WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL
Board of Education Minutes
January 12, 2006
Regular Windham School Teri Martin, President
Date Kind of Meeting Where held Presiding Officer
Members Present:
Teri Martin
Jacqueline Maier
William Haltermann
A. J. Savasta
Drew Shuster
John Wiktorko, Superintendent
Marge Curran, Treasurer
Felicia Senigo, Clerk
Board President, Teri Martin, called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM.
Ms. Martin led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 8 2005 were read and approved on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
The Treasurer’s Report for November 2005 was read and approved on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by A. J. Savasta.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
The Superintendent Transfers were read and approved on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
The Bill Schedule for January 2006 was read and approved on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by A. J. Savasta.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
No correspondence was read.
Ms. Martin reading the rules, called for public comments.
Ms. Joann Piazzi, Mr. William MacGregor, Dirck Leys and Reginald Willcox made comments to the Board. Mag Scarey thanked the board for their hard work resulting in a successful vote on the referendum for a renovation.
In response to a request by Ms. Piazzi, William Halterman put the following impromptu resolution forward:
RESOLVED, the Board of Education will provide copies of financial documents to the public at its regularly scheduled monthly meetings on motion by William Haltermann seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, that the Board approves the recommendation from the Committee on Special Education for student #’s: 36, 315, 430, 447, 462, 463, 468, 489, 514, 518, 532, 550, 554-P, 569, 570 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 property survey proposal from Regen Land Surveying of Oneonta, New York, at a total sum of $9800, as presented under separate cover on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Drew Shuster questioned the discrepancy between the two bids received. Mr. Wiktorko responded that according to the scope of work, accepting the low bid was recommended.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts the archeological survey proposal from Nina M. Versaggi, PhD at Binghamton University at a sum of $12,782, with said proposal per requirements of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and as presented under separate cover on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by A.J. Savasta.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, that the Board approves increasing the Senior Citizen Tax Exemption for the year 2006 to $17,500 on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
William Haltermann commented that he would like to see the Board adopt a resolution for a tax exemption for the disabled at a later meeting. Mr. Wiktorko stated that he would have a resolution available at the next meeting.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
BOND RESOLUTION DATED JANUARY 12, 2006 OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AUTHORIZING NOT TO EXCEED $18,870,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SERIAL GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION OF LAND AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONS TO AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING AT AN ESTIMATED MAXIMUM COST OF $18,870,000, LEVY OF TAX IN ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS IN PAYMENT THEREOF, THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE, AND DETERMINING OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
WHEREAS, the qualified voters of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District, New York, (the “District”) at a special meeting of voters duly held on December 20, 2005, duly approved a proposition authorizing the issuance of serial general obligation bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $18,870,000 to finance the acquisition of approximately five (5) acres of land adjacent to or in close proximity to the School Building and construction of additions to and the reconstruction of the School Building, including site work and the acquisition of original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such additions and reconstructed building is to be used, the levy of a tax to be collected in installments in payment thereof and the expenditure of such sum for such purpose; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The District shall acquire approximately five (5) acres of land adjacent to or in close proximity to the School Building and construct additions to and reconstruct the School Building, including site work and the acquisition of original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such additions and reconstructed building is to be used at a maximum cost of $18,870,000, as more particularly described in Section 3 hereof.
Section 2. The District is hereby authorized to issue its serial general obligation bonds (the “Bonds”) in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $18,870,000 pursuant to the Local Finance Law of New York, in order to finance the class of objects or purposes described herein.
Section 3. The class of objects or purposes to be financed pursuant to this Resolution (the “Purpose”) is the acquisition of approximately five (5) acres of land adjacent to or in close proximity to the School Building and construction of additions to and the reconstruction of the School Building, including site work and the acquisition of original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such additions and reconstructed buildings are to be used.
Section 4. It is hereby determined and declared that (a) the maximum cost of the Purpose, as estimated by the Board of Education, is $18,870,000, (b) no money has heretofore been authorized to be applied to the payment of the cost of the Purpose, and (c) the School District plans to finance the cost of the Purpose from funds raised by the issuance of the Bonds and bond anticipation notes hereinafter referred to.
Section 5. It is hereby determined that the Purpose is one of the class of objects or purposes described in Subdivision 97 of Paragraph a of Section 11.00 of the Local Finance Law, and that the period of probable usefulness of the Purpose is thirty (30) years.
Section 6. Subject to the provisions of the Local Finance Law, the power to authorize the issuance of and to sell bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the sale of the Bonds, including renewals of such notes, is hereby delegated to the President of the Board of Education, the chief fiscal officer. Such notes shall be of such terms, form and contents, and shall be sold in such manner, as may be prescribed by said President of the Board of Education, consistent with the provisions of the Local Finance Law.
