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Agenda:NOTICE OF MEETING: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 7:30pm at Lopatcong Township Middle School located at 321 Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be held in the Instrumental Music Room. To gain admittance, please use the entrance at Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be open to the public at 7:30pm. AGENDA
R-058-08 Violence and Vandalism Report R-059-08 School Volunteers for 2007-2008 R-060-08 Commission for the Blind R-061-08 Accept FY08 IDEIA Grant Funds R-062-08 Approve Stipends for 2007-2008 R-063-08 Field Trip Approvals R-064-08 Request for Use of Facilities R-065-08 Ski Club R-066-08 Agreement for Services with Warren County Special Services School District R-067-08 2007-2008 Goals and Objectives R-068-08 Grades 5-8 Gifted and Talented Curriculum R-069-08 Update to Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement R-070-08 Three-Year Comprehensive Maintenance Plan R-071-08 Employee Travel and Expense Reimbursement R-072-08 Board Member Travel and Expense Reimbursement R-073-08 Board Member Travel and Expense Reimbursement R-074-08 Request for Unpaid Days R-075-08 Tuition Contracts with Warren County Special Services School District R-076-08 Request for Use Of Facilities R-077-08 Field Trip Approvals R-078-08 Substitute Approvals R-079-08 Contract with Strauss Esmay R-080-08 Request for Additional Family Sick Days R-081-08 Agreement with Warren Probation Division R-082-08 Establish a Professional Development Academy
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Minutes:MINUTES OF THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION President Gallant called the meeting to order on October 9, 2007 at 7:35pm. 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 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, Kurt Kessler, Judy Liptak, Frank Kish, Greg McGann (arrived at 7:50pm), and Bill Taggart. Absent: None Others Present: Dr. Michael Rossi, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; and 20 members of the public. MISSION STATEMENT Dr. Rossi read the Mission Statement. CORRESPONDENCE Letter from Amy Kille requesting days off without pay. MINUTES Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Drake, that the minutes of the September 11, 2007 and September 25, 2007 meetings be approved and filed. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. BILL LIST Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Kessler, that the bills submitted for the October 9, 2007 meeting, for the operating account and food service account, be approved for payment. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORTS Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. Edinger, that the Secretary/Treasurer’s Reports submitted for the month ending July 31, 2007 and August 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. 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 July 31, 2007 and August 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. Stacie Behme – Second grade teacher with a Bachelors in Business Administration and a Masters in Elementary Education. Stacie comes to us from Mount Olive School District and is a resident of Lopatcong. Jean Beischer is the new Administrative Secretary who was previously the Assistant to the Business Administrator at Alexandria Township. Jean could not be with us tonight. Jeff Bradley is the middle school Spanish teacher and comes to us with many years of experience. Jeff is very enthusiastic and we look forward to working with him. Cindy Hubbard is a graduate of Centenary College and teaches 6th grade Language Arts. This is Cindy’s first teaching position. Jenn Kozak is an aide in the Preschool Classroom who has her elementary education teaching certification and is also a graduate of Centenary College. Dave MacCagnan teacher seventh grade Math and most recently comes to us from the Orange School District. Elizabeth Passe is the second grade special education teacher who has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a masters in education from Centenary College. Ed Reid is a graduate of Moravian College and is a long-term substitute in the fourth grade filling in for Mrs. Sherwood. Juanita White is a special education teacher in a self-contained classroom. Her background is in self-contained classrooms at Warren County Special Services School District. Susan Yount is the aide in the self-contained classroom. PRESENTATION BY STRAUSS ESMAY ASSOCIATES, LLP Philip Nicastro of Strauss Esmay Associates gave a presentation to the Board of Education regarding school policy. Mr. Nicastro has worked in education for 26 years and is a retired Superintendent and a lawyer certified in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Strauss Esmay has been assisting districts with school policy development and administration since 1972. The group works with 310 New Jersey School Districts. There are 10 associates who work in the office. Mr. Nicastro explained the process that the board and Strauss Esmay would go through to update the district policy manual if Strauss Esmay is contracted for this service. Mr. Glennon – What do you normally find when you see a district manual? Mr. Nicastro responded that typically policies are outdated and are not completely compliant with current laws. The full process takes about nine months to one year. Dr. Rossi and the Board thanked Mr. Nicastro for coming to the meeting. PUBLIC HEARING ON 2006-2007 VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM REPORT Dr. Rossi reported the incidents that were transmitted to the New Jersey Department of Education on the 2006-2007 Violence and Vandalism Report as follows:
There were seven total incidents district wide which is a 50 percent reduction from the year before. The district recognizes Violence and Vandalism week by participating in Red Ribbon Activities. The floor was opened up for questions and discussion. No questions or discussion took place. Public Hearing was closed. NEW BUSINESS Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, after holding a public hearing, approve the 2006-2007 Violence and Vandalism Report as submitted to the State of New Jersey and attached to these minutes. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Kish, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a list of volunteers for the 2007-2008 school year as presented. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mrs. Liptak, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, that the Board of Education, approve a contract with the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for Level 1 Services for the 2007-2008 school year at a cost of $1,400. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mrs. Liptak, second by Mr. Kish, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, accept fiscal year 2008 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act grant funds as follows:
Roll call vote: 9 - 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 stipends for the 2007-2008 school year:
