Carthage Central School District Board of Education. Minutes March 24, 2014

Transcription

1 Carthage Central School District Board of Education Minutes March 24, 2014 APPROVED A meeting of the Carthage Central School District Board of Education was held on the above date in the non-smoking, handicapped accessible library of the High School. The press was informed of the meeting and notice was posted in the Carthage Municipal Building. PRESENT: GUESTS: Barb Lofink, Ken Burto, Joe Colangelo, Lyndsey Hodkinson, Anne Rohr, Peter Turner, Mary Louise Hunt, Andrea Miller, Tod Nash, Andrea Miller, Amy Marrocco. Jennifer Waterhouse, Marvin Zehr, Patty Flynn (CSRP), Adam and Abby Staab, Amanda Francis, Haylie Pickerin, Angie Robbins, Grace Sauter, Kristi Brennan, Steve Nolan (Athletics), Ryan Queary, Linda Wiltse, Mariah Cullen, Christiana Davis, Caitlin Ryan, Jhonae Martin, Alicia Shelton, Anne Marie Bertram, Tara and Jessica Wilson, Chel and Trey Shupp, Michele Capone, Felicity Runge, Nathan Hills, Cathy Haug, Wilfred Deion, Joe Sedita, Pat Sheehan, Richard Weber, Jennifer Myers, Corey Moshier, Erin LeFevre, Anne Covey, Vance Corey 1.0 CALL TO ORDER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE President, Barb Lofink, called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:00 pm. 2.0 Approval of Agenda Schools, approves the agenda for the meeting. Motion: Joe Colangelo Second: Mary Louise Hunt Discussion: There was no discussion Carried Unanimously 3.0 Public Forum: Speakers are limited to 5 minutes. Prepared statements may be submitted (11 copies are required) and provided to the Clerk. The name of author and date should appear on all documents. Questions relating to employees of the District will not be permitted. Such questions should be referred to the Superintendent of Schools at another time. President, Barb Lofink asks if anyone wished to address the Board or had questions. 1. Jennifer Waterhouse thanked the Administration and Board for allowing the Carthage Wind Ensemble and Carthage Select Singers to attend the New York State School Music Association capitol performance in Albany. 2. Pat Sheehan questioned why Mr. Turner s statement he read in the last meeting was not in the minutes. She also said that the packet she gave to the board last meeting was not in the minutes. 3. Adam Staab read a prepared statement in response to Mr. Turner s statement from the previous board meeting. In his statement he felt that he and his wife were targeted. He feels that opting out is about getting the states attention. He encourages the board to listen to what they are saying and who is opting out and that he feels the board doesn t put as much detail and care into the curriculum in the school as they do the budget and wished to see it follow the same process. 1

2 4. Pat Sheehan then addressed the board asking if there would be money in the budget or for consideration to add additional reading teachers in the middle school and if the AIS program in the middle school could be looked at as its scheduling doesn t currently work in the 10 th period. 5. Wilfred Deion pointed that in the election notice, paragraph number three needs to have the note about a specific vacancy removed since board of education members are elected at large and also adjust in the policy manual. 6. Joe Colangelo, as a tax payer, said he went to visit a third grade class and thought it was amazing. He said we need to embrace the modules and allow the teachers to do their jobs. 7. Abigail Staab addressed the board, saying she has never stated that teachers are not phenomenal. She asked if teachers are allowed to align the curriculum and can they decide what is appropriate and what is not? She also asked what is going to happen next year and what can they expect. 4.0 Superintendent s Reports: 4.1 Budget Updates Mr. Turner said that we had the projected revenue and asked if there were any questions. Lyndsey Hodkinson stated she was confused because there wasn t anything for the school year. Amy Marrocco said it was a mistake and the dates should be fixed. Lyndsey also said the impact aid looked incredibly low. Amy said that if we increased the impact aid line then we would have to decrease another one. Joe Colangelo said the state website said we should be getting $34.7 million, why is there a $500,000 difference? Amy said the UPK is not part of the special aid funds. 4.2 SAFE Act Lyndsey Hodkinson asked this to be added to the agenda. She wanted to bring it up again since it hadn t been discussed and she felt a decision would have to be made soon. Her opinion is to add in the items in the SAFE Act either in the budget or put it up for a vote in May with the budget and then in fall come back with a larger project to finish everything else that can t be done with SAFE Act money. Tod Nash asked why not wait. Lyndsey explained that if the items covered under the SAFE Act were included in a typical capital project the approval process is quite lengthy and we probably wouldn t have approval from SED until spring of next year when the SAFE Act items could begin immediately after the approving vote. Barb Lofink said we should begin with the capital reserve fund and educate the public that once the capital reserve fund is voted on and funded that it will pay for the local share on a capital project. Kent Burto said we need to move forward with the larger capital project. Joe Colangelo said we need to roll everything into a larger project. 4.3 Public Forum in Great Bend-Update Mr. Turner started out by saying that the turn out to the public forum at Great Bend last week was rather small. He said that there are two sides to the issue and we don t know what one is the majority. He did feel that everyone said it s time to do something, one way or another. He said we have four choices: 1. we could do nothing until it becomes an emergency. 2. We could do what needs to be done in the building (boiler, asbestos abatement, security, etc.) but receive no building aid for the work. 3. We could see how much we were going to spend at Great Bend and spend that at the main campus to fit the needs but receive building aid. 4. Finally, we could look into potential marketing of the building. Barb feels that an appraisal is a good idea. Mary Louise finds it hard to put a price tag on a successful program and doesn t believe moving the alternative education program would be a good idea. She also wants it on the record that she is opposed to using any existing educational space for administration offices. She also feels that the business office needs to be near the superintendent and remove them from the high school and that possibly extra space in Great Bend could become a training area for teachers. She also thought that the pre-k that was moved from West Carthage could be put in Great Bend. Lyndsey thought maybe adding boxes to the different buildings where teachers and public could weigh in and put their feelings on the matter so we could hopefully decide what side is the majority. Mary Louise said we need to look and see what we can use at Great Bend and we haven t looked at the positives. Tod Nash would like to know if SEI has provided anything on the alternatives of Great Bend. Mr. Turner said only to fill in the commons at the high school. Barb Lofink said that maybe having the alternate education program on the main campus they could integrate into some of the art/music or PE classes and help the program. Mary Louise said it needs to be investigated why students are in an alternate education classroom and why that weren t able to learn in a regular room. Anne Rohr said that we 2

