The regular meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at the Great Meadows Middle School, Independence Township.  The meeting was called to order at 7:30 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: Richard Alexander, Jennifer Cassini, Maryann Citro, Peggy Faulborn, Robert Jones, Joe Mahal, Matthew Mowatt (arrived 7:50 PM), Bernie O’Hara, and William Vonder Haar.

 

Absent: None.

 

Jason Bing, Superintendent, and Julie Mumaw, Business Administrator were also in attendance.

 

There were 9 members of the public in attendance.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the minutes from January 14, 2008.

Motion carried in a voice vote with O’Hara abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the minutes from January 28, 2008.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Alexander and Faulborn abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the minutes from February 11, 2008.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Mahal and O’Hara abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the minutes from February 21, 2008.

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

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the minutes from February 25, 2008.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Faulborn abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the executive session minutes from January 14, 2008.

Motion carried in a voice vote with O’Hara abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the executive session minutes from February 25, 2008.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Faulborn abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Richard Alexander, to approve the bills from February 26, 2008 through March 25, 2008 in the amount of $1,930,977.52.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the cafeteria bills from February 26, 2008 through March 25, 2008 in the amount of $24,057.63.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Jason Bing, Superintendents Update.

 

14.1    Jason Bing, Superintendent, and Julie Mumaw, Business Administrator, presented the 2008-2009 Great Meadows Regional School District Budget.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

14.2    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Joe Mahal, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the following Personnel, Buildings/Grounds/Transportation items 14.2.1 to 14.2.7.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote.

 

14.2.1                  Approve Cheryl Zeliff as Instructional Aide in Central School effective March 26, 2008 through June 30, 2008 at an annual salary of $10,500.00 pro-rated to $3,248.56.

 

14.2.2                  Authorize the district to submit application for emergency hiring and applicant’s attestation that he/she has not been convicted of any disqualifying crime pursuant to the provisions of NJSA 18:6-7.1 et. seq. for the following new employee:

 

Cheryl Zeliff

 

14.2.3                  Approve Liliana Decker and Theresa Saksa as substitute teachers for grades K-8 for the 2007-2008 school year.

14.2.4                  Approve Lindsey Hrebenak, Warren County Technical School commercial arts student, to observe Maggie Horsey, Great Meadows Middle School Life Skills teacher, March 11, 2008 and March 12, 2008.

 

14.2.5                  Approve Megan King, Centenary College student, to perform her practicum with Judy Williams, 1st grade teacher at Central School, effective September 3, 2008 through December 23, 2008 and also her student teaching assignment during the Spring 2009 semester at Central School.

 

14.2.6                  Approve Kathy Ascolese as a substitute secretary for Child Study Team secretary Deb Berger for a period of four to six weeks on a part time basis at the rate of $10.50 per hour.

 

14.2.7                  Approve the following stipends:

 

Kristine Doty – 2/28/08 – ESL Testing (Central)

$32.00 per hour x .5 hour = $16.00

 

Dana Jacoski – 1/17/08 through 2/13/2008 - Tutoring

$32.00 per hour x 21 hours = $672.00

 

Jody Schantzenbach – 1/16/08 through 2/21/08 - Tutoring

$32.00 per hour x 14.5 hours = $464.00

 

Marcheta Scott – 3/12/08 through 3/19/08 - Tutoring

$32.00 per hour x 5 hours = $160.00

 

14.3    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the following Curriculum/Technology items 14.3.1 to 14.3.2.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote.

 

14.3.1                  Approve the Professional Development Plan for 2008-2009, which has been reviewed and approved by the Warren County Professional Development Board.

 

14.3.2                  Warren County Office of Education has completed its review and approval of the materials provided documenting the completion of activities prescribed in our special education improvement plan. Great Meadows Regional School District is in compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations.

 

14.4    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Richard Alexander, to approve the following Finance/Policy items 14.4.1 to 14.4.10.

