BOARD OF EDUCATION
MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
FEBRUARY 5, 2004
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Thursday, February 5, 2004, at the Board of Education Office, 223 Wisner Avenue, Board President Robin Markovits, presiding.
Present: Dr. Best, Mr. Crescenzo, Mrs. Elliott, Mr. Estrada, Mrs. Knapp
Mr. McCormack, Mr. Perrino, Mrs. Botti, Mrs. Markovits – 9.
Absent: None.
Others Patricia McLeod, Acting Superintendent
Present: Timothy Conway, Deputy Superintendent
Patricia Reilly, Acting Asst. Supt. for Curriculum & Instruction
Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
Ellen Kaplan, Director for Personnel Services
Peter Ancona, Director of Technology
Lorelei Case, School Business Executive
Mrs. Markovits called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mrs. Elliott made a motion, seconded by Mr. McCormack, to have an executive session to discuss specific personnel issues concerning the Board and the State Education Department-appointed monitor and to hear an appeal of a superintendent’s hearing decision. Motion was unanimously approved.
Public session resumed at 7:29 p.m. Mrs. Markovits led the pledge to the flag.
Mrs. McLeod announced that because of the number of snow days already used this year, school will be in session on February 13. Additional days, if needed, will come from the spring recess, beginning with April 14, then April 13, and April 12. The District will be closed on February 16 in observance of Presidents’ Day.
Mrs. McLeod introduced Athletic Director Jon Jefferson and Coach Frank Woodward who announced that the Girls Varsity Swim Team has been recognized as a scholar/athlete team. Mr. Woodward said this continues a tradition of more than ten years for the swim team. Mr. Jefferson said that this is the fourth Middletown team that has received scholar/athlete distinction this year.
Mrs. McLeod said that the 4th grade ELA exams have now been concluded for this year and the Terra Nova exams will be administered on February 18 and 19.
Mrs. Elliott made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the minutes of December 17, 18, and 22, 2003.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
No written communications were read.
Mrs. Elliott made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to approve Personnel Memorandum #13, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Elliott made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crescenzo, to abolish the Part-time Transportation Liaison position and a part-time Keyboard Special position and to create a 12-month Keyboard Specialist Position in its place effective March 1, 2004.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Botti, Markovits – 6. Noes: Knapp, McCormack, Perrino – 3. Motion was declared approved.
Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to table the request for personnel folders for the purpose of conducting personnel business in executive session.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Response to Previous Questions:
Mrs. McLeod clarified that the bridge program at Twin Towers is academically driven, while the Repair Shop program at the High School is geared toward behavior improvement. Mrs. McLeod said that although the District’s racial balance requirements have been met, the District can continue to use magnet funds because our community demographics have remained the same.
Mrs. McLeod reported that BOCES may defer costs for books and materials for the New Visions program for students in high-need situations.
Mrs. Markovits said that a question had been raised regarding parental rights and responsibilities. Because parents’ rights and responsibilities touch on much of the District’s policy manual, the scope of this concern will need to be narrowed for appropriate response.
Mrs. Markovits also said that the SES questions asked are part of a long-term evaluation. Issues such as attendance and increased test scores will be visited at the conclusion of the first year.
Mrs. Markovits said that the District is exploring the possibility of having a database that will compile information pertaining to District donations.
No visitors asked to address the Board.
Board Member Reports:
Mrs. Botti and Mr. Crescenzo met this week as the Board’s policy update team to work on three polices: anti-harassment in the school district, equal employment opportunities, and equal education opportunities. Mrs. Botti said that legislation addressing sexual orientation non-discrimination necessitated some changes to these policies. Mrs. Botti said that the District’s attorneys are now reviewing the draft policies which will soon be sent to the Board for first readings.
Mr. Perrino complimented the Buildings and Grounds staff for the good job they did during the recent snow storms. He also suggested that the New Visions program be publicized earlier so that more students can participate. Mr. Perrino also spoke about a library program at Chorley in honor of Chinese New Year. Students are constructing a dragon where each dragon scale is a book that students have read.
Mrs. McLeod said that many meetings have been held concerning the change in the Orange-Ulster Health Plan. She said that members of the Health Plan team are contacting physicians to encourage them to join the plan, and many have done so in the last few weeks. Middletown has requested a comparative analysis of the current plan to other plans and an analysis of the anticipated cost savings.
Mrs. Botti said that an overview of the New Visions program was recently given at BOCES. She said that 17 school districts participate in the program. Mrs. Botti said that the OCCC transcript and the high school transcript will be used by the students when applying for college. She said that the students who spoke at the presentation said the program was helpful in preparing them to get into their college of choice.
Mrs. Markovits reported the following:
The Middletown Teacher Center’s advocacy campaign is underway. A petition is available for signature that calls for the governor to fully fund teacher centers around the State. She noted that only one-third of the funding is in the Governor’s proposed budget.
The Board agreed to forgo a BOCES administrative budget presentation, noting the written information that is available. Mrs. Markovits said that the terms of three BOCES board members expire June 30 and outlined some of the requirements for nomination to the BOCES Board.
