Minutes October 28, 2020

OFFICIAL MINUTES

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION

Wednesday, October 28, 2020, 5:30 PM
Horace Greeley High School - Auditorium

Per Governor Cuomo’s executive order, in-person attendance at this meeting may not exceed 50 people.

(A Livestream Video Link was also provided)

Presiding Officer: Victoria Bayard Tipp
Pledge of Allegiance: Holly McCall

Present:  Board of Education
    Victoria Bayard Tipp, President
    Holly McCall, Vice President
    Hilary Grasso
    Warren Messner
    Jane Kimmel Shepardson

Staff Members:
    Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of Schools
    John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business
    Ellen Doherty, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
    Adam Pease, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
    Tony Sinanis, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources & Leadership Development
    Liisa Elsner, District Clerk

    Christopher Round - The Chazen Companies
    Allison Sloto - Sive, Paget & Riesel

President Tipp called for a motion to open the meeting.

Motioned by Holly McCall to open the meeting at 5:30 pm.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.  

Motioned by Holly McCall to appoint Christine Ackerman clerk pro tempore.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.

Motioned by Holly McCall to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss potential litigation, the employment history of particular persons and to receive advice from counsel at 5:35 pm.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.

President Tipp called for a motion to reconvene the public meeting.

Motioned by Warren Messner to reconvene the public meeting at 7:48 pm.  Seconded by Holly McCall.  Motion carried 5-0.

1.       Information Business Affairs

1.1    President’s Report

1.1.1    Town of New Castle Form Based Code:  CCSD’s request to extend Public Hearing and Decision-Making Process

  • President Tipp and Board read a statement regarding the Town’s proposed FBC indicating that the District wants the Town and Community to have the most accurate information possible regarding the impact of the FBC on the District.  She indicated that the District has, and will continue to, provide information to the Town.  Board members added comments as well.  Dr. Ackerman added her encouragement of the Town to reach out via e-mail with any information requests that they may have.
  • President Tipp also mentioned that the Board has been participating in the NYSSBA Annual Conference virtually and that they have attended seminars on school law, communications, the impact of the pandemic on school funding and on racial justice and equity issues.  
  • Jane Kimmel Shepardson highlighted the 3 CSF grants on the agenda and expressed the Board’s continued appreciation for CSF’s support and partnership.
  • Ms. Shepardson also spoke about the Sports Boosters new GSB Training & Development Fund where coaches can apply for grants to be used for skills training sessions, workshops, professional development, leadership training, athletic equipment and technology.  She extended her thanks to the Sports Boosters for their continued support and partnership.

Presentation:    Town of New Castle Form Based Code – Chazen Companies

1.2    Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Ackerman gave her community update highlighting the 
following:

  • The appointment of the District’s new Director of Equity, Inclusion and Wellness, Mr. Phillip Marcus.  Dr. Sinanis recapped the search, interview and hiring process.
  • A Schedule Update regarding in-person attendance at all 6 schools along with some potential schedule items that will be discussed at the 11/18 meeting.
  • Off-Season athletic workouts can begin the following week but will all be held outside until we have further guidelines.
  • Admin will have a recommendation regarding the continuance of ½ days on Wednesday continuing past November.
  • Dr. Sinanis gave a brief update on current staffing.
  • Dr. Pease spoke about the Google and Core BTS agreements that are on the agenda along with the CSF grants.
  • Dr. Pease also gave a synopsis of the November 3 Superintendent Conference Day agenda which will commence with a “fireside chat” given by Dolly Chugh, author of The Person YOU Mean to Be.
  • Ms. Doherty spoke about the Professional Consulting Group contract indicating that this is specifically for special education professional development focused on supporting hybrid and remote instructional practices for teachers and para-educators of students with disabilities.
  • Solar Project – Dr. Ackerman recommended to the Board that the District hold off on the solar project until after the pandemic.
  • Encouraging the community to continue to observe proper hygiene, mask wearing and social distancing guidelines during the Halloween weekend.

