Warren Township Schools: Minutes for June 8, 2020

Minutes for June 8, 2020 Archived Minutes

Due to the public health crisis, the regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day virtually through the online Zoom platform. The Board of Education, administration and the public were present and participating through logon to that platform. 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 Christian Bellmann.

Open Public Meeting Statement – Board President Christian Bellmann 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 May 18, 2020. 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 – Mr. Bellmann led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Roll Call

Present: Aaron Bellish, Mark Bisci, David Brezee, Susie Chu, Lisa DiMaggio,

Marc Franco, Ayanna Taylor, Patricia Zohn and Christian Bellmann

Absent:

Also Present: Dr. Matthew Mingle, Superintendent, and Patricia Leonhardt,

Board Secretary, and members of the public and press.

IV. Minutes

● Mrs. Zohn moved the following:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and executive session minutes of the May 11, 2020 Board Meeting.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio and approved by a 9-0 roll-call vote.

V. Correspondence and Information

· HIB Information

Total # of Investigations:

Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents:

· Suspension Report

In School:

Out of School:

VI. President's Remarks – Mr. Christian Bellmann

Mr. Bellmann thanked the parents for all of their hard work during remote learning, and noting the value of their feedback.

Mr. Bellmann thanked PTO’s for their support, recognizing their tireless work on behalf of the students.

Mr. Bellmann honored the fifth and eighth graders, congratulating them on their graduations.

Lastly, Mr. Bellmann complimented the Middle School Band for its 1st Place Award in the Rutgers University Battle of the Bands competition.

VII. Superintendent’s Remarks – Dr. Matthew Mingle

Dr. Mingle also congratulated the Middle School Band along with the sixth and eighth graders for their participation in the Quiz Bowls quarter finals.

Dr. Mingle noted the published survey will be out today, and encouraged all to respond.

Dr. Mingle mentioned to the Board members that their self evaluations will be distributed tomorrow.

VIII. Presentation

● Warren Middle School Student Recognition - Warren Middle School administration acknowledged the awards received by their students.

● Excellence in Education Recognition - Each principal introduced and honored their 2019-2020 Excellence in Education winner:

❏ Middle School - Myranda Shimko

❏ Angelo L. Tomaso School - Michelle Wegener

❏ Central School - Julie Jagiello

❏ Mt. Horeb School - Carol Kierstead

❏ Woodland School - Karen Sutherland

Mr. Bellmann congratulated each of the honored staff and students.

IX. Discussion

N/A

X. Committee Reports

● Curriculum/Communications & Technology Committee - Mrs. Taylor reported on the meeting held this evening at which summer curriculum reviews, teacher evaluation tools and the role of the Curriculum/Communications Committee regarding the district’s equity goals were discussed.

● Personnel/Negotiations Committee - Mr. Franco reported on the Memorandum of Agreement reached with WTEA. The WTEA is slated to vote this week.

● Return to School Ad Hoc - Dr. Mingle reported on the publication of the dashboard and work underway by the various committees.

XI. Public Commentary (agenda items only)

Note on public input at BOE meetings: Board Policy #0167, adopted on June 18, 2018, provides for 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, address, and group affiliation, if applicable;
Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes’ duration. If necessary, the public comment portion of the meeting may be extended fifteen minutes with Board approval;
No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard;
All statements, questions, or inquiries shall be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another Board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question, or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer on behalf of the Board;

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. Breeze honored Mrs. Psak on her retirement (motion C.3.).

Mrs. Zohn asked to discuss motion A.4.

Mrs. Chu asked that motion B.1. be pulled for separate vote.

The board discussed the proposed goal for the Return of School Ad Hoc committee.

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio, the consent items A.1., through A.6., B.2., through B.12., and C.1. through C.10., were approved by a 9-0 roll-call vote.

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio, the consent item B.1., was approved by a 8-0-1 roll-call vote. (Mrs. Chu abstained.)

The Superintendent recommends that it be:

A. Education

A.1. HIB Report

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the HIB Report submitted by the Superintendent for the period ending on May 11, 2020.

A.2. Tuition Contract

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a tuition contract with the Long Hill Township School District, for Student #7569754700 to attend Warren Township School District’s 2020-2021 LLD program at Middle School, this motion supersedes the April 13, 2020 motion, with tuition rates as follows:

School Year

Amount

Extended School Year 2020

$ 3,450

Regular School Year

(9/1/2020 through 6/30/2021)

$92,669

A.3. Strategic Plan - 2020-2025

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Strategic Plan for

2020-2025.

A.4. Ad Hoc Return to School Committee Goal - 2020-2021

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following goal for the

Ad Hoc Return to School Committee for the 2020-2021 school year:

● Represent the Board in the Return to School process.

A.5. Tuition Contract

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a tuition contract with the

parents of Student #6177416312 for attendance at Mt. Horeb School, effective September 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, at a monthly cost of $416.20.

