Minutes for February 27, 2006History icon Archived Minutes

Skip Navigation

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 7:02 p.m. by Board of Education President, Mrs. Voorhees.  .
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.

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

III. ROLL CALL   

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

Absent:  John Henschel, Roberta Monahan, Dr. Ellen Zimmerman

Also Present:  Dr. James Crisfield, Superintendent, Peter Daquila, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary and members of the public & press  

IV.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES  Mrs. Coley moved the following.

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes of the following meetings as amended and distributed:

February 13, 2006: Open Session
February 13, 2006: Closed Session

The motion was seconded by Mr. Fallon and approved by 6-0 voice vote.

V.  CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION

  • Construction Update – Mr. Daquila reported on the following:
    Warren Middle School
    Construction has started and is ahead of schedule.  The goal is to complete the front bathrooms by April 7th and start the back bathrooms the week of Spring Break.

    Central School
    Floor is 95% complete.  Casework installation started on February 27th and should be finished in 2-3 days.  There is some other work to be done including painting, punch list items, and inspections prior to occupancy.  March 1st occupancy won’t happen.  Hopeful for April.  There is also work to be done by board employees once the construction finishes.

 VI.  PRESIDENT’S REMARKS
Mrs. Voorhees expressed her compliments to the professional development committee.  The County recognized Warren as being excellent in professional development.

VII. PRESENTATION -Kelsey Conway - Second Place Winner in NJAGC Writing Contest
Kelsey Conway read her poem "Autumn” and was resented an award from the Board.

VIII.  COMMITTEE REPORTS
None

IX.    PUBLIC COMMENTARY
None

X. DISCUSSION

PTO Fundraising (Attachment 1)
Dr. Crisfield spoke about the PTO fund raising issues per attachment 1. 
Mrs. Voorhees clarified Board supported functions.
  Category A – items off limits to raising additional funds.
  Category B – student produced items.
  Usually this is a group project and not individually produced items. Mt. Horeb parent Francesca Alfano stated that projects are prepared by the class to be auctioned off.
  Category B #2 student group work moved to Category D.
  Category B #1 moves to Category A – student’s individual work.
  Category C  raffle or auction creates a big difference. Raffles are preferred method to provide an equal chance.  Sale of tickets will be open.   
  Category D  hands off approach from board.  PTO responsibility.
  The difference between C & D is student involvement vs. adult only.

XI.    ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION/ACTION (CONSENT AGENDA)
Mrs. Coley moved, and Mr. Fallon seconded the following as a consent agenda.  The consent agenda was approved by unanimous role-call vote.  Item D.1 was tabled.

A. Education

A.1.  Douglass Outreach at Rutgers University ABLLS Training Contract
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a contract with Douglass Outreach at Rutgers University to provide three hours of the ABLLS training effective from February 3, 2006 though June 30, 2006 at a cost to the district of $360 (plus travel miles and tolls).  Additional services will be billed at an hourly rate of $120.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1.  Payment of Bills (Attachment 2)
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for February 2006 (Check Numbers 021039-021259) in the amount of $3,017,526.05.

B.2.  Budget Transfers for Month of January 2006
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:

TO FROM  
     

Tuition--Other LEAs

BSI SALARIES

3,600.00

Tuition-Private(Reg Yr)

Tuition-Private (Ext. Yr)

348.00

Tuition-Private(Reg Yr)

BSI SALARIES

3,652.00

EXT. SERV.-PURCH. PROF. SERV.

BSI SALARIES

3,000.00

CHILD STUDY TEAM SALARIES

GUIDANCE SALARIES

1,500.00

CHILD STUDY TEAM SALARIES

Library Para Salaries

4,500.00

CHILD STUDY TEAM SALARIES

LLD TEACHER SALARIES

1,700.00

PURCH. PROF. SVCS.

Other Purch Servs

4,000.00

BUS OFF PURCH TECH SRVC

MISC PURCH SRV (400 500) BUS

800.00

SUPPLIES-TRANS.

TRANSPORTATION OTHER OBJECTS

700.00

OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

HEALTH BENEFITS

4,000.00

RC TEACHER SALARIES

RC AIDE SALARIES

3,400.00

RC TEACHER SALARIES

BSI SALARIES

1,900.00

PSD SUPPLIES

PSD-PURCH. PROF/ED SERV.

100.00

STAFF TRAINING SALARIES

STAFF TRAINING--PURCH. SERV.

4,500.00

Guidance Supplies-Middle

Instructional Supplies--Middle

100.00

Maint Repairs-Central

Maint Supplies-Central

400.00

Grades 1-5 Salaries

Kindergarten Salaries

39,000.00
   

77,200.00

B.3.  Board Secretary's and Treasurer's Report (Attachment 3)
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the attached report of the secretary for the month of December 2005, and

WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on January 31, 2006:

FUND

CASH BALANCE

APPROPRIATION BALANCE

FUND BALANCE

(10) General Current Expense Fund

$1,951,268.02

 

$678,873.29

 (11) Current  Expense

  

$1,301,244.04

 

 (12) Capital Outlay

  

$109,519.02

 

 (13) Special Schools

  

$809.43

 

Capital Reserve

    

