The regular meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Monday, January 23, 2006, at Liberty Elementary School, Liberty Township.  The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Glenn Williams, President.  A statement was read that adequate notice of the meeting had been given in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

 

Flag Salute.

 

ROLL CALL:

 

Present: Helene Armstrong, Susan Cullen, Amy Dieteman, Peggy Faulborn, Robert Jones, Thomas Webster, and Glenn Williams.

 

Absent: Joe Mahal and Cynthia Russo.

 

There were 70 members of the public in attendance.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the minutes from November 14, 2005, November 28, 2005 as amended and December 12, 2005 as amended.

Motion carried in a voice vote.

(Faulborn – abstained from December 12, 2005 minutes)

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the executive session minutes from October 24, 2005 as amended and December 12, 2005 as amended.

Motion carried in a voice vote.

(Faulborn – abstained from December 12, 2005 executive session minutes)

(Williams – abstained from December 12, 2005 executive session minutes)

 

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to accept the Financial Report of the Secretary and Treasurer for the months ending November 30, 2005 and December 31, 2005, as per copies attached and to certify that as of November 30, 2005 and December 31, 2005, after review of the Secretary’s monthly financial reports (appropriations section) and upon consultation with the appropriate district officials, that to the best of my knowledge, no major account or fund has been overexpended in violation of NJAC 6:20-2.12(e) and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the bills from November 29, 2005 to January 23, 2005 in the amount of $3,650,476.54. (Excluding check #18734 to ASCD).

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the cafeteria bills from November 29, 2005 to January 23, 2006 in the amount of $35,787.39.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Jason Bing, Superintendent, introduced the awards.

 

Glenn Williams, Board President, congratulated all the award recipients on behalf of the Board of Education.

 

Jason Bing, Superintendent, commented on the following:

 

·        Reported on curriculum articulation activities among the cluster members.

 

Noreen Lishak, Director of Curriculum and Special Services, reported on the following curriculum:

 

·        The math curriculum.

·        Alignment of social studies curriculum.

·        US history grant writing team.

·        Parent workshops.

 

Public comment:

 

William Vonder Haar, Liberty resident, recommended ‘Study Island’.

 

William Vonder Haar asked about a budget transfer.

 

14.1    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the following Finance/Facilities/Transportation items 14.1.1 through 14.1.10.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote.

 

14.1.1                  Approve a new bus stop at 55 Hope Road in Liberty Township.

 

14.1.2                  Accept the Fiscal Year 2006 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA-B) grant funds as listed:

 

Basic     $282,980

Preschool    9,144

          Total     $292,124

 

14.1.3                  Affirm the following budget transfers for November 22, 2005 to December 7, 2005:

 

From Account                                        To Account                                                             Amount

11-000-219-104 CST Salary                   11-000-218-104 Guidance Salary                           $10,000

11-000-223-104 Prof Dev Supvsr.         11-000-218-104 Guidance Salary                           $  2,000

11-000-221-104 Curriculum Salary        11-000-218-104 Guidance Salary                           $  4,000

11-000-100-562 Special Educ Tuition    10-000-100-561 Charter School Tuition                $28,891

12-000-400-450 Capital Renovations    11-000-230-339 Professional Services                   $12,000

11-000-100-562 Special Educ Tuition    11-000-230-530 Communications                          $  2,000

11-000-100-562 Special Educ Tuition    11-000-240-104 Principal Salary                            $  4,733

11-000-100-562 Special Educ Tuition    11-000-218-104 Guidance Salary                           $  2,000

11-000-100-562 Special Educ Tuition    11-000-230-530 Communications                          $  2,600

11-000-270-511 Transportation             11-000-252-320 Technical Services                        $  3,250

 

14.1.4                  Adopt the following resolution for participation in the CLASS account of the Municipal Investors Service Corporation (MBIA).

 

Resolution of the governing body of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education authorizing the execution and delivery of Exhibit D Certificate of Participation of the Amended and Restated No. 2 Participation Agreement among the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education, Bank of America, as Agent Custodian and CLASS New Jersey offered through MBIA Municipal Investors Service Corporation, as Program Administrator, regarding the investment of certain funds of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education and certain other matters relating thereto.

 

Whereas, the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education, wishes to invest certain of its available funds in cooperation with other local units pursuant to the Amended and Restated Participation Agreement dated March 15, 1994.

 

Now, therefore, it is hereby resolved as follows:

The Great Meadows Regional Board of Education, is herby authorized to execute and deliver the Certificate of Participation in the name of and on behalf of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education.

 

14.1.5                  Appoint Ruth Fanjoy, Business Administrator, as Great Meadows Regional School District purchasing agent and, as Ruth Fanjoy is a Qualified Purchasing Agent, that the Great Meadows Regional School District bid threshold be set at $29,000 and that Ruth Fanjoy be authorized to award contracts, as directed by the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education, that are in the aggregate less than 15% of the bid threshold (currently $4,350), without soliciting competitive quotations and that Ruth Fanjoy be authorized to award contracts, as directed by the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education, that are in the aggregate more than 15% of the bid threshold (currently $4,350), but less than the bid threshold of $29,000, by soliciting competitive quotations.