A.6 Out of District Placements 2020-2021

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the 2020-2021 Out of District placement list dated June 8, 2020.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Payment of Bills

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the period May 12, 2020 through May 31,2020 in the amount of $3,791,951.69.

B.2. Approval of Title III Consortium

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the district’s participation in a Title III consortium to be led by the South Bound Brook Board of Education.

B.3. Approval of Alyssa’s Law Grant Submission

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application submission for the Alyssa’s Law grant, for which the district’s allocation is $88,259.

B.4. Application and Acceptance of Federal Grant Monies - IDEA

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application submission

to the Department of Education and accepts the award itself for the following 2020-2021 Federal Grant Programs:

● IDEA Basic $ 418,153

● IDEA PreSchool $ 16,198

B.5. Submission of Amendment for Federal Grant Monies

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the submission to the Department of Education of an amendment to the application for 2019-2020 ESEA Federal Grant Program as follows:

● Title I

● Title III

● Title IV

B.6. Application and Acceptance of Federal Grant Monies - ESEA

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application submission

to the Department of Education and acceptance of the following 2020-2021 Federal Grant Programs:

● Title I $ 50,965

● Title IIA $ 24,122

● Title IV $ 10,000

B.7. Approval of CARES Grant Submission

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application submission

of the CARES grant, for which the district’s allocation is $40,751. Grant monies to be applied to support of the district’s Extended School Year.

B.8. Joint Transportation Agreements

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education authorizes Joint Transportation Agreements for the 2020-2021 school year as follows:

● Educational Services Commission of New Jersey-administrative fee of 6%.

B.9. Acceptance of Grant Award - Reallocation of Grant Monies

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the reallocation of Grant Monies from the Municipal Youth Services Commission totaling $12,124:

a. Diversity Club - $2,676

b. SAVE Promise Club - $2,576

c. Boys Council - $3,436

d. Girls Circle - Middle School - $807

e. Girls Circle - ALT - $1,649

f. Girls Circle - Woodland - $980

A total of $3,663 will be rolled over to the 2020-2021 School Year.

(This motion supersedes previous motion from October 7, 2019.)

B.10. Approval of Bus Purchase

RESOLVED that the Board of Education approves the purchase of a 24 passenger school bus from Van Con, at a cost of $56,490.33. Purchase is through Educational Services Commission of NJ cooperative purchasing bid #ESCNJ 19/20-22.

B.11. Bid Threshold Increase

WHEREAS, Patricia Leonhardt, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary possesses a Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA) certificate;

WHEREAS, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Governor and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:34-7, and N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3 (b), has increased the bid threshold amount for school districts with a Qualified Purchasing Agent , from $40,000 to $44,000, effective July 1, 2020;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Warren Township Board of Education, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3 (a) and N.J.A.C. 5:34-5.4, establishes and sets the bid threshold amount of $44,000 for the Board of Education, and further authorizes Patricia Leonhardt,the Qualified Purchasing Agent, to award contracts, in full accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3 (a), for those purchases that do not exceed in the aggregate of the newly established bid threshold amount.

B.12. Technology Purchasing 2020-2021

RESOLVED that the Board of Education approves the following purchasing from SHI:

● Fortinet Switches, Firewalls, Controllers and Service Contracts - $59,758.44.

Purchasing partly supported (20%) by USAC’s E-Rate Category 2 program financing.

Purchasing through district’s participation in the NJSBA Cooperative Purchasing system (as part of the district’s ACES membership) under bid E-8801-ACESCPS.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Employment for the 2020-2021 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 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., if applicable Staff members shall be paid in accordance with provisions in their collective bargaining agreement and/or in accordance with a schedule provided to all employees prior to the beginning of the contract or school year. Salary to be adjusted based on the new WTEA contract.

Name	Position/PCR	Location	Degree	Step	Salary	Effective Date	Tenure	Discussion
Sarah Caldwell	Grade 5 Teacher 02-30-22/am	CS	MA	1	$64,064	8/31/2020 - 6/30/2021	N	To replace employee #2691
Kristin Casorio	Grade 3 Teacher 02-50-22/bgo	WS	BA+15	1	$61,152	8/31/2020 - 6/30/2021	N	New Position
Erica Jeffers	Special Education Teacher 02-30-19/bcj	CS	MA+30	16	$82,446	8/31/2020 - 6/30/2021	N	To replace employee #0390
Rebecca Leshchinsky	Grade 3 Leave Replacement	ALT	BA+15	1	$61,152	8/31/2020 - 3/1/2021	N	To replace employee #2414
Christina Mancino	Leave Replacement Grade 1 Teacher	CS	MA	1	$64,064	8/31/2020 - 6/30/2021	N	To replace employee #2693
Aditi Patel	Special Education Teacher 02-40-19/bid	ALT	MA	5	$68,019	8/31/2020 - 6/30/2021	N	New Position
Shannon Reis	Special Education Teacher 02-50-19/bct	WS	BA+15	4	$63,861	8/31/2020 - 6/30/2021	N	To replace employee #0633
Janine Pasquale	Leave Replacement Special Education Teacher	CS	MA	4	$66,902	8/31/2020 - 1/29/2021	N	To replace employee #2693

