WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

Long Valley, NJ 07853

 

May 13, 2008

 

Board of Education Web Meeting Summary

7:30 p.m. – Long Valley Middle School Library

 

 

The regular meeting of the Washington Township Board of Education was held on May 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Library of the Long Valley Middle School.

 

CALL TO ORDER

Mrs. Skurchak, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:3 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT

Mr. Greg Antonelle, Mr. Craig Compoli, Mr. Kevin Daly, Mr. James Harmon, Mr. Chance Healy, Mr. Michael Rec, Mr. William Roehrich, Mrs. Michelle Skurchak

 

Mr. John H. Sakala, Interim Superintendent; Mrs. Leslie Schwartz, Assistant Superintendent; and Ms. Liz George, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, were also present.

 

STATEMENT OF MEETING NOTICE

Mrs. Skurchak announced that adequate notice of this meeting was given to the public 48 hours in advance of the date setting forth the date, time, location and type of meeting.  Notice was published on May 2, 2007 in the Daily Record, one of the Board's official newspapers.  The notice was also sent to the Observer Tribune and was posted with the Washington Township Clerk, the Washington Township Municipal Building bulletin board, the Washington Township Schools, and the administration building.  The Board members and public were led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS

Mrs. Skurchak commented on the Everyday Math Night to be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 to see if any board members were attending.  Mrs. Skurchak also reminded board members of the D.A.R.E. Graduation to be held at the Cucinella School on May 30, 2008 with picnic at Rock Spring Park to follow.  Mrs. Skurchak also noted that board committee assignments have been made. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

·         Letter from Brielle Lisa regarding Connected Mathematics

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

There are no committee reports.

 

ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS

Mr. Sakala commented on attending the Police Chief School Safety meeting and the update to the emergency procedures.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

The meeting was opened to the public at 7:48 p.m.  A member of the public commented on emergency procedures.  The meeting was closed to the public at 8:50 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

·         April 29, 2008 regular meeting minutes

·         April 29, 2008 executive session minutes

·         May 6, 2008 regular meeting minutes

·         May 6, 2008 executive session minutes

 

The following items listed under Education, Finance and Personnel were approved:

 

Education

 

1.      Motion to approve Sarah Porter, Raritan Valley College student, to complete 15 hours of observation at the Flocktown-Kossmann School from May 1, 2008 to May 31, 2008 with Ms. Jessica Weber, Ms. Stacy Rispoli, and Ms. Deb Barends as her cooperating teachers and Mr. Robert Grundfest as her college advisor.

 

2.      Motion to approve Christine Cascione, Rutgers University student, to complete Internship at the Long Valley Middle School for the 2008-2009 school year with Ms. Marianne Schmeider as her school district advisor and Dr. Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke as her college advisor.

 

3.      Motion to approve the District Professional Development Plan for the 2008-2009 school year as presented.

 

4.      Motion to approve field trips for the 2007-2008 school year as presented.

 

Finance

 

5.      Motion to accept, with gratitude, the following contributions:

a.       $336.57 from the Flocktown-Kossmann PTA to be used for the Music Department at the Flocktown-Kossmann School.

 

6.      Motion to accept the May 13, 2008 check journal.

 

7.      Motion to approve budget transfers for the 2007-2008 school year as presented.

 

8.      Motion to approve district travel for the 2007-2008 school year as follows:

 

The Chief School Administrator, in accordance with New Jersey Law A-5, the School District Accountability Act, has reviewed the following travel expenditures and found them to be educationally necessary and fiscally prudent.

Name

Event

Date

Location

Not to Exceed

Cynthia Rhodes

Audit and CAFR Preparation Seminar

June 11, 2008

Mt. Olive, NJ

$15.16

Burt Horner

PEOSH Designated Persons Indoor Air Quality Training Course

June 5, 2008

Mt. Olive, NJ

$15.15

John Sakala

High School Issues and the American Diploma Project

May 15, 2008

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$75.00

Leslie Schwartz

High School Issues and the American Diploma Project

May 15, 2008

Mountain Lakes, NJ

$75.00

Kevin Daly

Michelle Skurchak

Morris County School Boards Association Spring Dinner Meeting

May 15, 2008

Rockaway, NJ

-0-

Dr. Marvin Chartoff

Celebrate the Children

May 15, 2008

Byram, NJ

-0-

Christine Polizzo

Celebrate the Children

May 15, 2008

Byram, NJ

$16.50

Nadine Noonan

Celebrate the Children

May 15, 2008

Byram, NJ

-0-

Kathleen Koop

New Jersey School Boards Delegate Assembly

May 17, 2008

Plainsboro, NJ

-0-

 

9.      Motion to award contract to Lang Equipment Co., in the amount of $58,847.00 for locker replacement at the Long Valley Middle School.  Lowest responsible bid received.

 

10.  Motion to approve the following Related Service Providers for the 2007-2008 school year:

 

Provider

Rate

Time

Cost

Elizabeth Marshall Kali*

$65.00

117 hours

$7,605.00

Judy Kulich

$50.00

100 hours

$5,000.00

Renee DeLucca

$95.00

100 sessions

$9,500.00

Carmen Artis

$75.00

50 sessions

$3,750.00

 

*approve submission to the County Superintendent of applications for emergency hiring and the applicant's attestation that he/she has not been convicted of any disqualifying crime pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et. seq., N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 et. seq., of N.J.S.A. 18A:6-4.13 as applicable.

