Minutes March 25, 2015

Minutes

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York

 

Date:

March 25, 2015

 

Time:

6:30 p.m.

 

Place:

Horace Greeley High School - Commons

 

Present:

Board of Education
Karen Visser, President
Alyson Gardner, Vice President
Victoria Tipp
Warren Messner
Jeffrey Mester

 

Staff Members
Present:

Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent

Mr. Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business

Mr. Andrew Selesnick, Assistant Superintendent for Leadership Dev. & HR

Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Adm. Asst. to Superintendent

 

Visitors Present:

Representatives of the Chappaqua PTA, school PTAs, building administrators, faculty, and other interested citizens.

 

President Visser called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Warren Messner moved to enter into an Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of a legal issue and negotiations. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously. At 7:40 p.m. Warren Messner moved to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene public session. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Pledge of Allegiance - Vice President Alyson Gardner

President Visser thanked everyone for coming.

Presentations:

Operations Maintenance / Non-Instructional

Joe Gramando, Director of Facilities began his presentation by noting the mission of his department, to create a healthy and safe environment for students and staff, to provide the best level of care possible to buildings and grounds. Their goals are to maintain our facilities through preventive maintenance, and to continue to improve safety and security while conserving resources. He also reviewed some of the Operating Standards: staff is trained to further increase efficiency and safety while creating high performance school buildings. He reported that he is working on another $3.3 million energy project with no cost to the tax payers. It will further decrease heating and air conditioning costs and he explained some of the details. He also noted some of the many projects that his staff have completed including roofing, the Greeley iLab and cafeteria, Bell ADA ramp and Bell security station. Maintenance supplies and telephone repair were reduced. This year we need to have HVAC maintenance. Every five years the state mandates a building survey so we have some repairs to meet those requirements. Overall, his budget is increased by $723,000.

John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business, reviewed the proposed budget is slightly more than last year at $117,901,688 or an increase of $1,044,700 or 0.89%. There are four components of the non-instructional budget - general support, transportation, community services, and undistributed. He compared the expenditures for 2015-16 to 2014-15.

He also reviewed a proposition that will be on the May 19 ballot:

PROPOSITION to transfer funds and authorization to use those funds for the purpose of renovation and replacement of equipment at HG cafeteria.

Shall the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District, Westchester County, New York, be authorized to perform certain alteration, reconstruction and renovation work, including replacement of equipment, on the cafeteria at the Horace Greeley High School, including incidental expenses, at a maximum expenditure of $600,000, with the amount of up to $600,000 to be solely financed by a transfer from the fund balance in the school lunch fund as of June 30, 2015 to the capital fund. NO budget increase is called for in this proposition.

He explained that the $600,000 can only be used for this type of expense and must be transferred from the school lunch fund. There is NO budget increase. Projects over $100,000 must be put before the public for a vote.

1.

Information Business Affairs

1.1

President's Report

1.1.1

Thank you to the PTA for a lovely dinner before the Peter Johnston presentation on Monday. Karen also congratulated the new slate of PTA officers.

1.2

Superintendent's Report

1.2.1

Tri-States Updates

Dr. McKay reported that 58 people including Peter Johnston, went through our classrooms and listened to what our students are talking about. It was a long day, but an exciting one. They will bring data back to us in a final report.

1.2.2

iLab updates

Dr. McKay reported the high school faculty has created a list of priorities. In January, we walked around with our representative from FNI to re-purpose space in our other schools. More will be forthcoming.

2.

Organization

Questions and Comments

We welcome public inquiries, and in respect for each other's time, we ask that you limit your inquiry to three minutes. Board members may be contacted via email or phone.

 

3.

Approvals

4.

Recommended Action: Personnel

Dr. McKay made the following recommendations:

4.1

Instructional

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individuals listed as per diem substitute teachers to be employed on an "as needed" basis":

Jennifer Spitaleri, and Janice Vuoso.

