The Board of Education of the Carle Place Union Free School District met for a regular meeting on Thursday, September 26, 2013. The meeting began in the High School Band Room and called to order by President Dennis 7:00 PM. Pledge: President Dennis At 7:01 PM Trustee Bulzomi made a motion to enter executive session to discuss negotiations, seconded by Vice President LoCurto. Motion adopted 5-0. At 7:55 PM Trustee Zaino made a motion to enter public session in the Auditorium, seconded by Trustee DiFrisco. Motion adopted 5-0. At 8:02 PM President Dennis called the meeting to order in the Auditorium. PRESENT: Barry M. Dennis President Joseph LoCurto Vice President Lawrence F. Zaino, Jr. Trustee John DiFrisco Trustee Anthony Bulzomi Trustee David Flatley Superintendent Anthony J. Cedrone Assistant Superintendent for Business Christine Finn Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Personnel Eileen Fredericks Executive Assistant to the Superintendent for Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services Richard Guercio Attorney Randy Glasser Attorney Susan Eliasoph District Clerk STAFF: Mary Donnelly Diane Cecere Maureen Hay Jennifer Dintino Erika Fallik Lauren Perazzo Joan Caliendo Alice LaPoma Sherry Ostroff Ed Abdale Iris Battino Laura Ryan Carol Kilgallin Christina Cole Richard Greenberg Tina Florentino Joy Champion Julie Fitzgerald Claire Sohn Lena Melchore Caryl Lorandini Jim Cunningham Susan Finnell Deidre Robson Pat Thornton Marianne Lannig Lynn Benov Jean Marie DiDomenico Iris Battino Alison Klein Daniel Krause Allen Foraker Chris Ceruti Jenique Nijboer Thomas DePaola Marilyn Manfredi Susan Folkson Beth Morrow Luisa Williams Donna Gross Joanne Royals Carol Nesdill 139
Lauri Lewitas Jennifer Iadanza Jeanne Cunningham Jennifer Sussman Elizabeth Gilmartin Joyce Ragon John Caifa Vicky Cornicello Eileen Mazaroski Steven Leffler Hossy Habashzada Patricia Thorton Rebecca Murrell Michelle Rusinyak Maddalena Buffalino Debra Rubin Timothy Leary Diane Chen Lauren Palma Rosa Perifimos Mary McDermott Andrew Thiem Sandra Dietz MaryJo Dellino Janet Paradine Maryann Torrani Bart Mullin Tiffany Claeson Susan Bourla Deborah Suss Theodora Cottell Joanne McRory Robin Green Pat Ramsawak Juanita Santoro Michael Bello Carolyn Cowan Christopher Grieco Susan Klat Douglas Brett Julie Tusa Elizabeth Schaefer-Fokas Angelo Cocchiola Kathleen Marconi Lisa Laudante Michele Pakula Barbara Carney Ann Marie Vasheo Linda Kahner Theresa McCarrick Jennifer Yannacone Andrea Macario Melissa Mehling Alexis Krummenacker Julie Norman Marian Carnesi Barbara Ziminski Cherie Gisondi Nicole Mulhearn Kieran Morris RESIDENTS/ GUESTS: Carla Garcia Bobby McLaughlin Maryann McKeon Christina Truskievicz Benny Shear Luciana Tuman Jeanine Gallina Arthur Schnee Catherine Azzara Linda Grisafi Christopher Goulrod Brian Dennelly Kevin Pollott J. Cotter Hadiah Chiappone Val Maiale Lynda Cohen Laurie Papa Alyssa Papa J. Lannig Colleen Fitzpatrick Kevin Kilgallin Christine Grayson Nunzia Buffolino Dee Wojis Nelida Dealmeida Gemmell Missy Nichols Stephanie Kaebirer Nicolas Geerherts Mary Mayrick Laura Sheridan Jenny Amendolare Tara Lynch Allison Maffeltore 140
Jeanne Cunningham Jeremy Fitzgibbon - Elmont Tim Smith -Elmont Wantagh United Teachers Beth Bozone Bellmore-Merrick United Teachers Michele Mosca Sue Siegler Maureen Cromwell Kevin Blumberg Chris Brown Jordana Cohen Cindy Pavlic Paul Steck Lori O Leary Samantha Leone Esther Stone Jared Stone Judith Stone Seth Brechtel Andrea Cucchiara Sandy Lara Eileen Mazanla Rosemarie Zanu Elizabeth Schaefer Fokas Greg Cola Dean Cola Christa Klatsky MaryBeth Pisani Thomas Pisani Dennis Graham Sania Duarte Kathy Gilmore Christine Lupo Susan Can-Wantagh United Teachers Juanita Santoro James Morris Alison Thoben Carolyn Bunt Michael Elrod Kelly Bocchicchio Loretta Fowler Andrea Bergin Chris Hoisik Theresa McCarrick Lauren Binenbaum Emily Mullin Andrea Macario Gina Holm Jennifer Lamond-Syosset Teachers Association Laura Campner Herricks Herricks Teachers Association Amy Halpin Herricks Nicole Fagnani Herricks NidyaDegliomini- Herricks Michelle Scibilia Richard Winter Natalie Schwarts John Concich- WTA Christine Corbett Tara Ardizzone Lisa Werny Vic Werny Lisa Maccone Yansi Romero Jennifer Selhorn Jeanne Petti Patricia Beary Tara Kelly Jean Flecker Elouise Meyer Sarah DeSimone Nick Buffallino Lisa Mullin Anita Sasso Lisa Mancuso Michael Mancuso Cristina Abbatiello Nancy Ruise Lori Davico Linda Bonasia Karen Baxter Lindsay Sandler Westbury Alexa Satal Westbury L. Lopes- Westbury Samantha Cedeno Westbury Brad Pine Paul Cleri Pledge: Vice President LoCurto Prayer: Trustee Zaino 141
