The regular meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Monday, March 26, 2007, at the Great Meadows Middle School, Independence Township.  The meeting was called to order at 8:07 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, Susan Cullen, Peggy Faulborn, Robert Jones, Joe Mahal, Bernie O’Hara, and William Vonder Haar.

 

Absent: None.

 

There were 12 members of the public in attendance.

 

Motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the minutes from February 12, 2007.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote with Faulborn abstaining.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the minutes from February 15, 2007.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Citro and Jones abstaining.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the minutes from February 26, 2007.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Cullen and Mahal abstaining.

 

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the executive session minutes from February 15, 2007.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Citro and Jones abstaining.

 

Motion by Helene Armstrong, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to approve the executive session minutes from February 26, 2007.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Citro, Cullen and Mahal abstaining.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to accept the Financial Report of the Secretary and Treasurer for the months ending February 28, 2007, as per copies attached and to certify that as of February 28, 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 Maryann Citro, to approve the bills from February 27, 2007 through March 26, 2007 in the amount of $2,069,189.36.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Susan Cullen, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the cafeteria bills from February 27, 2007 through March 26, 2007 in the amount of $23,797.87.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Noreen Lishak gave the Curriculum Update.

 

Jason Bing, Superintendent’s Update, which included the Great Meadows Regional School District Budget Presentation for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

14.1    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Joe Mahal, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the following Personnel & Buildings/Grounds/Transportation items 14.1.1 to 14.1.12.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote with amendment to item 14.1.2.

 

14.1.1                  Accept, with regret, the retirement of Charlotte Sliver, 5th grade teacher  @ Liberty School, effective July 1, 2007.

 

14.1.2                  Approve the following as chaperones for the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. on May 17, 2007 and May 18, 2007 at the daily contracted over night rate of $125.00:

 

Deb Lockwood       Marie Consentino   Deb Exley

Lynnda Herman      Israel Marmolejos  Steve Thorps

Meghann Winemiller Casey Ritson       Dana DeKleine

Linda DeJesus      Bill Nutt          Jim Bechtel

Dean Tshudy        Jose Alpizar*      John O’Neil**

Jeff Rosequist     Jan Romanczyk      Chris Kohl-Nurse

Tim Nicinski-GMMS Principal

*Aide              **DARE Officer acting as chaperon

 

Motion by William Vonder Haar, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to amend item 14.1.2 removing Meghann Winemillers name due to resignation of employment.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

14.1.3                  Approve the attached resolution for increasing bid threshold and appointing Julie Mumaw as Qualified Purchasing Agent pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3a and J.J.A.C. 5:34-5 et seq.

 

14.1.4                  Approve the following professional staff salary changes due to their receiving teacher certifications:

 

Katie Martin as 4th grade teacher at Central School at Step 1BS at an annual salary of $41,815 pro-rated to $12,544.50 effective April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007 without benefits.

 

Mary Ann Williams as 3rd grade teacher at Central School at Step 1BS at an annual salary of $41,815 pro-rated to $12,544.50 effective April 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007 without benefits.

 

14.1.5                  Accept, with regret, the resignation of Meghann Winemiller, BSI teacher at Great Meadows Middle School, effective March 23, 2007.

 

14.1.6                  Accept, with regret, the resignation of Patricia Agudelo, Great Meadows Middle School evening custodian, effective March 23, 2007 or, if needed March 30, 2007.

 

14.1.7                  Approve Sharon Drake, student enrolled in the New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey (NPTNJ), to complete 15 hours of observation at Central School in April 2007.

 

14.1.8                  Approve Elizabeth DiMarzo as a substitute teacher for the 2006-2007 school year.

 

14.1.9                  Approve the employment of Brian Cullen as evening custodian in Great Meadows Middle School effective April 2, 2007 through June 30, 2007 at an annual salary of $23,400.00 pro-rated to $5,850.00, pending security clearance.

 

14.1.10             Authorize the district to submit applications 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 employees:

 

Brian Cullen and Elizabeth DiMarzo

 

14.1.11             Approve the following to complete their student teaching September 4, 2007 through December 21, 2007:

 

Erica Hineline with Judy Williams,

1st grade teacher at Central School

 

Kathryn Tibak with Laurie Washburn,

2nd grade teacher at Central School

 

Kristina Neubert with John Skodocek,

8th grade teacher at Great Meadows Middle School

 

14.1.12             Approve payment to Donna Grossberg, Speech/Language Specialist of Comprehensive School Testing, LLC, Ridgewood, NJ for 1/31/07, 2/7/07, 2/21/07, 3/7/07, and 3/21/07 at the rate of $100 per hour for 6 hours per day for 5 days at a total cost of $3,000.00.

 

14.2    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Susan Cullen, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the following Finance/Policy items 14.2.1 through 14.2.13.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Susan Cullen, to make a separate vote for items 14.2.7, 14.2.8, and 14.2.9.

 

Motion carried in a roll call vote to approve items 14.2.1 through 14.2.6, 14.2.10 through 14.2.13, and vote separately on items 14.2.7, 14.2.8, and 14.2.9. (Jennifer Cassini was out of the room during vote.)

 

14.2.1                  Approve a stipend to Julie Skoldberg, Speech Correctionist in the amount of $271.30 for evaluations completed due to the retirement of Marian Bickel, Speech Correctionist.

 

14.2.2                  Accept a Warren County CAP (Child Assault Prevention) grant in the amount of $2300.

 

14.2.3                  Approve a tuition contract between Great Meadows Regional School District and Stepping Stone School in Bloomsbury, NJ for one student at the rate of $199.74 per diem from March 6, 2007 through June 30, 2007 for a total cost of approximately $15,180.24.

 

14.2.4                  Approve a tuition contract  between Great Meadows Regional School District and Celebrate the Children  in Stanhope, NJ for one student at the rate of $277.75 per diem from March 19, 2007 through June 30, 2007 for a total cost of approximately $ 16,942.75.

 

14.2.5                  Approve American Appraisal Associates to perform inventory services to update Property records for Great Meadows Regional School District at a cost of $5,100 for fiscal year end June 30, 2007.

 

14.2.6                  Establish the annual budget maximum amount allotted for expenditures covered by district travel reimbursement at $20,000 and all expenditures will receive prior administrative approval per district policy.

 

14.2.7                  Hold

 

14.2.8                  Hold

 

14.2.9                  Hold

 

14.2.10             Approve a revised transportation jointure between Warren Hills Regional School District and Great Meadows Regional School District to share the cost from February 22, 2007 through June 30, 2007.

 

Route       Contractor  Total Cost Host Joiner  Joiner Cost

Spring Run  A. M. Scott  $22,561.91   2      1     $7,520.63

 

14.2.11             Approve a Joint Transportation Agreement with Sussex County Regional Cooperative for school bus routes as needed at an administration fee of 4% for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

14.2.12             Approve the following Budget Adjustments:

 

11-000-100-562-000-000 Special Education – to: 

11-000-270-515-000-000 Special Education Transportation - $32,644.57.

 

14.2.13             Approve awarding a district pest control service to Viking Termite & Pest Control for all 3 schools at a total cost of $2,460.00.

 

Motion by Maryann Citro, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the following 2007-2008 School Year Great Meadows Regional School District Budget items 14.2.7, 14.2.8, and 14.2.9.

 

Motion carried in a roll call vote with Faulborn voting no to items 14.2.7, 14.2.8, 14.2.9 and Vonder Haar voting no to items 14.2.7 and 14.2.8.

 

14.2.7                  Be It Resolved to approve a fiscal year 2007-2008 school district budget for submission to the voters as follows:

Budget        Local Tax Levy

General Fund            $18,174,571    $11,512,278

     Special Revenue Fund         333,608

Debt Service Fund          744,236        520,541

     Total Base Budget        $19,252,415    $12,032,819

 

14.2.8                  Be It  Further Resolved to apply for the following Commissioner’s Adjustments:

 

Health Care Costs            $ 44,765

Special Education Costs      $ 28,814

Increase in Capital Outlay    $165,664

 

14.2.9                  Be It Further Resolved that the Capital Outlay Adjustment be applied to the following projects for the 2007-2008 School Year for the health and safety of the students:

 

Security System in Central School     $ 27,000

Security System in Liberty School       20,000

Security System in Middle School        22,400

Fire Alarm System in Central School   114,000

Fire Alarm System in Liberty School    85,000

                                                $268,400

Motion by Jennifer Cassini, seconded by Helene Armstrong, whereas, the Board must consider matters involving legal matters, 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 9:55 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 Jennifer Cassini, to re-enter regular session at 10:00 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Jennifer Cassini, to adjourn at 10:05 PM.

Motion carried in unanimous voice vote.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Julie Mumaw

Board Secretary