BOARD OF EDUCATION
MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
AUGUST 18, 2004
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Wednesday, August 18, 2004, at the Board of Education Office, 223 Wisner Avenue, Board President Vincent Crescenzo, presiding.
Present: Mr. Estrada, Mr. Geiger, Mrs. Knapp, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen,
Mrs. Botti, Mr. Crescenzo – 7.
Absent: Dr. Best - 1.
Others Kenneth Eastwood, Superintendent
Present: Ellen Kaplan, Director for Personnel Services
Thomas Scott, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds
Selena Fischer, Director of Pupil Personnel & Special Services
Peter Ancona, Director of Technology
Mr. Crescenzo called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. to continue the discussion of District short and long range goals and objectives. Mr. Crescenzo said that the Board met on Saturday to discuss Board operational norms and to establish District goals and objectives (see attached). With facilitator Dr. Douglas Harris of the Center for Curriculum Renewal, the Board developed a planning framework and set priorities, goals and objectives. The Board also developed a new mission statement for the District.
Dr. Eastwood explained the plan to move forward with program budgeting in the next school year. This method of budgeting will provide for more accountability because the individual expenditures associated with each program will be identified.
Mrs. Botti continued by reviewing the Board norms, the agreed-upon rules or guidelines that a group commits to while acting together as a body. Norms establish the working conditions of the individuals and of the group.
At 5:30 p.m. Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to have an executive session to discuss pending litigation and matters leading to the appointment of particular persons. Motion was unanimously approved.
Public session resumed at 7:40 p.m.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve the minutes of the July 8, 2004 reorganization and regular meetings.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Dr. Eastwood introduced Athletic Director Jonathan Jefferson, who presented the following Empire State Games participants: Herbert Mann (4th place, javelin), Alex Reid (3rd place, 110 meter hurdles), Nicholas Bertucci (qualified in 22 caliber rifle shooting), Jay Hansen (qualified in 22 caliber rifle shooting), and Janine DiGennaro (5th in 1 meter diving, 4th in springboard, and 3rd in 3 meter diving). Mr. Jefferson said that this is a very competitive region and noted the fine representation from the Middletown School District. Mr. Estrada noted that Middletown will be the host region for next year’s Empire State Games.
Mr. Crescenzo announced that summer school graduation ceremonies will be held on August 19 at the High School.
No written communications were read.
Board Member Reports:
Mrs. Botti said that the Board met on Friday and Saturday and reviewed Board norms, goals and objectives. The Board also discussed items such as Board expectations and responsibilities.
Mr. Geiger said that many Middletown High School music students joined other area students last month to perform at the Galleria Mall.
Mr. Crescenzo reported on a communication recently received from the New York State School Boards Association regarding charter school review. The Regents are scheduled to review the fiscal and programmatic impact of charter schools on traditional public education. Mr. Crescenzo noted an article in a recent New York Times regarding charter schools and the NCLB legislation which says that a national survey suggests that children in charter schools are not achieving as well as children in traditional public school settings.
Mr. Crescenzo also noted some changes in the SAT’s. The changes are being made because of perceived socio-economic bias. It is anticipated that the new test will be longer and more difficult, with a higher level of Math skills required, an essay requirement, and multiple choice grammar questions. The analogies and quantitative analysis will be eliminated.
No previous questions were pending.
John Patterson of Clark Patterson Associates presented an update on the Mechanicstown, Chorley, Truman Moon, and Middletown High School capital projects, explaining the scope of each project, the construction progress to date, and the projected financials for each project.
Visitors:
Karen Cierniak said that she was on this evening’s agenda for an appointment as a library media specialist and thanked the Board for consideration of this appointment.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to amend the Personnel Memorandum to include an addendum to the memorandum.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Dr. Eastwood said that the addendum to the Personnel Memorandum addressed the appointment of Elizabeth McKean to the position of School Business Administrator.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to approve Personnel Memorandum #4, as amended.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the extensions of probationary appointments for certified employees.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to table the request for personnel folders for the purpose of conducting personnel business in executive session.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Scott said that the field lighting project at Middletown High School is underway and provided a projected schedule for levels of completion.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve Special Services Memorandum #4, copy attached.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve Financial Memorandum #4, copy attached.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve the license agreement with Virginia B. Wolfe Limited Family Partnership.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Ms. Tobiassen, to approve the following Field Directed Allowances.
CFA No. GC-02
Mechanicstown Elementary School
Eugene DiLorenzo, Inc.
$30,750.00
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Roundtable:
Mr. Estrada announced that Orange County School Boards Association will hold a meeting on September 1 at BOCES.
Mr. Estrada also presented the proposed NYSSBA bylaw amendments and resolutions that will be voted on at the NYSSBA Annual Meeting to be held in Buffalo in October. The Board provided input regarding its position on the resolutions. This discussion will be continued at the next meeting of the Board.
Mr. Perrino asked to be provided with information explaining the impact of removing property tax exemptions from commercial properties.
Mrs. Botti asked to be provided with information regarding student attendance/enrollment.
There being no further business, at 8:55 p.m., Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to adjourn the meeting. 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 #4
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
DATE: August 18, 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. 4 dated August 18, 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.
COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
May 17, June 2, 17, 21, July 7, 14, 2004
COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
August 17, 2004
APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION:
MEMBER NAME POSITION EFFECTIVE
APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION:
MEMBER NAME POSITION EFFECTIVE
APPOINTMENTS OF SURROGATE PARENTS:
MEMBER NAME POSITION EFFECTIVE
ENLARGED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM #4
TO: Board of Education
DATE: August 18, 2004
RE: Financial Memorandum #4
1. Revenue and Expense Reports Approved
Resolved, that the Middletown Board of Education accepts the following reports for the month of June 2004:
Extraclassroom – High School
Treasurer’s Report
2. Budget Transfer #3 (2004-05) Approved
From: A.2110.8480.07.2100.00 Textbooks – Truman Moon $14,500
To: A.2110.8501.07.2100.05 Supplies – Truman Moon $14,500
3. Extension of Transportation Contract for School Year 2004-05 Approved
Whereas, the Board of Education awarded the bid for transportation serves for the 2002-03 school year to the Mid-City Transit Corporation, and whereas the Board of Education previously extended this contract for the 2003-04 school year,
Be it resolved that this contract be extended for an additional one year period (2004-05) with Mid-City Transit Corporation. The total contract cost for the 2004-05 school year will be $5,426,698.04 and will include a 3.9% COLA as determined by New York State.
4. Approval of Certification of Acceptance for the National School Lunch, School
Breakfast and Policy Statement For Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk for the 2004-05 School Year
Resolved, that the Enlarged City School District of Middletown accepts the terms and conditions of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs and Policy Statement for the 2004-05 school year.
5. Award of Bids
Item Vendor Amt. of Award
Physical Education Supplies Re-bid
Athletic Supplies Various $59,153.20