Minutes November 5, 2014

Minutes

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York

 

Date:

November 5, 2014

 

Time:

7:30 p.m.

 

Place:

Horace Greeley High School

 

Present:

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

 

Staff Members
Present:

Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent

Mr. Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business

Mr. Andrew Selesnick, Assistant Superintendent for Leadership Dev. & HR

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 Visser convened the public session at 6:00 p.m. Alyson Gardner moved to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of negotiations. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. At 7:40 p.m. Alyson Gardner moved to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene the public session. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

President Visser welcomed the community and asked Dr. McKay and Eric Byrne to introduce presenters and topic for the evening.

Presentation:

Middle School Teaching and Learning
Middle School Principals Michael Kirsch and Martin Fitzgerald

Seven Bridges Interim Principal Mike Kirsch began the discussion on how to teach teachers awareness of reading and build effective reading strategies. Bell Principal Martin Fitzgerald continued the presentation with guiding questions to encourage dialogue such as reading independently and to make texts available to students who struggle - building in scaffolds. He explained the importance of having teachers provide opportunities to listen in/discuss text individually or in small groups.

Laurie Lichtenstein discussed the English language arts curriculum. The three units every student will be exposed to are narrative, argument, and information. Teachers choose their own texts for each unit, but it will provide a more similar experience for students. Students will be immersed in a particular genre and then write a personal story. Jason Limmel and Ingrid Melhaus discussed the new social studies text adoption, Discovering Our Past. Eric Byrnes added that we were able to use web-based resources rather than lugging around heavy textbooks and added a number of resources and tools such as highlighting, annotating, graphics, and dictionaries to support understanding. Jason explained the screen shots of the software with digital organizers, interactive timeline and reading comprehension check. Students gravitated to graphic novels and games also. Mike added that we are still talking about text as last year, but in a broader sense and linked to other subjects.

Board members directed several questions to presenters regarding assessment and matching to reading levels.

1.

Information Business Affairs

1.1

President's Report

1.1.1

President Visser reminded everyone that BOCES' candidate night - November 6, at 7:00 p.m. at PNWBOCES in Yorktown. Board member Jeffrey Mester is one of two candidates running to complete a term ending June 30, 2015 on the BOCES board.

1.1.2

Dr. Elizabeth Englander - PTA Presentation

President Visser thanked the PTA for bringing back Dr. Elizabeth Englander to speak on social media, cyber issues, and how, as parents, we must help our children stay true to family values.

1.1.3

President Visser congratulated the candidates inducted into the Cum Laude Society The ceremony honored 22 students, five boys and thirteen girls. She also thanked administrators for such a well run program.

1.2

Superintendent's Report

1.2.1

Dr. McKay reported on the meeting of the District Advocacy Committee with members Victoria Tipp representing Westchester Putnam School Boards Association; John Chow, New York Education Conference Board; Chris Madden, New York Suburban Consortium for Public Education; Joe Gramando, Lower Hudson Facilities Management Organization; and Dr. McKay representing Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents. They reviewed financial issues to reduce the GAP and educational mandates. She noted too many assessments have not been looked at carefully. Then some of the group met with Judy McGrath, Town Advocacy Representative to discuss those items that overlapped. This was very useful and some of the priorities have been put on the website.

1.2.2

Dr. McKay noted that she spends much of her time visiting the schools and meeting with principals, assistant principals, talking to teachers and students. She remarked how good it is to see the creative and innovative work they are doing. The iLab was crowded with students engaged in learning. Students are doing work that is extraordinary.

1.2.3

Dr. McKay congratulated all the students, coaches, parents, athletes and the whole athletic department who completed a great fall season. The girls swim team won their third straight Section 1 team title. In addition, Greeley is sending 11 swimmers to the New York State High School Championships in Ithaca, NY on November 21 and 22.

2.

Organization

2.1

Draft Revision to Policy 0125 Wellness

Victoria Tipp introduced the revisions brought to the policy committee by the Wellness Committee. The Wellness Committee, including school nurses, support awareness of the bad affects of sugars and suggest even birthday celebrations should be non-food celebrations. Board members expressed that it is hard to imagine a celebration without food and felt the suggested changes a bit extreme. They asked for community input and asked John Chow to invite the Wellness Committee to discuss changes at a board meeting.

