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MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting – June 6, 2006
Riverhead High School Auditorium
PRESENT: President, Mrs. Lori Hulse Montefusco; Vice President, Mrs. Nancy G. Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen Berezny; Mrs. Christine Prete; and, Mr. W. Brian Stark.
LATE: Mr. Timothy Griffing.
ABSENT: Mrs. Mary Ellen Harkin.
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Paul R. Doyle, Mr. Joseph Singleton, Mr. Joseph Ogeka, Jr. and Christopher Powers, Esq.
President, Mrs. Hulse Montefusco, opened the meeting at 5:45 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
A motion was made by Mr. Stark, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to recess to executive session to discuss personnel (investigation results/disciplinary charges); negotiations (RCFA, RCFA grievances (Step 3); litigation (contract vendor); and, acquisition of real property (new high school site).
Yes 5 No 0
Motion Carried.
The Board of Education recessed to executive session at 5:46 p.m.
Mr. Griffing arrived at 6:35 p.m.
A motion was made by Mr. Stark, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to return to open session.
Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.
The Board of Education returned to open session at 7:12 p.m.
A brief recess followed.
The meeting resumed at 7:28 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Recess to
Executive Session
Return to
Open Session
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 2
There were about 150 other people in attendance.
ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Barbara O’Kula.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the Treasurer’s Report and Budget Transactions for the month of April 2006.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
The Superintendent took opportunity to present the following Top 15 students in the 2006 graduating class and congratulated all for their hard work and dedication to attain such honorable achievements:
Kirstin Krussell
Caitlin Buthmann
Jacqueline Fusco
Vincent Diresta
Kelly Talmage
Caitlyn Kelin
Kristine Schmitt
Mike D’Angelo
Peter Falango
Caroline Fasanelli
Mark Ahrens
Eileen Belfield
Glen Schunk
Melanie Griffith
Adrienne Arnau
Mr. Michael Brewer, President and Michael Sacco, Vice President, of the Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Community Association (FRNCA) spoke on the Association’s goals to secure monies to make the playground at the Phillips Avenue Elementary School safe. They thanked Senator LaValle, parents and staff for their efforts to make this three-phase project come to fruition.
And Budget
-April 2006
-Approved
Opportunity for
Superintendent
-Recognition of
Top 15 Students in
The 2006 Graduating
Class
Acceptance of Grant
Funds from FRNCA
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 3
Mrs. Prete thanked the FRNCA for their time and commitment to this project.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mr. Stark, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District gratefully accepts the gift of equipment toward Phase III of the Phillips Avenue Elementary playground through the utilization of state grant funds in the amount of $15,000 secured by the Flanders, Riverside, Northampton Community Association (FRNCA).
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
Mr. Bruce Johnson, Fire Marshal of the Town of Riverhead, spoke on the 2005 summary of 2005 school building fire-safety inspection report provided the Board of Education. Recommendations and violations observed included:
-a 30-minute “School Fire Safety” program for administration, teachers and staff in all schools
-State Education Department requirements to implement a 45-minute safety education program in the classroom. It is important to note that this is not just another unfunded mandate…education is an important part of fire safety.
-structural safety issues (i.e, serious roof leaks at the Bus Garage and violation of the mezzanine area as a storage space in the auditorium of the Roanoke Avenue School
-limited parking availability at several schools blocking emergency vehicle access to the buildings during fires or other emergencies
-include fire safety information for all clubs, groups., etc. meeting in any school building following the normal school day and that a schedule of evening or weekend activities be provided on a monthly basis to the Fire, Police and Ambulance organizations
-announcement of locations of fire exits at all public gatherings and posting of fire drill exit plans
Summary Report
2005
-Bruce Johnson
Fire Marshal
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 4
Mr. Johnson expressed his willingness to work with the District to remedy fire protection and code enforcement conditions.
Mrs. Berezny requested the presence of the Interim Plant Facilities Administrator at a future Board meeting to discuss the issues at the Bus Garage (i.e., leaking roof) and the concern of the balcony at the Roanoke Avenue School. Mrs. Prete expressed that the recommendations could be discussed and be addressed via the capital reserve fund to mitigate conditions. She, also, suggested that a schedule of weekend activities be provided to the Police and Fire Departments and ambulance services on a monthly basis by September 2006.
