MENANDS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
February 11, 2008
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. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS
VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education accept the minutes of the
January 14, 2008 and January 29, 2008 meetings.
Motion: Mr. Dignum Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
VII. 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 December 2007.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the Treasurer's Report for the month of December 2007.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Testo Nays: 0
Health Services Contract - City School District of Albany, 2006-2007
Enclosed are copies of contracts and an invoice for health services for 16 students attending non-public schools in the City of Albany School District for the
2006-2007 school year.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the health services contract with City of Albany School District for the 2006-2007
school year in the amount of $8,650.88 and authorize same to be signed by the Superintendent, President and Clerk of the Board.
Motion: Mr. Testo Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
2008-2009 Budget
Mr. Knaust presented a draft of part 1 of the proposed 2008-2009 budget which included
anticipated costs for the general support of the Menands School for the upcoming
school year. Line items covered were Board of Education expenses, business office and administration, transportation, employee benefits, debt service and interfund transfers.
The remainder of the proposed budget will be presented at subsequent meetings.
VIII. PERSONNEL MATTERS
Appointment - Substitute Custodian - Andre Legrone
Enclosed is the application of Andre Legrone for the position of substitute custodian
for the Menands UFSD.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free
School District appoint Andre Legrone as a substitute custodian for the
Menands UFSD at a rate of $9.24 per hour. Mr. Legrone is fully cleared for
employment.
Motion: Mr. Nicoll Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Testo Nays: 0
Appointment - Emergency Conditional - Substitute Lunch Aide/Kitchen Worker/Custodian Rhoda Maikels
Enclosed is the application of Rhoda Maikels for the positions of substitute lunch
aide/kitchen worker/custodian.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free
School District appoint Rhoda Maikels as a substitute lunch aide at a rate of $8.24
per hour, as a substitute kitchen worker at a rate of $8.24 per hour, and as a substitute custodian at a rate of $9.24 per hour.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this appointment is made on an emergency conditional basis and subject to a statement from Ms. Maikels regarding criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Her continued employment is specifically
contingent upon the District's receipt of notice from the Commissioner of Education that she is fully cleared for employment .
Motion: Mr. Dignum Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
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 2007-2008 school year.
Danielle Beach Lauren Beaver Katharine Cancelliere
Paul Cardettino Sarah Downs Charles Drozd
Aaron Goutermout David Hayden Jenifer Kish
Daniel Klein Joshua Lewis Jacqueline McGinn
Bonnie Ng Alexandria Piedmont Michael Rosenthal
Jennifer Saddlemire Shelley Sausville Kristy Sawyer
Michele Schoonmaker Daniel Segal Danielle Sitser
Kathleen Trainor Michael Winterton Sara Wolfson
Susan Napierski Nicholas Warren Rebecca Winn
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Testo 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 2007-2008 school year:
Aimee Lasch Tracy McGeary Bonnie Naumann
Shari Aldrich Robin Bergener Ann Chu
Lindsay Coons Kristin Fenn Kelli Griffin
Megan Haley Peter Hoffman Ashley Beebe
Kyle Blair Kelly Bootier Ashley Keegan
Kristin LaClaire Sarah Lajeunesse Stephanie Malette
Meghan Petrie Mattia Sidoti Cheryl Stover
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: Mr. Testo Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
IX. 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. Nicoll Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
Homework Club/Afterschool Tutoring
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
Charles Blanchet, Cindy Weber and Leslie Carolus to staff the Homework Club/
Afterschool Tutoring at $25.00 per hour for the remainder of the 2007-2008
school year.
Motion: Mr. Dignum Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
Superintendent's Conference
The Superintendent requests the approval of the Board to attend a conference on Friday,
March 14, 2008 sponsored by the New York State Council of School Superintendents on the topic of Superintendent - School Board Relations and Team Governance.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the Superintendent's attendance at the NYSCOSS Superintendent - School
Board Relations and Team Governance conference on Friday, 3/14/08.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Dignum Nays: 0
Graduate Coursework - Dan Carroll
Enclosed is the transcript of Daniel Carroll who completed six credit hours of coursework
in the School Building Leader Certification program at SUNY.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
compensation to Daniel Carroll for pre-approved graduate coursework beyond
his Masters Degree as per the MAT contract.
Motion: Mr. Testo Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
Residency - Grade 8 Student
Enclosed is a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt requesting that their daughter, Erica
Schmidt, be allowed to continue attending Menands School and graduate with her
class in June 2008. The Schmidts are moving to Cohoes in May or June of 2008.
Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt will be responsible for Erica's transportation to and from school.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve
the request of Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt and allow Erica Schmidt to continue her
Grade 8 education at the Menands School and graduate with her class in
June 2008.
Motion: Mr. Nicoll Ayes: 5
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
X. UPDATES/REPORTS
Tech Valley High School Program
Mrs. Meany stated our current grade 8 students were provided with information on the Tech
Valley High School Program but none have pursued this opportunity. Ms. Meany will
again gather information and be prepared to offer this opportunity to students in the fall.
End of Second Quarter - Parent Conferences/Honor Roll
Ms. Meany commended the Menands teachers for meeting with so many parents
for the second quarter report card conferences. Honor roll students will be awarded
certificates on Friday, 2/29/08 at 9:56 a.m., along with the citizens/scholars for the months
of January and February. A luncheon acclaiming the citizens/scholars will also be held
on the 29th at noon.
Spelling Bee
Congratulations to all of those students who participated in the Spelling Bee held on
Wednesday, February 6. Catherine Price was the winner of the Spelling Bee and
Christopher Hernandez the runner-up.
XI. INFORMATIONAL
XII. NEXT BOARD MEETING
March 10, 2008
XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
Shaker H.S. Transition
Mrs. Meany stated a Transition Committee consisting of 5 staff, 3 parents and 4 students
has been formed. The goal of the Transition Committee is to improve the Menands
School students' transition to high school.
XIV. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA, NON-AGENDA ITEMS
2008-2009 Budget
Mr. Price commented that given the budget draft thus far, he sees opportunities in the
proposed budget for cuts (i.e., a roll-back from the fund balance; the proposed business
official contract, transportation). Ms. Meany pointed out that this is the first draft of the
budget and is certainly far from complete. Ms. Meany stated she and the Board take
their fiscal responsibility seriously and much work has yet to be done to get a completed
budget to bring before the taxpayers.
Curriculum Mapping
Ms. Meany stated the curriculum mapping conference in the area of science attended by herself and ten teachers was excellent. A lot of information was offered. The teachers
have met since the conference to project their needs to commence implementation of
the curriculum. They will meet periodically to discuss and plan for the 2008-2009 school
year and beyond.
XV. MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Risk assessment conducted by internal auditor
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Testo Nays: 0 Time: 7:31 p.m.
XVI. MOTION TO ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Dignum Nays: 0 Time: 8:50 p.m.
XVII. MOTION TO ADJOURN
Motion: Mr. Testo Ayes: 5
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0 Time: 8:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia M. Miller
District Clerk