BOARD OF EDUCATION

MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK

NOVEMBER 15, 2007  

A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Thursday, November 15, 2007, at the Board of Education Office, 223 Wisner Avenue, Board President Rose Tobiassen, presiding. 

Present:         Mr. Crescenzo (stepped out 8:57-9:00 p.m.), Mr.  Estrada (stepped out 9:55-9:57 p.m.), Dr. Mauro, Mr. Paul (left at 7:45 p.m.), Ms. Perkins, Mr. Perrino, Mr. Geiger (stepped out 8:19-8:21), Ms. Tobiassen – 8.

Absent:          Mrs. Knapp - 1.                          

Others            Kenneth W. Eastwood, Superintendent of Schools
Attending:      Elizabeth McKean, School Business Administrator
                        Richard DelMoro, Director of Secondary Education
                        Darlene McDonough, Director for Elementary Education
                        Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
                        Thomas Scott, Superintendent of Buildings & Ground
                        Michael Tuttle, Chief Technology Officer                           

Ms. Tobiassen called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.  Mr. Crescenzo made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to have an executive session to discuss collective negotiations pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law (the Taylor Law).

Public session resumed at 7:40 p.m.

Dr. Mauro led the pledge to the flag.

Mr. Geiger made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to approve the agenda with the following amendments:   

• Item Number VI – Presentations:   Switch order of presentations -Item B) Special Education Quality Review Audit and Item A) Long Term Financial Plan.

The High School Drama Club gave the Board members invitations to the Middletown High School Drama Club production of Mrs. Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge to be held on November 30 and December 1, 2007 at 8 p.m. and December 2, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.

Ms. Perkins made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, to approve Personnel Memorandum #28.

Ayes:  Mr. Crescenzo, Mr. Estrada, Mr. Geiger, Dr. Mauro, Ms. Perkins, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Mr. Perrino made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, for the Acceptance of Bid – Site Electrical Work, Middletown High School Project.

Ayes:  Mr. Crescenzo, Mr. Estrada, Mr. Geiger, Dr. Mauro, Ms. Perkins, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

PRESENTATIONS:

• Special Education Quality Review Audit – Allison LaValle, Regional Associate, State Education Department.  Review of Final Report Narrative, Compliance Summary,Compliance Issues and Corrective  Actions, and Quality Improvement Process (see attached presentation).

• Long Term Financial Plan – David Allardice, Municipal Solutions, Inc. and Allardice Associates. Discussed Three Year Projection of Revenue and Expendituresfor General Fund (see attached presentation).

• 9th Grade Literacy Course – Linda Hatfield, Coordinator for Literacy.  Dr. Hatfield advised that this presentation was brought to the Board for consideration for approval for students to receive an  elective credit for this Literacy course.  This is an additional elective credit for graduation (see attached presentation).

Dr. Mauro made a motion, seconded by Mr. Perrino, approve the Elective Course Credit for Literacy.

Ayes:  Mr. Crescenzo, Mr. Estrada, Mr. Geiger, Dr. Mauro, Ms. Perkins, Mr. Perrino, Ms. Tobiassen – 7.  Noes:  None.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Ms. Tobiassen announced that the next meeting on December 6, 2007 will begin at 6:00 p.m. for the Board Retreat to discuss Litigation and Liability and asked that the Board members submit their questions to her and she will forward them to the District’s attorney, Donoghue, Thomas, Auslander & Drohan.

Ms. Tobiassen extended the Drama Club’s invitation to Mrs. Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge production to Barbara Bedell from the Times Herald Record.

Ms. Tobiassen announced that the Middletown High School Key Club will present “A Night on the Red Carpet” pasta dinner on December 15, 2007, 4 – 7 p.m. at Webb Horton Presbyterian Church, 50 Main Street, Middletown.  The announcement will also be broadcast on Channel 20.

Dr. Eastwood discussed Board members meeting on December 27, 2007, at 9:00 a.m., for purposes of awarding a bid for the bond referendum.

There being no further business, at 10:10 p.m., Dr. Mauro made a motion, seconded by Mr. Crescenzo to adjourn the meeting at this time.  Motion was unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Michelle K. Towle

District Clerk