The regular meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Monday, December 13, 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, Susan Cullen, Amy
Dieteman, Peggy Faulborn, Robert Jones, Joe Mahal, Cynthia Russo, Steve Tierney
(arrived 8:10 PM), and Glenn Williams.
Absent: None
There were 40 members of the
public in attendance. The meeting was
videotaped by a member of the public, William VonderHaar, who provided notice
of his intention to videotape the meeting in advance of the meeting pursuant to
Board Policy/Bylaw #0168. As a result,
a district staff member, Marcia Goralczyk, also videotaped the meeting at the
direction of Superintendent, Dr. Tracey Severns.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman,
to approve the minutes for November 8, 2004 (as corrected) and November 22,
2004.
Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.
(Armstrong and Jones – abstained November 8, 2004
minutes)
(Mahal and Russo – abstained November 22, 2004
minutes)
Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Helene
Armstrong, to approve the executive session minutes for September 27, 2004,
October 11, 2004, October 25, 2004, and November 8, 2004.
Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.
(Jones – abstained September 27, 2004 minutes)
(Jones – abstained October 11, 2004 minutes)
(Armstrong – abstained October 25, 2004 minutes)
(Armstrong and Jones – abstained November 8, 2004
minutes)
Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Helene
Armstrong, to accept the Financial Report of the Secretary and Treasurer for
the months ending October 31, 2004 and November 30, 2004, as per copies
attached and to certify that as of October 31, 2004 and November 30, 2004,
after review of the Secretary=s monthly financial report (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
6A:23-2.11(e)4 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, Jones, Mahal, Russo, Williams.
No: None
Motion by Susan Cullen, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to
approve the bills from November 8, 2004 through December 8, 2004 in the amount
of $1,724,946.99.
Motion carried in a voice vote – unanimous.
A letter was read from Helene Armstrong thanking the Board of Education for the floral arrangement that was sent for the passing of her father.
A letter was read from the Middle School Advisory Committee to clarify information given by Mrs. Cullen at the November 8, 2004 Board of Education Meeting stating the information given by Mrs. Cullen were views spoken by a few people, not the consensus of the Middle School Advisory Committee.
A letter was read by Liza Thomas stating her opinion was recommending Mr. Jim Alercia as Interim Superintendent when Dr. Severns leaves.
Dr. Tracey Severns, Superintendent’s Update:
The holiday season has been a very busy time for the
Great Meadows Regional School District.
Since our last public board meeting, the students and teachers at each
of our three schools have participated in a variety of charitable, educational
and celebratory activities that brought people together to learn and share in
the spirit of the holidays. I would
like to thank all of the teachers, students, administrators and parent
volunteers who helped make these special events possible.
I would also like to thank Janaye Ingram, the
reigning Miss New Jersey, USA, for reading to each and every student at Liberty
School on November 10, 2004. In
addition to reading and answering questions, Miss Ingram signed individual
photos for each classroom. It should be
noted that Liberty School is the only school in Warren County to be visited by
Miss New Jersey 2004.
On November 10th and December 8th, we
offered our first and second year teachers two additional sessions of our
recently established New Teacher Induction Program. The program continues to be well received by participants and
provides a wonderful way to enhance the skills of our new professionals. In
addition, the program builds collegiality and provides a welcome network of
emotional and technical support.
In addition, the administrators of the district
participated in two additional sessions of the newly created Leadership Seminar
Series. The purpose of these gatherings
is to provide education, inspiration and emotional support for school
leaders. This informational forum has
also been well received by district administrators who have expressed an
interest in continuing the forum under the guidance of the interim
superintendent.
Finally, December is a time when the students and
music educators of the district get the opportunity to demonstrate their
talents to the members of our school community. On December 8, 2004 parents of middle school students were
treated to performances by the two middle school bands and choral groups. I would like to congratulate Mrs. Revak and
the students on an outstanding performance.
Upcoming elementary concerts include Central School
on December 15th, Liberty School on December 16th, and a
combined fourth and fifth concert of band and choral students on December 21st.
I strongly encourage anyone who
is in need of a good dose of holiday spirit to attend these upcoming
performances, which will be expertly conducted by Mrs. Long and Mr. Schepis.
Finally, I would like to congratulate Helene
Palestri, our librarian at Central School, for her successful grant application
to the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. As a
result of her efforts, the Foundation donated $350.00 for the purchase of
journals for second grade students. On
behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank Mrs. Palestri for her
efforts and initiative.
Jason Bing gave the Curriculum Update.
Steve Tierney arrived 8:10 PM.
Anthony Ardito Jr., of Ardito & Co., made a
presentation of the FY2004 Annual School District Audit.
Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to accept the Annual Audit of the financial records and affairs of the Great Meadows Regional School District for the fiscal year July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004, as prepared by Douglas R. Williams of the firm of Ardito & Co., Stroudsburg, PA, and corrective action plan showing no recommendations in any category.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Public Comment:
Jennifer Cassini, Liberty Township, said she thinks
Mr. Batha is doing a wonderful job at Liberty School. Her daughter is in
kindergarten and she wants to know what is being done about the Gifted and
Talented program. What is the testing criteria? Who will be doing the testing
since she believes teachers are not trained to evaluate children. She was told
by Jason Bing that the Child Study Team will do the testing. The administration
will develop the criteria. The district is still trying to recruit a qualified
teacher. In the meantime, teachers will be working with the children.
