WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL
Board of Education Minutes
Amended
January 11 2007 Regular Meeting
Windham School
Teri Martin, President
Members Present: Teri Martin, Jacqueline Maier,William Haltermann, A. J. Savasta
Drew Shuster
Others Present:
Margaret Scarey, Bridget Pelham, Bob Pelham
John Wiktorko, Superintendent
Marge Curran, Treasurer
Felicia Senigo, Clerk
Board President, Teri Martin, called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
Ms. Martin led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Minutes of the December 14, 2006 minutes were read and approved on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Drew Shuster reminded everyone that he had abstained from the motion appointing the Internal Auditors. Ms. Senigo will reflect that change in the minutes.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
The Treasurer’s Report for November 2006 was read and approved on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
The Bill Schedule for January 2007 was read and approved on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by A. J. Savasta.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
Ms. Martin reading the rules, called for public comments. There were no public comments.
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board does hereby appoint Nancy LeFevre as a long-term Special Education substitute teacher for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year effective through June 30, 2007, which would be her last day of employment and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Ms. LeFevre be paid on Step 1 as per the current WAJ Teachers' Association Contract, retroactive to December 11, 2006 on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by Drew Shuster.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves Mr. Fred Valentine as a substitute bus driver for the remainder of the 2006-07 school year on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves Ms. Dale Deffer as a substitute Teacher/Tutor on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the recommendation from the Committee on Special Education for student #’s: 303, 462, 484, 554-P, 657, 894, 1081, 1153 on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by A. J. Savasta.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board adopts the following job descriptions as presented under separate cover:
District Treasurer
Business Manager
Transportation Supervisor
on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent and the Audit Finance Committee, the Board adopts Policy 5530.1, Credit Cards Regulation, Policy 5530.2 and 5530.2R, Cellular Telephone Policy, Policy 5530.3 and 5530.3R Meal and Refreshments, all presented under separate cover, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this constitutes the “first reading” of these District Policies on motion by Jacqueline Maier and second by Drew Shuster.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board designates the following uses for $350,000 of the previously accepted donation from the Windham Chapter of the Catskill Mountain Foundation dated December 14, 2006 as follows:
Up to $250,000 for playground equipment, installation and associated expenses.
$100,000 for nature trail improvements, equipment purchase, bathroom facility upgrades
All expenditures will follow District procurement policies/regulations and NYS General Municipal Law.
on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Mr. Wiktorko thanked the Windham Chapter of the Catskill Mountain Foundation for their continued support and generosity.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves increasing the Senior Citizen Tax Exemption for the year 2007 to $18,000 on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts the bids for all items as presented under separate cover on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by A. J. Savasta.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board re-authorizes Policy 7510 "District Wellness Policy" (June 22, 2006) with changes as presented under separate cover to be effective immediately, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this constitutes the "first" reading of this policy.
Motion was tabled upon discussion of adding a clause for disabled children the in the physical education section of this policy.
Drew Shuster thanked everyone who participated in this process.
Important dates were read.
The Assistant Superintendent gave his monthly report on the following:
Tentative plans are in being made to offer the following new Columbia-Greene Community College Courses effective with the 2007-2008 academic year: Biology 101 and 102, English 101 and 102, History 103 and 104, Calculus, MA 122, Forensics SC141
It is expected that we will be able to implement online preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude exam (SAT) effective with the second semester of this school year.
Homework Task Force Recommendations will be implemented in January
Plans are being made to offer Summer School at WAJ in 2007. The plans will be based on projected failures in elementary, middle, and high school.
Student Attendance Comparison, December 2005 to December 2006 is up except for grades 9-11.
The Superintendent gave his monthly report on the following:
Tenure Guidelines call for excellence in attitude, performance and behavior. He would like these guidelines adopted by the Board in the near future.
Due to the nature of the Transportation Supervisor position, he called the Board’s attention to the clause requiring Windham residency. The Board expressed that the new Supervisor should be a district resident
Door-to-Door student pickup by the school buses was revisited briefly
Chuck Bastion, the Financial Advisor and Connie Cahill, Bond Counsel, were here to discuss the timing of the bid process. State Ed. now has all of the documents required for submission so now we just wait for their approval
Phasing of the project for 2007-08 has begun. There will be faculty and community presentations as soon as plans are finalized.
Business Office study has begun
The 2007-08 voter propositions were discussed.
Possible purchase of a 22-28 passenger bus from the Reserve Fund
Possible use of Reserve Fund balance to be used to offset tax levy
Updating the Unemployment Reserve Fund
BOCES budget presentation will occur at the February meeting
There were no additions to the agenda.
The Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District permits public comment to the Board of Education at its regular monthly meeting. Individuals will state their names and addresses before speaking. Comment will be given in a civil manner, will be of reasonable duration, and will respect the privacy of all individuals. The Board will respond to questions, if appropriate, in the days following the meeting.
Bridget Pelham wanted to thank the Board for allowing her to complete her administrative internship at the school. She noted that she had gained a significant amount of knowledge and experience and realized how hard administrators of schools work.
Mag Scarey added that it was rewarding to work under administrators who have experience.
RESOLVED, that the Board go into Executive Session at 8:44 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the employment history of 2 employees leading to the possible appointment of employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of these persons.
The items discussed during the Executive Session will be made public as appropriate at future meetings of the Board of Education on motion by A. J. Savasta, seconded by William Haltermann and carried by those present.
The Board reconvened into regular session at 9:52 p.m. on motion by Drew Shuster, seconded by A. J. Savasta and carried by those present.
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves Ms. Lisa Levine as a substitute Teacher's Assistant on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:53 p.m. on motion by William Haltermann, seconded by Drew Shuster and carried by those present.
Felicia Senigo, Clerk of the Board
John Wiktorko, Clerk Pro Tem