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MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting - December
7, 2004
Riverhead High School
Auditorium
PRESENT: President, Mrs.
Lori H. Montefusco; Vice President, Mrs. Nancy Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen Berezny;
and, Mrs. Christine Prete.
LATE: Mr. Timothy Griffing and Mrs. Mary
Ellen.
ABSENT: Mr. Timothy Hubbard.
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Paul R.
Doyle, Mr. Joseph Singleton and Mr. Joseph Ogeka.
President, Mrs. Montefusco,
opened the meeting at 5:43 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to recess to executive session to discuss
personnel, collective bargaining, grievances and litigation.
Yes
4 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
recessed to executive session at 5:44 p.m.
Mrs. Harkin arrived at 5:53
p.m.
Mr. Griffing arrived at 7:25
p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to return to open session.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
returned to open session at 7:40 p.m.
A brief recess followed.
The meeting resumed at 7:50
p.m.
There were about 70 other
people in attendance.
ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Barbara O’Kula.
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2004
Page 2
Mr. Paul Doyle, the new
school district Superintendent, greeted the community and proposed to the Board
of Education a policy to allow an arranged period of time the day before Board
meetings to meet with residents and hear any questions regarding the agenda to
be shared with the public during the “Opportunity for Superintendent” portion
of meetings. His belief is that
board meetings are business meetings conducted in public and he would not
engage in dialogue/debate during the meeting but would be happy to answer any
questions or concerns before/after each meeting. He plans to establish a Superintendent’s Community Advisory
Council and encouraged residents to join.
He aims to improve the status of education in the Riverhead Central
School District and maintain decorum of the business meetings of the Board of
Education.
Mr. Don Henderson, head of
security, presented a letter of
recognition to security guard, Ed Johnson, for his efforts to provide a
safe environment for the students.
The Director of the Peconic
Housing Inititative, Jennifer Truscott, presented a plaque to the members of
the High School Key Club for their fundraising efforts and awareness of the
homeless and those on the verge of becoming homeless.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Prete, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the
month of October 2004.
Mrs. Berezny commented on
the first annual “Family Night” held at the elementary school and her pleasure
to partake in the K-2 Math Night at Riley Avenue School on November 17th. She encouraged the community to attend
the many upcoming holiday concerts, as well as, the Blue Masques production of Chrous
Line.
Mrs. Prete commented on her
pleasure to attend the Math Night at the Phillips Avenue Elementary School and
encouraged parents and community to take advantage of these programs.
Mrs. Montefusco announced
the hiring of Nancy Carney as the new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum
and Instruction and that the Board of Education will interview construction
management firms in January 2005.
The Board of Education will,
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2004
also, meet with the
Riverhead Town Board on December 16
to discuss implications of
the school tax levy. Updates on
the administrative audit by the New York State Comptroller’s Office
will be forthcoming. According to Mr. Singleton, Interim
Superintendent of Business, he is confident that the completed audit will
report that the school district has been responsible to the taxpayers. Mrs. Montefusco also stated that
student participation in blood drives at the High School will be Board approved
and that parental consent forms will be confirmed and verified. A meeting with Long Island Blood
Services is planned to advise of a school nurse on-site at the time of the
blood drive as safeguard.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Superintendent’s Community
Advisory Council should contact the Superintendent’s Office.
Comments from the community
included:
-request that the Board
continue in the community forum and
tradition of dialogue at Board meetings. Mrs. Montefusco clarified
the intent of the Board and Superintendent to encourage
dialogue with the public by way of a Community Advisory
Council
to permit the Board to conduct the business of the school
district
as efficiently as they can.
-assignment of $200,000
legislative grant to the District initiated by
Senator Kenneth LaValle. Mr. Singleton stated that the monies
were applied to lowering the tax rate at a Board meeting in
November.
-recommendation that
administrators be contractual and not
tenured positions
-opposition to the position
of Assistant Superintendent for
Curriculum & Instruction and request to leave this
position
vacant for one year
-opinion of minimal search
for an architect by the Space Planning
Committee
-appeal to the Board to
retain her job as a school bus driver
(Mrs. Montefusco stated that the matter is on tonight’s
agenda
to be voted upon)
Amend
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the attendance of
the Boys’ and Girls’ Winter Track Teams at the 28th Annual Pearl
River Holiday Track and Field Festival at Rockland County Community College
located in Pearl River, New York on December 26-27, 2004. Cost to the district is limited to
school bus transportation, lodging for coaches/chaperones/bus drivers and entry
fees for two teams at a cost not to exceed $1,515. Transportation is subject to approval pursuant to Board
policy.
