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Agenda:LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION 321 Stonehenge Drive Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, December 9, 2003 at 7:30pm at Lopatcong Township Middle School located at 321 Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be held in the Cafetorium. To gain admittance, please use the entrance at Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be open to the public at 8:00pm. AGENDA
R-81-04 Accept CAFR and Auditor’s Report of Administrative Findings, Financial Compliance and Performance R-82-04 Addendum to the Negotiated Agreement R-83-04 Substitute Approval R-84-04 Transportation Contract with Warren County Technical School District R-85-04 Tuition Contract with Matheny School and Hospital R-86-04 Request for Use of Facilities R-87-04 Field Trip Approval R-88-04 Speech Therapist R-89-04 Adopt Revised Policies R-90-04 Approve First Reading of Policy File Code: 9180 Entitled “School Volunteers” R-91-04 Approve First Reading of Policy File Code: 4111.2 Entitled “Inappropriate Staff Conduct” R-92-04 Hire School Custodian R-93-04 Transportation Contracts
An Executive Session may be called at the end of the regular session Public comments are invited on any educationally pertinent subject. All participants will be given five (5) minutes to state their issue. In addition, the subject matter may be discussed by the Board for an additional five (5) minutes. All audience participants must state their name and address before speaking. Thank you for understanding.
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Minutes:MINUTES OF THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION President Kish called the meeting to order at 7:33pm. Mrs. Seymore read the following opening statement, “I would like to announce and have placed in the minutes that adequate notice of this special meeting of the Lopatcong Township Board of Education has been provided in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act by publication of the annual notice in the Express-Times. A copy of this notice has also been filed with the Township Clerk and posted in two school locations.” The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. ROLL CALL Present: Donna Drake, Ernie Gallant, Joe Kennedy, Frank Kish, Greg McGann, Timothy McGuinness, Jesse Rozycki, Raisy Stammherr and Bill Taggart. Absent: None Others Present: Albert V. Purdy - Superintendent, Pat Seymore - Assistant to the Business Administrator, Rosemary Kowalchuk - Principal, Matthew Eagleburger - Assistant Principal and eight members of the public. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by McGuinness, seconded by Taggart; WHEREAS, Section 7 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975 (R.S. 10:4-13), permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting or portion of a meeting of this public body in certain circumstances; and WHEREAS, the Board of Education must consider matters involving personnel and negotiations, the disclosure of which could constitute and unwarranted invasion of privacy; now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education adjourn to executive session at 7:35pm to discuss the above mentioned matter to the exclusion of all others. Matters discussed may or may not be made public this evening. Any resulting action will be taken after re-entry into regular session. Vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 8:07pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. CORRESPONDENCE None MINUTES Motion by Drake, second by Rozycki, that the minutes of November 11, 2003 be approved and filed. Vote: 8 – Yes. Kish – Abstain. Motion carried. BILL LIST Motion by Taggart, second by McGuinness, that the bills submitted for the December 9, 2003 meeting be approved for payment including Construction Bill List and Food Service Bill List. Vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORTS Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that the Secretary/Treasurer Reports submitted for the months ending October 31, 2003, which agree with each other and the bank be approves and filed. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. FINANCIAL REPORT CERTIFICATION Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, as follows: Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(c)3, the Board Secretary certifies that no line account has encumbrances and expenditures, which in total exceed the line item appropriation in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(a) and; Pursuant to N.J.A.C. A:23-2.11(c)4, we certify that as of October 31, 2003, after review of the monthly report (appropriation section) and upon consultation with the appropriate officials, to the best of our knowledge no major line account or fund has been over-expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(b), and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s financial obligations for the entire fiscal year. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. RECOGNITION OF PARENT AND STUDENT VOLUNTEERS Mr. Kish reads a letter that was sent to the volunteers and personally thanked them on behalf of the Board and Administration for their hard work in beautifying the Middle School grounds. Mr. Kish presented certificates to all who helped with the landscaping. Board gave applause and standing ovation to all. Persons acknowledged and/or received certificates are as follows: Ryan Turchi, A.J. Tardive, Tyler Roseberry, Corey Notoroberto, Matthew Johnson, Kevin Hagen, Shane Chalupa, Brett Chalupa, Michael Avitabile, Marion Zaro, MaryAnn Sheridan, Paul Mamrak, Valerie Mamrak, Philip Mamrak, Tammy Koslowski, Sara Greene, Kim Koslowski, Christopher Duffy, Michele Duffy, Julie Duffy, Daniel Crossley, Michael Crossley, Christine Crossley, JoAnn Buckley, Jack Buckley, Raymond Buckley, Dale Buckley and Raisy Stammherr. Mr. Kish read certificates to be presented to Nicole Ham and Leslie Reid for their library book fund raising project through the girl scouts. Miss Ham and Miss Reid were not present but were acknowledged. Mr. Purdy acknowledged Mrs. Greene & her fifth grade class for their bulb planting. PUBLIC COMMENT None PRESENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCE REPORT Audit Synopsis’ were distributed to the audience. A very brief presentation took place. There are no audit recommendations. Mr. Purdy commended the Board Office for flawless work done.