2.2

Victoria Tipp gave a first reading to the Draft Revisions to Policy 5090 Student Residence.

2.3

Victoria Tipp gave a first reading to the Draft Revisions to Policy 5085 Student Records.

3.

Approvals

3.1

Warren Messner moved to approve the Minutes of October 8, 2014. Alyson Gardner 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":

Pamela Lungen.

Request for Parental Leave of Absence:

Ms. Renee Mattiello, Teacher of Elementary Education, Westorchard Elementary School, effective November 26, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

Appointment: Probationary

Ms. Alexandra Brown, Guidance Counselor, Robert E. Bell Middle School, effective October 30, 2014, Step 1, C(BA+60) with Masters, $76,236, prorated (includes 3 days out of the 10% guidance stipend).

Appointment: Regular Substitute

Mr. Mark Nowak, Regular Substitute Teacher of Science, Horace Greeley High School, effective August 28, 2014 through June 30, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 1, D(BA+90) with Masters, $81,858.

Ms. Elaine Juran, Regular Substitute Teacher of Elementary Education, Westorchard Elementary School, effective October 3, 2014 through June 30, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 1, B(BA+45) with Masters, $71,192, prorated.

Appointment: Part Time

Ms. Shannon Pezzullo, (.04) Teacher of Elementary Education to provide Academic Intervention Services as per the Teachers' Contract, Roaring Brook Elementary School, Roaring Brook Elementary School, effective November 3, 2014 through May 4, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 1, B(BA+45) with Masters, $59.33/hour.

Ms. Inge Jamison-Zamperlin, (.04) Teacher of Elementary Education to provide Academic Intervention Services as per the Teachers' Contract, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, effective November 3, 2014 through May 4, 2015 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), Step 1, A(BA), $52.36/hour.

Appointment: Teaching Assistant

Ms. Maija Cekic, Teaching Assistant, Horace Greeley High School, effective October 8, 2014, $21,256, prorated.

Victoria Tipp moved to approve the recommendations. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

4.2

Non-instructional

Dr. McKay made the following recommendation:

Retirement:

Juan Lesende - Maintenance Laborer, retiring effective December 30, 2014.

Victoria Tipp moved to approve the recommendation. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Board members expressed their appreciation for his service.

5.

Recommended Action: Other

5.1

Jeffrey Mester moved to approve CSE Summaries reported to the Board on November 3, 2014. Alyson Gardner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.2

Alyson Gardner moved to approve contract with Ardsley Union Free School District for educational services for one student in the AMS SC-Self-Contained 9-1-3 program for the 2014-15 school year for the sum of $50,644 plus additional services in the amount of $5,940. Jeffrey Mester seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

5.3

Warren Messner moved to approve three contracts with Pleasantville Union Free School District for educational services for three students for the 2014-15 school year for the Individual Support Program for a base tuition of $81,950 plus additional services per each of the attached individual contracts at approximate totals of $99,800; $85,100; and $86,474 respectively. The motion passed unanimously.

6.

Facilities

Jeffrey Mester reported on Grafflin and Bell board facility tours. Buildings are in great shape. He also noted that Artificial Turf is on track again with approval from DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) of a pervious rather than impervious surface.

7.

Financials

7.1

Victoria Tipp moved to accept the Claims Auditor Report - September 30, 2014. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

8.

Communications

9.

President Visser gave Notice of Future Meetings -

Wednesday, November 12, 2014, walking the Bike Path with Town and School Boards at 8:00 a.m.

Thursday, November 13, 2014, Learning Walk at Grafflin, 8:30 a.m.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at Education Center, 8:00 a.m.

Special Election for Board members to vote for vacancy on Putnam Northern Westchester Board of Cooperative Services.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014, at Horace Greeley High School, 7:30 p.m.

Presentation:

High School Teaching and Learning

10.

Adjournment

Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn at 9:50 p.m. Alyson Gardner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Administrative Asst. to Superintendent

Karen Visser, Board President

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