Replace Partial Tax
Exemption/Volunteer Firemen & Volunteer Ambulance Workers resolution with
the following:
WHEREAS, Chapter 450 of the
Laws of 2002, and Chapter 9 of the Laws of 2004 authorizes School Districts to
adopt resolutions pursuant to Section 466-c of the Real Property Tax Law creating
a real property tax exemption for members of volunteer fire companies or
volunteer ambulance services; and
WHEREAS, such resolution may
provide that real property owned by an enrolled member of an incorporated
volunteer fire company, fire department or incorporated voluntary ambulance
service or such enrolled member and spouse residing in a county with a
population of more than one million four hundred thousand and less than one
million five hundred thousand, according to the latest federal decennial
census, shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of ten percent of the
assessed value of such property for city, village, town, part town, special
district, county, or school district purposes, exclusive of special
assessments; and
WHEREAS, the Board of
Education elects to approve and adopt by resolution, the aforesaid tax
exemption,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT,
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education hereby approves of and adopts the provisions of Section 466-c of the
Real Property Tax Law, granting a real property tax exemption for members of
volunteer fire companies or volunteer ambulance services, as defined by such
law, and as it applies to the School tax levy, only to the extent set forth
below, and subject to the following
conditions:
The extent of said real
property exemption shall be limited to 10% of the assessed value of the
property, and
Such exemption shall not be
granted unless:
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the
Board of Education reserves the right and option of, having granted this
exemption effective for the 2005 tax levy, rescinding said exemption in
subsequent years; and, it is,
FUIRTHER RESOLVED, that the
District Clerk is authorized and directed to notify the Town Assessors of this
action, and provide said Assessors with a certified copy of this resolution:
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:
C.S.E. MEETING STUDENT
NUMBERS
09/14/04
213622, 214605, 215156, 215561, 216165
10/06/04
205089, 205101, 205731, 206219, 206807,
207208, 207649, 207846, 207850, 207851,
208662
10/12/04
214614
10/13/04
204476*, 205543*, 206086*, 206385*,
207472*, 214640*
10/14/04
212003, 212036, 212039, 212043, 212059,
216220, 217117, 217143
10/15/04
217101
10/20/04
204594, 205006,
205055, 205127, 205591,
205730, 206383, 206810, 207019, 207065,
207689
10/21/04
208023, 209477, 209686, 209713, 209774
11/04/04 209770
C.P.S.E. MEETING STUDENT NUMBERS
12/07/04
219237, 219220, 219240, 219238, 218271,
218282, 219239, 218265
*High Cost Student
WHEREAS, two (2) bids for (Two)
65 Pupil Capacity Conventional Type “C” School Buses were opened on November 12, 2004 and
WHEREAS, the Supervisor of
Transportation and the Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business have
reviewed such bids and recommended award to the lowest reasonable bidders
meeting the specifications, be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District awards the bids for (Two)
65 Pupil Capacity Conventional Type “C” School Buses to Truck
King International Sales and Service of West Babylon, New York in the bid award
amount of $125,800.
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the agreement
between Council for Unity, Inc. and the Riverhead Central School District (to
be funded completely by a grant from District Attorney Thomas Spota’s office);
and, authorizes the President of the Board of
Education to sign such
contract. The purpose of the
program is to work with High School students; anti-violence program.
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education
of the Riverhead Central School District gratefully accepts the donation of
$1,000 from Riverhead Wal-Mart to the Roanoke Avenue Elementary School to be
used to purchase a book for each student through the Scholastic Book Fair.
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the request of the
8th Grade Class of Riverhead Middle School (approximately 140
students) to participate in a trip to Hershey Park, Pennsylvania on Saturday,
June 11, 2005. Cost to the
district is limited to the cost of approximately 40 chaperones (one chaperone
for every six
students); and,
transportation is subject to approval pursuant to Board policy.
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District authorizes the District to
enter into a contract with Turning Point Driving School, 970 Route 25A, Miller
Place, New York 11764 to provide driver education for the Fall semester at $205
per student.