 

14.1.6                  Award a temporary student transportation contract to First Student, Inc. for route Q-TempHacks for $79.95 per day, with a mileage adjust amount of $1.95, for approximately 30 days, for a convalescing student who is unable to board a regular bus.

 

Quotations Requested          Received          Mileage Adjustment

      First Student                 $79.95 per day          $1.95

      Sussex County Co-op           no quote

      Snyder Bus Service            no quote

 

14.1.7                  Award a transportation contract to First Student, Inc. for route Q-C8 for $97.28 per day, with a mileage adjustment amount of $1.95, from January 17, 2006 to June 30, 2006 for a total of $9,338.88.

 

Quotations Requested          Received          Mileage Adjustment

      First Student                 $97.28 per day          $1.95

      Sussex County Co-op           no quote

      Snyder Bus Service            no quote

      A. Morris Scott Bus Co.       no quote

 

14.1.8                  Approve a joint transportation agreement with Allamuchy Board of Education to transport two Great Meadows Regional students to Hackettstown High School and St. Mary’s, in the amount of  $1,472.58.

 

14.1.9                  Approve the plans for the reproofing and flashing of the 1972 section of the Liberty School to be submitted, to the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey School Construction Corporation.

 

14.1.10             Approve the plans for renovations in the existing well pit of the Liberty School to be submitted, to the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey School Construction Corporation.

 

14.2    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the following Personnel items 14.2.1 through 14.2.3. (Tabled 14.2.4 until after executive session).

 

Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote.

 

14.2.1                  Approve the following substitutes for the 2005-2006 school year:

 

Rosemarie McMenamion – K-8

Harry Noble – K-9

Theresa Acker – Nurse

 

14.2.2                  Motion to approve the following personnel for stipends at the rate of $30 per hour as per the current negotiated contract:

 

William Nutt – Chaperoning Battle of the Minds teams

2 hours x $30 per hour = $60

 

Amy Fancher – Prepared students for the 6th grade Debate Team 

14 hours x $30 per hour = $420

 

John Skodocek – Prepared students for the 6th grade Debate Team

14 hours x $30 per hour = $420

 

William Nutt –Prepared students for the 7/8 grade Debate Team

8 hours x $30 per hour = $240

 

Julie Skoldberg – Case management, IEP, Evaluation meeting

10 hours x $30 per hour = $300

 

14.2.3                  Approve a stipend for Jan Romanczyk for homebound instruction of a Great Meadows Regional student for one hour per day, five days per week, at $30 per hour, during the period January 18, 2006 to January 23, 2006 or until the student is deemed medically able to return to school.

 

14.2.4                  Tabled until after executive session.

 

14.3    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Helene Armstrong, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the following Curriculum item 14.3.1

 

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

14.3.1                  Approve the following 1st session after-school clubs for 8 sessions x 10 weeks x $30 per hour = a total of $2,400 at no cost to the Board:

 

Great Meadows Middle School

Clay Club                 Advisor:  Maggie Horsey

CSI:  Great Meadows       Advisor:  Bill Nutt

Sports Club               Advisor:  Jim Bechtel

Tech Time                 Advisor:  Dean Tshudy

 

Liberty School

Board games               Advisor:  Nancy Cole

Newspaper                 Advisor:  Nancy Cole

 

Central School

Super Science             Advisor:  Jennifer Hypes

Case of the Missing Puppy Advisor:  Helene Palestri

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, whereas, the Board must consider matters involving personnel, the deliberation of such matters may be held in private under the Open Public Meeting Act NJSA 10:4-6, the Board will adjourn to Executive Session at 8:15 PM to discuss the above mentioned matter, to the exclusion of all others.  If any action results, it will be taken following the re-entry into regular session.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to re-enter regular session at 8:35 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Bob Jones, to affirm the termination of employment for Gary Halstead, Custodian, effective January 31, 2006.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Glenn Williams recused himself and handed the gavel to Amy Deiteman, Vice-President, at 8:45 PM.

 

Amy Dieteman made a statement concerning teacher contract negotiations.

 

William Vonder Haar recommended that the public read the expired teacher contract.

 

Jennifer Cassini commented that Great Meadows teachers did not seem like unreasonable people.

 

John Skodocek compared Great Meadows progress on negotiations with other districts in the county.

 

Glenn Williams returned to his seat and was handed the gavel at 8:50 PM.

 

Karen Nichols voiced her concern that fire alarms could not be heard in some Liberty School classrooms.

 

Bob Jones reported that Hackettstown School District is developing a uniform teacher evaluation model, writing a world language grant and has begun teaching web design techniques to its students.

 

Glenn Williams introduced John Cummins, the Independence Township representative to the school board.

 

Susan Cullen listed the issues before the Independence Township committee at their last meeting.

 

John Fisher, the Liberty Township representative to the school board, was recognized.

 

Tom Webster reported that the Liberty Township meeting of January 5, 2006 was ceremonial.  The mayor and commission members were sworn in.

 

Susan Cullen noted a newspaper article concerning Warren County Technical School tuition that may soon be payable by local school districts.

 

Motion by Bob Jones, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to adjourn at 9:00 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Ruth Fanjoy

Board Secretary