Date November 19, 2009 Kind of Meeting Business Where Held Hunter School Cafeteria Presiding Officer Gerry Loucks, President Brian Byrne, Marc Czermerys, Gerry Loucks, Members Present Eric Thorpe and Rachel Tripsas
Patrick Darfler-Sweeney, Simon Williams Administration Present and Melinda McCool
Marianne Romito and Greg Beall Administrative Support
At 7:34 the meeting was called to order Call to Order by Mr. Loucks.
Motion made by Mrs. Tripsas, Minutes seconded by Mr. Czermerys to 11/5 accept the minutes for 11/5 as presented. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mrs. Tripsas, Payment of Bills seconded by Mr. Thorpe to approve the warrant reports as presented. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
#33 (Gen)012820-012876 $146,134.07 #34 (Caf) 002139-002144 3,685.91
Motion made by Mr. Byrne, Internal Claims Report seconded by Mrs.Tripsas to approve the internal claims auditor’s report as presented. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Chris Rosato, Student Council Representative Student Council to the Board, reported on the Veterans’ Day ceremonies sponsored by the Council. It was a great day and the veterans were invited back to the school for refreshments. Students were able to spend time listening to veterans’ stories about time spent serving their country. Chris also requested board approval for an additional Student Council fundraiser, selling reusable shopping bags. The board will take the request under consideration and get back to Chris.
There was a report from the SPTO on the Lunch SPTO Report Minutes November 19, 2009 with a Grandparent Program. Students were given an opportunity to invite a grandparent to lunch. Mrs. Coloton organized the event and it was wonderful to see both young and old enjoying themselves. The SPTO has also sponsored this school year a staff breakfast, hamburgers for the blast off barbeque and the Elementary back to school dance, the 7th grade campout and honored mini grant requests from teachers. Noted sales are down on their major fundraiser, but plan to continue to contribute as best as they can.
The meeting was opened for public Public Be Heard comment at this time.
Mr. Williams reported the Veterans’ Day Administrative Reports Ceremony was coupled with the Tannersville Mr. Williams Building evacuation procedure and everything went well. Mentioned Brooke Van Fleet scheduled TCI training for selected faculty and staff members. Noted students under the guidance of Angelo Mecca attended State sponsored musical competition in Lake Placid and Dawn Brown has been working with students utilizing podcasts for the daily announcements. Mentioned the honor roll and report cards will be out tomorrow. Basketball season has begun and Mr. Williams listed some of the upcoming tournaments. The Veterans’ Day ceremony was great and the attending veterans were invited back to school for refreshments and spent time speaking with students about their military experiences. Greene County Soil and Water will be coming to meet with students regarding a Spring Landscape Project at the Tannersville School. Mentioned the Talent Show was a great success and a very nice community event. Acknowledged Barbara Slutzky and Amanda Sylak for the successful student run theater production. Minutes November 19, 2009
Mrs. McCool mentioned all non-tenured Mrs. McCool teacher observations are complete. Members of the faculty, staff and administration have been attending a TCI training program arranged by Mrs. VanFleet. Mrs. McCool reported on all the Staff Development sessions planned for staff in November and December. Mentioned the after-school Enrichment programs end on December 10th and she is looking to adding some new and different programs for the spring session. The PK students enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal prepared by Chateau Belleview Chefs March and Uhrich, a Character Education assembly was held on 11/7 honoring local veterans and the NYS 5th grade SS assessment was held on 11/16 & 11/17. Parent-Teacher conferences for the first quarter were held today and it looks like there was a good turn-out. Carolyn Bennett and the Hunter Book Store are collaborating with our teachers and students to create a Storybook Tree Program. Information on the 6 session PE and Friday Hunter Ski Program is going home with students this week. Mentioned the H1N1 vaccination will be available at the Hunter School on Monday for students whose parents signed permission slips. The program is run by the Greene County Health Department.
Mrs. VanFleet distributed information Mrs. VanFleet regarding new State IEP forms and letters and a special education alert regarding RIT for home-schooled students. Also, noted the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training (TCI) is in progress at Hunter with staff and administrators. The final two days of training will take place next Monday and Tuesday.
