24 Valley Road, Stanhope, New Jersey Media Center Regular Meeting Minutes 7:00 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance The Regular Meeting of the was called to order on January 14, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center at the Valley Road School, 24 Valley Road, Stanhope, New Jersey 07874. Board Members present included: Erin Maiello, Gil Moscatello, Cynthia Percarpio, Marie Van Ness, and Gina Thomas. Donna Kali was absent. Also attending were Timothy Nicinski, Superintendent, Steven Hagemann, Principal/Supervisor, and Carissa Berkowicz, Interim Board Secretary. There were 3 community members present and 4 faculty members present. Sunshine Law Statement N.J.S.A. 10:4-8d; N.J.S.A. 10:4-10a This is to advise the general public and to instruct that it be recorded in the minutes that in compliance with Chapter 231 of the Public Laws of 1975, entitled the Open Public Meetings Act,, located at 24 Valley Road, Stanhope, New Jersey, has caused this notice to be posted at the office of the, mailed to the New Jersey Herald, the Municipal Clerk of the Borough of Stanhope, the Stanhope Post Office, and posted at the Valley Road School and Linden Avenue School, setting forth the time, date, and location of the meeting. Mission Statement The Stanhope School District will provide a diverse and challenging educational environment that encourages individual initiatives, fosters success through teamwork, promotes accountability, demonstrates a passion for educational excellence and ensures student achievement related to the Core Curriculum Content Standards. The Stanhope School District is committed to the development of our students and staff, so that individual aspirations can be achieved throughout their lifetime. Presentations 1. Curriculum Presentation Mark Fiedorczyk Mr. Fiedorczyk gave an overview of Rubicon and how curriculum writing works with the new system. He also explained how the system will be used by the teachers in order to collaborate information amongst the regional districts.
Correspondence 1. Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation (attachment #1) 2. Mrs. Young (attachment #2) Superintendent s Report Mr. Timothy Nicinski 1. HIB/ABS/Suspensions (1 investigation) 2. HIB Survey 2013-2014 State Certification 3. Teacher of the Year Mrs. Sargent 4. NJSBA Board Appreciation Month Thank you. Personnel & Curriculum Committee Meeting Update Mrs. Erin Maiello (Chair) None Business Services Committee Meeting Update Mr. Gil Moscatello (Chair) 1. Roof Project, Lease Purchase Update 2. Bids will be awarded at the February meeting 3. Financial options offered to employees for voluntary contributions Policy Committee Meeting Update Mrs. Donna Kali (Chair) None Sussex County Educational Services Commission Update Mr. Gil Moscatello 1. Three new members beginning February 2015 2. Budget Process 3. County Wide Programs 2
Board President s Report Mrs. Gina Thomas 1. Board Vacancy posted to the public on January 8, 2015. Letter of Interest and Resume deadline is February 4, 2015. Interviews and appointment will take place at the February meeting. Public Session #1 Agenda Items Policy #0167; Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to five (5) minutes duration, during times when an audience of ten (10) or more residents exists. Ms. Ferrer (Community Member) Congratulations to Mrs. Sargent as Teacher of the Year. Travel & Workshop Reports 1. Maryann Simpson (attachment #3) 2. Keith Morrissey (attachment #4) 3. Timothy Nicinski (attachment #5) Minutes for Approval A motion was presented by Gil Moscatello, and seconded by Marie Van Ness, to approve the Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion to approve the 1. December 10, 2014 (attachment #6) 2. December 10, 2014 Executive Session Meeting Minutes (attachment #7) 3. December 16, 2014 Special Meeting Minutes (attachment #8) Administrative Action Items A motion was presented by Cynthia Percarpio, and seconded by Gil Moscatello, to approve the Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion to approve the following Administrative action items: 3
1. Approve the Suspension and Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Report. (attachment #9) 2. WHEREAS, The New Jersey School Boards Association has declared January 2015 to be School Board Recognition Month, a time that all residents might acknowledge the contributions made by our local school board members; and WHEREAS, The is one of more than 581 local school boards in New Jersey that sets policies and oversees operations for public school districts; and WHEREAS, The embraces the goal of highquality education for all New Jersey public school students; and WHEREAS, New Jersey s local school boards help determine community goals for the education of approximately 1.4 million children in prekindergarten through 12 th grade; and WHEREAS, New Jersey s 4,800 local school board members, who receive no remuneration for their services, act as advocates for public school students as they work with administrators, teachers and parents for the betterment of public education; and WHEREAS, School boards strive to provide the resources necessary to meet the needs of all students, including those with special needs; and WHEREAS, Boards of education provide accountability to the public; they communicate the needs of the school district to the public; and they convey to school administrators the public s expectations for the schools; and WHEREAS, New Jersey can take pride in its schools, which rank among the nation s best in indicators such as high school graduation rates, class size, college entrance exam participation, and Advanced Placement offerings and test scores. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the, does hereby recognize the services of local school board members throughout New Jersey as we join communities statewide in observing January 2015 as SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH; and be it further RESOLVED, That the urges all New Jersey citizens to work with their local boards of education and public school staffs toward the improvement of our children s education. 4
