Minutes for March 12, 2007History 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 5:04 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 Dr. Ellen Zimmerman
Absent: Kathleen Winter arrived at 7:00 p.m.
Gina Voorhees left at 7:15 p.m.
Patricia Toubin left at 9:30 P.M.
Also Present: Dr. James Crisfield, Superintendent, Peter Daquila, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, members of the public and press

IV. Executive Session #1 (Principal Candidate Interviews)
At 5:06 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) 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
11) specific prospective or current employees unless all who could be adversely affected request an open session
12) 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. Toubin and approved by unanimous voice vote.
On motion by Dr. Przybylski and seconded by Mrs. Burman, the Board reconvened in open session at 7:10 p.m.

V. MINUTES
Dr. Przybylski moved the following:
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes of the following meeting:
February 26, 2006 public and private session
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Burman and approved by 8-0 voice vote.

VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION

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

ALT Central Mt. Horeb Woodland Middle
February 1, 22 February 20, 27 February 12, 20 February 27, 28 February 9, 26

VII. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS
Mrs. Coley commented on the Woodland PTO budget meetings and that 2 board members preferably finance committee members should attend each session.

VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
 Negotiations
Mrs. Burman indicated that the board has filed a notification of impasse in the current teacher negotiations and is hopeful that the 3rd party will facilitate a settlement.

IX. DISCUSSION
· 2007-2008 Budget Deliberation
Dr. Crisfield presented the Budget Cut Option Sheet and Budget at a Glance Sheet. The board discussed the budget and the information presented.
Dr. Zimmerman commented on which should be put back into the budget, after school clubs or field trips. The issue also deals with alternate funding options.
Mrs. Monahan and Mrs. Burman suggested that the $100,000 be set aside to offset the funding needed for both field trips and after school clubs.
The Board discussed the merits of the after school club and the field trips. The BOE decided to go with the budget cut option as presented. The after school clubs and late bus will remain in the preliminary budget.

X. PUBLIC COMMENTARY
Christina Beekman, Kindergarten Teacher, Woodland School, asked a question about the possible budget cuts regarding guidance.
Christina Beekman as a WTEA member asked what the BOE and PTO’s will be doing to promote the budget and to try and get budget support to get the budget passed.
Judy Schnieder noted that the PTO is very active in getting support for the budget.
Dave Ricci introduced himself as the candidate for the BOE. He noted that clubs should have a user fee to help defray the costs and keep the users’ interest in the club.
Patricia Zahn commented that the BOE has done a great job in presenting the budget and the budget cut options. .

XI. ITEMS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION/ACTION (CONSENT AGENDA)
Mrs. Spiller moved, and Mrs. Burman seconded, the following as a consent agenda: The consent agenda was approved by unanimous 8-0 role-call vote.

A. Education

A.1. Affirmative Action Committee-Comprehensive Equity Plan
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the Affirmative Action Officer and the Affirmative Action Committee to develop a Comprehensive Equity Plan, implement the plan over a three year period of time, and submit an annual progress report in the Quality Assurance Annual Report (QAAR):

A.2. Home Tutoring
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves one student (ID#5001090) to receive 3 hours per week of home tutoring for an indefinite period. Student will attend school on a part-time basis when able.

B. Finance/Operations/Transportation

B.1. Award Contract for Warren Middle School – Partial Roof Replacement Phase III
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the following resolution:
WHEREAS, on February 21, 2007, the Board of Education received bids for the Warren Middle School Partial Roof Replacement Phase II Project:
· E.R. Barrett, Inc, Newark NJ $253,000 Unit Prices $4.00, $6.00 & $4.00
· Laumar Roofing, Passaic, NJ $253,000 Unit Prices $6.00, $12.00 & $5.00
· S & S Roofing, Carteret, NJ $307,000
· Renaissance, Old Bridge, NJ $311,000
· McMullen Roofing, Philadelphia, Pa $347,900
· D.A. Nolt, Berlin, NJ $485,900
Upon the Architects recommendation and the Attorney review the bid should be awarded to E.R. Barrett Inc. since it offers the most advantageous price terms.
RESOLVED, the Board of Education awards the contract for the Warren Middle School Partial Roof Replacement Phase II Project to E.R. Barrett, Inc. of Newark, NJ.

