MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting – August 10, 2004
Riverhead High School Auditorium
PRESENT: President, Mrs.
Lori H. Montefusco; Vice President, Mrs. Nancy G. Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen
Berezny; Mrs. Mary Ellen Harkin; Mr. Timothy Hubbard; and, Mrs. Christine
Prete.
LATE: Mr. Timothy Griffing.
ALSO PRESENT: Dr. Joseph Laria and Mrs, Marianne
Sadowski.
President, Mrs. Montefusco,
opened the meeting at 5:45 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
specific personnel items,
labor negotiations and legal
matters.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
recessed to executive session at 5:46 p.m.
Mr. Griffing arrived at 6:05
p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Prete, to return to open session.
Yes
7 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
returned to open session at 7:37 p.m.
A brief recess followed.
The meeting resumed at 7:43
p.m.
There were about 30 other
people in attendance.
ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Barbara O’Kula.
Pledge of Allegiance
Recess to
Executive Session
Return to
Open Session
(052)
Minutes
Board of Education
August 10, 2004
Page 2
A motion was made by Mrs.
Harkin, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to amend the agenda to include the following
resolutions:
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:
Gregory Wallace – Proctor
& Test Examinator, effective 8/16/04-
8/20/04.
Lawrence Mandresh – Proctor
& Test Examinator, effective
8/16/04-8/20/04.
Nneka S. Fis-Aime –
Elementary Teacher, effective 9/7/04-
11/26/04.
RESOLVED, that on the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Civil Service Personnel
recommendation be approved per Supplemental File Personnel Report and is
subject to Board policy #9310:
Laura Maul – Senior Clerk
Typist, effective 8/13/04.
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:
Special Meeting – April 17,
2004
Regular Meeting – April 20,
2004
Special Meeting – April 27,
2004
Special District Meeting –
April 27, 2004
-Add: Professional
& Civil Service
Personnel
Recommendations
-Approved
-Approved
(053)
Minutes
Board of Education
August 10, 2004
Page 3
Yes
7 No 0
Motion
Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mr. Hubbard, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the
month of June 2004 and the following Schedule of Bills for the month of June
2004
Fund
Check Numbers
Amount
General Fund
10708-11336
$5,863,702.46
Trust & Agency
6618-6682
4,099,613.77
Federal Funds
7099-7149
1,212,534.54
Cafeteria 7437-7498
210,058.38
Extraclassroom
3847-3898
61,452.07
Capital Expansion
-0-
Capital Fund
-0-
Yes
7 No 0
Motion
Carried.
Dr. Laria reported on the
preparations being made for the opening of school with administrative
personnel; that the overall appropriation from the state will slightly exceed
the Governor’s proposal (unofficial figures indicate a nominal 2.8% increase -
$358,737); the Space Planning Committee will meet tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m.
in the High School Library when members will review RFP’s for architectural
firms; and, read a letter of farewell to Peggie Staib, Assistant Superintendent
for Curriculum and Instruction, who will be leaving the position to take a
similar job with Connetquot School District. He also commented in his opportunity to speak with Dr.
Richard Suprina, a former Superintendent of Riverhead schools, who asked him to
convey to the Board and people his enormous gratitude and exciting years at
Riverhead and request that we all rise up before the challenges that face our
school district.
-June 2004
-Approved
Opportunity for
Superintendent
(054)
Minutes
Board of Education
August 10, 2004
Page 4
In the Board’s pro-active
approach to fulfill the positions of Assistant Superintendent for Business and
Plant Facilities Administrator, Mrs. Montefusco stated that the Superintendent
has been asked to post them immediateky.
Also, that an Executive Session will be held on August 16 to move
forward with the search for superintendent and that the next regular Board
meeting will be held on August 24.
Mrs. Berezny reported on the
Board’s commitment to keep abreast of the proposal to the Town of Riverhead to
build a hotel on Route 58 and the granting of a 25% tax break (5% per year for
five years). She also commented on
the need to register to vote by September 15 for the Presidential election.
Mrs. Prete questioned the
declaration of a Tactile Image Enhancer as surplus on the agenda that could
continue to be used for future
Intentions. Dr. Laria stated that this specialized
piece of equipment for blind students has been requested for use by another
district for the purchase price of $550.
The item has not been maintained for the past couple of years and there
are no students requiring Braille.
Community comments included:
-request for clarification
of the on-site technical engineer being acted upon this evening (Mrs.
