Chappaqua Central School District
Minutes March 6, 2019
OFFICIAL MINUTES
CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Horace Greeley High School - Academic Commons
Present: Board of Education
Warren Messner, President
Jane Kimmel Shepardson, Vice President
Holly McCall
Jeffrey Mester
Victoria Tipp
Staff Members:
Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of Schools
John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Adam Pease, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Tony Sinanis, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources & Leadership Development
Jamie Edelman, Director of K-12 Literacy
Liisa Elsner, District Clerk
President Warren Messner called for a motion to convene the public meeting at 7:46 pm.
Motioned by Victoria Tipp to convene the public meeting at 7:46 pm. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
1. Information Business Affairs
1.1.1 President’s Report – President Messner welcomed everyone to the meeting and reminded the Board and Community that the change to the Board’s 2018-19 calendar is that the movement of the meeting previously scheduled for March 13 to March 11.
1.1.2 Board of Education 2018-19 Meeting Calendar – Revision
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education adopts the revised 2018-19 Board of Education Meeting Calendar.
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Item 1.1.1 as amended above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
1.2 Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Ackerman began by thanking Jason Semo for his work on the opening of the new Fitness Center at Greeley. She also thanked Twin Oaks and the Sports Boosters for their generosity and partnership. She went on to congratulate the 15 Greeley seniors who have been named as National Merit Scholar Finalists. She then congratulated the 13 Greeley seniors whose art is featured at an exhibition at the Katonah Museum of Art. She also offered congratulations to our winter sports teams for their success, hard work and dedication. Dr. Ackerman then asked Adam Pease to talk a little bit about the proposed Ecolab project at Greeley. Dr. Pease relayed that we are in the beginning stages and are in the process of visiting schools and colleges that have ecolabs, greenhouses, rooftop gardens etc. to see what different programs and models look like. Dr. Pease indicated that there is great excitement around such a project and that it would be a boost to our science program.
Presentations:
Kindergarten Screening Process Update – Jamie Edelman and Adam Pease presented an
update on our kindergarten screening process, describing our current/past process and changes that are being made. One of the benefits of proposed changes is the ability to communicate quickly and effectively with parents and giving them immediate feedback. Ms. Edelman stressed that the District does not have minimum expectations for incoming kindergarteners – that the screening process is only to see where each child is developmentally.
Superintendent’s Budget Proposal – Dr. Ackerman and John Chow gave an overview of the different components of the proposed 2019-20 budget and indicated that more granular details will be shared with the component budget presentations in the coming weeks.
2. Committee Reports
Facilities Committee: Jeff Mester reported on the following three items:
- Bondex – we are expecting to have an agreement with Bondex (the surety company for Dobtol Construction) by either the 3/11 or 3/20 meeting.
- Zauderer approval – the plan should be approved by the Town at their 3/19 meeting.
- Geothermal – 7 Bridges has been selected as a candidate for a NYS Geothermal project. A study, at a cost of $170,000 has been proposed which is under consideration.
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 Accept Minutes of February 13, 2019 Board Meeting
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to accept Item 3.1 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
3.2 Policy #6030: District Use of Credit Card – 2nd Reading
3.3 Policy #7030: Smoking and Tobacco Use Prohibition – 2nd Reading & Adoption
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby adopts Policy #7030: Smoking and Tobacco Use Prohibition.
Motioned by Victoria Tipp to adopt Item 3.3 (Policy #7030) as stated above. Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson. Motion carried 5-0.
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:
Monica Dirmeikis
Karen Ginsbern
Gerald Murphy
Katyayini Ostor
Karen Perelman
Annie Silverman
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individual listed as a Building Specific substitute teacher for the 2018/2019 school year:
Samantha Golub – Roaring Brook Elementary School (effective March 7, 2019)
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individual listed as a paid intern at the daily rate of $85.00 for the 2018/2019 school year through the PNW BOCES Internship Program:
Mariammal Chelliah
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individual listed as a student teacher, intern and/or classroom observer for the 2018/2019 school year:
Hana Rossi
Appointment: Long-term Substitute
Ms. Jessica Inglis, Teacher of Special Education, Horace Greeley High School, effective February 25, 2019 through June 30, 2019 (or earlier at the discretion of the Board of Education), $406.73, per diem.
Resignation for Purposes of Retirement:
Ms. Maureen Callan, Teacher of Music, Horace Greeley High School, effective June 30, 2019.
