Webutuck Board of Education held the August 18, 2008 meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Webutuck High School Library.

 

 

The following Board members were present:

Dale Culver, President

Joseph Herald

Susan Lounsbury

William McGhee

Joseph Matteo

John Perotti

 

Also Present:

Dr. Richard N. Johns, Superintendent

Therese Trotter District Clerk

 

Absent:

Andrew Jablonsky

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Culver called the business meeting of August 18, 2008 to order at 7:30 p.m.  

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The following comments were made by audience members:

-Spoke about a Board member over stepping his boundaries at a public event and having no response from the Board after she had written a letter to the Board.

- Correction on agenda pointed out Lynn Valyou is a custodian not a custodial worker.

-Asked about the Food Service Program if the District is hiring someone.

-Did the Free and Reduced Lunch information get mailed home?

 

DISCUSSION

1.  Board Committees Assignments

The Board President asked members to submit their requests for committee assignments and he will announce them at the next Board meeting.

 

2.  Moving Kindergarten to MES

The Superintendent stated the LRFP calls for moving Kindergarten to MES at some point.  There is sufficient space for the move at this time.  The Board needs to discuss if Kindergarten should be moved next fall, forget moving Kindergarten all together or keep it as an option.  The Board did decide not to move Kindergarten this year.  Discussion ensued.  It was decided the Facility Committee should look at the Long Range Facility Plan and update it.  A Board member asked to get an updated student population report and also to look at the first grade numbers once more and analyze the need level.  Audience members spoke about keeping the numbers low in first grade and with the new housing development coming that could possibly increase class size also.  Discussion ensued.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Herald and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to adjourn to Executive Session at 8:35 pm for the purpose of discussing negotiations.  The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

ADJOURNMENT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION 

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Perotti seconded a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the public session at 9:40 pm.  The six Board members present voted.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Superintendent’s State of the District Report

The Superintendent gave the State of the District Report touching on the new leadership in the District, School Improvement, Designing for Success including essential and enduring learnings, date point assessment and pedagogy.  He also spoke about the curriculum council, state of the Webutuck facilities, early childhood, finances, the athletic program, student opportunities, student success and lastly the Superintendent gave his recommendations for goals for the year to the Board.  The goals fell under four categories; curriculum, facilities, fiscal and leadership.  The Board thanked the Superintendent for his report.  A Board member asked if there would be a timeline developed on E2s particularly at the Middle School and High School.  Also, a Board member asked how many at risk first graders are in the Universal Pre-K program.  Discussion ensued.

 

3.  MES Principal

The principal of record of Millerton Elementary has been the Middle School principal because of the ACE program.  The ACE program is no longer at the Millerton building and it was the Superintendent suggested not naming the Elementary Principal because she has two buildings already on two separate properties. He suggested name himself as the Millerton Elementary Principal.

 

4.  Club Sponsor Athletics

The District does need an advisor for the Athletic Club.  The Board took a vote on Mike Riddle as advisor and it was a 3-2 vote with two Board members not in attendance.  A Board member stated the part of the issue that Board meeting was the number of positions the Board was voting on for Mike Riddle.  A Board member asked if that would be part of an athletic director’s job.  The Athletic Club provides additional activities and fund raising events for the students.  Discussion ensued.

 

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:

A Board member wanted to clarify that Mr. Riddle would receive the stipend.  Yes, he would.

BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves Mike Riddle as the Faculty Advisor for the Athletic Club for the 2008-2009 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.

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

Dale Culver, President            Yes                  William McGhee         No

Joseph Herald                         Yes                  Joseph Matteo             Yes

Susan Lounsbury                    Yes                  John Perotti                 No

 

5.  Food Service Leadership

The School Business Administrator interviewed a Dutchess Personnel candidate as a lunch manager.  The Board has two options for the leadership in the food service department.  Continue as it has been with a civil service appointment or change the management structure and look at a cook manager to fill the position.  A cook manager is not an administrator; they cannot spend District money or review staff.  The Superintendent does not recommend the Business Administrator pick up the administrative duties if the model the District chooses is a cook manager.  The School Business Administrator would be the only one who could file the federal and state paperwork if there is no school lunch manager.  Discussion ensued.

 

 

CONSENT AGENDA VOTE

Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to approve the consent agenda.

The following asterisked items can be consent agenda items.  A consent agenda is a single vote, which approves all asterisked items.  Board policy (#008a) prohibits discussion of consent agenda items. Asterisked items can be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion by any one Board member. 

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

CLERK’S REPORT

*1 Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded a motion to accept the minutes as submitted.

Approval of Minutes for April 14, July 14, and July 16, 2008 Board meetings.