Montefusco stated that a management system for an on-site engineer who is
stechnology equipped and able to rectify any down time in the network was
needed. The amount is about 61%
aidable and was determined to be cost effective after research by the Board),
-question as to the validity
to declare the Tactile Image Enhancer as surplus (Mrs. Chappell, Director of
Special Education stated this highly, specialized and unusual piece of
equipment had once met the specific qualification of a particular student and
difficult to say if it will ever be used again).
-concern for impartial
hearing officers (Mrs. Chappell informed him that they are used as part of due
process as Part 200 of the Commissioner’s Regulations to mediate. They are purposely
Opportunity for
Board Members
Community
Comments
(055)
Minutes
Board of Education
August 10, 2004
Page 5
selected from outside the
community, called in alphabetical order from a specific list for Suffolk
County, and have specialized training to handle such matters).
-concern to hire a much
needed head of Guidance since the person was in this area was transferred to
another location (Mrs. Montefusco stated that the matter will be discussed by
the Board).
-manner in which the Space
Planning Committee was formed (Mrs. Montefusco stated that the original list
was compiled by Mr. Duffy)
and request that the Board
consider developing and including more people to apply for committees and to advertise
it in the local papers
-request that the Board not
refill the vacated positions of the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and
Instruction nor that of the Assistant Superintendent for Business with either
an interim or permanent appointee until its efficacy is assessed
-request to table the
appointment of an Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business @ $700 per day
and pursue candidates from the Civil Service list (Mrs. Motefusco stated that
the Board did due diligence and looked to this strong candidate to fill the
vacancy immediately to assure that the office has full coverage) Dr. Laria took opportunity to explain
that the talented pool of resources for these type of positions are small and poses
a crisis of educational leadership (certificated through the State Education
Department vs. Civil Service List).
-duty of Space Planning
Committee (Dr. Laria stated that guidelines have been given to its members
under which the committee’s existence is predicated) and confirmation by one of
its members that the committee is comprised of people who live in the Riverhead
Central School District and that a supposed former member had established a
network with political officials like Senator LaValle beneficial to the
committee and its goals
-confirmation of part time
employee (that is -17.5 hours per week)
-existence of bids put forth
for paving at the Middle Schooland asphalt by the bus garage and absence of
details on invoices for same (this was encumbered in last year’s budget for
capital project procreation and services were rendered this year) Dr. Laria also stated that no bids were
required as competitive quotes were obtained from the county list.
(056)
Minutes
Board of Education
August 10, 2004
Page 6
A motion was made by Mrs.
Harkin seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the following
health services contracts:
1.)
Mattituck-Cutchogue
U.F.S.D. for approximately 88 children for the 2003/04 school year at a total
cost of $43,689.36.
2.)
West Islip Public
Schools for one child for the 2003/04 school year at a cost of $394.14.
and, authorizes the
President of the Board of Education to sign such contracts.
Yes
7 No 0
Motion
Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Harkin, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District declares as surplus one (1)
Tactile Image Enhancer, as requested by Elizabeth Chappell, Director of Special
Education/Pupil Personnel Services.
This item was purchased for a blind student who has moved out of the
district and no longer being utilized.
Yes
6
Mrs.
Berezny
Mrs.
Gassert
Mr.
Griffing
Mrs.
Harkin
Mr.
Hubbard
Mrs.
Montefusco
No
1
Mrs.
Prete
Health Services
Contracts
-Approved
-Approved
(057)
Minutes
Board of Education
August 10, 2004
Page 7
Motion
Carried.
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 transportation
contract for the Summer 2004 Program (based on the District’s shared service
commitment) between the Riverhead Central School District and Eastern Suffolk
BOCES for the period of service to begin July 1, 2004 and end August 31, 2004, at
an anticipated annual cost of $20,174; and, authorized the President of the
Board of Education to sign such contract.
Yes
7 No 0
Motion
Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded b y Mrs. Harkin, to amend the following resolution to remove
Administrative Liaison’s and the Board Policy Committee and insert names of
committee members:
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the appointment of
the following individuals to the following committees for the 2004/05 school
year:
Finance and State
Aid Committee
Board Representatives –
Kathleen Berezny, Nancy Gassert,
Mary Ellen Harkin
Town Government
Committee
Board Representatives –
Kathleen Berezny, Timothy Griffing,
Timothy Hubbard, Lori Montefusco
Alternate: Mary Ellen Harkin
Curriculum and
Instruction Committee
Board Representatives –
Nancy Gassert, Mary Ellen Harkin,
Christine Prete
-Approved
-Finance & State Aid
Committee
-Town Government
Committee
-Curriculum &
Instruction
Committee
-Approved as Amended