Scotia-Glenville Central School District

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education – Monday, February 22, 2021

6:30 PM – Public Hearing – Senior Aged Exemptions – Video Recording – 2/22/2021
7:00 PM – Regular Meeting

District Office Conference Room- Remote Session – 2/22/21 Video Recording

Scotia-Glenville Mission Statement

The Scotia-Glenville Central School District is committed to providing an environment which allows students to realize their full potential and thus prepares them for life in an ever-changing world.  In the tradition of excellence, Board of Education, administration, staff, parents, business and community members will continue to ensure that our educational system fulfills the needs of our students.

AGENDA

1.  Roll Call:   Bucciferro, Carbone, Feinberg, Frederick, Massaro, H. Talbot, K. Talbot

2.   Pledge of Allegiance

3.   Hearing/Privilege of the Floor

There will be no Hearing and Privilege of the Floor at this remote session.

4.   Superintendent’s Comments (Susan M. Swartz, Superintendent of Schools)

5.   Budget Discussion: 2021-2022 Carry-Forward Budget

6.    Resolution: Increase the Maximum Income Level for Granting a Partial Exemption from Real Property Taxes for School Purposes to Certain Persons Sixty-Five Years of Age or Over Pursuant to Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law

Superintendent’s Recommendation:  That the Board of Education adopt the Resolution, dated February 22, 2021, to increase the maximum income level by $500 for granting a partial exemption from real property taxes for school purposes to certain persons sixty-five years of age or over, pursuant to Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law, as submitted.

7.    Resolution: Accept and Appropriate Gift and Donation from Scotia-Glenville Education Foundation

Superintendent’s Recommendation:  That the Board of Education approve the Resolution, dated February 22, 2021, regarding accepting and appropriating the Gift and Donation from the Scotia-Glenville Education Foundation for $1,024.23, to the District for use by the Middle School for supplies, as submitted.

8.    Approve Memorandum of Agreement By and Between Scotia-Glenville Central School District and Scotia-Glenville Administrator’s Association (SGAA)

Superintendent’s Recommendation:  That the Board of Education approve the Memorandum of Agreement By and Between Scotia-Glenville Central School District and Scotia-Glenville Administrator’s Association regarding one of its members, Thomas Fyvie, in recognition of assuming the duties of Director of Guidance, with 2020-2021 annual compensation to be  $5,435,  as submitted.

9. Communications

a.    Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education accept the letter of resignation of Cathleen Knauf, Executive Secretary I (Pupil Personnel Services), in order to accept the position of Executive Secretary I, Management Confidential (District Office), effective March 15, 2021, as submitted.

b.    Superintendent’s Recommendation:  That the Board of Education accept the letter of resignation of Jill Busman, Executive Secretary I (Physical Education/Athletics), in order to accept the position of Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, Management Confidential (District Office), effective March 15, 2021, as submitted.

c.    Superintendent’s Recommendation:  That the Board of Education accept the verbal resignation of James Tarbox, Cleaner (Glendaal Elementary School), effective February 16, 2021.

10. Report of Superintendent

a.    Staffing

1)      Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the appointment of Cathleen Knauf as Executive Secretary I, Management Confidential (District Office), in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations, effective March 16, 2021, with 2020-2021 salary to be at the rate of $40,200, 12 month position, 8 hours/day.

2)      Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the appointment of Jill Busman as Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, Management Confidential (District Office), in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations, effective March 16, 2021, with 2020-2021 salary to be at the rate of $48,000 per year plus $1.45 per hour longevity, 12 month position, 8 hours/day.

3)      Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the probationary appointment of Gabriel Neander as Senior Custodian (Sacandaga Elementary School), in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations, Step 1, at the rate of $23.98 per hour plus $.15 per hour  longevity, effective February 23, 2021.

4)      Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the extension of the appointment of Carol Quantock as Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools (District Office) on a per diem basis from up to 30 days between January 4, 2021 and March 31, 2021, at the rate of $21.89 per hour to up to 60 days between January 4, 2021 and March 31, 2021, at the rate of $21.89 per hour.

5)      Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the reassignment of Jeffrey Walker, Cleaner, from Sacandaga Elementary School to the Senior High School effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, with no change in salary rate or hours per week.

6)      Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the attached list of individuals as substitutes for the 2020-2021 school year, as submitted.

