(044)

MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Regular Meeting – August 26, 2003
Riverhead High School Auditorium

PRESENT: President, Mrs. Mary Ellen Harkin; Vice President,
Mrs. Nancy G. Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen Berezny; Mr. Timothy Griffing;
Mr. Timothy Hubbard; and, Mrs. Marypat Takacs.

ABSENT: Mrs. Lori H. Montefusco.

ALSO PRESENT: Mr. George L. Duffy III, Mrs. Carol Perkins and Christopher Powers, Esq.

President, Mrs. Harkin, opened the meeting at 6:50 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.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

The Board of Education recessed to executive session at 6:51 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to return to open session.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

The Board of Education returned to open session at 7:35 p.m.
A brief recess followed.

The meeting resumed at 7:40 p.m.
There were about 30 other people in attendance.
ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Barbara O’Kula.

Pledge of AllegianceRecess to
Executive Session
Return to Open Session

(045)Minutes

Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 2

Mrs. Harkin requested a moment of silence in memory of Jean Talmage, a devoted wife and mother who was an asset to the community and employee of the school district.
A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mr. Hubbard, 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:

Recall from Excess List
Melissa Ries – Special Education Teacher, effective 8/27/03.

Appointment-
Medicare Biller
Lisa Dandrea – Speech Therapist, Review Medicare Billing,
Effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.

Emergency 20-day Conditional Appointment
Tara Candela – School Psychologist, effective 9/1/03-8/31/06.
Renee Pastor – English Teacher, effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.
Roger De Los Santos – Substitute Foreign Language Teacher-
Spanish, effective 9/1/03.

Request for Unpaid Child Care Leave of Absence/FMLA
Laura Ficarra-Hernandez – Elementary Teacher, effective
9/1/03-6/30/04.

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:

Appointments
Lisa Douglas-Legrasse – Senior Clerk Typist, effective 9/1/03.
Patricia White – Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03.

Amend Agenda

-Add Professional and Civil Service Personnel
Recommendations
-Approved

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 3

Emergency 20-Day Conditional (Contract) Appointments
Jennifer Crosby – Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.
Terrell Brown – Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.

Request for Unpaid Leave of Absence
Julie Snow – School Bus Driver, effective 9/10,11,12/03.
Susan Digeronimo – Special Education Aide, effective
9/1/03-1/30/04.

Resignation
Eileen McGovern – Special Education Aide, effective 8/19/03.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion to Amend Agenda Carried.

A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Takacs, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of June 2003 and the following Schedule of Bills for the month of June 2003:

Fund Check Numbers Amount
General Fund 6819-7384 $5,425,809.99
Trust & Agency 5687-5750 4,442,291.27
Federal Funds 6758-6816 322,762.53
Cafeteria 7060-7126 165,574.37
Extraclassroom 3630-3678 56,130.60
Capital Fund -0-
Capital Expansion -0-

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

The Superintendent made the following comments:

-reported on increase in enrollment (3%; 147 new students, K-12)

-Dr. Howard Koenig, Executive Director of R.E.F.I.T., will make a presentation at a future Board meeting to inform the community on the progress of fiscal equity and funding of education in New York State

-schools are ready for opening; staff reports on September 2nd and students on September 3rd

Treasurer’s Report &
Schedule of Bills
-June 2003
-Approved

Opportunity for Superintendent

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 4

-new teachers reported today for orientation; nearly all teachers that were excessed have been brought back into the classroom

Mrs. Takacs reported on her pleasure to attend the new teacher institute/training and welcomed the new teachers. She requested that the Board begin formal readings of policies based on the Board’s motion of eights months prior to review and submit comments. She provided a list for each board member of policies where no comments were listed and reviewed by the NYSSBA for a first reading.

Mrs. Harkin reported that the Court of Appeals has ruled that all students should have a meaningful high school education. This has the potential to impact the current system of funding in New York City and throughout the State and affect reconfiguration of the current formula commensurate with need. All should get involved to lobby our constituents for re-writing of the state aid formula.

