1. |
Information Business Affairs
1.1
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President's Report
1.1.1 |
Superintendent Search
President Benton provided a brief update on the superintendent search. The consultants will meet with the board January 13 to review applications and identify candidates to be interviewed.
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Addendum item before Tax Cap:
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1.1.3 |
Communication - live broadcast under NCCTV (now NCCMC)
Randall Katchis provided a detailed report of his meeting with NCCMC, Darleen Nicolosi, and Theresa Markley, to discuss streaming board meetings on the Education Channel. He described better, less expensive solutions: Pull a CAT 5/6 cable from our meeting site to the studio behind the library. If the conduit in the courtyard is intact the cost will be $1800, but if new conduit is needed, the cost will be $5000. Add two converter boxes at a cost of $300 for both. To reach an extremely small audience in real time would cost either $1800 or $5300. Randall moved to spend up to $5300 on live broadcast of meetings. Gregg Bresner seconded. After board discussion, consensus felt this is not a good use of money considering the current economic climate and the few people it would reach. Besides attending in person, meetings are already available on the website and on NCCMC in one day. Streaming on the web it is much more complex and expensive. Janet Benton, Jeffrey Mester, Alyson Kiesel, and Randall Katchis did not support the motion. Gregg Bresner voted to support the motion. The motion did not pass.
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1.1.2 |
Tax Cap Resolution
After a discussion and explanation of the tax cap issues to include relief of unfunded mandates and the resolution supported by Westchester Putnam School Boards Association, Jeffrey Mester offered the similar resolution below. The resolution was seconded by Janet Benton. The motion passed unanimously.
Be it Resolved by the Chappaqua Central School District Board of Education that Legislative and Unfunded Mandate Relief Must be Included in any NY State Property Tax Cap Proposal.
WHEREAS, New York State leads the nation in local property taxes, in large part because New York leads the nation in imposing unfunded state mandates upon our local municipalities and school districts; and
WHEREAS, state mandated pension fund contributions are one of the largest components of every school district and municipal budget over which local officials have little control, and are increasing at exorbitant rates annually such that bills from the State Retirement System (ERS) will increase 40% and bills from the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) will increase 33% in the 2011-12 school year; and
WHEREAS, state laws such as the Triborough Amendment, pertaining to the collective bargaining of contracts between school districts and employee unions, impede the ability of local officials to reasonably control the costs that such contracts impose upon local property taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, as a solution to New York's property tax crisis, the Governor of New York and members of the New York State Legislature have pledged to consider enactment of legislation imposing a cap on the annual growth in local property taxes; and
WHEREAS, any property tax cap must be accompanied simultaneously (1) by ending the practice of pushing State costs onto local school districts and municipalities, and (2) by a repeal of current underfunded or unfunded state mandates that require local municipalities and school districts to significantly increase spending and therefore local property taxes; and
WHEREAS, a property tax cap without repeal of costly underfunded and unfunded state mandates will inescapably lead to drastic cuts in essential local school district programs and services, as well as significant layoffs of school district employees;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Chappaqua Central School District, that the Governor of the State of New York and the members of the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly must reform the cost drivers that lead to high property taxes in New York - including mandate relief, pension benefits and the collective bargaining process - as the central element of any effort to provide property tax relief to the residents and businesses of New York State.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Governor, Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, Assembly Speaker and Minority Leader, and the members of the State Senate and Assembly representing residents of the Chappaqua Central School District.
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1.2
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Superintendent's Report
John Chambers reported because of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford of Arizona, and several others killed this past weekend, age appropriate discussions of civility and tolerance were encouraged and activities, such as a moment of silence, were observed at each school. We need to continue to work to show that violence is not acceptable and model civility in discussions.
1.2.1 |
Draft Proposed Calendars A, B, C for 2011-2012 - second reading
Interim Superintendent John Chambers presented three proposed calendars. Janet Benton moved to adopt Calendar B, school starts the day after Labor Day which allows for one more day to be added to spring break on April 9. Jeffrey Mester seconded. Discussion ensued on the merits of each calendar with comments welcomed from the audience. The motion passed with a vote of 4-1. Benton, Kiesel, Katchis, Mester voted for calendar B. Gregg Bresner voted for Calendar C.
