Chappaqua Central School District
Minutes March 11, 2019
OFFICIAL MINUTES
CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Wednesday, March 11, 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
Heidi McCarthy, Director of Special Education & Related Services
Josh Culwell-Block, Director of Technology & Innovation
Liisa Elsner, District Clerk
President Warren Messner called for a motion to convene the public meeting at 7:42 pm.
Motioned by Jeffrey Mester to convene the public meeting at 7:42 pm. Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson. Motion carried 5-0.
1. Information Business Affairs
1.1 President’s Report – President Messner talked about the success of the recent Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund Gala and congratulated Mike DeBellis and Kelly Mofield on being honored. The event was a great success and Mr. Messner thanked all involved for the important work they do. He went on to mention that there will be an informational event on 3/13 at 7:00 pm at Bell for people who are interested in running for either school board or the Chappaqua Library board. Finally he invited Ms. Tipp to speak about the recent Lower Hudson Education Coalition (LHEC) legislative forum. Ms. Tipp gave the Board and community an update on the forum and the Governor’s pending budget and its effect on school districts in the state.
1.2 Superintendent’s Report
Presentations: Special Education, Curriculum, Technology Budget Presentations
Dr. McCarthy (Special Education), Dr. Pease (Curriculum) and Mr. Block (Technology) gave detailed presentations of their 2019-20 budgets, also highlighting the District’s efforts and successes in the current year and where they plan to progress in the 2019-20 school year. Following Dr. McCarthy’s presentation, the Board heard from a student who described his own experience and success within the District.
2. Committee Reports
Facilities: Jeff Mester indicated that the cause of some of the recent delays in the bond projects can be attributed to communication delays between architects and designers. John Chow indicated that the District hopes to have the takeover agreement from Dobtol’s surety company, Bondex, by March 12 and to be able to put it on the March 20th agenda.
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 March 6, 2019 Board Meeting
Motioned by Victoria Tipp to accept Item 3.1 as stated above. Seconded by Jeffrey Mester. Motion carried 5-0.
4. Recommended Action: Personnel
4.1 Instructional
4.2 Non-Instructional
5. Recommended Action: Other
5.1 CSE Summaries (2018-19 School Year) reported to the Board on March 11, 2019.
5.2 CSE Summaries (2019-20 School Year) reported to the Board on March 11, 2019.
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson 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 Bid Award Recommendation #B2019-2: Graduation Tent and Chair Rental– recommended award to Cantele Tent Rentals, in the amount of $23,336.80.
Motioned by Warren Messner to approve Item 5.3 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
5.4 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves Bid Award Renewal Recommendation #B2018-2: Construction Labor & Materials – recommended award to Anthony M. Notaro Plumbing & Contracting, effective March 15 2019 to March 14, 2020, for various hourly rates as stated.
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Item 5.4 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
5.5 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Agreement for Services with Apple, Inc., for an Apple Professional Learning Specialist to support the District’s defined learning goals during the 2019-20 school year for two 2-day engagements at a rate of $4,500.00 per engagement, and four 3-day engagements at a rate of $6,500.00 per engagement, not to exceed $35,000.00, and authorizes the Board President to execute this agreement.
Motioned by Warren Messner to approve Item 5.5 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
5.6 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education proposes that the following amended 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 be 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.) No budget increase is called for in this proposition.”
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. No budget increase is called for in this proposition.”
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 Warren Messner to approve Item 5.6 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
5.7 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Chappaqua Central School District, Westchester County, New York, hereby authorizes and directs the District Clerk to give notice to the qualified voters of the School District of the Annual Public Hearing on the Budget and Annual Meeting, School District Election, Library Election and Vote, as follows:
NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET, ANNUAL MEETING,
SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, LIBRARY ELECTION AND VOTE
Motioned by Warren Messner to approve Item 5.7 as stated above. Seconded by Holly McCall. Motion carried 5-0.
6. Facilities
7. Financials
7.1 Appropriation Status Report – February 2019
7.2 Revenue Status Report – February 2019
Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to accept Items 7.1 and 7.2 as stated above. Seconded by Victoria Tipp. Motion carried 5-0.
8. Notice of Future Meetings
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 7:30 pm
Athletics/Operations, Maintenance Budget Presentations
Horace Greeley High School – Academic Commons
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 7:30 pm
Non-Instructional/Revenue/Tax Rates/Contingency Budget Presentations
Horace Greeley High School – Academic Commons
8. Adjournment
Motioned by Holly McCall to adjourn the meeting at 10:18 pm. Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson. Motion carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Liisa Elsner
District Clerk / Secretary to the Superintendent
/lke