BOARD OF EDUCATION
MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
MAY 17, 2006
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 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: Ms. Perkins -1.
Others Kenneth W. Eastwood, Superintendent of Schools
Present: Elizabeth McKean, Business Administrator
Richard DelMoro, Director for Secondary Education
Darlene McDonough, Director for Elementary Education
Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
Ellen Kaplan, Director for Personnel Services
Thomas Scott, Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds
Michael Tuttle, Chief Technology Officer
Mr. Crescenzo called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to have an executive session for the discussion of the employment histories of particular persons and proposed, pending or current litigation. Motion was unanimously approved.
Public session resumed at 7:35 p.m. Mr. Crescenzo asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of Geraldine Grenzhauser. Mrs. Grenzhauser had been a school nurse for more than 20 years in our district. Mr. Perrino said that the Grenzhauser family contributed greatly to our schools and community for many years.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to approve the April 27 and May 4, 2006 minutes.
Mr. Estrada noted that the April 27 minutes should be amended to show that Ms. Tobiassen voted in the negative on the resolution to approve the Orange Ulster BOCES budget for 2006-2007.
With this correction duly noted, vote was taken to approve the minutes of April 27, 2006, as amended, and May 4, 2006.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Recognitions:
Mr. Crescenzo introduced Choral Director Gregory Bennett, who said that 64 Middletown High School students recently participated in the Fiesta-Val Music Invitational and Competition in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Bennett said that the Chamber Singers, Women's Chorale, and Men's Chorus all finished in first place with excellent ratings and the Pipers finished in second place with a superior rating. Mr. Bennett said that Samantha Seminario received a Solo Award of Achievement for her part in "Caresse Sur L'Ocean" and Joseph Palazzo received a Solo Award of Achievement for his percussion accompaniment. All four ensembles accumulated a combined total that awarded them the Grand Champion Award, which also came with an Award of Distinction for the director.
Mr. Perrino complimented Mr. Bennett and the cast of “Annie Get Your Gun” for their excellent performance. He also thanked Edward Godwin for moderating the recent Board candidates’ forum. Mr. Perrino encouraged everyone to attend the performance of “Cinderella” at Monhagen Middle School this weekend.
Mr. Crescenzo thanked all our residents who took the time to vote on May 16. He congratulated John Perrino and Roy Paul on their successful campaigns, and thanked Patricia Simmons for her efforts on behalf of our children.
Mr. Perrino also commended Ms. Simmons on her campaign and encouraged her continued involvement in our school district. Mr. Perrino spoke about the budget presentations that were made to our senior citizens at Mulberry House, the need to lobby for changes in how schools are funded, and the possibility of having a student sit as an ex-officio member of the Board.
Mr. Crescenzo asked that the Board next consider a resolution to accept the results of the May 16, 2006, vote.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to accept the results of the May 16, 2006, vote as per the attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Crescenzo read the following communications:
- A letter from Virginia Esposito, President of the Pine Bush Board of Education, asking our Board to endorse a resolution calling for State funding for mandatory State tests. Pine Bush has approved this resolution for submission to the New York State School Boards Association at its annual meeting in October and is asking Middletown to endorse the resolution.
- A letter from MHS Principal Michael Barone to the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance thanking them for selecting the High School to receive a $500 grant
Mrs. Botti said that during the vote process there appeared to be some confusion regarding the status of former High School Principal Bernard Cohen. Dr. Eastwood said that an independent arbitrator heard the facts of the disciplinary charges that had been levied by the District against Mr. Cohen. The arbitrator found Mr. Cohen guilty on four of the five charges that had been levied. Information regarding the process will be posted on the District’s website.
Visitors:
William Melville spoke about the impact of rising school taxes, especially on senior citizens. He recommended that the District considering levying a surcharge on parents whose children want to participate in sports. Mr. Melville also inquired about the status of the Twin Towers stairs.
Sharon Loder, representing the City-wide Neighborhood Watch, spoke about students who are on suspension, and suggested that the bus company be made aware of students who are not permitted to ride on school buses. Dr. Eastwood explained the District’s suspension procedures, noting that students who are on suspension are not permitted on school grounds and may not participate in school functions.
Patrice Wiley congratulated Mr. Perrino and Mr. Paul, supported the suggestion to have a student on the Board, and inquired if another administrator is planned for the High School. Dr. Eastwood replied that an administrator will be put in place at the High School who will be responsible for student attendance, BOCES students, superintendent disciplinary hearings, etc.
Board Member Reports:
Mr. Perrino spoke about the possibility of having an attendance officer position. He also said that Mayor Duncanson has requested that another School Board/City meeting be scheduled.
Mr. Estrada said that the Orange County School Boards Association Annual Dinner Meeting will be held on June 7.
Mr. Crescenzo announced that performances of Monhagen’s Cinderella will be held at the school on May 19, 20 and 21. The Twin Towers Middle School performance of Once Upon a Mattress will be held at Monhagen on June 1.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve Personnel Memorandum #45, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Superintendent-approved budget transfer #22 was presented.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to approve Special Services Memorandum #22, copy attached.