7)   Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the appointment of Brian Voelpel as Substitute Teaching Assistant (Sacandaga Elementary School), Step 1, at the rate of $17.13 per hour, effective February 9, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

8)    Superintendent’s Recommendation: That the Board of Education approve the following 2020-2021 coaching appointments, retroactive to September 21, 2020:

Girls Basketball

• Varsity                                       Jeremy Kristel                       Step 0                        -0-

Cheerleading

• Varsity                                       Aleecia Reinhart       Step 0                        -0-

11.  Routine Business

a.  Placements of Children with Disabilities

b.  Internal Claims Auditor’s Report/Warrants/Warrant Report Exceptions:

Payroll Warrants

• #21. 2/8/21. $8,977.99
• #22. 2/12/21. $1,125,359.73

Check Warrants

• A-27. 2/12/21. $1,002,940.50

12.  Other Business

13.  Hearing/Privilege of the Floor

There will be no Hearing and Privilege of the Floor at this remote session.

The Board may adjourn to Executive Session in order to discuss matters relating to personnel and/or negotiations.

Minutes

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of the Scotia-Glenville Central School was held in the Office of the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, in said district on February 22, 2021.

President Bucciferro called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Present:  Bucciferro, Carbone, Feinberg, Frederick, Massaro, H. Talbot, Superintendent Swartz, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Swain, Business Manager Giaquinto and District Clerk DeLong

Absent:   K. Talbot

A Public Hearing on Senior Aged Exemptions was held at 6:30 p.m. There were no members of the community present for the public hearing.

Pledge of Allegiance

Hearing/Privilege of the Floor

There was no hearing/privilege of the floor due to the inability to allow the public to attend the meeting in person.

Superintendent’s Comments (Susan M. Swartz, Superintendent of Schools)

Superintendent Swartz reported that basketball, cheerleading and hockey have all started.  At this point in time, the District is working on getting fall sports up and running, with the same procedures and protocols that were required for the winter sports.  The issue of fine arts events is still being discussed and nothing has been decided at this time.  The positive test rate of Schenectady County is still down, although the District did have two more students test positive.  She will keep the board informed as new information is provided in regard to fall sports and fine arts.

Budget Discussion: 2021-2022 Carry-Forward Budget

Superintendent Swartz started the discussion by explaining that the strategic goals for the District have not changed, but they have been impacted by COVID.  Business Manager Giaquinto then presented the carry-forward budget.  He explained that revenue is down significantly at this point in time.  He reported that the allowable tax cap for the District is .13%, which is extremely low.  He informed the Board that a budget with a .13 increase is only around $40,000 more than a contingency budget.  He asked the Board to discuss going out over the tax cap. He discussed past budget years and stated that the District has consistently kept tax increases to approximately 2%.  Superintendent Swartz informed the Board that a decision on the tax cap needs to be made this evening, as their decision needs to be reported to State Ed by March 1st. She explained that if the District were to plug half of the $800,000 gap, the tax increase would be approximately 1.5%. The Board was polled for their input and all members agreed that under the circumstances, they would be willing to go out over the cap.  The Board will continue budget discussions at the next meeting. (These documents are contained as Appendix A to these minutes).

Resolution: Increase the Maximum Income Level for Granting a Partial Exemption from Real Property Taxes for School Purposes to Certain Persons Sixty-Five Years of Age or Over Pursuant to Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law

MOVED by Feinberg, SECONDED by H. Talbot, that the Board of Education adopt the Resolution, dated February 22, 2021, to increase the maximum income level by $500 for granting a partial exemption from real property taxes for school purposes to certain persons sixty-five years of age or over, pursuant to Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law, as submitted.  (This resolution is contained as Appendix B to these minutes).

Roll Call

Ayes: 6

Noes: 0

MOTION CARRIED

Resolution: Accept and Appropriate Gift and Donation from Scotia-Glenville Education Foundation

MOVED by Carbone, SECONDED by H. Talbot, that the Board of Education approve the Resolution, dated February 22, 2021, regarding accepting and appropriating the Gift and Donation from the Scotia-Glenville Education Foundation for $1,024.23, to the District for use by the Middle School for supplies, as submitted.  (This resolution is contained as Appendix C to these minutes).

