Minutes May 1, 2012

Minutes

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York

 

Date:

May 1, 2012

 

Time:

8:15 p.m.

 

Place:

Horace Greeley High School

 

Present:

Board of Education
Alyson Kiesel, President
Jeffrey Mester, Vice President
Randall Katchis
Vicky Tipp
Karen Visser

 

Staff Members
Present:

Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent

Mr. Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business

Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Adm. Asst. to Superintendent

 

Visitors Present:

Representatives of the Chappaqua PTA, school PTAs, building administrators, faculty, and other interested citizens.

 

President Alyson Kiesel convened the public session at 6:30p.m. Karen Visser moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of the discussion of the employment history of a particular person or persons. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously. At 8:27 p.m. Karen Visser moved to adjourn the Executive Session. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

At 8:37 p.m. Karen Visser moved to reconvene the public session. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

President Kiesel welcomed the community and asked Superintendent Dr. Lyn McKay to report on the Search Process for Roaring Brook School Principal. Dr. McKay outlined the thorough search process that began with 100 applicants last fall, the search was reopened again in the spring, and another set of 100 applicants applied. After meetings with parents, teachers, support staff, and administrators, the field was narrowed to three. Dr. McKay announced her final recommendation is Amy Fishkin, current Assistant Principal at Roaring Brook. Ms. Fishkin exemplifies an administrator who is thoughtful, has instructional knowledge, experience as a CSE chair, an excellent writer and communicator and cares deeply about the children of the district.

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve the probationary appointment of Amy Fishkin (see item 4.1). Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Amy thanked the administrators, teachers, and board for their support.

Presentation:

Public Hearing on School and Library Budgets for 2012-13

Board President Alyson Kiesel welcomed Pamela Thornton, Director of the Chappaqua Library to discuss the library's proposed budget for 2012-13.

Ms. Thornton reported that the proposed library budget is $2,775,839, a 2.82% increase which is under the 2% tax cap. She gave a detailed explanation of revenue and expenses and noted that three retirees have not been replaced this year in an effort to reduce expenses. However, there is more demand for programs.

John Chow provided an overview of the proposed budget in the amount of $112,202,888 forb 2012-13, adopted by the Board on April 10 which the community will vote on May 15. The budget book and presentations are on the website. The budget to budget increase is .68%, tax cap levy is 2.11% and estimated tax rate is 1.63%. He explained the budget notice deals with the contingency budget and it is very different from prior years because of the new tax cap law.

Science Research

Principal Andrew Selesnick thanked the Board for the opportunity to present the scientific research projects. He introduced science teachers Trudy Gessler and Jennifer McCarthy who are the teaching team leaders, but noted many of our teachers are involved in the project. Students are invited into this program and it is a three year commitment. The goal is to inspire and nurture inquisitive students to follow a path in scientific research and work under a science mentor. The program is student driven from beginning to end. Greeley seniors, Jack Desmarais, Rebecca Passman, Julia Keegan, and Neel Patel presented their projects: optimer technology; curing color blindness using gene therapy, a breast cancer mouse model, and a cure for amytrophic lateral sclerosis. Dr Gessler explained the students initiate a formal research plan and eventually go into the field, and write a quality research paper. All of the students have received a number of honors for their work.

Questions and Comments

We welcome public inquiries, and in respect for each other's time, we ask that you limit your inquiry to three minutes. Board members may be contacted via email or phone.

A number of parents and football players attended and offered comments.

President Kiesel noted that the board makes decisions very carefully. and we take community concerns very seriously. We believe very strongly in the football program. Please remember that we also have responsibility to protect the individual rights to privacy. We are keeping a file of all emails. Please be sure to copy our district clerk.

Andrew Selesnick and Steve Young have been planning with groups to insure the implementation of workouts, activities for the purpose of conditioning, and practice in June, the strongman competition and the advanced skills football camp that is the responsibility of the Town. We take the responsibility for educating and physical education and the football experience. However, we must also protect the individual rights to privacy and cannot comment on specific individuals at this time.

1.

Information Business Affairs

1.1

President's Report

1.1.1

Legislative Action Report - Mandates

Victoria Tipp explained the process again and the purpose of each of the mandates before board members voted on submitting them to New York State.

a. Burden of Proof -

Randall Katchis offered the following resolution:

Be it resolved by the Chappaqua Central School District that mandate relief must be addressed by the New York State Legislature as school districts implement the property tax levy limit.