 

Personnel

 

11.  Motion to fill the following posted positions for the 2007-2008 school year at the current rate of pay:

  1. Anita Mihok, part-time Special Education Aide at the Cucinella School, effective May 14, 2008, step 1(1), $7,452.90 prorated.
  2. Joni Abbate, Math Teacher, Long Valley Middle School, effective May 29, 2008 to conclude at the end of the 2007-2008 school year, BA Step 1, $46,780, prorated.

 

12.  Motion to fill the following posted positions for the 2008-2009 school year as follows:

  1. Maureen Wehrhahn, part-time PE/Health/AA position at Flocktown-Kossmann School, effective September 1, 2008, BA+15, Step 2-3, $24,602.50.
  2. Kristin Ronnevik, Grade 1 Teacher at the Old Farmers Road School, effective September 1, 2008, BA Step 2-3, $47,980.
  3. Marianne Fecanin*, LDTC at the Old Farmers Road School, effective September 1, 2008, MA+30, Step 16, $74,405.

 

*approve submission to the County Superintendent of applications for emergency hiring and the applicant's attestation that he/she has not been convicted of any disqualifying crime pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et. seq., N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 et. seq., of N.J.S.A. 18A:6-4.13 as applicable.

 

13.  Motion to approve additional support for stipend position at the Old Farmers Road School as follows:

 

Name

Assignment

Years Experience

Salary

Jana Rojas

Playground Supervisor-6

1st

$2,180.00, prorated

 

14.  Motion to approve the following transfer of staff:

  1. Sandra Levitt, part-time Kindergarten teacher at the Cucinella School to full-time Grade 1 teacher at the Cucinella School, effective September 1, 2008, BA Step 2-3, bringing her salary to $47,980.

 

15.  Motion to approve the following leaves:

  1. Gretchen Renaldo, 6th Grade Math teacher, unpaid Maternity leave for the 2008-2009 school year.
  2. Elaine Benante, Special Education teacher at the Long Valley Middle School, unpaid FMLA leave, set the return date to May 5, 2008.

 

16.  Motion to approve substitute Nurse rate as $100.00 per day effective May 14, 2008.

 

17.  Motion to authorize salary adjustment for the 2007-2008 school year to the following employees represented by the Washington Township Education Association:

  1. Certified Staff
  2. Support Staff

·         Secretaries

·         Custodians

·         Food Service

 

18.  Motion to offer contracts for the 2008-2009 school year to the following staff members as presented: 

  1. Administrators
  2. Certified Staff
  3. Custodial Staff
  4. Secretarial Staff
  5. Food Service Staff
  6. Custodian Supervisors

 

19.  Motion to approve the following mentor:

 

School

Name

Mentor Name

Time

Flocktown-Kossmann School

Jami Lionetti

Stacy Rispoli

50 days

 

20.  Motion to approve the following substitutes for the 2007-2008 school year as follows:

 

Teacher

Aide

Custodian

Marika Peppas

Marika Peppas

Michael Srsich

Geraldine Grogan

Geraldine Grogan

 

Matthew Zimmerman

Matthew Zimmerman

 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

21.  Appoint Board Attorney 

RESOLVED, that the Washington Township Board of Education, in the County of Morris, New Jersey, appoints Adams Stern Gutierrez & Lattiboudere as Board Attorney (N.J.S.A. 18A:23-1) for the 2008-2009 school year at an hourly rate of $160.00 effective July 1, 2008.

 

22.  Appoint a Delegate and Alternate to New Jersey School Boards Association

WHEREAS, the Washington Township Board of Education, in the County of Morris, New Jersey, desires to send a delegate and alternate to the New Jersey School Boards Association; RESOLVED, that Board of Education recognizes the appointment of Kathy Koop as a delegate and Jim Harmon as alternate to the New Jersey School Boards Association, (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-46), effective April 29, 2008 to reorganization meeting of 2009.

 

23.  Appoint a Delegate to Morris County School Boards Association

WHEREAS, the Washington Township Board of Education, in the County of Morris, New Jersey, desires to send a delegate to the Morris County School Boards Association; RESOLVED, that Board of Education recognizes the appointment of Kathy Koop as delegate to the Morris County School Boards Association, (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-46), effective April 29, 2008 to reorganization meeting of 2009.

 

24.  Appoint a Representative and Continue Membership in Educational Services Commission of Morris County

WHEREAS, the Washington Township Board of Education, in the County of Morris, New Jersey, desires to send a delegate to the Educational Services Commission of Morris County, and RESOLVED, that the Board of Education recognizes the appointment of Kevin Daly as a delegate to the Educational Services Commission of Morris County effective April 29, 2008 to reorganization meeting of 2009.

 

NEW BUSINESS

There was no new business.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

The meeting was opened to the public at 8:00 p.m.  Members of the public commented on the Everyday Math program; equal time should be given to science and social studies in addition to math; request for an update on the gifted and talented program; grouping of students in Middle School classes; and board member e-mail addresses and answering of e-mail in a timely manner.  Mr. Sakala commented that the board hears the concerns about Everyday Math and that time is needed to look into the matter.  The meeting was closed to the public at 8:37 p.m. 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

·         Legal, negotiation, personnel and superintendent search matters

 

ADJOURNMENT