Regular Meeting Minutes October 10, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. I. INTRODUCTORY ITEMS CALL TO ORDER: President, Marianne Treanor called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and asked everyone to please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT: Marianne Treanor read the following statement: The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act was enacted to insure the right of the public to have advance notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is either discussed or acted upon. The Board has fully complied with the notice requirements by advertising in The Express Times & The Star-Ledger posting publicly and by notifying the Municipal Clerk of the date, time and place of the meeting. ROLL CALL Present President, Marianne Treanor Kevin Kerfoot Craig Levesque Rebecca Petri Absent Others Present Maria Eppolite, Superintendent Tim Mantz, Business Administrator/Board Secretary Jenniffer Marycz, Principal Flag Salute II. ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT Marianne Treanor invited nominations from the floor for the office of School Board Vice- President. Rebecca Petri, seconded by Craig Levesque, nominated Kevin Kerfoot. Hearing only one nomination, Mrs. Treanor asked for a motion to close nominations for School Board Vice-President. A motion was made by Marianne Treanor, seconded by Rebecca Petri, to close nominations and elect Kevin Kerfoot for School Board Vice-President. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 1
III. PRESENTATION Karen Bolmarcich presented the new Virtual Backpack and My Grade parent portal that the school has implemented this year. She illustrated how the backpack would be accessed by parents and how to set up the RSS updates so that the most current information could be viewed and parents could be notified via email if they chose this option. She also went through the process for checking grades through the parent portal. Each student would have their own login and then a separate one for the parents so that each person would be able to check their corresponding work exclusively. Comments issued by teachers or administrators could be set-up so just the parents have access. IV. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BOARD None V. PTO REPORT Kathleen Jordan said that membership is down this year and the organization is hoping to recruit new members. To date this school year, the PTO has donated flags to Kathleen Barbee, will be hosting the Spooky Sprint 5K on 10/26 and are in the process of organizing the Holiday Corner and Luncheon. VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS None VII. CHIEF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR S REPORT Ms. Eppolite told the Board that shared drive had been set-up on Google specifically for the Board of Education. As the board packets would now be paperless, the Board members would be able to access all of the supporting documents on this drive. Only the agendas would be distributed as hard copies moving forward. Ms. Eppolite said that the State recently put caps on the number of students that choice schools could receive through the program. Bloomsbury s cap is 38 students and they are not allowed to exceed that number. Ms. Eppolite reported that the district s QSAC scores were returned by the County office due to a revision of scores. The district lost points for the 2012-13 school year as the NJ Smart reports were not submitted on time throughout the last school year. Ms. Eppolite stated that the Greenwich Township Board of Education approved Bloomsbury students to take part in Greenwich s after school programs. However, due to the start times of the after school programs relative to Bloomsbury s dismissal time, the middle school students would be unable to participate. Ms. Eppolite told the Board that she would like to invite the Bloomsbury parents to take part in the Family Literacy Night that Greenwich hosts annually. This year s event was scheduled for 10/22. 2
Ms. Eppolite stated that the NJASK results should be available by the end of the month. At the November meeting, she will present the test scores along with the Violence & Vandalism report. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT Kathleen Jordan asked about the status of the Board seat left vacant by Kiersten Robbins resignation. IX. ACTION ITEMS: Chief School Administrator s Recommendations CONSENT AGENDA: Matters listed within the consent agenda have been referred to members of the Board of Education and/or its standing committees, for reading and study, are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. A. Consent Agenda Motion: BOARD AFFAIRS Motion made by Kevin Kerfoot, seconded by Marianne Treanor, to approve the following board affairs agenda items 1.1 through 1.5; 1.1 To approve the minutes of the September 10, 2013 regular meeting. 1.2 To approve the minutes of the September 10, 2013 executive session. 1.3 To approve the first reading and review of the following policies: P2361 Acceptable Use of Computer/Network/Computers & Resources P3114.12 Certification of Tenure Charges Inefficiency P3144.3 Suspension Upon Certification of Tenure Charges P3372 Teaching Staff Member Tenure Acquisition P4124 Employment Contract P5512 HIB R5512 HIB Investigation Procedure P5117 Interdistrict Public School Choice R5117 Interdistrict Public School Choice 1.4 To approve the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan (CMP). 1.5 To approve the Annual Maintenance Budget Amount Worksheet (M-1). B. Consent Agenda Motion: BUSINESS AFFAIRS Motion made by Marianne Treanor, seconded by Kevin Kerfoot, to approve the following business affairs agenda item 2.0 through 2.4; 2.0 To approve budget transfers in the amount of $228.60 for period September 11, 2013 through October 10, 2013 as presented, noting that Commissioner approval was not required, as the year to date transfers on a cumulative basis do not exceed 10% pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-8.1. 3
