BOARD OF EDUCATION
MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
DECEMBER 16, 2004
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Thursday, December 16, 2004, at the Board of Education Office, 223 Wisner Avenue, Board President Vincent Crescenzo, presiding.
Present: Mr. Geiger, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen, Mrs. Botti, Mr. Crescenzo – 5
Absent: Dr. Best, Mr. Estrada, Mrs. Knapp - 3
Others Present: Kenneth Eastwood, Superintendent
Elizabeth McKean, School Business Administrator
Richard DelMoro, Director for Secondary Education
Ellen Kaplan, Director for Personnel Services
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 matters regarding the employment histories of particular persons. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Knapp joined the meeting during executive session.
Public session resumed at 7:35. Mr. Crescenzo led the pledge to the flag.
Mr. Crescenzo thanked the many people for their expressions of condolence on the passing of his mother.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve the minutes of November 18, 2004.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo– 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Recognitions/Announcements
Denise Woolsey, teacher at Twin Towers, was recognized by the Board for becoming nationally board certified in the areas of Early Adolescents and Mathematics. Ms. Woolsey said that it took two years to complete the certification, which she said NYSUT recognizes as being as much work as acquiring a doctorate.
The District Clerk read a letter from William Galvin which commended the students, families and staff at Mechanicstown for their help with Thanksgiving food baskets and donations to be sent to our troops.
No previous questions were pending and no visitors asked to address the Board
Dr. Robert Hanna, District Superintendent, Orange Ulster BOCES, provided information on the roles of school board members and the district superintendent of schools, and the various contract services between the Middletown School District and Orange-Ulster BOCES. He said that partnerships and collaboration between districts and BOCES are powerful tools in providing quality education in a cost efficient manner. Dr. Hanna also explained some possible changes in State and Federal law as they pertain to middle level education, minimum pass rate on Regents exams, and funding and training due to NCLB regulations.
Board Member Reports:
Mr. Perrino acknowledged some of the donations that were made toward the purchase of a sign at Twin Towers. He encouraged the community to attend some of the many programs presented at our schools, and noted the hard work of staff, students, and volunteers that make these events possible. Mr. Perrino also spoke about the wonderful gingerbread house display at Twin Towers.
Mr. Geiger attended the winter concert at Twin Towers and commended the students, staff and volunteers on the excellent production. Mr. Geiger also spoke about the accomplishments of Middletown High School graduate Robert DeValentino, who has just returned from Antarctica and who helped with the building of the new South Pole station.
Mrs. Knapp acknowledged the fundraising efforts of the MHS Key Club and the Kiwanis Club at their annual spaghetti dinner.
Mr. Crescenzo attended the MHS Renaissance breakfast where 476 students were honored. He also noted that the District hosted the recent all-county music festival at Twin Towers.
Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the Instructional Section of Personnel Memorandum #14, copy attached.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Geiger, to approve the Non-Instructional Section of Personnel Memorandum #14, copy attached.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve Personnel Memorandum #15, copy attached.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve Personnel Memorandum #16, copy attached.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to amend the agenda to consider an additional personnel item.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Geiger, to approve Personnel Memorandum #17, copy attached.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
The School District Clerk administered the Oath of Office to the School District Treasurer.
Mr. Geiger made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to abolish an In-School Suspension Teaching Position at MHS effective December 31, 2004 and to create a Physical Education Teaching Position at MHS in its place effective January 1, 2005.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, requesting personnel folders for the purpose of conducting personnel business in executive session.
Ayes: Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 6. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Superintendent-approved budget transfer #8 for two transfers was presented.
Mr. Estrada joined the meeting during the following discussion.
Dr. Eastwood said that a lot of discussion has been had regarding the building configuration for the District. He said that his recommendation for a true primary (K-1-2)/intermediate (3-4-5) configuration was based on his belief that a better learning continuum for early literacy would group students who are in the developmental range of pre-k through second grade. The professional conversations of teachers at the second grade level would be more appropriate to kindergarten and first grade teachers. Since there is little standardized testing administered until 2nd or 3rd grade, very little standardized goal setting or benchmarking would occur in the primary building. The swing grade is 3rd grade where students come in as primary students and leave as intermediate students. Cost effectiveness, system efficiency and program consistency all support a primary/intermediate configuration.
However, after addressing staff and community groups, Dr. Eastwood said that he feels that the positives that would be generated from a true primary/intermediate configuration would be washed away by the conflict generated by implementing a new configuration. A number of other initiatives need to be implemented in the District as well. Initiatives including the development of a scope and sequence, a task that will take the District a couple of years, and a more competitive educational system in general must be developed. Dr. Eastwood said it would not be worth jeopardizing these other initiatives to implement a primary/intermediate configuration. He recommended that the Board of Education continue to support the present K-1/2-5 building configuration. Dr. Eastwood also said that an elementary building configuration committee will be established to work on the planning and implementation of whatever grade configuration the Board supports.
Dr. Eastwood concluded by saying that the District will do good things for children regardless of the configuration of the buildings, and if this decision was not fundamentally good for children, he would not have relinquished his commitment or recommendation regardless of the amount of outcry.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to approve Special Services Memorandum #11, copy attached.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve Financial Memorandum #10, copy attached.
Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 7. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Visitors:
John Gennarelli commended Dr. Eastwood for his building recommendation. He also thanked Bill Galvin for all his work on behalf of the Mechanicstown PTO.
Nancy Gonzalez, PTO president of Truman Moon, addressed several concerns about a K-1-2/3-4-5 building configuration.
The Board continued its review of policies that are specific to the Middletown School District. This review will concluded at the next meeting of the Board.
At 9:15 p.m., Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, 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 10:28 p.m. There being no further business, Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Geiger, 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 #11
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
DATE: December 16, 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. 11 dated December 16, 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 2, 3, 4, 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 24, 30, December 2, 2004
2. COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
December 16, 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 #10
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Elizabeth McKean
DATE: December 16, 2004
RE: Financial Memorandum #10
1. Budget Transfer #4 Approved
From: A.2010.8110.10.2010.06 Deputy Supt. – Salary $16,100.00
To: A.1325.8448.10.0402.00 Bond & Note Issue Expense $16,100.00
From: A.9060.8804.10.9100.00 Health & Dental Insurance $64,000.00
To: A.1930.8422.10.1300.00 Judgments & Claims $64,000.00
2. Award of Bid
Item Vendor Amount of Award
Copy Paper Savin Corp. $64,662.00