Minutes June 14, 2011

Date:

June 14, 2011

Time:

8:15 p.m.

Place:

Horace Greeley High School Commons

Present:

Board of Education
Janet Benton, President
Gregg Bresner, Vice President
Alyson Kiesel
Jeffrey Mester
Randall Katchis

Staff Members
Present:

Mr. John Chambers, Interim Superintendent

Dr. Lyn McKay, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum 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 Janet Benton convened the public session at 7:30 p.m. and moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of a legal issue with our attorneys, and a personnel matter.

At 8:20 p.m. Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene the public session. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Presentation: Special Report Personnel - hail and farewell

President Benton welcomed the community and stated that tonight we are following the district's tradition of saying farewell and paying tribute to retiring administrators and board members. We have three such individuals this year. She began by saying a few words about our Interim Superintendent John Chambers; noting that he often described his interim position as "building a bridge between former superintendent David Fleishman's service to that of our next 'real' superintendent". Janet went on to describe the many ways in which John has been a very real superintendent this past year doing very real work managing the budget process, working with CCT leaders, handling student incidents and snow days, and providing support for collaborative projects. He reached out to the community, mentored administrators and board members. She noted that he is smart, wise, funny, kind, and deeply caring about our work in Chappaqua.

On behalf of the administrators, Deputy Superintendent Lyn McKay also joined in praising John's leadership skills and his profound influence during the past year. Board members added their thanks and praise in spite of a number of difficult situations, not the least being the record snow storms and the passing of a beloved administrator. Each board member offered their personal thanks for John's many contributions, life lessons, and year of impressive service in the district.

John Chambers noted the selective nature of their appreciative comments. He commented that it was his privilege to work with this leadership team, quite possibly the strongest leadership team that he has ever worked with. Chappaqua has a magnificent set of schools with students, staff, parents, and administrators who are deeply committed to education in spite of the difficult year that we have just come through. Civility was maintained and so was the goal of what is best for Chappaqua students. He was grateful for the opportunity to serve here.

Vice President Jeffrey Mester presented gifts to Gregg Bresner and Janet Benton for their terms of service to the community.

Gregg has completed his three-year term on the board. Jeffrey Mester commented that although Gregg was known for his PowerPoint presentations on budget topics, board colleagues agreed that Gregg's legacy will be his dedication to the best education for the students. His fresh perspective on state mandates resonated in the community. Lyn McKay thanked Gregg for his insightful guidance on many issues in the district.

PTA President, Leslie Kuhn, also thanked Gregg and Janet for their years of service on the board, hard work, dedication and passion for service to the community. The PTA has established a new scholarship in memory of Tom Cardellichio. Donations were made on behalf of Gregg Bresner, John Chambers, and Janet Benton.

Jeffrey Mester noted that Janet Benton has completed her twelfth year of service on the board. Her hard work and experience will be missed. Her stewardship of the district and many accomplishments were underscored by fellow board members, administrators, and members of the community including Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and Chappaqua School Foundation President Michael Kaufman. Past board members, Susan Habermann and Lisa Davis, came to pay homage to her significant contributions in support of the education of the children of the district. Janet's knowledge of construction issues, finances, curriculum, nutrition, legislation, and communication along with her warmth and compassion and ability to listen have made her a tremendous asset to the Chappaqua community. In addition, Janet was accorded a special honor. She was nominated by her board colleagues for the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service, sponsored by New York States School Boards Association.

Gregg and Janet thanked everyone for the privilege of serving on the board, for support of colleagues, administrators, staff, community and parents.

1.

Information Business Affairs

Question and Comments on Report Items

2.

Organization

3.

Approvals

4.

Recommended Action: Personnel

Interim Superintendent John Chambers made the following recommendations:

5.

Recommended Action: Other

6.

Facilities

7.

Financials

Alyson Kiesel moved to accept the reports and approve the Bids for items 7.1-7.13

Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

8.

President Benton gave Notice of Future Meetings -

Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at Education Center, Retreat for new board members, 7:00 a.m.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at Horace Greeley, 8:15 p.m.

9.

Adjournment

At 9:48 p.m. President Janet Benton moved to adjourn. Gregg Bresner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.