BOARD of EDUCATION WEST ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING April 27, 2015 Minutes
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BOARD OF EDUCATION WEST ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING April 27, 2015 Minutes DATE PLACE Monday, April 27, 2015 West Essex Middle School North Caldwell, New Jersey EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED 6:00 P.M. 7:25 P.M. CALLED TO ORDER ADJOURNED 7:25 P.M. 8:27 P.M. RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED 8:27 P.M. 9:05 P.M. OPEN MEETING: Mrs. Maryadele Wojtowicz, Board President, presided and voiced the call to order at 6:00 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion by Mrs. Sacco-Calderone Seconded by Mrs. Dias to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss the following: WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-11, permits boards of education to meet in closed session to discuss certain matters; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the West Essex Regional Board of Education adjourns to Executive Session to discuss Personnel, Student, Negotiations and/or Litigation matters; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that public release of these discussions will occur when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. OPEN MEETING: The Board reconvened from Executive Session and Mrs. Maryadele Wojtowicz, President, presided and voiced the call to order at 7:25 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL: Ms. K. Bachmann Mrs. J. Amorim Dias Mrs. A. Doolen - Absent Mrs. C. Egan Mrs. A. Fahey Mr. A. Rubinich – Vice-President Mrs. D. Sacco-Calderone Mrs. D. Smith Mrs. M. Wojtowicz - President Administration: Mrs. Barbara Longo, Superintendent of Schools Ms. Pamela L. Hinman, Board Secretary/Business Administrator 1 West Essex Regional Board of Education MINUTES – April 27, 2015 PUBLIC NOTICE OF MEETING: Notice of the April 27, 2015 meeting of the Board of Education was e-mailed to the Clerks of the Boroughs of Essex Fells, North Caldwell and Roseland and to the Township of Fairfield, and to the editor of The Progress on January 9, 2015 and The Star Ledger on the same day. BOARD PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Mrs. Wojtowicz reminded Board members that Charlene Petersen, NJSBA representative, would be conducting Board Member training at the May 18th Board meeting. She stated that if the Board self- evaluation and CSA evaluations have been completed by that date, they can be discussed as well. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: Mrs. Longo suggested that the budget presentation follow the staff member and committee reports. PRINCIPAL’S REPORTS: Mr. Gary Suda, High School Principal, commented relative to the following: National English Honor Society Induction Junior Prom Special Olympics “Clap-Out” “Bring your Child to Work” day National Honor Society Induction National Merit Scholarship program Commended Scholars Intergenerational Prom Honors Music recitals AP testing Mr. Vee Popat, Middle School Principal, commented relative to the following: “Music in our Schools” month 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. Accelerated Placement test Spirit Week Special Olympics “Clap-Out” “Bring your Child to Work” day 7th & 8th grade “Students-of-the-Month” National History Bee qualifiers MS Concert Band accomplishment PARCC testing (Part 2) Master scheduling Teacher Appreciation Week MS Chorus Spring Concert Band Spring Concert NJASK Science test 2 West Essex Regional Board of Education MINUTES – April 27, 2015 DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM’S REPORT: Mr. Gupta commented on the following: the schedule for PARCC testing; the transition from Outlook to the Google calendar; and laptops for teachers. COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS: NONE BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS/COMMENTS: Personnel Committee – Ms. Bachmann reported that the Committee met on April 14th and discussed the following: language changes to the Superintendent’s contract; changes to the Business Administrator’s contract; the selection process for the position of Athletic Director; response received for the position of Guidance Director; increasing the part-time trainer position; Family/Consumer Science Department reduction in force. Mrs. Wojtowicz, Board President, turned the meeting over to Ms. Pamela Hinman, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, for her presentation of the 2015/2016 budget. PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED 2015-2016 BUDGET Ms. Hinman presented the 2015/2016 budget with the following points highlighted: Current budget year accomplishments include goals realized in the areas of Instruction, Technology, Capital Projects, Academics, and Extra-Curricular Offerings. The budget maintains existing district staff, academic offerings, extra-curricular activities and transportation. Monies have been allocated to continue the new technologies implemented in the 2014/2015 budget. The budget includes a 1.07 % increase over the 2% tax levy cap due to an enrollment increase, banked cap eligibility and health insurance adjustments. The budget contains sufficient funds to fund a partial roof replacement and uninvent replacement in the middle school. A question and answer period followed. Item 1, Adoption of the 2015-2016 School Year Budget, will be voted upon in one motion. Motion by Mrs. Wojtowicz Seconded by Ms. Bachmann to approve the following motion: 1. BE IT RESOLVED to approve a school district budget for the FY 2015-2016 School Year, as follows: Budget Local Tax Levy Total General Fund $36,569,231 $ 33,383,315 Total Special Revenue Fund $ 315,345 $ - Total Debt Service Fund $ 2,369,280 $ 2,369,280 Totals $39,253,856 $35,752,595 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board Secretary be authorized to transmit any and all such supporting documentation to the County Superintendent of Schools as may be required. 