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Agenda:NOTICE OF MEETING: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 7:30pm at Lopatcong Township Middle School located at 321 Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room. To gain admittance, please use the entrance at Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be open to the public at 7:30pm. AGENDA
Roll Call Correspondence Minutes of February 13, 2007 and Bill Lists; January 2006 Secretary/Treasurer Reports; Certify Financials Public Comment on Agenda Items New Business - Action Items R-116-07 Approval of Base Budget R-117-07 Contract Change for Speech Therapist R-118-07 Substitute Approval R-119-07 Volunteer Approval R-120-07 Tuition Contract with Stepping Stone School R-121-07 Contract for Extraordinary Services R-122-07 Requests for Use of Facilities R-123-07 Field Trip Approval R-124-07 Set Public Hearing Date R-125-07 Transfer of Uncommitted Funds 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 your understanding.
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Minutes:MINUTES OF THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION President Gallant called the meeting to order on March 13, 2007 at 7:33 pm. 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, Robert Edinger, Ernie Gallant, Terry Glennon, Kurt Kessler, Frank Kish (arrived at 8:13pm), Greg McGann, Jesse Rozycki and Bill Taggart. Absent: None Others Present: Dr. Michael Rossi, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; Matthew Eagleburger, Assistant Principal; JoAnn Murray, CST Director; and nine members of the public and staff. MINUTES Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Drake, that the minutes of the February 13, 2007 meeting be approved and filed. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. BILL LIST Motion by Mr. Edinger, seconded by Mr. Drake, that the bills submitted for the March 13, 2007 meeting, to include operating account, food service account and Construction account, be approved for payment. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORTS Motion by Mr. Edinger, seconded by Mr. Kessler, that the Secretary/Treasurer’s Reports submitted for the month ending January 31, 2007, 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. Drake, 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, 2007, 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. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Finance Committee, approve a Fiscal Year 2007-2008 school district budget for submission to the voters as follows:
Roll call vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Mr. Gallant stated that the budget reflects a tax rate increase of 2.1 cents which is about $60 on a $300,000 home. This is 1.85% increase on the rate. Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a change in contract for Jocellyn Hayes to 80% effective February 20, 2007. Roll call vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Kessler, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve substitutes for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year as presented. Roll call vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Glennon, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve volunteers for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year as presented. Vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Kessler, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of one Lopatcong student at the Stepping Stone School effective February 20, 2007 and to approve a tuition contract with Stepping Stone School for such placement in the amount of $199.74 per for a total of $15,579.72. Roll call vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Note: This is a new placement for a student that was enrolled in the district’s public schools. Motion by Mr. Drake, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a contract for a personal aide for one student placed at Stepping Stone School and to approve a contract with Stepping Stone School for a personal aide as follows:
Roll call vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Rozycki, second by Mr. Kessler, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following requests for use of the facilities:
Vote: 8 – Yes. 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 following field trips:
Vote: 8 – 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, set the date for the Public Hearing on the 07-08 Budget for March 27, 2007. Vote: 8 – 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 transfers within the 2006-2007 school year budget in the amount of $7,565.00 as presented. Roll call vote: 8 – Yes. Motion carried. Dr. Rossi reported that the Diversity Project held it’s culminating event on February 22, 2007 at the Inn at Panther Valley. Staff and students met for the third time. Teachers completed a post survey. The students reflected on their experience. Dr. Rossi will be writing a final report or a summation of the project. The Artists in Residence program will begin the first week in April. The theme is diversity in a dinner party setting. This is a way to expand our diversity initiative. March is known for state testing. Grade 8 tested this week. Grades 1 through 7 will test next week. REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG Mr. Gallant indicated that the Phillipsburg Board of Education is currently in negotiations with the teachers