WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL

Board of Education Minutes

April 19, 2007
Regular Meeting
Windham School

Members Present:
Teri Martin, President
A. J. Savasta
William Haltermann
Jacqueline Maier

Members Absent:
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 7:12 p.m.

Ms. Martin led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Minutes of the March 15, 2007 minutes were read and approved on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Yes Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster
Abstain Haltermann Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Treasurer’s Report for February 2007 was read and approved on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by A. J. Savasta.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Treasurer’s Report for March 2007 was read and approved on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Bill Schedule for April 2007 was approved on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by William Haltermann.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

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

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster 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 approves adding Joyce Horan to the substitute Teacher’s/Tutors list on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, in compliance with the provisions of Section 3012(2) of the Education Law and part 30.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents and upon recommendation of the Superintendent, that Bridget Pelham be appointed on tenure to the position of teacher in the Special Education tenure area, who holds a valid New York State Certificate permitting her to teach subjects in the aforesaid tenure area AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Board of Education of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett-Central School District does hereby make this appointment effective September 1, 2007 on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by A. J. Savasta.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board regretfully accepts the resignation of Jean Stremlo, Teaching Assistant, effective June 30, 2007 on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by A.J. Savasta.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board appoints Wendy Oftedal to the supervisory position of Transportation Supervisor, with a probationary term of six months and a starting salary of $44,000 effective 4/19/07 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said appointment is made pending clearance from the Commissioner of Education and successful completion of appropriate civil service examinations as required on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, the Board of Education appoints Felicia Senigo, District Clerk, as Chairperson for the Annual District meeting on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED: upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board of Education affirms the appointment of Board of Registration: Margaret Tompkins; Roberta Vining; Patricia Charbonneau and Joanne Conlin; alternates, Denise Woodbeck; Cathy Euchler; Tellers: John Mattice, Alternate- Bruce Pallas; and up to 3 representatives from the Greene County Board of Election as deemed necessary by the Board of Education on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by A. J. Savasta.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the recommendation from the Committee on Special Education for student #’s: 1036, 897, 340 on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, the Board of Education of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District adopts the 2007-2008 Budget in the sum of $10,447,652 on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Mr. Haltermann wanted to emphasize that if the resolution to use the Capital Reserve fund passed at the Annual Meeting, this money would be used to reduce the borrowing on the project by $1,000,000. Mr. Wiktorko also wanted to thank the Audit Finance Committee for the hard work they did this year to help reduce the tax levy to an increase of only 2.82%.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried
RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District Property Tax Report Card for the 2007-2008 school year as presented under separate cover on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board authorizes Policy 6213.2 "Excellence in Tenure Policy” as presented under separate cover to be effective at a date to be determined, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this constitutes the "first" reading of this policy on motion by A. J. Savasta and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board authorizes the Superintendent to sign an easement agreement between the Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD and NYSEG Corporation, for the purposes outlined in the agreement under separate cover AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution is effective immediately on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by A. J. Savasta.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent (if no additional emergency closure days are required through May 24, 2007, the Board authorizes modification of the 2006-2007 calendar designating May 25, 2007 as a vacation day, officially closing the school on that day on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by William Haltermann.

Yes Haltermann, Maier, Martin and Savasta. Absent Shuster Motion Carried

Important dates were read.

Dr. Gratto gave the following report:

• Tentative plans have been made to form an Academic Committee that will align with the WAJ Mission Statement.
  Membership will include 2 Board members, teacher representatives, a parent designated by the PTA, a community member, and either one or both Guidance Counselors depending on the grade level of the work.
  Presently, there are 15 possible issues to address beginning in May 2007
  There will be an ice-cream social with the Board of Education for students on Principal’s List, High Honor Roll and Honor Roll at 2:30 p.m., May 1, 2007 in the cafeteria.
  Tentative Enrollment for AP and College Courses for the 2007-08 school year was outlined
  This year produced the best results during the past 8 years in the Parents as Reading Partners Program.
  The Science Club trip to Costa Rica was a huge success.
  Reported Student Attendance was better for March 2007 than for March 2006

Mr. Wiktorko reported

• We are still awaiting final approval from the State Education Department for the project building permit
  The project is still on time (bid calendar projections, phasing)
  The project is still on budget

During the public comments portion of the meeting, Bridget Pelham thanked the Board of Education and Mr. Wiktorko for granting her tenure and expressed that she felt privileged to be able to work at the school.

Mr. Wiktorko reminded the Board that there will be a special Board meeting on Monday, April 23, 2007 to vote on the BOCES budget and new BOCES Board members at 7:15 p.m. in the school library.

RESOLVED, that the Board go into Executive Session at 7:49 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the employment history of 5 employees leading to the possible appointment of employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of this person and collective bargaining.

The items discussed during the Executive Session will be made public as appropriate at future meetings of the Board of Education on motion by William Haltermann, seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.

The Board reconvened into regular session at 10:02 p.m. on motion by William Halterman, seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts the agreement dated April 16, 2007 between the Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD and Wendy Oftedal, WAJ Transportation Supervisor, as presented under separate cover on motion by A. J. Savasta seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board adopts the Course Selection Guide for the 2007-2008 school year as presented under cover on motion by A. J. Savasta seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the contract between Dr. John Gratto and the Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD as presented under separate cover on motion by A. J. Savasta seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:04 p.m. on motion by William Halterman, seconded by Jacqueline Maier and carried by those present.

Felicia Senigo, Clerk of the Board
John Wiktorko, Clerk Pro Tem

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