WHEREAS, Chapter 450 of the
Laws of 2002, and Chapter 9 of the Laws of 2004 authorizes School Districts to
adopt resolutions pursuant to Section 466-c of the Real Property Tax Law
creating a real property tax exemption for members of volunteer fire companies
or volunteer ambulance services; and
WHEREAS, such resolution may
provide that real property owned by an enrolled member of an incorporated
volunteer fire company, fire department or incorporated voluntary ambulance
service or such enrolled member and spouse residing in a county with a
population of more than one million four hundred thousand and less than one
million five hundred thousand, according to the latest federal decennial
census, shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of ten percent of the
assessed value of such property for city, village, town, part town, special
district, county, or school district purposes, exclusive of special
assessments; and
WHEREAS, the Board of
Education elects to approve and adopt by resolution, the aforesaid tax
exemption,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT,
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education hereby approves of and adopts the provisions of Section 466-c of the
Real Property Tax Law, granting a real property tax exemption for members of
volunteer fire companies or volunteer ambulance services, as defined by such
law, and as it applies to the School tax levy, only to the extent set forth
below, and subject to the following
conditions:
The extent of said real
property exemption shall be limited to 10% of the assessed value of the
property, and
Such exemption shall not be
granted unless:
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the
Board of Education reserves the right and option of, having granted this
exemption effective for the 2005 tax levy, rescinding said exemption in
subsequent years; and, it is,
FUIRTHER RESOLVED, that the
District Clerk is authorized and directed to notify the Town Assessors of this
action, and provide said Assessors with a certified copy of this resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District establishes the position of Language
Interpreter.
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District authorizes the Agreement
between the Riverhead Central School District and All County Interpreting
Services for the Deaf, Ltd. For the 2004-05 school year for interpreter
services, as needed, at a rate of $48.50 per hour.
RESOLVED, that the Riverhead
Central School District, after a full review of the circumstances presented by
this matter, hereby adopts the findings of fact and recommendations with
respect to disciplinary proceedings conducted before Hearing Officer Joseph
Wooley, Esq. against Wendy Ruskowski; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
Wendy Ruskowski is hereby terminated from employment in the Riverhead Central
School District effective December 8, 2004.
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the following
appointments to the Adult Continuing/Community Educational Program (ACCE) for
the 2004/05:
COURSE
FALL SPRING
Instructors
Nancy Bagshaw
Spanish
$ 360 $ 360
Carol Benson
Line Dancing
300
300
Steven Brown
Drivers Ed
1,800
1,800
Linda Lee Chase
For..Anth..
0
144
Sue Cincotta
Pilates
600 600
Karl Cutler
Ball..Dan..
450
450
Joseph Doll
Sen..Comp..
144
144
Karen Fellows Acrylic
Pain..
540
540
Arnold Fischer Bridge
360
360
Connie Gevinski Stained
Glass
0
144
Sarah Graham
Yoga
360
360
G.W.
Husing
5 Hour Class 396
396
Gail
Kappenberg
Sen..Comp..
144
144
Irene
Krohn
Caligraphy
0
144
Mary Kromhout
S.A.T. Prep
375
375
John Neely
Photography
0
144
Peggy Parpan
Scrapbooking
36
360
Donna Pierro
Aerobics
400
400
Cynthia Reighter Sign Lang..
0
360
Assistant Instructor
Amy Benson
Computers
$ 160 $ 60
Child Care Worker
Susan DiGeronimo Riley Avenue
$ 800 $ 800
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the appointment of
the following volunteers in support of the athletic program:
Felix
Martinez - Wrestling
Ziggy Wilinski - Boys’ Basketball
RESOLVED, that on the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Professional Personnel
recommendations be approved per Supplemental File Personnel Report and are
subject to Board Policy #9310:
Change in
Status-Fingerprint Clearance
Amanda Bowman – Substitute
Teacher, effective 11/17/04-
06/24/05.
Shirley Cepero – Assistant
Principal/High School, effective
11/29/04-11/28/07.
Extension of 20-day
Conditional Appointments
Meghan Montpetit –
Elementary Teacher, To: 12/08/04-12/26/04;
From: 11/18/04-12/07/04.
Elizabeth Prebish – School
Nurse, To: 12/11/04-12/30/04;
From: 11/20/04-12/10/04.
Michael Padalino –
Substitute Teacher, To: 12/11/04-12/30/04;
From: 10/13/04-10/31/04 – Substitute Teacher,
11/01/04-
06/24/05 – Contract Leave Replacement.
Ryan Case – Substitute
Teacher, To: 12/18/04-01/06/05;
From: 11/27/04-12/17/04.
Arlene Cooke – Substitute
Teacher, To: 12/18/04-01/06/05;
From: 11/27/04-12/17/04.
Mindy Maclellan – Substitute
Teacher, To: 12/10/04-12/29/04;
From: 11/19/04-12/09/04.
Kathleen Marelli –
Substitute Teacher, To: 12/07/04-12/26/04;
From: 11/17/04-12/06/04.
Nicole Muller – Substitute
Teacher, To: 12/07/04-12/26/04;
From: 11/17/04-12/06/04.
Jason Lee – Substitute
Teacher, effective 12/08/04-06/30/05.
Emily Sills – Substitute Teacher, effective 11/22/04-06/30/05.
