The workshop meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at Great Meadows Middle School, Independence Township. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 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 (arrived 8:30 PM), Peggy Faulborn, Joe Mahal, Cynthia Russo, Steve Tierney, and Glenn Williams.
There were 40 members of the
public in attendance.
Christina Sharkey, Business Administrator, read her
letter of resignation.
Motion by Steve Tierney, seconded by Peggy Faulborn,
to accept, with sincere regret, the resignation of Christina Sharkey, Business
Administrator effective May 24, 2005.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Susan Cullen, to approve the resolution to provide transportation for special education and non-public students effective July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 via Sussex County Regional Cooperative.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Public Comment on agenda items:
Kathy Freidan, Independence resident, asked since we
bought computers last year, could we buy a few less computers this year and buy
some science supplies such as microscopes instead?
Cindy Alexander, Independence resident, thanked
Christina Sharkey, Business Administrator, for all her time and effort.
James Alercia, Interim Superintendent, presented the
2005-2006 school district budget.
Amy Dieteman arrived 8:30 PM.
Comments on budget:
Mr. Freidan, Independence resident, thanked Mr.
Alercia for all the information presented.
Bill Vonder Haar, Liberty resident, asked questions
about the budget figures, calculations, capital reserve, health benefits,
administrative costs.
Dave Schmeltzle, Independence resident, stated he
had facts from New Jersey School Boards that Administrator and Teacher salaries
for Great Meadows schools are so far below the averages. He is also concerned
about the dire consequences of the new legislation S1701.
Marie Galic, Liberty resident, asked if the budget
doesnt pass, will we be losing busing? She was told if defeated, the budget
will go to the township committees and they decide if courtesy busing is an
item they would want to cut.
Donna DeGraw, Independence resident, stated she has
5th and 6th grade students in our school district and
thanked the board so much because she is very pleased with their education.
Anne Young, Liberty resident, looks at the progress
report in the papers and then compares it to Morris County and we have great
costs and scores compared to Morris County Schools.
Motion by Helene Armstrong, seconded by Peggy Faulborn,
to accept the Financial Report of the Secretary and Treasurer for the month
ending February 28, 2005, as per copies attached and to certify that as of
February 28, 2005, after review of the Secretarys 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.
Roll call vote - Yes: Armstrong, Cullen, Dieteman,
Faulborn, Mahal, Russo, Tierney, Williams.
No: None
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Susan Cullen,
to approve the bills from February 9, 2005 to March 22, 2005 in the amount of
$2,307,104.91.
Motion carried in a voice vote unanimous.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Cindy Russo,
to approve the minutes of the meetings held on January 31, 2005, February 14,
2005 and February 25, 2005.
Motion carried in a voice vote motion carried.
(Faulborn and Mahal abstained from January 31,
2005 minutes.)
(Faulborn abstained from February 14, 2005
minutes.)
Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the FY 2005-2006 Great Meadows Regional School District Budget for submission to the voters as follows:
Budget Local
Tax Levy
General Fund $16,880,851 $10,227,818
Special Revenue Fund $ 247,000
Debt Service Fund $ 718,301 $ 502,401
Total Base Budget $17,846,152 $10,730,219
Motion by Cindy Russo, seconded by Susan Cullen, to
amend the motion to approve the 2005-2006 school budget by reducing the tax
levy $293,992 as follows:
Special
Education $ -60,000
Facilities $-145,200
General
supplies $ -45,000
Benefits $
-43,792
$-293,992
Roll call vote Yes: Russo
No: Armstrong, Cullen, Dieteman, Faulborn, Mahal,
Tierney, Williams motion denied.
Vote on original motion to approve the 2005-2006
school district budget.
Roll call vote Yes: Armstrong, Cullen, Dieteman,
Faulborn, Mahal, Tierney, Williams.
No: Russo motion carried.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman,
to apply for the following statutory spending growth limitation adjustments to
the FY2005-2006 Great Meadows Regional School District Budget:
Enrollment $242,388
Special
Education over $40,000 $ 14,238
Roll call vote Yes: Armstrong, Cullen, Dieteman,
Faulborn, Mahal, Tierney, Williams.
No: Russo motion carried.
Mrs. Cullen read a brief statement about her
feelings about the budget including gifted and talented and basic skills
improvement programs and her desire to oversee the special education
contingency money and capital expenditures and then made the following motion.
She also stated she would like the Board kept up-to-date on the progress of the
capital projects and discussed change orders being reported along with
additional costs.
Motion by Susan Cullen, seconded by Cindy Russo, to
make a motion that $90,000 be a separate line item with extension.
Roll call vote Yes: Cullen, Russo, Williams.
No: Armstrong, Dieteman, Faulborn, Mahal, Tierney motion denied.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Helene
Armstrong, to apply for the following capital outlay statutory spending growth
limitation adjustments to the FY2005-2006 Great Meadows Regional School
District Budget to replace the existing Liberty School sewage treatment plant,
replace the electrical water controls for the Liberty School well, to add or
replace the settling tanks for the Central and Middle Schools sewage systems,
to repair problem areas of the Liberty School roof, to replace the Central
School boiler and to replace carpet at Liberty School with vinyl floor tile in
the total amount of $257,397 for health and safety reasons.
Roll call vote - Yes: Armstrong, Cullen, Dieteman,
Faulborn, Mahal, Russo, Tierney, Williams.
No: None motion carried.
Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Peggy Faulborn,
to approve all requests for information from any Board Member to any/or all
Great Meadows Regional staff members be directed to the Superintendent and
Board President who will then direct the proper response to said questions
pursuant to the School Ethics Act NJSA 18A:12-24.1.
Roll call vote Yes: Armstrong, Cullen, Dieteman,
Faulborn, Mahal, Tierney, Williams.
No: None motion carried.
(Russo abstained)
Motion by Amy Dieteman,
seconded by Steve Tierney, whereas, the Board must consider matters involving
personnel and 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 9:35 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 voice vote - unanimous.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman,
to re-enter regular session at 10:25 PM.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Motion by Steve Tierney, seconded by Peggy Faulborn,
to adjourn at 10:26 PM.
Motion carried in a voice vote unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Christina Sharkey
Board Secretary