Quick Links

Lopatcong Links

United We Stand

Agenda:

1. Call Meeting to Order, Flag Salute, Opening Statement

2. Roll Call

3. February 2007 Secretary and Treasurer Reports; Certify Financials

4. Public Hearing on the 2007-2008 District Budget

5. New Business - Action Items

 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.

• Home • Up • June 26, 2007 • June 12, 2007 • May 8, 2007 • April 24, 2007 • March 27, 2007 • March 13, 2007 • February 13, 2007 • January 9, 2007 • December 12, 2006 • November 14, 2006 • October 10, 2006 • September 12, 2006 • August 22, 2006 • July 25, 2006 •

Minutes:

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2007-2008 BUDGET

President Gallant called the meeting to order on March 27, 2007 at 7:33pm.  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 in the Express-Times.  A copy of the agenda 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 (arrived at 7:51pm), Kurt Kessler, Frank Kish, 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 15 members of the public and staff.

SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORTS

Motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Taggart, that the Secretary/Treasurer’s Reports submitted for the month ending February 28, 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. Edinger, 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, 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.

PUBLIC HEARING ON 2007-2008 SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET

The Lopatcong Township Board of Education conducted a public hearing on the 2007-2008 school year budget consisting of a PowerPoint presentation given by the Superintendent, Business Administrator and the Finance Committee.  The Board fielded questions from the public.

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, after conducting a public hearing, adopts the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 school district budget for submission to the voters as follows:

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, pursuant to school district policy and N.J.A.C. 6A:23B-1.2(b), shall establish in the annual school budget a maximum expenditure amount for travel and expense reimbursement for the 2007-2008 school year in the amount of $16,100.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Mr. Rozycki, second by Mr. Taggart,

WHEREAS, in an effort to continue the facilities project of the construction of the new Phillipsburg High School, and

WHEREAS, the current Phillipsburg High School is severely over crowded with 31 Temporary Classroom Units (TCUs), and

WHEREAS, it is likely that additional TCUs will be needed at the current Phillipsburg High School in the 2008-2009 school year, and additional TCUs will be necessary in subsequent school years, and

WHEREAS, the construction of the new Phillipsburg High School meets all of the requirements for continued funding by the State of New Jersey and continued construction by the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (NJSCC), including:  (1) overcrowding, (2) health and safety concerns, (3) well along in design process, and (4) acquired property, and the construction of the new high school is required to resolve these issues, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Lopatcong Township Board of Education to request that the New Jersey State Department of Education meet with administration staff of the Phillipsburg School District to approve the district's 2005 Long-Range Facility Plan and to affirm that the new high school is a top priority, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Lopatcong Township Board of Education to request that the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (NJSCC) place Phillipsburg High School on the list of approved projects, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Lopatcong Township Board of Education to request that the New Jersey State legislature and Governor Jon S. Corzine provide the funding to continue the Phillipsburg High School project.  And

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED by the Lopatcong Township Board of Education that copies of this resolution be sent to Department of Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy, New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation Chief Executive Officer Scott A. Weiner, Governor Jon S. Corzine, President of the Senate Richard J. Codey, Speaker of the General Assembly Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. and members of the 23rd legislative district.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Dr. Rossi gave an overview of the previous resolution. The Phillipsburg Administration is meeting with Trenton on the Long Range Facility Plan.  A number of community members have capitalized on the March PTA meeting to keep this issue in the forefront. There has been an article in the Express-Times. There is also a petition circulating that the Board is asking people to sign. On April 21st at 10:00am, there will be a rally at the new high school site.  Those interested in participating in the rally should meet at the pool pavilion at 9:30am and there will be a march to the school site.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the Comprehensive Equity Plan for Academic Years 2007-2010 as presented.

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Dr. Rossi explained that the Comprehensive Equity Plan is a mandated accountability report that shows district practices for providing equity in access to all programs. It covers areas such as employment practices, contract practices and delivery of instruction services.

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

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the FY 2006 No Child Left Behind Carryover Application for Title IV in the amount of $901.00 and the approve a waiver request for carryover funds in excess of 25% of the grant entitlement.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

ITEMS OF EMERGENT NATURE

Dr. McGann reminded the Board that the Board Self-Evaluation and the Superintendent Evaluation forms are due to him immediately. Four sets of evaluation forms are still outstanding.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mrs. Gitto inquired as to why there was a delay in the math testing last week.  Mrs. Kowalchuk explained that the tests did not arrive on time to administer.

Mrs. Secalaris – Will there be an increase in time for the summer extended year program?  Dr. Rossi replied that this has not been determined yet and that the administrators will be meeting next week.  This topic will be on the agenda for that meeting.

Mrs. Secalaris thanked everyone for putting the budget together.

Mr. Gallant thanked Mrs. Barna for all her time in putting together the budget.

Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 8:53pm on a motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Edinger.

• Home • Up • June 26, 2007 • June 12, 2007 • May 8, 2007 • April 24, 2007 • March 27, 2007 • March 13, 2007 • February 13, 2007 • January 9, 2007 • December 12, 2006 • November 14, 2006 • October 10, 2006 • September 12, 2006 • August 22, 2006 • July 25, 2006 •

Last Modified:  Thursday, April 26, 2007

Send email to:  bill@lopatcong.org with questions and comments about, or suggestions for, this website.