3 should get the appraisal and see if the money is worthwhile of putting back in the Great Bend school. She also asked if it has adequate space for alternative education, superintendent and pre k programs. Kent Burto has concerns that if the students in the alt ed program can t be with their peers does it make sense to put a bunch of preschoolers in the same building. Mary Louise stated that the current alternative education program we have cannot be duplicated at the main campus. Joe Colangelo said that our state aid is approximately 90%. He asked why we would drop $800,000 at Great Bend when we can spend $8 million on the main campus for a brand new building and it would cost us $800,000 because of the state aid. Mary Louise said that she feels the public would have a hard time passing an $8 million project. She said it is important to ask the high school teachers how they feel about it. Barb said we need to educate the public on the capital reserve fund. Our next step is establish the capital reserve fund and that it would be used for a project like this and the money would come out of the reserve fund that would typically be the local share. She also said we still have EXCEL money to be used. Anne said we don t have control of the tax rate in the county. Barb said the other projects failed because of other things. Mary Louise said she requests this issue to be brought to the building planning team in the high school to see their feelings and the pros and cons. Joe said this keeps going on and on. Kent wants to see the district get the appraisal. Motion: Anne Rohr motioned for the district to acquire an appraisal on the Great Bend school and an explanation of the appraisal Second: Kent Burto Discussion: There was no discussion Carried Unanimously 4.4 NAFIS Conference The previous weekend, Mr. Turner and Lyndsey Hodkinson attended the NAFIS (National Association of Federally Impacted Schools) Conference. Lyndsey explained the purpose of the visit, to get updates on the program and meet with members of the Senate and House of Representatives and request their support in the program. Lyndsey also touched on the purpose of impact aid and that we receive it as payment from the government for the impact Fort Drum has on our schools in the form of taxes. Mr. Turner also mentioned the Dinner at BOCES, though not on the agenda. It is April 9 th beginning at 5:00 pm with a tour of the building and dinner buffet beginning at 6:00 pm. The dinner is prepared by the culinary arts students at BOCES and is very impressive. The RSVP date is April 2 nd. 5.0 Consent Agenda: Schools, approves the Consent Agenda Items 5.1 to Board of Education Minutes of: 3/10/ CSE Minutes of: 1/9, 1/14, 1/16, 1/24, 1/28, 1/29, 2/3, 2/4, 2/5 & 2/6/ Fund Raiser: 1) 12-Honors-Ugandan Water Project CiCi s Pizza Sales 4/3/2014 Motion: Joe Colangelo Second: Lyndsey Hodkinson Discussion: Lyndsey asked, while appreciating the optimism, if the approved by BOE box on the fundraising request form wait to be filled in until an actual vote occurred. Vote: 6-1 3