AGENDA CALL TO ORDER RECOGNITION: Perfect Regents Examination Scores Presented by Mr. Thomas DePaola Mr. DePaola presented certificates to the following students for receiving a perfect score on their Regents examinations. Emily Fowler Comprehensive English Teacher: Mrs. Klatsky Sarah Giglio Comprehensive English Teacher Mrs. Klatsky Danielle Grieco US History and Government Teacher Ms. Caliendo Sarah Laga Comprehensive English Mrs. Klatsky Sarah Laga Global Studies and Geography Ms. Buffalino Sarah Laga Algebra 2 and Trigonometry Mrs. Sasso Francesca Lim US History and Government Ms. Caliendo Rachael Martines US History and Government Ms. Caliendo Thomas Monahan Comprehensive English Mrs. Klatsky Alec Visslailli Comprehensive English Mr. Woythaler The Board members congratulated the students and their teachers on this wonderful accomplishment. 1. Approve: Minutes of the Board of Education Meeting for: 1.1 August 22, 2013 Vice President LoCurto made a motion to approve the August 22, 2013 meeting minutes, seconded by Trusted Zaino. Motion adopted 5-0. COMMENTS: PRESIDENT DENNIS President Dennis welcomed everyone in attendance to the meeting. He congratulated the students for receiving perfect scores on their Regents exams, and he also congratulated their instructors. Due to the large number of people in attendance, President Dennis reviewed the format of the meeting. He stated that visitors comments on agenda items only would be addressed first, and thereafter the board would permit a one hour period for visitors to make remarks during the open comment section of the meeting. He requested that if anybody wanted to speak, that they please keep their comments brief so that everybody could be heard. He thanked everyone for attending the meeting. VICE PRESIDENT LOCURTO Vice President LoCurto welcomed everyone for attending the meeting. He congratulated the students who received an award for a perfect score on their Regents and he congratulated their teachers. He thanked all for coming to the meeting. 142
TRUSTEE ZAINO Trustee Zaino welcomed the teachers from our community and teachers from other communities as well to Carle Place. He congratulated the students and the educators involved with the students who succeeded in achieving a perfect score on their Regents exams. Trustee Zaino reminded the audience that Carle Place s Football team will be competing against Mineola tomorrow night and encouraged all to attend. TRUSTEE DIFRISCO Trustee DiFrisco welcomed all for coming to the meeting. He congratulated the students on their accomplishments and he thanked the teachers for all that they do. Trustee DiFrisco reminded everyone that this Saturday is the Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony. He also commented that he attended the student run production of Legally Blonde and stated the students did a great job. TRUSTEE BULZOMI Trustee Bulzomi congratulated the students and their teachers on the perfect scores on the Regents exams and he thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. SUPERINTENDENT Mr. Flatley congratulated the students and their teachers on the exemplary performance on the Regents examinations. He also congratulated the students involved in Legally Blonde for all of their time and effort over the summer. The show was excellent. Visitors comments: none 2. Financial Reports 2.1 Treasurer s Report for August 2013 CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 2.2 General Fund Warrants Period of 08/01/13 to 08/31/13 Warrants # 5, 6 and 7 622,330.34 2.3 Special Aid Fund Warrants # 3 and 4 13,314.51 2.4 Cafeteria Warrant # 1 1,545.41 2.5 Capital Fund Warrant # 2 22,170.22 2.6 Trust and Agency Fund Warrants # 4 and 5 7,941.02 2.7 Budget Status Report All Funds Revenue Status Report All Funds Trial Balance All Funds (Under Separate Cover) 143
