MENANDS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
December 10, 2007
6:30 p.m.
I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
II. MOTION TO ENTER INTO PUBLIC SESSION
Motion: Mr. Dignum Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0 Time: 6:30 p.m.
III. ROLL CALL
Mr. Dunsker X
Mr. Dignum X
Mrs. Ognan X
Mr. Testo X
Mr. Nicoll X
IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
V. PRESENTATIONS
Introduction: Ms. Meany introduced William Knaust from the Management Advisory Group who will be working with the Menands UFSD two days a week
for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year as a business office consultant.
Audit Report: Tim Doyle of Sickler, Torchia, Allen & Churchill, CPAs, PC, presented the financial statements and management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit for the period beginning on 7/1/06 through 6/30/0707 to the Board of Education. Mr. Doyle stated that the audit was given an unqualified or "clean" opinion, meaning that the financial statements were free of material misstatements and that the financial information contained was fairly stated. Mr. Doyle reviewed the Management Letter with the Board.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD accept
the Financial Statements and Supplementary Information Report conducted
by Sickler, Torchia, Allen & Churchill for the year ended June 30, 2007.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Testo Nays: 0
Tax Collection Report: Mr. Knaust advised that the of the $6,050,474.53 authorized
to be collected by taxes ($1,717,577.13 homestead and $4,332,206.82 non-
homestead), $5,817,423.68 has been collected thus far. The total amount
uncollected is $233,050.85 which has been turned over to Albany County for
collection.
VI. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education accept the minutes of the
November 13, 2007, November 27, 2007 and December 7, 2007 meetings.
Motion: Mr. Dignum Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
VIII. BUSINESS MATTERS
Business Office Information
Enclosed for the information of the Board is a copy of the warrants, budget transfers, the
appropriation status report and the revenue status report.
Business Office for Approval
Enclosed is the Treasurer's Report for the month of October 2007.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the Treasurer's Report for the month of October 2007.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Dignum Nays: 0
Submitted for the Board's consideration is a cover memo explaining the proposed contractual agreement with Management Advisory Group to conduct a review of the district's state aid payments for current and previous years. Payment of this service will be 15% of any aid recouped.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the contract with Management Advisory Group to conduct a review of the
district's state aid payments for current and previous school years.
Motion: Mr. Testo Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
Transportation Contract - Special Education Students: The bid opening for the Special Education Transportation Contract to transport two students to Goodrich School (commencing 11/21/07) and St. Coleman's (commencing 12/3/07) was held on Monday, November 19, 2007. There was one bid submitted (see enclosed). It is recommended that the Special Education transportation contract be awarded to Star & Strand in the amount of $327.75 per day for these two students.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the contract between the Menands UFSD and Star & Strand to transport
one student to Goodrich School and one student to St. Coleman's School for the 2007-2008 school year at a cost of $327.75 per day for both runs.
Motion: Mr. Nicoll Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Dignum Nays: 0
Donation: Enclosed please find for the Board's acceptance a letter to Deb Hutton
accepting the donation of a 20-inch television. The Board graciously accepted the
donation of a television.
IX. PERSONNEL MATTERS
Appointments
Substitute Teachers - Fully Cleared
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free School District appoint the following as substitute teachers for the 2006-2007 school year.
Kenneth Bevan Gregory Boudreau Raebeth Ruede
Alyx Waldron Jennifer Allers Marie Baker
Steven Bassett Anne Chalmers Theresa Dennis
Lindsay Frament Nicole Fruscella Michael Grady
Frances Hauser Robert Kasman Kenneth Kelly
Tiffany Kelly Heidi Lazare Heather Mann
Michele Nopper Meghan Numrich Deborah Oatman
Rachel Owens Ashley Parker Katherine Patell
Deena Salzman Martin Schilling Scott Vorwald
Kristine Wade Kimberly Welcome Kenneth Hoffman
Brett Maksymik
Motion: Mr. Dignum Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
Substitute Teachers - Emergency Conditional
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD appoint the following as substitute teachers for the 2006-07 school year:
Danielle Beach Trevor Black Sean Dollard
Sarah Downs Stacy Frisoni Katharine Kelly
Irlene Mayo Michael Rosenthal Shelley Sausville
Maureen Kelly Janina Mango Sean Martin
Allen Pailey Marcie Rajter Jessica Waltzer
Sara Wolfson Matthew Bruce Paul Cardettino
Erik Dolman Stephen Hensel Christine Ryan
Ross Schartz Daniel Segal Danielle Sitser
Michael Winterton
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these appointments are made on an emergency conditional basis and subject to a statement from them regarding criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Their continued employment is specifically contingent upon the District's receipt of notice from the Commissioner of Education that they are fully cleared for employment .
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Testo Nays: 0
X. BOARD OF EDUCATION MATTERS
CSE/CPSE Recommendations
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the CSE/CPSE recommendations as submitted.
Motion: Mr. Testo Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
Budget Transfers Policy 6150 - Revision - Second Reading
The proposed amendment to the Budget Transfers Policy 6150 was reviewed and
discussed by the Board.
Graduation/Promotion Policy 4770 - New - Second Reading
The revised draft of the proposed Menands School Eighth Grade Graduation Policy 4770
was reviewed and discussed by the Board.
Senior Citizens/Rotary Club Luncheon: The Menands School will host the semi-annual
Senior Citizens/Rotary Club Luncheon on Friday, December 14, 2007. The citizens/
scholars for the months of November/December will also be honored at the luncheon.
The Board is cordially invited to attend. Please RSVP to Mrs. Miller by Wednesday, 12/12/07.
XI. CONFERENCES
The Superintendent did not attend the Friday, November 30th conference of the
New York State Council of School Superintendents as previously approved.
The Superintendent requests approval to attend the New York State School Boards
Association conference on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, entitled, "The School
Budget: A One Day Legal Conference."
The Superintendent requests approval to attend the New York State School Boards
Association conference on Saturday, December 15, 2007, entitled, "Fiscal
Oversight for School Board Members."
The Board approved attendance at the above conferences.
XII. NEXT BOARD MEETING
January 14, 2008
XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
Miss Kostik noted that a former teacher, Mrs. Margaret Abbott, passed away this weekend.
Missoula Theatre: Mr. Dunsker shared a thank you note received by Dianne MacFarland
in appreciation of the cooperation and support of the Board of Education, the staff of
Missoula Theater and the Menands School staff and volunteers throughout the Missoula
Theater Program. Ms. Meany stated she was very impressed with the whole Missoula
experience which engaged all students and was a great success. Mr. Dunsker, on behalf of the Board, thanked everyone who was involved in the program.
XIV. MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. The Board will discuss Superintendent's goals for 2007-2008.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Dignum Nays: 0 Time: 7:03 p.m.
XV. MOTION TO ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: Mr. Dignum Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0 Time: 8:00 p.m.
XVI. MOTION TO ADJOURN
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Dignum Nays: 0 Time: 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia M. Miller
District Clerk