Mr. Singleton presented the proposed 2006-07 budget in the amount of $93,152,740, representing a 6.3% spending increase and a tax levy increase of 2.53%. The revised budget is, overall, $200,000 less than the one defeated on May 16th. The budget has been reduced by $577,000 in cuts/reductions that will not impact students (i.e., conferences and dues, reduction in proposed non-teaching personnel, curtailment of equipment purchases and building alterations and reduction in interest costs related to shorter-term borrowings). This was then offset by an increase of $377,000 for diesel fuel (buses) and fuel oil (for buildings) due to rising, unpredictable costs. There is, also, allocation of $202,000 to provide for the increase of 20 students in the BOCES Occupational Program. The District is planning a number of community informational/educational meetings about the budget that will be subject to a district-wide re-vote on June 20, 2006. If the budget fails a second time, a contingency budget will go into effect and necessitate a cut of $2 million and require numerous cuts in staff and programming. The overall tax rate increase of 1% may be modified due to Southampton Town’s recent assessment update and subsequent grievance process that may incur a slight shift in tax levy from Riverhead to Southampton. Also, being re-submitted to a re-vote is the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund that will allocate up to $10 million over a five-year period and used for specific improvements projects subject to voter approval in the form of a separate referendum. All qualified voters are encouraged to
-Proposed 2006-07
Revised Budget
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 5
exercise their right to vote at the polls on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at the High School gymnasium, 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Mrs. Hulse Montefusco stated that the budget is for student-related programs and its passage/failure will determine the programs that students will/will not receive next school year and does not impact RCFA contract negotiations and/or settlement.
With regard to the ongoing property reassessment conducted by the Town of Southampton, Mrs. Prete asked the public to write our legislators to request that all towns included in one school district be assessed the same so that everyone is “on the same page.”
A motion was made by Mrs. Prete, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to amend the agenda to include the following resolutions:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District appoints the following persons for the School District Budget Re-vote on June 20, 2006:
Chairperson: Edward Doherty
Alternate Chairperson: Barbara O’Kula
Inspectors of Election: Adele Abrahamsen, Rosemary Colavito,
Victoria Farruggia, Toni Gallo, Deborah Goroleski, Gail Kappenberg, Deborah Masterson, Barbara Reichel, John Reichel, and Gail Yeager (Chief Inspector of Election).
Poll Clerks: Janice Artandi, Justyna Breitenbach, Jane Borwn, Anita Conforti, Holly Chew, Ann Engelhardt, Dorothy Exum, Linda Gechoreck Urig, Mary Hatcher, Dorothy Haupt, Irene Irwin, Katherine Konkel, Irene Lachick, Frances Mapes, Patricia Raynor, Mary Skiba and Robert Smalls.
Alternate: Josephine Sideratos
-Add:
- Appointment of
Vote Workers for
School Budget Vote
-Recommendation to
Terminate Probationary
Period
-Approved to Amend
Aagenda
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 6
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District, based on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, hereby terminates the probationary period for the employee noted in Mr. Doyle’s May 4, 2006 correspondence effective June 30, 2006; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the employee so noted will be paid funds equal in amount to wages for an additional thirteen days.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion to Amend Agenda Carried.
Mrs. Berezny commented on the following:
-her attendance to the Senior Awards Program at the High School last night and how proud the District is of these students receiving local scholarships
-participation in the “Just Say No to Drugs March at the Pulaski Street School on June 2 and the Cornell Cooperative teleconference on May 23 addressing school district/city initiatives and improve local governments
Mrs. Hulse Montefusco announced that on June 14 and 15, NYSSBA will conduct the fiscal accountability seminar for newly elected Board members (and all Board members). Inasmuch as Mrs. Berezny and Mrs. Prete have already taken advantage of the training, their attendance is not required.
Comments from the community included:
-a High School student presented a public petition with over 325 signatures of students and staff to support the budget on June 20
-request for clarification to re-submit the proposition for the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund to a public vote (Mr. Singleton stated that a check with legal counsel advises that it is legal…it is only to establish the fund…not an authorization to spend money).
