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MINUTES – REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING
Monday, October 10, 2005
7:00 p.m.

A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day in the Board of Education Administration Building, Mt. Horeb Road. The following is a record of that meeting.

I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Board of Education President

 Gina Voorhees.

II. OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT – Mrs. Voorhees read the following statement:

In accordance with the provisions New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law, the Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be posted in the Board Office and in the Township Office, mailed to the Courier News and Echoes Sentinel, and filed with the Clerk of the Township of Warren.

III.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mrs. Voorhees led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

IV.  ROLL CALL 

Present: Pamela Coley, Peter Fallon, Roberta Monahan, Mildred Spiller,   Gina Voorhees, Jay Wilpon, Kathleen Winter

Absent: John Henschel, Dr. Ellen Zimmerman

Also Present: Steve Gillingham, interim school business administrator/board secretary, & four members of the public

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES   Mrs. Monahan moved the following.

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes of the meeting of September 26, 2005 as printed and distributed.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Winter and approved by unanimous voice vote

Mr. Henschel and Dr. Zimmerman arrived and were marked present.

 VI. PRESENTATION -  Sondra Markman, Curriculum Supervisor and  Sarah Savary, World  Language Coordinator, made a presentation on Assessment of the World Language program   

VII. CORRESPONDENCE & INFORMATION - The Board received the following report:

· Fire Drills

ALT	Central	Mt. Horeb	Woodland	Middle
September 9, 23	September 12, 27	September 24, 23	September 9, 23	September 16, 23

VIII. DISCUSSION- The board secretary, standing in for the superintendent, made a presentation and the Board conducted public hearings on the following items:

• Annual Violence and Vandalism Report: Three incident reports were filed during the 2004-2005 school year. There was no public comment.
• Assignment Plan for Certified and Non-Certified School Nurses 2005-2006: There was no public comment on the plan which had been approved by the school medical inspector.

 IX. PUBLIC COMMENTARY – Two members of the public engaged board members in a conversation about school costs, taxes, and public information.

X. ACTION ITEMS

CONSENT AGENDA: Mrs.  Coley moved the following:

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the following:

A. Education

A.1. Violence and Vandalism Report
Approve the Violence and Vandalism Report for the 2004-2005 school year.

A.2. Assignment Plan for Certified and Non-Certified School Nurses 2005-2006
Approve the Assignment Plan for Certified and Non-Certified School Nurses for the 2005-2006 school year.

A.3. Amended Out of District Related Services
Approve Morris Union Jointure to provide Adaptive Physical Education Classes for one day and one hour per week for the 2005-2006 school year at an annual cost to the district of $31,730 (not per month as approved September 26, 2005).

A.4. District Mentoring Plan
Approve the District Mentoring Plan for the 2005-2006 school year.

A.5. Related Services
Approve three students (ID#0120540, ID#0120295, and ID#0120350) to receive one hour each per month of home programming for the 2005-2006 school year provided by Carol Keirstead at a cost to the district of $605 and by Tara Waldron at a cost to the district of $1,210.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Special Revenue Program Reports
RESOLVED the Board of Education acknowledges the following report(s) which have been filed on its behalf:
Report of Nonpublic Auxiliary & Handicapped Services for 2004-2005:  (Services provided to three students)

B.2. Special Revenue Program Applications
RESOLVED the Board of Education authorizes the following report(s) to be filed on its behalf:

  IDEIA 2005-2006: Preschool:    $    22,089
  IDEIA 2005-2006: Basic:   461,375

B.3. Natural Gas Aggregation Program (ACES Cooperative Pricing System ID#E8801- ACESCPS)
WHEREAS, the Alliance For Competitive Energy Services (hereinafter referred to as “ACES”), an alliance composed of the New Jersey School Boards Association (hereinafter referred to as “NJSBA”), the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, will from time to time during the Effective Period as defined below solicit bids from natural gas suppliers for retail natural gas supply services including interstate transportation to the local natural gas distribution utility company (Natural Gas Supply Services) through an energy aggregation program in which NJSBA will act as Lead Agency of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System #E8801-ACESCPS in accordance with the “Public School Contracts Law”, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et seq., and  the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act, N.J.S.A. 48:3-49 et seq. (“EDECA”) and the regulations promulgated there under; and