3. Personnel NAME SERVICE AREA STEP EFF. DATE 3.1 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education accepts the following non-instructional resignation: Rosa Ragusa Teacher Aide 9/26/13 part-time, substitute District 3.2 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education accepts the following Fall 2013 coaching resignation: Amanda Machado MS (7) Girls Soccer 9/18/13 3.3 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves the following unpaid non-instructional leave of absence: Linda Vergata Teacher Aide/Recreation Aide 9/9/13 Cherry Lane (thru date to be determined) 3.4 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves the following non-instructional appointments: Sandy Hobbs Teacher Aide/ per Teacher Aide 9/27/13 Special Education contract Middle School/High School Joan Hogan Teacher Aide per Teacher Aide 9/27/13 part-time, substitute contract Rushmore Helen Reilly Clerk per Support Staff 9/27/13 part-time, substitute contract District BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the above appointments are subject to and contingent upon approval by the Nassau County Civil Service Commission. 3.5 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves the following non-instructional change of status appointment: Rosa Ragusa Teacher Aide / per Teacher Aide 9/27/13 Special Education contract Rushmore 144
3.6 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves payment to the following individuals for completed curriculum projects as per teachers contract: Steven Leffler Regents Chemistry Lab Manual 20 hours Note: The above-listed curriculum project was approved by the Board of Education on August 9, 2012. Elizabeth Barracato Core Summer Investigation (CSI) for ELL s 13 hours Richard Stein Guitar, grades 7-12 30 hours Note: The above-listed curriculum projects were approved by the Board of Education on August 8, 2013. 3.7 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves the following Rushmore Avenue School Club Advisor appointment for the 2013-2014 school year, per teachers contract: SELECT CHORUS Henry Stanziale 3.8 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education accepts the following Fall 2013 coaching recision: Christina Arvotti MS (8) Girls Soccer Coach effective September 24, 2013 3.9 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves the following coaching appointment: APPOINTMENT FALL SPORTS - 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR Middle School Girls Soccer Tiffany Claeson Middle School Girls Soccer effective September 27, 2013 4. Budget Transfers 4.1 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves a budget transfer in the amount of $1,975.00 from H2035-245-40-0313 (HS Turf Fields-Architect) to H2022-245-20-0313 (RU Playground-Architect) and $37,686.00 from H2035-297-40-0313 (HS Turf Fields-Site Improvement) to H2022-297-20-0313 (RU Playground-Site Improvement) to re-allocate funds for the Rushmore Ave. playground as per the attached. 4.2 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves a budget transfer in the amount of $12,534.00 from A2630.400-90 (Technology-Other Exp.) and $10,256.00 from 145
A1620.474-00 (Telephone) to A2630.490-900010 (BOCES Botie Connectivity) to provide funds for the telephone and internet service provided by Nassau BOCES as per the attached. 4.3 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves a budget transfer in the amount of $12,730.00 from H2034.293-40-0313 (HS Auditorium G/C) to H2036.240-40-0313 (HS Auditorium Abatement-Admin.) to re-allocate auditorium funds for the air monitoring during the ceiling abatement as per the attached. 4.4 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves a budget transfer in the amount of $43,132.74 from H2035.297.40-0313 (HS Turf Fields-Site IMP) to H2000.293.10-0313 (Security Upgrades - CL), $52,491.84 from H2035.297.40-0313 (HS Turf Fields-Site IMP) to H2000.293.20-0313 (Security Upgrades RU) and $62,314.63 from H2035.297.40-0313 (HS Turf Fields-Site IMP) to H2000.293.40-0313 (Security Upgrades HS) to provide funds for the DW security system upgrades as per the attached. 