Minutes for May 8, 2006History icon Archived Minutes

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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 7:04 p.m. by the Board President, Mrs. Coley. .

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT – Mrs. Coley 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. Coley led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. ROLL CALL
Present: Susan Burman, Pamela Coley, Roberta Monahan, Dr. Gregory Przybylski, Mildred Spiller, Patricia Toubin, Gina Voorhees, and Kathleen Winter
Absent: Dr. Ellen Zimmerman arrived at 7:25 p.m.
Also Present: Dr. James Crisfield, Superintendent, Peter Daquila, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, members of the press and public

IV. Minutes
Mrs. Burman moved the following:

RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes of the following meeting as distributed:
April 24, 2006 public and private session

The motion was seconded by Dr. Przybylski and approved by 8-0 voice vote.

V. Correspondence and Information

·Fire Drills - The superintendent reported the following fire drills had been held:

ALT

Central

Mt. Horeb

Woodland

Middle

April 7, 19

April 19, 25

April 19, 25

April 19, 27

April 20, 25

Construction Update
Middle School Toilets
Front bathrooms are finished and being used by the students. The work on the back bathrooms is progressing. The demolition has been competed and the contractor is progressing.

Central School
Electrical inspection is compete. There are a few minor items to be finished before the final building inspection can be scheduled. The outside work (top soil around building, concrete work and paving) should be competed at the end of this week.

VI. President's Remarks
Mrs. Coley reminded the board of the failed budget, indicating the town cut $600,000. The budget will be discussed later in the meeting.
Mrs. Coley presented Mrs. Voorhees a gift of thanks for being president last year.

VII. Committee Reports
Education Committee
Mrs. Voorhees requested she be emailed any education topics.

Communications Committee
Mrs. Spiller noted that the Communications Committee will need input from the entire board in order to be effective.

VIII Public Commentary
Mrs. Marie Mluzan, Middle School parent, expressed concerns about Middle School sports being cut from the budget.
Karlton Spiller expressed concerns about the various sports being eliminated from the budget and stated that sports are needed for many reasons to enrich the children.

IX. Presentation
Postponed to a future meeting.

X. ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION/ACTION (CONSENT AGENDA)
Dr. Zimmerman arrived at this point in the meeting (7:25 p.m.).
Prior to voting Mrs. Monahan corrected agenda item B.2 to read Watchung Hills Municipal Alliance.
Mrs. Winter asked for clarification on item B.3 as to scope of project work for the gymnasium.
Mrs. Spiller asked for additional information and clarification on the Basic Skills & Remedial Instruction policies.
Mrs. Spiller moved, and Mrs. Voorhees seconded the following as a consent agenda. The consent agenda was approved by unanimous role-call vote.

A. Education

A.1.CST In-Service Presenter for May 24, 2006
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves Dr. Natalie Elman as a presenter at the May 24th in-service day for the Child Study Team on the topic of social skills in the schools. Dr. Natalie Elman will receive $500.00 as compensation.

A.2.Summer Fun 2006 Program
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the Summer Fun 2006 Program as per the attached brochure to run from June 26, 2006 through July 27, 2006.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1.Donation of Defibrillator
RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts the donation of $1,000 from Mr. & Mrs. Patel and the Medicor Cardiology Group for the purchase of an automatic external defibrillator for the Mt. Horeb School.

B.2.Funding from the Municipal Alliance
RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts funding in the amount of $237 from the Watchung Hills Municipal Alliance, for a parent workshop and professional development to be held April 25, 2005.

B.3.Aware of Contract for Central School Gymnasium Renovation
WHEREAS, on May 4, 2006, the Board of Education received bids for the Central School Gymnasium renovation:
L.G. II Co., Inc., Cedar Grove, NJ $477,000
Grafas Painting Contractors, Millburn, NJ $458,000
Upon the Architects recommendation the bid was awarded to Grafas Painting Contractors.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education awards the contract for the Central School gymnasium renovation to Grafas Painting Contractors of Millburn, New Jersey in the amount of $458,000.

B.4.Amend USA Architects Hours Rates for the 2006-2007 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education amends the following hourly rates of Principal/Sr. Partner $175, Partner/Project Manager $150, Associate $120, Field Representative $115, Specifications Writer/Code Reviewer $110, Sr. Project Architect $105, Project Architect/Interior Designer $90, Architectural Designer $77, Draftsperson/CAD Production $66, Architectural Support/Clerical $60, Consulting Engineers cost to architects plus 10%.

