Chappaqua Central School District
Minutes March 8, 2023
OFFICIAL MINUTES
CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 7:30PM
Horace Greeley High School - Auditorium
Present: Board of Education
Warren Messner, Vice President
Hilary Grasso
Cailee Hwang
Ryan Kelsey
Absent: Jane Kimmel Shepardson, President
Staff Members:
Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of Schools
Andrew Lennon, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Adam Pease, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Jamie Edelman, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
Andrew Corsilia, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
Adam Schoenbart, Associate Director of Technology & Communications
Josh Culwell-Block, Director of Technology, Innovation & Mathematics
David Hayes, Public Information Assistant
Liisa Elsner, District Clerk
Motioned by Cailee Hwang to open the public meeting at 6:30 pm. Seconded by Ryan Kelsey. Motion carried 4-0 (Board President Jane Kimmel Shepardson was absent).
Motioned by Cailee Hwang to appoint Dr. Christine Ackerman as District Clerk Pro Tempore. Seconded by Ryan Kelsey. Motion carried 4-0.
Motioned by Cailee Hwang to adjourn into Executive Session at 6:31 pm to discuss matters of the employment history of particular persons, potential litigation, matters made confidential by federal and state privacy laws (FERPA and Ed Law 2-d) and to receive advice from counsel. Seconded by Ryan Kelsey. Motion carried 4-0.
Motioned by Cailee Hwang to reconvene the public meeting at 7:43 pm. Seconded by Hilary Grasso. Motion carried 4-0.
1. Information Business Affairs
1.1 President’s Report – Vice President Messner gave the president’s report as follows:
- District Strategic Planning work is ongoing.
- Wishing the community an enjoyable Holi.
- Recognizing that 3/8 is International Women’s Day.
- Congratulating the Concert Band on their performance in Albany.
- Congratulating the Boy’s Swim Team and noting that they will be honored by the Board at the 3/22 Board of Education meeting.
- The PTA will hold a Board Candidate Information night on March 13th at Town Hall.
1.2 Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Ackerman gave her community update as follows:
- Congratulating the Boy’s Swim Team on their NYSPHAA performance.
- Noting that Empire Core Group and KG&D contracts for Bond work are on the agenda for approval.
- Noting that the revised Graduation policy (#4770) is on the agenda for further Board discussion.
- Reporting on progress being made to address the community’s before and after school child care needs.
- Andrew Corsilia and Kia Johnson of Insight updated the community on the DEI position and ongoing work.
- Noting upcoming events.
Presentation: Superintendent’s Budget Proposal
2. Committee Reports
Policy - Ryan Kelsey noted that there are two policies on the agenda for discussion.
WPSBA Liaison - Hilary Grasso noted that the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association hosted several zoom sessions with our local assemblypersons and there was opportunity for districts to request guidance on funding various mandates, school safety issues and zero emission bus initiatives.
Public Comment Period:
We welcome public comments, and in respect for each other's time, we ask that you limit your comments to three minutes. Board members may be contacted via email or phone. After the public comment period has been completed, Board members may have a discussion among themselves regarding comments presented.
3. Approvals & Ratifications
3.1 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the minutes of the February 8, 2023 Board of Education Meeting.
Motioned by Cailee Hwang to accept Item 3.1 as stated above. Seconded by Hilary Grasso. Motion carried 4-0.
3.2 Policy #4005: Elementary and Secondary Curriculum Development – 2nd Reading & Adoption.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby adopts Policy #4005: Elementary and Secondary Curriculum Development.
Motioned by Ryan Kelsey to adopt Policy #4005: Elementary and Secondary Curriculum Development as stated above. Seconded by Hilary Grasso. Motion carried 4-0.
3.3 Policy #4770: Graduation – 2nd Reading.
4. Recommended Action: Personnel
Dr. Ackerman recommended Item 4.1 as stated below.
4.1 Instructional
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 2022/2023 school year, or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education:
The Arc of Westchester
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individual listed as student teachers, interns and/or classroom observers for the 2022/2023 school year:
Griffin Brown
Gregory Carnevali
Katrina Klammer
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individuals listed as AP proctors to be employed on an "as needed" basis effective for the 2022/2023 school year:
| Ron Bugara | Michael Chaparro | Nicole Daly | Lisa Izbicki |
| Dimple Kirtikar | Elise Levine Cooper | Kieran Moran | Michael Norelli |
| Robert Tiberi |
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby authorizes the Superintendent of Schools and Board President to execute an Agreement, dated February 10, 2023, on behalf of the School District, with Ms. Bianna Cardinale, as presented to the Board at this meeting, whereby Ms. Cardinale shall perform contract services as an Elementary Teacher in the District for the period commencing February 3, 2023 and terminating June 30, 2023. A copy of this Agreement shall be incorporated by reference within the minutes of this meeting.
