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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, January 13, 2004 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-94-04 School Board Recognition R-95-04 Substitute Approval R-96-04 Agreement with Classroom Connect R-97-04 Tuition Contract with Stepping Stone School R-98-04 Tuition Contract with The Calais School R-99-04 Horizontal Movement on the Salary Locator Guide R-100-04 Field Trip Approval R-101-04 Facility Use Request R-102-04 Agreement with Pediatric Physical Therapy R-103-04 Second Reading and Adoption of Policy File Code: 4111.2 Entitled “Inappropriate Staff Conduct” R-104-04 Adopt Revised Policy R-105-04 Transfer of Uncommitted Funds R-106-04 Appropriate From Fund Balance
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 7:34pm. Mrs. Barna read the following opening statement, “I would like to announce and have placed in the minutes that adequate notice of this regular 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; Teresa E. Barna - Business Administrator; Rosemary Kowalchuk - Principal, Matthew Eagleburger - Assistant Principal, John B. Comegno, Esquire - Board Attorney, and 25 members of the public. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Gallant, 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 legal issues, 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: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Taggart, second by McGann, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 8:23pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. CORRESPONDENCE
MINUTES Motion by Drake, second by Stammherr, that the minutes of December 9, 2003 be approved and filed as amended. Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. BILL LIST Motion by Rozycki, second by Taggart, that the bills submitted for the January 13, 2004 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 November 30, 2003, which agree with each other and the bank be approved and filed. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. FINANCIAL REPORT CERTIFICATION Motion by McGuinness, second by Rozycki, 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. 6A:23-2.11(c)4, we certify that as of November 30, 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.
Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, WHEREAS, The New Jersey School Boards Association and the National School Boards Association have declared January 2004 to be School Board Recognition Month, a time that all residents might acknowledge the contributions made by our local school board members; and WHEREAS, The Lopatcong Township Board of Education is one of 600 local school boards in New Jersey that sets policies and oversees operations for public school districts; and WHEREAS, The Lopatcong Township Board of Education embraces the goal of high-quality education for all New Jersey public school students; and WHEREAS, New Jersey’s local school boards help determine community goals for the education of more than 1.3 million children in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade; and WHEREAS, New Jersey’s 4,800 local school board members, who receive no remuneration for their services, act as advocates for public school students as they work with administrators, teachers and parents for the betterment of public education; and WHEREAS, School boards strive to provide the resources necessary to meet the needs of all students, including those with special needs; and WHEREAS, Boards of education provide accountability to the public, they communicate needs of the school district to the public; and they convey to school administrators the public’s expectations for the schools; and WHEREAS, New Jersey can take pride in its schools, which rank among the nations’ best in indicators such as class size, graduation rates, college entrance exam participation, entrance exam math scores, and Advance Placement offerings and test scores. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Lopatcong Township Board of Education, does hereby recognize the services of local board members throughout New Jersey as we join communities statewide in observing January 2004 as SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Lopatcong Township Board of Education urges all New Jersey citizens to work with their local boards of education and public school staffs toward the improvement of our children’s education. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Stammherr, second by Kennedy, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, hereby terminates its contract with Archer & Greiner of Haddonfield, NJ and contracts with Comegno Law Group, P.C. of Maple Shade, NJ for Board Attorney Services effective immediately. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Gallant, second by Stammherr, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Marcie Horan and Erin Leyhan as substitute teachers for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year and to be paid at the appropriate substitute rate. 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, authorize the Business Administrator to enter into an agreement with “Classroom Connect” for a Technology Integration Professional Development Program in the amount of $28,250. This program is being funded by the Title II of the No Child Left Behind Grant. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by McGann, 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 Stepping Stone School effective December 1, 2003 and to approve a tuition contract with the Stepping Stone School for such placement in the amount of $160.99 per day for approximately 126 days for a total no to exceed $20,284.74. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Rozycki, second by Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of one Lopatcong student at The Calais School effective December 16, 2003 and to approve a tuition contract with The Calais School for such placement in the amount of $148.00 per day or $29,600 per year prorated from December 16, 2003. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Drake, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve horizontal movement on the salary locator guide for A. Lynn Cushing to “GG/M” effective February 1, 2004. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Stammherr, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following field trips:
Vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Kennedy, second by Stammherr, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the use of the Lopatcong Middle School Community Room on January 13, 2004 by the Kiwanis Club of Phillipsburg for a program on autism. Vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve an agreement with Pediatric Physical Therapy to provide physical therapy services for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year as per the terms and conditions stated in the agreement. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Taggart, second by Kennedy, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Policy Committee adopt the second reading of policy File Code: 4111.2 entitled “Inappropriate Staff Conduct” as amended, read, attached to these minutes and filed in the district policy manual. 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, adopt revised policy File Code: 4111.1 entitled “Sexual Harassment of School Staff Members” and Regulation File Code: 4111.1R entitled “Sexual Harassment of School Staff Members Complaint Procedure”. 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, approve the following transfer of funds within the 2003-2004 school year budget dated November 30, 2003:
Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Rozycki, second by Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, appropriate $42,740.00 of fund balance into the following accounts dated November 30, 2003:
Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion tabled until next meeting.
Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education in light of his long-standing employment and administrative service to the Board, offer health benefits to Carl Meixsell effective February 1, 2004 with premiums to be paid by the Lopatcong Township Council. Roll call vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education set the polling hours for the Annual School Election on April 20, 2004 from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Vote: 9 – Yes. Motion carried. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT None REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG Mr. Kish stated that architects from the State will be visiting the site within the next 2 weeks. It seems as if things are finally progressing. Mr. Kish read a letter from Dr. Judith Weiss, Assistant Commissioner sent to the Phillipsburg School District regarding her recent visit to the high school. Phillipsburg approved their Professional Development Plan. Mr. Kish passed a copy around to the Board members along with a copy of the personnel changes. A principal search is taking place through the New Jersey Association of School Administrators. A committee of the Board is reviewing resumes. Three candidates will be brought before the entire Board. LEGISLATIVE REPORT No Report FACILITY UPDATE The HVAC contractor was in the building over the winter recess to balance the HVAC system. Larger return air vents were installed on the first and second floors. This seems to have reduced the amount of noise in the classrooms. Balancing will continue. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mrs. Flanagan addressed the Board regarding a letter that she had sent to the Board expressing some concerns. Mrs. Flanagan indicated that the Administration responded on December 3, 2003 to that letter. At the December 9, 2003 Board meeting, she expressed her dissatisfaction with the response by the administration. There was some discussion at the last meeting regarding the start-up of a committee for parents to express their concerns. Where does the Board stand with that. Mr. Kennedy explained that the Education Committee did meet on December 11, 2003, and this topic was discussed. The Committee is researching the process and procedures to take regarding this new committee in order to make a recommendation to the full board. Arrangements have been made for the members of the board and the administration to visit other schools which have a similar committee. Patricia Turner – Mrs. Turner began to state information regarding a letter that she wrote to the Board regarding her son and his performance. Mr. Kish advised Mrs. Turner to save her comments for Executive Session at which time she could discuss her concerns with the Board. A question was asked about whether the air vents that were replaced in the middle school for the HVAC system was to reduce inside or outside noise. The vents were installed to reduce inside noise. Could something be placed around the outside chiller to reduce the noise to the community. Mr. Gallant stated that the architect will be taking readings to assess the decibel levels at property lines to determine if the levels meet local ordinance regulations. The architect is also researching what can be done about the noise levels. A recommendation was made to the Board, that more people might get involved in the meetings if the meeting started on time, the members would speak up and provide additional information to the public. A resident of Grant Way asked why is there no Theatre group or plays. Mrs. Kowalchuk stated that a drama club has been formed and that try-outs were taking place and a performance will be held in May. This same resident has concerns about her child walking to Phillipsburg High School from Grant Way with few sidewalks. What can be done to get bussing to all elementary school students. Mr. McGuinness explained the budgeting process and the finance committee will take the bussing issue into consideration while developing the budget. President Kish encouraged the audience to run for the Board. The election is approaching and petitions are available. Mr. Purdy also stated that the Board transports approximately 250 students for $160,000. When the district is growing, tough decisions must be made as to add additional teachers to reduce class size or provide unmandated transportation. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by McGuinness, seconded by Rozycki, 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 privacy issues, 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 9:58pm 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: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 10:15pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. A short discussion took place regarding a dedication ceremony for the opening of the new school. Perhaps the beginning of April would be a date to consider. Hearing no further business, that Board adjourned at 10:22pm 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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