WHEREAS, the Warren Township Public Schools is a participating member of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System and is eligible thereby to obtain Natural Gas Supply Services for its own use through one or more contracts to be awarded to natural gas suppliers following said bids for Natural Gas Supply Services pursuant to the aggregation program; and

WHEREAS, the Lead Agency will from time to time during the Effective Period (from date of adoption through May, 2009, hereinafter referred to as “Effective Period”) issue one or more Requests for Bids for Natural Gas Supply Services on behalf of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System pursuant to the Public School Contracts Law and EDECA; and

WHEREAS, due to significant volatility and the potential for price increases in the wholesale natural gas market, Participating Members will preauthorize the Lead Agency to award contracts for Natural Gas Supply Service for no more than two years at a time in each service territory to one or more natural gas suppliers that submit bids which are reasonably forecasted to provide estimated savings to the Participating Member based upon its previous natural gas usage and utility provided Basic Gas Supply Service rates; and 

WHEREAS, the Lead Agency will only award contracts for said Natural Gas Supply Services to natural gas suppliers that submit bids with pricing reasonably estimated to be lower than the utility-provided basic gas supply service; and

WHEREAS, the District agrees to purchase all Natural Gas Supply Services for its own use during the Effective Period through any natural gas supplier(s) awarded a contract, it being understood that the term of any one contract shall not exceed two-years; and

WHEREAS, the Lead Agency will notify the Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services by mail prior to the issuance a Request for Bids for Natural Gas Supply Services, with the understanding that if the Division of Local Government Services does not respond within 10 business days, it will be deemed to have approved the issuance of the Request for Bids or the Request for Rebids., now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the District binds itself to the ACES Cooperative Pricing System ##E8801-ACESCPS to purchase all Natural Gas Supply Services needed for its own use during the Effective Period from the natural gas supplier or suppliers awarded a contract for Natural Gas Supply Services by the Lead Agency; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lead Agency of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System is hereby authorized to execute a master performance agreement that obligates the district to purchase Natural Gas Supply Services at the terms and conditions stated therein with a third-party supplier or suppliers who have been awarded the contract or contracts by the Lead Agency on behalf of the participating members of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System #E8801-ACESCPS (or any CPS number to be assigned in the future), provided that no single contract shall have a term exceeding two years, and provided further that all such contracts shall be at prices reasonably forecast and estimated by the Lead Agency to provide savings to the Districts relative to the price charged for basic gas supply service by the natural gas public utility that would otherwise provide such service; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that ACES is authorized to continue to bid to obtain Natural Gas Supply Services at any time during the Effective Period on behalf of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System including, for example, a rebid if energy market conditions do not initially lead to a successful bid, on additional dates to be determined by the Lead Agency; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage.  The authorization provided to the NJSBA pursuant to the Local Public Contracts Laws (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-11(5)), and the Local Public and Public School Contracts Laws Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 5:34-7.1 et seq.) shall be valid until May, 2009 (the Effective Period) at which time the Cooperative Pricing System will be subject to renewal.  Any rescission of this resolution shall not affect any Natural Gas Supply Services contract entered into prior to such rescission.