Appointment: Coaching - Effective March 13, 2023 through June 10, 2023
| Sport | Level | Coach | Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | Varsity Girls | Christine Catapano | 3 |
| Boys Lacrosse | Junior Varsity Assistant | Blake Balcaeh | 1 |
Appointment: Coaching - Effective March 20, 2023 through June 10, 2023
| Sport | Level | Coach | Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girls Lacrosse | Modified 1 | Daniela Castro | 3 |
| Girls Lacrosse | Modified 2 | Sarah Schum | 3 |
| Boys Lacrosse | Modified – Bell | Michael Chaparro | 1 |
| Baseball | Modified – SB | Arthur Shofi | 1 |
Discretionary Paid Leave of Absence:
Ms. Patricia Kiernan, Teacher of Elementary Education, Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective March 9, 2023 through June 30, 2023.
Resignation for Purposes of Retirement:
Ms. Patricia Kiernan, Teacher of Elementary Education, Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective June 30, 2023.
Motioned by Warren Messner to approve Item 4.1 as stated above. Seconded by Cailee Hwang. Motion carried 4-0.
Dr. Ackerman recommended Item 4.2 as stated below.
4.2 Non-instructional
Resignation:
Scott O’Dell, Custodial Worker-Groundskeeper, District-Wide, effective end of business day on February 24, 2023.
Sheryl Heath, Senior Office Assistant – Automated Systems, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective end of business day on March 2, 2023.
Javier Montoya, Cleaner, Horace Greeley High School, effective end of business day on March 10, 2023.
Resignation for the Purpose of Retirement:
Linda Waller, Clerk-School Monitor, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective end of business day on June 30, 2023.
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board of Education hereby approves an Employment Related Agreement dated January 30, 2023, regarding Employee #5963, as presented to the Board at this meeting. A copy of said Agreement shall be incorporated by reference within the minutes of this meeting.
Motioned by Warren Messner to approve Item 4.2 as stated above. Seconded by Hilary Grasso. Motion carried 4-0.
5. Recommended Action: Other
Use of the Consent Agenda permits the Board of Education to make more effective use of its time by adopting a single motion to cover those relatively routine matters, which are included. Any member of the Board who wishes to discuss individually a particular piece of business on the Consent Agenda may so indicate and that item will be considered and voted on separately, thus preserving the right of all Board members to be heard on any issue. It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the following Consent agenda as submitted by the Superintendent of Schools.
5.1 CSE summaries (2022-23 School Year) reported to the Board on March 8, 2023.
5.2 CSE summaries (2023-24 School Year) reported to the Board on March 8, 2023.
5.3 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an agreement with the Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District for health & welfare services for 16 students, in the amount of $1,284.24 per student, effective September 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, and authorizes the Board President, Superintendent and District Clerk to execute the agreement.
5.4 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an agreement with the Yorktown Central School District for health & welfare services for 1 student1, in the amount of $1,544.45 per student, effective September 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, and authorizes the Board President, Superintendent and District Clerk to execute the agreement.
5.5 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the use of Phoenix Graphics for the printing and binding of the ballots for the May 16, 2023 Annual Budget Vote and Election, in the amount of $2,000.00 plus any shipping costs.
5.6 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the Agreement between the Chappaqua Central School District and Whalen’s Moving & Storage dated for the delivery and retrieval of the voting machines and privacy booths for the May 16, 2023 Annual Budget Vote and Election, in the amount of $2,136.00, and authorizes the Board President to execute the agreement.
5.7 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the appointment of Tina Steinberg as a parent member of the Committees on Special Education and Pre-School Special Education for the 2022-23 school year, effective March 9, 2023.
5.8 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby ratifies the provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) executed by the negotiating teams for the District and the Chappaqua Administrators' Association dated February 15, 2023, and agrees to a three-year successor agreement to their 2020-23 Collectively Negotiated Agreement, effective July 1, 2023 and terminating on June 30, 2026, and authorizes the expenditure of those moneys necessary to implement the provisions of the 2023-26 CAA Collectively Negotiated Agreement between the District and the Chappaqua Administrators’ Association. A copy of the MOA shall be incorporated by reference within the minutes of this meeting.
5.9 WHEREAS, the Chappaqua Central School District (School District) pursuant to the authority granted in General Municipal Law, Article 5A (Public Contracts), Section 103 desires to participate in the Cooperative, which is sponsored by Education Service Center – Region 19 Allied Service; and
WHEREAS, Section 103 of the General Municipal Law permits the School District to make purchases of apparatus, materials, equipment or supplies, or to contract for services related to the installation, maintenance or repair of apparatus, materials, equipment, and supplies, may make such purchases, or may contract for such services related to the installation, maintenance or repair of apparatus, materials, equipment, and supplies, as may be required by the School District therein through the use of a contract let by the United States of America or any agency thereof, any state or any other county or political subdivision or district therein if such contract was let to the lowest responsible bidder or on the basis of best value in a manner consistent with this section and made available for use by other governmental entities; and
WHEREAS, the School District desires to participate for the purpose of fulfilling and executing its public governmental purposes, goals, objectives, programs and functions; and
WHEREAS, the School District has reviewed the benefits of participating in this program and based on this review has concluded the program will provide the best value to taxpayers of this School District through the anticipated savings to be realized;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District authorizes the School District’s participation in the Education Service Center-Region 19 Allied States (ESC19) national cooperative contract and authorizes the Assistant Superintendent for Business or the Purchasing Agent to register for the ESC19 program on behalf of the School District.
