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Minutes April 14, 2021

OFFICIAL MINUTES

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION

Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 7:15 PM
Horace Greeley High School Auditorium

Presiding Officer: Victoria Bayard Tipp
Pledge of Allegiance: Holly McCall

Present:  Board of Education
    Victoria Bayard Tipp, President
    Holly McCall, Vice President
    Hilary Grasso
    Warren Messner
    Jane Kimmel Shepardson

Staff Members:
    Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of Schools
    John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business
    Ellen Doherty, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
    Adam Pease, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
    Tony Sinanis, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources & Leadership Development
    David Hayes, Public Relations Assistant
    Liisa Elsner, District Clerk

President Tipp asked for a motion to open the meeting.

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to open the meeting at 7:15 pm.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.  Board Member Warren Messner was absent.

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to appoint Christine Ackerman as District Clerk pro tempore.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.

Motioned by Victoria Bayard Tipp to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss contracts negotiations.  Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson.  Motion carried 5-0.

Motioned by Hilary Grasso to reconvene the public meeting at 7:45 pm.  Seconded by Holly McCall.  Motion carried 5-0.

1.       Information Business Affairs

1.1    President’s Report – President Tipp thanked the PTA for arranging for and hosting Dr. Steele, author of Whistling Vivaldi and professor at Stanford University on April 7th.

1.2    Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Ackerman gave her community update by highlighting the following:

  • Schedule Update – more students are returning to in-school instruction
  • Staff Update – Dr. Sinanis reported on teachers returning to in-school instruction
  • Vaccination rate information
  • Quarantine update
  • HGHS return to full day on campus requirements
  • New Medical Directors – Dr. Sinanis thanked Drs. Levine & Gershel for their service to the District and welcomed Drs. Roye and Costabile who will be joining the District in 2021-22.
  • Quarterly Update on Hate Speech, Bias & Discrimination Incidents.

Presentations:  Budget Adoption – Dr. Ackerman and Mr. Chow presented the 2021-22 Budget for Board of Education Adoption.

2.       Committee Reports
Wellness – Ms. Grasso reported that the Committee met on April 6 and is continuing to work on the wellness videos that the PTA has been pushing out to the community and is planning ahead for 2021-22 school year  initiatives
Facilities – The Facilities Advisory Committee will be meeting on May 4.
CSF – Ms. Shepardson reported that the CSF was also meeting on April 14 and that she would have an update at the May 5 meeting.
Sports Boosters – Ms. Shepardson reported that students, parents and the community are very pleased that we have been able to move ahead with our sports seasons during this difficult year and that testing has gone very smoothly.

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 adopts the Proposed Budget and ratifies the Property Tax Report Card for the 2021-22 school year.

Motioned by Victoria Bayard Tipp to adopt the Proposed Budget and ratify the Property Tax Report Card for the 2021-22 school year as stated above.  Seconded by Holly McCall.  Motion carried 5-0.

3.2    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the minutes of the March 24, 2021 Board Meeting.

3.3    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the minutes of the April 5, 2021 Special Board Meeting.

3.4    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the minutes of the April 8, 2021 Special Board Meeting.

Motioned by Hilary Grasso to accept Items 3.2 through 3.4 as stated above.  Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson.  Motion carried 5-0.

3.5    Policy #6085:  Purchasing & Bidding – 1st Reading.

3.6     Policy #6090:  Purchasing Authority – 1st 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 appoints the individuals listed as per diem substitute teachers to be employed on an “as needed” basis:

Steven Metzger
Telma Grayson
Camila Sobon

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 2021/2022 school year, or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education:

Dr. David Costabile
Dr. Kristin Roye

Resignation:
Ms. Jessica Towle, Teacher of Science, Horace Greeley High School, effective June 30, 2021.

Request for Discretionary Leave of Absence:
Mr. Steven Metzger, Teaching Assistant, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, effective March 22, 2021 through June 30, 2021.

Appointment: Tenure
Ms. Shannon Pezzullo, Teacher of Special Education, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective April 24, 2021.

Appointment: Probationary
Mr. Ryan Doyle, Teacher of Art, Horace Greeley High School, to a probationary appointment in the tenure area of Art, effective August 30, 2021 through August 29, 2025, subject to receipt of composite or overall annual professional performance review ratings pursuant to Education law Section 3012-c and/or 3012-d of either effective or highly effective in at least three (3) of the four (4) proceeding years, and if the probationer receives an ineffective composite or overall rating in the final year of the probationary period they shall not be eligible for tenure at that time.

