MENANDS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
OCTOBER 9, 2007
6:30 P.M.
I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
II. MOTION TO ENTER INTO PUBLIC SESSION
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0 Time: 6:33 p.m.
III. ROLL CALL
Mr. Dunsker X
Mr. Dignum absent
Mrs. Ognan X
Mr. Testo absent
Mr. Nicoll X
IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION WEEK - OCTOBER 21 - 27
Superintendent Meany, on behalf of the students and staff, thanked the Board of Education for their commitment to the Menands students and staff. Ms. Meany expressed, on a personal note, her appreciation for their support in the time she has been the superintendent/principal of the district and
stated she is enjoying working with the Board.
Students in many classrooms created thank you cards and pictures for the Board of Education.
Mr. Dunsker, on behalf of his colleagues on the Board, stated it is an honor and pleasure to work with the Superintendent and expressed thanks to the faculty, staff and community for coming together in support of the Menands learning community.
V. PRESENTATION - Camp Chingachgook
Mrs. Volo and Grade 8 students thanked the Board for the opportunity to participate in the three-day trip to Camp Chingachgook on September 19, 20 and 21, 2007, which was a
huge success. The students shared learning experiences they will take with them through the school year: trust, opening themselves to challenges, encouraging each other, overcoming challenges, working as a team, confidence-building, getting to know their peers in a different light. One student with heartfelt emotion summed up, "It was the funnest time I ever had."
Mrs. Volo thanked Ms. Meany for spending the day with the class. Mrs. Volo also related that the staff at Camp Chingachgook highly complimented the students, finding them respectful, polite and delightful. A slide show of the trip was then presented. Ms. Meany thanked the staff for all of their hard work in planning and participating in this wonderful opportunity for the students. Mr. Dunsker thanked the eighth graders for sharing their experiences.
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 September 10, 2007 and September 21, 2007 meetings.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
VIII. BUSINESS MATTERS
Treasurer's Report
Enclosed for approval is the Treasurer's Report for the month of August 2007, the General Fund,
Cafeteria and Federal warrants.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education accept the Treasurer's Report for the month
of August, 2007, the General Fund in the amount of $146,772.46, the Cafeteria Warrant in the amount of $8,035.15 and the Federal warrant in the amount of $4,368.25.
Motion: Mr. Nicoll Ayes: 3
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
Capital Region BOCES
Submitted for approval is the bill for contracted services with BOCES for the 2006-2007 school
year.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve the BOCES
bill for contracted services for the 2006-2007 school year.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
Enclosed for approval is the proposed contract for BOCES services for the 2007-2008 school
year.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
Transportation - ALPHA Program
Six to eight students will be attending the ALPHA Program at Watervliet Elementary School
on Tuesdays (Grades 4-5) and Thursdays (Grade 6) for the 2007-2008 school year.
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD enter
into a contract with Green Island School District for Folmsbee Transportation to transport ALPHA students to Watervliet Elementary School on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the 2007-2008 school year at a cost of $82.50 per day.
Motion: Mr. Nicoll Ayes: 3
Second: Mrs. Ognan 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: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
X. PERSONNEL MATTERS
Grade 5 Long-Term Substitute Teacher - Mr. Ryan Carrk
Submitted is the resume of Mr. Ryan Carrk who has been hired for the Grade 5 long-term
substitute position.
Appointments - Substitute Teachers - Fully Cleared
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:
Laura Edick Eric Gleason Margaret Trawick
Jennifer Zindle Christopher Lasher Victoria Berger
Kelly Debes Audrey Dorante Casey Golden
Daniel Scher Elizabeth Spoehr Erin Swasey
Zachary Tacelli
Motion: Mr. Nicoll Ayes: 3
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
Appointments - 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:
Maria Catalano Richard DeCarr Lauren Fennessy
Robert Kasman Scott LaMora Sara Heidelmark
Bonnie Ng Jennifer Tambasco Sarah Wolfsont
Diana Woodworth Marie Baker Anne Chalmers
Theresa Dennis Lindsay Frament Kenneth Kelly
Rachel Owens Kimberly Welcome
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: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
Extracurricular Activities 2007-2008
Listed below are the extracurricular sports and clubs that are proposed for the 2007-08 school year:
Lorenz Herrmann as soccer coach - $1,183 stipend
Lisa Wheeler as cross country coach - $1,183 stipend
Lisa Wheeler as track coach - $1,183 stipend
Robert Collen as volleyball coach - $1,183 stipend
Lorenz Herrmann as 8th grade advisor - $862 stipend
Lisa Wheeler as Power Up Club advisor - $862 stipend
Sue Volo as School Newspaper Club advisor - $862 stipend
Robert Collen as fall/spring tennis club advisor - $862 stipend
Daniel Carroll as Chess Club advisor - $862 stipend
Daniel Carroll as Junior Chess Club advisor - $862 stipend
Kathy Meany as Junior Great Books advisor - $431 stipend
Andrea Kostik as Math Challenge Club advisor - $431 stipend
Donna Graham as Collector's Club advisor - $431 stipend
Randy André as Drama Club advisor - $862 stipend
Jennifer Senatore a Drama Club advisor - $862 stipend
Nancy Sposito as School Store advisor - $862 stipend
Jennifer Senatore as School Store advisor - $862 stipend
Jennifer Senatore as Yearbook Club advisor - $862 stipend
Randy André as Yearbook Club advisor - $862 stipend
Fonda Thompson as Building With Legos Club advisor - $431 stipend
Pat Testo, Set Design Advisor for Drama Club Musical Production - $431 stipend
Charles Blanchet as Recycling Club advisor - $862 stipend
Anne Ford as Word Play: Readers' Theater , Karaoke, Word Games Club advisor - $862 stipend
Liz Salerni as Word Play: Readers' Theater, Karaoke, Word Games Club advisor - $862 stipend
Shana Lewis as Community and School Support Club for fundraising and volunteering
advisor- $862 stipend
Shana Lewis as International Cooking Club advisor - $862 stipend
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve the
extracurricular sports and clubs proposals for the 2007-2008 school year as listed above.