Section 7. The power to further authorize the issuance of the Bonds and bond anticipation notes and to prescribe the terms, form and contents of the Bonds and bond anticipation notes, including the consolidation with other issues and the use of substantially level or declining annual debt service as provided by Section 21 of the Local Finance Law, subject to the provisions of this Resolution and the Local Finance Law, and to sell and deliver the Bonds and bond anticipation notes, is hereby delegated to the President of the Board of Education. The President of the Board of Education is hereby authorized to sign and the District Clerk is hereby authorized to attest any Bonds and bond anticipation notes issued pursuant to this Resolution, and the District Clerk is hereby authorized to affix to such Bonds and bond anticipation notes the corporate seal of the District.
Section 8. The faith and credit of the District are hereby irrevocably pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on the Bonds and bond anticipation notes as the same respectively become due and payable. An annual appropriation shall be made in each year sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such obligations becoming due and payable in such year. There shall be levied annually on all taxable real property of the District, a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such obligations as the same become due and payable.
Section 9. This Resolution shall constitute the declaration of the District’s “official intent” to reimburse expenditures authorized by Section 1 with proceeds of the Bonds and notes, as required by United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.150-2.
Section 10. This Resolution shall be published in full by the District Clerk together with a notice in substantially the form prescribed by Section 81.00 of said Local Finance Law, and such publication shall be in each official newspaper of the District. The validity of the Bonds or of any bond anticipation notes issued in anticipation of the sale of the Bonds may be contested only if such obligations are authorized for an object or purpose for which the District is not authorized to expend money, or the provisions of law which should be complied with at the date of publication of this Resolution are not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty (20) days after the date of such publication; or if said obligations are authorized in violation of the provisions of the Constitution.
Section 11. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
On motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
William Haltermann asked that the following be included in the minutes for the above resolution: The Board is approving this resolution as an enabling resolution and does not provide this resolution to be a blank check; Bond Anticipation Notes are not paid by tax levy.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
Important dates were read.
Mr. Wiktorko gave his report:
Thanked everyone for their support of the Renovation Project.
Thanked the Board of Education for their investment of time for the Renovation Project.
The next step in the process will be meeting with SED and the architects to plan the phasing of the project
$18,870,000 is the maximum amount to be spent on the project. State Aid figures are approximately $5,000,000 and will lower the amount the tax payer pays
Asked the Board to propose dates for financial training by Chuck Bastion
In the process of developing a model for the building project.
The March Conference Day can be moved in case another snow day is needed. For safety reasons, snow days will be called when needed regardless of the number of days used.
Introduced Ms. LeRoy and asked the Board to give any additional comments or changes on the Course Selection Guide to her for finalization at the February Board Meeting. The budgetary implications for offering AP courses will be discussed at a future meeting.
Asked the Board to review the Goals & Strategies to gage what has to be done in order to meet the goals by July 2006.
An ad will be placed in the newspaper for the next two weeks seeking two qualified candidates to serve on the Audit Finance Committee in order to appoint them by the February board meeting. The Audit Finance Committee is an advisory committee to the Board.
Asked the Board for suggested topics and dates for the Board Training Retreat to be held in early July 2006.
The Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District permits public comment to the Board of Education at its meetings. 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.
Mr. MacGregor voiced a concern about the location of executive sessions.
An addition to the agenda was added to ensure that the Audit Finance Committee was established following statute, the following resolution was restated.
RESOLVED, in compliance with Chapter 263 of the Laws of 2005 and Education Law section 2116-c, commonly referred to as the Five Point Plan Legislation, the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District Board of Education shall hereby establish an audit committee to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The committee shall be established annually and shall report directly to the Board. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that:
1. The powers, duties and functions of such committees shall be determined by the Board, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
2. The committee is advisory only and shall have no power to act for the Board.
3. The committee shall consist of two Board of Education members and up to two community members as selected by the Board of Education. Neither school district employees nor their immediate relatives shall be eligible to serve on this committee.
4. The term of service will be one year unless reappointed by the Board, with appointment to the committee, along with its’ establishment occurring annually.
5. The Superintendent retains the authority and duty to advise the board on all matters. It would be expected that the superintendent will take part in board discussions related to audit committee recommendations
6. For the remainder of the 2005-06 school year, Board members A. J. Savasta and William Haltermann will remain on the Audit Finance Committee as appointed at the reorganization meeting.
7. This resolution replaces all previous language establishing an Audit Finance Committee on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Drew Shuster.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, that the Board go into Executive Session at 8:46 PM to discuss the employment history of 3 employees leading to the possible appointment of employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of these persons on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin, Savasta and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
The items discussed during the Executive Session will be made public as appropriate at future meetings of the Board of Education.
The Board reconvened into regular session at _______ on motion by ______, seconded by _____, and carried by those present.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 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