C.2. After School Activities/Clubs

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following:

Name

Club

Location

Sessions

Cost

Cheryl Plager

Animal Planet (Kindergarten)

ALT

$735

Kristina Traynor

Hannah Nizri

(replaces motion of 9/16/2019)

Book Buddies

$735

C.3. Retirement/Resignation

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the retirement/resignations

of the following staff:

Name

Position

Location

Retirement/

Resignation

Dates of Service

Jeffrey Sutherland

Physical Education Teacher

02-33-22/amo

WMS

Resignation

6/13/2006 - 6/30/2020

MaryLou Psak

Reading Recovery Teacher

02-30-22/amj

Retirement

9/1/2002 - 6/30/2020

C.4. Transfer/Change in Assignment

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the transfer/change in

assignment of the following district staff:

Name	Effective Date	From	To
Andrew Ahimovic	8/31//2020 - 6/30/2021	Physical Education Teacher MH 02-35-22/aab	Physical Education Teacher WMS 02-33-22/amo
Timothy Fabiano	8/31//2020 - 6/30/2021	0.4 Physical Education Teacher WMS 02-33-22/biu $24,460	1.0 Physical Education Teacher WMS 02-33-22/ail $61,152
Rebecca Sutherland	8/31/2020 - 6/30/2021	Grade 5 Teacher CS 02-30-22/ami	Special Education Teacher CS 02-30-19/app
Priscilla Bledsoe	6/17/2020 - 6/30/2021	Bus Driver Transportation 12-00-24/agw $26,725	Evening Custodian WMS 04-33-10/axk $40,000

C.5. Approval to Create Position

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the creation of the following positions for 2020-2021 school year:

Location

Position

Full-Time Equivalent

ALT

Special Education Teacher

02-40-19/bid

1.0

C.6. Summer Employees

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the list of summer employees for both the Buildings and Grounds, Transportation and Technology Departments, dated June 2, 2020.

C.7. Return to School Committee Stipends

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the list of stipends for

10-month employees’ service on Return to School Committees during the

months of July and August.

C.8. Approval of Title III - Extended Day Tutor 2020

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the appointment of the following staff members as Title III - Extended Day Tutors, to be paid at the contractual rate of $50 per hour. Total cost dependent upon the needs of identified ELL students at a total cost not to exceed $5,200.00.

(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved February 24, 2020.)

Name

Mary Sfiris

Lauren Valera

Paula Williams

C.9. Summer Work - Special Services Department

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves district staff to conduct summer evaluations, therapy hours (in-district), scheduling and IEP meetings, per the list dated May 26, 2020, at a cost not to exceed $70,556.

C.10. Warren Middle School Staff Additional Hours

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Middle School staff to work three extra days after June 16, 2020 but prior to June 30, 2020, at the employee’s per diem rate:

a. Midge Johnson, Guidance Counselor - $458.97 per day, not to exceed $1,376.91

b. Helen Scully, Guidance Counselor - $453.10 per day, not to exceed $1,359.30.

c. Lauren Systo, Guidance Counselor - $384.59 per day, not to exceed $1,153.77.

XIII. Unfinished Business

N/A

XIV. New Business

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, address, and group affiliation, if applicable;
Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes’ duration. If necessary, the public comment portion of the meeting may be extended fifteen minutes with Board approval;
No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard;
All statements, questions, or inquiries shall be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another Board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question, or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer on behalf of the Board;

XVI. Executive Session

● At 7:45 p.m. Mrs. Zohn 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:

pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation and/or matters of attorney-client privilege

Action may be taken upon return to public session;

the length of the meeting is anticipated to be approximately 10 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 Mrs. DiMaggio and approved by unanimous voice vote.

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio, the Board reconvened in open session at 8:24 p.m.

XVII. Return to Open Session

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mrs. DiMaggio, the consent item B.13., was approved by a 5-2-2 roll-call vote. (Mr. Bisci and Mr. Franco voted no. Mr. Bellish and Mr. Brezee abstained.)

B.13. Approval of Addendum for Dealaman Transportation Contract(s)

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the addendum to the 2019-2020 and potentially 2020-2021 transportation contract(s) with Fred Dealaman Bus Services, Ltd. (This motion supersedes motion B.12 on the board’s May 11, 2020 agenda.)

XVIII. Executive Session

● At 8:26 p.m. Mrs. Zohn 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 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 Mrs. DiMaggio and approved by unanimous voice vote.

Dr. Mingle and Mrs. Leonhardt left the meeting at 8:26 p.m.

Mrs. DiMaggio left the meeting at 9:57 p.m.

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mr. Brezee, the Board reconvened in open session at 10:01 p.m.

XIX. Adjourn

On motion by Mrs. Zohn, seconded by Mr. Franco, the meeting was adjourned at 10:02 p.m.

Minutes submitted by,

Patricia Leonhardt

Board Secretary

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