Motion by Gallant, second by Rozycki, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, accept the Comprehensive Annual Finance Report (CAFR) and the Report of Administrative Findings, Financial Compliance and Performance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003 as prepared and presented by the administration and Ardito & Co., LLP with no recommendations and a negative corrective action plan. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve an addendum to the Negotiated Agreement which will reduce the health insurance deductible from $250/$500 to $200/$400 in lieu of unlimited chiropractic and supplemental services. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Taggart, second by Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the list of substitute teachers for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year as presented and attached to these minutes. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by McGann, second by McGuinness, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, enter into a Joint Transportation Agreement with Warren County Technical School District for the 2003-2004 school year as follows:
Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Rozycki, second by Kennedy, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of one Lopatcong student at the Matheny School for the 2003-2004 school year and to approve a tuition contract with the Matheny School and Hospital for such placement, effective November 17, 2003, in the amount of $333 per day for a total of $43,623. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Drake, second by Stammherr, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following requests for use of the facilities:
Vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Stammherr, second by McGann, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a filed trip 12 students in the Gifted & Talented program to Blairstown Elementary School on December 4, 2003. Vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. Lopatcong teams came in 2nd and 3rd place.
Motion by Kennedy, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, enter into a contractual agreement with Linda Maffei of Pediatric Speech Therapy at a rate of $65 per hour effective December 9, 2003 through Jan 5, 2004 to provide speech therapy services in the short-term absence of Mrs. McGrath. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Gallant, second by McGuinness, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the policy committee, approve the following revised policies as read, attached to these minutes and filed in the district policy manual:
Further, that the Board of Education eliminate the following policies:
Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. Adoption of revised File Code: 3541.1 entitled “Transportation Routes and Services” was tabled.
Resolution Tabled.
Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Policy Committee, approve the first reading of Policy File Code: 4111.2 entitled “Inappropriate Staff Conduct” as presented and read. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Taggart, second by Rozycki, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the emergent hiring of Ronald Marinelli, Jr. as a custodian for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year and to be paid in accordance with the negotiated agreement. Employment is contingent upon a negative criminal records check. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. The Board questioned if Ron Marinelli was related to Brian Marinelli, Custodian or Scott Marinelli, the Police Chief. Ron Marinelli is a distant cousin of Brian Marinelli. The Board was impressed with Ron Marinelli’s certifications. Mr. Ron Marinelli is pursuing courses to be certified as a Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds.
Motion by McGann, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve transportation contracts with Village Bus Co., Lafayette, NJ, effective January 5, 2004 through June 30, 2004 for the following elementary and middle school routes:
Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Purdy advised that Board the “Channel One” will be at the Middle School on December 16, 2003 to start the installation of TV’s and Equipment. Two VCRs will also be provided. Mr. Purdy further explained “Channel One” and its benefits. REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG Mr. Kish stated that the high school football team members, marching band and cheerleaders all received awards. Reducing the size of the bon-fire was also mentioned. MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORT Mr. Gallant stated that a meeting was held with the Architect, Construction Manager, Committee Members and Administrators regarding the HVAC system and the phone system. The Construction Attorney will be preparing a letter stating to the contractor the timeline in which he has to complete the project. Mr. Gallant also stated that there are several specifications that are not being met with the phone system that is currently installed in the middle school. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Mr. Taggart reported that the state is attempting to make efforts towards property tax relief. Mr. Taggart attended the Delegate Assembly. Some issues discussed there were the hiring of custodians, Chief School Administrator’s Contracts and School Boards appointed rather than elected and their term of office. Mr. Taggart updated the Board on the Technology status at the middle school. The internet is up and running. Administrator’s Plus is up and running. The Books are in the library and the automated library system is working. New School website: www.lopatcongschool.org OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT Regarding Mrs. Flanagan and the letter that she presented to the Board at the last meeting. Mrs. Flanagan received a response to her letter from the administration. She is not satisfied with the answers she received to some of her questions and concerns. She continued to raise questions pertaining to the demerit system and there being “no recess” Mr. Purdy commented on the school schedule and how state mandates do not allow for time in the schedule for a recess period. Mrs. Flanagan was unhappy with this response. Mr. Kish stated that the role of the Board and the Administration is to educate. Other members of the public voiced their unhappiness with no recess. Mrs. Flanagan also mentioned her displeasure in not being notified that a teacher would be out for an extended period. She feels that the school should send letters home advising the parents of a long or short term teacher absence. Mr. Kish asked the Education Committee to discuss the possibility of a “Parents on Sight” Committee be formed. Mr. Kennedy was approached by the Phillipsburg Marching Band Director regarding the possibility of some eighth grade students participating in an 4 day/3night trip to Virginia. A discussion was held but no consensus was reached. Hearing not further business, the Board adjourned at 9:42pm on a motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Teresa E. Barna, RSBO Business Administrator/Board Secretary
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