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REORGANIZATION MEETING

BOARD OF EDUCATION

MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK

JULY 6, 2006

The annual reorganization meeting of the Board of Education was held on Thursday evening, July 6, 2006 at the Board of Education Office, 223 Wisner Avenue, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This meeting was called to select Board officers, administer oaths of office, designate bank depositories, and for such other business as may come before the meeting.

Present: Mrs. Botti, Mr. Crescenzo, Mr. Estrada, Mr. Geiger, Mrs. Knapp, Ms. Perkins, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen – 8.

Others        Kenneth W. Eastwood, Superintendent of Schools
Attending: Elizabeth McKean, School Business Administrator
                    Richard DelMoro, Director for Elementary Education
                    Darlene McDonough, Director for Secondary Education
                    Ellen Kaplan, Director for Personnel Services
                  Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
                    Thomas Scott, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Knapp made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to have an executive session for collective negotiations pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law.

Ayes: Botti, Crescenzo, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perkins, Perrino, Tobiassen – 8. Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.

Public session resumed at 7:35 p.m.

The meeting was called to order, followed by the pledge of allegiance.

The Oath of Office to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York was administered to John Perrino and Roy Paul by the James Drohan, Esq.

Dr. Eastwood, Superintendent, declared nominations in order for the position of President of the Board of Education for the 2006/2007 school year.

Mr. Geiger made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, nominating Rose Tobiassen as President of the Board of Education for the 2006/2007 school year.

Dr. Eastwood called for any other nominations.

Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, nominating Vincent Crescenzo, as President of the board of Education for the 2006-2007 school year.

Dr. Eastwood declared there being no other nominations, he would take a vote for Rose Tobiassen for President.

Mr. Paul asked that a roll call be used to determine the vote.

Dr. Eastwood asked for a vote for Rose Tobiassen for President of the Middletown Board of Education by roll call.

Ayes: Estrada, Geiger, Paul, Tobiassen –4. Noes: Botti, Crescenzo, Knapp, Perkins, Perrino, -5. Motion was denied.

Dr. Eastwood asked for a vote for Vincent Crescenzo for President of the Middletown Board of Education by roll call.

Ayes: Botti, Crescenzo, Knapp, Perkins, Perrino, -5. Noes: Estrada, Geiger, Paul, Tobiassen. Motion was carried.

Dr. Eastwood turned the meeting over to newly-elected, Board President, Mr. Vincent Crescenzo. Mr. Crescenzo thanked everyone for their support.

Mr. Crescenzo shared some of his and the board’s past accomplishments, goals and objectives. He also presented some of his future goals and objectives.

James Drohan, Esq. administered the Oath of Office to Board President Vincent Crescenzo.

Mr. Crescenzo declared nominations in order for the position for Vice-President.

Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Geiger, to nominate Ms. Tobiassen for Vice-President.

Mr. Crescenzo asked for any other nominations.

Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crescenzo, to nominate Ms. Perkins.

A roll call vote was taken for Ms. Tobiassen.

Ayes: Mr. Estrada, Mr. Geiger, Mrs. Knapp, Mr. Paul, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen-6. Noes: Mrs. Botti, Mr. Crescenzo, Ms. Perkins, -3. Ms. Tobiassen was declared Vice-President.

James Drohan, Esq. administered the Oath of Office to Board Vice-President Ms. Tobiassen.

Mr. Crescenzo thanked Mrs. Botti, former Board Vice-President, for her support and all of her work while serving as Vice-President.

Mrs. Botti extended her best wishes to Ms. Tobiassen. Mrs. Botti left the meeting at this time (7:50 p.m.) to attend to family business.

Mr. Crescenzo introduced Mr. James Drohan.

James Drohan, Esq., presented information on the Open Meetings Law. He said that a meeting is defined as an official convening of a public body for the purpose of conducting public business. He continued by explaining that an executive session is that portion of a meeting not open to the general public. Executive sessions may be conducted only for specific purposes as defined by law.

Mr. Crescenzo announced that the School Law Conference will be held August 4, in New Paltz.

Mr. Drohan continued by presenting information concerning the reporting requirements regarding child abuse in an educational setting. He said it is mandated by law and by Board policy that annual training regarding the reporting of child abuse in an educational setting be given to employees and Board members. He said that any school district employee or school board member to whom an oral or written allegation has been made that a child has been subjected to abuse by an employee or volunteer in an educational setting is required to report the allegation. Mr. Drohan detailed the types of acts that are classified as abuse, including intentionally inflicting physical injury, engaging in conduct which creates a substantial risk of injury, child sexual abuse, the dissemination of indecent materials to minors. He detailed the obligations of the reporter and administrators or superintendents, and noted that any reporter who reasonably and in good faith makes a report of allegation of child abuse shall have immunity from civil liability. The presentation concluded with an explanation of the penalties for failure to comply with this section of Education Law, and by noting that it is illegal to withhold an allegation of child abuse in return for the resignation or voluntary suspension of the person against whom the allegation is made.

Mr. Estrada said that our policy on Executive Misconduct was the first of its kind in the state.

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

Resolved, that the reading of the Annual Board Appointments for the period July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007, be waived and the appointments on the attached list be approved.