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MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting – December 7, 2005
Riverhead High School Auditorium
PRESENT: President, Mrs. Lori H. Montefusco; Vice President, Mrs. Nancy Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen Berezny; Mr. Timothy Griffing; Mrs. Christine Prete; and, Mr. W. Brian Stark.
LATE: Mrs. Mary Ellen Harkin.
ALSO PRESENT: Mr. Paul R. Doyle, Mr. Joseph Singleton and Ms. Nancy Carney.
President, Mrs. Montefusco, opened the meeting at 5:55 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
A motion was made by Mr. Griffing, seconded by Mr. Stark, to recess to executive session to discuss negotiations (RCFA and Confidentials’ contracts), Booster Club/DASubpoena, personnel, status of site selection process and Auditors’ Report (Coughlin, Foundotos, Cullen & Danowski).
Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.
The Board of Education recessed to executive session at 5:56 p.m.
Mrs. Harkin arrived at 6:15 p.m.
A motion was made by Mr. Griffing, seconded by Mr. Stark, to return to open session.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
The Board of Education returned to open session at 7:42 p.m.
A brief recess followed.
The meeting resumed at 7:55 p.m.
There were about 35 other people in attendance.
ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Barbara O’Kula.
Pledge of Allegiance
Recess to
Executive Session
Return to
Open Session
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 2
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to amend the agenda as follows:
Remove:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves Change Order #1 – KND Electrical Contracting for the purpose of:
■install fire pull boxes, alarms and PA systems to the existing portables at Riverhead High School in the amount of $ (to follow).
Add:
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:
William Porras – To: Hourly Food Service Worker, From:
Substitute Hourly Food Service Worker, effective 12/8/05.
Maryann Soika – Computer Lab Assistant, effective 12/12/05-
4/1/06.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion to Amend Agenda Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the minutes of the following meetings:
Regular Meeting – November 15, 2005
Regular Meeting – November 22, 2005
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
-Approved
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 3
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to approve the Treasurer’s Report and Budget Transactions for the month of October 2005.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
Mrs. Montefusco apologized to the audience for the unavailability of the auditor, Jill Fichter, to present the Audit Report/Coughlin, Foundotos, Cullen & Danowski. The report will be presented at the January 10, 2006 Board of Education meeting.
Mr. Donald Nelson, Jr. was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for his involvement over the years in the security and athletic departments and good wishes as he moves to the position of neighborhood aide in the High School. He was commended for being a “class-act” for students and adults.
A date will be established after the first of the New Year (to be announced) when the Board of Education and public will be invited (an Open House) to tour the new Alternative School facility which has moved to the former St. John’s school.
Mrs. Prete commented on her attendance to the Institute for Student Achievement, an organization founded by Bill and Linda Gates, that looks at small school communities and offered that one of the principals would be happy to come before the Board of Education to give a presentation. She, also, commented on her attendance to the Safe Routes for Schools Workshop (traffic flow for busses and parents) that she would like to follow-up with administration on what she gleaned from this interesting and informative workshop.
Mrs. Berezny commented on her attendance on November 29th to the 10th grade curriculum update and graduation requirements for sophomores which she found to be very informative for parents, as well as, her attendance at the wonderful Holiday Fair at the High School on December 3rd sponsored by the Class of 2007.
-October 2005
-Approved
Opportunity for
Superintendent
Opportunity for
Board Members
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 4
Comments from the community included:
-request that the Guidance Department be directed to “flag”
cusp students so that parents can get the proper
notices/invitations
-attention to a recent article in The New York Times to keep 7th and
8th grade students in an elementary school setting
-request that “walkers” are given bus privileges during inclement
weather on Griffing Avenue, as well as, for students who need to
cross the dangerous intersection on Route 58 where the Palace
Laundromat is built (per Mrs. Prete, this is being addressed by
both the Town and School)
-request to delete the grading formula
-functionality of the observatory (currently not functioning, per Mrs.
Montefusco, but will research prices to get it operational)
-progress of building project (per Mrs. Montefusco, the Site
Planning Committee plans to meet by the end of the and an
update on the status of the multiple sites being looked at will be
made to the public)
-witness to doors being open, children on the roof and lack of
security at the Riley Avenue Elementary School during the
session held by the North Shore Christian Church (Mrs.