2.1 To approve the October 10, 2013 current expense bill list for check numbers 13857 to 13903 totaling $313,103.32. 2.2 To approve the 63 month lease agreement beginning September, 2013 and ending November, 2018 with Toshiba Business Solutions for the leasing of one copier at a rate of $524.21 per month. 2.3 To approve the following resolution: A RESOLUTION BINDING THE BLOOMSBURY SCHOOL TO PURCHASE NATURAL GAS SERVICES THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR COMPETITIVE ENERGY SERVICES ( ACES ) Bid Cooperative Pricing System ID#E8801-ACESCPS WHEREAS, the Alliance For Competitive Energy Services (hereinafter referred to as ACES ), an alliance composed of the New Jersey School Boards Association (hereinafter referred to as NJSBA ), the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, will from time to time during the Effective Period as defined below solicit bids from natural gas suppliers for retail natural gas supply services including interstate transportation to the local natural gas distribution utility company (Natural Gas Supply Services) through an energy aggregation program in which NJSBA will act as Lead Agency of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System #E8801-ACESCPS in accordance with the Public School Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et seq., and the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act, N.J.S.A. 48:3-49 et seq. ( EDECA ) and the regulations promulgated thereunder; and WHEREAS, the Bloomsbury School is a Participating member of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System and is eligible thereby to obtain natural gas services for its own use through one or more contracts to be awarded to natural gas suppliers following said bids for natural gas services pursuant to the aggregation program; and WHEREAS, the Lead Agency will from time to time during the Effective Period (from date of adoption through May, 2018, hereinafter referred to as Effective Period ) issue one or more Requests for Bids for natural gas services on behalf of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System pursuant to the Public School Contracts Law and EDECA; and WHEREAS, due to significant volatility and the potential for price increases in the wholesale natural gas market, Participating Members will preauthorize the Lead Agency to award contracts for Natural Gas Supply Service in each service territory to one or more natural gas suppliers that submits bids which are reasonably forecasted to provide estimated savings to the Participating Member based upon its previous natural gas usage and utility provided Basic Gas Supply Service rates; and WHEREAS, the Lead Agency will only award contracts for said Natural Gas Supply Services to natural gas suppliers that submit bids with pricing reasonably estimated to be lower than the utilityprovided basic gas supply service; and WHEREAS, the District agrees to purchase all Natural Gas Supply Services for its own use during the Effective Period through any natural gas supplier(s) awarded a contract, it being understood that the term of any one contract shall be subject to the provisions of Public School Contracts Law; and WHEREAS, the Lead Agency will notify the Department of Community Affairs Division of Local Government Services by mail prior to the issuance a Request for Bids for natural gas supply services, with 4
the understanding that if the Division of Local Government Services does not respond within 10 business days, it will be deemed to have approved the issuance of the Request for Bids or the Request for Rebids. NOW, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the District binds itself to the ACES Cooperative Pricing System ##E8801- ACESCPS to purchase all natural gas supply services needed for its own use during the Effective Period from the natural gas supplier or suppliers awarded a contract for natural Gas supply services by the Lead Agency; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lead Agency of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System is hereby authorized to execute a master performance agreement that obligates the district to purchase natural gas at the terms and conditions stated therein with a third-party supplier or suppliers who have been awarded the contract or contracts by the Lead Agency on behalf of the participating members of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System #E8801-ACESCPS (or any CPS number to be assigned in the future), and provided further that all such contracts shall be at prices reasonably forecast and estimated by the Lead Agency to