union on their contract. Phillipsburg also passed a message onto Lopatcong thanking the PTA for putting on a very nice program regarding the new Phillipsburg High School. Mr. Glennon stated that four bills have recently passes the Senate and Assembly and are on the Governor’s desk for signature. Dr. McGann requested that the Board Secretary distribute the Board Self-Evaluation and the Superintendent Evaluation forms to the Board members for completion. Mr. Glennon inquired as to where the administration stands on the possibility of developing playing fields on the middle school property? The Administration is currently in the process of getting a rough estimate or proposal on the cost of developing a baseball and soccer field on the middle school property. Communications have been started with the Athletic Association as what their interest and roll may be in this endeavor. Mr. Glennon also inquired about the school district’s report cards. Mr. Glennon has three children in the district and all have a different report card. Can this be explained? Dr. Rossi and Mrs. Kowalchuk explained that the K-2 report card will always look different than the others. Grades 3 & 4 have an alphabet grade and the 5th through eighth grade have a numeric grade. There is more accurate data when using the numeric grading system when having to convert a letter grade to a number for analytic purposes. A numeric grade shows a better picture of the student’s performance. Susan Flanagan inquired about the results of the Before and After School Homework Program. Dr. Rossi indicated that the surveys have been returned and the results need to be compiled. 85% of the surveys were from the elementary school and 15% from the middle school. Susan Flanagan asked what the next step would be after the results have been compiled. Dr. Rossi indicated the Ad-Hoc committee of the Board would review the results and make a determination from there. Lee Rozycki asked if the parents would be notified as to the progress their children are making in reading by being given a pre and post reading level? Dr. Rossi responded that the reading levels are distributed with the report cards and since this is the first year of testing students reading levels, there needs to be a time lapse in order to give the child a chance to improve and be given a retest. Susan Flanagan – Regarding the proposed high school building, is the Lopatcong BOE developing a plan of action in the event that the high school building is built and a plan of action in the event the high school building is not built similar to what the Stewartsville BOE has developed? No, the Board of Education has not had conversations to date surrounding this topic. Mr. Kish arrived at 8:13pm. Mrs. Flanagan – Do you have a timeline? No. Mr. Gallant directed the Ad-Hoc Committee to meet regarding an action plan surrounding the status of the new Phillipsburg High School. Mrs. Rozycki – Is there any way that the middle school can go back to four marking periods for next year? Mrs. Kowalchuk stated that the five marking periods was only for this year and that a four marking period schedule will be reinstated for the 2007-08 school year. REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG Mr. Kish reported about the new high school and provided some statistics. Lopatcong is a sending district to Phillipsburg High School as approved by the State. Chances of the State creating another district or the chances of Greenwich getting approval to go to a high school in another county is slim to none. The cost to send Lopatcong students to Belvidere High School would cost more than $900,000 more than what we currently pay. Mr. Gordon McGuinness of the Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) called Dr. Pethick the day after the meeting that Senator Lance attended. Mr. McGuinness requested demographic information. Phillipsburg is currently preparing a revised demographic study. Phillipsburg will be meeting with State officials for review the district’s Long Range Facility Plan. Mr. Kish distributed an article entitled “Five Societal Conflicts that will Define School Facilities in the 21st Century”. Mr. Kish also distributed Hunterdon/Warren high school tuition rates from 2004-2005. Seven or Eight Abbott Districts are filing suit against the State for failing to fund school building projects. OTHER ITEMS OF EMERGENT NATURE Mrs. Kowalchuk distributed the Lopatcong Science Fair Proposal developed by the science teachers. Over 100 students have expressed interest. The date of the fair has been set for May 31st. Motion by Mr. Kish, 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 legal issues, 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 9:15pm to discuss the above mentioned matters 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 Mr. Kish, second by Mr. Taggart, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 10:34pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 10:34pm on a motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Dr. McGann. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Teresa E. Barna, RSBO Business Administrator/Board Secretary
These minutes are provided as a convenience to the residents of Lopatcong Township and do not constitute the official minutes of the Lopatcong Township Board of Education which are maintained in the BOE Office in the Middle School.
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