Appointment: Coaching - Effective March 7, 2019 through May 31, 2019
| Name | Position | Sport | Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Filice | Asst. Varsity | Baseball | 3 |
| Ryan Spillane | Junior Varsity | Baseball | 1 |
| Kimberly Lindner | Asst. Varsity (.5) | Track & Field | 1 |
| Michael Barnow | Asst. Varsity (.5) | Track & Field | 1 |
| Kristin McGurl | Asst. Varsity | Girls Lacrosse | 1 |
| Angela Russo | Modified – Bell | Girls Lacrosse | 3 |
Motioned by Jeffrey Mester 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
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby amends the appointment of Rita Campana, Senior Office Assistant – Automated Systems, Horace Greeley High School, to
12 months/35 hours week, effective March 7, 2019.
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby rescinds the appointment of Lisa Torchia, Office Assistant-Automated Systems at Horace Greeley High School, 12 months/35 hours week, effective March 4, 2019.
Motioned by Jeffrey Mester to approve Item 4.2 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
5. Recommended Action: Other
5.1 CSE Summaries (2018-19 School Year) reported to the Board on March 6, 2019.
5.2 CSE Summaries (2019-20 School Year) reported to the Board on March 6, 2019.
Motioned by Victoria Tipp to approve Items 5.1 and 5.2 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
5.3 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Agreement for Services with Mary Connolly, for Health Curriculum Professional Development, for school year 2018-19, at a rate of $125.00 per hour, not to exceed 20 hours, and authorizes the Board President to execute this agreement.
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Item 5.3 as stated above. Seconded by Warren Messner. Motion carried 5-0.
5.4 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a contract for health and welfare services with the Somers Central School District for 1 student at the rate of $1,193.06 per student for the 2018-19 school year and authorizes the President, Superintendent and District Clerk to execute the contract.
5.5 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a contract for health and welfare services with the Harrison Central School District for 3 students at the rate of $1,104.33 per student for the 2018-19 school year and authorizes the Superintendent to execute the contract.
5.6 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a contract for health and welfare services with the Ossining Union Free School District for 2 students at the rate of $879.37 per student for the 2018-19 school year and authorizes the Superintendent to execute the contract.
Motioned by Jeffrey Mester to approve Items 5.4 through 5.6 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
5.7 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Agreement between the Chappaqua Central School District and The County of Westchester for the use of electronic voting machines, including the technicians, and privacy booths for the May 21, 2019 Annual Vote, and authorizes the Board President to execute this agreement.
Motioned by Warren Messner to approve Item 5.7 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
5.8 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Agreement between the Chappaqua Central School District and Liffey’s Moving & Storage dated for the delivery and retrieval of the voting machines and privacy booths for the May 21, 2019 Annual Budget Vote and Election.
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Item 5.8 as stated above. Seconded by Jeffrey Mester. Motion carried 4-1. Board members Shepardson, McCall, Mester and Tipp voted “aye.” Board President Messner voted “nay.”
5.9 WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District (the “Board of Education”) is proposing a project consisting of certain alterations, reconstruction and renovations, including replacement of equipment, at the Robert E. Bell Middle cafeteria, including incidental costs related thereto (the “Proposed Action”); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education proposes to proceed with the Proposed Action and wishes to take all actions necessary in connection therewith in order to comply with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has reviewed the Proposed Action with respect to the Type II criteria set forth in the SEQRA Regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617.5 and has determined that the Proposed Action is a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(1) [maintenance or repair involving no substantial changes in the structure or facility] and/or (8) [routine activities of educational institutions] of the SEQRA Regulations;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District determines that the Proposed Action, including each and all of the components, is a Type II Action pursuant to §617.5(c)(1) and/or (8) of the SEQRA Regulations and will not have any significant environmental impacts.
The Contact Person for the Chappaqua Central School District is: John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business.
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Item 5.9 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
5.10 WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District is planning a project involving the renovation of the Cafeteria and Servery at the Robert E. Bell Middle School, located at 50 Senter Street, Chappaqua, NY;
WHEREAS, the Board wishes to comply with the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); and
WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed the components, phases and aspects of the Proposed Project; and
WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed the Proposed Project with respect to the Type II criteria set forth in the SEQRA Regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617.5 and has determined that the Proposed Project is a Type II Action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(1) & (2) of the SEQRA Regulations;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District is hereby designated lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for the proposed project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District hereby determines that the Proposed Project is a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c) (1) & (2) of the SEQRA Regulations and will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and that no further review of the Proposed Project is required.