 

Motion carried in a roll call vote, but table item 14.4.2, except Policy #8602 from item 14.4.2 will be added to item 14.4.1 for approval and Vonder Haar voting no to items 14.4.6, 14.4.7 and 14.4.8.

 

14.4.1                  Approve 2nd reading and adoption of the following policies:

 

#3515.1  Electronic Portable Devices

    #5121.2  Plagiarism/Cheating

     #8600    Transportation

     #8602    Parental/Guardian Requests for Bus Stops

 

14.4.2                  Tabled.

 

14.4.3                  Accept the donation of 2 office partitions from Mr. Sickels, Central School parent, with an estimated donation amount of $250.00.

 

14.4.4                  Motion to approve the following budget transfer:

 

From: 12-000-100-730-000-000 Instructional Equipment

To: 12-000-300-730-000-000 Non-Instructional Equipment $1,964.34 Truck Repairs

 

From: 11-000-261-420-000-001 Liberty Maintenance  Contracts

To: 11-000-262-620-000-000 Heat/Electric

$9,000.000 Oil Delivery

 

From: 11-000-261-420-000-002 Central Maintenance Contracts

To: 11-000-262-620-000-000 Heat/Electric

$9,000.000 Oil Delivery

 

14.4.5                  BE IT RESOLVED to approve the fiscal year 2008-2009 Great Meadows Regional School District Budget for submission to the voters as follows:

 

 

Budget          Local Tax Levy

General Fund                  $18,567,183 $11,664,907

Special Revenue Fund              281,545

Debt Service Fund           572,300     400,284

                              $19,421,028 $12,065,191

 

14.4.6                  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that there should be raised an additional $ 313,939 for General Funds in the same school year (2008-2009).  These taxes will be used exclusively for Full Day Kindergarten. The additional levy will provide funds for three new teachers ($135,240), one Special Education Teacher ($45,080), two aides ($21,000), supplies, textbooks ($28,412) and the employee benefits ($84,207) related to the new positions. The taxes, if raised, will be used exclusively for this purpose. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy.  These proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards.

 

14.4.7                  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following capital outlay projects as outlined in the 2008-2009 proposed budget be undertaken for the health and safety of the students.

 

Central School – Mini Split Ductless Air Conditioning system on the second floor, carpeting and bathroom renovations - $72,874.

 

Liberty School – New PA System and replace carpet in hallways and grade 1 classrooms - $68,428. 

 

Total estimated cost of all capital outlay projects is $141,302.

 

14.4.8                  Approve the following personnel to attend workshops/conferences on the dates and for the costs listed below:

 

Dana DeKleine               IR& S Workshop– Kenilworth, NJ           $30.00      4/11/08

Barbara Ciniewicz           Classroom Management – Edison, NJ       $268.19    8/12-8/13/08

Stephen Thorpe              Build H – Hoboken, NJ                            $51.45      4/2/08

Kristine Doty                 Differentiated Instr.-CC of Morris            $81.00      5/20/08

Marcia Goraczyk            Webquests – Centenary College               $79.40      4/11/08

Jody Schantzenbach       Wilson Reading – Cherry Hill, NJ $245.00    5/9/08

 

14.4.9                  Approve participation with Sussex County Regional Cooperative for transportation services for the 2008-2009 School Year.  The administrative fee for their services is 4%.

 

14.4.10             Approve a Special Education (Life Skills program) between Allamuchy Board of Education and Great Meadows Regional School District for one student #262 for the period 2/26/08 through 6/30/08 for a pro-rated tuition of $10,133.36.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Richard Alexander, whereas, the Board must consider matters involving litigation and 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 9:20 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.

 

Bernie O’Hara recused himself at 9:25 PM and left the meeting.

 

Motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Matt Mowatt, to re-enter regular session at 9:39 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Matt Mowatt, to adjourn at 9:40 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Julie Mumaw

Board Secretary