Minutes June 4, 2014

Minutes

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York

 

Date:

June 4, 2014

 

Time:

7:30 p.m.

 

Place:

Horace Greeley High School

 

Present:

Board of Education
Jeffrey Mester, President
Karen Visser, Vice President
Alyson Gardner Kiesel
Warren Messner
Victoria Tipp

 

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:

Members of the community, PTA and administration and staff

 

7:00 p.m. Join us for refreshments as we celebrate our retired teachers.

President Mester called the board meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Victoria Tipp moved to reconvene in Executive Session to discuss negotiations. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. At 7:15 p.m. President Jeffrey Mester adjourned the meeting to join the celebration for our retirees. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Warren Messner moved to reconvene the board meeting at 7:50 p.m. Alyson Kiesel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The Bell Piano Trio, under the direction of retiring music teacher April Carpenter, honored us with their musical talent. Audience response was loudly appreciative and caused President Mester to quip, "I wish the Board could get applause like that!"

Honor Retirees

Dr. McKay honored our retirees by noting how much our students have benefitted from their experience and number of years of service to the district. We will miss them and wish them well in the next phase of their lives. She introduced each of the building administrators who, in turn, introduced retirees and gave us a small summary of the person's many contributions to the students and district. It was inspiring to hear so many wonderful stories of creativity, dedication, and passion for their work.

Board members noted how much the district is losing in terms of years of combined experience upon which we cannot put a dollar amount. They expressed their congratulations on retirement and appreciation for their service.

Before the next presentation Dr. McKay made three announcements out of context of the agenda, (appointments will be made in 4.1). Greeley Assistant Principal Andrew Corsilia will be appointed as the new principal of Seven Bridges beginning July 2015. Interim Principal Dr. Michael Kirsch has agreed to remain at Seven Bridges for one more year to help with the transition. Athletic Director Peter Kuczma has agreed to also stay on for another year as well.

East of Hudson Watershed Management
Director Raul

There are 19 municipalities that are members of the watershed coalition. Their goal is to remove phosphorous from New York State drinking water supply from runoff within a five year program as required by law. It is a regional stormwater entity who joined together to have a larger pot of money to help each other with their individual municipalities requirements. He explained the various projects that they would undertake to help reach the goals at no cost to the district and resolve some drainage problems.

1.

Information

1.1

President's Report

1.1.1

Proposed Board Meeting Schedule for 2014-15

President Mester and the board discussed the schedule and made one change moving the August date up from August 13 to August 6. Jeffrey Mester moved to adopt the schedule. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

1.1.2

Senior Awards

President Mester remarked on the impressive awards received by our students.

1.2

Superintendent's Report

1.2.1

Seven Bridges Principal Search Update

Dr. McKay provided more details concerning the search.

1.2.2

Sports

Dr. McKay noted that this was one of the best sports' seasons that set new personal and team milestones.

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

Karen Visser moved to approve April minutes, items 3.1, 3.2, 3.3. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

3.1

Minutes of April 2, 2014

3.2

Minutes of April 7, 2014

3.3

Minutes of April 22, 2014

4.

Recommended Action: Personnel

Dr. McKay made the following recommendations:

4.1

Instructional

Resolution:

"WHEREAS, the Board of Education for reasons of economy and efficiency, has determined that it is appropriate to abolish certain pedagogical positions in the District;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby abolishes the following positions, effective close of business on June 30, 2014."

.4 FTE Art,

1.0 FTE CSE/CPSE Chairperson,

2.0 FTE Elementary positions,

.7 FTE Foreign Language position,

1.0 FTE Home Economics position,

.5 FTE Physical Education position,

.5 FTE Special Education,

1.0 FTE Speech / Language position, and

.4 FTE Social Studies.

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education has determined that the services of the following individuals shall be discontinued at close of business on June 30, 2014 in accordance with Section 3013 of the Education Law as they are determined to be the least senior teachers in their respective tenure areas, they do not have tenure or probationary status in any additional tenure area created by Part 30 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, and thus have no right to transfer to any position in a different tenure area; and they shall be placed upon a preferred eligible list for recall to a position for a period of seven (7) years from the effective date of layoff pursuant to Education Law Section 3013; and each individual will be notified in writing by the District Clerk of the information contained in this resolution, including placement of their name on a preferred eligible list for re-employment:"

Speech / Language Caren Reinhardt

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, due to an increased need for a School Psychologist, the Board of Education hereby increases by .6 FTE an existing .4 FTE Psychologist position. This action results in the creation of a 1.0 FTE Psychologist position at Westorchard Elementary School effective 7/1/14."

