03.13.2008

A. J. Savasta
William Haltermann
Jacqueline Maier
Teri Martin
Drew Shuster
John Wiktorko, Superintendent
Marge Curran, Treasurer

John Gratto
Anne Rode
Debbie Bunce
Bridget Pelham
Bobby Pelham
Jennifer Stokes
Mag Scarey
John Watts

Regular Business

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Minutes of the February 14, 2008 meeting were read and approved on motion by Teri Martin and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Treasurer’s Report for February 2008 was read and approved on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Drew Shuster.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Board approves the Bill Schedule for March 2008 as presented, on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Teri Martin

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Superintendent’s Transfers were approved on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by Drew Shuster.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Board approves the Extra Curricular Activities Account for the month of January 2008 on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Drew Shuster.

Nina Berger LTS

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board appoints Nina Berger as a maternity leave long-term substitute teacher for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year, effective March 17, 2008 through June 30, 2008, which will be Ms. Berger's last day of employment AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT she will be paid on Step 1 as per the current W-A-J Teachers’ Association Contract pending a Clearance for Appointment from the Commissioner of Education as presented under separate cover on motion by Teri Martin and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Baldner Maternity Leave of Absence

Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board grants a Maternity Leave of Absence to Nicole Baldner beginning September 2, 2008 and returning January 5, 2009 as presented under separate cover on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by Drew Shuster.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves adding Mary Kornbeck to list of substitute Bus and Cafeteria Monitors pending a Clearance for Appointment from the Commissioner of Education on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Teri Martin.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts the resignation of Ms. Michelle Beaumont from the Extra Curricular position of Junior Class Advisor on motion by Teri Martin and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Murray Sutton Sub Teachers

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves adding the following individuals to the list of Substitute Teachers and Tutors for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year pending a Clearance for Appointment from the Commissioner of Education as presented under separate cover on motion by Teri Martin and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Casazza Belanouane Mattice Griffin Sub TA

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves adding the following individuals to the list of Substitute Teacher's Assistants for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year pending a Clearance for Appointment from the Commissioner of Education as presented under separate cover on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Pushman Sub Custodian

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves adding Maxwell Pushman to the list of Substitute Custodians for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year pending a Clearance for Appointment from the Commissioner of Education as presented under separate cover on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by Drew Shuster.

Project Change Orders

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the Change Order No. GC-1 dated February 6, 2008 and Change Order No. GC-2 dated February 12, 2008 from F.E. Jones Construction as presented under separate cover on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Jacqueline Maier. Mr. Haltermann wanted the details. Mr. Wiktorko explained that that we had saved money on the project so we were installing terrazzo rather than vinyl tile and replacement of unsuitable soil outdoors. Mr. Watts, the District Construction Manager, stated that sometimes change orders are a good thing. Mr. Savasta thanked Mr. Watts on behalf of the District for the savings and his hard work.

Proposition For Annual Meeting

RESOLVED, by the Board of Education of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD that the following proposition be presented to the voters at the Annual Meeting to be held on May 20, 2008:

Proposition #2: Shall the Board of Education of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD be authorized to acquire one 28-passenger school bus at a maximum estimated cost not to exceed $51,000 and one 65-passenger school bus at a maximum estimated cost not to exceed $90,700 and expend a total not to exceed $141,700 from existing funds to finance such acquisition?

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the District Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to include a notice of the aforementioned propositions in the legal notice of the Annual Meeting, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution takes effect immediately upon its adoption on motion by Teri Martin and seconded by Jacqueline Maier. Mr. Wiktorko wanted the Board to note that these funds were not from the Reserve Funds. Mr. Haltermann stated that he supports using existing funds rather than using the Reserve Funds that have been set aside.

District Comprehens.Education Plan

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the District Comprehensive Education Plan 2008 as presented under separate cover on motion by Teri Martin and seconded by Jacqueline Maier. John Gratto was asked to give part of his presentation at this time to explain, in depth, the plan and to answer any questions that the Board may have. Dr. Gratto explained that because we have been found by the State Education Department to be "a school in need of improvement", we were required to write a plan addressing the steps that will be taken to ensure that we make progress as required under The No Child Left Behind Act.