Roll call vote: Mr. Taggart – abstain. 8 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Kessler, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following field trips:
Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the use of the Elementary School from Monday, October 8 through Thursday, October 11 for Theatre Week Practice and the Middle School for the performance on Friday, October 12, 2007. Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Drake, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education authorizes the establishment of the ski club for the 2007-2008 school year with all costs to be paid by the participants. Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Glennon, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve an agreement with Warren County Special Services School District for one full time and one part-time personal aide for the 2007-2008 school year at a cost of $47,000. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Kish, second by Mrs. Liptak, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the 2007-2008 District Goals and Objectives as submitted and approved by the Warren County Office of Education and presented. Vote: 9 - 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 5-8 Gifted and Talented Curriculum as presented. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mrs. Liptak, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the Update to the Uniform Memorandum of Agreement between the Lopatcong Township Board of Education and the Lopatcong Township Police Department after an annual meeting held October 9, 2007. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Glennon, second by Mr. Kish, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the Three-Year Comprehensive Maintenance Plan as presented and attached to these minutes. Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Kessler, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve travel and expense reimbursement for district employees as presented and attached to these minutes. Roll call vote: Mr. Taggart - abstain. 8 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve travel and expense reimbursement for the following board of education members for attendance at the New Jersey School Boards Association Convention and Workshop in Atlantic City:
Roll call vote: Mr. Drake, Mr. Kish, Mr. Kessler, Mr. Taggart - abstained. 5 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Drake, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve travel and expense reimbursement for Ernie Gallant for attendance at the New Jersey School Boards Association Convention and Workshop in Atlantic City: Roll call vote: Mr. Gallant – abstain. 8 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Kish, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approves three days without pay for Amy Kille as requested. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Kish, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of three Lopatcong students in programs at Warren County Special Service School District for the 2007-2008 school year and to approve tuition contracts for such placements as follows:
for at total of $104,900. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mrs. Liptak, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the following requests for use of facilities:
Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mrs. Liptak, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following field trips:
Vote: 9 - 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 substitutes for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year as presented and attached to these minutes. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Kessler, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Policy Committee and the Superintendent, enter into a contract with Strauss Esmay Associates, LLP for the development and update of district policies and procedures for an amount not to exceed $16,000. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Dr. Rossi reported that the County in-service day was a success. Alan Defina presented a workshop to the entire district on writing. A goal was set for Dr. Rossi to review the curriculum and in an effort to reach all content areas, curriculum articulation has begun on science with the cluster districts including Phillipsburg. Curriculum mapping has begun as well. Curriculum mapping encompasses identifying what topics are important, what skills need to be achieved and at what point in the year so that all students in a particular grade level are acquiring the same skill set. The Goals and Objectives that were approved by the Board this evening have already been approved by the County Department of Education. The Administration will be meeting with each grade level team to relay those goals to the staff. Regarding the high school initiative, the meeting in Trenton with the Commissioner of Education took place on September 17, 2007. All area district superintendents, representatives from Senator Karow and Mike Dougherty’s office as well as Scott Weiner by phone, head of the School Development Authority were present. The gist of the meeting was for the State representatives to relay to the local districts that non-Abbot sending districts will not be getting a free high school. A Key Leaders meeting has been scheduled for October 30, 2007 to further these discussions as to what our next step will be. The No Child Left Behind Grant has been completed and submitted to the State Department of Education. Funds from this grant have been earmarked for professional development and programs for supplemental instruction. In the area of technology, the Technology Director has developed a handbook that is available for the board to review. Technology will be highlighted at the November board meeting which will be held at the elementary school. PUBLIC COMMENT None EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Edinger 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 and personnel 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 8:45 pm 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. Taggart, second by Mr. Drake, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 10:47pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mrs. Liptak, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, hereby allows JoAnn Scott to exceed the number of allowed family sick days and to use accumulated sick days for the care of a family member as requested. Roll call vote: 9 - 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 a Work Site Agreement with the Warren Probation Division, Community Service Program and to appoint Mrs. Kim Koslowski to serve as the student liaison. Roll Call Vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, authorizes that Superintendent to establish the Lopatcong Township School District as a professional development academy. Roll call vote: 9 - Yes. Motion carried. Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 10:50pm on a motion by Mr. Drake, second by Mr. Taggart. 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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