5. Transportation Contract for High School Field Trip 5.1 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education authorizes the District to enter into a transportation contract with L&G Leasing, Inc. dba Paradise Travel for a planned field trip to Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT and to Western Connecticut State University on November 8, 2013. The price is in accordance with quotes received for this service as requested on August 27, 2013 and is within the limits specified for a partial school year contract as per the attached and authorizes the Board of Education President to execute same. 6. Personnel Action Education Law 913 Examination 6.1 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education hereby appoints Dr. Williams as School Medical Inspector pursuant to Section 913 of the New York State Education Law in order to evaluate the fitness of the employee named in the attached confidential Schedule A to perform his duties; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to Section 913 of the New York State Education Law, the Board of Education directs the employee named in the attached confidential Schedule A to appear for a medical examination in the office of Dr. Williams at a date and time to be scheduled. 7. Authorization for Civil Service 7.1 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education declares that the Board of Education President, Barry M. Dennis, as the Chief Fiscal Officer of the Carle Place Union Free School District, is an Appointing Authority for Payroll Certification to the Nassau County Civil Service Commission as per the attached, and the Board of Education authorizes the Board of Education President to execute this authorization with the Nassau County Civil Service Commission. 146
8. Rescission of the 14.1 Resolution Adopted on the August 8, 2013 Agenda 8.1 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves the rescission of the following resolution adopted on August 8, 2013: 14. Carle Place Administrators Association Memorandum of Agreement 14.1 RESOLVED: that the Board of Education approves the Memorandum of Agreement between the Carle Place Union Free School District and the Carle Place Administrators Association as per attached. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the Board of Education authorizes the Board President to execute same. 9. Life Insurance Policy 9.1 RESOLVED: that the life insurance policy providing coverage for Superintendent Flatley be and is hereby renewed for the annual term thereof at a premium not to exceed $800.00. Trustee Zaino made a motion to accept the consent agenda, seconded by Trustee DiFrisco. Motion adopted 5-0. Comments The open comments section of the meeting began when one of the people in the audience made remarks to the Board concerning the teachers contract negotiations. After those remarks, President Dennis read aloud the following letter from the Board of Education to the community which was mailed to residents prior to the meeting. A Message from the Carle Place Board of Education to the Community Regarding the Current Teacher Contract Negotiations Dear Residents: Recently, we, as your elected members of the Carle Place Board of Education, have received questions from community members concerning the status of the school district s negotiations with the Carle Place Teachers Association. We would like the community to know that while we want to negotiate a fair contract with the teachers union, this contract must be fair to our taxpayers as well. There appears to be a lot of inaccurate information circulating in the community concerning the current negotiations, and we would like to set the record straight. The average salary for Carle Place Teachers is $112,435. In this respect, more than 83% of Carle Place teachers are making more than $100,000 per year. In addition, Carle Place teachers receive generous benefits not typically seen in the corporate world, including health insurance for which they only pay 10%. Moreover, they also receive substantial pension benefits upon retirement. 147