Comments from the community included:

-change in status for two administrators on the agenda

Mrs. Harkin stated that the change in titles are not promotions nor do they contain salary increases; rather, they were necessary to more accurately reflect the responsibilities that the individuals perform (i.e., evaluation of principals and administrators in the district which by administrators’ contract can only be performed by the Superintendent or an Assistant Superintendent)

-status of marking of district vehicles (to be painted)

-dropout rate last school year (not yet available)

-weakness in 8th grade Language Arts test scores and steps
to improve upon them (Mrs. Staib will be making a presentation to the community after the start of the school year on the new balanced literacy approach, revamping of curriculum and other initiatives)

-explanation of “Teacher on Special Assignment” (this is a mentoring teacher as required by the state funded by grant monies)

Opportunity for
Board Members
Community
Comments

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 5

-number of aides brought back (all aides have returned with the exception of kindergarten aides)

-explanation of health services contracts (when Riverhead
students attend other schools and we are billed for the cost
to educate and vice versa)

-procedure to get something on the Board agenda (notify the
District Clerk about two weeks in advance)

-personal request by a parent to sit in on her son’s math class

(Mr. Powers recommended that she file an appeal of the
denial to the Commissioner of Education if dissatisfied with the decision and process followed)

-addressed out of state trip request appearing on the agenda and emphasized that no student should be left alone

A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mr. Hubbard, 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
03-28-2003 205348
04-14-03 201291, 202334, 202340, 203496, 203620,
204008, 204140, 204305, 204008, 204459,
205133, 205402, 205701, 206068
04-15-03 203006, 204002, 204123, 204251, 204656,
205437, 205532, 205526, 205548, 205551
04-16-03 204509, 205035, 205055, 205089, 205331,
205481, 205621, 206354, 206487, 206756
04-28-03 200570, 201335, 201569, 203019, 203204,
203615, 203705, 204239, 204655, 204669,
205059, 205072, 205508
04-29-03 203007, 203060, 203082, 203086, 203165,
203202, 204014, 205006, 205081, 205656,
203072, 203624, 204308, 204657, 205005,
Committee on Special
Education
-Approved
-Supplemental File

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 6

205513, 205581, 205591, 205598, 205660,
206717, 207808
04-30-03 203003, 204100, 204623, 204624, 204658,
205287, 205360, 205372, 206064, 206219,
206750, 204023, 205140, 205180, 205182,
205217, 205223, 205582, 206677
05-01-03 212091, 212396, 212585, 213432, 213464,
214459
05-05-03 210035, 210415, 211287, 212004, 213001,
213059, 213087, 214520
05-06-03 211005, 211116, 211324, 212025, 212035,
212062, 212488, 212509, 212556, 212602
05-08-03 213214
05-12-03 204622, 204674, 205334, 205695, 206142,
206489, 206664
05-14-03 207024, 208077, 208105, 208248, 208766,
05-14-04 208777, 209001, 209643, 209659
05-20-03 213024, 213089, 213114, 213119, 213247,
05-20-04 213516, 214127, 214149, 214444, 214510
05-21-03 201366*, 204050*, 210002*, 212015*,
212021*, 213016*
05-22-03 205285*
05-23-03 202666, 207286, 208085
05-29-03 203709, 204674, 205116
06-02-03 203060, 203165, 204002, 204014, 204023,
204509, 205138, 205140, 205348, 205514,
205583, 205706*, 206717, 208710
06-04-03 210021, 212581, 214038, 215522
06-05-03 212603, 203320, 207689, 209127, 210272,
211081, 212380, 213484, 213589, 215045
06-09-03 206066, 206602, 207027, 207078, 207189,
207324, 207324, 207403, 207418, 207455,
207649, 208649
06-11-03 213214
06-13-03 206089, 206094, 206348, 206707, 207018,
207289, 207609, 207714, 207735, 207799,
207803, 208717
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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 7

06-23-03 206041, 206044, 206210, 206211, 206302,
206423, 207019, 207518, 207472, 207796,
207771, 208665, 208767
06-24-03 207062, 207084, 207716

C.P.S.E. MEETING STUDENT NUMBERS
06-04-03 216261, 217230, 216257, 216220, 216305,
217183, 216130, 216262, 217205, 217222,
216102, 216120, 216027, 217188, 217191,
216251
06-11-03 217153, 216239, 216205, 217232, 217005,
218051, 216330, 217147, 217197,
218144, 217170, 216203, 216307,
216089
*High Cost Student Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the request of the Riverhead Middle School to revisit Hershey Park in Pennsylvania on September 13, 2003. Cost to the district is chaperones for the day. Transportation is subject to approval pursuant to Board policy. Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to approve the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education appoints Marypat Takacs as voting delegate at the New York State School Boards Association 2003 Annual Convention, October 23-25, 2003 in Rochester, New York.