Motion: Mr. Nicoll Ayes: 3
Second: Mrs. Ognan Nays: 0
Extra-instructional Responsibilities
Listed below are the extra-instructional responsibilities that are proposed for the 2007-08 school year.
Shayne Johnson as teacher mentor- $862 stipend
Sue Volo as Paw Prints editor - Semester 1 - $862 stipend
Semester 2 - $862 stipend
Sue Volo as district webmaster - Semester 1 - $862 stipend
Semester 2 - $862 stipend
Randy André as afterschool instrumental music lessons up to 3 stipends, depending upon total
number of hours. (up to 3 x $862 = $2,586)
Resolution BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands UFSD approve the
extra-instructional responsibilities for the 2007-2008 school year as listed above.
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0
Mr. Dunsker thanked the staff for providing such varied extracurricular enrichment activities
for our students.
XI. UPDATES/REPORTS
Parents' Night - 9/27/07
Superintendent Meany stated the Parents' Night held on September 27, 2007 for Grades K-8
parents was a huge success. Ms. Meany thanked the teachers for their preparation for the
evening's presentations and the PTA and Wellness Committee for their terrific exhibits.
Meet the Superintendent Nights for K-8 Parents
Three "Meetings with the Superintendent" were held for Grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Ms. Meany's conversations with each group of parents were very helpful in her orientation of the school's strengths, values, traditions, goals, needs and achievements. In conjunction with these meetings, Ms. Meany has also met with almost all staff members and the Board of Education and had similar conversations regarding the overall strengths/weaknesses/values/priorities, both short-term and long-range, of the district.
Mr. Dunsker thanked Ms. Meany for taking the time to provide wonderful opportunities for the
parents to be stakeholders in the Menands learning community and getting the school year off
to a great start.
XII. MISCELLANEOUS
XIII. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Parents' Night: Mrs. Martinez thanked Ms. Meany for the wonderful opportunity to communicate at the Parents' Night and for being a "listener" to the parents.
Shaker Grade 9 Math Curriculum: Mrs. MacFarland stated that she is concerned about the
Grade 9 Menands students (who have not gone through the grade 8 the advanced math placement) entering Shaker H.S. who are unilaterally placed in an AIS math program.
Mrs. MacFarland asked if the Menands School is developing a math program more in line with
Shaker's curriculum so the students are not "categorized" when entering a new school.
Miss Kostik replied that this is Shaker's way of evaluating incoming students who have not
attended the Shaker Middle School and is actually a good thing. Miss Kostik stated that generally students test out of the AIS program quickly. Miss Kostik stated our current math curriculum is
aligned with state expectations. Ms. Meany and Miss Kostik will have a conversation with Harriet Greenburg at Shaker regarding their policy and it's success.
State Comptroller's Audit: The audit process conducted by the New York State Comptroller's
Office is exactly on schedule. The audit was conducted this spring/early summer, drafts will
be presented and a final report will be submitted to the government. The audit will be sent
to the school, at the earliest, in December.
District Treasurer: Andrea Kostik as Deputy Treasurer is spearheading the functioning of
the business office until a new treasurer is hired.
XIV. INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL
1. Events and Happenings, October issue
XV. NEXT BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 6:30 p.m.
XVI. MOTION TO ADJOURN
Motion: Mrs. Ognan Ayes: 3
Second: Mr. Nicoll Nays: 0 Time: 7:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia M. Miller
District Clerk