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

2.  Delegations

None

3.  Non-Staff Communications

None

 

PERSONNEL

*1.  Non-Instructional Resignation

Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, the Webutuck Board of Education accepts the resignation for the purpose of retirement of the following Non-Instructional Appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

 

            Lynn Valyou                                       Custodian

            Effective:  September 18, 2008

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

2.  Non-Instructional Appointment

Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:

It was asked that the word “substitute” be stricken from the title of this resolution.  It was so done.

BE IT RESOLVED, the Webutuck Board of Education approves the appointment of the following Non-Instructional Appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

            Robert Haselkamp                              Custodial Worker

            Effective:  August 19, 2008

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

3.  Instructional Resignation

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, the Webutuck Board of Education accepts the resignation for the following Instructional Appointment, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

 

            Dawn Murtaugh                                  Special Education Teacher

            Effective: August 31, 2008

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

4.  Elementary Principal Appointment

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:

The Superintendent welcomed Katy McEnroe.  She comes from Hyde Park where she was an elementary principal.  Ms. McEnroe was here as principal for the Amenia and Millerton buildings six years ago.  We are happy to have her.

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

 

            Kathleen McEnroe                             Elementary Principal

            Effective: September 1, 2008           Replaces Joel Freer

            Salary:  $95,000                                

            Tenure Area:  Principal                      

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

5.  Extra-Curricular Appointment

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

A Board member wanted to know the background of this person.  He is the Librarian at the High School and he photographs the sports games.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Extra-Curricular appointment for the 2008-2009 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

            Craig Morton                                      Boys’ Modified Soccer Coach

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

6.  Approval of Individual Contracts

A Board member had not seen the contracts and asked to see them first. This will be acted on later in the agenda.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the contracts for the Business Administrator, Director of Facilities and Operations and Supervisor of Transportation, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

 

7.  Approval of Instructional Appointment

Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:

The Superintendent stated Ms. Bechard is an honor student from Cornell University.  She is certified in both Biology and Vocational Agriculture.  We are happy to have her.  A Board member questioned if this was a twelve month position.  She signed an eleventh month contract.  Discussion ensued.

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

            Stephanie Bechard                              Vocational Agricultural Teacher

            Effective:  September 1, 2008                        Replacing:  Miriam Strauss

            Estoppel Date:  August 31, 2011        Tenure Area:  Vocational Agricultural

 Science

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

1.  Motion to Authorize Issuance of Tax Warrant

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

A Board member clarified that tax rate not a percent but the mill-rate per thousand.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the tax warrant for the 2008-2009 school year as listed below and recommended by the Superintendent of Schools:

 

Town               Amount of Levy                     Tax Rate(per thousand)

Ancram           $     230,622.84                       11.407882

Amenia            $  5,782,005.42                       11.407882

Dover              $       31,983.05                       28.519706

Northeast        $  4,233,714.51                       12.332846

Stanford          $     733,989.66                       24.272090

Washington     $     471,337.52                       11.407882

                        $11,523,653.00

 

Collection period: September 3 through October 3 without penalty

October 4 through November 4 with 2% penalty

Installment Plan – 1st Installment due by September 15

2nd Installment due by March 15. A service charge of 5% will be added to installment payments by the Dutchess County Finance Commissioner.

 

The total tax levy of $11,523,653 includes any tax reimbursement by New York State through the State of New York School Tax Relief Program.

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

Dale Culver, President            Yes                  William McGhee         Yes

Joseph Herald                         Yes                  Joseph Matteo             Yes

Susan Lounsbury                    Yes                  John Perotti                 No

 

 

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

*1.  Adoption of Business Math and Public Speaking Courses

Mr. Herald made and Mr. McGhee seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the creation of the Business Math course and Public Speaking course at Webutuck High School, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

2.  Authorization of DCC Textbooks

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Perotti seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education authorizes the use of all textbooks required by Dutchess Community College for all DCC satellite courses offered at Webutuck School District, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

The six Board members present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Approval of Individual Contracts

It was asked if these contracts could be separated which would allow all Board members to vote on each or recuse themselves.

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the contracts for the Business Administrator and Supervisor of Transportation, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

Dale Culver, President            Yes                  William McGhee         Yes

Joseph Herald                         Yes                  Joseph Matteo             Yes

Susan Lounsbury                    Yes                  John Perotti                 No

 

Approval of Individual Contract

Mr. Herald made and Mr. Matteo seconded the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the contracts for the Director of Facilities Operations, as recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.

Dale Culver, President            Yes                  William McGhee         Yes

Joseph Herald                         Yes                  Joseph Matteo             Yes

                                                                        John Perotti                 No

Mrs. Lounsbury recused herself from the vote.

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION

There was none.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mr. Perotti and Mr. Herald seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting of August 18, 2008 at 11:05 pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Tracy Trotter

District Clerk