MENANDS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF EDUCATION

                                    June 12, 2006                                                                          6:00 p.m.             

 

 

 

 

I.          MEETING CALLED TO ORDER  

 

II.         MOTION TO ENTER INTO PUBLIC SESSION

 

            Motion:       Mrs. Ognan                               Ayes:     4   

 

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

 

III.        OATH OF OFFICE - DAVE LA FLEUR

 

            Acting President MacFarland administered the Oath of Office to newly-elected Board

            member Dave LaFleur.

 

IV.       MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

            1.  Legal Issue

 

            Motion:      Mrs. Ognan                                Ayes:      5   

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0                  Time:      6:03 p.m. 

 

V.        MOTION TO ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

            Motion:      Mr. Dunsker                               Ayes:      5   

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0                  Time:     6:39 p.m.

 

VI.       MOTION TO RE-ENTER PUBLIC SESSION

 

            Motion:      Mr. Dunsker                               Ayes:      5   

 

            Second:      Mr. Dignum                              Nays:      0                 Time:      6:40 p.m.

 

VII.      ROLL CALL

 

            Mrs. MacFarland         X  

            Mrs. Ognan                  X  

            Mr. Dunsker                 X  

            Mr. Dignum                  X  

            Mr. LaFleur                  X  

 

VIII.     PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

 

                                                                                    -2-

 

IX.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education accept the minutes of the

                        May 8, 2006 meeting.

 

            Motion:     Mrs. Ognan                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. Dunsker                               Nays:     0  

 

X.        BUSINESS MATTERS

           

            The Treasurer's Report for the month of May 2006, General Fund warrant, Cafeteria and                      Federal warrants are submitted for approval.

 

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

                        School District approve the Treasurer's Report for the month of May, 2006,

                        the General Fund warrant in the amount of $227,954.55, the Cafeteria Fund

                        warrant in the amount of $7,362.30 and the Federal warrant for $7,323.75.

 

            Motion:      Mrs. Ognan                                Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:     Mr. Dignum                               Nays:     0  

 

            Independent Auditing Services

 

            An RFP for independent auditing services covering fiscal years ended June 30, 2006

            through June 30, 2010 was sent out on May 5, 2006.  Responses were due by May 31,

            2006.  One response was received by Sperry, Cuono, Holgate & Churchill, CPA's.

 

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

                        School District accept the proposal for independent auditing services for the

                        years ended June 30, 2006 through June 30, 2010 as submitted by Sperry,

                        Cuono, Holgate & Churchill, CPA's.

 

            Motion:      Mr. LaFleur                                Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mrs. Ognan                                Nays:     0  

 

            Transportation  Extension - Folmsbee Transportation, Inc.

 

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

                        School District approve the contract extension with Folmsbee's Transportation,

                        Inc. for the 2006-2007 school year with a cost increase equal to the allowable

                        CPI rate as determined by the State Education Department.

 

            Motion:     Mr. Dignum                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:   Mr. Dunsker                                Nays:     0  

                                                                                    -3-      

            2006-2007 Payroll Schedule

 

            Attached please find the payroll schedule for the 2006-2007 school year which will

            be adopted at the July meeting.

 

XI.       BOARD OF EDUCATION MATTERS

 

                        Enclosed is a letter from Mrs. Volo, Mr. Herrmann, Mr. Carroll and Ms. Lewis                                            requesting permission for the eighth grade to attend Camp  Chingachgook in                                          Lake George on September 13 - 15, 2006.

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free School                                 District approve the field trip request for Grade 8 to attend Camp Chingachgook in                                 Lake George, NY on September 13-15, 2006.

 

            Motion:      Mrs. Ognan                                Ayes:      5   

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0  

 

            Thank You to Dianne MacFarland

 

            On behalf of the Board of Education Mr. Dunsker expressed appreciation to Dianne

            MacFarland for her years of dedication and service on the Board. 

 

            School Path 

 

            Miss Kostik stated that after meetings with the Health & Safety Committee, Trooper

            Tuffy and Chief of Police O'Brien, it was the recommendation to re-open the school

            path.   The brush along the path has been cut back and will be maintained.  The

            Menands Police will be asked to step up patrols along the path area.  The school

            path will officially re-open June 24, 2006.  A safety assembly for students will be

            scheduled for September 2006.

           

            Graduation 2005

 

            Graduation Night 2006 is Friday, June 23, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.           

           

            2005-2006 Budget Votes & Elections

 

            Enclosed for information purposes is the 5/16/06 Budget Votes and Elections tally sheet.

                                                                                    

XII.      PERSONNEL MATTERS

 

            Appointments

 

            Substitute Teachers

 

            The following substitute teachers, having met the criteria, have been fully cleared for                             employment.