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1.2.2 |
NY State News
John Chambers reported that we do not know what the State Aid will be yet. He indicated that the State will be making some changes to the regent graduation requirements. The real regent concern is to make students college-ready, but that doesn't apply here but our district actually helps to increase the percentage for the state.
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1.2.3 |
Concert kudos
John Chambers and Lyn McKay attended most of the holiday concerts and were uniformly impressed with the quality and the choice of the challenging music presented. Congratulations to the many musicians.
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Question and Comments on Report Items
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2. |
Organization
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3. |
Approvals
3.1
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Randy Katchis moved to approve the Minutes of December 14, 2010 as amended. Gregg Bresner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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4. |
Recommended Action: Personnel
Interim Superintendent John Chambers made the following recommendations for the rest of the items:
4.1
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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":
Lynn Goldberg,
Sean Higgins,
Cameron Lowder,
Dana McBride,
Carol Neeson, and
Christine Waller.
Resolution:
"BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education ratifies the Stipulation of Settlement and General Release, dated December 15, 2010, regarding Employee Number 1419. The Stipulation will be incorporated by reference into the minutes of this meeting."
Termination:
Mr. Michael Darland, Junior Varsity Boys' Swimming, Horace Greeley High School, effective November 19, 2010, due to lack of enrollment.
Resignation for Purposes of Retirement:
Ms. Elizabeth DeGaetani, Teacher of Elementary Education, Westorchard Elementary School, effective June 30, 2011.
Resignation:
Ms. Christina Annunziata, Teaching Assistant, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective January 7, 2011.
Request for Parental Leave of Absence:
Ms. Rachel Ruggeri, Teacher of Mathematics, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective January 24, 2011 through June 30, 2011.
Ms. Kathleen Campanaro, Teacher of Reading, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, effective January 27, 2011 through June 30, 2011.
Ms. Regina McKie, Teacher of Social Studies, Horace Greeley High School, effective February 7, 2011 through June 30, 2011.
Appointment: Regular Substitute
Ms. Christine Donohue, Regular Substitute Teacher of Mathematics, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective November 29, 2010 through June 30, 2011 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 2, B(BA+30) with Masters, $67,586, prorated.
Ms. Gail Matthew, Regular Substitute Teacher of Elementary Education, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, effective January 3, 2011 through June 30, 2011 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 1, B(BA+30) with Masters, $64,655, prorated.
Ms. Annamarie Revel-Davis, Regular Substitute Teacher of Social Studies, Horace Greeley High School, effective December 22, 2010 through June 30, 2011 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 3, B(BA+30) with Masters, $70,512, prorated.
Ms. Nichole Corrigan, Regular Substitute Teaching Assistant, Westorchard Elementary School, effective September 13, 2010 through February 28, 2011 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), $20,356, prorated.
Appointment: Volunteer Coaching
Mr. Gary Abrams, Varsity Boys' Basketball Assistant, Horace Greeley High School, effective November 28, 2010 through March 1, 2011 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education).
Mr. Matthew Ketterer, Varsity Track Assistant, Horace Greeley High School, effective November 14, 2010 through March 1, 2011 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education).
Mr. Richard Birdoff, Junior Varsity Boys' Basketball Assistant, Horace Greeley High School, effective December 13, 2010 through March 1, 2011 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education).
Randall Katchis moved to approve the recommendation. Alyson Kiesel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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4.2
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Non-Instructional
Resignation:
Lisa Mangieri - Typist - School Monitor at Seven Bridges Middle School, resigning effective January 18, 2011.
Appointment:
Lisa Ribushofski - Secretary to School Principal at Westorchard Elementary School, effective January 3, 2011. Her salary will be $49,789.
Margaret Ryan - Payroll Clerk at the Education Center, 25 hours per week, effective January 12, 2011. Her salary will be $28,347.