Bill Vonder Haar, Liberty Township, said he noticed
that the agenda is proposing an increase in salary for the Business
Administrator because of the increased responsibilities with transportation. He
thought EarthSpec was handling transportation. If the pay increase was for
merit, then what about the secretaries or other non-union employees who also
deserve merit pay increases? You shouldn’t consider a merit increase just on
one single issue. He thinks it is a bad time to do this and it doesn’t make
sense.
John Skodocek, Great Meadows Regional Education
Association representative, read a letter from the Association saying the
Association fully supports and endorses the appointment of Jim Alercia as
Interim Superintendent.
Phil Freidan, Independence Township, agrees with Mr.
Skodocek about the appointment of Jim Alercia. He thinks the Business
Administrator does a fine job but he thinks an $8000 increase is way too high.
This is too much money.
Debbie VandeRydt, Independence Township, asked why a
member of the public was videotaping the meeting which caused the board to
incur the expense of videotaping the meetings. She would like to ask the person
taping, Mr. VonderHaar, “What is his purpose?” She was advised that the Board
Bylaws permit videotaping and that the Board is entitled to a copy of the tape,
but that it appeared that if the board requests a copy of the videotape, it is
at the board’s expense.
Diane Bourland, Independence Township, asked if the
Board had to seek the advise of the Board Attorney when they received the
request from the public member to tape the meeting? She was told the Attorney
was consulted because this Board had not received any previous requests to
videotape meetings and wanted to ensure that it was done properly; including,
for example, that the public’s right to privacy was not violated. Mrs. Bourland
then asked how much we pay the Attorney. She was told the hourly rate is $125.
Gerry Cavanaugh, Independence Township, asked how
much the Board employee taping the meeting was being paid, wasn’t that an
additional expense? She was told the person is being paid hourly and this was
an additional expense.
Phil Freidan, Independence Township said there have
been news-reporters voice recording the meetings before and no one made a big
deal about it. He was told these reporters never informed the board in advance
before, but that it was a good point and something that the Board would look
out for in the future.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to
affirm the following budget transfers as of November 1, 2004.
FROM
Account TO Account Amount
11-000-217-320-000-000 11-000-240-103-000-000 $ 786.00 Reason
T. Purnell-Vac. Days
11-000-270-511-000-000 11-000-219-104-000-000 $
6,000.00 Reason New
Psychologist Salary
11-000-262-620-000-000 11-000-261-420-000-002 $
4,700.00 Reason Central septic
11-000-262-620-000-000 11-000-262-610-000-000 $
5,300.00 Reason Supplies TOTAL $16,785.00
Motion carried in a voice vote – unanimous.
Motion by Amy
Dieteman, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve the out-of-district special
education tuition for student #022293 to attend Celebrate the Children, a
private school for the disabled, in Byram, NJ beginning December 1, 2004, at an
annual tuition rate of $35,373.60 pro-rated to $24,761.52.
Motion carried
in a voice vote - unanimous.
Two quotes were received to transport a new out-of-district special education student to Celebrate the Children School in Byram, NJ as follows:
Snyder Bus Company $151
per day
First Student Bus Company $ 79 per day
Motion
by Bob Jones, seconded by Susan Cullen, to approve a transportation contract
with First Student Bus Company, formerly Village Bus of Sparta, NJ to transport
one student to Celebrate the Children School in Byram, NJ at a rate of $79.00
per day.
Motion
carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Bids
were received on November 22, 2004 for transportation of three students to
Spring Run School, Flemington, NJ, for the remainder of the 2004-2005 school
year as follows:
First Student Bus Company $197 per day
($1.95
mile adjustment)
A. Morris Scott Bus Company $155 per day
($1.89
mile adjustment)
Motion
by Bob Jones, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the transportation contract
with A. Morris Scott Bus Company to transport three students to Spring Run
School, Flemington, NJ from December 9, 2004 through June 30, 2005 at a per
diem rate of $155 (mileage adjustment of $1.89) and total cost of $13,950. This
is a jointure with Hackettstown School District (Allamuchy student).
Motion
carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Motion
by Bob Jones, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve a transportation jointure
with Hackettstown School District (Allamuchy student), with Great Meadows
Regional School District serving as the lead local education authority to
transport three students to Spring Run School in Flemington, NJ with one
student from Hackettstown/Allamuchy and two students from Great Meadows, for a
per student cost of $4,650 and a total route cost of $13,950.
Motion
carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by
Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve payment for technology
support to:
Dean Tshudy
– Middle School Technology Teacher
12
hours x $30 per hour = $360.00
Marcia
Goralczyk - Central School Technology Teacher
12.6
hours x $30 per hour = $378.00
Marilyn
Kosiorek – Liberty School Technology Teacher
20.25
hours x $30 per hour = $607.50
Payments will continue to be paid at $30 per hour
until a replacement technician is hired.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve a transfer of $47,464 from surplus/revenue account 10-3190 to expenditure account 11-190-100-640 for the purchase of textbooks.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Motion
by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve Jim Alercia as the
Interim Superintendent from January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005, or until a
permanent replacement is found, at a daily rate of $500.
