, in compliance with law and code the secretary has certified that, as of the date of the reports, no budgetary line item account has obligations and payments (contractual orders) which in total exceed the amount appropriated by the district board of education, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts the above reference reports and certifications and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, in compliance with law and code, the Board of Education certifies that, after review of the secretary's monthly financial report (appropriation section), to the best of its knowledge, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of law and code and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the year.

B.3. Budget Transfers for Month of October 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.

11-000-218-600-035-04-00

Guidance Supplies - MHS

11-190-100-610-035-04-10

Instructional Supplies-MHS

$200

2.

11-000-221-110-050-12-00

Curriculum Development - Stipends - WS

11-000-223-110-000-12-00

Staff Training Salaries

$343

3.

11-000-223-600-030-12-00

Staff Training Supplies - CS

11-000-222-580-000-00-11

WTAA Mileage - Tech. Supervisor

$240

4.

11-000-223-600-033-12-00

Staff Training Supplies - MS

11-000-222-580-000-00-11

WTAA Mileage - Tech. Supervisor

$240

5.

11-000-223-600-035-12-00

Staff Training Supplies - MHS

11-000-222-580-000-00-11

WTAA Mileage - Tech. Supervisor

$240

6.

11-000-223-600-040-12-00

Staff Training Supplies - ALT

11-000-222-580-000-00-11

WTAA Mileage - Tech. Supervisor

$240

7.

11-000-223-600-050-12-00

Staff Training Supplies - WS

11-000-222-580-000-00-11

WTAA Mileage - Tech. Supervisor

$240

8.

11-000-252-600-000-11-01

Admin Technology - Supplies

11-190-100-610-000-11-01

Supplies - Instructional Hardware

$4,000

9.

11-000-263-420-00-09-00

Grounds - Repairs & Maintenance Services

11-000-262-610-000-09-00

Building Supplies - Maintenance

$4,000

10.

11-190-100-610-033-07-10

Instructional Supplies - MS

11-000-213-600-033-07-00

Health Supplies - Middle

$600

11.

11-190-100-610-033-07-10

Instructional Supplies - MS

11-000-218-600-033-07-00

Guidance Supplies - Middle

$400

12.

11-214-100-500-030-08-00

Autism - Other Purchased Svcs. - CS

11-214-100-610-000-08-00

Autism Supplies

$90

13.

11-216-100-500-035-08-00

PSD - Other Purchased Svcs. - MHS

11-216-100-600-000-08-00

PSD - Supplies

$135

B.4. 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

Janice Anderson

ALT

Strengthening Social Communications Skills for Speech/Language Pathologists

West Orange

Dec 2017

$249

Sean Mealey

MS

NJAPHERD Annual Convention

Long Branch

Feb 2018

$308

 

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.5. NCLB /ESSA 2017-18 Amendment

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an amendment to be filed for the the 2017-18 NCLB/ESSA application, whereby Title III and Title IV monies will be reallocated to accurately reflect anticipated expenditures.

B.6. Food Service Management Contract

Whereas, the Department of Agriculture sent a notice on June 14, 2017 to New Jersey school districts participating in the National School Lunch program announcing a significant change in the procurement protocol for the contracting of food service management companies that operate breakfast and lunch programs for New Jersey public schools, and

Whereas, this new procurement protocol would change the fundamental basis for awarding food service management contracts from a “Cost Reimbursement Basis” to a “Fixed Price Basis” for contract awards, and

Whereas, the Warren Township Board of Education further declares that the “Fixed Price” procurement method could impact the quality of the meals served to New Jersey school students and therefore impact the participation of children in breakfast and lunch programs, and

Whereas, the Warren Township Board of Education further declares that the “Fixed Price” procurement method may limit the number of competitive proposals received by boards of education, and

Whereas, the Warren Township Board of Education rejects the Department of Agriculture’s underlying reasons for making this change without giving NJ School Districts the opportunity to address their concerns in an attempt to keep this procurement method in place, and

Whereas, the Warren Township Board of Education prefers an optional procurement system for securing Food Service Management Companies whereby districts could choose either Cost Reimbursement” or “Fixed Price” as the basis for contract awards.

Now Therefore be it Resolved, that the Warren Township Board of Education hereby requests the Department of Agriculture to reconsider its plans to move the basis of awarding Food Service Management contracts to a “Fixed Price” basis and allow the option of continuing to use a “Cost Reimbursement procurement model; or in the alternative , a “Fixed Price” procurement method, and

Be It Further Resolved, that copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to:

New Jersey Association of School Business Officials

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture (369 S Warren St, Trenton, NJ 08608)

Local Legislators

NJ School Boards, NJ School Superintendents, NJ Principals and Supervisors, NJ PTA

B.7. Field Trip Destination

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves Warren Township Public Library as a field trip destination for the 2017-2018 School Year.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Substitute Teachers

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute teachers for the 2017-2018 school year:

a. Grace Nduka

b. Michele Pento

c. Julie Holliday

C.2. Warren Middle School Musical

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following personnel and stipends in support of the Warren Middle School production:

a. Diane McCloskey, Director, at a stipend amount of $2,714.

b. Beverly MacGorman, Production Manager, at a stipend amount of $2,714.

c. Joel Van Tine, Stage & Sound Director, at a stipend amount of $1,470.

d. Jennifer Ronkiewicz, Set Designer, at a stipend amount of $1,470.

C.3. Winter Coaching Stipend

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves David Arnold as Basketball Supervisor for the 2017-2018 school year, at a rate of $50 per hour, not to exceed 60 hours.

C.4. Leave Request

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

a. Employee #2277 for intermittent leave (paid according to legal and contractual entitlement), from November 15, 2017 through on or about January 2, 2018.

b. Employee #3106 for leave (paid according to legal and contractual entitlement from on or about April 9, 2018 through on or about June 1, 2018.

C.5. Substitute Custodians

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following as Substitute Custodians for the 2017-2018 school year at the approved substitute custodian pay rate:

    1. Marco Naranjo
    2. Ketty (Kathy) Marino

C.6. Orchestra/Chorus Concert Chaperones

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff as backstage chaperones for the Warren Middle School orchestra and chorus concert on December 7, 2017, at a rate of $50 per hour per person, not to exceed two hours per person, at a total cost not to exceed $200:

    1. Karen Balich
    2. Elizabeth Guerin

XIV. Unfinished Business

  • Delegate Assembly - Mrs. Sarosy reported on her attendance and the items discussed.

Mrs. Sarosy left the meeting at 8:02 p.m.

XV. New Business

  • Middle School Visits for 5th Grade Families - Dr. Mingle reported on his initial fundings and the board discussed potential options. Dr. Mingle will discuss with administrators.

XVI. Public Commentary (any topic)

Note on public input at BOE meetings: Board Policy #9322, adopted on January 21, 2013, 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).

  • Nancy Andrews, Angelo L. Tomaso school staff member, discussed use of the district website for communication.
  • Rachel Singleton, Deerwood Trail West, mentioned providing detailed notes of board meetings and Middle School open houses.
  • Heather Silver, Quail Run, also addressed the potential of real estate agents regarding communication of district strengths.

XVII. Adjourn

On motion by Mr. deMontagnac, seconded by Dr. Schiller, the meeting adjourned at

8:21 p.m.

Minutes submitted by,

Patricia Leonhardt