(NOTE: the Following Summary of a Pioneer Board of Education Meeting Is Not the Official

BOARD CLIPS 4-1-08

(NOTE: The following summary of a Pioneer Board of Education meeting is not the official minutes but has been approved by the administration.)

PUBLIC COMMENT A student, Katie Gilbert, and another student's mother, Deborah Buchanan, spoke in support of Deputy Devine Leacock and the job he has done in his role as school resource officer for the high school.

Parents/guardians of two students who were involved in recent superintendent disciplinary hearings were on hand to ask the board to reconsider the superintendent's rulings in those cases.

PROGRAMS/PRESENTATIONS Business administrator Nicholas Silvaroli discussed the proposed general fund budget for 2008-09, noting that it assumes seven faculty retirements. The plan calls for spending to increase 5.09 percent, and a 3.19 percent increase in the tax levy. He said 0.6 percent of the budget increase, or $255,000, is the result of Pioneer or BOCES capital projects, for which the district will be reimbursed by the state. The plan maintains all current staffing and academic programs, maintains reasonable class sizes and teacher-student ratios, and preserves advanced studies programs at the high school. A new position will be created, a curriculum data integrator, to assist with the collection and analysis of districtwide data and the implementation of data-driven decisions in the classroom. The proposal also maintains current funding levels for various performing arts programs, and expands academic intevention and after-school programs at the middle and elementary schools. Counseling services would also be improved under the plan. The proposal maintains funding for districtwide technology, and also provides funding for implementation of new mandates and increases in contractual expenses. Equipment replacement reserves (music, vehicles, buildings and grounds, furniture, athletic uniforms) would also increase.

The proposed budget also called for the creation of a capital reserve fund, or savings account, to meet the long-term capital construction needs of the district. The initial contribution would be $200,000, and over 15 years, the fund would grow to $10,000,000. The money would be used in future capital improvement projects so that no local contribution would be required.

After discussion of both the budget and capital reserve proposals, Board members agreed the tax levy increase should be held to a minimum given the current economic climate. They further agreed that, although a savings account for future construction was a sound idea, an investment of funds in the account would present a major challenge in 2008-09. They requested a revised budget proposal that would utilize some or all of the $200,000 that would otherwise be invested in the capital reserve instead to trim the tax levy increase to a range under two percent. The capital fund mechanism, subject to voter approval, would be created for use in future years, but it would remain unfunded for the time being. A revised budget will be presented at the April 22 meeting and acted upon by the board. There is potential for an additional work session on the budget on April 7, if needed, based upon board members' responses to requested revisions due from business administrator Silvaroli.

DISCUSSION/WORK SESSION Superintendent Jeffrey Bowen said the next step for CDEP is for administrators to attend a meeting April 10 to work with BOCES facilitators on a new framework for the plan. This framework is to be shared with the larger CDEP committee at its next meeting.

The board policy committee will review a revised policy no. 3210 regarding school visitors. Meanwhile, the dismissal policy for walkers and related security procedures are being reviewed.

Arcade principal Kevin Munro said his school was cooperating with the Village of Arcade in attempting to secure a $500,000 grant to improve walkways and the safety of student walkers.

Delevan's recent PTA family fun night raised $970 for the local food pantry.

High school students enrolled in Advanced Studies courses at Genesee Community College during this school year had received college credits worth an estimated $29,424. The same credits would have cost $78,000 in traditional courses at GCC, $110,000 at a SUNY 4-year college, and $361,000 at the average private 4-year college.

Middle school officials said that Pioneer had been included among 47 middle schools nationwide who were cited in the Essential Elements:Schools to Watch program. A nationwide press release has been issued with the final list of winners.

NEW BUSINESS Approved: • the second reading and adoption of policy #7421 Sports and Coaching

• a budget transfer in the amount of $19,000.00 from operations reserve contractual to gasoline – First Student to cover the cost of gasoline

• the out-of-state field trip request for the high school Holocaust class to go to Washington, D.C. on May 14th 2008 for students to visit the United States Holocaust Museum. • the out-of-state field trip request for the Pioneer Marching Band to go to Orlando, Florida, November 24th – November 30th 2008 for students to participate in a recording session at Disney Studios.

• the establishment of a three-credit course sequence required for Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) certification and Career and Technical Education (CTE) diploma endorsement.