    
2.      Committee Reports

Facilities Committee:  Holly McCall mentioned that the committee will be meeting on 10/29.

Public Comment Period:
We welcome public comments, and in respect for each other's time, we ask that you limit your comments to three minutes. Board members may be contacted via email or phone.  After the public comment period has been completed, Board members may have a discussion among themselves regarding comments presented.

3.      Approvals & Ratifications

3.1    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the minutes of the October 14, 2020 Board Meeting.

3.2    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the minutes of the October 19, 2020 Board Meeting/Work Session.

Motioned by Warren Messner to accept Items 3.1 and 3.2 as stated above.  Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson.  Motion carried 5-0.

4.      Recommended Action:   Personnel

Dr. Ackerman recommended Item 4.1 as stated below.

4.1    Instructional

Appointment: Probationary
Mr. Phillip Marcus, Director of Equity, Inclusion and Wellness, District-wide, to a probationary appointment in the tenure area of Director of Equity, Inclusion and Wellness, effective November 30, 2020 through November 29, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

Resolution: 
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby authorizes the attached Agreements for Services for the individuals and agencies listed below effective for the 2020-21 school year, or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education:

Colleen O’Sullivan

Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorizes a stipend of $2,762.50 for Jamie Edelman as Acting Principal – Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective July 18, 2020 through August 31, 2020.

Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individuals listed as per diem substitutes:

Jenna Peragallo
Diana Schiro

Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individuals listed as per diem substitutes at the Building Specific substitute teacher rate:

Linda Bosco – Douglas Grafflin Elementary School
Casey Piazza – Roaring Brook Elementary School 

Resignation for Purposes of Retirement:
Mr. Philip Byrne, Teacher of Elementary, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective December 31, 2020.

Appointment: Teaching Assistant
Ms. Anne Kelly, Teaching Assistant, Westorchard Elementary School, effective September 10, 2020.

Appointment: Coaching - Effective October 29, 2020 through December 5, 2020

Sport Level Coach Step
Boys Cross Country Asst. Varsity Ryan Jendzejec 1

Motioned by Victoria Bayard Tipp to approve Item 4.1 as stated above.  Seconded by Holly McCall.  Motion carried 5-0.

Dr. Ackerman recommended Item 4.2 as stated below.

4.2    Non-Instructional 

Resignation:
Cristina Martinez, cleaner at Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective October 27, 2020.

Motioned by Victoria Bayard Tipp to approve Item 4.2 as stated above.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.

5.    Recommended Action:  Other
Use of the Consent Agenda permits the Board of Education to make more effective use of its time by adopting a single motion to cover those relatively routine matters, which are included. Any member of the Board who wishes to discuss individually a particular piece of business on the Consent Agenda may so indicate and that item will be considered and voted on separately, thus preserving the right of all Board members to be heard on any issue. It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the following Consent agenda as submitted by the Superintendent of Schools.

5.1    CSE Summaries (2020-21 School Year) reported to the Board on October 28, 2020.
    
5.2    WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District is planning a project involving the addition of a Sustainability Research Center (greenhouse) onto the K Building at Horace Greeley High School, located at 70 Roaring Brook Road, Chappaqua, NY;

WHEREAS, the Board wishes to comply with the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); and

WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed the components, phases and aspects of the Proposed Project; and

WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed the Proposed Project with respect to the Type II criteria set forth in the SEQRA Regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617.5 and has determined that the Proposed Project is a Type II Action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(1), (2) & (3) of the SEQRA Regulations; 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District is hereby designated lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for the proposed project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District hereby determines that the Proposed Project is a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(1),  (2) & (3) of the SEQRA Regulations and will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and that no further review of the Proposed Project is required.