B.4. Reports of the Board Secretary and Treasurer  

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the reports of the secretary and treasurer for the month of August 2005, and

WHEREAS, this reports show the following balances on August 31, 2005:

	Name	Proposed Amount
Financial Advisor	Phoenix Advisors, LLC	$4,500
Bond Counsel	Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione P.C.	14,000
Local Attorney	Lindabury, McCormick & Estabrook	2,500
Verification Agent	To be named	3,500
Auditor	Dickinson, Vrabel & Cassells	8,000
Underwriter	Roosevelt & Cross	28,951.25
Underwriter’s Counsel	McManimon & Scotland	3,000
Escrow Agent	To be named	3,000
Other Bond Expenses	Printer	2,500
	Ratings	7,500
	Miscellaneous	1,000
	Total Issuance Costs	36,500 73,951.25

    and

WHEREAS, in compliance with N.J.A.C.6:20-2A.10(d) 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 referenced reports and certifications and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, in compliance with N.J.A.C.6:20-2A.10(e), 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 overextended in violation of N.J.A.C.6:20-2A.10(a)(1), and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s financial obligations for the remainder of the year.

B.5. Budget Transfers

RESOLVED, the Board of Education ratifies the following transfers between budget line items that have been approved by the Superintendent of Schools and reported to them pursuant to Policy 3160:

From	Amount	To	Amount
11-000-100-562-08-01 Tuition--Other LEAs (Reg Year)			6,456.00
11-000-100-566-08-01 Tuition--Private (Reg. Year)			90,620.00
11-000-213-600-04-00 HEALTH SUPPLIES MT HOREB			65.96
11-000-100-562-08-02 Tuition Other LEAs (Ext. Year)	10,453.70
11-000-100-566-08-02 Tuition--Private (Ext. Year)	23,880.40
11-000-217-320-08-00 EXT. SERV.-PURCH. PROF.SERV.	39,307.86
11-000-261-420-09-04 Maint. Repairs--Mt. Horeb	3,000.00
11-000-261-420-09-05 Maint. Repairs—ALT	6,000.00
11-000-261-420-09-06 Maint. Repairs—Woodland	3,000.00
11-000-261-420-09-07 Maint. Repairs—Middle	6,000.00
11-204-100-610-08-00 LLD SUPPLIES	500.00
11-204-100-640-08-00 LLD TEXTBOOKS	1,000.00
11-213-100-101-00-00 RC TEACHER SALARIES	1,500.00
11-215-100-610-08-00 PSD SUPPLIES	500.00
11-230-100-600-05-00 LEAP/RR SUPPLIES-ALT	600.00
11-230-100-600-06-00 LEAP/RR SUPPLIES-WOODLAND	600.00
11-240-100-610-08-00 BILINGUAL SUPPLIES	800.00
11-000-222-580-11-02 Travel	100.00	11-000-222-500-11-01 Other Purch. Serv. (Internet)	100.00
11-000-230-339-01-00 PURCH. PROF. SERVICES	1,180.00	11-000-230-440-00-00 Lease-Purchases—Copiers	1,180.00
11-000-230-339-01-00 PURCH. PROF. SERVICES	1,720.00	11-000-230-895-01-02 BOE MEMBER DUES & FEES	1,720.00
11-000-270-515-10-00 CONTRACTED-SPEC. ED. JOINTURE	13,050.00	11-000-270-511-10-71 CONTRACTED-REG. PUBLIC-VENDOR	13,050.00
11-190-100-610-06-10 Instructional Supplies—Wood	720.00	11-190-100-640-06-00 TEXTBOOKS WOODLAND	720.00
11-190-100-640-05-00 TEXTBOOKS A L TOMASO	3,060.64	11-190-100-610-05-10 Instructional Supplies—ALT	3,060.64
13-422-100-101-00-00 SUMMER SCHOOL SALARIES	5,200.00	13-422-100-106-00-00 SUMMER SCHOOL CLASSROOM AIDES	5,200.00
13-422-100-101-00-00 SUMMER SCHOOL SALARIES	50.00	13-422-200-100-00-00 SUMMER SECRETARY SALARIES	50.00
TOTAL	122,222.60	TOTAL	122,222.60

B.6. Payment of Bills
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves payment of checks numbered    020062, 020081-020096, 020101-020150 in the total amount of $1,082,125.45.

