Regular Meeting Minutes
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of the Scotia-Glenville Central School District was held in the Cafeteria of the Middle School in said district on December 11, 2006.
President of the Board of Education Margaret Smith called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
Present: Ahnert, Carbone, Conlon, Crisafulli, Normington, Smith, Yagielski, Superintendent Swartz, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Kavanaugh, Business Administrator Nolie and District Clerk DeLong.
Absent: none
HEARING/PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
The following people spoke to the Board regarding redistricting:
Lydia Marola, 8 Irving Rd.
Linda Kalasinski, 332 Rockland Rd.
Daniel and Carradine Dagostino, 30 Praise Lane
Gerry Moore, 122 Jay St., spoke to the Board regarding redistricting, Reserve Funds, Board policies and technology.
RECOGNITION OF RETIRING INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL - CAROL MINER, SCIENCE
TEACHER - SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Carol Miner has served the district expertly as a science teacher for 33 1/2 years, always accepting whatever challenges this complex job has to offer. She has taught health, math, and business and, of course, AP and Regents level biology with an energy and enthusiasm that never waned throughout her long career. In fact, Carol never stopped growing, learning, and serving as an example for all of us.
Nearly twenty years ago, when Carol's current supervisor came on the scene, Carol was already legendary in the annals of Scotia-Glenville teaching lore. She was regarded as an outstanding teacher in the district; and over the years, her reputation grew exponentially among those who knew of her and her work with students. For example, when Carol was unhappy with the quality of the state Regents exam in biology, she took action. She and her colleagues, rather than complain, chose to create their own alternative biology exam, which was subsequently approved by the New York State Education Department. Not long after this work was complete, SED completely redesigned the biology program, and oddly enough, the new exam and syllabus very closely resembled that created through Carol's efforts! Her influence on biology education throughout New York State is clear; however, I am sure she would deny any such suggestion.
Carol strongly advocated for placing students at the center of the learning process. In fact, this has always been the central tenet in her educational philosophy. The students have always come first, and all other concerns were secondary. Attendance at Carol's presentations during superintendent's conference days was always overflowing, as everyone who knew Carol was eager to hear what she had to offer. Her ability to communicate, her intelligence, her clear organization and presentation of information, her obvious sincerity and her devotion to students were so clear that you could not help but be captivated by Carol.
Carol is, simply put, the best of all of us embodied in a single person. She is at once kind, giving,
supportive, tough, determined, innovative, self-evaluating, intelligent, and patient. She remains
almost completely unaware of the impact she has had on so many of our lives. Carol has been the
science department's "Rock of Gibraltar" for so many years, that her departure is leaving, in science
terms, a powerful vacuum! We wish her a happy retirement!
PRESENTATION: MASTER FACILITIES PLAN -- DODGE CHAMBERLIN LUZINE WEBER
ASSOCIATES- ARCHITECTS LLP
Marty Weber and John JoJo of Dodge Chamberlin Luzine Weber Associates, gave a brief
presentation to the Board regarding the Master Facilities Plan. They explained that this was a
preliminary presentation and that at this time, no definite plans have been made. They also explained
that the three items they considered to be priority items at this point in time were:
Roofing at the elementary schools
Entranceway at the High School and sidewalks
Athletic Fields
The Board discussed this issue and will discuss again at a later date. (This plan is contained
as Appendix A to these minutes).
DISCUSSION: REDISTRICTING
Superintendent Swartz provided the Board with a current enrollment update. President Smith polled
the Board to get an idea of where each Board member stands on the redistricting issue.
Superintendent Swartz will provide the Board with a summary of her understanding of the Board's
responses. (The enrollment update is contained as Appendix B to these minutes).
MOVED by Carbone that the Board of Education approve the following Board Policies for a first reading, as submitted:
#2400 School Board Policies
#2410 Formulation, Adoption, Amendment of Policies
#2450 Policy Dissemination
#2460 Policy Review and Evaluation
#3310 School District Regulations
#3350 Administrative Procedures
(These policies are contained as Appendix C to these minutes).
ROLL CALL
AYES: 7
NOES: 0
MOTION CARRIED
APPROVAL OF ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SERVICES (AIS) PLAN
MOVED by Conlon that the Board of Education approve the Academic Intervention Services Plan for the 2006-2008 school years, as submitted.
After a brief discussion, the Board asked that the AIS Plan be amended to include the following:
Change AIS Staffing to Present AIS Staffing.
MOVED by Conlon that the Board of Education approve the Academic Intervention Services Plan for the 2006-2008 school years as amended. (This plan is contained as Appendix D to these minutes).