Montefusco stated that the Board was not permitted to make any
comment due to the pending litigation; however, any issues of
security will be reviewed and addressed with administration)
-opposition to any deal for a proposed building site should the “Wilpon” deal make a comeback (Mrs. Montefusco stated that
the information brought forward to the public a number of months
ago remains the same)
-clarification of annual requirements of District-wide Building
Condition Reports (per Mr. Singleton, this is an unfunded mandate
by the State and the professional services are not subject to the
bidding process)
-clarification of Stipulation of Agreement with Brentwood Union
Free School District (Mr. Singleton stated that this is a matter of
Tuition payments owed to Riverhead from Brentwood and
Riverhead owed to Brentwood for a period of 4-5 years up through
Community
Comments
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 5
and ending June 2004. A Stipulation of Agreement was
developed whereas we owed them $75,000 and they owed us
$30,000 – Riverhead would pay them $45,000 to resolve claims at
both ends)
-clarification of Flexible Benefits Program (per Mr. Singleton, this
is a process of legitimate deduction of pre-tax dollars under
Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Service Code which
allows employees to use pre-tax dollars for certain health care
expenses and has been in existence in the District for 8-10 years)
-request that the audit report be a public matter (Mrs. Montefusco
stated that the Audit Report has been on file in the public library
since the last Board meeting - that the Audit Committee has met
with the auditor and the Board will hear the report simultaneously
with the public when it is presented in January 2006) At this point,
Mrs. Prete announced intent to request another meeting with the
auditor, whereas, by law, the auditor reports directly to the Board
of Education without the presence of administration. She, also,
stated her intent to vote “no” on the resolution to approve Burton,
Behrendt Smith, Architects to prepare the District-wide Building
Condition Reports. etc. as an issue of this magnitude should have
gone through the RFP and bidding process. Mr. Singleton
explained that the school Board hired the architectural firm last
year to look at the facilities in terms of enrollment and additional
expansion….to bring another architect in at this point would be
unproductive and could have impact on any modifications; and,
that an architect cannot use another architect’s seal. Under
General Municipal Law, this does not require an RFP/bid.
-question of installation of strobe lights (a requirement of the state
and federal governments under Section 504 – handicapped
conditions (i.e., deaf students) to hear fire alarms – the District
has been in violation of this long overdue compliance)
-presence of cameras in the bathrooms and locker rooms? (Mr.
Doyle responded there are no cameras in these locations)
-question as to who monitors the 200 cameras and explanation as
to how an individual could gain entrance to the High School during
school hours without permission/identification/authorization. (Mr.
Doyle stated that the District does not have a cadre of people
watching every camera at every minute and that the police were
called to remove the individual from school premises)
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 6
In this regard, Mrs. Prete welcomed opinions on the idea of
uniforms, badges, etc. or some way to be all-knowing as to who
belongs in our schools and who doesn’t.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the following 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
9/14/05 214561
9/27/05 208866
9/30/05 204319, 206423, 207137, 207178,
207735
10/3/05 205180*, 206385*, 209141*
10/5/05 213667, 214025, 214182, 214630,
215001, 216459, 217279
10/11/05 209002, 209609, 209651, 209837,
209852, 210041, 210070, 210094,
210733, 211107, 211673
10/12/05 203204, 206302, 206335, 208014,
208417, 208465, 209006
10/19/05 210790, 212059, 212064, 212112
10/25/05 214000, 210022, 211544, 217538
10/26/05 215497, 217310, 218183
11/02/05 214532
11/07/05 209301
11/16/05 208867
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 7
C.P.S.E. MEETING STUDENT NUMBERS
10/6/05 219228, 220170, 219263, 220258
10/18/05 221125, 219034, 219218, 219063,
220130
11/3/05 219068, 220260, 220265, 220093,
219152
11/17/05 221127, 220267, 220270, 220242,
220272
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
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 approves Burton, Behrendt Smith, Architects, to prepare the District-wide Building Condition Reports including Expanded Structural Reports for all school facilities as required by Commissioner’s Regulations 1255.1 and Education Law 409-D and 4908-E in the amount of $29,495.