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 approve Financial Memorandum #22, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. McKean said that the Audit subcommittee had met to discuss the composition of the Audit Committee. She said that a press release will be sent to the Times Herald Record regarding the committee. Interested community members will be interviewed. Ms. McKean also said that due to time constraints an RFP will be submitted for external auditing services this year.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mr. Geiger, to approve the following resolution:
Resolved, that the Board of Education Audit Committee will be comprised of the following: Three (3) Board of Education members and two (2) community members from within the school district.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Ms. McKean explained the process the District went through to repair the stairs at Twin Towers as authorized by the voters last May. She said that an architectural design team conducted testing throughout the fall; approval was received from the State Education Department in March; the bid process followed, with bids awarded in April. Work on the first set of stairs is slated to begin shortly. Ms. McKean said that the contractor for this project, Eugene DiLorenzo, Inc., has agreed to extend his bid for work required for the second set of stairs, as approved by the voters on May 16, 2006. Mr. Geiger suggested that this information be placed on the District’s website.
Dr. Best made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to accept Alternate #1 – Twin Towers Stair Repair, as follows:
Eugene DiLorenzo, Inc.
Highland, New York
$93,000.00
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Scott recommended that the District advertise a Request for Proposals/Bids for moving and storage services required by summer construction at the High School.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to authorize the request for proposals for moving and storage services.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Scott asked the Board to approve advertising for proposals to clean, prepare and paint all walls, structure and ceilings in the existing High School gym.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to authorize the request for proposals to clean, prepare and paint all walls, structure and ceilings in the existing High School gym.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Scott explained that there is currently no State contracts for certain truck purchases. He requested Board authorization to solicit RFP’s for these purchases.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to authorize the request for proposals for the purchase of trucks.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to amend the agenda to consider a resolution regarding the school calendar.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion to amend the agenda was unanimously approved.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mr. Geiger, to approve the following resolution:
Be it resolved by the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, that the calendar for the 2005-2006 school year be amended to designate Friday, May 26, 2006, as a non-instructional day and to authorize the close of all schools and District offices on May 26, 2006.
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 amend the agenda to consider endorsement of a resolution to be submitted by the Pine Bush School District at the NYSSBA Convention.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion to amend the agenda was unanimously approved.
The Board reviewed the correspondence and resolution regarding funding for scoring of mandatory State testing to be submitted by the Pine Bush School District at the NYSSBA Convention. The Pine Bush resolution refers to State funding for mandatory tests for grades 3-8; at the time of the resolution this was for English Language Arts and mathematics only. The Board agreed to endorse the resolution as is, but to amend the resolution at the convention to call for the State to fully fund the writing and scoring of any State mandated examinations.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to endorse the following resolution generated by the Pine Bush School District for submission to the New York State School Boards Association:
Resolved, that the New York State School Boards Association seeks to require the State of New York to fully fund the writing and scoring of all mandatory state tests for grades 3-8 (currently English Language Arts and mathematics). The New York State Education Department must require the contractor who writes the mandatory exams to also be responsible for scoring said tests.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo - 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
No visitors asked to address the Board.
Roundtable:
Discussion followed regarding the scheduling of the Board’s reorganization meeting, which was tentatively set for Thursday, July 6.
The Board also discussed the possibility of having a student representative sit as an ex-officio member of the Board. This must be approved by the voters at the annual meeting. Mrs. Botti said the voters could also decide to change the number of members serving on the Board and the length of terms at the same vote.
Mr. DelMoro said that the State Education Department has decided to move the Global History and Geography Regents to June 14. He said that this revision will impact our school examination schedule by having our local examinations begin a day earlier then originally planned. Mr. DelMoro continued by detailing the new schedule which he said will create an optimum testing schedule for our students. The Board supported the revision in the schedule.
Responding to a question from Mr. Estrada, Dr. Eastwood said that summer school graduation will be held at Monhagen.
Responding to a question from Ms. Tobiassen, Mr. Crescenzo said that he will work with Sheila Esposito, MTA President, to schedule a time for dialogue with union representatives.
Mr. Crescenzo reported that Thrall Library is open on Saturday mornings for members of the Board to meet with community members. The Board will establish a schedule for these meetings.
Mr. Estrada said that he would like to reserve time at the Board’s retreat to discuss various aspects of public relations/community outreach.
Mr. Perrino questioned the possibility of the District having a retirement incentive this year. He also said that senior citizens would like to attend graduation ceremonies and suggested that the District look at providing a bus to transport seniors to the graduation area.
Ms. Tobiassen noted Barbara Bedell’s column in the Times Herald Record regarding the accomplishments of Forty Esposito, commended the High School students who worked for Habitat for Humanity during spring break, and thanked Dr. Eastwood for attending the school library system’s annual lunch, which was also attended by our local legislators.
Mr. Geiger suggested that Assemblywoman Gunther be invited to the opening of the re-constructed High School; thanked the voters for their support of the budget and our children; said that the Music and Arts Festival in downtown Middletown was very well done; and suggested that the Board obtain public input regarding a possible referendum concerning term change/ number of Board members change.
Dr. Best thanked the voters for the opportunity given him to serve as a member of the Board, and congratulated Mr. Perrino and Mr. Paul on their successful campaigns for election to the Board.
Mr. Crescenzo reported that the District is looking at ways to acknowledge good attendance records for students at the secondary level.
The Board established June 3 as the first Saturday morning for members of the Board to meet with residents at Thrall Library.
Mr. Crescenzo announced that the next Board meeting will be held on June 1 at Monhagen Middle School.
There being no further business, at 9:55 p.m., Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, 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 #22
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
DATE: May 17, 2006
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. 22 dated May 17, 2006, 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):
February 8, 15, 21, March 8, 27, 28, 29, 30, April 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 27, May 2, 2006
2. COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
May 11, 16, 2006
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 #22
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Elizabeth McKean
DATE: May 17, 2006
RE: Financial Memorandum #22
1. Budget Transfer #19 Approved (see attached)
2. Donation Accepted
ExxonMobil Education Alliance Grant
$500.00