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Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 7
-question as to the creation of two new Assistant Principal positions to replacement Department Chairs in the High School
(The District estimates that such a move will save about $62,714 as it will place department chairs back into the classroom as full time teachers and reduce the stipends paid to department chairs)
-request to restore protocol for budget hearings with no time constraints
-request to remove the two Assistant Principal positions from the revised budget and refrain from hiring two more administrators (Mrs. Hulse Montefusco stated that the Board and administration decided to reconfigure the structure at the high school and eliminate departments chairs and associated stipends…it makes more sense to have people in the same union evaluate…the senior teachers are valuable to the education of our children and need to be in the classroom)
-concern expressed by teachers as to any cost savings resulting from the hiring of two Assistant Principals and that reassigning current department chairs will impact the continuity of guidance and direction for the students
-concern that the District’s budget for three consecutive years has been under spent and that the difference between the approved budgets and the actual expenditures over the past years has resulted in a cash surplus (Mr. Singleton explained that it is good/long range planning to under spend the budget as reserve funds are kept available in an employee liability reserve account for contractual payments of unused sick and vacation days upon retirement of employees) Mr. Doyle, also, stated that the account is not part of the actual budget but funded by a reserve account of which the unencumbered reserve goes to reduce taxes to stabilize tax increases.
A motion was made by Mrs. Harkin, seconded by Mr. Stark, to approve the following resolution:
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 8
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District accepts the following recommendations of the Committee on Special Education regarding children with disabilities and whose Individualized Education Plans need to be implemented:
03-09-2006 208834, 209026, 209852, 210009,
210057, 210089, 210123,
210606,
211567
03-10-2006 207032, 214047
03-15-2006 206182, 207059, 207097, 20721,
207816, 208049, 208292, 208482,
208702, 208783, 208794, 209424
03-16-2006 207178, 207178, 207828, 206276
03-20-2006 208701, 208701, 210790, 211285,
211364, 211454, 211533, 212016,
212065
03-21-2006 207024, 209618, 210070, 210550,
211003, 211107, 211144, 211673,
212042, 211098, 211532, 211610,
212010, 212042, 212362, 212396,
212554, 212640, 214089, 214089
03-23-2006 211650, 212039, 212057, 212501,
212699, 213008, 213067, 213214,
213481, 213541, 213664, 215608
03-24-2006 205139, 206210, 206825, 207189,
207612, 208005, 208014, 208701,
209454, 209736
3-28-06 210058, 210118, 210568, 210726,
210795, 211126, 211025, 211288,
211324, 212006, 212019, 212022,
212046, 212214, 212412, 212645,
212686
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 9
03-29-2006 204692, 208776, 209856, 212003,
212018, 212045, 212059, 212064,
212585, 213002, 213013, 209009,
209020, 209117, 209126, 209604,
209770, 209846, 210021, 210044,
207324
03-30-2006 211670, 212035, 212509, 212602,
212691, 213558, 214088, 214569,
215042, 215101, 214218, 214353,
218219
03-31-2006 205101, 206042, 206383, 208480,
208717, 208767, 209714, 209858
04-04-2006 206744, 207609, 208107, 208139,
208161, 208330, 208378, 208649,
209654
04-21/2006 206083
04-28-2006 207258, 208245
C.P.S.E. MEETNG STUDENT NUMBERS
3/23/2006 220200, 220201, 221142, 220289,
221144
4/26/2006 221007, 221132, 221128, 219216,
219157
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
Mrs. Gassert left the meeting at 8:35 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs. Harkin, seconded by Mr. Stark, to approve the following resolution:
-HMJ Electric Corp.
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 10
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the settlement of an outstanding claim of $13,871 by HMJ Electric Corp. against the Riverhead Central School District. The settlement in the amount of $9,000 is for work done at the Riverhead High School in the Science Room in 2000; and, authorizes the President of the Board of Education to sign such Agreement.
In a discussion that followed, Mrs. Prete expressed that she will cast a “no” vote because she was not a member of the Board at the time and, further, that no back-up information was provided the members of the Board of Education.
Yes 5
Mrs. Berezny
Mr. Griffing
Mrs. Harkin
Mrs. Hulse Montefusco
Mr. Stark
No 1
Mrs. Prete
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Berezny, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the Health Service Contract between the Riverhead Central School District and the Smithtown Central School District for approximately six (6) children for the sum of $4588.29 per pupil for the 2005-06 school year; and, authorizes the President of the Board of Education to sign such contract.
Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.
Health Service Contract
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
June 6, 2006
Page 11
A motion was made by Mrs. Harkin, seconded by Mr. Stark, to approve the following resolution: