Minutes March 23, 2022

OFFICIAL MINUTES

CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION

Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 7:30 PM
Horace Greeley High School - Auditorium

Present:  Board of Education

Hilary Grasso, President

Warren Messner, Vice President

Cailee Hwang

Jane Kimmel Shepardson

Absent: Alyson Gardner

Staff Members:

Christine Ackerman, Superintendent of Schools

Adam Pease, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction

Tony Sinanis, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources & Leadership Development

Jamie Edelman, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services

Andrew Lennon, Assistant Superintendent for Business (via Zoom)

Josh Culwell-Block, Director of Technology, Innovation & Mathematics

Geoff Curtis, Director of Physical Education, Health & Athletics

Joe Gramando, Director of Facilities, Operations & Maintenance

David Hayes, Public Relations Assistant

Liisa Elsner, District Clerk

President Grasso called for a motion to open the meeting.

Motioned by Warren Messner to open the meeting at 6:30 pm.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.  Board Member Alyson Gardner was absent.

Motioned by Warren Messner to appoint Dr. Ackerman as District Clerk Pro Tempore.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

Motioned by Warren Messner to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss litigation, contract negotiations, the employment history of particular persons, matters of health and safety and to receive advice from counsel at 6:30 pm.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to reconvene the public meeting at 7:58 pm.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

1.2.1    Horace Greeley High School Boys Swim Team Recognition

1.       Information Business Affairs

1.1    President’s Report – President Grasso gave her report noting the following:

  • Congratulating the HG Boys Swim Team.
  • Noting that parents have expressed concerns regarding the 8th grade math program and that there will be a presentation regarding this program at the May 4th Board meeting, at which point there will be data and feedback from students and teachers participating in the program during the current school year.
  • An email will go out with dates for Board hosted public forums regarding the District’s equity work.  Forums will also be held for students and faculty.

1.2    Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Ackerman gave her Community Update noting the following:

  • Vaccination Update
  • Positive Covid cases in the District
  • Hot lunches should resume in the Elementary and Middle schools on April 4
  • Dr. Pease gave a summary of the March 18th Superintendent Conference Day
  • Dr. Sinanis gave an update on the Insight training happening in the District
  • Ms. Edelman gave an update on the Special Education Strategic Plan

Presentation:    Operations & Maintenance/Non-Instructional/Revenue/Tax Rates/Contingency Budget Presentations

2.       Committee Reports

Wellness:  Ms. Edelman reported that the committee met on March 22 and further discussed plans for a District-wide wellness day in the 2022-23 school year.

Facilities:  Ms. Hwang & Mr. Lennon reported on the recent committee meeting noting that our capital projects complete and nearly closed out financially and that the HG Sustainability Center should be complete in May 22, and there is continuing discussion regarding the Bell cafeteria.

HG Sports Boosters:  Ms. Shepardson noted that the Boosters spoke about the success of the Boys Swim team, some new programs/webinars surrounding nutrition in which our students participated, the successful beginning of the spring sports programs and some ideas about community events.

Communications Advisory Committee:  Ms. Shepardson reported on the recent meeting with the three community members of the Advisory Committee and how helpful it is to have their input and feedback – noting that feedback on the Covid communications has been very positive.  She also noted that the committee discussed communications regarding the District’s Strategic Plan.

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 accepts the Minutes of the March 14, 2022 Special Board Meeting.

3.2    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the Minutes of the March 15, 2022 Board Meeting.

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to accept Items 3.1 and 3.2 as stated above.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

4.      Recommended Action:   Personnel 

Dr. Ackerman recommended Item 4.1 as stated below.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

4.1    Instructional

Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that, the Board of Education hereby appoints the individual listed as a per diem substitute at the Building Specific substitute teacher rate:

Samantha LaBarbera – Douglas Grafflin Elementary School

Resignation:
Ms. Diana Goldberg, Teacher of Science, Seven Bridges Middle School, effective June 30, 2022.

Request for Extension of Childcare Leave of Absence:
Ms. Marina Comblo, Teacher of Elementary Education, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School, effective August 31, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

Request for Childcare Leave of Absence:
Ms. Kathryn Ottomanelli, Teacher of Art, Horace Greeley School, effective March 8, 2022 through April 29, 2022.

Appointment: Coaching - Effective March 14, 2022 through May 31, 2022

Sport Level Coach Step
Track Varsity Assistant Daniel Bozzelli 1

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to approve Item 4.1 as stated above.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 4-0.

Dr. Ackerman recommended Item 4.2 as stated below. 

4.2    Non-Instructional   

Recommended Action:  Other
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby appoints Marian Waltzer to a clerical substitute assignment at the Education Center.  Her salary will be $25/hour, effective April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.

Termination:
Harald Schwab, Benefits Assistant at the Education Center, terminated effective at close of business on March 22, 2022. 

Appointments:
Kirk Peden, Teacher Aide at Robert E. Bell Middle School, 18.75 hours/week (Session), at $17/per hour, per COSA Contract, effective March 24, 2022.

Motioned by Hilary Grasso to approve Item 4.2 as stated above.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

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 (2021-22 School Year) reported to the Board on March 23, 2022.

5.2    CSE Summaries (2022-23 School Year) reported to the Board on March 23, 2022.

5.3    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 2022 Annual Public Hearing on the Budget and Annual Meeting, School District Election, Library Election and Vote, as follows:

NOTICE OF 2022 ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET, ANNUAL MEETING, SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, LIBRARY ELECTION AND VOTE

5.4    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves revised Bid Award Recommendation #B2022-01:  Purchase of musical instruments and equipment including parts and materials, rental and purchase of sound, video and lighting equipment, servicing sound, video and lighting to The Muzic Store, Inc., for the 2021-22 school year, at various rates.

5.5    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the appointment of Mario Martinez, Suzanne Rota and James Skoog to the District-wide Health & Safety Committee.

5.6    WHEREAS, the District owns the attached list of items which are no longer useful or necessary for school district purposes and of no value to the School District; 
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board hereby declares such items to be surplus property and of no value to the School District and authorizes the disposal of such equipment in a prudent manner in accordance with law.

5.7    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an agreement with WSP USA Inc., for additional project support related to the Zauderer Subdivision project in relation to comments made by the New York  City Department of Environmental Protection and a request from the Town Engineer of New Castle, in an amount not to exceed $20,900.00, and authorizes the Board President to execute the agreement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves an increase to Purchase Order #202136, to cover the cost of this agreement, and authorizes the Board President to execute the increase document.

Tabled at March 2, 2022 Board Meeting

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to remove Item 5.7 as stated above from the table.  Seconded by Hilary Grasso.  Motion carried 4-0.

Motioned by Hilary Grasso to add Item 5.7 as stated above to the Consent Agenda.  Seconded by Jane Kimmel Shepardson.  Motion carried 4-0.

Motioned by Hilary Grasso to approve Items 5.1 through 5.7 as stated above.  Seconded by Warren Messner.  Motion carried 4-0.

6.    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education acknowledges the following contracts approved by the Superintendent, per Board Policy 6085 – Purchasing and Bidding:

6.1    Licensing & Maintenance Fee agreement with Educational Data Services, for the 2022-23 school year.

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to acknowledge Item 6.1 as stated above.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

7.      Facilities 

8.      Financials

8.1    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby acknowledges receipt of the Claims Auditor’s Report for February 2022.

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to acknowledge receipt of Item 8.1 as stated above.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

9.      Notice of Future Meetings

Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 7:30 pm
Budget Adoption
Horace Greeley High School – Auditorium

Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 9:00 am
BOCES Budget/Election
Education Center – Board Room

10.      Adjournment 

Motioned by Jane Kimmel Shepardson to adjourn the meeting at 9:22 pm.  Seconded by Cailee Hwang.  Motion carried 4-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Liisa Elsner
District Clerk / Secretary to the Superintendent

/lke