4 6.0 Action Items: Schools, approves the Action Items 6.1 to 6.4 Other I. Other: Approval of: 6.1 Notice of Annual Meeting & Election Notice Schools, approves the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election Notice. 6.2 Bids for Surplus Items Resolved, that the Carthage Central School District Board of Education, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, approves the Bids for the following Surplus Items: 1) Cube Van $1, John Gibbons Minimum bid of $1,200 2) Piano $100 Cindy Mulvaney Minimum bid of $ Revision of Instructional Calendar Schools, approves the revision of the Instructional Calendar as follows: All Elementary Schools, Black River Elementary, West Carthage Elementary and Carthage Elementary will be in session with students for a half day in the morning on Friday, May 9, 2014, with a dismissal of 11:30, lunch will be served. This is to make up time when the Elementary buildings were not open due to weather conditions, the secondary buildings were open, with students being sent home early. Owed snow days (two), teachers have the option of these two dates April 16 & 17, 2014 OR June 27 & 30, Motion: Kent Burto Second: Mary Louise Hunt Discussion: On 6.3, Mary Louise was confused why May 9 th, the elementary students would have to come in on the half day and if it had to do with state aid. Mr. Turner said we could opt to not accept state aid for that day. Mary Louise explained how at the end of the year the elementary kids carry to attendance for the highschool students taking the Regents and why it couldn t be the reverse for May 9 th. Mr. Turner explained that they aren t required to take attendance on those test days. Mary Louise didn t think it would be financially beneficial to bring in elementary students to have a half day of instruction, feed them lunch and release them at Mary Louise also wanted to discuss the options that are being recommended for the teachers to make up. Mr. Turner said they had the discussion with labor management and the CTA. It was also on the district calendar to make up during the spring break. Mary Louise said they should be able to pick any day that week during break in case they have plans one part of the week versus the other. Mr. Turner said that wasn t discussed. Mary Louise wants to make an effort to remember this when it is time to look at the calendar next year and work through this for a better plan in the future. Lyndsey asked if they could take a personal day for the days they owe. Mr. Turner said, yes but it would cost them 3 days for the 2. Tod said it would be easier to manage with fixed days. Carried unanimously 4

5 6.4 Railroad PILOT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT At a meeting of the Board of Education of the Carthage Central School District held at the High School Library, NYS Route 26, Carthage, New York 13619, on March 24, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: ABSENT: Barbara Lofink, Anne Rohr, Joseph Colangelo, Kent Burto, Lyndsey Hodkinson, Mary Louise Hunt, Tod Nash, None President Vice President WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency (the Agency ) was created by Chapter 369 of the Laws of 1971 of the State of New York pursuant to Title 1 of Article 18-A of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York (collectively, the Act ), and WHEREAS, the Agency has agreed to acquire from Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern Railroad Corporation (the Company ), an interest in a strip of land (being a railroad line) in the Town of Wilna, Jefferson County, New York (Tax Parcel Nos , and ) (the Land ), more particularly described in the PILOT Agreement, and WHEREAS, the Agency has agreed to lease the property to the Company pursuant to a lease agreement by and between the Agency and the Company, and the Company intends to renovate and modernize the existing commercial railroad line (the Improvements ), and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 874(1) of the Act, and Section 412(A) of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, the Agency is exempt from the payment of taxes and assessments imposed upon real property and improvements in which it has a leasehold interest other than special ad valorem levies, special assessments and services charges against real property located in Jefferson County which are or may be imposed for special improvements or special district improvements, and WHEREAS, the Carthage Central School District has determined that the Project is in the best interest of the School District and deems it appropriate for the Agency to enter into the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement making provision for payments in lieu of taxes by the Company to the Agency for the benefit of the respective taxing jurisdictions within which the property is located in substantially the same form as presented at this meeting. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Carthage Central School District hereby consents to entering into a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement with Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern Railroad Corporation in substantially the same form as presented at this meeting and which is attached to this resolution as Exhibit A. A motion to adopt the foregoing Resolution was made by Kent Burto and seconded by Board member Mary Louise Hunt and upon a roll call vote of the Board was duly adopted as follows: President Barbara Lofink Vice President Anne Rohr Joseph Colangelo Kent Burto Lyndsey Hodkinson Mary Louise Hunt Tod Nash No 5