Appointment: Coaching – Spring Season

Sport Level Coach Step
Baseball Varsity Daniel Gray 3
Baseball Asst. Varsity Philip Schnorr 3
Baseball JV Anthony Garbarino 1
Baseball Freshman Timothy Panetta 1
Baseball Modified (7 Bridges) Travis Edwards 1
Baseball Modified (Bell) Ray LaLuna 1
Softball Varsity Michelle Mazzocchi 2
Softball Asst. Varsity Dave Fernandes 3
Softball JV Softball Bob Alspach 3
Softball Modified - 7B Liz Lops 3
Softball Modified - Bell Jason Sclafani 3
Boys Tennis Varsity Jean Benoit Belin 3
Boys Tennis JV A Jerry Sulli 3
Boys Tennis JV B John Alkalay 3
Track & Field Varsity Girls James Howard 3
Track & Field Varsity Boys Steve McKenny 3
Track & Field Asst. Varsity Nicholas Clair 3
Track & Field Asst. Varsity Kira Lindner 2
Track & Field Asst. Varsity    
Track & Field Modified - 7B Charles McKenna 3
Track & Field Modified - Bell Bob Raguette 3
Track & Field Volunteer Asst. Kim Lindner  
Girls Lacrosse Varsity Dennis Hurlie 3
Girls Lacrosse Asst. Varsity Gail Lozado 3
Girls Lacrosse JV Maggie Sharp 2
Girls Lacrosse JV B Kristen McGurl 3
Girls Lacrosse Modified - 7B Angelique Titre-Barnore 1
Girls Lacrosse Modified - Bell Angela Russo 3
Boys Lacrosse Varsity Brian Zusi 3
Boys Lacrosse Asst. Varsity Matt Boyd 1
Boys Lacrosse JV Tyler Esposito 2
Boys Lacrosse JV B    
Boys Lacrosse Asst. Modified - 7B Chris Strahley 3
Boys Lacrosse Modified - 7B    
Boys Lacrosse Modified - Bell Nate Loeb 3
Boys Lacrosse Asst. Modified - Bell Jason Lummel 3
Golf Varsity Brady Kittredge 3

Motioned by Victoria Bayard Tipp to approve Item 4.1 as stated above.  Seconded by Holly McCall.  Motion carried 5-0.

Dr. Ackerman recommended Item 4.2 as stated below.

4.2    Non-Instructional 

Resignation for the purpose of retirement:
Nicole Aurand, Teacher Aide at Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective April 2, 2021.

Maura Marcon, Director of Continuing Education Program, effective June 30, 2021.

Donna McBride, Office Assistant-Automated Systems at Horace Greeley High School, effective June 30, 2021.

Marian Waltzer, Office Assistant at Seven Bridges Middle School, effective June 30, 2021.

Appointment:
Donald Fleury, Maintenance Worker (Buildings) at the Pole Barn, effective April 19, 2021.

Motioned by Victoria Bayard Tipp to approve Item 4.2 as stated above.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.

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 (2020-21 School Year) reported to the Board on April 14, 2021.

5.2    CSE Summaries (2021-22 School Year) reported to the Board on April 14, 2021.

5.3    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a contract with Katonah-Lewisboro  Union Free School District for Health & Welfare Services for 10 students, effective September 10, 2020 through June 25, 2021, in the amount of $1,271.62, and authorizes the Board President, Superintendent and District Clerk to execute the contract.

5.4    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a contract with Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District for Health & Welfare Services for 18 students, effective September 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, in the amount of $1,293.47, and authorizes the Board President, Superintendent and District Clerk to execute the contract.

5.5    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves PNW BOCES 2021-22 Contract of 
Services in the amount of $1,290,422.20 and authorizes the Board President and District Clerk to execute this agreement

5.6     BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a license agreement with Caramoor for usage of the Venetian Theatre for the Horace Greeley High School Musical on June 8 and 9, 2021, in the amount of $14,400.00 and authorizes Superintendent to execute the agreement.

5.7    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves an equipment change amendment to Product Schedule #1700739 of Master State & Local Government Lease Agreement No. 460977 with Lenovo, dated March 19, 2021, and authorizes the Board President to execute the amended agreement.

5.8    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a gift from the Society for Science & The Public, in the amount of $1,000.00, in honor of 1 Robert E. Bell Middle School student. This gift will be used for science supplies & materials.

5.9    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a gift from the Society for Science & The Public, in the amount of $4,000.00, in honor of 2 Horace Greeley High School students who were Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021 scholars.  This gift will be used by the science, math and/or engineering department.

5.10    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves Grades 7-12 student participation in the following “higher-risk” spring sport - boys lacrosse (modified, JV, varsity), subject to local health department and Section 1 approval, and adherence to the guidelines and protocols established by state and local health authorities, as well as the rules of Section 1 of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby directs the Superintendent to arrange for COVID-19 testing of student-athletes and coaches as a condition of participation in the above-referenced sports.

5.11    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a gift from the Chappaqua PTA in support of the Greeley Theater’s Spring Musical production at the Caramoor Center, in the amount of $1,500.00.

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Items 5.1 through 5.11 as stated above.  Seconded by Warren Messner.  Motion carried 5-0.

6.      Facilities

7.      Financials

7.1    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges receipt of the Revenue Status Report for March 2021.

7.2    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges receipt of the Appropriation Status Report for March 2021.

7.3    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges receipt of the Treasurer’s Report for March 2021.

7.4    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges receipt of the Extraclassroom Activity Fund for March 2021.

Motioned by Holly McCall to acknowledge receipt of Items 7.1 through 7.4 as stated above.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 5-0.

8.    Notice of Future Meetings 

April 20, 2021 – 9:00 am
BOCES Budget & Election 
Via Zoom Videoconference

May 5, 2021 – 7:30 pm
Budget Hearing/Chappaqua Library Budget Presentation
Horace Greeley High School Auditorium

9.      Adjournment 

Motioned by Holly McCall to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 pm.  Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson.  Motion carried 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Liisa Elsner
District Clerk / Secretary to the Superintendent