Greg Beall, School Business Official, Mr. Beall reported on the district financial status Minutes November 19, 2009 as part of the administrative reports. Noted the district is in good shape financially. The lag on State Aid STAR payments may affect the district’s cash flow. Stated the district has planned for its future and maintained a satisfactory fund balance and the special reserve accounts are appropriate. Informed the Board the STAR program, as we know it, may not be in existence down the road. The tax relief program established for qualified seniors may not be available and taxes will increase significantly in the coming years.
Mr. Sweeney reported on the Mr. Sweeney construction project. Mentioned we are at the final 1% of things that need to be finished. Still waiting on the hardware needed to install the security equipment on the ‘03 doors. The equipment for the technology room is arriving regularly. Noted some issues with bare spots in the soccer fields, the contractor has been informed of the issues and photos have been taken. The superintendent stated the soccer field needs to settle for at least another 2 years and the baseball field another year.
Motion made by Mr. Czermerys, Approval: seconded by Mr. Byrne, in accordance CASEBP Board Officer with Article VIA of the Amended Municipal Cooperation Agreement of the Catskill Area Schools Employee Benefit Plan, the governing Board of Directors of the Plan…shall be composed of the Chief Executive Officer or other designated officer of each of the Plan’s participating school districts or municipalities, and is to be selected by each Participant annually and notification sent to the Chairperson of the Board. Minutes November 19, 2009
Now therefore, Patrick Darfler-Sweeney is designated to represent the District on the governing Board of the Catskill Area Schools Employee Benefit Plan for the plan year beginning July 1, 2009. In the event this officer is unable to attend the Board meeting for a specific month the District’s interim designee will be Melinda McCool or Simon Williams or Brooke VanFleet. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Byrne, seconded Approval: by Mr. Czermerys to approve the Coaches Winter Sports’ Coaches for the Winter Sports’ Season 2009-10/ CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Activity Coach Boys Varsity Basketball Chris Glennon Boys JV Basketball Anne Mudge Boys Modified Basketball Robert Cameron Girls Varsity Basketball Jeff Friedman Girls JV Basketball Nate Jones Girls Modified Basketball Rose Petrella-Wilson Varsity Cheerleading Dawn Plattner JV Cheerleading Kate Goodrich Skiing Brent Dearing, Heather Barnett Snowboarding TBD
Motion made by Mr. Thorpe, seconded Resignation: by Mr. Czermerys to accept a letter Cathy Schuman of resignation from Cathy Schuman, Business Teacher, effective 12/14/09. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion Made by Mr. Tripsas, seconded Sub List Addition: by Mr. Czermerys to approve the addition Melissa Seaburg of Melissa Seaburg to the district’s list of substitutes for 2009-10. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Byrne, seconded Retirement: by Mr. Thorpe to accept a letter of Judy Valk retirement from Judy Valk as a Teaching Assistant, effective 1/1/2010 with gratitude Minutes November 19, 2009 for her many years of service to the District. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Czermerys, seconded Amendment to 403b Plan by Mr. Thorpe to approve the following: Whereas, the Hunter-Tannersville maintains the Omni Group 403 (b) Retirement Plan; and Whereas, the Plan was duly adopted on 19 Day of November 2009 by the District’s Board of Education and Whereas, the Board desires to restate and amend the Plan as regards section 2.1 Eligibility; Now, Therefore be it Resolved that section 2.1 of the Plan is hereby restated and amended to read as follows: Eligibility 2.1 Each Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and elect to have Elective Deferrals made on his or her behalf hereunder immediately upon becoming employed by the Employer. Be It Further Resolved that the Plan, as restated and amended is hereby approved and adopted. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Mr. Loucks mentioned at this time that Informational Item Mr. Nick Savin, the newly appointed Superintendent at ONC/BOCES plans to attend HTC’s Board meeting scheduled for 12/17 to discuss how to better serve the communities to which they are connected.
The meeting was opened for public comment Public Be Heard at this time.
At 8:58 on a motion by Mrs. Tripsas, Adjourn to ES seconded by Mr. Czermerys the meeting adjourned to executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular person, contract negotiations and special education placements. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO Respectfully submitted
Norita Johannessen, Clerk Minutes November 19, 2009
At 10:01 on a motion from Mr. Czermerys, Regular Session seconded by Mr. Byrne the meeting was returned to regular session. No executive action taken. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
At 10:02 on a motion from Mrs. Tripsas, Adjourn seconded by Mr. Czermerys the meeting was adjourned. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Darfler-Sweeney Clerk Pro Tem