WHEREAS, New York State leads the nation in local property taxes, in large part because New York leads the nation in imposing unfunded state mandates upon our local municipalities and school districts; and

WHEREAS, in response to New York's property tax crisis, the Governor and members of the New York State Legislature enacted legislation imposing a limit on the annual growth of the local school tax levy; and

WHEREAS, New York State school districts are under unprecedented funding shortfalls due to three years of frozen Foundation Aid, last year's $1.2 billion aid cut, expiration of federal stimulus aid and revenue restrictions under the tax levy limit, which goes into effect for the 2012-13 school year, and

WHEREAS, unfunded and underfunded state mandates continually increase the obligations and expenditures of local public school districts, and a property tax levy limit without significant mandate reform will inescapably lead to drastic cuts in essential local school district programs and services, as well as significant layoffs of school district employees, and in some cases outright insolvency, in New York State school districts; and

WHEREAS, the cumulative impact of satisfying unfunded and underfunded mandates diverts local money from our school district's top priority of student learning,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we the members of the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District join fellow school board members in Westchester and Putnam Counties in affirming the obligation of the Governor of the State of New York and the members of the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly, to reform mandates that are unsound, unduly burdensome or costly, and thereby lead to high property taxes in New York.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with Article 24, Executive Law §666, which establishes a Mandate Relief Council, the Chappaqua Central School District asks, by resolution of its governing body, that the Mandate Relief Council review the following mandate to determine whether the specific statute, regulation, rule or order of state government is an unfunded mandate or is otherwise unsound, unduly burdensome or costly so as to require that it be eliminated or reformed:

New York Education - Article 89 - §4404 Appeal Procedures for Children With Handicapping Conditions (http://law.onecle.com/new-york/education/EDN04404_4404.html)

§4404 of the Education Law, Laws of New York, 2007, Chapter 583 (http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/burdenproof.pdf)

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, the Chappaqua Central School district asks, by resolution of its governing body, that the Mandate Relief Council amend the 2007 above-referenced statute that shifted the burden of proof in impartial hearings on services to children with disabilities to align New York State law with the 2005 US Supreme Court decision, Schaffer v. West, by placing the burden of proof onto the parties challenging a school district's recommendations in such impartial hearings, in so far as such amendment to the law would save the school district numerous hours of unnecessary testing and preparation time and approximately $100,000 in yearly excess cost calculated on the basis of an immediate positive correlation of approximately $100,000 increase in settlement fees for the year immediately following such 2007 law and remaining at about the same level to date (settlement costs from 2006 to date: 2006-07: $68,410; 2007-08: $65,450; 2008-09: $164,102; 2009-10: $108,044; 2010-11: $150,325; 2011-12 Budgeted: $150,000; 2012-13 Proposed Budget: $160,000).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the NY State Mandate Relief Council, Governor, Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, Assembly Speaker and Minority Leader, and the members of the State Senate and Assembly representing Westchester and Putnam Counties.

Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

b. Triborough

Randall Katchis offered the following resolution:

Be it resolved by the Chappaqua Central School District that mandate relief must be addressed by the New York State Legislature as school districts implement the property tax levy limit.

WHEREAS, New York State leads the nation in local property taxes, in large part because New York leads the nation in imposing unfunded state mandates upon our local municipalities and school districts; and

WHEREAS, in response to New York's property tax crisis, the Governor and members of the New York State Legislature enacted legislation imposing a limit on the annual growth of the local school tax levy; and

WHEREAS, New York State school districts are under unprecedented funding shortfalls due to three years of frozen Foundation Aid, last year's $1.2 billion aid cut, expiration of federal stimulus aid and revenue restrictions under the tax levy limit, which goes into effect for the 2012-13 school year, and

WHEREAS, unfunded and underfunded state mandates continually increase the obligations and expenditures of local public school districts, and a property tax levy limit without significant mandate reform will inescapably lead to drastic cuts in essential local school district programs and services, as well as significant layoffs of school district employees, and in some cases outright insolvency, in New York State school districts; and

WHEREAS, the cumulative impact of satisfying unfunded and underfunded mandates diverts local money from our school district's top priority of student learning,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we the members of the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District join fellow school board members in Westchester and Putnam Counties in affirming the obligation of the Governor of the State of New York and the members of the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly, to reform mandates that are unsound, unduly burdensome or costly, and thereby lead to high property taxes in New York.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with Article 24, Executive Law §666, which establishes a Mandate Relief Council, the Chappaqua Central School District asks, by resolution of its governing body, that the Mandate Relief Council review the following mandate to determine whether the specific statute, regulation, rule or order of state government is an unfunded mandate or is otherwise unsound, unduly burdensome or costly so as to require that it be eliminated or reformed:

Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law
Section 209-a(1)(e) of the Civil Service Law

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, with respect to the above-referenced statute, the Chappaqua Central School district asks, by resolution of its governing body, that the Mandate Relief Council reform the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law by freezing automatic step increases in salary upon the expiration of public employee contracts, thereby preventing automatic and uncontrollable annual increases of approximately $1.265 Million to the Chappaqua Central School District budget expenses, and thereby adhering to the original intent of the Triborough Doctrine to maintain the status quo for fair and meaningful collective bargaining.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the NY State Mandate Relief Council, Governor, Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, Assembly Speaker and Minority Leader, and the members of the State Senate and Assembly representing Westchester and Putnam Counties.

 

Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

c. Transportation

Karen Visser offered the following resolution:

Be it resolved by the Chappaqua Central School District that mandate relief must be addressed by the New York State Legislature as school districts implement the property tax levy limit.

WHEREAS, New York State leads the nation in local property taxes, in large part because New York leads the nation in imposing unfunded state mandates upon our local municipalities and school districts; and

WHEREAS, in response to New York's property tax crisis, the Governor and members of the New York State Legislature enacted legislation imposing a limit on the annual growth of the local school tax levy; and

WHEREAS, New York State school districts are under unprecedented funding shortfalls due to three years of frozen Foundation Aid, last year's $1.2 billion aid cut, expiration of federal stimulus aid and revenue restrictions under the tax levy limit, which goes into effect for the 2012-13 school year, and

WHEREAS, unfunded and underfunded state mandates continually increase the obligations and expenditures of local public school districts, and a property tax levy limit without significant mandate reform will inescapably lead to drastic cuts in essential local school district programs and services, as well as significant layoffs of school district employees, and in some cases outright insolvency, in New York State school districts; and

WHEREAS, the cumulative impact of satisfying unfunded and underfunded mandates diverts local money from our school district's top priority of student learning,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we the members of the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District join fellow school board members in Westchester and Putnam Counties in affirming the obligation of the Governor of the State of New York and the members of the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly, to reform mandates that are unsound, unduly burdensome or costly, and thereby lead to high property taxes in New York.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with Article 24, Executive Law §666, which establishes a Mandate Relief Council, the Chappaqua Central School District asks, by resolution of its governing body, that the Mandate Relief Council review the following mandate to determine whether the specific statute, regulation, rule or order of state government is an unfunded mandate or is otherwise unsound, unduly burdensome or costly so as to require that it be eliminated or reformed:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, with respect to the above-referenced statute, the Chappaqua Central School district asks, by resolution of its governing body, that the Mandate Relief Council reduce the mileage limits for private school out-of-district transportation from 15 miles to 5 miles, which would result in annual savings of approximately $1.05 Million, thereby offsetting the loss of revenue from consistent yearly reductions of state aid to public schools for transportation costs, and, as noted by the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents Recommendations for Mandate Relief dated December 2011, thereby alleviating the burden on our public schools of subsidizing private school transportation that is excessive and that financially benefits private school investors, trustees, and parents who have chosen these as alternatives to their local public school.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the NY State Mandate Relief Council, Governor, Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, Assembly Speaker and Minority Leader, and the members of the State Senate and Assembly representing Westchester and Putnam Counties.

Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

1.2

Superintendent's Report

1.2.1

Dr. McKay reported on community service as part of LIFE school.

2.

Organization

2.1

First reading: Draft Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention Policy (required under Dignity for All Students Act effective July 1, 2012)

President Kiesel gave a first reading and explained the background. The administrators already provide opportunities for online training in prevention. We welcome input before finalizing the policy.

3.

Approvals

Randall Katchis moved to approve the minutes of March 13 and 20, 2012. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

3.1

Minutes of March 13, 2012

3.2

Minutes of March 20, 2012

4.

Recommended Action: Personnel

4.1

Instructional

Dr. McKay made the following recommendations, with the exception of Amy Fishkin who was previously approved.

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individuals listed as per diem substitute teachers to be employed on an "as needed" basis":

Daniel Boniello,

Anthony Castaneda,

Samantha Grossman, and

Lauren Pinsley.

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby authorizes the attached Agreements for Services for the individuals and agencies listed below effective for the 2011/2012 school year, or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education":

Nancy Syrop.