Mrs. McLeod reviewed the proposed 2004-05 School District Calendar, which will be presented for approval by the Board at its next meeting. She noted that students will be starting school before Labor Day.
Mrs. McLeod said that the parent/community relations advocate job description has been amended to build in flexible hours. Mr. Estrada noted that in a recent New York State School Board’s Association newspaper, there was an article which highlighted Newburgh’s parent liaison position and how this program was started in Newburgh.
Mr. Scott reviewed the February 2004 Executive Summary for the Mechanicstown construction project. He spoke about contract amounts and scheduling information. Mr. Scott said that even with this year’s weather, the project is substantially on target. He said a classroom occupancy date of September 2005 is anticipated.
Mrs. McLeod presented Superintendent approved budget transfer #8.
Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Elliott, to approve Special Services Memorandum #13, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Elliott made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve Financial Memorandum #13, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the 2003-04 District Leadership Goals.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Markovits thanked Mrs. McLeod and the administrative staff for preparing the leadership goals. She said the goals were very comprehensive and established a direction for the District.
Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to adopt the policy entitled Internet Content Filtering/Safety Policy, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to adopt the policy entitled Staff Use of Computerized Information Resources, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Elliot, to authorize the public advertisement for proposals for the following services:
Kitchen hood and Exhaust Duct Clearing
Boiler Service and Cleaning
Furnishing and Installing – Vehicle Maintenance Lift
Integrated Pest Management
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crescenzo, to amend the agenda to consider a resolution pertaining to the District’s legal representation.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Elliott, to approve the following resolution:
Be it resolved, that the law firms of Rains and Pogrebin, P.C. and Lamb & Barnosky, LLP are hereby retained to defend the District and the individual District defendants in the matter of Bernard H. Cohen v. Middletown City School District, et al., 04-CIV-0711.
Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Elliott, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Botti, Markovits – 9. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Visitors:
Nancy Bookbinder addressed how information is being communicated to graduating students and their parents.
Roundtable:
Mr. Estrada spoke about Medicaid reimbursement claims. He suggested that the district investigate the possibility of using the private firm that NYSSBA has endorsed to perform this work. Additional funds could be realized and staff currently doing this work could be re-assigned to other areas. Mrs. Elliott expressed confidence in the work that is being done by Special Services and the Business Office in this regard.
Mr. Crescenzo thanked Bob Gaydos, editor of the editorial page of the Times Herald Record for printing his recent My View article. Since its publication, Mr. Crescenzo said that he has received much community support of the Board.
Mr. Crescenzo said that Middletown provides one of the best special education programs in the county, in-house, providing the least restrictive environment for the student. It is cost effective and progress can been seen every day.
Mrs. Knapp inquired about the costs of the New Visions program compared to the costs for college courses taken in the High School.
Mr. Perrino requested periodic updates on the status of the High School.
Mrs. Botti said that some recent letters in the newspaper may have been misleading. She said that there are laws that govern the operation of school boards and laws that define executive sessions and what can be discussed. She said that all board members attend executive sessions and are responsible for their own participation. Mrs. Botti said that it is the board member’s responsibility to determine what transpired in executive session if the board member cannot be present.
Mr. Estrada said that as a new school board member, he came in with an open mind, determined to make any improprieties known. After having served on the Board for the past several months, he said he can assure the community that he has found no impropriety. However, in both correspondence and via the microphone, some community members have been demeaning in their speech. Mr. Estrada urged everyone to choose their words wisely.
At 9:00 p.m., Mrs. Elliott made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to have an executive session to discuss matters pertaining to potential litigation, personnel matters leading to the employment of a superintendent of schools, and specific personnel issues that are contractual. Motion was unanimously approved.
Public session resumed at 11:00 p.m. There being no further business, Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to adjourn the meeting at this time. Motion was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Alicia E. Olsen
School District Clerk
ENLARGED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
PUPIL PERSONNEL/SPECIAL SERVICES
MEMORANDUM #13
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
DATE: February 5, 2004
RE: Committee on Special Education/Committee on Preschool Special Education
Resolved, that the special programs and services required by the recommendations in the Pupil Personnel/Special Services Memorandum No. 13 dated February 5, 2004, shall be implemented by the Board of Education within the time period provided by law, and
Be it further resolved, that the proposed appointments set forth below to the CSE and CPSE are hereby confirmed.
1. COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
November 12, 18, December 2, 16, 17, 2003 and January 6, 7, 14, 2004
2. COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
February 3, 2004
3. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION:
MEMBER NAME POSITION EFFECTIVE
4. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION:
MEMBER NAME POSITION EFFECTIVE
5. APPOINTMENTS OF SURROGATE PARENTS:
MEMBER NAME POSITION EFFECTIVE
ENLARGED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM #13
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Lorelei Case, School Business Administrator
DATE: February 5, 2004
RE: Financial Memorandum #13
1. Donation Accepted
Resolved, that the Middletown Board of Education accepts with gratitude the following donation:
Football team
Seidman Family Foundation $250.00
2. Establishment of Scholarship
Girls Varsity Swimming and Diving Team
Booster Club Scholarship
3. Expense Report Approved
Resolved, that the Middletown Board of Education accepts the following report for the month of November 2003:
Expense Report