$110,897.79

(20) Special Revenue Fund

($262,553.03)

$46,896.87

$0.00

(30) Capital Projects Fund

$723,617.49

$700,450.35

$227,005.47

(40) Debt Service Fund

$636,461.93

$0.50

$0.68

TOTAL

$3,048,794.41

$2,158,920.21

$1,016,777.23

WHEREAS, in compliance with N.J.A.C.6:20-2A(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 reference 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 over expended 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.4.  Ratification of Special Revenue Program Applications
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education appropriately ratifies the following report(s) that were filed on its behalf and inappropriately approved 10/10/05:
IDEIA 2005-2006 Preschool:   $ 22,089
IDEIA 2005-2006 Basic: 461,375

B.5.  William Schmeisser Memorial Donation
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the acceptance of a donation in the amount of $816 from various donors to purchase research materials for the Warren Middle School Library in memory of William Schmeisser.

B.9.  NCLB 2006 Title III Supplemental Allocation
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the No Child Left Behind Title III, Part A, Supplemental Allocation in the amount of $870 for the fiscal year 2006.  The original NCLB application will be amended to reflect this amount.

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1.  Employment for the 2005-2006 School Year (Attachment 4)
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves 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 Perry, Classroom Paraprofessional, Central School, step 3, 17.5 hours per week, effective March 1, 20 06 through June 30, 2006.
b) Michael McCans, Substitute Custodian, Buildings and Grounds, $14 per hour, effective March 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006 on an as needed basis.

C.2.  Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the Family Leave request:

a) Joan Toth, Special Education Teacher, Woodland School, Family Leave (unpaid with benefits) from September 7, 2006 through December 6, 2006.   Child Care Leave will commence December 7, 2006 through June 30, 2007 (unpaid no benefits).  Returning September 1, 2007.
b) Heather Saum, Grade 8 Language Arts Teacher, Middle School, Family Leave (unpaid with benefits) from May 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006.  Returning September 1, 2006.

C.3.  Technology After School Workshops For Staff Members - Spring 2006
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the following teachers to be paid for teaching Technology Workshops in the Spring of 2006 as follows:
a) Lynn Alger, up to 10 hours cost of $300 to the district.
b) Susan Lewis, up to 10 hours cost of $300 to the district

C.4.  Amendment on Salary Guide
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following amendment on the teachers' negotiated salary guide effective February 1, 2006:
a) Vivien Plesmid from BA+15 to MA (remaining at step 3)

C.5.  Resignation (Attachment 5)

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the resignation of:
a) Natalie Lyons, LDTC, Central School, effective June 30, 2006.  (Mrs. Lyons is currently on Family Leave.)

C.6.  Change of Assignment
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the change of assignment for Christine Burkhardt from Classroom Paraprofessional, Angelo L. Tomaso School to Long Term Teacher Substitute, Angelo L. Tomaso School, effective April 17, 2006 through June 30, 2006.  All other terms and conditions of employment will apply.

C.7.  Per Diem Deduct Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves per diem deduct request for:
a) Meghan Haldeman, Grade 3 Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, for one day, February 16, 2006.

D. Policy

D.1.  REMOVED until a later date
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the attached revised Policy 5141.7 Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

XI.    Public Commentary
Francesca Alfano clarified the comment that front row seats can not be raffled for student functions such as school plays.
Kathy Winter thanked that PTO’s for their support for the bicentennial parade.

XII.   Old Business
None

XIII.  New Business
Mr. Wilpon verified that the Superintendent’s and B.A.’s evaluation will de done prior to board change. 
Mrs. Voorhees spoke regarding the Board attending the Bagel/Budget meetings.  Mrs. Voorhees, Mrs. Margie Bultman, and Mr. Daquila will be at all nine meetings.  Any other board members are welcome to attend. E-mail Mrs. Voorhees so she can coordinate board presence at PTO meetings.
Mr. Fallon suggested obtaining the voter list from the referendum and targeting their group to support the budget on April 18, 2006.
Mrs. Voorhees received a call from the WHRHS PTO president asking to join forces for budget support.  This idea will be passed directly to PTOs.  
• 2006-2007 Budget Update
CPI is 4.04% with out waivers.
The governor is to speak on March 21st .
Finance committee to meet on Thursday to discuss issues so that a 2nd version can be started. 
Wednesday night Warren Middle School will host the all Middle School band night.
Middle school is selling Macys fund raising cards.

XIV.  EXECUTIVE SESSION:  

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:
1)   a matter rendered confidential by federal or state law
2)   pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation and/or matters of attorney-client privilege
3)   a matter in which release of information would impair the right to receive government funds
4)   material the disclosure of which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of individual privacy
5)   a collective bargaining agreement and/or negotiations related to it
6)   a matter involving the purchase, lease, or acquisition of real property with public funds
7)   protection of public safety and property and/or investigations of possible violations or violations of law
8)   specific prospective or current employees unless all who could be adversely affected request an open session
9)   deliberation after a public hearing that could result in a civil penalty or other loss

and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, the minutes of this closed session be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists.

XV.   ADJOURNMENT:  On motion by Mrs. Spiller and seconded by Mr. Fallon the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Minutes recorded by:
Peter Daquila, Board Secretary