Minutes March 13, 2013

Minutes

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York

 

Date:

March 13, 2013

 

Time:

8:30 p.m.

 

Place:

Horace Greeley High School

 

Present:

Board of Education
Victoria Tipp, President
Karen Visser
Randall Katchis
Jeffrey Mester

 

Absent:

Alyson Gardner Kiesel, Vice President

 

Staff Members
Present:

Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent

Mr. Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum

Mr. Andrew Selesnick, Assistant Superintendent for Leadership, 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 Tipp called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Karen Visser moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of labor negotiations, employment history of a particular person, and legal settlement. Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn the executive session. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Karen Visser moved to reconvene the public session at 8:30 p.m. Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

President Tipp welcomed the community, students, and parents and turned the introduction of presentations to Superintendent Dr. Lyn McKay.

Dr. McKay noted that although our budget is tight, our programs are still strong. She asked Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum to begin the Curriculum presentation and outline the budget.

Presentations:

Curriculum / Special Education / Athletics

Curriculum

Mr. Byrne began with the Strategic Question, "How can the District ensure that all students think deeply, support their thinking, apply problem-solving skills, and actively participate in their learning as they acquire content knowledge?" He explained that the district has gone beyond that by creating Thinking Standards. 1) They draw from both content knowledge and prior learning, students use supporting evidence to demonstrate creative and high-level thinking. 2) Students will be able to deepen understanding of content by applying a problem-solving process both individually and collaboratively. 3) Students will actively participate and take ownership of their learning.

He further defined each step to include examples.

The district has a number of ongoing curriculum projects including the APPR implementation, Common Core State Standards alignment, and the PISA school-based pilot. PISA is an international exam given every few years to 144 schools around the country. It allows the district to benchmark their work against the world. Eric was pleased that our students were in the top percentile.

District plans for 2013-14 include building on work of the Assessment Development Project; extend the elementary school day from 30 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes (8:45 a.m.-3:15p.m.); and further develop the Chinese Partnership. Plans include a Summer Writers Camp for kids who like to write.

The curriculum budget is a zero increase from last year to this year. He broke down the individual components and noted the decreases and increases produce a flat budget overall. The final Curriculum Studies/Professional Development Budget remains at $260,124.

Special Education - Dr. Heidi McCarthy, Director of Special Education

Dr Heidi McCarthy noted that curriculum is the umbrella under which we all stand. The special education budget demonstrates the additional services that are available to special needs children in keeping with federal laws and regulations. The district has a commitment to inclusion and 84% of our special ed students are included in the regular school population. This benefits all students.

Dr. McCarthy reviewed the make up of the committees and their responsibilities to review evaluations, reports, other data and identify strengths and needs using the 13 classification categories. She went over the statistics and services that are provided to both preschool and regular classes The district provides support to student development in the least restrictive environment.

Dr. McCarthy reviewed the main components of the budget including a reduction of 1.5 FTE special education teacher based on enrollment. She explained the various line items that resulted in a budget reduction of -4.04%.

She reported on the New York State parent questionnaire on parent satisfaction for 2011-12. The state target was 90% satisfaction and the CCSD Positive Parental Response Rate of 94.7% for about one third parents' response was a statistically relevant sample. It speaks to the efforts of the programs, teachers, and students and the special education teachers who are also part of the professional development numbers.

Athletics
Peter Kuczma, Athletic Director
Interscholastic Education Program

He presented the sports offerings for boys and girls and noted it is in line with Title IX. He also showed the student participation rate by season. Boys in high and middle schools have a total of 37 teams and girls have 36 teams. We have 100 coaching positions including 11 volunteers.

Mr. Kuczma reviewed the achievements of this past year. for fall and winter and the program initiatives for 2012-13. He noted the district utilizes the bid process for purchasing athletic equipment and supplies. He reflected on his work with technology and nurses to improve communication to coaches about medical information. Mr. Kuczma set up a review with coach program development within each sport. His budget of $434,600 represents a 0.88% increase over the current year.

District initiatives for next year include revising the parent/student handbook and coaches handbook. He will review coaching evaluations; review program development by sport; implement the Impact program; use of technology and film study to improve teaching and learning; examine cost/benefit of programs to balance student/district participation in grades 7-12.

Physical education

From a teaching perspective, it is important to implement use of technology to improve teaching and learning. Fitness equipment must be reviewed in each school and how it is utilized in the physical education program. Investigate ways to evaluate student fitness levels which reflect our student body and how they should impact the curriculum. The district needs to further develop assessments that measure knowledge, skills and concepts in sport skills, fitness development, game rules and strategies, and personal social development.

1.

