BOARD OF EDUCATION

MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK

SPECIAL MEETING

AUGUST 6, 2003

A special meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Wednesday, August 6, 2003, at the Board of Education Office, 223 Wisner Avenue, beginning at 6:00 p.m., Board Robin Markovits, presiding. 

Present: Dr. Best, Mr. Crescenzo, Mr. Estrada, Mrs. Knapp, Mr. McCormack,

Mr. Perrino, Mrs. Markovits – 7.

Absent: Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. Botti – 2.

Others Patricia McLeod, Acting Superintendent

Present: Timothy Conway, Deputy Superintendent

Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services

Mrs. Markovits opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. 

Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to have an executive session for the discussion of matters relating to the promotion of a particular person. 

Ayes: Best, Crescenzo, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Markovits – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.

Public session resumed at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Markovits said that this special meeting was called for policy readings, approval of personnel appointments/resignation, approval of arbitration resolution, and for an executive session to review the employment history of a particular person.

Mrs. Markovits presented a policy on Executive Misconduct, copy attached, for a first reading by the Board of Education. She said that this policy was developed as a result of a weakness in the State statutes. The Board reviewed each segment of the policy, with Mrs. Markovits explaining the steps that will be followed if it becomes necessary to issue a letter of reprimand or admonition to the Superintendent of Schools. Mrs. Markovits thanked the members of the committee -- Mr. Conway, Jan Hammond of SUNY New Paltz, and Jim Loeb, an attorney from the Newburgh area – for working with her.

Mrs. Markovits next presented a policy on Staff/Student Relations, copy 

attached, for a first reading.   Mrs. Markovits said that the Staff-Student Relations Ad Hoc Committee considered the definition of excessive interaction, reporting responsibilities, executive misconduct, investigation procedures, consistency in school procedures, and staff training.  The report generated by the committee assisted in the formulation of the policy.  

Mrs. Markovits said that the policies will be presented for adoption at the Board’s next meeting, August 13, 2003.

Resignation Accepted – R. Sigler, Superintendent of Schools 

Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to approve the following resolution:

The Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York, hereby accepts the resignation from employment of former Superintendent of Schools Robert H. Sigler, effective retroactive to July 23, 2003.

Ayes:  Best, Crescenzo, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Markovits – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Withdrawal of Disciplinary Charges Approved 

Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve the following resolution:

The Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York, hereby authorizes the withdrawal of the disciplinary charges pending against a District employee, as the employee’s resignation from employment has rendered those proceedings moot.

Ayes:  Best, Crescenzo, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Markovits – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Vincent Coppola Appointed for Superintendent Search 

Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to approve the following resolution:

Resolved, that the Board of Education hereby appoints Vincent J. Coppola, Ed.D., Western New York Educational Service Council, to conduct the Superintendent of Schools search process as per the proposal dated June 2003.

Ayes:  Best, Crescenzo, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Markovits – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to approve the appointment of  Impartial Hearing Officer Dora Lassinger for Case No. 4735.

Ayes:  Best, Crescenzo, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Markovits – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Dora Lassinger  Appointed IHO 

At 8:05 p.m., Mr. McCormack made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to have an executive session to review the employment history of a particular person.

Ayes:  Best, Crescenzo, Estrada, Knapp, McCormack, Perrino, Markovits – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Public session resumed at 8:37 p.m.  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at this time.

Respectfully submitted,

Alicia E. Olsen

School District Clerk