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, due to an increased need for a Social Worker, the Board of Education hereby increases by .5 FTE an existing .5 FTE Social Worker position. This action results in the creation of a 1.0 FTE Social Worker position at Seven Bridges Middle School and Robert E. Bell Middle School effective 7/1/14."

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, due to increased need in English, the Board of Education hereby increases by .5 FTE an existing .5 FTE English position. This action results in the creation of a 1.0 FTE English position at Horace Greeley High School effective 7/1/14."

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, due to increased need in Science, the Board of Education hereby creates a .25 FTE Science position. This action results in the creation of a .25 FTE Science position at Horace Greeley High School effective 7/1/14."

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, due to increased need in Mathematics, the Board of Education hereby increases by .4 FTE an existing .6 FTE Mathematics position. This action results in the creation of a 1.0 FTE Mathematics position at Horace Greeley High School effective 7/1/14."

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, due to increased need in Mathematics, the Board of Education hereby creates a .4 FTE Mathematics position. This action results in the creation of a .4 FTE Mathematics position at Horace Greeley High School effective 7/1/14."

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, due to increased need in Business Education, the Board of Education hereby increases by .4 FTE an existing .6 FTE Business Education position. This action results in the creation of a 1.0 FTE Business Education position at Horace Greeley High School effective 7/1/14."

Appointment: Probationary

Ms. Kathleen Finnegan, Teacher of Mathematics, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective August 28, 2014, Step 2, B(BA+30) with Masters, $74,592.

Appointment: Part Time

Ms. Katherine Constan, (.6) Teacher of Social Studies, Horace Greeley High School, effective August 28, 2014 through June 30, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 3, C(BA+60) with Masters, $48,772.

Addendum:

4.1

Instructional

Resolution:

"BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby creates two 1.0 FTE Softball Coach positions at a rating of 40 points each. This action results in the creation of a 1.0 FTE Softball Coach at Robert E. Bell Middle School and at Seven Bridges Middle School, effective August 28, 2014."

Appointment: Probationary

Mr. Andrew Corsilia, Principal, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective July 1, 2015, in the tenure area of Middle School Principal, $175,500.

Mr. Michael Day, Teacher of Foreign Language, Horace Greeley High School, effective August 28, 2014, Step 2, C(BA+75) with Masters, $81,679..

Appointment: Other

Dr. Michael Kirsch, Interim Principal, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), $183,060.

Mr. Peter Kuczma, Director of Physical Education and Athletics, District wide, effective July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), $149,930..

Alyson Kiesel moved to approve the recommendations. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

4.2

Non-Instructional

Dr. McKay made the following recommendations:

Resignation:

Laura West - Clerk in the Board/Superintendent office at the Education Center, resigning effective June 20, 2014.

Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that the following employees who are in the non-competitive class of the civil service shall be notified, in writing, by the District Clerk, of the abolition of their positions and the termination of their employment effective June 30, 2014:

Teacher Aide (0.31 FTE) - Pamela Albiez

Library Clerk (0.415 FTE) - Karen Sullivan

Alyson Kiesel moved to approve the recommendations. Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Dr. McKay thanked Laura West and wishes her well in her new position. Victoria Tipp thanked Laura for her help to our district clerk. She has certainly been a very welcoming and warm presence in the Education Center.

5.

Recommended Action: Other

5.1

Karen Visser moved to approve CSE Summaries reported to Board on May 30, 2014. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.2

Warren Messner moved to approve agreement for services with Christopher H. Weir, PC, as Claims Auditor from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 at a rate of $80 per hour. Alyson Kiesel seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.3

Alyson Kiesel moved to approve RFP #2 for legal services - Recommendation that Shaw, Perelson, May, and Lambert, LLP be appointed School District Attorneys for the Chappaqua Central School District for school year 2014-15. Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Board members acknowledged the hard work our attorneys do for our district.

Addendum:

5.4

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve Agreement with East of Hudson Watershed Corporation, for installation of stormwater retrofit projects on Horace Greeley campus, project completion August 31, 2014 at no cost ($0) to district. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.5

Alyson Kiesel moved to approve Agreement for Services with Technical Directions, LLC effective July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 in at an hourly rate of $55/hour with a 4-hour minimum and annual $20,000 maximum. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.6

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve grant in the amount of $18,123,00 from the Walkabout Foundation Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (2013-2014 tuition scholarship). Victoria Tipp seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

6.

Facilities

7.

Financials

8.

President Mester gave Notice of Future Meetings -

Wednesday, June 18, 2014, Board meeting at Horace Greeley High School, 7:30 p.m.

Presentation:

Ave Atque Vale

9.

Adjournment

Alyson Kiesel moved to adjourn at 9:47 p.m. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Markley, District Clerk

Jeffrey Mester, Board President