617.5 ( c ) (1) states:
"maintenance or repair involving no substantial change in an existing structure or facility;"
617.5 ( c ) (2) states:
“replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure or facility, in kind, on the same site, including upgrading buildings to meet building or fire codes, unless such action meets or exceeds any of the thresholds in section 617.4 of this Part;”
Motioned by Victoria Tipp to approve Item 5.10 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
5.11 WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District (the “Board of Education”) is proposing a project consisting of certain safety and security improvements at the Robert E. Bell and Seven Bridges Middle Schools and Douglas Grafflin, Roaring Brook and Westorchard Elementary Schools, including but not limited to building access/entrance renovations and reconstruction, installation, repair and upgrades of building access controls and security measures and incidental costs related thereto (the “Proposed Action”); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education proposes to proceed with the Proposed Action and wishes to take all actions necessary in connection therewith in order to comply with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has reviewed the Proposed Action with respect to the Type II criteria set forth in the SEQRA Regulations at 6 NYCRR Part 617.5 and has determined that the Proposed Action is a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(1) [maintenance or repair involving no substantial changes in the structure or facility] and/or (8) [routine activities of educational institutions] of the SEQRA Regulations;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District determines that the Proposed Action at the Middle Schools and Elementary Schools, including each and all of the components, is a Type II Action pursuant to §617.5(c)(1) and/or (8) of the SEQRA Regulations and will not have any significant environmental impacts.
The Contact Person for the Chappaqua Central School District is: John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business.
Motioned by Jeffrey Mester to approve Item 5.11 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
5.12 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education proposes that the following propositions be placed on the ballot at the Annual Meeting of the qualified voters of the Chappaqua Central School District, Westchester County, New York, to he conducted on May 21, 2019;
PROPOSITION – BELL SCHOOL CAFETERIA IMPROVEMENTS
“Shall the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District, Westchester County, New York be authorized to perform certain alteration, reconstruction and renovation work, including replacement of equipment at the cafeteria at the Robert E. Bell Middle School, including incidental expenses, at a maximum expenditure of $390,000, with the amount of up to $190,000 to be transferred from the Fund Balance in the School District Lunch Fund as of June 30, 2019 to the capital fund to pay for the costs of such project.” (The remaining amount will be paid through interfund transfers to the capital fund in the general fund budgets for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years.)
PROPOSITION – SAFETY AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
“Shall the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District, Westchester County, New York be authorized to perform certain safety and security alteration, reconstruction and improvements at the Robert E. Bell and Seven Bridges Middle Schools and Douglas Grafflin, Roaring Brook and Westorchard Elementary Schools, including but not limited to building access/entrance renovations and reconstruction, installation, repair and upgrades of building access controls and security measures, including incidental expenses, at a maximum expenditure of $1,350,000, with the amount of up to $1,350,000 to be transferred from the Unassigned Fund Balance for the 2018-2019 school year to the capital fund to pay for the costs of such project.”
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School District Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to include these propositions in the legal notice of the Annual Meeting of May 21, 2019, and to publish the legal notice in the Board designated newspapers of the District four times within the seven weeks prior to the Annual meeting.
Motioned by Victoria Tipp to approve Item 5.12 as amended above. Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson. Motion carried 5-0.
5.13 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby appoints Josh Culwell-Block to New Castle Community Media Center (NCCMC) for a two-year term beginning February 1, 2019 – May 31, 2021.
Motioned by Jeffrey Mester to approve Item 5.13 as stated above. Seconded by Warren Messner. Motion carried 5-0.
5.14 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a gift of $500.00 from Exxon Mobil courtesy of New Castle Auto Center, to Douglas Grafflin Elementary School as part of the Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance Program.
Motioned by Warren Messner to approve Item 5.14 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
5.15 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves a proposal from Johnson Controls for all materials and labor for project management, design engineering, technical installation and customer training to: 1)Furnish, install and wire 24 BACnet JCI Metasys network room sensors, 2) Furnish, install and wire 6 JCI Metasys MS-FEC Field Controllers, 3) Furnish, install and wire 2 JCI Metasys MS-IOM input/output modules, 4) Extend Communication Wiring to new panel, 5) Custom graphics created and installed at owner’s front-end operator workstation and 6) Commission and demonstrate to owner’s representative in the amount of $82,085.00 and authorizes the Board President to execute the agreement.
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Item 5.15 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
6. Facilities
7. Financials
7.1 Claims Auditor Report – January 2019
7.2 Treasurer’s Report – January 2019
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Items 7.1 and 7.2 as stated above. Seconded by Warren Messner. Motion carried 5-0.
8. Notice of Future Meetings
Monday, March 11, 2019 7:30 pm
Curriculum/Special Education/Technology Budget Presentations
Horace Greeley High School – Academic Commons
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 7:30 pm
Athletics/Operations, Maintenance Budget Presentations
Horace Greeley High School – Academic Commons
8. Adjournment
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to adjourn the meeting at 10:14 pm. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Liisa Elsner
District Clerk / Secretary to the Superintendent
/lke