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individuals listed as AP proctors to be employed on an "as needed" basis effective for the 2014/2015 school year, or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education":

Barbara Brandfon, Christine Henderson, Paula Petito, Rita Campana, Jill Jason-Wainer, Beth Quinn, Luann Citrin, Lainee Katzenberg, Joan Salamone, Dennis Corcoran, Elaine Krim, Barbara Scheine, Linda DiChiara, Carol Malino Madole, Joan Sepler, Victoria Farenga, Jennifer Mebes, Ann Marie Tetelmen, Anita Faria, Suzanne Michel, Giselle Weiss, Gabrielle Giordano, Noah Mitchell, Laurie Wesley, Lizabeth Haas, Raquel Moskovits-Grey, Florence Zelenko, Joan Handwerger, Kimberly Perham.

Resignation:

Mr. Andrew Selesnick, Assistant Superintendent for Leadership Development and Human Resources, Education Center, effective June 30, 2015.

Request for Extension of Parental Leave of Absence:

Ms. Renee Mattiello, Teacher of Elementary Education, Westorchard Elementary School, effective August 31, 2015 through June 30, 2016.

Ms. Kelly Todd, Teacher of Health, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective August 31, 2015 through June 30, 2016.

Appointment: Part Time

Mr. Charles Buchanan, (.5) Athletic Coordinator, District wide, effective March 23, 2015 through June 5, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), $2,180.

Ms. AnnMarie Tetelman, (.5) Athletic Coordinator, District wide, effective March 23, 2015 through June 5, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), $2,180.

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve the recommendations. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

4.2

Non-instructional

Dr. McKay made the following recommendation:

Appointment:

Ronald Deagan - Custodial Worker/Groundskeeper, Pole Barn, effective March 30, 2015. His salary will be $46,488.

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve the recommendation. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.

Recommended Action: Other

5.1

Alyson Gardner moved to approve CSE Summaries for Board approval on March 25, 2015. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.2

Alyson Gardner moved to approve a money grant from Westorchard PTA to Westorchard School in the amount of $5,000 to supplement the purchase of a 42 SMART Table 442i Collaborative Learning Center ("SMART Table"). Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.3

Victoria Tipp moved to approve a gift from Friends of Greeley Theatre, Inc. to Horace Greeley for the Horace Greeley Theatre Department in the amount of $2,050 for purchase of items needed for production of Murdered to Death,and future productions. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.4

Warren Messner moved to approve a contract for health and welfare services with Greenburgh Central School District #7 for 2 students at the estimated rate of $890.95 per student effective September 3, 2014 thru June 25, 2015. Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.5

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve a contract for health and welfare services with Rye City School District for 2 students at the estimated rate of $794.39 for September 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.6

Alyson Gardner moved to adopt Building Usage Fees for 2015-2016, effective July 1, 2015 to reflect changes based on contract. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.7

Warren Messner moved to approve a gift from New Castle Youth Basketball Assoc. in the amount of $6,539.80 to dismantle old basketball hoops and install new system at Roaring Brook School. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

6.

Facilities

6.1

Report on Facilities -

Jeffrey Mester reported that It was clear on the Memorandum of Agreement with the Turf Committee that the district would not spend taxpayer money on artificial turf. The Turf Committee has indicated that they will not pay the final approval costs of approximately $80,000 knowing that $250,000 has already been invested by the committee. The Department of Environmental Protection will give a five-year approval and that can be extended two years. Do we use no more than $80,000 to spend according to the contract with Woodward and Curran on the final approval process with DEP?

Alyson Gardner moved to approve authorizing John Chow to use no more than $80,000 to spend according to the contract with Woodward and Curran on the final approval process with DEP. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

7.

Financials

8.

Communications

9.

President Visser gave Notice of Future Meetings -

Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at Horace Greeley High School, 7:30 p.m.

Budget WORK SESSION

Presentation:

Revenue / Tax Rates / Contingency

10.

Adjournment

Alyson Gardner moved to adjourn at 9:34 p.m. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa M. Markley, District Clerk / Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent

Karen Visser, Board President

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