Roll Call

Ayes: 6

Noes: 0

MOTION CARRIED

Approve Memorandum of Agreement By and Between Scotia-Glenville Central School District and Scotia-Glenville Administrator’s Association (SGAA)

MOVED by Frederick, SECONDED by H. Talbot, that the Board of Education approve the Memorandum of Agreement By and Between Scotia-Glenville Central School District and Scotia-Glenville Administrator’s Association regarding one of its members, Thomas Fyvie, in recognition of assuming the duties of Director of Guidance, with 2020-2021 annual compensation to be $5,435, as submitted.  (This agreement is contained as Appendix D to these minutes).

Roll Call

Ayes: 6

Noes: 0

MOTION CARRIED

MOVED by Carbone, SECONDED by Frederick, that the Board of Education accept/approve the following items:

Communications

a.    Accept the letter of resignation of Cathleen Knauf, Executive Secretary I (Pupil Personnel Services), in order to accept the position of Executive Secretary I, Management Confidential (District Office), effective March 15, 2021, as submitted.  (This letter is contained as Appendix E to these minutes).

b.    Accept the letter of resignation of Jill Busman, Executive Secretary I (Physical Education/Athletics), in order to accept the position of Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, Management Confidential (District Office), effective March 15, 2021, as submitted.  (This letter is contained as Appendix F to these minutes).

c.    Accept the verbal resignation of James Tarbox, Cleaner (Glendaal Elementary School), effective February 16, 2021.

Report of Superintendent

a.    Staffing

1)      Approve the appointment of Cathleen Knauf as Executive Secretary I, Management Confidential (District Office), in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations, effective March 16, 2021, with 2020-2021 salary to be at the rate of $40,200, 12 month position, 8 hours/day.

2)      Approve the appointment of Jill Busman as Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, Management Confidential (District Office), in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations, effective March 16, 2021, with 2020-2021 salary to be at the rate of $48,000 per year plus $1.45 per hour longevity, 12 month position, 8 hours/day.

3)      Approve the probationary appointment of Gabriel Neander as Senior Custodian (Sacandaga Elementary School), in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations, Step 1, at the rate of $23.98 per hour plus $.15 per hour longevity, effective February 23, 2021.

4)      Approve the extension of the appointment of Carol Quantock as Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools (District Office) on a per diem basis

from up to 30 days between January 4, 2021 and March 31, 2021, at the rate of $21.89 per hour

to up to 60 days between January 4, 2021 and March 31, 2021, at the rate of $21.89 per hour.

5)      Approve the reassignment of Jeffrey Walker, Cleaner, from Sacandaga Elementary School to the Senior High School effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, with no change in salary rate or hours per week.

6)      Approve the attached list of individuals as substitutes for the 2020-2021 school year, as submitted.  (This list is contained as Appendix G to these minutes).

7)   Approve the appointment of Brian Voelpel as Substitute Teaching Assistant (Sacandaga Elementary School), Step 1, at the rate of $17.13 per hour, effective February 9, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

8)    Approve the following 2020-2021 coaching appointments, retroactive to September 21, 2020:

Girls Basketball

Varsity                                       Jeremy Kristel                       Step 0                         -0-

Cheerleading

Varsity                                       Aleecia Reinhart      Step 0                         -0-

Routine Business

a.  Placements of Children with Disabilities

Accept the Placement of Children with Disabilities as recommended by the Committees on Preschool Special Education and Special Education in their report dated 02/22/21.

b.  Internal Claims Auditor’s Report/Warrants/Warrant Report Exceptions:

Payroll Warrants

#21  2/8/21  $8,977.99
#22  2/12/21  $1,125,359.73

Check Warrants

A-27  2/12/21  $1,002,940.50
President Bucciferro noted receipt of the Internal Claims Auditor’s Report/Warrants/Warrant  Report Exceptions.  (These reports are contained as Appendix H to these minutes).

Other Business

Superintendent Swartz briefly discussed graduation and explained that although Ms. Sawyer and her team are working on graduation plans, at this point in time the District does not know how graduation will be held in June.

Hearing/Privilege of the Floor

There was no hearing/privilege of the floor due to the inability to allow the public to attend the meeting in person.

MOVED by Frederick, SECONDED by H. Talbot, that the meeting be adjourned.

Roll Call

Ayes: 6

Noes: 0

MOTION CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Bobbie DeLong, District Clerk