Cheryl Drozd – Home Instructor, effective 12/08/04-06/24/05.
Tara Bonawandt – Substitute
Teacher, effective 12/08/04-
06/24/05.
Jessie Fields – Substitute
Teacher, effective 12/08/04-06/24/05.
Anthony Gentile – 3/5 Health
Teacher, effective 12/08/04-06/24/05.
Tenure Appointments
Charles Giannone – Pre K-6,
effective 02/10/05.
Elizabeth Roberts – English
to Speaker of Other Languages,
effective 01/31/05.
Gregory Wolbert – Pre K-6
& Mathematics 7-9 Ext., effective
01/27/05.
Maternity Child Care
Leave of Absence
Kimberly Benkert –
Elementary Teacher, approximate dates:
12/10/04-01/31/05 Using Accumulated Sick Days.
Ellen Knierieman – Speech
Therapist, approximate dates:
11/15/04-01/31/05 Using Accumulated Sick Days;
03/14/05-
06/03/05 Family Medical Leave Act; 06/06/05-06/24/05
Unpaid
Child Care Leave of Absence.
Alicia O’Connor – Elementary
Teacher, approximate dates:
11/15/04-01/31/05 Using Accumulated Sick Days;
02/01/05-
04/22/05 Family Medical Leave Act; 04/25/05-06/24/05
Unpaid
Child Care Leave of Absence.
Nneka Fils-Aime – Elementary
Teacher, effective 11/29/04-
06/24/05 Unpaid Child Care Leave of Absence.
RESOLVED, that on the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Civil Service Personnel
recommendations be approved per Supplemental File Personnel Report and are
subject to Board Policy #9310:
Change in
Status-Fingerprint Clearance
Karen Carrick – Substitute:
Clerk Typist, Hourly Food Service
Worker, effective 11/17/04-06/24/05.
Barbara Crabb – Substitute
Hourly Food Service Worker, effective
11/17/04-06/24/05.
Marilyn Herr – Substitute
Clerk Typist, effective 11/17/04-06/24/05.
Donna Pierro – 21st
Century Grant After School Program Group
Fitness Instructor, effective 11/17/04-06/24/05.
Donna Watkins – School
Teacher Aide, effective 10/27/04-
06/24/05.
Extension of Emergency
20-day Conditional Appointments
Wendy Turbush – Special
Education Aide, To: 12/08/04-12/27/04;
From: 11/18/04-12/07/04.
Joann Bonne – Substitute:
Clerk Typist, School Teacher Aide,
To: 12/08/04-12/27/04; From: 11/18/04-12/07/04.
Christine Block – To: Hourly Food Service Worker;
From: Substitute Hourly Food Service Worker, effective
12/08/04.
Lynn Ligon – To: Hourly Food
Service Worker; From: Substitute
Hourly Food Service Worker, effective 12/08/04.
Joanne Zilnicki – To: Hourly
Food Service Worker; From:
Substitute Hourly Food Service Worker, effective 12/08/04.
Rosemarie Cadorette – To:
Substitute Clerk Typist; From: School
Teacher Aide, effective 01/03/05-06/30/05.
Sarah Atkins – To: Guard;
From: Substitute Guard, effective
12/08/04.
Emergency 20-day
Conditional Appointment
Timothy McElroy – Special
Education Aide, effective 12/08/04.
Appointments
Colleen Scura – Special
Education Aide, effective 12/08/04.
Vermona Smith – Clerk Typist
(Part-time), effective 12/08/04.
Donna Clement – Substitute:
Clerk Typist, School Teacher Aide,
effective 12/08/04-06/24/05.
Jennifer
Burke – Substitute Clerk Typist, effective 12/08/04-
06/24/05.
Amanda
Makson – Substitute Clerk Typist, effective 12/08/04-
06/24/05.
Denis
Grichenko – Substitute Custodial Worker I, effective
12/08/04-06/24/05.
Brett
Kurz – Substitute Custodial Worker I, effective 12/08/04-
06/24/05.
Fred Ligon – Substitute
Guard, effective 12/08/04-06/24/05.
Request
for Extension of Catastrophic Leave
Elizabeth
Deluca – School Bus Driver, To: 01/03/05-06/24/05;
From: 07/01/04-01/01/05.
Request for Unpaid Leave of Absence
Tara Thompson – School Bus
Driver, effective 12/03/04-06/24/05.
Resignation
to Retire
Rosemarie Cadorette –
School Teacher Aide, effective 12/29/04.
Resignation
Rebekah Dillahunt –
Special Education Aide, effective 01/28/05.
Termination
Wendy
Ruskowski – School Bus Driver, effective 12/08/04.
OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY