The regular meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Monday, July 12, 2004, 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, Amy Dieteman, Robert Jones, Joe Mahal, Cynthia Russo, Steve Tierney, and Glenn Williams.

 

Absent: Susan Cullen and Peggy Faulborn.

 

There were 8 members of the public in attendance.

 

Motion by Bob Jones, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the bills from June 11, 2004 through June 30, 2004 in the amount of $448,993.14 and July 1, 2004 through July 8, 2004 in the amount of $302,051.77.

Motion carried in a voice vote – unanimous.

 

A note was read from Pat Disbrow thanking the Board of Education for the beautiful plaque that was given for recognition of her 26 years of service at Great Meadows Regional School District.

 

Dr. Tracey Severns, Superintendent’s Update:

 

The search process for a new elementary principal is currently underway.  First round interviews are scheduled for July 14, 2004.  Candidates will be interviewed in small groups of three or four by a committee comprised of parents, faculty, Board of Education members, and administrators.  Successful first round candidates will advance to a second round that will involve an individual interview followed by a writing/problem-solving task.  It is my hope that I will be able to recommend a candidate to the Board in time for the August meeting.

 

Ms. D’Ambola and I will be attending a four-day program entitled, “Results Skills Training for School Leaders” on July 8-9 and August 12-13.  This program is being presented by the National Staff Development Council, in collaboration with the Principals’ Center for the Garden State.  The purpose of the program is to help school administrators develop the expertise necessary to establish and maintain a high-performance school culture.  Alice and I look forward to sharing what we learn with our fellow administrators so that each school will benefit from our newly acquired skills.

 

Public comment on agenda items:

 

Gene Chaladoff, Liberty resident, asked if there is any extra help that can be given for math? He stated he has hired a tutor for his child since the 1st grade, and would like to get a 6th grade math book to help over the summer. He stated that when he called the school, he was not given a straight answer and does not know why anyone can’t just give him the name of the textbook being used. He was told that Jason Bing, Supervisor of Elementary Education, would get him a book he can borrow for his child.

 

Mrs. Freidan, Independence resident, asked how many gym teachers are there at the Middle School? She was told 2˝. She also asked if the Spanish books were bought with money saved in heat and electric for this year? She was told yes, from the 2003-2004 school year.

 

Mrs. Budzinski asked why Mrs. Jefcoat was retiring.  She was told the district was not told why.

 

Dr. Tracey Severns gave a presentation regarding NJASK and GEPA data.

 

Jason Bing, Supervisor of Elementary Education, gave an overview of District Curricula.

 

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Steve Tierney, to affirm the following budget transfers effective June 1, 2004:

 

From Account:                                      To Account:                                          Amount                  Reason:

 

11-000-219-104  CST salary                   11-000-100-561 Tuition-Reg.                  $   1,184.00             Algebra 8th gr. student

11-000-262-620  Heat/Electric 11-000-190-640 Textbooks                        74,000.00             Spanish books

11-000-219-104  CST salary                   11-000-190-640 Textbooks                        22,000.00             Spanish books

11-000-270-515  Sp.Ed. Trans.               11-000-270-890  Other trans. Exp.             18,000.00             Route ConsultingServ

11-000-221-104  Curr Writers 11-190-100-610 Gen Suppl-Tech                 7,000.00             Server/switches

11-000-291-270  Medical                       11-000-291-290  Oth Emp Benef                 7,500.00             Disbrow-unused sickpay

11-000-291-270  Medical                       11-000-310-930  Food Deficit     29,549.00             Cafeteria deficit

11-000-221-104 Curr Writers                 11-190-100-500 Repairs/Maint.                   3,674.00             Additional copier costs

11-000-230-530 Adm Com/tele               11-000-291-220 Fica/other                          3,011.00             FICA costs

11-000-262-620  Heat/Electric 11-000-262-100 Custodian Sal.                   6,012.00              Sub cust/overtime

11-150-100-320 Out of Dist.Hom.Ins..    11-150-100-101 Home Inst.-Reg.                   559.00            Add. Homebound Student

11-000-290-330 Appraisal                      11-000-290-500 Purch Svs.                            342.00            Recruitment ads

20-231-200-500 Title I Prof.Dev.            20-231-290-290 Title I fringe                          149.00            Final adj. to grant

20-270-100-320 Title II-PurSrv               20-270-100-101 NCLB Subs                          110.00            Final adj. to grant

                                                                                                         Total        $173,090.00

 

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Helene Armstrong, seconded by Steve Tierney, to offer a contract to Thomas Schepis as .6x Elementary Music Teacher at Step 1 BS at the annual salary of $23,375.40 ($38,959 x .6x = $23,375.40) effective September 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005 including medical, dental and prescription benefits and in case of backlog in receiving certificate in time, approve Thomas Schepis as a substitute for Great Meadows Regional School District effective September 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.

Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.

(Dieteman – abstained)

 

Motion by Helene Armstrong, seconded Steve Tierney, to 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:

Thomas Schepis

 

Roll call vote - Yes: Armstrong, Jones, Mahal, Russo, Tierney, and Williams.

No:  None

(Dieteman – abstained)

 

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to accept, with regret, the retirement of Lynnette Jefcoat, Middle School teacher, effective July 7, 2004 and to pay her for 82 ˝ unused sick days at the rate of $35.00 per day for a total of $2,887.50 as per Great Meadows Regional Education Association/Great Meadows Regional Board Of Education contracted agreement.

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Cindy Russo, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to accept, with regret, the resignation of Marlene Lang, Language Arts teacher at the Middle School, effective July 1, 2004.

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Bob Jones, seconded by Cindy Russo, to offer an amended contract to Gina Pagliaro as full-time teacher at the Middle School (.5x PE and .5x ESL) at Step 2 BS at the annual salary of $38,959 effective September 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005 including medical, dental and prescription benefits.

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the 1st reading of the following by-laws, policies and regulations as amended on Policy/Regulation #3142:

 

     ByLaw #0155         Board Committees

     ByLaw #0156         Board Committee Meetings

     ByLaw #0157         Board of Education Website

     Policy #3142        Non-Renewal of a Non-Tenured

                         Teaching Staff Member as amended

     Regulation #3142    Non-Renewal of Non-Tenured Teaching                          Staff Members as amended

     Policy #4146        Non-Renewal of Non-Tenured Support

                         Staff Member

     Policy #4438        Jury Duty

 

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Bob Jones, to adopt the 2nd reading of the following policies as amended and on ByLaw #0174 as amended:

 

     ByLaw #0174         Duties of Board Attorney

     Policy #1523        Comprehensive Equity Plan

     Policy #2415        No Child Left Behind

     Policy #2415.01-.6  Academic Standards, Academic

                         Assessments and Accountability

     Policy #5512        Hazing

     Policy #5841        Secret Societies

     Policy #6810        Financial Objectives

     Policy #6820        Financial Reports

     Policy #7434        Smoking on School Grounds

 

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Motion by Bob Jones, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to adopt all existing curricula and textbooks of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education for the 2004-2005 school year.

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Steve Tierney, to approve the lease/purchase agreement with First Leigh Capital in the amount of $2990.29 per year for the 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years for musical instruments for the Great Meadows Regional School District.

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Bob Jones gave the Hackettstown Report.

 

Public comment:

 

Mrs. Freidan, Independence resident, stated her son had problems with Spanish in Hackettstown High School and when he got his grades, they were incorrect. If they did not check, the final grades would have been wrong.

 

Bob Jones said they should send a letter to the Hackettstown High School about this issue.

 

Motion by Bob Jones, seconded by Joe Mahal, to adjourn at 9:55 PM.

Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Christina Sharkey

Board Secretary