Shared Decision Making Plan

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the updated District Shared Decision Making Plan as presented under separate cover on motion by Teri and seconded by Jacqueline Maier. Mr. Haltermann questioned the need for this document and was told by Mr. Wiktorko that we are required to update this plan every two years.

CSE Approvals

Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the recommendation from the Committee on Special Education, Committee on Pre-School Special Education and the Americans with Disability Act, Section 504 for student #’s:. 403 on motion by Teri Martin and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Priorities of the Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) and District academic goals
Institute a scientifically backed literacy program and provide needed training to the teachers
Put a plan into place that will ensure that out-of-district placements take the State exam
Teachers need to give their students feedback on how they are doing during the school year.
Rubrics will be posted in every classroom to show the correlation between effort and achievement
Teachers need to review the objectives with their students for each lesson before the start of the lesson
Put strategies in place to meet the learning needs of boys to increase their achievement
Teach the specific skills that students need by using the item analysis performed for the 2007 tests
Dr. Gratto thanked the School Leadership Team who put in a lot of time and effort to get this plan together.
A Superintendent's Conference staff development day is planned for Friday, March 14.
The State math test for grades 3-8 was administered in the last two weeks. An item analysis will be done for the purpose of informing the teachers of performance indicators missed most frequently.

Ms. Rode reported a summary regarding winter and spring athletics and the following:

K-4 grades went on a field trip to the Butterfly Museum in Oneonta
Jay Laveroni took students on a field trip to the Rock Gym and got some ideas for our own gym
Suicide Prevention training
Seniors had a great time in Orlando, Fla. on their senior trip
The Drama production and the Senior Citizen dinner are taking place at this time

Mr. Wiktorko Report

Mr. Wiktorko gave his monthly report as follows:

Screening interviews for Asst. Superintendent next week with process through April
Re-aligning the staff and departmentalizing 5th and 6th grade was discussed in detail including cost-saving estimates and anticipated program enhancements (elementary, high school, CSE/Psychologist).
Capital Project is ahead of time and still on budget – Update report given.
The differences between the #1 and #2 Draft Budgets for the 2008-09 school year are outlined for easy distinction; a final budget will be presented, incorporating BOE/community input at the April Board of Education meeting
Budget adoption at the April 10th Board meeting
Will be attending multiple job fairs in the coming month

Public Comments
There were no additions to the agenda.

Deborah Bunce, Windham, asked questions about and departmentalization and potential complications for staffing in an updated schedule. Mr. Wiktorko answered her questions, offering to provide more detail after the meeting.

Bridget Pelham, Windham, asked if WAJ would be developing IEP's for all students in the school as previously discussed, to which Mr. Wiktorko replied affirmatively.

Executive Session

RESOLVED, that the Board go into Executive Session at 9:16 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the employment history of 8 employee leading to the possible appointment of employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of these persons and potential litigation on motion by Teri Martin, seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.

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 9:35 p.m. on motion by William Haltermann, seconded by Drew Shuster and carried by those present. Upon reconvening into regular session, the board continued to discuss the 2008-09 budget draft and additional voter propositions, adding a 2008 Bus Purchase Reserve for voter consideration to be added to the public notice.

Proposition #3
Proposition #3: Shall the Board of Education of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD be authorized to establish a reserve fund in accordance with Education Law Section 3651, to be known as the 2008 Bus Purchase Reserve Fund, for the purchase of school vehicles and equipment, in an ultimate amount not to exceed $300,000 and a probable term of 5 years; and to fund the 2008 Bus Purchase Reserve Fund with the remaining balance of the existing 2004 Bus Purchase Reserve Fund on motion by William Halterman and seconded by Drew Shuster.

Felicia Senigo, Clerk of the Board

John Wiktorko, Clerk Pro Tem