Education Action Items A motion was presented by Erin Maiello, and seconded by Cynthia Percarpio, to approve the Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion to approve the following Education action items: 1. Approve the trips for the 2014-2015 school year as per attached. (attachment #10) 2. Approve the Stanhope basketball Team to participate in the 2015 Hardyston Basketball Tournament on February 2 5, 2015. The entrance fee is $110.00 per team, participation pending invitational seeding. Personnel Action Items A motion was presented by Erin Maiello, and seconded by Cynthia Percarpio, to approve the Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion to approve the following Personnel action items: 1. Approve appointment of the following individuals as substitute teacher(s) for the 2014-2015 school year pending criminal history review clearance, where necessary: Name Position Certificate Heather McDevitt Substitute Teacher Teacher Certificate 2. Retroactively approve increase of hours worked per week for Donna Bigley, Instructional Aide, from 15 hours per week to 20 hours per week, effective January 5, 2015 for the 2014-2015 school year. 3. Approve appointment of the following individual as student teacher effective January 20, 2015 through May 7, 2015 pending criminal history review clearance: Name Position Stanhope Teacher Brynne O Neill Student Teacher Ms. Pipher 5
Business Services Action Items A motion was presented by Gil Moscatello, and seconded by Erin Maiello, to approve the Upon recommendation of the Superintendent, motion to approve the following Business Services action items: 1. Approve the line item appropriation transfers for the month of November 2014 as recommended by the Superintendent and the Interim Business Administrator. (attachment #11) 2. Approve the Treasurer s Report for the month of November 2014. (attachment #12) 3. Approve the Board Secretary s report for the month of November 2014. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.12(c) that as of November 30, 2014, no line item account has encumbrances and expenditures, which in total exceed the line item appropriation in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(a). Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23.2.14(c) 4, the, after review of the Board Secretary s and Treasurer s monthly financial reports certify that as of November 30, 2014 and upon consultation with the appropriate district officials, to the best of our knowledge, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11 ant that sufficient funds are available to meet the district s financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. (attachment #13) 4. Approve the December 6, 2014 through December 31, 2014 bill list in the amount of $374,382.03. (attachment #14) 5. Approve the January 1, 2015 through January 9, 2015 bill list in the amount of $110,249.38. (attachment #15) 6. Approve the November 1, 2014 through November 30, 2014 bill list for the Cafeteria Account in the amount of $493.17. (attachment #16) 7. Approve the December 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 bill list for the Cafeteria Account in the amount of $15,299.70. (attachment #17) 8. Approve the November 1, 2014 through November 30, 2014 bill list for the Student Activity Account in the amount of $263.00. (attachment #18) 9. Approve the December 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 bill list for the Student Activity Account in the amount of $1,536.96. (attachment #19) 10. Approve the November 1, 2014 through November 30, 2014 bill list for the Eighth Grade Account in the amount of $3,953.25. (attachment #20) *Note: The Eight Grade Account had no activity for the month of December 2014. 11. Adopt the following Resolution regarding the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act Grant Agreement between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Stanhope Borough School District: 6
RESOLVED, that the Stanhope Borough Board of Education authorizes the execution and delivery of the Grant Agreement for the Partial Reroofing Project at Valley Road Elementary School, and delegates authority to the School Business Administrator for supervision of this School Facilities Project. 12. Amend the 403B Plan Document to authorize payroll deductions for Tax Shelter Investments to Lincoln Financial Group, AXA Equitable and Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc. effective 2/1/2015. 13. Approve the Facilities Use Requests as per attached. (attachment #21) 14. Approve the Professional Development Requests as per attached. (attachment #22) 15. Approve the January 10, 2015 through bill list in the amount of $922.31. (attachment #23) 16. Approve the additional Facilities Request as per attached. (attachment #24) New Business 1. Mr. Moscatello commented on the Foreign Language Program at the high school. Old Business 1. Mrs. Percarpio asked if the State made sample PARCC testing available for anyone to practice or review. Mr. Nicinski directed anyone to view the State website where there are links to allow anyone to voluntarily take a sample test. Mr. Hagemann stated that the main focus of training at this time for the faculty is how to administer the electronic test since it has been a paper copy test in the past. Public Session #2 Non Agenda Items Policy #0167; Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to five (5) minutes duration, during times when an audience of ten (10) or more residents exists. Ms. Ferrer (Community Member) Stated that in years past, foreign language programs were offered to students as an afterschool activity. 7
Ms. Ferrer also asked how the district could bring back afterschool activities for the students. Mrs. Thomas stated that the process first starts at the budget level, then it can go towards parent volunteer groups. Mr. Nicinski followed with a need of interest in the activities and that surveys would need to be offered to see what the students interests are. Mrs. Scharfstein (Community Member) Mrs. Scharfstein suggested that the community may use the Byram Recreation afterschool programs. There are many programs offered and the program may be interested in housing some of the programs at the Stanhope School if the interest is there. She also mentioned that the Mt. Olive afterschool programs are available to Stanhope residents. Mrs. Scharfstein questioned the loss of the gym availability to the BASC program, therefore causing gaming devices as a form on entertainment in the program instead of physical activity. Adjournment A motion was presented by Gil Moscatello, and seconded by Cynthia Percarpio, that the adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. Voice vote: All in favor voice vote of all board members present. Respectfully submitted, Carissa A. Berkowicz Interim Board Secretary Approved 8