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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 June 27, 2006 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 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 been filed with the Township Clerk and posted at both school locations.”

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.

ROLL CALL

Present:  Robert Edinger, Ernie Gallant, Terry Glennon, Kurt Kessler, Greg McGann, Jesse Rozycki, and Bill Taggart.

Absent:  Dennis Drake and Frank Kish

Others Present:  Dr. Michael Rossi, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; JoAnn Murray, CST Director; and approximately five staff and public.

CORRESPONDENCE

Mrs. Barna read a note from Albert V. Purdy thanking the Board for the dedication and re-naming of the elementary school library to the Albert V. Purdy Learning Center.

BILL LIST

Motion by Mr. Rozycki, seconded by Mr. Taggart, that the bills submitted for June 27, 2006 meeting, to include operating account and food service be approved for payment. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote.

SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORTS

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

FINANCIAL REPORTS CERTIFICATION

Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. 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 May 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 carried on unanimous voice vote.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Scott Yerger and Kenney Lutz for summer custodial help at a rate of $12 per hour.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Kessler, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a contract with Giordano Contracting, LLC for playground resurfacing on State Contract #A59068 for an amount of $33,869.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the installation of two canopies at the Lopatcong Township Elementary School by Nazareth Aluminum Supply for an amount not to exceed $20,475.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the hiring of Jessica Verrelli as a part-time speech language specialist for the 2006-2007 school year at 40% of Locator JJ/MA.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following staff for the summer special education programs:

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Finance Committee, establish lunch and milk prices for the 2006-2007 school year as follows:

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education authorizes the Business Administrator to make payments as necessary for the months of July and August with the official Board approval at the next meeting and to authorize the Business Administrator to make all necessary transactions for the closing of the 2005-2006 fiscal year and the opening of the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Finance Committee enter into a cooperative agreement with the Lopatcong Township Municipal Government for the repaving of the elementary school entrance circle and side parking lot for an amount not to exceed $50,000.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the hiring of Donna J. Bellfy as a fifth grade math teacher for the 2006-2007 school year at Locator QQ/BA.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following transfers within the 2005-2006 school year budget as per the attached list for a total of $266,771.33.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Finance Committee, set the rate at $150 per month for the 2006-2007 school year for the inclusionary preschool program.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby ratifies the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Lopatcong Township Board of Education and the Lopatcong Education Association for the period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2009.

Roll call vote:  5 – Yes.  Mr. Taggart and Mr. Gallant – abstain.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the hiring of Paul Kelly as a Language Arts Teacher for the 2006-2007 school year at Locator HH/MA.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the hiring of Lauren Mazza Spigner as a Language Arts Teacher for the 2006-2007 school year at Locator HH/BA15.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Rozycki, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, approve a salary for the Superintendent, Michael A. Rossi, Jr. for the 2006-2007 school year as per the attached.

Roll call vote:  5 – Yes.  Mr. Taggart and Mr. Gallant – abstain.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a salary for Assistant Principal, Matthew Eagleburger, for the 2006-2007 school year as per the attached.

Roll call vote:  5 – Yes.  Mr. Taggart and Mr. Gallant – abstain.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve salaries for the non-union staff as per the attached.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Motion carried.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Mr. Glennon reported that the bill that was proposed requiring school districts to release a budget that includes Administrative salaries was approved by the Senate Education Committee.

Mr. Glennon also reported on the New Jersey graduation rates in different racial groups as compared to the other states in the nation.  New Jersey has the highest graduation rates in the United States.

ITEMS OF EMERGENT NATURE

Mr. Gallant and Mr. Glennon along with Dr. Rossi and the Lopatcong Education Association to start the development of a district Mission Statement.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Debbie Shelly – Thanked the Board for recognizing her at the last board meeting for being the Elementary School Teacher of the Year.  Mrs. Shelly also thanked Dr. Rossi for bringing this honor back to Lopatcong.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Mr. Edinger, seconded by Mr. 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, 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 8:00pm 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 Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Taggart, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 8:26pm.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Hearing no further business, the board adjourned at 8:27pm on a motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Glennon.

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa E. Barna, RSBO

Business Administrator/

Board Secretary

Last Modified:  Friday, July 28, 2006

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