MENANDS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF EDUCATION

August 14, 2006

    6:00  p.m.    

         

 

 

I.          MEETING CALLED TO ORDER  

 

II.         MOTION TO ENTER INTO PUBLIC SESSION

 

            Motion:     Mrs. Ognan                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. LaFleur                                Nays:     0                  Time:    6:00 p.m. 

 

III.        ROLL CALL

 

            Mr. Dunsker                 X  

            Mr. Dignum                  X  

            Mrs. Ognan                  X  

            Mr. LaFleur                  X  

            Mr. Testo                      X  

 

IV.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

V.        MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

            1. CSE Recommendations           

            2.  Legal Issue

 

            Motion:       Mr. Dignum                               Ayes:     5                  

 

            Second:     Mrs. Ognan                               Nays:     0                  Time:    6:01 p.m. 

 

VI.       MOTION TO ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSION         

 

            Motion:     Mrs. Ognan                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. LaFleur                                Nays:     0                  Time:    6:50 p.m.

 

VII.      INTRODUCTION /APPOINTMENT OF NEW STAFF MEMBER

 

            Miss Kostik introduced Rebecca Woodard, our new Library Media Specialist/Computer                        Literacy teacher.

 

            Library Media Specialist/Computer Literacy - Rebecca Woodard

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free                                               School District hereby appoints Rebecca Woodard to a three-year probationary                           term in the tenure area of Library Media Specialist/Computer Literacy effective               

                         September 1, 2006 and expiring August 30, 2009 to be placed on step 1                                                 of the Masters salary schedule.

                                                                                    -2-

 

            Motion:      Mrs. Ognan                                Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0  

 

VIII.     APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education accept the minutes of the July 10,                        2006 and July 27, 2006 meetings.

 

            Motion:     Mr. Dignum                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mrs. Ognan                                Nays:     0  

 

IX.       BUSINESS MATTERS

 

            Treasurer's Report

           

            The Treasurer's Report for the month of June 2006, General Fund, Cafeteria and Federal

            warrants are submitted for approval.

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education accept the Treasurer's Report for                                     the month of June 2006,  the General Fund warrant in the amount of $11,107.4,                                     the Federal warrant in the amount of $328.00 and the Cafeteria Fund warrant

                        for $34.96.

 

            Motion:     Mr. LaFleur                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0  

 

X.        BOARD OF EDUCATION MATTERS

           

            Superintendent Search

 

Resolution   BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorizes District Superintendent                        Barbara Nagler to be the Search Consultant for the purpose of recruiting a                                            Superintendent of schools, and furthermore, reimburse the Capital Region                                           BOCES for expenses related to the process.  The Menands Union Free School                                   District agrees to defend and indemnify Barbara Nagler (and her designee)                                             with respect to any claim and/or civil action arising out of the performance of                                            such duties to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

            Motion:      Mr. LaFleur                                Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mrs. Ognan                                Nays:     0  

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                -3-

 

            Local Wellness Policy

 

            Enclosed is a draft of the proposed Wellness Policy drafted by a committee consisting of teachers, administration, the school nurse, community members, a parent, kitchen                         staff and two students for review and discussion by the Board of Education.  The                           second reading will be at the September meeting and be ready for adoption in                                       October.  This policy will help foster healthy eating habits, physical activity and

            general well-being for both students and staff.

                                                           

            May 2007 Board Meeting

 

            Due to the Annual Budget Vote & Elections date of May 15, 2007 (always the third                                 Tuesday in May), it is necessary to move our Budget Information Meeting and regular

            Board of Education meeting to Tuesday, May 8, 2007 (Monday, May 7, is a regularly-

            scheduled Village Board meeting).

 

            CAPSBA

 

            The Menands UFSD is a member of the Capital District School Boards Association.                               Mr. Dignum volunteered to be the Board representative to CAPSBA. 

 

            Board of Education/Superintendent Contact Policy

 

            The Board of Education/Superintendent Contact Policy was discussed.  Mr. Testo

            suggested and the Board agreed to include information discussed by Board

            members and the Superintendent shall be disclosed to all Board members.

 

XI.       PERSONNEL MATTERS

 

            Abolishment - .2 Web Site Position

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free

                        School District abolish the .2 web site position.

 

            Motion:     Mr. Dignum                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. LaFleur                                Nays:     0  

                                                                       

            Appointments

 

            Special Education Teaching Assistant - Rebekah Locke

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free

                        School District hereby appoints Rebekah Locke to a three- year probationary                                          term in the tenure area  of Teaching Assistant effective September 1, 2006                                           and expiring August 30, 2009 to be placed on step 1 of the Masters salary                                        schedule.