provide savings to the districts relative to the price charged for basic gas supply service by the natural gas public utility that would otherwise provide such service; and, be it FURTHER RESOLVED that ACES is authorized to continue to bid to obtain natural gas services at any time during the Effective Period on behalf of the ACES Cooperative Pricing System including, for example, a rebid if energy market conditions do not initially lead to a successful bid, on additional dates to be determined by the Lead Agency; and FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage. The authorization provided to the NJSBA pursuant to the Local Public Contracts Laws (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-11(5)), and the Local Public and Public School Contracts Laws Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 5:34-7.1 et seq.) shall be valid until May, 2018 (the Effective Period) at which time the Cooperative Pricing System will be subject to renewal. Any rescission of this resolution shall not affect any Agreements entered into prior to such rescission or expiration. 2.4 To approve an agreement with Maschio s Food Service, Inc. to provide operation and management of the district s food service program for the 2013-14 school year for a management fee of $7,282 and a guarantee of no loss greater than $8,500. C. Consent Agenda Motion: PERSONNEL AFFAIRS Motion made by Rebecca Petri, seconded by Kevin Kerfoot, to approve the following personnel affairs agenda item 3.0 through 3.2; 3.0 To approve all certified staff to provide home instruction, as appropriate, per the contract rate. 3.1 To approve Carrol Fiorino as a substitute nurse for the 2013-14 school year. 3.2 To approve Samantha Chmiel as substitute nurse for the 2013-14 school year. 5
D. Consent Agenda Motion: School Affairs Motion made by Craig Levesque, seconded by Marianne Treanor, to approve the following school affairs agenda item 4.1 through 4.3; 4.1 To approve the following building use requests: i. Work Family Connection on 10/25/13 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the gym for Family Night Pumpkin Carving. 4.2 To approve the following field trips: PreK, K, 1 st grade to the Pumpkin Patch on 10/24/13 in Asbury, NJ. Prek, K, 1 st & 2 nd grades to the firehouse on 10/11/13 in Bloomsbury, NJ. 8 th grade to the Dr. Michael Fowlin presentation on 10/2/13 in Clinton, NJ. 8 th grade to the play The Giver on 11/12/13 in Branchburg, NJ. 4.3 To approve the attendance of staff members at the following conferences: Michelle Duerring to the CPI Training on 10/14/13 & 10/16/13 in Belvidere, NJ. Cost is $25 registration fee and mileage expense of $17.36 (56 miles @ $.31/mile). Jenniffer Marycz to the CPI Training on 10/14/13 & 10/16/13 in Belvidere, NJ. Cost is $25 registration fee and mileage expense of $17.36 (56 miles @ $.31/mile). Dana Nitzsche to the CPI Training on 10/14/13 & 10/16/13 in Belvidere, NJ. Cost is $25 registration fee and mileage expense of $17.36 (56 miles @ $.31/mile). Rick Arlotto to the CPI Training on 10/14/13 & 10/16/13 in Belvidere, NJ. Cost is $25 registration fee and mileage expense of $17.36 (56 miles @ $.31/mile). Graziella Woodruff to the CPI Training on 10/14/13 & 10/16/13 in Belvidere, NJ. Cost is $25 registration fee and mileage expense of $17.36 (56 miles @ $.31/mile). Deb Joye to the CPI Training on 10/14/13 & 10/16/13 in Belvidere, NJ. Cost is $25 registration fee and mileage expense of $17.36 (56 miles @ $.31/mile). X. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS Marianne Treanor lead a discussion regarding Board goals for the 2013-14 school year. The Board reviewed proposed goals and considered if these goals could be achieved and, if so, how to do it. The Board concluded that their goals would be as follows: - To have a BOE representative regularly attend Town Council meetings - To establish an informal in-person forum in which the Board would offer the public the opportunity to come and talk to the Board members and an administrative representative so that Bloomsbury residents could offer their opinions and feelings on school issues in an informal setting. Rebecca Petri provided a report of the last Phillipsburg Board of Education meeting. The district received two grants which would be used science materials and a wellness program, Fiona Furnari, a former Bloomsbury student, was one of two students to receive a National Merit Scholarship Program award and Phillispburg would be hosting a mini college fair during the day on 10/10. Marianne Treanor reminded the Board members to complete their training. 6
XI. PUBLIC COMMENT None XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Marianne Treanor, seconded by Kevin Kerfoot, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education adjourn to executive session at 8:02 pm to discuss Student, Personnel and Legal issues. XIII. RECONVENE Motion carried unanimous voice vote. Motion by Marianne Treanor, seconded by Kevin Kerfoot, that the Board of Education returns to regular session at 8:31 pm. Motion carried unanimous voice vote. XIV. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:32 pm on a motion by Marianne Treanor, seconded by Kevin Kerfoot. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Respectfully submitted, Tim Mantz Board Secretary/B.A. Board Member 7