The regular meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education was held on Monday, December 21, 2009, at the Great Meadows Middle School, Independence Township.  The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Jennifer Cassini, Board 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:  Jennifer Cassini, Peggy Faulborn, Joe Mahal, Matthew Mowatt, Ed O’Melia, and William Vonder Haar.

 

Absent: Joe Mailloux, Jason Schaffer and Kimberly Schaffer.

 

Dr. Tim Frederiks, Superintendent, and Julie Mumaw, Business Administrator, were in attendance.

 

There were 3 members of the public in attendance.

 

Motion by Matthew Mowatt, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the minutes from November 12, 2009 and November 16, 2009.

Motion carried in a voice vote with Mowatt abstaining from November 12, 2009 minutes.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Matthew Mowatt, to approve the executive session minutes from November 16, 2009.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Matthew Mowatt, to table the Financial Report of the Secretary and Treasurer for the month ending November 30, 2009.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Matthew Mowatt, to approve the bills from November 17, 2009 to December 21, 2009 in the amount of $2,502,195.63.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Matthew Mowatt, to approve the cafeteria bills from November 17, 2009 to December 21, 2009 in the amount of $14,617.45.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Matt Mowatt, to accept the Financial Report of the Secretary and Treasurer for the month ending November 30, 2009, as per copies attached and to certify that as of November 30, 2009, 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.

 

Tim Frederiks, Superintendent’s Update.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

14.1    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Ed O’Melia, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the following Personnel & Curriculum items 14.1.1 to 14.1.13.

 

Motion by William Vonder Haar, seconded by Matt Mowatt, whereas, the Board must consider matters regarding item 14.1.3 and 14.1.4, 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 8:28 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 roll call vote with Faulborn voting no.

 

Motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Ed O’Melia, to re-enter regular session at 8:35 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Motion to approve items 14.1.1 to 14.1.13 carried in a unanimous roll call vote.

 

14.1.1                  Rescind the appointment of Jennifer Devine as a .5x aide for a PSD student approved on November 16, 2009.

 

14.1.2                  Accept, with regret, the retirement of Mary Ann Gatyas, BSI teacher at Liberty School, effective June 30, 2010.

 

14.1.3                  Rescind the position of Coordinator of the Child Study Team from Stephanie Conway, Great Meadows Regional School District’s Psychologist, retro-active to December 1, 2009.

 

14.1.4                  Approve Cheryl Panetta, Learning Disability Teacher Consultant, to become the Coordinator of the Child Study Team effective January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010 at an annual stipend of $5,000.00 pro-rated to $2,500.00.

 

14.1.5                  Approve Home Instruction of a 3rd grade student at Central School to be tutored by Joseph D’Agostino, 5th grade teacher at Central School, from December 9, 2009 through December 23, 2009 for a total of 10 hours at an hourly rate of $34.00 = $340.00.

 

14.1.6                  Approve James J. Mitchell, Centenary College student, to observe several classes during the month of December at Great Meadows Middle School in order to meet his Education 2004 course.

 

14.1.7                  Approve Jeffrey Skinner, Warren County Community College student, to observe several classes for a total of ten hours in the month of December in order to meet the requirements of his Foundation of Education course.

 

14.1.8                  Approve Tiffany Provost as a substitute nurse for the Great Meadows Regional School District for the 2009-2010 school year.

 

14.1.9                  Approve Mary Lenz as a substitute teacher at Central School for the 2009-2010 school year.

 

14.1.10             Approve Tyler Voll and Levita Ware as substitute teachers in the Great Meadows Regional School District for the 2009-2010 school year.

 

14.1.11             Approve the following teachers who will staff the “Jump Start” Language Arts and Math Program for grades 3 through 8 effective January 11, 2009 through May 27, 2010 at $34.00 per hour for one hour per week.

 

Justine Hemberger – Math – Great Meadows Middle School

Jeff Rosequist – Language Arts – Great Meadows Middle School

 

Joe D’Agostino – Math – Central School

Laurie Washburn – Language Arts – Central School

 

Suzanne Schmidt – Math – Liberty School

Barbara Wohlgemuth – Language Arts – Liberty School

14.1.12             Approve the sick bank proposal and enrollment forms per the Great Meadows Regional School District/Great Meadows Regional Education Association Employment Agreement for 2009-2012 school years.

 

14.1.13             Approve stipends for the following certificated staff:

 

Casey Ritson – 8th grade Language Arts Teacher

11/5/09 – CST Meetings

4 hours x $34.00 per hour = $136.00

 

Thomas Schepis – Music Teacher

12/3/09 – Piano Accompanist for Great Meadows Middle School Chorus - 2 hours x $34.00 per hour = $68.00

 

Justine Hemberger – Resource teacher at Great Meadows Middle School - 12/16/09

REBEL 2 stipend (Grant) = $275.00

 

14.2    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Matt Mowatt, seconded by Peggy Faulborn, to approve the following Buildings/Grounds/Transportation items 14.2.1 to 14.2.3.

 

Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote.