 

 

                                                                                    -4-

 

            Motion:     Mr. LaFleur                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0  

 

            Emergency Conditional Appointments - Substitute Teachers

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the  Board of Education of the Menands Union Free                                             School District appoint the following as substitute teachers for the 2004-2005                                           school year:

 

                                    Cora Hamm              Allison Stitzinger     

                                    Justin McDonald      Jillian VanAllen

                                    Christine Saxe         Mary Schreck

                                                                                   

                        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. Dignum                                Nays:     0  

 

 

            Re-Appointments

 

            Committee on Special Education - Donna Graham

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of  Education of the Menands Union Free School                                District add Donna Graham as an appointed member of the Committee on Special                               Education for the 2006-2007 school year.

 

            Motion:      Mr. LaFleur                                Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0  

 

            Cafeteria Worker - Patricia Ravida

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free                                               School District approve Patricia Ravida as a cafeteria worker fully cleared for                                            employment.

 

            Motion:     Mr. Dignum                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. LaFleur                                Nays:     0  

 

                                                                                    -5-

 

            Lunch Aides - Barbara Lane, Karen Ruiz

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free School                                 District re-appoint Barbara Lane and Karen Ruiz  as cafeteria aides for the 2006-2007                      school year.

 

            Motion:     Mrs. Ognan                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. LaFleur                                Nays:     0  

                                                                                   

            Cafeteria Cashier - Janet Ramsay

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free School                                 District re-appoint Janet Ramsay to the position of Cafeteria Cashier for the 2006-                              2007 school year.

 

            Motion:      Mr. LaFleur                                Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:     Mrs. Ognan                               Nays:     0  

 

            Custodial Workers - Louis Case, John Rafter, Douglas Taylor

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free School                                 District re-appoint Louis Case, John Rafter and Douglas Taylor as substitute                                        custodial workers for the 2006-2007 school year.

 

            Motion:     Mr. Dignum                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:     Mr. LaFleur                               Nays:     0     

 

XII.      UPDATES/REPORTS

 

            Code of Conduct 

 

            A revised draft of the Code of Conduct was submitted for the Board's review.  The

            Board thanked Miss Kostik and all teachers and parents who contributed input for

            the revised Code of Conduct.  This will be adopted at the September Board meeting.

 

            Gifted and Talented Education Program 

 

            Shana Lewis gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Menands School Gifted and

            Talented Program.  This program recognizes the need of enrichment programs for

            gifted and talented students at the Menands School.   Ms. Lewis explained the

            who/what/why/where/hows of the program.  Students targeted for this program

            will be challenged educationally in many areas.  The program includes:

                        *  differentiated instruction in the classroom

                        *  tracking folders for each student

                        *  ALPHA (one day a week)

                                                                                    -6-

 

                        *  John Hopkins CTY for grades 2-8 (three days a week for 45 minutes)

                        *  professional development opportunities for staff

 

            Class Size (as of 8/9/06)

 

            K         33*                  6          21

            1          23                   7          20

            2          30*                  8          29*

            3          36*

            4          19                  

            5          29*

            6          21

            7          20

            8          29

           

            Total   240

            (* split class)

 

XIiI.     MISCELLANEOUS

 

            Superintendent Search  Mrs. Ognan volunteered to be the Board's liaison for the

            conduct of the Superintendent search.

 

            Emergency Contact Program  Mr. Testo requested further information regarding

            the company that handles dispatching emergency closings/notice of meetings, etc.

            to households.  Miss Kostik stated she will ask the representative to give a

            presentation to the Board of Education at the September meeting.

 

            Superintendent Search  Mr. Testo expressed his interest in tapping outside sources

            in addition to BOCES in order to increase the candidate pool for a new                                                     Superintendent  This will be discussed with Dr. Nagler at the first meeting of the                               Board in the Superintendent search process.

 

XIV.    COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

XV.     INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL

 

           1.         Letter from Liz DelTorto, Town of Colonie, requesting use of Menands School

                       as voting place.

           2.         NYSSBA Proposed Resolutions and Voting Delegates Guide for Annual

                       Business Meeting 2006 in New York City on 10/28/06.

           3.         Updated Menands UFSD Policy Handbook (provided Monday night)

           4.         Code of Conduct revisions submitted by Mr. Rozmierski

           5.         BOE Groupwise e-mail help sheet

 

 

 

 

                                                                                   -7-

                                                          

XVI.     NEXT BOARD MEETING

 

            September 11, 2006 - 6:30 p.m.

                                                                                   

XVII.   MOTION TO ADJOURN   

 

            Motion:     Mr. Dignum                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. LaFleur                                Nays:     0                  Time:    7:52 p.m.  

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Patricia M. Miller

District Clerk