READINGTON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION Holland Brook School Board of Education Meeting Room Board Retreat 5:00 pm. Work/Regular Meeting 7:30 p.m. December 11, 2012 MINUTES 1. Call to Order Open Public Meetings Act Roll Call President David Livingston called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. and announced that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and was open to the media and public. Notices were duly posted, and the meeting was advertised in the Courier News. Formal action may be taken. The following Board members were present: Barbara Dobozynski Wayne Doran Cheryl Filler William Goodwin Vincent Panico Laura Simon Eric Zwerling (5:08) Rick Finn (5:03) David Livingston (left meeting 8:34) Absent: None Also present: Barbara Sargent, Superintendent Steffi-Jo DeCasas, Business Administrator/Board Secretary District Administrators 2. Superintendent's Report Board Retreat Administration provided the board with an update on the district s progress towards annual goals. Meeting was recessed for 10 minutes until 7:30 p.m. Violence and Vandalism Dr. Sargent reviewed the district s violence and vandalism statistics for the period of January June 2012. 3. Open to the Public (Limited to Action Items on the Agenda) 4. Correspondence Resolution from Sharon Seyler NJSBA Legislative Coordinator/Advocacy Programs reduction of federal funding December 11, 2012 Page 1 of 8
Motion to adopt a Resolution regarding federal funding cuts. Sequestration Amend Federal Budget Control Act of 2011 WHEREAS, a world class public education is essential for the future success of our nation and today s schoolchildren; and WHEREAS, the Budget Control Act of 2011 includes a provision to impose $1.2 trillion in across-theboard budget cuts in almost all federal programs, including education, that would become effective January 2, 2013; and WHEREAS, these across-the-board budget cuts, also known as sequestration, would have a negative impact on education through a reduction in funds of 7.8 percent or more and could result in larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, possible four-day school weeks, loss of extracurricular activities, and teacher and staff lay-offs; and WHEREAS, sequestration would affect almost every public school system in the nation and the millions of students educated through programs such as Title I grants for disadvantaged students, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), English Language Acquisition, Career and Technical Education, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers; and WHEREAS, public schools nationwide would be negatively affected by an estimated $2.7 billion loss in just three programs alone Title I grants, IDEA special education state grants and Head Start that serve a combined total of 30.7 million children; and WHEREAS, federal funding for K-12 programs was already reduced by more than $835 million in Fiscal Year 2011; and WHEREAS, New Jersey already ranks last among the states in the percentage of school expenditures (3.1%) supported by the federal government; and WHEREAS, in Fiscal Year 2013, New Jersey will lose more than $73 million in funding for elementary and secondary education programs, administered through the U.S. Department of Education, as well as over $11.7 million in Head Start funding; and WHEREAS, with a state-imposed tax levy cap and limited growth in state aid, New Jersey local school districts have limited capacity to absorb cuts in funding resulting from sequestration. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Readington Township Board of Education, in the County of Hunterdon, State of New Jersey urges Congress and the Administration to amend the Budget Control Act to mitigate the drastic cuts to education that would affect our students and communities, and to protect education as an investment critical to economic stability and American competitiveness. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to Unites States Senator Robert Menendez, United States Senator Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Representatives, State Senators, Assembly Representatives, Assembly Representatives, the New Jersey School Boards Association, and the National School Boards Association. Motion: Filler Second: Livingston Motion failed to carry 7 no, 2 yes Filler, Livingston December 11, 2012 Page 2 of 8
ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION: Motion to adopt a resolution moving the election to the fall. President Livingston opened up a discussion on the annual school election that was first brought up a few months ago. He presented some statistics obtained from NJ School Boards and the Hunterdon County Clerk s Office. Board discussion ensued with each board member offering comments, pros and cons, on moving the election to the fall. Resolution to Eliminate the Vote on the Annual Budget and to Move the Election Of School Board Members to the General Election in November Whereas Public Law P.L. 2011, Chapter 202, Laws of 2012 provides that a local school district may adopt a resolution to eliminate the vote on its annual school budget that is within the statutory cap imposed by the State of New Jersey, and Whereas the above legislation provides that the above action would require districts to hold their annual election for school board members in November during the regular general election, and Whereas, the Readington Township Board of Education has determined that the statutory restrictions on the local levy tax increase for annual school appropriations is appropriate and sufficient to control and maintain a thorough and efficient education for the children of Readington Township, and Whereas, the Readington Township Board of Education, consistent with the budgetary restrictions expressed above, believes that dispensing with annual school budget votes will save taxpayer dollars, and Whereas, the Readington Township Board of Education believes that school board member elections in November will attract a far greater number of voters than typically vote in April elections, and Whereas, the Readington Township Board of education believes that the elimination of the vote on the school budget and the movement of the board member election to November is in the best interest of the Readington Township community, and Whereas, the Readington Township Board of Education understands that this decision shall remain in effect for a minimum of four years, Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Readington Township Board of Education does hereby determine that it will eliminate the vote on its annual school budget which shall be within the statutory cap and become effective for the 2013-14 budget, and Be It Further Resolved, that the Readington Township Board of Education does hereby determine that the election of school board members will occur at the annual general election in November, 2013. Motion: Panico Second: Dobozynski Roll Call Vote: Yes, Dobozynski, Zwerling, Doran, Panico, Livingston December 11, 2012 Page 3 of 8
No, Goodwin, Finn, Filler, Simon FINANCE/FACILITIES Rick Finn reported out on the December 13, 2012 meeting. Committee Report: Motion: Finn Second: Doran Vote: Roll Call: 8-0 A-1 Motion to approve the Bill List for the period from 11/21/2012 through 12/7/2012 for a total amount of $1,687,385.57. A-2 Motion to approve line item account transfers 11/1/20-11/30/2012. A-3 Motion to accept the FINANCIAL REPORT CERTIFICATION OF BOARD SECRETARY'S MONTHLY CERTIFICATION BUDGETARY LINE ITEM STATUS: October 31, 2012 Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(c) 3, the Business Administrator/Board Secretary certifies that as of October 31, 2012, no budgetary line item account has obligations and payments which in total exceed the amount appropriated by the district Board of Education pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:17-9 and 18A:22-8.1. Steffi-Jo DeCasas, Board Secretary Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6:23-2.11(c)4, we certify that as of October 31, 2012 after review of the Secretary's monthly financial report (appropriations section) and upon consultation with the appropriate district officials that, to the best of our knowledge, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A23-2.11(a)1 and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year, and further, that we approve the Board Secretary and Treasurer's Reports subject to audit for the period ending October 31, 2012. A-4 Motion to approve the following Resolution: WHEREAS, the Readington Township Board of Education is in receipt of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report FY2012 (CAFR) and the Annual Audit as prepared and submitted by William Colantano, CPA and WHEREAS, the audit contained no audit recommendations NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Annual Corrective Action Plan, noting no recommendations and no action needed, be approved and filed by the Business Administrator/Board Secretary and Superintendent of Schools with the Department of Education. A-5 Motion to approve a resolution for coordinated transportation and nonpublic school services with the Hunterdon County Education Commission (HCESC) for 2012-2013. December 11, 2012 Page 4 of 8
EDUCATION/TECHNOLOGY Committee Report: David Livingston reported out on meeting held on December 5, 2012. Minutes are posted on the Board of Education website. Motion: Filler Second: Goodwin Vote: Roll Call 8 yes 1 no (B10 Finn) B-1 Motion to approve the following novels for the Readington Township School District: Grade School Novels HBS 4 th & 5 th Grade G&T Students Swiss Family Robinson Frankenstein Legend: The Labors of Heracles Hercules: The Twelve Labors 4 th & 5 th Grade HBS Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World The Great Fire 7 th Grade RMS The Dreamer The Emerald Atlas Peak B-2 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve P.G. Chambers Consultation Team to provide an Assistive Technology Consultation for S-969 