617.5 ( c ) (1) states:  
"maintenance or repair involving no substantial change in an existing structure or facility;"

617.5 ( c ) (2) states:  
“replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure or facility, in kind, on the same site, including upgrading buildings to meet building or fire codes, unless such action meets or exceeds any of the thresholds in section 617.4 of this Part;”  

617.5 9 ( c ) (10) states:
“routine activities of educational institutions, including expansion of existing facilities by less than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area and school closings, but not changes in use related to such closings;”

5.3    WHEREAS, Google LLC (“Vendor”), a corporation having its principal offices at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA, 94043, provides certain services to the District pursuant to certain contractual arrangements and Vendor Terms of Service (“TOS”) entered into between District and Vendor; and,

WHEREAS, the State of New York has enacted New York Education Law 2-d; and,

WHEREAS, Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services  (“Erie 1 BOCES”), a municipal corporation organized and existing under the Education Law of the State of New York having its principal offices at 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, NY 14224, has entered into an Education Law 2-d Agreement (“Agreement”) in order to address and give binding effect to the terms of New York Education Law 2-d and Section 1.8 of which Agreement provides that school districts can become party to the Agreement by executing a written opt-in to do so; and,

WHEREAS, the District wishes to become party to the Agreement;

NOW THEREFORE, District attests and agrees as follows:

  1. District has evaluated its needs with respect to New York Education Law 2-d and wishes to become subject to the terms of the Agreement;
  2. District hereby formally notifies Erie 1 BOCES and confirms that it is opting into the Agreement in accordance with Section 1.8 thereof.
  3. By executing this Opt-In, District agrees to be bound by and to comply with the terms of the Agreement during the period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023.

5.4    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an agreement with William Raveis New York LLC for real estate brokerage services as a result of CCSD RFP #2020-11, and authorizes the Board President to execute this agreement.

5.5    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an agreement with Core BTS for Security Incident Response Services in the amount of $17,500.00 ($7,500.00 for Incident Response Readiness Assessment and $10,000.00 for Incident Response Retainer), effective November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021, and authorizes the Board President to execute the agreement.

5.6    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a Consultant Services Agreement with Courtney Davis Walker for Public Relations/Communications services for the 2020-21 school year, and authorizes the Board President to execute this agreement. 

5.7    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a Services Agreement with Public Consulting Group, Inc., for special education professional development focused on supporting hybrid and remote instructional practices for teachers and para-educators of students with disabilities in CCSD, effective November 3, 2020, in the amount of $3,500.00, and authorizes the Board President to execute the agreement.

5.8    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a Chappaqua School Foundation InstaGrant Gift for Building a Foundation for Antiracist Teaching & Learning in AP Government & Politics:  The Color of Law, in the amount of $2,154.00, submitted by Horace Greeley High School Teacher Sheila Jacob.

5.9    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a Chappaqua School Foundation InstaGrant Gift for Building a Foundation for Antiracist Teaching & Learning in American History:  Stamped, in the amount of $835.20, submitted by Horace Greeley High School  Teachers Tom Witmer & Jacqueleen Zamora.

5.10    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a Chappaqua School Foundation InstaGrant Gift for the Middle School STEAM Drone Project, in the amount of $2,341.12, submitted by Robert E. Bell Middle School Teacher Tabitha Sasso.

5.11    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, after reviewing a former student’s appeal of certain grades on their transcript, as denied by the Superintendent of Schools, hereby upholds the Superintendent’s denial of the grade changes, and directs the Board Clerk to notify the former student of the Board’s decision.

Motioned by Holly McCall to approve Items 5.1 through 5.11 as stated above.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.

6.      Facilities 

7.      Financials

7.1    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges receipt of the Treasurer’s Report for September 2020.

7.2    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges receipt of the Quarterly Extraclassroom Activities Account Report for September 2020.

Motioned by Holly McCall to acknowledge receipt of Items 7.1 and 7.2 as stated above.  Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson.  Motion carried 5-0.

8.      Notice of Future Meetings 

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - 7:30 pm
Horace Greeley High School – Auditorium

Wednesday, December 9, 2020 – 7:30 pm
Horace Greeley High School – Auditorium

9.      Adjournment 

Motioned by Warren Messner to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 pm.  Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson.  Motion carried 4-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Liisa Elsner
District Clerk / Secretary to the Superintendent

/lke