March 31, 2021

The Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District Board of Education Finance Committee Meeting dated March 31, 2021 was called to order at 6:07 by Mrs. Ricci.

Present: Marcia Ricci, David Lee, Denise Carutasu, Jamie Maloney, Carolyn Bell, Jack Catanzarita

Also Present: (in person) Patrick Pomerville, Rachel Ingalsbe

Ms. Ingalsbe presented a summary of the 2021-2022 district budget and the fourth draft of the preliminary 2021-2022 district budget. (See attached)

After the presentation the Board discussed different scenarios depending on the final New York State budget and the amount of aid the District could receive. If the State decides to use the federal aid to supplement state aid to schools (as opposed to using the federal aid to supplant state aid), the Board is interested in using the possible funds to make one time purchases on such needs as replacing older equipment, new technology, and setting aside funds into the Capital Reserve and Tax Certiorari Reserve.

The Board agreed to hold another meeting after the final state budget is approved, and before the scheduled April 22nd board meeting, if necessary.

The Board adjourned the Finance Committee meeting at 6:42pm and went into Executive Session to discuss negotiations. The Board exited Executive Session at 7:01pm.

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The Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District Board of Education Regular Meeting dated March 31, 2021 was called to order at 7:04 by Mrs. Ricci, who then led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: Marcia Ricci, David Lee, Denise Carutasu, Jamie Maloney, Carolyn Bell, Jack Catanzarita

Also Present: (in person) Patrick Pomerville, Rachel Ingalsbe, and Joseph Siracuse

There were no comments from the public regarding items on this evening’s agenda.

Comments from Administration

Mr. Siracuse reported the following:

  • The elementary school finished its second trimester on Friday, March 12 and is happy to have 27 students return to in-person learning for the third trimester. It’s good to have them back in the building after a year. Only two dozen or so students are still fully virtual at this time.
  • The playground is now back in use for students. Only one grade at a time is using the playground and all students sanitize their hands before and after using the playground. The students are very happy to have this option back for recess.
  • Mr. Siracuse wanted to recognize the ENL long term sub, Caren Hoffman, for all the dynamic work she has been doing with students. Earlier in the year, she taught a lesson based on her several years of living in Japan and even wore a kimono for the lesson. When one of the elementary classes was reading Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Caren reached out to the author and was able to set up a Zoom call for the class with her. In the fall Caren was also able to assist one of our students apply, and be accepted, to the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Institute. Mr. Siracuse is impressed and thankful for all of her contributions.

Mr. Pomerville reported the following:

  • COVID-19 Update; There is one positive case at the K-6 level at this time and three positive cases at the Jr/Sr. High School. There are an additional 17 students on precautionary quarantine at the K-6 level and 44 students at the Jr/Sr. High School level. The high number at the high school is attributed to several positive cases on the girls’ soccer team. There seem to be a number of schools dealing with an increase in COVID cases in the last week or two. Theadministrative team has been working to prepare for a switch from six feet to three feet of social distancing as CDC guidelines have been relaxed, however, NYSDOH has yet to approve or provide guidelines at this time. If the CDE guidelines areapproved, the District is prepared to move the 7-12 schedule from hybrid to daily attendance of all current hybrid students. Mrs. Carutasu asked if we would have the ability to transport all of grade 7-12 students every day. Ms. Ingalsbe replied that we would. Mrs. Maloney asked if parents who have been providing transportation to school themselves would be given the option to resume using school transportation. Mr. Pomerville responded that a survey will be sent out to all of those parents and that communication with families would be a large element of any switch over from hybrid to every day in-school education.
  • The District Finance Committee met tonight at 6pm. The presentation by our Business Manager, Rachel Ingalsbe will be posted on our website for all of the community to view. Our goal is to adopt a 2021-2022 school budget on Thursday, April 22nd at the regular Board meeting.
  • There will be a District Facilities Meeting on Thursday, April 22nd starting at 5:30. There will be a review of any updates to the upcoming Capital Project as well as discussions on potential ideas for the $100K small Capital Project that can hopefully beaccomplished during the 21-22 school year. In regards to the Facilities meeting, Mr. Pomerville will also add to the agenda a discussion about the baseball dugouts and some alternatives for money that was donated to the school for the dugouts from the PTO. Mr. Pomerville had a conversation with our architect Mari Cecil about this topic and he would like to either move forward with the dugouts or move towards some alternative ideas that the Athletic Director has for some immediate improvements for the baseball and softball fields. Mrs. Carutasu asked if the District would check with the PTO to confirm with them if they are agreeable to their donation being used for something other than what it was intended for. Mr. Pomerville responded that yes, it would be important to give a presentation to the PTO regarding all of the options to use the donation for improvements.
  • Mr. Pomerville shared an information sheet with the agenda for the WSWHE BOCES board meeting to take place virtually on Thursday, April 1. There is a link provided to attend and the WSWHE Board will be approving the BOCES budget and candidates for their board.
  • Mrs. Carutasu asked about the meeting on the Board calendar for Tuesday April 20, 2021. Mr. Pomerville responded that this meeting was for our Board to approve the final WSWHE BOCES budget and board candidates.

First Reading

Second Reading

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the minutes of the March 31, 2021 Board of Education Meeting.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the Warrants and Corresponding Claims Audits (Audits 1) (Audits 2)

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the following policies

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the extension of the leave of absence for Kim Bryan, Elementary Teaching Assistant to March 26, 2021.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES Final Service Commitment for the 2021-2022 school year for the amount of $350.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the following as elementary substitute teachers for the 2020-2021 school year, Joanne Baldasare, Madison Beets, Brian Brancato, Dylan Murphy, Amber Scattareggia, and Cante Yacobellis; salary per the policy on substitute teacher pay.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the appointments of Christina Falasco and Brooke Shinski as Modified Girls Volleyball Co-Coaches for the 2020-2021 school year; salary to be split per the WTA contract.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the health service contract to be paid by the Waterford-Halfmoon UFSD to the Rensselaer City School Districtfor two students in the amount of $1,452.00.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the Capital District BOCES Final Services Commitment for the 2021-2022 school year in the amount of $704,187.11.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board approved the appointment of Brendan Frazier as High School Substitute Teacher for the 2020-2021 school year; effective April 1, 2021; salary per the policy on substitute teacher pay.

There were no comments from the Board of Education, residents or staff.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Maloney, and by a vote of 6-0 the Board went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter at 7:23pm. The Board returned to regular session at 7:45pm and adjourned.

 

Donna Cramer

District Clerk