5.10 WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services to allow any officer, board, or agency of a political subdivision or of any district therein, adopting this Resolution to bid jointly in those supplies, commodities, materials, and equipment set forth below.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chappaqua Central School District agrees to participate with other school districts of the Southern Westchester Board of Educational Services, Westchester County, New York adopting this in the joint bidding of Art Supplies; School & Office Supplies; Fine Paper Supplies; Audio Visual Supplies & Equipment; Bakery Supplies; Custodial Supplies; Custodial Paper Supplies; Lumber Supplies; Laser & Ink Jet Toners, OEM; Microcomputer Hardware; Furniture, Storage and Athletic Equipment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall remain in effect until June 30, 2024, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is agreed that the specifications as presented will be used, and that this Board agrees to bid its required amount of said commodities jointly with other participating school districts and Southern Westchester and the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services. The recommendation of the Purchasing Steering Committee will be considered when this Board acts on the purchase of said Commodities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the invitation to bid will be advertised by BOCES in the Journal News in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 to the General Municipal Law.
5.11 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves a budget transfer in the amount of $85,256.00 to cover increases in fuel prices, and authorizes the Board President to execute the transfer request document.
5.12 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an agreement for psychological services with the Music Conservatory of Westchester for educational services for one student (#xxxxx9), effective March 9, 2023 through June 30, 2023, and authorizes the Board President to execute the contract.
5.13 BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the proposal for construction management services from Empire Core Group LLC (“Empire”), in response to the CCSD RFP #2022-07 and hereby appoints Empire to serve as the District’s Construction Manager for the Capital Project approved by the voters on November 29, 2022; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board President is authorized to execute an Agreement between the District and Empire for such construction management services, as presented to the Board at this meeting. A copy of such Agreement will be incorporated by reference in the minutes of this meeting.
5.14 BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the proposal for architectural/engineering services from Kaeyer, Garment + Davidson Architects, PC (“KG+D”), in response to the CCSD RFP #2022-06 and hereby appoints KG+D to serve as the District’s Architects for the Capital Project approved by the voters on November 29, 2022; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board President is authorized to execute an Agreement between the District and KG+D for such architectural/engineering services, as presented to the Board at this meeting. A copy of such Agreement will be incorporated by reference in the minutes of this meeting.
5.15 WHEREAS, the District owns the attached list of items which are no longer useful or necessary for school district purposes and of no value to the School District;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board hereby declares such items to be surplus property and of no value to the School District and authorizes the disposal of such equipment in a prudent manner in accordance with law.
5.16 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an Agreement with Student Assistance Services for the 2023-2024 school year for a five-day per week Student Assistance Counselor at Horace Greeley High School, in the amount of $80,732.00, and authorizes the Board President to execute this Agreement.
5.17 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an agreement with the Mamaroneck Union Free School District for health & welfare services for 4 students, in the amount of $1,308.77 per student, effective September 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, and authorizes the Board President to execute the agreement.
5.18 BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education does hereby deny the January 12, 2023 DASA appeal filed on behalf of Student Number 230308; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the District Clerk notify the parents of the Board of Education’s determination.
Motioned by Hilary Grasso to approve Items 5.1 through 5.18 as stated above. Seconded by Cailee Hwang. Motion carried 4-0.
6. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges the following contracts approved by the Superintendent, per Board Policy 6085 – Purchasing and Bidding:
6.1 An Agreement with the Saw Mill Club for March 2023 usage.
6.2 An Agreement with Grand Prix New York Racing & Entertainment for March 1, 2023.
6.3 An Agreement for Services with Lawrence Steinberg for the 2023-24 school year.
6.4 An Agreement for Services with Divya Pathak for the 2022-23 school year.
6.5 An Agreement for Services with Ming-Kuang Wu for the 2022-23 school year.
Motioned by Ryan Kelsey to acknowledge Items 6.1 through 6.5 as stated above. Seconded by Hilary Grasso. Motion carried 4-0.
7. Facilities
8. Financials
8.1 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby acknowledges receipt of the Treasurer’s Report for January 2023.
8.2 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby acknowledges receipt of the Appropriation Status Report for January 2023.
8.3 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby acknowledges receipt of the Revenue Status Report for January 2023.
8.4 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby acknowledges receipt of the Claims Auditor’s Report for February 2023.
Motioned by Cailee Hwang to acknowledge receipt of Items 8.1 through 8.4 as stated above. Seconded by Ryan Kelsey. Motion carried 4-0.
9. Notice of Future Meetings
Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 7:30 pm
Curriculum/Technology/Special Education/Athletics Budget Presentations
Horace Greeley High School – Auditorium
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 7:30 pm
Operations & Maintenance/Non-Instructional/Revenue/Tax Rates & Contingency Budget Presentations
Horace Greeley High School - Auditorium
10. Adjournment
Motioned by Hilary Grasso to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 pm. Seconded by Ryan Kelsey. Motion carried 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Liisa Elsner
District Clerk / Secretary to the Superintendent
/lke