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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.

Minutes:

MINUTES OF THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF EDUCATION

President Gallant called the meeting to order on March 14, 2006 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 been filed with the Township Clerk and posted at both school locations.”

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.

ROLL CALL

Present:  Dennis Drake, Ernie Gallant, Terry Glennon, Frank Kish, Greg McGann, Jesse Rozycki, Raisy Stammherr, and Bill Taggart.

Absent:  Tim McGuinness

Others Present:  Dr. Michael Rossi, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; Matthew Eagleburger, Assistant Principal; Stephen Geisel, Assistant Principal; JoAnn Murray, CST Director, and approximately 15 staff and public.

CORRESPONDENCE

Mary Alice Zito – Mrs. Barna read a thank you letter from Ms. Zito for recognizing her at the last board meeting.

Laura Ruggiero – Mrs. Barna read a thank you note from Ms. Ruggiero for being recognized at the last board meeting.

Terry Lynch – Mrs. Barna read a thank you note from Mrs. Lynch for being recognized at the last board meeting.

Pat Seymore – Mrs. Barna read a thank you note from Mrs. Seymore for being recognized at the last board meeting.

MINUTES

Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Kish that the minutes of the February 14, 2006 meeting be approved and filed.  Motion carried on unanimous voice vote.

BILL LIST

Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. Glennon, that the bills submitted for March 14, 2006 meeting, to include operating account and food service be approved for payment; motion unanimous on voice vote.

SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORTS

Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mrs. Stammherr, that the Secretary/Treasurer’s Report submitted for the month ending January 31, 2006 which agree with each other and the bank be approved and filed; motion unanimous on voice vote.

FINANCIAL REPORTS CERTIFICATION

Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. 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 January 31, 2006, 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.  Motion unanimous on voice vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Mr. Gallant thanked Mr. Crevani for the Music in the Schools Program.  Thirteen students in the honor band performed with high school students and other honor band students from the sending districts in a concert of 13 songs which they only had three days of practice.  The performance was great.  Mr. Gallant also thanked Mrs. Kohl for taking the chorus to sing for the Sunny Seniors.

Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mrs. Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a maternity leave for Susanna Ludlow effective May 1, 2006 and to return on September 1, 2006 as requested.

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Motion by Mr. Kish, second by Mr. Rozycki, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Linda Kimble as a substitute for the remainder of the 2005-2006 school year.

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Motion by Mr. McGann, second by Mr. Drake, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Scott Foresman Addison Wesley Math 2005 and Investigations in Number, Data & Space 2006 as the new math series for grades K-5.

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Motion by Mr. Drake, second by Mrs. Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the Lopatcong Township School District Volunteer Handbook as presented and attached to these minutes.

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Motion by Mr. Glennon, second by Mr. Kish, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, adopt regulation file code: 5141.8R entitled “Use of Automated External Defibrillators” as read, attached to these minutes and filed in the district policy manual.

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Motion by Mr. Rozycki, second by Mrs. Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the 2006-2007 Professional Development Plan as submitted and approved by the Warren County Professional Development Board.

Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Motion by Mrs. Stammherr, second by Mr. Rozycki, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a contract with B & K Dalrymple, Inc for transportation services to field trips and other student activities for the 2005-2006 school year in the amount of $8,900.00.

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mrs. Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the followings transfers within the 2005-2006 school year budget:

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Motion by Mr. Kish, second by Mrs. Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the use of the baseball fields at the elementary school by the Athletic Association from March 15, 2006 through June 26, 2006 as requested.

Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Motion by Mr. McGann, second by Mr. Kish, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following field trips:

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Dr. Rossi spoke about math articulation meetings that are taking place with Phillipsburg and the other sending district.  The goal is to get all districts on the same scope and sequence so that the students have had the same background when they reach the high school level.  A common assessment tool and criteria is also being developed for placement in courses at the high school.  The plan is to move onto language arts once all the math components are in place.

The selection of the K-5 math series has been finalized.  Administrators and grade level leaders met and discussed.  One program in part rose to the top, that being Scott Foresman/Addison Wesley.  This series has recently been adopted by Pohatcong Township and the Chief School Administrator of Alpha is considering it as well.

Dr. Rossi spoke briefly about Dr. Pethick, Superintendent of Phillipsburg and the “Save the High School” campaign.

Dr. Rossi also spoke about the Kid’s Vote Program.  The students at all grade levels participate in a mock election that takes place in conjunction with the annual school election.  The students will be naming the school mascot.

Dr. Rossi spoke about the drop-off and pick-up situation at the elementary school.  He stated that if all follow the rules, all will be safe, not fast, but safe.

State testing is on-going.

The district website is coming along.  All are working hard at unveiling a new website.  There was a meeting this week of administrators and staff that saw a mock-up of the new site.  We are currently making comments back to Mr. Tomlinson.  All seem very excited about the new site.

REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG

Phillipsburg is implementing a modified block schedule.  There is a new policy for 2005-2006.  Any ninth graders who don’t pass a core subjects will be required to attend summer school.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Two new bills have been introduced in the Senate that would revise S-1701.

S-115 would change the surplus requirement to three percent from two percent.  S117 revises funding of special education, courtesy busing, makes the insurance adjustment permanent, allows for an adjustment for utility costs and changes surplus requirement to three percent.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Joanne Gitto received information today that there was an alert put out by the Easton School District of an attempted child abduction at the Shawnee Middle School today.  Do we receive information about these types of alerts and situations?  Mrs. Kowalchuk answered that we did not know about the attempted abduction today, and that we don’t usually here about these scenarios across state lines even though it is a neighboring town.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. Kish

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 related to personnel and budget discussions, 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 8:07pm 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.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Board returned to regular session at 9:10pm on a motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Kish.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Drake, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Finance Committee, approve a Fiscal Year 2006-2007 school district budget for submission to the voters as follows:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to apply for the following statutory spending growth limitation adjustment to the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 school district budget:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to apply for a capital outlay statutory spending growth limitation adjustment for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 School District Budget to:

1. Install a fiber optic link between the two school buildings ($30,000).

2. Install Air Conditioning in 13 classroom at the elementary school($200,000).

For $230,000 to be included in the base budget.  The district feels that the fiber optics will substantially improve the connectivity between the two buildings giving us the ability to create technology systems to enhance the educational experience.  The district also feels that the installation of air conditioning is vital to the health and safety of students.  The adjustment amount for these projects will be $211,609.

Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote.

Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 9:15pm on a motion by Mr. Kish, second by Mr. Taggart.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa E. Barna, RSBO

Business Administrator/ Board Secretary

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Last Modified:  Saturday, May 06, 2006

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