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Agenda:

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.

President Kish called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.  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 at both school locations.”

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.

ROLL CALL

Present:  Ernie Gallant, Terry Glennon, Joe Kennedy, Frank Kish, Greg McGann (arrived at 8:13pm), Tim McGuinness, Raisy Stammherr (arrived at 7:34pm), and Bill Taggart.

Absent:  Jesse Rozycki

Others Present: Albert V. Purdy, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; and eight members of the public.

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Linda Kohl - Thank you note.

2. NJSBA – Letter congratulating Mr. Ernie Gallant for achieving Certified Board Member status through receiving academy credits for attending Board Member Academy Programs.

MINUTES

Motion by Kennedy, second by Glennon, that the minutes of March 5, 2005, March 8, 2005, March 22, 2005, and March 30, 2005 be approved and filed.

Vote:  6 - Yes.  Motion carried.

BILL LIST

Motion by Gallant, second by Taggart, that the bills submitted for the April 12, 2005 meeting, including Food Service, and Construction Account be approved for payment.

Vote:  7 - Yes.  Motion carried.

SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORTS

Motion by Taggart, second by Gallant, that the Secretary/Treasurer Reports submitted for the month ending February 28, 2005 which agree with each other and the bank be approved and filed.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

FINANCIAL REPORT CERTIFICATION

Motion by Taggart, second by Glennon, 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 February 28, 2005, 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:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Mrs. Buckley – Regarding the Field Trip Resolution, the student council will be attending an overnight event for Relay for Life. What is the parent to student ratio for this event? Mr. Kish responded that this event will be chaperoned with a parent to student ratio of 1 to 5. Mrs. Kowalchuk also responded that since this is the first time Lopatcong is participating in this event, we have required that any student staying overnight must be accompanied by one parent.

Motion by Gallant, second by Glennon, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the hiring of additional substitutes for the remainder of the 2004-2005 school year as presented and attached to these minutes with the emergent hiring of Nanette Neadle.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following construction change orders to Contract #1 for Ingrassia Construction Company, Inc.:

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Taggart, second by Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the 2005-2006 school year calendar as presented and attached to these minutes.

Vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Glennon, second by Kennedy, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the Integrated Pest Management for the 2005-2006 school year as presented and attached to these minutes and as required by the New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management Act.

Vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Stammherr, second by McGuinness, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following requests for use of the facilities:

Vote:  7 – 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 following field trips:

Vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Gallant, second by McGuinness, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following transfers within the 2004-2005 school year budget:

Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Both schools were locked down on April 11, 2005 due to an hostage situation that took place in the township. No parents were allowed to pick-up their kids early. Students that lived on the section of town where the hostage situation was taking place were held at their school until parents could pick them up or make other arrangements for their child to get home. All went smoothly during the school day. There were no panic situations.

The district has received it’s monitoring report from the County Superintendent. The district was monitored by the county on February 8, 2005. The County Superintendent is recommending certification of the district for 7 years. This recommendation is made to the Commissioner of Education. The district has received Acceptable marks in all categories. Mr. Purdy asked the Board to pass a resolution accepting the Monitoring Report.

Mr. Kennedy mentioned that that the Monitoring Report was reviewed in detail by the Education Committee and the Administration should be commended for an outstanding job in keeping our school district in good standing with the state department.

Mr. Purdy announced that the date of graduation will be Thursday, June 16, 2005.

June 16, 2005 will also be the last day of school and this will be a half-day.

An awards night for 8th grade students will take place a couple of weeks before graduation. Mr. Purdy is still working on determining a date for this event.

Motion by Gallant, second by Taggart, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, accept the Monitoring Report dated March 18, 2005 which recommends certification of the district to the Commissioner of Education.

Vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.

REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG

It was brought to the Board’s attention that the student ID cards have been color coded identifying the academic achievement level of each student. For example, the honor students have gold colored ID cards. This practice will be stopped immediately and new ID cards will be issued.

On April 22, 2005 there will be a ceremony honoring Jonathan Gregory who has won election for the presidency of the State Student Council.

Mr. Kish referenced the “Secondary Education Report”. The high school projected enrollment for the 04-05 school year was 1690, the actual enrollment was reported at 1630. Projected enrollment for the 2005-2006 year is 1791.

There is a new policy that any student who does not pass the HESPA test will be required to attend summer school.

There will be a new schedule for Freshman nest year that will be a modified block schedule that will include three 56 minute periods in the afternoon for Math, Language Arts and Science each day.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

A-3680 which amends S-1701 has had no action in either the Senate or the Assembly.

OTHER ITEMS OF EMERGENT NATURE

Mr. Gallant was out campaigning for the budget this weekend and spoke with a baseball coach who asked if a small metal box could be placed by the field to hold tools to maintain the fields. This shouldn’t be a problem as long as it does not interfere with the gym classes.

Mr. McGuinness acknowledged Mr. Kennedy for his service on the Board. This will be Mr. Kennedy’s last meeting. His term expires this month and he has not run for re-election. Mr. McGuinness indicated that Mr. Kennedy is a good friend and an upstanding board member who has contributed greatly to the board during his terms serving in many capacities. He will be missed.

Mr. Kennedy thanked the Board for their kind words and indicated that is was a great and pleasant experience to serve on the Board. He wishes the Board well.

Mrs. Barna asked Mr. Mengucci to relay a message to the town council thanking them for their help with snow removal this past winter via the public works department.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mrs. Buckley – Who is responsible for emptying the garbage cans at the baseball fields?  Mr. Purdy indicated that the garbage cans have always been the responsibility of the township.  Mr. Mengucci, councilman confirmed that the township will pick-up the garbage at the fields.

Mrs. Buckley suggested that the equipment box could be placed on the firehouse property.

Mrs. Buckley – Is it possible for the high school to generate reports by sending district in order to see how the Lopatcong students are performing rather than being lumped together with all the other students?  This really isn’t a possibility since we have to be careful about setting one sending district against another.  The state is only interested in district wide statistics and does not require the high school to report by sending district.  This would probably take a lot of manual work on Phillipsburg’s part to separate and calculate the data.

Mr. Mengucci thanked the administration for the way things were handled yesterday with locking down the schools during the Amber Alert.

Mr. Mengucci also wanted to thank Mr. Kennedy for his service on the Board of Education and all his help.  Mr. Kennedy has helped Mr. Mengucci in his position as a councilman. Mr. Kennedy is a Class Act and a good personal friend.  Mr. Mengucci also thanked Sue Kennedy for her time sacrifice as Mr. Kennedy served his community.

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 issues related to the Superintendent Search, the disclosure of which could constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education adjourn to executive session at 8:26pm 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 Taggart, second by Kennedy, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 9:30pm.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 9:31pm on a motion by Taggart, second by Glennon.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa E. Barna, RSBO

Business Administrator/

Board Secretary

Last Modified:  Saturday, May 06, 2006

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