Webutuck Board of Education held the December 4, 2006 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

The following Board members were present:

Bernadette Coniglio, President

Joanne Boyd

Dale Culver

Joseph Herald

Susan Lounsbury

Joseph Matteo

Also Present:

Dr. Richard N. Johns, Superintendent

Kevin Geoghan, School Business Administrator

Tracy Trotter, Superintendent’s Secretary

Kristi Fisher, Student Representative

Absent:

John Perotti

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Coniglio called the business meeting of December 4, 2006 to order at 7:34 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

There was no public comment.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

The Superintendent reported there was a CSEA negotiations session yesterday and the next meeting is scheduled for December 19. Also, he mentioned the Fifth Grade Auction was moved to this Friday, 12/8 due to bad weather on the originally scheduled date.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Facilities Committee (Mtg. 11/20)

Mr. Herald reported the Architect had put together a capital project that would have little or no impact on tax payers. The Architect is checking out the building on the land the District is looking at to see how it will transfer to a usable facility.

Policy Committee (Mtg. 11/25)

Mrs. Boyd reported on the changes made to the Policies #111, 411, 413, 905, 201.

Finance Committee

Mr. Matteo reported on the Budget Forum which took place November 29, 2006 at the Amenia Town Hall. No one attended except the Superintendent, the Business Official, Mrs. Trotter and Mr. Matteo. The Finance Committee is scheduling another Budget Forum to be held in Millerton. Date, time, and place to be announced.

DISCUSSION

1. Personnel recommendations (Because there is a single Board Meeting in

December, closed session review may be requested by any Board member at this time)

A Board member stated that it would be necessary to go into closed session to talk about a personnel issue.

2. Policies #303, 304, 555 – 3rd Reading – No comments were made.

3. Policies #111, 411, 413, 905, 201 – 2nd Reading – No comments were made.

4. RFP for District Architect

The Superintendent reported he has been pleased with the Architect, Collins and Scoville thus far. If the District wanted to proceed on a bond issue, it will be necessary to do a RFP. Discussion ensued.

CLERK’S REPORT

1. Approval of Minutes for 2006 Board meetings.

Mrs. Boyd made and Mr. Herald seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves the minutes of November 7 and November 14, 2006 as amended, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

2. Accept Financial Reports

Mrs. Boyd made and Mr. Culver seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the Financial Reports as presented, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

Treasurer’s Report for the month ending October

Comprehensive Budget Status Report ending October

Comprehensive Revenue Status Report ending October

Warrants # 33-40

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

3. Delegations

A student spoke about her unhappiness with an administrator. She handed out a petition to the Board.

4. Non-Staff Communications

There were none.

PERSONNEL

1. Non-Instructional Substitute Appointment

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Substitute appointments, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

Joe Orlowski Substitute Custodial Worker

Effective: November 20, 2006

Adam Honour Seasonal Worker

Effective: November 27, 2006

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

2. Non-Instructional Abandonment

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the recommendation of the Superintendent to terminate a probationary non-competitive class employee based on job abandonment.

William Diaz Custodial Worker

Effective: November 20, 2006

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

3. Non-Instructional Leave of Absence

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the following Non-Instructional Leave of Absence which will terminate at the conclusion of her probationary period as a senior typist, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

Lorinda Coulthard Typist

Effective: December 5, 2006

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

4. Non-Instructional Appointment

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the following Non-Instructional appointments, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

Lorinda Coulthard Senior Typist

Effective: December 5, 2006

Replacing Liza Bates

Debra Giordano Typist

Effective: December 5, 2006

Replacing Lorinda Coulthard

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

5. Instructional Substitute Appointment

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the following Instructional appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

Christopher Fillhart Substitute Teacher

Effective: December 5, 2006

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

*1. Authorization for Issuance of Tax Refund

Mr. Herald made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

WHEREAS, by Order of Arleen Lewis, Esq, Hearing Officer, State of New York, County of Dutchess, dated November 27, 2006, reductions in assessment and tax refunds for the 2006 assessment year were adjusted in favor of petitioner, Peter Judge, for property owned in the Town of Northeast, in the Webutuck Central School District, Tax Parcel No. 133889-7069-00-659902-0000, said reductions in assessment as follows:

Assessment Roll From To

School Tax Year

2006/07- 2006 $480,000 $415,000

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Business Administrator is hereby authorized to correct the 2006 assessment to reflect such valuation reductions, with a notation in the margin, opposite said entries that the corrections are by authorization of the above-referenced Order; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School Treasurer is hereby authorized to refund any overpayments of school taxes for the 2006-2007 school year, said refund in the amount of $784.58

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

*2. Authorization for Issuance of Tax Refund

Mr. Herald made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

WHEREAS, by Order of Arleen Lewis, Esq, Hearing Officer, State of New York, County of Dutchess, dated November 27, 2006, reductions in assessment and tax refunds for the 2006 assessment year were adjusted in favor of petitioner, Karen McCabe, for property owned in the Town of Northeast, in the Webutuck Central School District, Tax Parcel No. 133889-7069-00-556254-0000, said reductions in assessment as follows:

Assessment Roll From To

School Tax Year

2006/07- 2006 $512,000 $499,000

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Business Administrator is hereby authorized to correct the 2006 assessment to reflect such valuation reductions, with a notation in the margin, opposite said entries that the corrections are by authorization of the above-referenced Order; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School Treasurer is hereby authorized to refund any overpayments of school taxes for the 2006-2007 school year, said refund in the amount of $162.95

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

*3. Authorization for Issuance of Tax Refund

Mr. Herald made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

WHEREAS, by Order of the Honorable Luke M. Charde, Jr, Judicial Hearing Officer, State of New York, County of Dutchess, dated November 21, 2006, reductions in assessment and tax refunds for the 2006 assessment year were adjusted in favor of petitioner, Hamilton F. Kean, for property owned in the Town of Washington, in the Webutuck Central School District, Tax Parcel No. 135889-6965-00-954815-0000, said reductions in assessment as follows:

Assessment Roll From To

School Tax Year

2006/07- 2006 $3,900,000 $3,150,000

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Business Administrator is hereby authorized to correct the 2006 assessment to reflect such valuation reductions, with a notation in the margin, opposite said entries that the corrections are by authorization of the above-referenced Order; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to the terms of the above referenced Order, the School Treasurer is hereby authorized to refund any overpayments of school taxes for the 2006-2007 school year, said refund in the amount of $9,052.84

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

4. Authorization for Filing of 2006-2007 Returned Tax Claims (Resolution attached)

No action will be taken on this until the next Business meeting. The resolution was not attached.

5. Adoption of Budget Development Calendar for the 2007-2008 School Year

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Lounsbury seconded the following motion.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Budget Development Calendar for the 2007-2008 school year (as amended), as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

*1. Committee on Special Education Monthly Report

Mr. Herald made and Mrs. Boyd seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Webutuck Board of Education hereby accepts the Committee on Special Education report for October 2006, prepared by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Pre-School Education and by the Webutuck Central School District Committee on Special Education, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

2. Creation of After-School Club

Mrs. Boyd made and Mr. Culver made the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the creation of the following after-school club: Fishing Club, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no comment.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Matteo made and Mrs. Boyd seconded a motion to adjourn to executive session at 8:02 p.m. for the purpose of discussing a personnel issue and land acquisition. The six Board members voted to approve the motion. The motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mrs. Boyd made a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 9:40 p.m. The six Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mrs. Boyd a motion to adjourn the meeting of December 4, 2006 at 9:41 p.m. The six Board members present voted to approve the motion. The motion was carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Tracy Trotter

District Clerk