ROLL CALL
AYES: 7
NOES: 0
MOTION CARRIED
MOVED by Conlon that the Board of Education accept/approve the following items:
Approve the Resolution, dated December 11, 2006, regarding acceptance of donations from the PTA, as submitted. (This resolution is contained as Appendix E to these minutes).
RESOLUTION: ACCEPT GIFT AND DONATION
Approve the Resolution, dated December 11, 2006, regarding acceptance of the Exxon Mobil Foundation Award, as submitted. (This resolution is contained as Appendix F to these minutes).
RESOLUTION: EMMANUEL-FRIEDENS CHURCH SCHOLARSHIP
Approve the Resolution, dated December 11, 2006, regarding acceptance of the Emmanuel-Friedens Church Scholarship, as submitted. (This resolution is contained as Appendix G to these minutes).
Adopt the Resolution, dated December 11, 2006, to withdraw and amend the 2006-2007 School Tax Rolls, as submitted. (This resolution is contained as Appendix H to these minutes).
ADOPTION OF TEXTBOOK
Adopt the following text-book for use in the Computer II course:
An Introduction to Programming Using Microsoft Visual Basic 2005, 2006, Lawrenceville Press,
a. Accept the letter of resignation for retirement purposes of Barbara Jones, Elementary Teacher (Lincoln Elementary School), effective c.o.b. June 30, 2007, with appreciation for her service to the district. (This letter is contained as Appendix I to these minutes).
b. Accept the letter of resignation for retirement purposes of Rosemary Lawless, Elementary Teacher (Sacandaga Elementary School), effective c.o.b. June 30, 2007, with appreciation for her service to the district. (This letter is contained as Appendix J to these minutes).
c. Approve the request for an unpaid leave of absence for childcare purposes for Taryn LoCascio, Special Education Teacher (Middle School), effective on/about June 7, 2007 through June 30, 2008. (This request is contained as Appendix K to these minutes).
CAPSBA/LEGISLATIVE LIAISON/PTA REPORTS
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
a. Staffing
1) Approve the revised salary for Phyllis MacFee, School Monitor (Middle School) from $9.68/hour (.75 hours/day) to $9.92/hour (.75 hours/day), effective September 7, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
2) Approve the increase in assignment of Sharon Day, Teacher Aide (Sacandaga Elementary School) from 33 hours/week to 33.75 hours/week, effective September 7, 2006 through June 30, 2007, with no change in current hourly rate of pay.
3) Approve the following additional tutor, effective November 20, 2006 through December 1, 2006, at the hourly rate of $20:
Leslie O'Keefe
4) Approve the following additional substitutes and tutors for the 2006-2007 school year:
Substitute Teachers
Louise Carney Ralph Catrambone Antonia Dauer
Eric Mazzone Donna Padula Marion Richards
Louise Carney Ralph Catrambone Eric Mazzone
Elizabeth S. Gridley
Alison Gibson
ROUTINE BUSINESS
a. Placements of Children with Disabilities
Accept the Placements of Children with Disabilities as recommended by the Committee on Special Education at their meetings on: 11/20, 11/21, 11/27, 11/30, 12/4, 12/6, 11/27, 11/28, 12/5 and 12/06/06.
b. Minutes: Regular Meeting November 13, 2006
Special Meeting November 27, 2006
c. TreasurerŐs Report: October 2006
Budget Transfers
President Smith noted receipt of the October 2006 Treasurer's Report and Budget Transfers.
(These reports are contained as Appendix L to these minutes).
d. Internal Claims Auditor's Report of Payroll/Warrants
President Smith noted receipt of the following warrants:
Warrants: #9 $ 75,732.74
#11 $ 75,468.38
#12 $187,013.71
#21 $155,792.93
(These warrants are contained as Appendix M to these minutes).
OTHER BUSINESS
Superintendent Swartz asked the Board to consider canceling the December 18th Board meeting due to conflicts with winter concerts at the elementary schools.
MOVED by Ahnert that the Board of Education cancel the December 18th Board meeting.
ROLL CALL
AYES: 7
NOES: 0
MOTION CARRIED
The Board also discussed Transitional Kindergarten.
MOVED by Carbone that the Board of Education adjourn to Executive Session in order to discuss matters relating to personnel and/or negotiations.
ROLL CALL
AYES: 7
NOES: 0
MOTION CARRIED
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 9:30 p.m. and returned to Open Session at 10:28 p.m.
MOVED by Conlon that the meeting be adjourned.
ROLL CALL
AYES: 7
NOES: 0
MOTION CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 10:28 p.m.
____________________________
Bobbie DeLong, District Clerk