The regular meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Monday, February 26, 2007, at the Great Meadows Middle School, Independence Township.  The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Robert Jones, 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, Jennifer Cassini, Maryann Citro, Peggy Faulborn, Robert Jones, Bernie O’Hara, and William Vonder Haar.

 

Absent: Susan Cullen and Joe Mahal.

 

There were 6 members of the public in attendance.

 

Motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the minutes from January 8, 2007.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the minutes from January 22, 2007.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Cassini abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the minutes from January 30, 2007.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Cassini, Jones, and O’Hara abstaining.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the executive session minutes from January 8, 2007.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Helene Armstrong, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the executive session minutes from January 22, 2007.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Cassini abstaining.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Maryann Citro, to accept the Financial Report of the Secretary and Treasurer for the months ending January 31, 2007, as per copies attached and to certify that as of January 31, 2007, 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 over expended 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 Helene Armstrong, to approve the bills from January 23, 2007 through February 26, 2007 in the amount of $3,057,148.15.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the cafeteria bills from January 23, 2007 through February 26, 2007 in the amount of $25,275.77.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Jason Bing, Superintendent’s Update.

 

Jason Bing gave the Curriculum Update.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

14.1    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to    approve the following Personnel & Buildings/Grounds/Transportation items 14.1.1 to 14.1.9.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote.

 

14.1.1                  Approve the dismissal of Robert Simmons and Steven Sylvester, Evening Custodians at Liberty School, effective January 26, 2007.

 

14.1.2                  Accept, with regret, the retirement of Karen Lund, Great Meadows Middle School Special Education teacher, effective July 1, 2007.

 

14.1.3                  Accept, with regret, the retirement of Barbara Miller, Central School BSI teacher, effective July 1, 2007.

 

14.1.4                  Approve the following as substitutes in the Great Meadows Regional School District for the 2006-2007 school year:

 

Ronald Franco – Teacher – all grade levels

Alicia Knight – Teacher – K-5 – elementary schools

Mary Noll – Nurse – all schools

14.1.5                  Approve the use of Great Meadows Middle School life skills room from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM, Monday through Friday beginning June 25, 2007 through August 31, 2007, to Musconetcong Valley Civic Association for their summer camp “bus stop” with a cost for custodian coverage on Fridays only of $20 per hour for a minimum of 3 hours = $60 for each Friday.

 

14.1.6                  Approve a stipend to Julie Skoldberg, Speech Correctionist at Central School and Great Meadows Middle School, for an extra 16 hours at $30 per hour for a total of $480.00 for IEP’s done during the 2006-2007 school year.

 

14.1.7                  Approve a stipend to Jan Romanczyk, Great Meadows Middle School 7th grade teacher, for Home Instruction of a 7th grader for 6 hours during the month of January, 2007, at $30 per hour = $180.00.

 

14.1.8                  Approve Kate Tibak, student at Centenary College, to complete her field observations of 6 hours at the Great Meadows Middle School in the 6th grade science classes.

 

14.1.9                  Approve Scott Ward, student at County College of Morris, to complete his field observations of 20 hours at the Great Meadows Middle School with Jim Bechtel in physical education.

 

14.2    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the following Finance/Policy items 14.2.1 through 14.2.10.

 

Motion by William Vonder Haar, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to amend item 14.2.2.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote to approve items 14.2.1 through 14.2.10 with amendment to item 14.2.2.

 

14.2.1                  Approve aide-in-lieu of transportation to a parent of a student attending Hilltop Country Day School in the amount of $826.00 pro-rated to $527.85 for the 2006-2007 school year.

 

14.2.2                  Approve the purchase of New Jersey School Board Association Critical Policies including a CD/Manual at the approximate cost of $130.

14.2.3                  Approve the continued services from Strauss Esmay for policy updates at the annual cost of approximately $2400.

 

14.2.4                  Accept the donation of office furniture from Picatinny Arsenal with the approximate value of $1,500.

 

14.2.5                  Accept the donation of fitness equipment to the Great Meadows Middle School from Lady Workout Express of Flanders with the approximate value of $30,000.

 

14.2.6                  Accept the donation of one Compaq computer with monitor and two HP printers with an approximate value of $500 from Donna LoBasso, Great Meadows Middle School parent.

 

14.2.7                  Approve a Regular Education Tuition Contract between Hackettstown Public Schools and Great Meadows Regional School District for the 2007-2008 school year for $4,985,200 - $239,190 (FY2004) = $4,746,010 at an estimated cost per pupil of $11,330 multiplied by an estimated average daily enrollment of 440 pupils.

 

14.2.8                  Approve a contract between Great Meadows Regional School District and Pediatric Speech Therapy of Blairstown, NJ at an estimated cost of $5,800.00 for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year.

 

14.2.9                  Approve a contract between Great Meadows Regional School District and New Jersey Specialized Child Study Team for testing one student for a cost of $1,200.00 during the 2006-2007 school year.

 

14.2.10             Approve the following budget transfers:

 

11-190-100-500-000-000 Repairs/Maintenance - to:

11-000-240-500-000-000 Purchased Services - $700.00  

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-190-100-500-000-000 Repairs/Maintenance – to:

11-000-240-600-000-001 Office Supplies - $100.00

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-190-100-500-000-000 Repairs/Maintenance – to:

11-000-240-600-000-002 Office Supplies - $200.00

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-190-100-500-000-000 Repairs/Maintenance – to:

11-000-240-600-000-003 Office Supplies - $200.00

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-190-100-500-000-000 Repairs/Maintenance – to:

11-000-240-800-000-001 Principal Dues-Misc - $80.00

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-190-100-500-000-000 Repairs/Maintenance – to:

11-000-240-800-000-002 Principal Dues-Misc - $80.00  

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-190-100-500-000-000 Repairs/Maintenance - to:

11-000-240-800-000-003 Principal Dues-Misc - $100.00

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-000-262-300-000-000 Purch/Tech Serv – to:

11-000-230-890-000-000 Admin Misc Exp - $2,900.00

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-000-262-300-000-000 Purch/Tech Serv – to:

11-000-230-590-000-000 Other Purch Srv - $2,500.00

S1701 Allowable Transfer for 2/1/07.

 

11-000-100-565-000-000 Tuition WCSSSD – to:

11-000-270-515-000-000 Spec Ed Trans - $ 20,945.45.   Special Education Transportation Needs.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Maryann Citro, whereas, the Board must consider matters involving litigation, 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 8:20 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 Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to re-enter regular session at 8:50 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to purchase the services of Vincent Yaniro of VYD, as recommended by the Great Meadows Regional School District’s counsel, at an hourly rate of $125, capping at $10,000, to prepare a response to the Deregionalization Feasibility Study developed by Liberty Township.

 

Roll Call Vote: Yes: Armstrong, Cassini, Citro, Faulborn, O’Hara, Jones.

No: Vonder Haar – motion carries.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to adjourn at 9:15 PM.

Motion carried in unanimous voice vote.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Julie Mumaw

Board Secretary