                                                                                    -4-

 

Resolution    BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Menands Union Free School                                 District appoint the following individuals as substitute teachers for the 2005-2006                                   school year:

 

                        Eric Grignon

 

            Motion:      Mrs. Ognan                                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 2005-2006 school year:

 

                        Karen Kirstein                      Stephen Sunega                 Rachel Bellizzi

                        Lori Jancik                            Danielle Gushlaw                Danielle Madia                                                        Erin Maher                            Christina Nicastro                Barbara Rigaud

                        Kathryn Sokaris                   Jessica Sutherland Elizabeth Elliot

                        Marcella Tebbano               Stephen Stofelano

 

                        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  

 

XIII.     STUDENT MATTERS

 

            Class of 2005 Donation

 

            Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Herrmann regarding the donation of two portable tent

            awnings and a new podium provided by the Class of 2005 to the school as thank

            you gifts.

 

XIV.     UPDATES/REPORTS

                                   

            Kindergarten Screening Program

 

            A Kindergarten Screening will be held on Friday, June 16, 2006 for the incoming                                   Kindergarten class. 

 

 

 

                                                                                    -5-

 

            Kindergarten Summer Program 

 

            Kindergarten Summer Warm-Up week will be held August 21-25 from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

 

            Summer School Program 

 

            We  will again hold a summer school program here for students in grades K-5 to

            continue and enhance their learning practices.  This will be held from July 24 through

            August 18 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.   Students in grades 6-8 who failed two or more

            subjects will attend the summer school program at Watervliet Jr. H.S.

 

            Art Exhibit

 

            Congratulations and thank you to Mrs. Testo and her students for a wonderful K-8 Art Exhibit              which opened on May 16, 2006.  The students' work  has been on display  throughout the                   school for everyone to enjoy.  The murals created by the Mural Club will be a delight for many            years to come.

 

            Spring Concert

 

            Congratulations and many thanks to Randy AndrŽ and the Menands School band and                         chorus for a wonderful Spring Concert 2006.  A good time was had by all!

 

            Musical Carousel - June 10, 2006

 

            The Menands School band and chorus participated in the Musical Carousel program

            in Lake George last weekend.  The band received a good rating and the chorus

            received an excellent rating.  The students then enjoyed the rest of the day at the Great                        Escape.

 

            Field Day 

 

            Field Day was postponed due to weather and held on Monday, June 12.  Students,

            staff and parents enjoyed a fun and sun-filled day of events.   Many thanks to

            Nora Ognan for the many, many hours of planning that went into a perfectly-run

            day for all.

 

            NYSATA 2006 Legislative Student Art Exhibition/Knights of Pythias Art Award 

 

            The art work of two students, Ryan Nicoll, Grade 2, and Gabrielle Babichenko, Grade 5,

             was exhibited at the NYSATA 2006 Legislative Student Art Exhibit in Albany during the

            week of June 5-9.   Ryan's art work was also selected for the statewide Superintendent's

            Conference in Albany in the Fall.

 

            Nadirah Wilds, Grade 8, was the award recipient from the Knights of Pythias for her

            art poster.

 

 

 

                                                                        -6-

 

XV.      CONFERENCES

 

            1.         NYSSBA Academy for Public School Governance, 7/21-23/06 at the Desmond.

 

                        Any Board member wishing to attend can contact Mrs. Miller.

 

XVI.     INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL

            1.         Events and Happenings, June 2006

                        2.         Early Edition, May 2006 issue

                        3.         The Board, Volume 30, Number 2

                        4.         The Board, Volume 30, Number 3

 

XVII.    MISCELLANEOUS

 

            Technology Plan is being worked on by the Technology Committee.

 

            AIS Plan is also being worked on.  Revisions are being done and the plan should

            be completed this summer.

 

            Yearly Progress Pro:  The YPP program was not a good fit for the district and we are                           being reimbursed for our initial investment.   New programs are being looked into.

 

            Code of Conduct:    The initial Code of Conduct has been developed and there are

            many recommendations for additions/revisions.  This will be worked on over the

            summer and be in place for September 2006.

           

XVIII.  COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

           

            Superintendency:  Miss Kostik has been named Interim Superintendent.  Plans for

            a Superintendent search will commence in July when next the full Board of Education

            meets.

 

            District Organization:  A person to contact in case of emergency in the absence of

            Miss Kostik from the building will be discussed and a recommendation made to

            the MAT.

 

XIX.      MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

            1.  CSE/CPSE

            2.  Personnel

 

            Motion:      Mrs. Ognan                                Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. Dignum                                Nays:     0                  Time:    7:15 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                    -7-

           

XX.     MOTION TO ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

            Motion:     Mrs. Ognan                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:    Mr. Dunsker                               Nays:     0                  Time:    9:00 p.m.

                                                                                               

XXI.     MOTION TO ADJOURN   

 

            Motion:     Mr. Dignum                                 Ayes:     5  

 

            Second:   Mr. LaFleur                                 Nays:    0                   Time:     9:00 p.m. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

 

Patricia M. Miller

District Clerk