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MINUTES

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Special Meeting – July 19, 2005

Riverhead High School Auditorium

PRESENT: President, Mr. Lori H. Montefusco; Vice President, Mrs. Nancy G. Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen Berezny; Mrs. Christine Prete; and, Mr. W. Brian Stark.

LATE: Mr. Timothy Griffing and Mrs. Mary Elen Harkin.

ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Paul R. Doyle, Mr. Joseph Ogeka, Mr. Joseph Singleton and Ms. Nancy Carney.

President, Mrs. Montefusco, opened the meeting at 6:09 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mr.Stark to recess to executive session to discuss employee contracts and land acquisition.

Yes 5 No 0

Motion Carried.

The Board of Education recessed to executive session at 6:10 p.m.

Mrs. Harkin arrived at 6:20 p.m.

Mr. Griffing arrived at 6:35 p.m.

A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to return to open session.

Yes 7 No 0

Motion Carried.

The Board of Education returned to open session at 7:10 p.m.

A brief recess followed.

The meeting resumed at 7:15 p.m.

There were about 40 other people in attendance.

Pledge of Allegiance

Recess to

Executive Session

Return to

Open Session

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Minutes

Board of Education

July 19, 2005

Page 2

ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Barbara O’Kula.

Mrs. Montefusco stated that the purpose of the meeting is to conduct a public session with the district’s architects to continue discussion of building projects.

Mr. Roger Smith of BBS Architects presented options to the district’s building expansion needs. Various drawings of proposed renovations with different school configurations were shown Eliminated from options was the building of two new middle schools. The Board of Education unanimously agreed to keep the elementary schools at a student population of 600 to maintain the sense/feel of rural, small community schools. The Board emphatically agreed that the track by the Pulaski Street School grounds will remain intact and untouched due to its historic status within the community. Mr. Smith’s proposals included the building of a new high school, adding to existing buildings (with the exception of the Roanoke Avenue School) and the construction of 1-2 new elementary schools. Depending upon grade configurations at all sites, cost options range up to $165 million. Mrs. Prete requested a list of landowners to whom letters were sent seeking land for the district to build upon. Mrs. Montefusco stated that the Board plans to render a decision at the August 9, 2005 Board meeting and that the building project is subject to a bond referendum of the district voters.

A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the following Professional Personnel recommendations be approved per Supplemental File Personnel Report and are subject to Board Policy #9310:

Emergency 20-day Conditional Appointments

Stephen Hudson – Assistant Secondary Principal (assigned to

Middle School, effective 8/22/05-8/21/08.

Jeanne Grim – Assistant Secondary Principal (assigned to High

School), effective 8/22/05-8/21/08.

Board Worksession

with BBS Architects

On Building Projects

Professional

Personnel

Recommendations

-Approved

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Minutes

Board of Education

July 19, 2005

Page 3

In a discussion that followed, concern was expressed as to whether there was a parent representative at interviews conducted.

Mr. Ogeka stated that there was parent representation in the preliminary stages of screening at the secondary level, but not at the interviews.

Mrs. Prete stated that she would vote “no” due to lack of information received in a timely manner in order to make an informed decision.

Yes 6

Mrs. Berezny

Mrs. Gassert

Mr. Griffing

Mrs. Harkin

Mrs. Montefusco

Mr. Stark

No 1

Mrs. Prete

Motion Carried.

A motion was made by Mrs. Prete, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to amend the agenda to include an Opportunity for Members of the Community.

Yes 7 No 0

Motion Carried.

Comments heard from the community included:

-questions as to why the Board of Education and administration

decided against hosting a night game for Homecoming this Fall

(Mrs. Montefusco responded in that the Board of Education

supports the recommendation of administration citing security

Opportunity for

Members of the

Community

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Minutes

Board of Education

July 19, 2005

Page 4

concerns and liability/safety issues on/off school grounds/perimeters during the event; if such matters

of security, etc. can be resolved in the future, the Board

would consider going back to a night game)

-the President of the PTSO Council and parent

representative stated that she never was invited nor was it

brought to her attention to participate in the interviews for

the Assistant Principals

A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Prete, to adjourn the meeting.

Yes 7 No 0

Motion Carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara O’Kula

District Clerk

Adjournment