6 Discussion: Tod doesn t think it is in the best interest of the district to approve the PILOT. He asked how long they have not been paying taxes. Amy Marrocco said that they have been exempt since Tod said that if we approve this we will receive no revenue from them. He also asked what the estimated taxes would be. Kent Burto said approximately $3,000. Lyndsey asked what would happen if the PILOT was not approved. Mr. Turner said they wouldn t be able to qualify for any grant if they aren t given the PILOT. Joe Colangelo said that we have nothing to lose; there is no money currently being generated and no impact on the kids. Barb Lofink thought it could possibly benefit us in the long run. Anne wanted to make sure it was noted we are not meeting in the district office. There was a roll call vote with the changes in the resolution. Vote: Barbara Lofink Anne Rohr Joseph Colangelo Kent Burto Lyndsey Hodkinson Mary Louise Hunt Tod Nash No 6.5 Capital Improvements Schools, approves to expend the $100,000 budgeted for capital improvements in the school year and the anticipated $100,000 that will be budgeted for the school year. WHEREAS the budget for the school year includes an appropriation of $100,000 for capital improvement projects to be conducted during such school year; and WHEREAS it is contemplated that the budget for the school year shall also include an appropriation of $100,000 for capital improvement projects to be conducted during the school year; and and WHEREAS the safety and security of students and staff is an ongoing concern that can be addressed with such funds; WHEREAS recommendations have been made by the school district architect and the Superintendent to undertake certain projects at the five (5) student occupied buildings (Carthage High School, Carthage Middle School, Carthage Elementary School, West Carthage Elementary School and Black River Elementary School) to address safety and security issues; 6

7 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED as follows: 1. The school district architect and the Superintendent are directed to take the necessary steps to obtain the requisite approval from the New York State Education Department, and thereafter to arrange for the installation of the following items at the five student occupied school district buildings: - Exterior door security - Access control 2. The school district architect and the Superintendent shall determine the order of buildings, and the extent of such actions in such buildings, to expend the funds allocated in the and school budgets. 3. The expenditure of the funds appropriated in the school budget for capital improvements is hereby authorized for the safety and security measures set forth in sections 1 and 2 herein. 4. Contingent upon the inclusion of the $100,000 appropriation for capital improvements in the school budget, and the approval of the school budget by the voters of the school district, the expenditure of such funds is hereby authorized for the safety and security measures set forth in sections 1 and 2 herein. Motion: Kent Burto Second: Mary Louise Hunt Discussion: None Carried unanimously II. Personnel: 6.6 Appointments: Schools, approves the Action Items 6.6 to 6.7 Personnel 2:1 Special Education Aide-BR Schools, approves the appointment of Joni Beth Walling as a 2:1 Special Education Aide at Black River Elementary School effective March 25, This position is 6.25 hours per day and salary is step 6, $19.95 per hour. Schools, approves the appointment of Brooke Sholette as a 2:1 Special Education Aide at Black River Elementary School effective March 25, This position is 6.5 hours per day and salary is step 3, $18.72 per hour. Substitutes: Resolved, that the Carthage Central School District Board of Education, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, approves the appointment of the following Instructional and Non- Instructional substitutes for the school year. 1 Megan Guzman Instructional & Non Instructional 5 Megan LaBarge Non-Instructional 2 Heather Cean Instructional 6 Lauren Going Non-Instructional 3 Sarah Jolliff Instructional 7 Desiree Davis Non-Instructional 4 Sarah Adams Instructional 8 Jackie Crump Non-Instructional 9 Katelyn Thomas Non-Instructional 10 Melissa Markowski Non-Instructional 11 Roger Pierce Non-Instructional 7

8 6.7 CTA Sick Bank Requests: Resolved, that the Carthage Central School District Board of Education, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, approves the following CTA Sick Bank requests: CTA: 1) Brooke Ganem-Teacher 5 days Motion: Joe Colangelo Second: Mary Louise Hunt Discussion: None Carried unanimously 2) Rita Gefell-TA 66 days 7.0 Public Forum: Speakers are limited to 5 minutes. Prepared statements may be submitted (11 copies are required) and provided to the Clerk. The name of author and date should appear on all documents. Questions relating to employees of the District will not be permitted. Such questions should be referred to the Superintendent of Schools at another time. President Lofink asked if anyone wished to address the board. Vance Corey spoke about the mandatory tests. He asked what will be done with the test results and if they will be sold to a 3 rd party. He doesn t feel that information is provided. 8.0 Board Committees: The safety committee met but there were no board members present. 9.0 Executive Session: A motion was made to go into Executive Session to discuss the employment history of a particular person or matters leading to appointment or employment at 7:40 pm Return to Open Session: Motion: Joe Colangelo Second: Tod Nash Discussion: None Carried Unanimously 11.0 Motion to Adjourn Motion: Anne Rohr Second: Joe Colangelo 12.0 Adjournment 8