Mrs. Montefusco reiterated Mr. Singleton’s previous comments. The Board of Education reviewed a number of architectural firms and, under careful scrutiny, it makes sense to have Burton, Behrendt Smith do the project. Mrs. Prete expressed that she is not opposed to the firm itself but rather the process absent of RFP’s and bids.
Yes 5
Mrs. Gassert
Mr. Griffing
Mrs. Harkin
Mrs. Montefusco
Mr. Stark
No 2
Mrs. Berezny
Mrs. Prete
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 8
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Berezny, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the following resolution as amended:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves Change Order #1 – KND Electrical Contracting for the purpose of:
■install strobe lights in High School restrooms and related wiring to the new fire alarm panel in the High School in the amount of $9,000
and, authorizes the President of the Board of Education to sign such Change Order.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried as Amended.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the third and final reading of Board Policy #5280 – Interscholastic Athletics.
In a discussion that followed, Mrs. Prete asked what was specifically revised in the policy. Mr. Doyle stated that the policy is a total/complete revision reworked from a model policy that comes directly from the state. Mrs. Prete opted to see an academic code for participation and incorporation of differentiation of sports, etc. in the document.
Yes 6
Mrs. Berezny
Mrs. Gassert
Mr. Griffing
Mrs. Harkin
Mrs. Montefusco
Mr. Stark
-KND Electrical
Contracting
-Approved as Amended
Revised Board Policy
-Policy #5280
-Interscholastic
Athletics
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 9
No 1
Mrs. Prete
Motion Carried.
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 approves the second reading of Board Policy #5251 – Student Fundraising Activities.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Prete, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District establishes Tuesday, April 18, 2006 as the special meeting date to vote on the contract for library services between the Riverhead Central School District and the Riverhead Free Library and the Baiting Hollow Free Library, and be it further
RESOLVED, that such meeting will be held at the Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court Street, Riverhead, New York, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and be it further
RESOLVED, that the District Clerk and the School District Attorney prepare the legal notices and that the costs of such special meeting shall be reimbursed by said libraries.
Mrs. Montefusco commented on the presence of voting booths for kids at the vote in previous years and asked that the library consider incorporating the experience for the children again.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
-Student Fundraising
Activities
-Approved
-April 18, 2006
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 10
A motion was made by Mrs. Berezny, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District ratifies a Stipulation of Agreement, dated July 7, 2005, between the Riverhead Central School District and the Brentwood Union Free School District which settles all claims for foster tuition initiated by Brentwood against Riverhead for the period of July 1997 through and including June 30, 2004; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the Stipulation of Agreement,
Joseph F. Singleton, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance, is authorized to execute Stipulations of Discontinuance in the matters, Brentwood Union Free School District v. Riverhead Union Free School District, Index Nos. 99-12558, 00-15099,
01-14751 and 02-20746, and that the school attorney is authorized to file the Stipulations of Discontinuance with the Court.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Prete, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the appointment of the following volunteer in the athletic program:
· Barry Street – Middle School Boys’ Basketball
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Harkin, to approve the following resolution:
-Brentwood Union
Free School District
-Approved
-Approved
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 11
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the field trip request of the NJROTC Unit to the Naval Bases at Newport, Rhode Island and New London, Connecticut from February 16-18, 2006 (approximately 35 cadets accompanied by five chaperones). The purpose of the trip is to meet the military orientation requirements outlined in the Naval Science curriculum. Cost to the district is for school bus transportation and the cost of the ferry; and, transportation is subject to approval pursuant to Board policy.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District declares as surplus certain out of print and outdated Science textbooks at the Middle School as contained in the list made part of the Supplemental File of the Minutes; and, authorizes the appropriate disposal of same.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Prete, seconded by Mr. Stark, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District adopts the attached Riverhead Central School District’s Flexible Benefit Program, §125 of the IRS Regulations, effective January 1, 2006.