B.2. Budget Transfers for Month of February 2007
Approve the following Resolution:
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:
11-000-211-500-00-00 Prof. Services - Attendance 11-000-251-592-01-00 Misc. Purch. Svcs.-Bus. Off. 500.00
11-000-216-100-00-00 Speech & OT Salaries 11-000-217-100-00-01 Extraordinary Svcs. Salaries 1,500.00
11-000-217-600-08-00 Extraordinary Svcs. – Suppl. 11-000-218-390-08-00 Other Purch. Prof./Tech. Serv. 1,000.00
11-000-230-331-01-00 Legal Services 11-000-100-562-08-01 Tuition--Other LEAs 25,500.00
11-000-262-100-09-00 Salaries - Service Staff 11-000-262-100-09-05 Overtime – Custodians 1,050.00
11-000-262-610-09-00 Supplies - B & G 11-000-262-520-01-00 Insurance - Property & Liab. 9,000.00
11-000-270-503-10-00 Transp. - Contr. Aide in Lieu 11-000-270-517-10-00 Transp. - Contr. Non-Public 4,350.00
11-190-100-640-12-00 Textbooks Series Replace. 11-000-221-500-12-00 Curriculum Travel/Workshops 2,000.00
11-216-100-106-00-00 PSD Aide Salaries 11-213-100-101-00-00 RC Teacher Salaries 1,550.00
11-000-223-110-12-00 Staff Training Salaries 11-000-221-500-12-00 Curriculum Travel/Workshops 2,000.00
11-000-223-110-12-00 Staff Training Salaries 11-000-221-600-12-00 Curriculum Supplies 1,700.00
11-000-223-110-12-00 Staff Training Salaries 11-000-223-800-12-00 Miscellaneous - Curriculum 1,000.00
12-000-400-450-00-C3 Construction - CS Phase IIA 12-000-400-450-00-00 Construction Services 36,500.00
12-000-240-730-00-00 School Admin. Equipment 12-000-240-730-06-00 School Admin. Equip. - WD 3,428.85
12-000-240-730-00-00 School Admin. Equipment 12-000-260-730-09-00 Operation & Maint. Equip. 4,392.60
12-000-240-730-00-00 School Admin. Equipment 12-000-270-734-00-00 School Vehicles 1,246.25
12-000-240-730-00-00 School Admin. Equipment 12-120-100-730-03-00 Inst. Equipment - Central 8,117.30
12-000-240-730-04-00 School Admin. Equip. - MH 12-000-240-730-06-00 School Admin. Equip. - WD 1,571.15
12-120-100-730-11-01 Grades 1-5 Equip (Tech Plan) 12-000-252-730-00-00 Admin. Info. Technology 382.10
12-130-100-730-11-01 Grades 6-8 Equip (Tech Plan) 12-000-252-730-00-00 Admin. Info. Technology 4,196.40
    Total Transfers – February 2007 $110,984.65

B.3. PRELIMINARY 2007-2008 Warren Township School Budget
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the PRELIMINARY 2007-2008 Warren Township School Budget and approves the PRLEIMINARY budget for submission to the Somerset County Superintendent of Schools for review as follows:

Appropriations: Budget
General Fund $33,321,826
Summer School 105,800
Capital Outlay 565,000
Capital Reserve 612,000
Special Revenue 500,000
Debt Service 1,684,255
TOTAL BUDGET: $36,788,881

Revenues:
Tax Levy - General Fund $31,824,788
Tax Levy – Debt Service 1,333,237
SUB-TOTAL: $33,158,025
State Aid $ 2,201,029
State Aid – Debt Service 351,016
SUB-TOTAL: $ 2,552,045

Surplus:
General Fund $ 376,809
Debt Service 2
Miscellaneous Revenue $ 202,000
Federal Funds Anticipated 500,000
TOTAL: $36,788,881

B.4. Tax Levy Cap Adjustments – Increase for Health Care Costs
RESOLVED, the Board of Education does apply for the Tax Levy Cap Adjustments for Increase in Health Care Costs for the 2007-2008 Warren Township School Budget:
Increase in Health Care Costs $ 282,820
This adjustment is included in the General Fund Tax Levy of $31,824,788

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) Bonnie Andreasen-Gold, Substitute Bus Driver, on an as needed basis, at the approved substitute bus driver rate of $16, effective March 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007.

C.2. Family Leave Request
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the Family Leave request for:
a) Megan O'Donnell, First Grade Teacher, Central School, Family Leave (unpaid with benefits) from May 7, 2007 through June 30, 2007. Returning September 1, 2007.

C.3. Amendment on Salary Guide
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following amended placements on the teachers' negotiated salary guide:
a) Karen Balich from BA to BA+15 (remaining at step 2), effective March 1, 2007.

C.4. Substitute Teachers
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Substitute Teachers for the 2006-2007 school year:
a) Kim Miller
b) Michele Rawson

C.5. Per Diem Deduct Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves per diem deduct request for:
a) Brenda Sasso, Grade 6 SS/LA Teacher, Middle School, for 1 day, March 30, 2007.
b) Nicole Toto, Classroom Paraprofessional, Woodland School, for 3 days, April 18, 19, 20, 2007.
c) Mary Jo DeFonzo, Classroom Paraprofessional, Mt. Horeb School, for 7.5 days, February 9, 12, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23
d) Saribet Gomez, Van Aide, Transportation, for 8 days, March 7-9 and March 12-16, 2007.

D. Polling Locations

D.1. RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the 2007 School Board Elections on April 17, 2007 at the following designated polling places:

Districts 1 & 3
Mt. Horeb Fire House, 14 Elm Avenue

Districts 2 & 4
Mt. Horeb School, 80 Mt. Horeb Road

Districts 5 & 13
Angelo L. Tomaso School, 46 Washington Valley Road

Districts 6 & 10
Our Lady of the Mount Parish Center, 167 Mt. Bethel Road

Districts 7 & 8
Warren Middle School, 100 Old Stirling Road

District 9
Woodland School, 114 Stirling Road

District 11 & 12
Warren Township Library, 44 Mountain Boulevard

XII. PUBLIC COMMENTARY
None

XIII. OLD BUSINESS
Mrs. Spiller asked if the un-used snow days could be used to extend the spring break since 12 parents have asked her about this.

XIV. NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Monahan noted that the Middle School play is Oklahoma. The public and the BOE should support the play.

XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION #2:
At 8:10 p.m. Mrs. Winter moved the following:
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Burman and approved by unanimous voice vote.
Mrs. Toubin was excused at 9:30 P.m.
On motion by Dr. Przybylski and seconded by Mrs. Spiller, the Board reconvened in open session at 9:57 p.m.

XVI. ADJOURNMENT: On motion by Mrs. Spiller, seconded by Mrs. Burman, the meeting adjourned at 9:59 p.m.
Minutes recorded by:
Peter Daquila