B.7. Reading Recovery Technical Support Contract
Approve the use of the New Jersey Reading Recovery Network for technical support for the five Warren teachers listed throughout the 2005-2006 school year at a cost of $3,250: Nancy Braunstein, Margie Bultman, Denise Kennedy, Fran Perlman, MaryLou Psak

B.8. Transportation Contracts for Out of District Students
Approve the transportation contracts for Out of District Students with Green Brook, Morris Union Jointure Commission, and Somerset County Education Services Commission for the 2005-2006 school year as follows:

CONTRACTOR	Student ID #	SCHOOL	COST
Green Brook BOE	23	Midland School, North Branch
Green Brook BOE	298	Midland School, North Branch	$10,699.20
Green Brook BOE	120349	Douglas Develop LC, New Brunswick	$8,775.00
MUJC	120097	Montgomery Academy, Gladstone
MUJC	120037	Montgomery Academy, Gladstone	$49,611.73
MUJC	527	Calais School, Whippany	$24,445.63
MUJC	120002	DLC-New Providence
MUJC	120003	DLC-New Providence	$33,277.97
SCESC	220	ECLC, Chatham
SCESC	374	ECLC, Chatham	$13,672.00
SCESC	153	Craig School, Mountain Lakes	$19,507.00
SCESC	120483	DLC-Union	$27,972.00
		TOTAL COST TO DISTRICT	$154,682.56

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1. Employment for the 2005-2006 School Year
Approve the application for emergent hiring for the following positions for the 2005-2006 school year under the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:16-1 et seq., N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 et seq., and N.J.S.A. 6-4.14 et seq., as listed below:
a) Donna Bardy, Classroom Paraprofessional, Angelo L. Tomaso School, step 3, 32.5 hours per week, effective October 18, 2005 through June 30, 2006.

C.2. Employment of School Business Administrator/Board Secretary
Approve Peter Daquila as School Business Administrator/Board Secretary effective January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006 per the terms and conditions of the employment contract.

C.3. Advancement on Salary Guide
Approve the following Advancement on the teachers negotiated salary guide effective September 1, 2005:
a) Megan O'Donnell to BA+15

C.4. Substitute Teachers
Approve the following Substitute Teachers for the 2005-2006 school year:
a) Kimberly Annette
b) Susan Bennet
c) Concetta D'Angelo

C.5. 2005-2006 Stipend Positions
Approve the following stipend positions, at the negotiated contract rate, for the 2005-2006 school year:

Warren Middle School

Basketball Coach (Boys)  Sean Mealey
Basketball Coach (Girls)     Josh Funk
Baseball Coach   Sean Mealey
Softball Coach   Amanda Rodrigues
Track Coach Jim Frascella
Track Coach Carolyn McCloskey
Peer Leaders (Class II) Susan Cooper
Peer Leaders (Class II) Robin Savage
Cheerleading     Mary Russo
Set Designer (Class II)  Doug MacGorman

C.6. After School Clubs
Approve the following after school clubs for the 2005-06 school year and the instructors for each club at the negotiated stipend rate.

Mt. Horeb School
a) Singing Club - Grade 3 - One hour, once per week, full year beginning October 6, 2005 through June 8, 2006, instructor will be Tim Nelson.
b) Singing Club - Grades 4-5 - One hour, once per week, full year beginning October 7, 2005 through June 9, 2006, instructor will be Tim Nelson.

Middle School
a) Christine Apicella, Middle School, as an additional instructor for Messing Around With Science Club.  (The Club was approved 9/12/05 - Due to a large enrollment a second teacher was needed.)

C.7. Change in Employment
Approve the change in employment for the following personnel:
a) Geraldine Vesey, from Classroom Paraprofessional to Special Education Teacher, Angelo L. Tomaso School, BA+15, step 2, effective October 24, 2005 through June 30, 2006.
b) Estelle Raucci, Bus Monitor, from hourly to contracted at an annual salary of $10,865 effective October 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.  (Mrs. Raucci is completing her 30 day probationary period.

