WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL
Board of Education Minutes
October 11, 2007 Workshop Meeting October 4,2007
Regular Meeting
W.A. J. Savasta, President
Members Present:
A. J. Savasta,
William Haltermann
Jacqueline Maier
Drew Shuster
John Gratto
Anne Rode
John Wiktorko,
Superintendent,
Marge Curran, Treasurer
Members Absent:
Teri Martin
Others Present:
Mag Scarey
Michael Ryan
M/M Robert Pelham
Board President, A. J. Savasta, called the meeting to order at 7:12 p.m.
Mr. Savasta led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Minutes of the September 13, 2007 meeting were read, amended and approved on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Treasurer’s Report for August 2007 was read and approved on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Board approves the Bill Schedule for October 2007 as presented, on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Drew Shuster:
General Fund –Checks # 35243 to 35344 in the amount of $315,010.68
Federal Fund – Checks # 2103 to 2107 in the amount of $30,558.28
Capital Fund – Checks #1043 to 1053 in the amount of $1,542,966.91
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 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 Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
There was no correspondence.
There were no public comments.
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board appoints the following individuals to the extra curricular positions for the 2007-08 school year as presented:
Morning Program Team – Genevieve DeBoyace
Class of 2009 Co-Advisor– Joanne Conlin
Ski Tuesday Coordinator – Amy Bentley
Ski Tuesday Aide – Denise Woodbeck
Enrichment Program (Arts in Education) Coordinator – Jay Laveroni
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts the resignation of Joanne Daly as the Advisor of the National Junior Honor Society.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves adding Andrew Valerio to the substitute bus driver list.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts the Annual Report of the Independent Auditors, Alexander Varga & Company, for the year ended June 30, 2007 as presented on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Mr. Haltermann felt that the auditors had only minor recommendations this year after he and Mr. Wiktorko met with their representatives. The report was later than usual this year and, therefore, there was no time available for the entire board or the Audit Finance Committee to read the report before the vote. Mr. Haltermann recommended that it be approved by the Board.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier Abstain: 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: 342, 378, 1088 and 1212
on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by Drew Shuster.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Audit Finance Committee and the Superintendent, the Board adopts the 2007-08 Budget Calendar as presented under separate cover on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts $18,500 from the Town of Windham for costs related to the municipal water connection at the Windham-Ashland-Jewett campus on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
Mr. Wiktorko commented that this was a good example of the community and the school working together to produce a win/win situation.
Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accepts $201.00 from the Windham-Ashland-Jewett PTSA towards the costs of the playground on motion by Jacqueline Maier and seconded by Drew Shuster.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the proposed senior class trip to Orlando, Florida, from Saturday, March 1, 2008, until Tuesday, March 4, 2008, as requested by senior class advisors, Amy Bentley and Lara McAneny; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorize two instructional days to accommodate the trip, that all school policies and protocols will be followed by all participants throughout the duration of the trip and that the Superintendent or his designee may conduct all appropriate meetings and take appropriate actions to ensure the highest level of safety AND FURTHERMORE, that the Superintendent is authorized to allow an appropriate number of chaperones to supervise the trip on motion by Drew Shuster and seconded by Jacqueline Maier.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier and Shuster.
No 0 Motion Carried
Important dates were read.
The Principal, Anne Rode gave her report:
Student-Related Activities:
7-12 Assembly, October 5, 2007:
Students were well behaved
Presentation: Yellow Ribbons (suicide-prevention program)
Student of the Month
Morning Program
First Wednesday of each month
November: Veterans will visit
Just over 50 parents at the last assembly
College Night, September 26,14 parents, and three students; record attendance
Reps. from SUNY Oneonta Admissions, Key Bank’s Educational Resource Dept. in Albany
Playground Assistants
Enhancing supervision through this program; The goal is one older child per recess time
Training October 24; to begin October 25
Designed to enhance recess time for the younger students but also serves a distinct purpose for the high school student: leadership, community-building activities, conflict-resolution techniques. Monitors will assist Nicole Baldner with evaluation and feedback of the Playground Assistants
Athletics: A handout from Jim Adair, the Athletic Director
PTSA:
After School Program: over 100 students participating;
Attending PTA meetings is helpful in getting to know parents and facilitating the projects they initiate
Dr. John Gratto, the Assistant Superintendent, gave his report as follows:
The Academic Committee: Reports and discussion regarding The Comprehensive District Education Plan
Making plans for October 19th Staff Development Day and other staff development needs.
The K-6 faculty met on September 19th and the consensus was to begin using a basal reading series. A Textbook Committee has been formed to begin reviewing series. With the implementation of a basal reading series for English Language Arts, the steps we are implementing this year to raise students’ skills and scores are:
Teaching English Language Arts for a minimum of one-hour a day.
Teaching English Language Arts for one period with an additional teacher.
Teaching math with an additional teacher for at least one period a day.
Using curriculum maps to guide instruction and ensure that all Learning Standards and performance indicators are taught.
Using a basal reading series as a core instructional tool for ELA in grades K-6
Teacher evaluations began in September.
Individualized goal setting meetings have occurred with all teachers.
Attendance is still better this year.
Mr. Wiktorko gave his report:
The Comprehensive District Education Plan should be reviewed by the Board and feedback given
The above will be on the November Agenda to allow for discussion
The Capital Project is on time and on budget
The Windham Autumn Fair was very successful
The Meatball Roll Off at Windham Mountain raised $3,000 for the school
There have been a few bus loop violators but our staff has been able to take care of this
There were no additions to the Agenda.
Mr. Savasta called for public comments.
Bridget Pelham wanted to thank the Mr. Wiktorko and the Board of Education for a quiet school year in spite of the construction project.
RESOLVED, that the Board go into Executive Session at 8:10 p.m. for the purposes of discussing collective bargaining on motion by William Haltermann and seconded by Drew Shuster.
Yes Savasta, Haltermann, Maier 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 8:59 p.m. on motion by William Haltermann, seconded by Drew Shuster, and carried by those present.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 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