• the legal wording for the May 20 budget vote and school board election

• the following tax refunds:

TOWN PROPERTY OWNER ORIGINAL BILL AMOUNT PAID CORRECTED BILL AMOUNT AMOUNT OF REFUND REASON FOR REFUND Yorkshire James & Julie Woodruff $952.47 $717.77 $237.70 Change in Assessment

TOWN PROPERTY OWNER ORIGINAL BILL AMOUNT PAID CORRECTED BILL AMOUNT AMOUNT OF REFUND REASON FOR REFUND Arcade Crossroads Church $1,046.22 $0 $1,046.22 The property is tax exempt

PERSONNEL The following termination was approved:

EMPLOYEE POSITION DATE EFFECTIVE Faith Fuller Substitute Food Service Helper 04/02/2008

The following resignations were approved:

EMPLOYEE POSITION DATE SUBMITTED DATE EFFECTIVE Notes Sarah Tobin Art Teacher 03/17/2008 07/01/2008 Retiring with 28 years of service to the district

Rosalie Heary Teaching Assistant 03/17/2008 06/30/2008 Retiring with 26 years of service to the district

Terri Lee Grden Physical Education 03/17/2008 07/01/2008 Retiring with 35 years of service to the district

Grace Redding Teaching Assistant 03/17/2008 06/27/2008 Retiring with 21 years of service to the district

Michael Parzymieso English Teacher 03/28/2008 04/11/2008 EMPLOYEE POSITION DATE SUBMITTED DATE EFFECTIVE Notes Nancy Nelson Special Education Teacher 03/31/2008 07/01/2008Retiring with 37 years of service to the District

Kathy Vetter Elementary Teacher 04/01/2008 07/01/2008 Retiring with 36 years of service to the District

Christine Reisdorf Elementary Teacher 03/31/2008 07/01/2008 Retiring with 22 years of service to the District

Sue Tanner Special Education Teacher3/31/2008 07/01/2008 Retiring with 37 years of service to the District

Emma Jean Nelson Teacher Aide03/31/2008 06/30/2008 Retiring with 26 years of service to the District

These leaves of absence were approved:

EMPLOYEE POSITION DATE SUBMITTED DATE EFFECTIVE COMMENTS Joann May Teacher 03/17/2008 04/11/2008 – approximately 06/06/2008 This is a medical leave under FMLA

Jill Holbrook Director of Computer Operations 03/24/2008 05/21/2008 – approximately June 9, 2008 This is family leave under FMLA

Ravo Root Principal 03/28/2008 03/20/2008 – 03/30/2008 This is medical leave under FMLA

EMPLOYEE POSITION DATE SUBMITTED DATE EFFECTIVE COMMENTS Linda Gominiak Food Service Helper 03/28/2008 04/08/2008 This is for family leave not covered under FMLA. This adds one day to the original request that was approved on the 3/18 agenda.

The following non-instructional appointment was approved:

NAME POSITION EFFECTIVE DATE Amie Petri Computer Technology Assistant Increase position from .5 FTE to . 75 FTE May 19, 2008

These substitute teacher/tutor appointments were made:

NAME DEGREE CERTIFICATION GRADE LEVEL SUBJECTS Jared Adelson MS Elementary Education (initial) Students with Disabilities Grades 1-6 (initial) All All Mary Chella MA Math 7-12 (permanent) N-6 (permanent) All All Melissa Costello BS Childhood Education Grades 1-6 (initial) All All Carol Grosstephan MS Early Childhood Education Birth – Grade 2 (pending) All All Bryan Guarnier MEd School Counselor (provisional) All All Melissa Hallock AS N/A All All Kristen Hortman BS Business and Marketing (pending) All All Mary Koehler MLS School Media Specialist (provisional) All All Cynthia May AS N/A All All Samantha Molnar BA Early Childhood Education Birth – Grade 2 Childhood Education Grades 1-6 (initial) All All Brittany Paveljack N/A N/A All All Lauren Rezabek BS English 7-12 (initial) All All Heather Stampone BS Visual Arts (initial) All All Pamela Flanigan AS N/A All All Patricia Herold BA N/A All All Carey Hurlburt N/A N/A All All

These volunteer appointments were made:

BUILDING/ACTIVITY NAME Ham Radio Club Joe Claus Tennis Coach Bill Pukalo

CSE/CPSE RECOMMENDATIONS All were approved.