BOARD OF EDUCATION
MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 9, 2004
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District
of Middletown, New York was held Thursday, September 9, 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: Ellen Kaplan, Director for Personnel Services
Thomas Scott, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds
Selena Fischer, Director of Pupil Personnel & Special Services
Peter Ancona, Director of Technology
Mr. Crescenzo called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Estrada made a
motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to have an executive session for discussion
regarding proposed, pending or current litigation. Motion was unanimously
approved.
Public session resumed at 7:54 p.m. Mr. Crescenzo led the pledge to the flag.
Ms. Tobiassen made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to approve the minutes of
July 21 and July 28, 2004.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8.
Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. Botti announced that the Mid Hudson School Study Council will be presenting
Awards for Excellence to former Board President Robin Markovits for School Board
Service and District Clerk Alicia Olsen for Support Staff Service.
No written communications were read.
James Drohan, Esq., presented information on New York State’s Open Meetings Law.
He said that this law governs the conduct of the meetings of public bodies,
including boards of education, and the subject matters that may appropriately be
discussed in executive sessions. Mr. Drohan reviewed the subjects that may be
discussed in closed session and the procedural steps that must be followed to
have an executive session.
Paul Braun, teacher and coach at the High School, gave a presentation regarding
the Athletes’ Academic Intervention Program which was implemented three years
ago at the High School. The District’s strict athletic academic eligibility
policy requires all athletes to successfully complete four and a half credits in
the previous academic year in order to participate in extra-curricular sports.
To help some athletes improve their academic performance, a core academic
intervention program was established to assist students with their coursework.
The Athletes’ Academic Intervention Program (AAIP) is given within a standard
high school classroom during regular school hours by certified teachers who are
also coaches. Mr. Braun noted the success of the program and said that he hoped
that the program could be broadened to include all students who are showing a
lack of academic achievement.
Board Member Reports:
Several Board members visited our schools on opening day and noted the warm
reception that was given to them, students and parents.
Mr. Perrino said that he was impressed with the condition of our buildings. He
also commended Wendy Bartocci for her efforts in the high school summer
graduation.
Mr. Estrada said that the construction project seems to have helped with traffic
flow. He also noted the expanded parking availability at Chorley.
Mr. Estrada said he, Mr. Crescenzo, Mrs. Botti, and Mr. Geiger attended a recent
meeting of the Orange County School Boards Association where the following
topics were discussed: The Academy for Public School Governance Conference, the
October NYSSBA Convention, and the Community Foundation of Orange County. Mr.
Estrada noted that the OCSBA directory and event calendar was distributed. The
next OCSBA will be held on October 6.
Mrs. Botti said that opening day activities were very positive. Mrs. Botti
attended Senior Enrichment reception at the High School. Thirty seniors from the
High School will join seniors from other area high schools in activities such as
outdoor hiking and environment studies, team building and problem solving, the
silent movie version of the Phantom of the Opera, visits to Chinatown, a
Broadway show, trip to West Point, etc.
Mr. Geiger acknowledged the hard work and effort of Mr. Scott and the staff in
Buildings and Grounds in setting up the new house configuration at the High
School.
Mr. Perrino said that a meeting has been arranged for members of the Board to
meet with the Middletown Common Council on September 13.
No visitors asked to address the Board.
Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to approve Personnel
Memorandum #6, copy attached.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8.
Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. DelMoro said that as the Director for Secondary Education his first task
will be to assess the District to see what needs to be done in the areas of
secondary education and move forward to address these needs.
Mr. Geiger made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, requesting 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.
Mr. Scott said that Clark Patterson Associates was contacted to conduct an
investigation of the existing steel joists used in roof construction. This
service was requested in response to a recommendation from SED regarding a joist
failure/roof collapse at a neighboring school district. Mr. Scott that our
engineers investigated each of our facilities and found no joists that they
would characterize as susceptible to water containment. Mr. Scott said that the
District will be conducting its annual visual inspection this month with Art
Lange of Orange-Ulster BOCES.
Dr. Eastwood presented the attached Mission Statement as a policy first reading.
Mr. Estrada suggested that the review of the proposed NYSSBA Resolutions be
addressed later in the meeting, prior to Roundtable.
Dr. Eastwood reviewed Superintendent-approved Budget Transfer #3, which was for
three transfers.
Mr. Estrada made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Botti, to approve the 2004-2005
Goals and Objectives, 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 Mr. Estrada, to approve the following
District Motto:
“Middletown Students – Preparing for Life!”
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 Special Services
Memorandum #5, 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 Mr. Estrada, to approve the CSE/CPSE
Committee Member Appointments for 2004-2005, copy attached.
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 Financial
Memorandum #5, 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 Dr. Best, to amend the Board meeting
schedule to cancel the meeting scheduled for October 7, 2004.
Ayes: Best, Estrada, Geiger, Knapp, Perrino, Tobiassen, Botti, Crescenzo – 8.
Noes: None. Motion was unanimously approved.
No visitors asked to address the Board.
Dr. Eastwood shared a sample of a high school transcript, similar to the one
that he would like to implement in the Middletown School District. The
transcript is personalized for the student and will be a good marketing document
to present to colleges.
Mr. Estrada facilitated a continued discussion of the proposed NYSSBA bylaw
amendments and resolutions that will be voted on at the NYSSBA Annual Meeting to
be held in Buffalo in October. The Board provided input regarding its position
on the resolutions.
Roundtable:
Responding to a question from Mrs. Knapp, Dr. Eastwood said that the noise level
in the Mechanicstown cafeteria will be addressed.
Dr. Eastwood spoke about the possibility of implementing installment payments
for school taxes. This will help to address the concerns that many have
expressed regarding affordability. Dr. Eastwood will look into how this will
impact the District and come back with a recommendation.
At 10:04 p.m., Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Dr. Best, to have an
executive session for the discussion of matters leading to the appointment,
employment or promotion of a particular person. Motion was unanimously approved.
Public session resumed at 10:53 p.m. There being no further business, the
meeting was adjourned at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
Alicia E. Olsen
School District Clerk
ENLARGED CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
PUPIL PERSONNEL/SPECIAL SERVICES
MEMORANDUM #5
TO: Board of Education
FROM: Selena Fischer, Director for Pupil Personnel & Special Services
DATE: September 9, 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. 5 dated September 9,
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):
June 3, 21, July 20, 21, August 4, 11, 2004
2. COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING(S):
September 7, 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 #5
TO: Board of Education
DATE: September 9, 2004
RE: Financial Memorandum #5
1. Award of Bids
Item Recommended Vendor Amount of Award
Bread Part A Charles Freihofer Bakery Co. Various
Bread Part B Carmine’s Bakery Inc. Various
Milk & Dairy Crowley Foods Various
Ice Cream Gilette Creamery Various
Physical Education Supplies Educational Record Center $ 45.89
Gopher Sport 2,946.80
Passons Sports 9,466.00