Out of State Trip
-Approved
Delegate to NYSSBA
2003 Convention
-Marypat Takacs
-Approved

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 8

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves two (2) transportation contracts for the Summer 2003 Program (based on the District’s shared service commitment) between the Riverhead Central School District and Eastern Suffolk BOCES for the periods of service to begin July 1, 2003 and end August 31, 2003, at a total anticipated annual cost of $12,266 for one and the other at a total anticipated annual cost of $5,000; and, authorizes the President of the Board of Education to sign such contracts.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District accepts the request of the High School Technology Department to acquire funds through a private donor to support the club salary for the 2003-04 school year and permit operation of the Robotics Club.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District approves the following Health Services Contracts:

BOCES Summer
Transportation
Contracts
-Approved Donation
-Approved Health Services Contracts
-Approved

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 9

1. Three Village Central School District for two (2) students for the 2002/03 school year at a total cost of $959.82;
2. Middle Country Central School District at Centereach for one (1) student for the 2002/03 school year at a total cost of $348.87;
3. Smithtown Central School District for seven (7) students for the 2002/03 school year at a total cost of $3,494.47; and
4. Southampton Union Free School District for twenty-two (22) students for the 2002/03 school year at a total cost of $10,125.06

and, authorizes the President of the Board of Education to sign such contracts.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

A motion was made by Mrs. Takacs, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to approve the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District authorizes the President of the Board of Education to sign a release from liability for any and all damages school buses may cause to such roadways, curbing and landscaping that may occur when accessing Golfo Development, owner of certain property including Waverly Court and Crescent Court (subdivision known as “Crescent on the Sound”).

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

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

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:

Hold Harmless
Agreement
-Golfo Development
-Approved
Professional
Personnel
Recommendations
-Approved

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 10

Appointments
High School Advisors: Effective 8/27/03
David Spinella – Co-Advisor/Class of 2004.
James Walter – Co-Advisor/Class of 2004.
Victoria Perrone – Co-Advisor/Class of 2005.
Laural Olsen – Co-Advisor/Class of 2005
Deborah Kulka-Maclellan – Class of 2006.
James Laffy – Class of 2007.
Mary McKenna – Art.
Elizabeth Gerosa – Bible Club.
Sean O’Hara – Blue Masque.
Sean O’Hara – Chamber Choir.
Frank Yolango – Chamber Orchestra.
Sharon DiGiuseppe – Co-Advisor/Cultural Studies.
Tara Brondo – Co-Advisor/Cultural Studies.
Peter Giannone – Deca Club.
Frank Yolango – High School Orchestra.
Louise Wilkinson – HUGS.
Cornelia Gevinski – Interact Club.
Louise Wilkinson – Key Club.
Frank Minucci – Literary Magazine.
John Dunleavy – LEO Club.
Theresa Carr – Math Club.
Jeff Greenberger – Mentathletes Club.
Sonja Johanson – Mickey Mouse.
Deborah Kulka-Maclellan – Co-Advisor/National Honor Society.
Laural Olsen – Co-Advisor/National Honor Society.
Loren Christie – Co-Advisor/Newspaper.
Megan Lane – Co-Advisor/Newspaper.
Lee Hanwick – Ninth Grade Band.
Sean O’Hara – Ninth Grade Chorus.
Matthew Yakaboski – Co-Advisor/Outdoors Club.
Robert Brandi – Co-Advisor/Outdoors Club.
Kathryn Graves – Co-Advisor/Outdoors Club.
Mary McKenna – Photography Club.
Theresa Drozd – SADD Club.
Lee Hanwick – Senior Band.
Sean O’Hara – Senior Chorus.

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 11

Tracee Beroza – Spanish Club.
Lee Hanwick – Varsity Stage Band.
Frederica Miles – Step & Drill.
Theresa Drozd – Co-Advisor/Student Council.
Alice Blackmore – Co-Advisor/Student Council.
Suzanne Johnson – Yearbook.
Suzanne Johnson – Yearbook Business Manager.
Theresa Drozd – Youth Leadership Club.
Middle School Advisors: Effective 8/27/03.
Annette Brewer – 8th Grade Band.
Crystal McMillan – 7th Grade Band.
John Rossetti – 7th Grade Advisor.
Richard Gebhardt – Audio Visual Club.
Thomas R. Zay – Environmental Club.
Betsy Ruotolo – French Club.
Phyllis Adams, RN – Future Nurses Club.
Lorene Custer – Latin Club.
Elizabeth Garbarino – Library Club.
Cheryl Mussler – Math Club.
Crystal McMillan – Stage Band.
Frederica Miles – Step & Drill.
Pulaski Street School Advisors: Effective 8/27/03.
Lisa Talmage – 6th Grade Band.
Lisa Talmage – 5th Grade Band.
Medicare Biller
Sheryl Jackson-Bruyn – Speech Pathologist, Review Medicare
Billing, effective 9/1/02-6/30/03.
Change in Status
Laura Grable – To: Teacher on Special Assignment, effective
9/1/03-6/30/04.
Brian Karz – To: English Teacher/Probationary Appointment,
effective 1/15/03-1/14/06.
Michelle Strobel – To: English Teacher/Contract Appointment,
effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 12

Philip Kent – To: Elementary Principal/Aquebogue Elementary School, effective 9/1/03-8/31/06.
Dali Flores-Rastello – To: Interim Assistant Secondary
Principal/High School, effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.
Emergency 20-Day Conditional Appointment
Nicole Nappi – Substitute Music Teacher, effective 9/1/03.

Request for Leave of Absence
Linda Walters – Elementary Teacher, Pulaski Street School,
effective 9/4/03-10/17/03.

Resignations
Kimberly Heffernan – Elementary Teacher, effective 8/14/03.
John Stimmel – Elementary Principal, effective 9/20/03.

Request for Unpaid Child Care Leave of Absence/FMLA-Dental
Jacqueline Acritelli-Hunt – Speech/Language Therapist, effective
9/1/03-9/19/03 (Paid CCLOA), 9/22/03-1/30/04 (Unpaid CCLOA),
(12 weeks FMLA-Dental Coverage).

Retirement
Barbara Genovese-Verity – Special Education Teacher, effective
9/20/03.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

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

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:

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 13

Change in Status/Non-contracted Employees
Joseph Ogeka – To: Assistant Superintendent for Personnel & Community Services, effective 7/1/03.
Margaret Staib –To: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, effective 7/1/03.

Yes 5
Mrs. Gassert
Mr. Griffing
Mrs. Harkin
Mr. Hubbard
Mrs. Takacs

Abstention 1

Mrs. Berezny

Mrs. Berezny stated that her abstention was due to insufficient information at this time to make a correct decision.

Motion Carried.

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

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
Julie Aiken – To: School Bus Driver, effective 8/27/03.
Eric Shaw – To: School Bus Driver, effective 9/3/03.
Judy Negron-Falek –To: Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03.
Carolyn Vanston – To: Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03.

Appointments
Alessandro Lamanna – School Bus Dispatcher, effective 9/2/03.
Robert Bogo – Substitute School Bus Driver, effective 8/27/03.
Noel Schaffauer – Substitute School Bus Driver, effective 8/27/03.

Civil Service
Personnel
Recommendations
-Approved

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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 14

Linda Mikelinich – Substitute School Teacher Aide, effective
8/27/03.Retirements
Marsha Mickoliger – School Teacher Aide, effective 9/3/03.
Yolanda Carmona – School Monitor, effective 8/13/03.

Request for Unpaid Leave of Absence
Lisa Carter – School Monitor, effective 9/3/03-1/3/04. Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.A motion was made by Mrs. Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Takacs, to approve 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:

Recall from Excess List
Melissa Ries – Special Education Teacher, effective 8/27/03. Appointment-Medicare Biller
Lisa Dandrea – Speech Therapist, Review Medicare Billing,
effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.Emergency 20-day Conditional Appointment
Tara Candela – School Psychologist, effective 9/1/03-8/31/06.
Renee Pastor – English Teacher, effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.
Roger De Los Santos – Substitute Foreign Language Teacher-
Spanish, effective 9/1/03.

Request for Unpaid Child Care Leave of Absence/FMLA
Laura Ficarra-Hernandez – Elementary Teacher, effective
9/1/03-6/30/04.

Additional Professional
And Civil Service Personnel Recommendations
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
August 26, 2003
Page 15

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:

Appointments
Lisa Douglas-Legrasse – Senior Clerk Typist, effective 9/1/03.
Patricia White – Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03.Emergency 20-Day

Conditional (Contract) Appointments
Jennifer Crosby – Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.
Terrell Brown – Special Education Aide, effective 9/1/03-6/30/04.

Request for Unpaid Leave of Absence
Julie Snow – School Bus Driver, effective 9/10,11,12/03.
Susan Digeronimo – Special Education Aide, effective
9/1/03-1/30/04.

Resignation
Eileen McGovern – Special Education Aide, effective 8/19/03.

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried.

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

Yes 6 No 0
Motion Carried

The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara J. O’Kula