RONDOUT VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION WORK MEETING June 10, 2014 High School Auditorium Breanna Costello, President KIND OF MEETING DATE LOCATION PRESIDING OFFICER James Ayers Kent Anderson Rebecca Versace James Blair (Absent) David O Halloran Michael Redmond Wayne Beckerman Kevin Cothren MEMBERS PRESENT Rosario Agostaro Debra Kosinski Timothy Wade Michelle Donlon Alan Baker Terrance Ward Several others ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT A MOTION WAS MADE to move into Executive Session at 6:05 p.m. to discuss the employment history of particular individuals. MOTION: KENT ANDERSON SECOND: KEVIN COTHREN President Costello called for the Pledge of Allegiance. EXECUTIVE SESSION PLEDGE A MOTION WAS MADE to approve the amended agenda for June 10, 2014. MOTION: MICHAEL REDMOND AMENDED AGENDA
Page 2 A MOTION WAS MADE Resolved that the Board of Education approves the terms of the modified 2013-2014 APPR, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools and as referenced in a June 10, 2014 Memorandum of Agreement by and between the Board of Education, the Superintendent and the Rondout Valley Federation of Teachers, a copy of which shall be incorporated by reference in the minutes of this meeting; and MODIFIED APPR 2013-2014 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorize the Superintendent of Schools to seek approval from the New York State Education Department of such changes; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorizes the Board of Education President and the Superintendent of Schools to execute any documents necessary to set forth and explicate said local APPR document to the Education Department MOTION: KENT ANDERSON CARRIED: 7-1 (D. O Halloran: No) A MOTION WAS MADE Resolved that the Board of Education accept the amended terms of the lease agreement between the Rondout Valley Growers Association and the Rondout Valley Central School District as presented. MOTION: MICHAEL REDMOND SECOND: JAMES AYERS RONDOUT VALLEY GROWERS ASSOCIATION LEASE AGREEMENT President Costello gave Kent Anderson picture from Ulster BOCES. PRESIDENT UPDATE A MOTION WAS MADE Be It Resolved, that the Superintendent is hereby authorized to direct a comprehensive medical examination and evaluation, including additional examinations and evaluations, if necessary, of Employee No. 105, in accordance with the provisions of Section 913 of the Education Law; and MEDICAL 913 EVALUATION BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby directs that Employee No. 105 submit his/her medical records, if any, from the last two years to the school appointed physician, Dr. Walter Woodley, M.D. at or before such examination/evaluation.
Page 3 A MOTION WAS MADE to change the date of the Reorganizational meeting from July 2, 2014 to July 15, 2014. SECOND: WAYNE BECKERMAN A MOTION WAS MADE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Superintendent and Board President are authorized to sign an Agreement extending the probationary term of Employee Number 137, a Remedial Reading tenure area probationary employee, for a one-year period, through August 31, 2015, as recommended by the Superintendent. MOTION: REBECCA VERSACE A MOTION WAS MADE WHEREAS, the Board of Education has previously expressed its opposition to the increasing amounts of time, money and energy spent on high-stakes standardized testing; and WHEREAS, the New York State Education Department (SED) has stated that field tests are a crucial part of the test development process, needed to ensure the validity and reliability of the New York State operational tests and that school districts are required to administer such field tests; and REORGANIZATONAL MEETING DATE CHANGE ACCEPTED JUUL AGREEMENT STAND ALONE FIELD TESTING OPPOSED WHEREAS, the Board of Education is strongly opposed to stand alone field testing because, among other things, it cuts into the precious instructional time of our students and staff, it does not contribute to critical, reflective and creative thinking and to developing our students as 21 st century learners, and does not inform instruction; and WHEREAS, the Rondout Valley Central School District has been chosen as one of the school districts to administer the stand alone field testing by SED; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education will administer the field tests, as required by SED, under protest, and will honor parent requests for refusal of their child/children to take such field tests; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education renews its commitment as an advocate for students and calls upon the Commissioner of Education, the Board of Regents, the New York State Legislature and the Governor to eliminate stand alone field testing that largely benefits commercial enterprise, rather than the educational enterprise, negatively impacts students and wastes instructional time that could be put to better use; and
Page 4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the District Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of Education, Board of Regents, State Senator Representatives, State Assemblyman Representatives, the Head of each Legislative Chamber and the Governor. MOTION: REBECCA VERSACE SECOND: KENT ANDERSON CARRIED: 7-1 (J. Ayers; No) VETERANS TAX EXEMPTION A MOTION WAS MADE WHEREAS, the Board of Education wishes to adopt the provisions of Section 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law which would grant a partial exemption from taxation for school district purposes of certain real property situated in the School District and owned and used as the primary residence by eligible veterans (alternative Veterans Exemption); NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board, after having conducted a public hearing on February 25, 2014 and having given the public an opportunity to be heard on the issue of the Board s proposed adoption of the Alternative Veterans Exemption pursuant to Section 458-a of the Real Property Tax law, hereby adopts the Alternative Veterans Exemption for assessment rolls prepared on the basis of the taxable status date occurring on or after January 1, 2014, at the following basic maximum levels; 1. Basic Exemption Tax exemption of 15% of the assessed value of the property, not to exceed $12,000 or the product of $12,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, whichever is less. 2. Combat Zone An additional tax exemption of 10% of the assessed value of qualifying residential property of veterans who are documented to have served in a combat zone, not to exceed $8,000 or the product of $8,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate, whichever is less. 3. Disabled Veterans In addition to the above exemptions, where the veteran received a compensation rating from the Veterans Administration or Department of Defense based upon a service related disability, the qualifying residential property will be exempt to the extent of the product of the assessed value multiplied by 50% of the veteran s disability rating, not to exceed $40,000 or the product of $40,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate, whichever is less; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board directs the District Clerk to provide a certified copy of this resolution to the Ulster County assessors for the other taxing jurisdictions located within this School District.