Information

1.1

President's Report

1.2

Superintendent's Report

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.

2.

Organization

3.

Approvals

3.1

Karen Visser moved to adopt the Minutes of January 24, 2013 as amended, Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously..

4.

Recommended Action: Personnel

Dr. McKay made the following recommendations.

4.1

Instructional

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":

Danielle Fugazzi,

Diane Masi,

Kathleen Reilly,

Jessica Towle,

Valerie Berman,

Amy Ceconi-Cavalieri, and

Jacqueline Mooney-O'Brien.

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 2012/2013 school year, or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education":

Janet Hartman,

Sandra Kowalski, and

Gail Treffinger.

Resignation:

Ms. Jillian Durante, Regular Substitute Teaching Assistant, Horace Greeley High School, effective February 22, 2013.

Request for Extension of Parental Leave of Absence:

Ms. Naomi Cook, Teacher of Science, Horace Greeley High School, effective April 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013.

Ms. Rachel Ruggeri, Teacher of Mathematics, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective September 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.

Appointment: Regular Substitute

Ms. Nancy Williams, Regular Substitute Teacher of Science, Horace Greeley High School, effective October 22, 2012 through June 30, 2013 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 10, B(BA+30) with Masters, $95,129, prorated. This appointment is authorized subject to the approval of the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department. Consistent with New York State laws and regulations, as a retired teacher, Ms. Williams is entitled to retain her pension which was earned through her former district and which places no financial burden on the Chappaqua Central School District.

Appointment: Teaching Assistant

Ms. Jillian Durante, Teaching Assistant, Horace Greeley High School, effective February 25, 2013, $21,256, prorated.

Ms. Andrea Nash, Teaching Assistant, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective March 4, 2013, $21,256, prorated.

Appointment: Coaching

Ms. Frances Boone, Junior Varsity Softball, Horace Greeley High School, effective March 11, 2013 through June 7, 2013 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 1, $4,975.

Randall Katchis moved to accept the recommendations. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

4.2

Non-Instructional

Dr. McKay made the following recommendations:

Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby amends the hours of Donna Perschetz, Teacher Aide at Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, from 23.75 to 32.5 hours per week, effective February 27, 2013 through June 30, 2013.

Resignation for the purpose of retirement:

Sue Lisogorsky, Teacher Aide at Roaring Brook Elementary School, resigning for the purpose of retirement, effective March 27, 2013.

Appointment:

Gina Barreiros - Position Change - Custodian II at Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective March 14, 2013. Her salary will be $48,379.

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve the recommendations. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.

Recommended Action: Other

5.1

Karen Visser moved to approve the CSE Summaries reported to Board on March 8, 2013. Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.2

Randall Katchis moved to approve agreement with Harrison Central School District for health and welfare services for four Chappaqua students attending non-public schools in Harrison Central School District at an estimated sum of $1008.32 per pupil, effective September 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.3

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve a gift of $2,000 from Friends of Greeley Theatre to the Horace Greeley High School Theatre Department for Psycho Beach Party. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.4

Approve AIA Document, standard form of agreement for project of limited scope, with contractor, Laumar Roofing for renovation of gym roof at Horace Greeley. Stipulated sum of base bid $185,000 plus alternate bid for a total of $332,000.

5.5

Jeffrey Mester offered the following resolution,

"Be it Resolved that the Board of Education ratifies the Stipulation of Settlement and General Release regarding employee #19373. A copy of said Agreement shall be incorporated by reference into the minutes of this meeting."

Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.6

Karen Visser offered a Resolution directing the District Clerk to give Notice of the Annual Public Hearing on the Budget, Annual Meeting, School District Election, Library Election and Vote. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.7

Jeffrey Mester offered the following resolution,

"BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education authorizes the Board President to execute a Release and Settlement Agreement regarding student #75444. A copy of said Agreement shall be incorporated by reference into the minutes of this meeting."

Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

6.

Facilities

7.

Financials

Karen Visser moved to accept 7.1 and 7.2 financial reports. Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

7.1

Expenditures Report - February 2013

7.2

Revenue Report - February 2013

7.3

Randall Katchis moved to approve recommended Bid #890 - Solid Waste Services for Buildings Owned by Chappaqua Central School District and the Town of New Castle - Sani-Pro Disposal/D.B.A. Suburban Carting - $69,540 with a savings of $8,940 from previous contract. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

8.

President Tipp gave Notice of Future Meetings -

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Horace Greeley High School

8:15 p.m. - Board meeting/work session

Presentation:

Technology / Operation Maint/ Non-instructional / Fund Balance

9.

Adjournment

Adjournment - Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 10:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

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

Victoria Tipp, Board President

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