Alyson Kiesel moved to approve the recommendation. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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5. |
Recommended Action: Other
5.1
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Jeffrey Mester moved to approve CSE summaries reported to the Board on January 7, 2011. Gregg Bressner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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Because of the weather concerns, President Benton suggested that items could be tabled to a future meeting if more discussion was necessary for a particular item. With that in mind, Jeffrey Mester moved to approve items 5.2 through 5.10, and table item 5.9 for further discussion. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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5.2
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Resolution Standard Work Day and Time Reporting
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District hereby establishes the following as standard work days for appointed officials and will report the following days worked to the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System based upon the record of activities maintained and submitted by these officials to the District Clerk.
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5.3
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby ratifies the Supplemental Agreement, dated December 23, 2010, agreed to by the District and the Chappaqua Administrators' Association as presented to the board at this meeting. A copy of said agreement shall be incorporated by reference within the minutes of this meeting.
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5.4
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Resolved, that the Board of Education authorizes its attorneys, Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert, LLP to execute a Consent Judgment in a tax certioari proceeding captioned Ledgewood Common Condominium v. Town of New Castle and the Chappaqua CSD;
And it is further resolved, that the Board authorizes the refund of taxes as required by the terms of the Consent Judgment.
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5.5
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Whereas, Stanley Security Solutions, Inc. ("Stanley") is and will continue to be, the sole source of the BEST factory-maintained master key system, the BEST PEAKS proprietary system, the MX8 Cormax patented keying system and the 9k cylindrical locks. These items are proprietary products that are only available through the office which services the local geographical area at 31 Fields Lane, North Salem, NY 10560.
Whereas, Stanley will have a direct sales and purchasing relationship and no intentions to utilize agents, or authorize resellers to provide Stanley products and services to Chappaqua School District.
THEREFORE, be it resolved, that the Board of Education hereby declares Stanley to be the sole source for all Stanley branded products and services purchased in the ordinary course of product acquisition and therefore, determines that the purchase of the Stanley products is not subject to competitive bidding under Section 103 of the General Municipal Law.
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5.6
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"BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Stipulation of Settlement and General Release, effective January 11, 2011, regarding Employee Number 4174. The Stipulation will be incorporated by reference into the minutes of this meeting."
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5.7
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Approve Athletic Equipment Lease Agreement with Macrolease for eight treadmills plus consoles in the amount of $34,012.60, for 36 months at $1044/per month.
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5.8
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Facilities Inspection Services, LLC for annual visual inspection of all buildings in the amount of $5,550.
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Tabled 5.9
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Regulation 7000 Building Usage Fees - 2011-12, are reviewed annually, effective July 1, 2011, rates are recommended to change for the custodial rate from $57/hour to $59 /hour and from $76/hour on special holidays to $78/hour.
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5.10
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Be it resolved that as provided by section 912 of State Education Law, the Board authorizes the Board President to execute a Contract for Health Services with Bedford Central School District for services provided to the resident students of Chappaqua School District attending non-public schools in the Bedford Central School District, (services and invoice attached).
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ADDENDUM:
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5.11
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Alyson Kiesel offer a resolution,
"BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorizes the Board President to execute an Amendment to Release and Settlement Agreement regarding student #511019 . A copy of said Amendment shall be incorporated by reference into the minutes of this meeting."
Gregg Bresner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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6. |
Facilities
Jeffrey Mester reported that the tour for tomorrow of Seven Bridges and Westorchard has already been cancelled due to the weather and will be rescheduled.
Report on Bell will be tabled until after all the tours are completed.
TABLE 6.1
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Report on Board Facilities Tour of Bell Middle School, December 15, 2010, 7:15 a.m. and Douglas Grafflin Elementary School at 8:00 a.m.
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Reschedule 6.2
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Board Facilities Tour of Seven Bridges Middle School, January 12, 2011, 7:15 a.m. and Westorchard Elementary School at 8:00 a.m.
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7. |
Financials
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Questions and Comments
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8. |
President Benton gave Notice of Future Meetings -
Thursday, January 13, 2011, Education Center, 7:00 p.m. which we anticipate will go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue with the search consultants.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Horace Greeley High School - 8:15 p.m.
Board / Administrator Retreat 6:00 p.m.
Board debriefing for public meeting
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9. |
Adjournment
At 9:30 p.m. President Benton asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn the meeting. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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Theresa M. Markley, District Clerk / Admin. Asst. To Superintendent
Chappaqua Central School District