at a rate of $155 per hour, not to exceed $465. B-3 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve Kenneth Nadzak to conduct his administrative internship with Kristen Higgins at Three Bridges School from January to June, 2013 (150 hours) as part of the M.A. degree program in Educational Administration at the University of Scranton. B-4 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve the following Student Observation placement in the Readington Township School District as follows: Student Observer Name/School Casey Alexander/Ithaca College Jenna Vento/University of Georgia Cooperating Teacher/School Erica Winebrenner/TBS Cynthia Fillebrown/TBS Erica Winebrenner/TBS Cynthia Fillebrown/TBS Beth Luque/HBS Date/Timeframe 1/2/2013 1/31/2013 12/17/2012 12/19/2012 Short observation period beginning of studies short observation. B-5 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve the following Student Observation placements in the Readington Township School District as follows: Student Observer Cooperating Teacher Date/Timeframe December 11, 2012 Page 5 of 8
Name/School Lauren Davis/RVCC Bailey Krasovec/RVCC Maria Morlando/RVCC Michael Mohr/RVCC Class/School Jennifer Smith 7 th Grade Reading/RMS Alicia Mitrow World Language/RMS Beverly Vissoe 6 th Grade Reading/RMS Lisa Moor 6 th Grade Social Studies/RMS 2/4/2013 3/8/2013 3 hours/week 2/4/2013 3/8/2013 3 hours/week 2/4/2013 3/8/2013 3 hours/week 2/4/2013 3/8/2013 3 hours/week B-6 Motion to approve the Integrated Preschool contracts for the following students for the 2012-2013 school year: 382326 494726 B-7 Motion to approve ESY tuition agreement for the following student to attend the designated extended school year out of district program for the 2012-2013 school year at the noted cost: STUDENT SCHOOL ESY TUITION S-092 Cambridge $1,800.00 School B-8 Motion to approve the following mentor for the 2012-2013 school year as follows and to authorize payroll deductions to cover mentoring fees: New Staff Member Arlene Schlosser Mentor Geraldine Fahey School TBS B-9 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve Holland Brook 5 th grade students to visit the DaVinci Science Center in Allentown PA in support of their science units on Mixtures and Solutions and Living Systems. B-10 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve the 2013-2014 school calendar. David Livingston is concerned with school start date on September 9, 2013 and possibility of weather emergencies. B-11 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve the following club for the 2012-13 school year: CLUB SCHOOL December 11, 2012 Page 6 of 8
Cooking Readington Middle School PERSONNEL Committee Report: Motion: Panico Second: Filler Vote: Roll Call 8-0 C-1 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation to extend the appointments of Jennifer Brackin and Caitlin Harrison substitutes (long term leave replacement teachers), until February 8, 2013. C-2 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve a paid/unpaid Leave of Absence (Medical) for employee #5249, effective on or about November 13, 2012 through December 17, 2012. C-3 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation and approve the following staff for Genesis training planning time as noted below: Blair Alber 1.5 hrs. x $30 =$45.00 Ryan Newcamp 1.5 hrs. x $30 = $45.00 Matthew Hamma 1.5 hrs. x $30 = $45.00 Lora Peterson 1.5 hrs. x $30 = $45.00 Michele Krayem 4 hrs. x $30 = $120.00 Maryann Reilly 4 hrs. x $30=$120.00 Sherry Krial 1.5 hrs. x $30 - $45.00 Linda Riess 2hrs. x $30 = $60.00 C-4 Motion to accept the Superintendent's recommendation and approve the following as Substitute Teachers/Aides paid at the substitute rate, in the Readington Township School district, pending satisfactory completion of employment requirements: Nancy Akroyd Lara Calo Emily Barisonik Stacey Giordano Anne Hercek COMMUNICATIONS Committee Report: Laura Simon reported out on meeting held on December 10, 2012. Minutes are posed on the Board of Education website. Motion: Doran Second: Simon Vote: Roll Call 8-0 ROLL CALL: Barbara Dobozynski Wayne Doran Cheryl Filler William Goodwin Vincent Panico Laura Simon Eric Zwerling Rick Finn David Livingston December 11, 2012 Page 7 of 8
MINUTES D-1 Motion to accept the Superintendent s recommendation to approve for second reading and adoption of the following policy: 5112 - Entrance Age William Goodwin asked what is motivation of change, transitional period language and allowance of parent appeal. Motion: Pancio Second: Dobozynski Vote: Roll Call 8-0 ROLL CALL: Barbara Dobozynski Wayne Doran Cheryl Filler William Goodwin Vincent Panico Laura Simon Eric Zwerling Rick Finn David Livingston E-1 Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 27, 2012. 6. New Business 7. Open to Public (any item on or off the Agenda) 8. Motion to Adjourn at: 8:58 p.m. Motion: Filler Second: Simon Vote: Carried Respectfully submitted, Steffi-Jo DeCasas Business Administrator/Board Secretary December 11, 2012 Page 8 of 8