D. Policy

D.1. Conduct and Discipline Policies 
Approve the repeal of Policy #5144 (per Attorney recommendation) and the adoption to Policy #5131.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Monahan and the above resolutions approved by unanimous roll call vote.

Refunding of Bonds – Mr. Wilpon moved the following:

RESOLVED the Board of Education amend the minutes of its meeting of July 25, 2005 to more clearly reflect its intent as follows:

Refunding of Bonds

RESOLVED, the Board of Education initiates a refunding of certain bonds from an issue sold in 1999 to finance additions and renovations to Warren Middle School and Mt. Horeb School by approving the following:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR CERTAIN LEGAL SERVICES appointing Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione P.C. as bond counsel (Attachment 1A)

RESOLUTION … MAKING APPLICATION TO THE LOCAL FINANCE BOARD PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A.18A:24-61 ET SEQ. AND APPROVING A REFUNDING SCHOOL BOND ORDINANCE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH (Attachment 1B)

FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Education introduces the attached Refunding Bond Ordinance (Attachment 1C) on first reading with the intention to conduct a public hearing on the ordinance and consider it for final adoption at its meeting of August 22, 2005, and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED the Board of Education amends the minutes of its meeting of August 22, 2005 to more clearly reflect its intent as follows:

Bond Refunding (Attachment 2)

The Board conducted a public hearing on the Refunding Bond Ordinance approved on first reading at the July 25, 2005 meeting The public voiced no opposition to the Board’s decision to the ordinance. 

Mr. Fallon proposed a delay of the vote on the Ordinance until the next public meeting to be held on September 12, 2005 and September 26, 2005.  The proposal was approved.

and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED the Board of Education:

1.     Approves the attached Refunding Bond Ordinance on second reading,

2.  Approves a contract in the amount of $4,500 with Phoenix Advisors, LLC, Bordentown, as financial advisor to assist the Board through the remainder of the bond refunding process.

3.  Approves the following modifications to the Proposed Issuance Costs contained in the application to the Local Finance Board to reflect the Board’s intention to negotiate a private placement of the refunding bonds

	Name	Proposed Amount
Financial Advisor	Phoenix Advisors, LLC	$4,500
Bond Counsel	Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione P.C.	14,000
Local Attorney	Lindabury, McCormick & Estabrook	2,500
Verification Agent	To be named	3,500
Auditor	Dickinson, Vrabel & Cassells	8,000
Underwriter	Roosevelt & Cross	28,951.25
Underwriter’s Counsel	McManimon & Scotland	3,000
Escrow Agent	To be named	3,000
Other Bond Expenses	Printer	2,500
	Ratings	7,500
	Miscellaneous	1,000
	Total Issuance Costs	36,500 73,951.25

    and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the attached

RESOLUTION … PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF NOT TO EXCEED $5,200,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SCHOOL REFUNDING BONDS, AND PROVIDING FOR THE FORM,, MATURITY DATES, AND OTHER DETAILS OF SAID SCHOOL REFUNDING BONDS, AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS TO DO ALL ACTS AND THINGS DEEMED NECESSARY AND ADVISABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE, SALE, AND DELIVERY OF SAID SCHOOL REUNDING BONDS

 Providing the projected difference between the old net debt service and new net debt service is or exceeds $150,000.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Henschel and the bond refunding actions approved by unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Henschel moved the following:

World Language Program Stipends

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approve Rita Brown, Shannon Parcells, and Nancy Becker to receive a stipend of $1,000 each as payment for their role of instructor in the Before School World Language Program at Woodland School after user fees sufficient to pay the salaries and associated costs of these instructors have been collected.

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Coley and the resolution approved by unanimous roll call vote.

XII  OLD BUSINESS

· Football field across the street from Warren Middle School: The Board discussed issues of safety, parking, and utilization associated with the plans for this field.

XIII. NEW BUSINESS – The Board discussed issues associated with the school budget and communication with the public.

XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION –  None

XV. ADJOURN – The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. 

Minutes recorded by:

Steve Gillingham, Secretary