 

14.2.1                  Approve building usage at Liberty School to St. Mary’s Basketball at $25.00 per hour including ½ hour before and after usage for custodial coverage on the following Saturdays:

 

11/7/09, 11/14/09, 11/21/09 (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

12/5/09, 12/19/09 (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM)  

12/12/09 (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM)

1/9/10, 1/16/10, (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

1/23/10 (12:30 PM to 4:30 PM)        

1/30/10 (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM)

2/6/10, 2/20/10, 2/27/10     (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

3/6/10, 3/13/10 (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

     Total = $1,575.00

 

14.2.2                  Approve building usage at Liberty School to Cub Scouts Pack #138 at $25.00 per hour including ½ hour before for custodial coverage on Saturday, January 23, 2010, from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM = $112.50.

 

14.2.3                  Approve building usage at Central School to St. Luke’s Basketball at $25.00 per hour including ½ hour before and after usage for custodial coverage on Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM = $75.00.

 

14.3    Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion by Peggy Faulborn, seconded by Matt Mowatt, to approve the following Finance items 14.3.1 to 14.3.8.

 

Motion carried in a roll call vote with Vonder Haar voting no to item 14.3.4.

 

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

 

$ - Denotes the need for a Substitute Teacher at $80.00 per diem.

 

                                                                                                     APPROX

                PERSONNEL                           WORKSHOP                           COST            DATES

$ Barbara Ciniewicz      Building a First Class Kindergarten    $ 164.00            1/14/10

                   Danielle Hamblin        Rethinking grades & Homework        $ 98.00              3/25/10

                   Christine Kohl       5th Annual School Nursing Conference    $ 233.00            3/19, 3/20/10

                   Ernest Batha                Rethinking grades & Homework        $ 98.00              3/25/10

                   Cheryl Wilson       5th Annual School Nursing Conference     $ 186.00            3/20/10    

                   Israel Marmolejos       Rethinking grades & Homework         $  98.00            3/25/10

 $ Betsy Hart                   NJAHERD Annual Convention          $  90.00            1/25, 1/26/10

                   Julie Skoldberg             Prompt Bridging                                      $587.40             1/20, 1/21, 1/22/10

                   Nicole Kean                Non Violent Crisis Intervention           $ 26.00             2/22/10

 

14.3.2                  Approve a Parental Transportation Contract for one student for the period August 2009 through June 2010 for 180 days at a rate of $31.20 per diem for a total cost of $5,616.00.

 

14.3.3                  Approve the “Pay to Play” procedures and form for after-school pay-to-play activities as presented by the Great Meadows Regional Education Association.

 

14.3.4                  Set the estimated enrollment for Hackettstown High School for the 2010-2011 school year budget for Great Meadows Regional School District at 450 students.

 

14.3.5                  Approve the following budget transfers:

 

From: 12-000-260-730-000-000 Plant Equipment

To: 12-120-100-730-000-000 Grade 1-5 Equipment

$4,400.00 - New Copier for Liberty School with trade in

From: 11-000-100-565-000-000 Tuition WCSSSD

To: 11-150-100-320-000-000 OOD Students – Home Instruction  $2,095.00 - Hackettstown HS Students Home Instruction

 

14.3.6                  Enter into an Inter-local Agreement for services between Great Meadows Regional School District and Independence Township per Administrative requirements for the calendar year 2010.

 

14.3.7    Approve the following:

 

Alliance for Competitive Telecommunications (ACT)

 

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING OF

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

 

The Great Meadows Regional Board of Education agrees to participate in the Alliance for Competitive Telecommunications with the Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission and the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials (NJASBO) for the period of July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012.  The Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission shall be the lead Local Educational Agency (LEA) for this program.  All New Jersey School districts are invited to participate in the Alliance for Competitive Telecommunications, which is intended to fulfill the districts obligation under 18A:55-3.

 

The Board of Education shall provide the Commission with accurate data, i.e. telephone line numbers for each number included in the bid and any other appropriate information necessary for the development of bid specifications.

 

The Board of Education shall not solicit bids or enter into a contract that would jeopardize the award of a contract for cooperative telecommunication services by the Commission.  The Board shall abide by the award of contract made by the Commission.  The Board shall not withdraw from this agreement prior to June 30, 2012.

 

     The Board understands that the services to be provided under this cooperative purchasing agreement will include dial tone/local calls (where available), regional toll calls, long distance toll calls and voice over internet protocol (VOIP) when such option is chosen by the participating district.

 

     All fees for the work of the Commission and the expenses of NJASBO will be incorporated into the price for services as provided by the successful vendor (s).

 

     This participation agreement was approved at a regular board meeting of the Great Meadows Regional Board of Education held on December 21, 2009 and the Board of Education authorizes the School Business Administrator to execute this agreement on its behalf.

 

              _________________________________________

              School Business Administrator/Board Secretary

                                       (Date)

 

     Contact Phone No:   (908)637-8672

 

Contact Email Address:  jmumaw@gmrsd.com

 

 

14.3.8                  Retain the law firm of Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein, Celso, and Zitomer, L.L.C., for Special Education issues only.

 

Motion by Joe Mahal, seconded by Ed O’Melia, to adjourn at 9:05 PM.

Motion carried in a unanimous voice vote.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Julie Mumaw

Board Secretary