B.5.Township of Warren Reduction of the 2006/2007 Warren Township School Budget
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Township of Warren Reduction of the 2006/2007 Warren Township School Budget
Where as, the legal voters of the township of Warren, Somerset County, defeated the proposed budget at the annual district election on April 18, 2006, and

Where as, representatives of the Township of Warren and the Warren Township Board of Education have met for the purpose of settling on the reduction of the budget and the tax levy, and

Where as, the Township of Warren has adopted and approved a resolution to reduce the Warren Township School 2006/2007 School Budget by $600,000.00, and

Where as, this will result in a reduction to the proposed total budget from the original amount of $36,116,431 to the revised total budget amount of $35,516,431, and

RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts and approves the reduction to the 2006/2007 Warren Township Budget to $35,516,431, and

RESOLVED, That the Board of Education will determine the specific line items of the 2006/2007 budget that will be reduced by a total of $600,000.00

C. Personnel/Student Services

C.1.Employment for the 2006-2007 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the application for emergent hiring for the following positions for the 2006-2007 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) Rebecca Olszyk, School Psychologist, Central and Middle Schools, MA+45, step 5, plus an additional stipend of $1,500 for her Doctorate, effective September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
b) Susan Sage, Art Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, MA+30, step 2, effective September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.

C.2.Appointment of Staff for the 2006-2007 School Year
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the attached list of staff (administrators, certified staff, WTEA support staff) for the 2006-2007 school year.

C.3.Appointment of 2005 Summer Fun Staff
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the attached list of Summer Fun staff effective June 26, 2006 through July 27, 2006 at the following rates of pay.
· Teachers - $30 per hour
· OT - $55 per hour
· Speech Therapist -$55 per hour
· Nurse - $30 per hour
· Paraprofessionals - up to $15 per hour
· Extended Day - up to $30 per hour
· After Care - up to $30 per hour

C.4.Amendment on Salary Guide

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following amendment on the teachers' negotiated salary guide effective April 1, 2006:
a) Carolann Monica from MA+30 to MA+45 (remaining at step 30).
b) Nancy de'Marsi from BA to BA+15 (remaining at step 4).

C.5.Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the Family Leave request for:

a) Leslie Ortega, Special Education Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, extend Child Care Leave (unpaid no benefits) from May 22, 2006 through January 1, 2007. Returning January 2, 2007.
b) Dana Baldari, Kindergarten Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, extend Child Care (unpaid no benefits) for the 2006-2007 school year. Returning September 1, 2007.

C.6.Resignations
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the resignation of:
a) Tancine Calderone, Speech Teacher, Mt. Horeb School, for the purpose of retirement, effective June 30, 2006.
b) Dina Lewis, Classroom Paraprofessional, Central School, effective June 30, 2006.

C.7.Per Diem Deduct Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves per diem deduct request for:
a) Debra Tlumacki, Paraprofessional, Middle School, for one day, May, 12, 2006
b) Janet DelNero, Classroom Paraprofessional, Central School, for one day April 28, 2006.
c) TyraLynn Ceccato, Kindergarten Teacher, Central School, for one day May 26, 2006.

C.8.Substitute Teachers
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Substitute Teachers for the 2005-2006 school year:
a) Rachana Kadikar
b) Keith McCloskey

C.9.Mt. Horeb Child Study Team Extra Paid Days
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a total of 6 extra paid days for the Mt. Horeb Child Study Team to be used by Michele Stein, Joan Darkenwald, and/or Amy Brunswick as needed. This is necessary for Kindergarten evaluations to be completed at the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

D. Policy

D.1.Policy 6142.6 - Basic Skills
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the first reading of minor changes to Policy 6142.6 - Basic Skills.

D.2.Policy 6171.1 - Remedial Instruction
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the first reading of minor changes to Policy 6171.1 - Remedial Instruction.

XI. Public Commentary
Marie Mluzan questioned the effect of the change on class size for reading as a result of the policy changes to Basic Skills and Remedial Instruction.

XII. Old Business
· 2006-2007 BOE Committees
Mrs. Coley discussed the committee assignment and corrections. Need to discuss & settle the Negotiations Committee.
· Selection of Materials & Contested Materials
Dr. Crisfield spoke abut the procedures for the selection of materials and contested materials. Discussed the reasoning behind the documents that he created. This is for discussion and information purposes. Board discussed different perspectives on the policy proposals.
Mrs. Voorhees asked that the teaching of health (sex education) be discussed by the board.
Mrs. Winter commented that the bi-centennial is progressing and buntings will be put on the schools.

XIII. New Business
Mrs. Burman attended the Mt. Horeb Wizards game and was very impressed by the teacher involvement and support.
ESP (Education Support Profession)
Mrs. Voorhees questioned where the term ESP came from and is it the same as Paraprofessional
Mrs. Winter requested that the use of fields and buildings be revisited. She believes every sports organization should pay for using the fields. (Copy of the policy to be in next board packer.)

XVII. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
At 8:02 p.m. Mrs. Spiller 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:

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.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Voorhees and approved by unanimous voice vote.
On motion by Mrs. Spiller and seconded by Mrs. Burman, the Board reconvened in open session at 10:15 p.m.
The Superintendent’s contract is settled and will be voted on in June.

XVIII. ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Mrs. Voorhees and seconded by Mrs. Spiller the meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m.
Minutes recorded by:
Peter Daquila, Board Secretary