3 West Essex Regional Board of Education MINUTES – April 27, 2015 ROLL CALL: Yes: Ms. Bachmann, Mrs. Dias, Mrs. Egan, Mrs. Fahey, Mr. Rubinich, Mrs. Sacco-Calderone, Mrs. Smith and President Wojtowicz No: None Abstain: None Absent: Mrs. Doolen PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mrs. Wojtowicz opened the floor to the public for comments on agenda items by reading the prepared statement: In accordance with Bylaw #0167, a copy of which is available on the District’s website, the Board is now opening the meeting for a period of public comment. Please remember to announce your name, place of residence, and group affiliation, if appropriate. Your statements will be limited to three (3) minutes in duration. While the Board respects the public’s right to voice any questions, concerns, or criticisms it may have regarding the conduct of the Board and/or its Administration, I want to remind you that this is a right, not an absolute and that statements that are abusive, obscene, irrelevant, overly lengthy, or interfere with the orderly progress of the meeting will not be permitted. Please remember that while you are certainly free to exercise your right to comment on issues before the Board, such comments are considered public statements and you should consider the rights of any individuals affected by those comments. The Board will, of course, consider your comments as they relate to its obligations to effectively govern the West Essex School District. Hearing none, she closed the floor and resumed the meeting. West Essex Regional Board of Education FINANCE– April 27, 2015 The following finance motions are made at the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools: CONSENT AGENDA Anything placed on this agenda, Items 2 - 17, will be voted upon in one motion. Motion by Ms. Bachmann Seconded by Mrs. Smith to approve the following motions: 2. To approve the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports for March, 2015, as per the attached, in the amount of $4,558,980.17 Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(a), the West Essex Regional School District Board of Education acknowledges receipt of the secretary’s certification, and after review of the monthly financial report (appropriations section) certifies that, to the best of its knowledge, as of March, 2015, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(b), and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. Enclosures 1F - 41F 3. To approve the attached transfer report from March 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015. Enclosures 42F - 43F 4 West Essex Regional Board of Education FINANCE– April 27, 2015 – (Continued) 4. To approve the bills and claims check number 023523 through check number 023559 and check number 023561 through check number 023606 and check number 023608 through check number 023615 and check number 023617 through 023668 and check number 023670 through 023671 and check number 023673 through 023677 and check number 023679 through 023690 and check number 023692 through check number 023745 and check number 510302 through check number 510306. Payroll Fund check number 500513 through check number 500514 and check number 500516 through check number 500517. Void check numbers 022283, 022914, 023305, 023560, 023607, 023616, 023669, 023672 023678, 023691. Totaling: $3,534,744.48 Enclosure 44F – 57F 5. To approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of March 24, 2015. Enclosures 58F – 64F 6. To approve the Executive Session Minutes of March 24, 2015. Enclosure 65F 7. To approve non-remote (hazardous route) busing, for the 2015/2016 school year, be provided for the following reasons: There are no sidewalks within ½ mile of the West Essex Regional School District on West Greenbrook Road. West Greenbrook Road winds and bends into North Caldwell, which is extremely hazardous for walking. West Greenbrook also intersects with Passaic Avenue (a four-lane highway) which has no sidewalks, yet excessive traffic. 8. To approve renewal of the contract with Sussex County Regional Transportation Cooperative to provide regular transportation services for West Essex Regional School District students for the 2015/2016 school year not to exceed $738,039. 9. To approve renewal of the contract with Sussex County Regional Transportation Cooperative to provide administration/coordination of the K-12 regional regular transportation for the 2015/2016 school year at a cost of (1.5%-2.0%), not to exceed 2% of the total regular transportation cost.