As of 2011 (according to data available from the NYS Teachers Retirement System), Carle Place teacher salaries ranked the 14th highest of over 700 public school districts in New York State outside of New York City. Even though the last teachers contract expired on June 30, 2011, the fact is that the teachers are working with a contract. Specifically, under the Triborough Amendment to the Taylor Law, teachers are still working under the terms and conditions of the last contract which expired. This means that for teachers with less than 18 years experience, they continue to receive step increases which have averaged 2.7% of salary per teacher each year, with several teachers receiving as much as 4.7% and no one receiving less than 1.2%. In the first nine years, the lowest increase is 3.5%. The only difference is that teachers do not receive salary increases which are in addition to their step increases. We have just marked the five-year anniversary of the financial meltdown in the United States, and many of us are still coping with the changes that this has wrought. Job loss, job scarcity and negative wage growth have impacted many people, and our community has not been immune to this. In addition, this district, along with others, must attempt to operate within the confines of the new property tax cap which imposes substantial budgetary restrictions upon the district s operations. The revenue limitations posed by the tax cap (projected to be only 1.5% for next year) and the difficult property tax burden that our homeowners face, are significant matters for the Board of Education. These factors limit the extent to which the community can pay for salaries, and these circumstances must be considered in the current negotiations. The rate of growth in school district spending is unsustainable, and salaries and benefits are, by far, the largest portion of our expenditures. Our overriding negotiating guideline is simple: we have to be fair to our taxpayers as well as to our employees. Fairness does not simply mean a contractual resolution that is financially acceptable; it also means that we haven t sacrificed staff, programs and class size in order to fund a settlement. Teacher layoffs are not healthy for individuals, nor for the quality of the school district. Since the spring of 2011, our representatives have met with the Teachers Association on numerous occasions to negotiate a resolution. There were five sessions in 2011 and six in 2012. This year we have held three mediated negotiation sessions, one of which included direct participation by all members of the Board. While we had hoped for progress, significant differences remain. The next mediation session is scheduled for October 21 st, which will be followed by a mediation session with the Board members present on October 23, 2013. While we would like to see a successful end to our contract negotiations, we cannot agree to a resolution which will hurt our taxpayers, severely injure our educational program and prevent us from meeting our expenses. Nevertheless, we will continue to negotiate in good faith in an effort to achieve a fair and equitable settlement. Thank you for your patience and continued support for our schools. Sincerely, The Carle Place Board of Education: Barry M. Dennis, President Joseph LoCurto, Vice President Anthony Bulzomi, Trustee John DiFrisco, Trustee Lawrence F. Zaino, Jr., Trustee 148
Comments continue: Cory Binenbaum Colleen Fitzpatrick Brian McElroy Nick Buffalino Nick Bonsa Eloise Meyer Carol Kilgallin Joe Tragna Jim Morris Alyssa Papa L. Siegler Michelle Scibilia The Board received many comments from residents regarding the following topics: dedicated teachers; need fair contract; negotiate now; disgusted by BOE letter; best school in nation; fabulous test scores; our teachers deserve better; other schools, no contract=no clubs;.highly educated teachers;..inform parents with emergencies/safety concerns; student praise for guidance counselor ; over $34,000 cost per pupil, over $150,000 cost per special ed student;.continue to negotiate what tax payers can afford. Adjournment At 9:10 PM Trustee DiFrisco made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Vice President LoCurto. Motion adopted 5-0. Susan Eliasoph, District Clerk 149