BOARD OF EDUCATION
MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 18, 2004
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Thursday, November 18, 2004, at the Board of Education Office, 223 Wisner Avenue, Board President Vincent Crescenzo, presiding.
Present: Dr. Best, Mr. Estrada, Mr. Geiger, Mrs. Knapp, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen, Mrs. Botti, Mr. Crescenzo – 8
Absent: None.
Others Kenneth Eastwood, Superintendent
Present: Elizabeth McKean, School Business Administrator
Richard DelMoro, Director for Secondary Education
Ellen Kaplan, Director for Personnel Services
Thomas Scott, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds
Selena Fischer, Director of Pupil Personnel & Special Services
Mr. Crescenzo called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to have an executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular corporation and matters leading to the appointment, employment, or promotion of a particular person. Motion was unanimously approved.
Public session resumed at 7:35. Mr. Crescenzo led the pledge to the flag.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to approve the minutes of November 4, 2004.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ina Segnit, Fine Arts Coordinator, introduced High School students Kristen Stanley, Tim Takagi, Jessica Castaneda, and Susan Riddick who will be participating in the NYSSMA All State Festival in December. The Board congratulated the students and their band teacher, Steve Austin, on this accomplishment.
Mrs. Segnit said that on November 19 and 20, the District will host the NYSSMA Zone 9 Area All-State Music Festival. Five-hundred of the top student musicians representing 42 school districts in Orange, Rockland, Ulster, Sullivan, and Greene counties will be at Twin Towers Middle School and Middletown High School to rehearse in preparation for the honors concert that will take place at Twin Towers on Saturday.
Melissa Cortellini, Communications Specialist for the District, presented the new High School transcript. She said that this transcript, in addition to imparting student information in a more attractive manner, also provides general information about Middletown High School and the community.
No communications were read and no previous questions were pending.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to amend the agenda to consider a resolution regarding a probationary school nurse pending further review in executive session.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to request personnel folders for the purpose of conducting personnel business in executive session.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to amend the agenda to consider additional personnel actions, per Addendum #1 and #2 attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the extra curricular appointments per Addendum #1 to Personnel Memorandum #11, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Dr. Best made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve the provisional appointment of Kenneth Haverlan to the position of Director for Security, Health and Safety as per Addendum #2 to Personnel Memorandum #11, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Dr. Eastwood said that Mr. Haverlan will report directly to him concerning security matters and to the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds regarding health and safety issues.
Ricki Leal of the Community Foundation of Orange County, Inc. presented information on ways the Foundation might assist the District with establishing endowed funds for scholarships and special programs. She said that the CFOC mission is to assist donors in achieving their charitable intentions through the establishment of funds that create permanent endowments.
David Allardice of Allardice & Associates, Inc. presented the initial assumptions regarding District revenues and expenditures that are the basis for the District’s long range financial plan that will be shared at a future Board meeting.
Board Member Reports:
Mr. Perrino noted the new sign outside of Twin Towers Middle School. He thanked those who made the donations, including the Twin Towers PTO, that made this purchase possible.
Mr. Estrada and Mr. Crescenzo congratulated the students and staff who participated in The Importance of Being Earnest on their professionalism. Mr. Geiger also noted the tremendous volume of material students learned for this play.
Mr. Geiger noted the achievement of the High School Math Team’s victory over five other teams and the accomplishments of High School student Scott Dickover in cross country. Mr. Geiger also said that next week the MHS National Honor Society will be conducting a drive to collect outerwear for the needy.
Mr. Crescenzo attended the Annual Soccer Banquet and commended the students and coaches, saying that they played hard and well under any weather conditions.
Mr. Estrada complimented the staff of Buildings and Grounds on their maintenance of our fields and said that other school districts like to play here under the new lights.
Mr. Perrino also complimented the Buildings and Grounds staff on their rapid response to the recent power outage at Mechanicstown.
Visitors:
Sydelle Blatt supported the recommendation to implement a K-2/3-5 building configuration. She also questioned how school attendance is being monitored, noting the impact attendance has on test scores. Dr. Eastwood said that the District is taking an aggressive, proactive approach to improving student attendance. He said that the District is currently looking at software packages that will help to capture data that will generate reports that can be utilized to monitor student attendance.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to approve the instructional segment of Personnel Memorandum #11, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Abstain: Tobiassen – 1. Motion was declared approved.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the non-instructional segment of Personnel Memorandum #11, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to create the position of Instructional Technology Coordinator, effective January 3, 2005, to be funded through the Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to create the position of Instructor for Technology Integration In-Service, effective January 3, 2005, to be funded through the Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to abolish one School Business Assistant position and create a Full-time School District Treasurer position in its place, effective November 19, 2004.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Information concerning Superintendent-approved budget transfer #7 for one transfer was presented.
The Board reviewed a recent article in the Times Herald Record regarding the possibility of the County developing a homeless shelter site in the City of Middletown. Dr. Eastwood said that the District needs to be aware of the impact this could have on the District since any children in the shelter would have the option of coming to Middletown schools or to their schools of origin. Mr. Estrada said that the District needs to find out what kind of shelter the County plans since the location will be adjacent to two of our schools.
Dr. Eastwood presented the attached policy entitled Dangerous Weapons in Schools for a first reading by the Board. He said that the District needed wording in its current policy that addressed NJROTC and the Air Rifle Club programs. In accordance with Board policy, this policy will be presented for Board adoption at the next meeting of the Board.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve Special Services Memorandum #9, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Knapp made a motion, seconded by Dr. Eastwood, to approve Financial Memorandum #9, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the following field directed allowance:
Field Directed Allowance (Mechanicstown)
Eugene DiLorenzo, Inc.
$17,905
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mr. Geiger, to approve the following change order:
Change Order #1 (Chorley/Truman Moon)
Waltech Construction Corporation
Credit $5,961.00
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Geiger made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the following final payment:
Final Payment (Chorley/Truman Moon)
Waltech Construction Corporation
$39,226.26
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the following change order:
Change Order #1 (Chorley/Truman Moon)
Harry F. Rotolo & Son
Credit $4,925.00
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Knapp made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the following final payment:
Final Payment (Chorley/Truman Moon)
Harry F. Rotolo & Son
$1,664.45
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
No visitors asked to address the Board.
The Board postponed review of policies until the next meeting of the Board.
At 10:02 p.m., Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to have an executive session to discuss specific personnel issues relating to the discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person. Motion was unanimously approved.
Public session resumed at 11:12 p.m. There being no further business, Mr. Perrino 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 #9
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
DATE: November 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. 9 dated November 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.
1. COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
October 19, 20, 21, 28, November 1, 2004
2. COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
November 15, 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 #9
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Elizabeth McKean
DATE: November 18, 2004
RE: Financial Memorandum #9
1. Health Tuition Rate for the 2004-05 School Year Approved
Resolved, that the non-resident health tuition rate for the Middletown City School District for the 2004-05 school year will be $335.84 per pupil based upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools.
2. Participation in BOCES Cooperative Bidding January 2005—December 2005 Approved
3. Donations Accepted
Educational Alliance Grant
Mobil On the Run $500.00
Truman Moon Primary Center PTO Changeable Letter Sign for
Driveway entrance of school
($3,980 value)
4. Establishment of the Charles A. Schupp III Scholarship Approved