Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Call to Order at 7:03 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Laurin, Board President. *** At this time, there was a Moment of Silence in memory of those lost in the Florida school shooting. Emergency Exit Review was reviewed by Mr. Laurin, Board President. Board Members Present were Mr. A. Beaty, Mrs. L. Gormley, Ms. J. Houghton, Mr. G. Laurin and Mr. J. Patire. Also present was Ms. P. Cottrell, District Clerk, Mr. K. Facin, Superintendent of Schools, Mrs. P. Hatfield, School Business Admin, Mr. P. Dailey, High School Principal, Mrs. K. Philpott, Director of Special Education and Mrs. S. Fleming, Assistant Elementary Principal. Board Member Absent was Mrs. R. Boisvert and Mr. J. Helft. HFTA Report: Amy Ferullo Board Presentations: None Board Forum / Discussion: 1. Capital Project Community Facilities Committee - Mr. Beaty opened the discussion thanking those that came to the meeting to voice their perspectives. - Mr. Facin followed Mr. Beaty by thanking those that attended as well. Those that attended had an opportunity to speak to the board members. - Resident Tom Vallone spoke in support of putting the project back up to the public to vote on once again. He stated that the public voted to have you be their representative and they should trust you and they then voted the project down. Mr. Vallone stated that voting for deterioration of the school means voting on deterioration of the community. - Kim Hayden, faculty member, stated that the district needs the capital project for many reasons. For example, her classroom needs upgraded electric as she can t plug in equipment without having sparks fly and upgrading the lighting, as both are safety issues and both are needed throughout the building. - Mr. Laurin expressed to everyone that the turf football field was not in the previous project and will not be in this project as well. The district did mass mailings and held several meetings that were poorly attended. - Mr. Beaty stated that the community had miscommunication, not from the district, but from other social media. We need to get better communication out there on facebook and social media. - Resident Peg Bakaitis asked if the public knows how to vote. The school should put information in the papers on how to vote. - Mr. Laurin stated that we need to change our marketing tactics. - Mr. Facin stated that no one has said not to put the project back up for vote. - Jennifer Wells, faculty member, asked if the location of the vote could be changed or do multiple locations. - Resident Dennis Casey stated that the message needs to go out to the community on who they can call with questions and they need to understand the importance of this project. Board President s Report: - It is the board s responsibility to provide a safe environment for students and staff. We need to speak to our local representatives to have them act on school safety. - Mr. Laurin asked the board members if they would empower him to craft a letter in defense of our children s safety. *** A motion was made by Mr. Laurin seconded by Mr. Beaty to allow Mr. Laurin to draft a letter to our local representatives asking them to move forward to ensure the safety of our children. - Mr. Facin asked the board for direction from them in obtaining an SRO (School Resource Officer) for our school and to put this cost into the 2018-19 school budget. *** A motion was made by Mr. Patire seconded by Mr. Beaty to direct Mr. Facin to add an SRO (School Resource Officer) into the 2018-19 school budget.
Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 Public Comment Session on agenda items only: Started at 8:08 pm and Ended at 8:08 pm - None Approval of Minutes: 1. A motion was made by Mr. Patire seconded by Mrs. Gormley to approve the Board Minutes of January 18, 2018 Regular Meeting. Superintendent s Report: 1. 1 st Draft of 2018-2019 Budget - Elementary Programs - Secondary Programs - Special Education Programs - Enrollment and Class Size Review School Business Administrator s Report: 1. 1 st Draft of 2018-2019 Budget - Elementary Programs - Secondary Programs - Special Education Programs - Enrollment and Class Size Review - Mrs. Hatfield stated that the proposed budget is $85,000 less than the current school year budget. Mrs. Hatfield stated that the cost of health insurance is not firm and that the TRS cost has gone up and the ERS cost has gone down. - Mr. Facin stated that it is his goal to stay under the tax cap which would mean a small reduction in the tax levy. Administrator s Report: 1. 1 st Draft of 2017-2018 Budget - Special Education: Proposed 2018-19 Budget Report - K-6 Elementary School: Proposed 2018-19 Budget Report - 7-12 Secondary School: Proposed 2018-19 Budget Report New Board Actions: A. Leaves / Resignations: 1. A motion was made by Mr. Patire seconded by Mr. Beaty to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Pamela Ann Hatfield as School Business Administrator, effective June 30, 2018 with deep regret. 2. A motion was made by Mrs. Houghton seconded by Mrs. Gormley to accept the resignation from Emily Sanders, School District Treasurer, effective July 1, 2018. 3. A motion was made by Mrs. Gormley seconded by Mr. Patire to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Paul Danforth as Custodial Worker, effective March 29, 2018 with deep regret. 4. A motion was made by Mrs. Gormley seconded by Mr. Patire to accept the resignation of Josh Wyan as Teacher of Math, effective June, 30, 2018. 5. A motion to was made by Mrs. Houghton seconded by Mrs. Gormley accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Heather Brooks as School Lunch Manager, effective June 30, 2018 with deep regret.
Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 B. Appointments: 1. A motion was made by Mrs. Gormley seconded by Mr. Patire to approve the appointment of Emily Sanders as School Business Administrator, effective July 1, 2018 with a salary of $110,000. The use of a consent agenda permits the Board of Education to make more effective use of its time by adopting a single motion to cover those relatively routine matters which are included. Any member of the Board who wishes to discuss a particular piece of business on the consent agenda may request that item to be transferred to the regular agenda for consideration and a separate vote. A motion was made by Mr. Beaty seconded by Mrs. Gormley to approve by Consent Vote, items #2 through #8. 2. to approve the appointment of Christine Daigle, Teacher of Literacy, effective February 6, 2018 through June 30, 2018, at Step A with a salary of $44,717 pro-rated to $21,687.73. Ms. Daigle has been cleared by NYSED. 3. to approve the following Extra-Curricular and Activities for the 2017-2018 school year as written per HFTA Contract: Baseball Assistant Coach Tyler Rondeau (3) Modified Coach John Curtis Whitman (1) Softball J.V. Coach Olivia Schneider (1) Lacrosse Varsity Coach Elizabeth Leva (1) 4. to approve the change in title of Julia Kelly from Teacher Aide to Teaching Assistant for 6.5 hours/day, effective January 23, 2018 at Step 2 at $11.66 per hour. 5. to approve the change in appointment for Evan Morier from a non-certified substitute teacher without a BA degree at $70 per day to a non-certified substitute teacher with a BA degree at $75 per day effective November 4, 2016. 6. to approve the appointment of Robert Fournier as a non-certified substitute teacher with a BA degree at a rate of $75 per day, as a substitute teacher aide, substitute teaching assistant and a substitute school bus attendant at a rate of $10.40 per hour, effective January 18, 2018, contingent upon clearance from NYSED. 7. to approve the following volunteers for the 2017-2018 school year as follows: Philip Couch Jr. Rifle Club Robert Abbott Varsity Softball 8. to approve the decrease in assignment for Karen Sherman from 6.5 hours/day teacher aide and 1 hour/day school bus attendant to 6.5 hours/day teacher aide and.5 hours/day school bus attendant, effective January 22, 2018. C. Miscellaneous: 1. A motion was made by Mrs. Gormley seconded by Mr. Beaty to approve the following school tax refund as authorized by Rensselaer County Bureau of Tax Services: Theodore Walawender, Town of Pittstown $595.23
Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 The use of a consent agenda permits the Board of Education to make more effective use of its time by adopting a single motion to cover those relatively routine matters which are included. Any member of the Board who wishes to discuss a particular piece of business on the consent agenda may request that item to be transferred to the regular agenda for consideration and a separate vote. A motion was made by Mr. Beaty seconded by Mrs. Gormley to approve by Consent Vote, items #2 through #8. 2. to approve the January 2018 Treasurer s Report. 3. to accept the Claims Auditors Checklist for the following warrants: #80 Federal Fund ck # 325 Trust & Agency ck # 1461 to 1470 Cafeteria Fund ck # 890 General Fund ck # 10734 #81 General Fund ck # 10735 to 10799 Federal Fund ck # 326 Trust & Agency ck # 1471 to 1476 Cafeteria Fund ck # 891 to 899 #82 General Fund ck # 10800 to 10801 #84 General Fund ck # 10802 Federal Fund ck # 327 Trust & Agency ck # 1477 to 1485 Cafeteria Fund ck # 900 #85 General Fund ck # 10803 to 10867 Cafeteria Fund ck # 901 to 902 Trust & Agency ck # 1486 to 1487 Federal Fund ck # 328 4. to approve the 2 nd and final reading of the following board policies: (1 st reading was done at the January 18, 2018 boe meeting) #1230 Public Participation at Board Meetings #1530 Smoking and Other Tobacco Use on School Premises #2160 School District Officer and Employee Code of Ethics #2330 Executive Sessions #4321.12 Use of Time Out Rooms, Physical Restraints and Aversives #4321.12-R Use of Time Out Rooms Regulation #4526.1 Internet Safety #4526.1-R Internet Safety Regulation #5460 Child Abuse, Maltreatment or Neglect in a Domestic Setting #5460-R Child Abuse, Maltreatment or Neglect in a Domestic Setting Regulation #6240 Investments #6240-R Investments Regulation 5. to accept the gift/donation from Hoosick Falls Central PTA, in the amount of $1,000, to be used toward the Parents As Reading Partners program. 6. to approve to enter into an agreement with UnME2, Inc. for school bus GPS tracking, in the amount of $5,472 per year (24 buses-$19 per month/per bus). 7. to abolish one 6.5 hours/day Teacher Aide position effective January 23, 2018 (vice Julia Kelly)
Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 8. to accept the RFP for Internal Audit Services from Michael T. Wolff, CIA for the following period: 2017-18 - $3,825 to $6,375 for a 6-10 day maximum ($637.50/day) 2018-19 - $4,050 to $6,750 for a 6-10 day maximum ($675/day) 2019-20 - $4,275 to $7,125 for a 6-10 day maximum ($712.50/day) Committees: a. Facilities Green: J. Helft, Chair; A. Beaty, G. Laurin b. Audit Committee: L. Gormley, Chair; A. Beaty, J. Patire - February 15, 2018 @ 6:00 PM c. Policy Committee: J. Patire, Chair; R. Boisvert, J. Houghton Old Board Actions: None Board Correspondence: None CSE Recommendations: A motion was made by Mr. Beaty seconded by Mrs. Gormley to approve appropriate special education programs and services to be provided to students with disabilities as recommended by the Committee on Special Education. Subsequent Meeting Dates: - The Board of Education will hold its Regular Meeting on March 15, 2018 @ 7:00 PM in the high school library. 2 nd Public Comment Session: Started at 9:04 pm Ended at 9:25 pm. Board Forum: This is an opportunity for Board members to ask clarifying questions. Executive Session: A motion was made by Mr. Patire seconded by Mrs. Gormley to go into Executive Session to discuss Pending Litigation and Specific Personnel at 9:04 PM. * There will be no board actions following this Executive Session. A motion was made by Mrs. Gormley seconded by Mr. Patire to return to Regular Session at 9:25 PM. Adjournment: A motion was made by Mr. Patire seconded by Mrs. Gormley to Adjourn the meeting at 9:26 PM.