Request for Discretionary Leave of Absence:

Mr. Paul Swiatocha, Teaching Assistant, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective March 19, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

Request for Child Care Leave of Absence:

Ms. Amanda McDonough, Teacher of Art, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective April 30, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

Ms. Hoda Violante, Teacher of Elementary Education, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective May 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

Ms. Diana Goldberg, Teacher of Mathematics, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective May 22, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

Appointment: Probationary

Ms. Amy Fishkin, Principal, Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective July 1, 2012, in the tenure area of Elementary School Principal, probationary period ends June 30, 2015, $155,500.

Appointment: Regular Substitute

Ms. Shannon O'Brien, Regular Substitute Teaching Assistant, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective September 1, 2012 through January 31, 2013 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), $22,556, prorated.

Victoria Tipp moved to approve the recommendations with the exception of the probationary appointment already approved. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

4.2

Non-Instructional

Dr. McKay made the following recommendation.

Resignation:

Lorraine Campbell - Teacher Aide at Roaring Brook Elementary School, resigning effective April 1, 2012.

Appointment: (addendum)

Deborah Kanuk - Secretary to School Administrator at Horace Greeley High School, effective May 21, 2012 with a discretionary leave of absence, without pay, during the week of June 4-8, 2012. Her salary will be $47,972. This is a 10-month position.

Karen Visser moved to second the recommendation. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.

Recommended Action: Other

5.1

Randall Katchis moved to approve CSE summaries reported to Board on May 1, 2012. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Victoria Tipp offered resolutions to approve the service contracts, items 5.2 and 5.3. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.2

Resolution to approve Health and Welfare Services contract with Greenburgh Central School District #7, for five students, at $846.37 each, effective September 6, 2011 through June 22, 2012 in the amount of $4,231.85.

5.3

Resolution to approve addendum agreement with Anderson Center for Autism, to pay for occupational evaluation services at the rate of $300 per evaluation by licensed/certified Occupational Therapist for the 2011-12 school year.

5.4

Karen Visser offered a resolution to approve receipt of a gift in the amount of $1,000 from the Chappaqua PTA on behalf of the Greeley Sr. Class/Committee/Senior Musical to the Greeley Theater Department in support of programs. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Randall Katchis offered resolutions for items 5.5 and 5.6, appointments to the New Castle Community Media Center. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.5

Resolution to approve the appointment of Pamela Thornton to the New Castle Community Media Center (NCCMC) Board to complete the term of Laurie Anderson, whose two-year term will end May 31, 2013. (Laurie has resigned her position.) Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.6

Resolution to re-appoint Barbara Kornreich to the New Castle Community Media Center (NCCMC) Board to a two-year term June 2012 - May 2014.

5.7

Randall Katchis offered a resolution,

"Be it resolved to refund taxes due to qualification for STAR exemption refund, as approved by Westchester County, but recorded in error in tax rolls for tax assessment year 2011-12, in the amount of $1597.00 to Parcel ID 92.18-2-16."

Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.8

Randall Katchis offered a resolution,

"BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorizes the Board President to execute a Release and Settlement Agreement regarding student #600643. A copy of said Agreement shall be incorporated by reference into the minutes of this meeting."

Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

6.

Facilities

Randall Katchis and Alyson Kiesel met with Town Administrator Penny Paderewski to discuss parcels and how to utilize land use for various purposes and possibly more tax revenue for the district and the town.

7.

Financials

Karen Visser moved to accept the financial reports, Items 7.1-7.4. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

7.1

Claim Auditor Report - February and March 2012

7.2

Treasurer's Report - March 31, 2012

7.3

Expense Report - March 31, 2012

7.4

Revenue Report - March 31, 2012

7.5

Victoria Tipp moved to approve recommended Bid #838 - Driver's Education - PAS Auto School @ $435/per student in summer; $440 per student Fall/Spring. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

8.

President Alyson Kiesel gave Notice of Future Meetings -

Thursday, May 10, 2012, Board Meeting at Education Center, 7:45 a.m.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012, Budget Vote and Election, Horace Greeley High School, 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012, Board Meeting at Horace Greeley High School, 8:15 p.m.

Presentation:

Teacher Tenure Recognition

9.

Adjournment

At 11:40 p.m. Randall Katchis moved to adjourn the meeting. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa M. Markley, District Clerk / Admin. Asst. to Superintendent

Alyson Kiesel, Board President

tm