Yes 7 No 0
Motion Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs. Harkin, seconded by Mr. Stark, to approve the following resolution:
-Approved
Benefit Program
Professional
Personnel
Recommendations
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 12
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
Amy Hovind
Kelly Lester
Extension of Emergency 20-day Conditional Appointments
Jillian Davey
Claudette Garley
Danielle Goncalves
Julie Hirschey
Cara Koenig
Tara Malanga
Genia Merkel
Deborah Mitchell
Nancy Poserina
Elizabeth Scimeca
Emergency 20-day Conditional Appointment
Colleen Gallagher – Substitute Teacher, effective 12/1/05-6/30/06.
Coaching Appointments for 2005/06
Joanne Armstrong – Varsity Head/Winter Cheerleading.
Joy Perez – MS Head Coach/Winter Cheerleading.
Edward Grassman – MS Head Coach/Baseball.
Jeffrey Doroski – MS Head Coach/Baseball.
Antonio Lawrence – Varsity Head/Boys’ Lacrosse.
Anthony Gentile – Varsity Assistant/Boys’ Lacrosse.
David Spinella – JV Head Coach/Boys’ Lacrosse.
Peter Huszagh – MS Head Coach/Boys’ Spring Track.
Team Leaders/Middle School
Kathryn Graves - 7-1 Team Leader, First Quarter 2005.
Christopher Butterfield - 7-1 Team Leader, Second Quarter 2005.
Marisa Lapaz - 7-1 Team Leader, Third Quarter 2005.
Debra Knaub - 7-1 Team Leader, Fourth Quarter 2005.
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 13
John Rossetti - 7-2 Team Leader, First Quarter 2005.
Kristen Hazard - 7-2 Team Leader, Second Quarter 2005.
Kevin Hewkin - 7-2 Team Leader, Third Quarter 2005.
Darren Dunn - 7-2 Team Leader, Fourth Quarter 2005.
Edward Kneski - 7-3 Team Leader, First Quarter 2005.
Michelle Reed - 7-3 Team Leader, Second Quarter 2005.
Mindy Benze - 7-3 Team Leader, Third Quarter 2005.
David Leone - 7-3 Team Leader, Fourth Quarter 2005.
Jennifer Frankel - 8-1 Team Leader, First Quarter 2005.
Steve Mercorella - 8-1 Team Leader, Second Quarter 2005.
Ann Priapi - 8-1 Team Leader, Third Quarter 2005.
Frederick Zamorski - 8-1 Team Leader, Fourth Quarter 2005.
Cheryl Alexander - 8-2 Team Leader, First Quarter 2005.
Chad Haverty, , 8-2 Team Leader, Second Quarter 2005.
Claire Yannacone - 8-2 Team Leader, Third Quarter 2005.
Emily Sills - 8-2 Team Leader, Fourth Quarter 2005.
Lawrence Horowitz - 8-3 Team Leader, First Quarter 2005.
Cheryl Walsh - 8-3 Team Leader, Second Quarter 2005.
Lawrence Horowitz - 8-3 Team Leader, Third Quarter 2005.
Cheryl Walsh - 8-3 Team Leader, Fourth Quarter 2005.
Continuation of Leave Replacement
Sherry Hansen – Social Worker, effective 2/1/06-6/30/06.
Amendment to Change of Status
Cara Gianello – To: Leave Replacement, Phillips Avenue
Elementary School, From: Substitute Teacher, To: 9/12/05-
11/10/05, From: 9/12/05-11/4/05.
Change in Status
Jillian Davey – From: Substitute Teacher, To: Leave Replacement,
Roanoke Avenue Elementary School, effective 12/14/05-3/22/06.
Judy Johnson – From: Substitute Teacher, To: Leave
Replacement, Roanoke Avenue Elementary School, effective
12/14/05-12/23/05.
Extension of Temporary Appointment
Georgette Keller – Teacher for Family and Consumer Sciences,
effective 12/6/05-1/11/06.
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Minutes
Board of Education
December 7, 2005
Page 14
Salary Advancement
Mary Ellen Carr – From: Bachelors-Step 6, To: Masters-Step 6,
effective 9/1/05.
Tenure Recommendations