Motion
carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Motion
by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Susan Cullen, to release Dr. Tracey Severns,
Superintendent, with deep regret, from all contractual obligations on December
31, 2004.
Motion
carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Glenn
Williams recused himself with respect to the next issue relating to the
Negotiating Committee due to a conflict of interest, and stepped away from the
table.
Motion
by Bob Jones, seconded by Steve Tierney, to authorize the Negotiating
Committee, consisting of Robert Jones, Chairperson, Amy Dieteman and Peggy
Faulborn to enter into negotiations with the Great Meadows Regional Educational
Association concerning a successor contract for the unit which includes all job
classifications as identified in Article I: Recognition of the 2002-2003
through 2004-2005 Employment Agreement. The negotiating Committee is directed
to negotiate in good faith on all terms and conditions of employment relating
to a successor contract. The Board of Education reserves to itself the final
authority to review, ratifies, or rejects any tentative agreement reached by
the Negotiating Committee of the Board.
Motion
carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Glenn
Williams returned to the table.
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by
Susan Cullen, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve Leslie Wexler,
Occupational Therapist, to provide a
"Therapeutic Listening Program" for a special education
student at the rate of $74 per hour session, 4 times per month, for the
remaining 7 months of the 2004-2005 school year for a total cost of $2,072.
Motion carried in a voice vote – motion carried.
(Tierney – abstained for professional reasons)
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by
Amy Dieteman, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve no more than five
additional work days for Julie Skoldberg, Speech Teacher, at the daily rate of
$235.19 for the 2004-2005 school year.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by
Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve Desiree Cougle as the
maternity leave replacement for Kristy Whittle, Principal/Guidance Secretary of
the Great Meadows Middle School beginning January 3, 2005 through February 25,
2005 at the rate of $13.54 per hour.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve payment of an additional $1,000 for the 2004-2005 school year for longevity pay, for Earl Houck, retroactive to July 1, 2004 and Beverly LaBarre, retroactive to September 1, 2004.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by
Helene Armstrong, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve the following as
substitute teachers for the 2004-2005 school year:
Bette Ann Bresee – Grades K-5
Joy Paola – Grades K-5
Elizabeth Shulte – All grades
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Bob Jones asked that before the next motion is made regarding the proposed Business Administrator salary increase, he wanted to change the wording to reflect the expanded basis upon which the increase is based, as discussed in executive session at a previous meeting of the Board. He proceeded to make the following motion:
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Bob Jones, seconded by Amy Dieteman, to approve a salary increase for Christina Sharkey, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, in the amount of $8,000, retroactive to July 1, 2004.
Cindy Russo wished to further amend the motion.
Motion by Cindy Russo, seconded by Susan Cullen, to amend the motion to provide that the salary increase not be retroactive to July 1, 2004, but effective immediately.
Motion denied in voice vote – 2 yes, 7 no, motion denied.
Vote on original motion to approve a salary increase for the 2004-2005 school year for Christina Sharkey, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, in the amount of $8,000, retroactive to July 1, 2004.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by
Amy Dieteman, seconded by Helene Armstrong, to approve Suzanne Peterson,
personal care aide at Great Meadows Middle School, to travel to the Celebrate
the Children school located in Byram, NJ in order to serve as the personal care
aide for student #022293 from December 2, 2004 through June 30, 2005, at the
annual salary of $15,000 pro-rated to $10,027.27.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Upon
recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by
Helene Armstrong, to approve payment to Anne Amundsen for services rendered as
a homebound instructor for a middle school student from November 8, 2004
through November 19, 2004, for a total of 12 hours at the contracted rate of
$30 per hour for a total cost of $360.00.
Motion
carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Motion by Amy Dieteman, seconded by Steve Tierney, to approve a renewal contract with R. Schubert Excavation, Hackettstown, NJ for snow plowing for the 2004-2005 school year as follows:
Central School – up to 6” of
snow - $200
Additional 2” - 6” of snow -
$100
Liberty School – up to 6” of
snow - $385
Additional 2” - 6” of snow -
$275
Middle School – up to 6” of
snow - $450
Additional 2” - 6” of snow -
$300
plus $80 per hour for the use of bucket loader for
removal of excess snow and $70 per hour for use of truck.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Bob Jones gave the Hackettstown report.
Bob Jones asked for an executive session to be scheduled at the end of the January 10, 2005 meeting for the purpose of getting the Board’s input on negotiations.
Glenn Williams, Board President, said a few words of appreciation to Dr. Tracey Severns since it was her last Board Meeting with Great Meadows Regional and presented her with an engraved clock on behalf of the Board Members. He said that he believed Dr. Severns helped to get the district back on a positive road towards success.
Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Amy Dieteman,
to adjourn at 9:45 PM.
Motion carried in a voice vote - unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Christina Sharkey