Page 5 CARRIED: 7-1 (K. Anderson; no) A MOTION WAS MADE WHEREAS, the Board of Education has adopted the provisions of Section 458-a of the Real Property Tax Law which grants a partial exemption from taxation for school purposes of certain real property situated in the School District and owned and used as the primary residence by eligible veterans (Alternative Veterans Exemption) ; and VETERANS EXEMPTION GOLD STAR PARENTS WHEREAS, the Board of Education wishes to include Gold Star Parents (a parent of a child who died in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during a period of war) within the Alternative Veteran s Exemption; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves including Gold Star Parents as qualified owner for purposes of receiving the Alternative Veterans Exemption; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board directs the District Clerk to provide a certified copy of this resolution to Ulster County and the assessors of the other taxing jurisdictions located within the School District. A MOTION WAS MADE WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Rondout Valley Central School District wishes to adopt the provisions of Section 459-c of the Real Property Tax Law which would grant a partial exemption from taxation for school district purposes of real property situated in the School district and owned by an eligible persons with a disability. DISABILITY EXEMPTION FAILS NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board, after having given the public an opportunity to be heard at a public hearing, hereby adopts the provisions of Section 459-c of the Real Property Tax Law and hereby establishes the maximum income eligibility limits for the partial real property tax exemption applicable to otherwise qualified property owners with disabilities regarding assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status does occurring on or after January 1, 2014, as follows:
Page 6 Income Range Exemption $0 to $29,000.00 50% exemption $29,000.01 to $29,999.99 45% exemption $30,000.00 to $30,999.99 40% exemption $31,000.00 to $31,999.99 35% exemption $32,000.00 to $32,899.99 30% exemption $32,900.00 to $33,799.99 25% exemption $33,800.00 to $34,699.99 20% exemption $34,700.00 to $35,599.99 15% exemption $35,600.00 to $36,499.99 10% exemption $36,500.00 to $37,399.99 5% exemption MOTION: REBECCA VERSACE SECOND: BREANNA COSTELLO MOTION FAILS: 2-6 (J.Ayers; no, K. Cothern; no, K. Anderson; no, D. O Halloran; no, M. Redmond; no, W. Beckerman; no, R. Versace; yes, B. Costello; yes) A MOTION WAS MADE to Re-adopt policy 7132 Admission of Foreign Students as presented. President Costello opened the floor to public comment. Melissa Russo Blue Stone Press Covering for Pat Rowe. Gabby Agostaro Prom went well. Continue using breathalyzer. James Ayers Attended Science Research. Do we want to pursue time change with Elementary School & High School, School District Restructuring. Please get back to James Ayers if you are interested. Kent Anderson Thanked Student Board Members. You you re your perspectives. Come back in a few years and give your perspective again. Kevin Cothren Time change, would like to see survey from parents and students. Field testing, (Pearson), why do they need our students for testing. Wayne Beckerman Went with Superintendent to look at solar panels at Ravena School District. Mike Redmond Heard Prom was successful. Student Board Members are an asset to the Board. Facilities meet tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m. June 11, with Solar company. Evacuation Drill went well very impressed. RE-ADOPT POLICY 7132 ADMISSION OF FOREIGN STUDENTS PUBLIC COMMENT BOARD TIME
Page 7 A MOTION WAS MADE to accept the Financial Reports for April 2014 as presented. MOTION: MICHEAL REDMOND FINANCIAL REPORTS ACCEPTED A MOTION WAS MADE to table the surplus of the following list at the High School. Qty Description 5 Cushioned Swivel Chairs (poor condition) 4 Desks M3400BR (poor condition) 2 Plastic swivel chairs (poor condition) 1 Large metal desk (poor condition) 2 Projectors (overhead) Model V18002 serial # 216470 24 Math Books 1 Progressive Scan (broken, poor condition) MOTION: JAMES AYERS TABLED: 8-0 A MOTION WAS MADE to approve the transfer of $24,000 from Athletics Official Fees budget code A2855-447-09-0000 to Athletics Ulster BOCES budget code A2855-490-10-0000 to pay for Ulster BOCES for official fees. MOTION: MICHEAL REDMOND TRANSFER A MOTION WAS MADE to approve the transfer of $60,540 from budget code A2110-120-10-0000 General Instructional Salaries to A2110-490-10-0000 District Wide Instructional Services from BOCES for BOCES aid on substitutes. MOTION: KENT ANDERSON TRANSFER
Page 8 A MOTION WAS MADE TO ADJOURN THE WORK MEETING AT 8:53 P.M. MOTION: MICHAEL REDMOND SECOND: JAMES AYERS ADJOURNMENT Respectfully submitted, Debra Barbiani Clerk, Board of Education db