September 5, 2019

The Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District Board of Education Regular Meeting dated September 5, 2019 was called to order at 7:00pm by Mrs. Marcia Ricci.

PRESENT: Marcia Ricci, Tammi Dehler, David Lee, Jamie Maloney, Jack Catanzarita, Carolyn Bell, Denise Carutasu

ALSO PRESENT:  Patrick Pomerville, Jennifer Bull, Carol Lyon, Colleen Rishel, Mr. Rishel

There were no comments regarding items on this evening’s action agenda.

Comments from Administration
Mrs. Bull reported on behalf of the administrators that all went well on the first day of school.  Open Houses are scheduled for next week.  Mrs. Bull will be interviewing candidates for two open Teaching Assistant positions.  

Mr. Pomerville reported on the following:
Opening Day went well, the students were excited to start the year and the hallways were filled with conversation and energy. 
The Board of Education Facility Committee met on August 27th to discuss the proposed Capital Project.
The District will move forward with plans for a Phase 2 Reconstruction Project
Proposition 1 will include renovations to the technology wing and high school art rooms as well as the parking lot and high school locker rooms.  Renovations include electrical, mechanical and plumbing upgrades, as well as new doors and windows.
Proposition 2A will include renovations and/or construction of a wide body track and turf field. 
The referendum vote will be set for the week of Dec. 9 - 13th
Bernier, Carr and Associates (BCA), architectural firm, is finalizing plans for the project.
Bernard P. Donegan, Inc., financial advisory company, is finalizing the tax rate impact report and will present to the Board on Thursday, September 19th at 7:00pm.  The District is working with Bernard Donegan, Inc. in conjunction with  the bond counsel to review the scope of the project.
The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act report (SEQRA) will be on the September 19, 2019 Board of Education agenda for Board approval.
Mr. Pomerville will distribute information to the community on the scope of the project in preparation for a December vote.
The district office is compiling information on all employment contracts for Board member use.
There are two presentations scheduled for the next Board of Education meeting on September 19th: Student Vaping as presented by Mr. Scanlan and Mr. Richardson and the tax rate impact of capital projects as presented by representatives from Bernard P. Donegan, Inc.
New school emails were given to Board members.  It was brought to their attention that in the case of legal action, their correspondence would be subject to Freedom of Information Laws leaving their personal email correspondence vulnerable.
The district is currently conducting interviews for a new Business Manager and will hold second round interviews on September 12, 2019.

Presentation:  Special Education Report, Jennifer Bull
See attached.  Mrs. Carutasu asked how often students in outside placements return to the district for their education.  Mrs. Bull stated that it is always the goal to have students return to the home district as it would be the least restrictive environment and was happy to announce that one student is returning to the district this year. 

ACTION
On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the minutes of the August 19, 2019 Board of Education Meeting.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved minutes of the August 27, 2019 BOE Facilities Meeting.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the following warrants:
General Fund #12 for $1,827.74
General Fund #14 for $255.19
Special Aid #5 for $7,027.67
School Lunch #1 for $4,695.63
General Fund #13 for $51,726.68

Mrs. Ricci asked for clarification on funds paid to the following people or companies as found in the warrants:   Father Flanagan Organization is a program used by Mrs. Smith, HS Social Worker; Prestwick House is a source of reading material; Stadium System was used to purchase weight room equipment; Mrs. O’Neill, recently retired Occupational Therapist, was paid as an OT consultant for the summer school program.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the Treasurer’s Report ending July 31, 2019.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board declared three high school and three elementary wrestling mats as surplus items.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board accepted the resignation of Amber Guynup as Teaching Assistant effective August 19, 2019.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the appointment of Marcia Ricci as NYSSBA Voting Delegate for the annual convention.


On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the Memorandum of Agreement by and between the Waterford-Halfmoon UFSD and the Waterford-Halfmoon CSEA dated August 27, 2019 adding Head Groundskeeper and Senior Custodian to the bargaining unit.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE Board of Education of the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District (“District”) hereby creates the stipended position of Educational Technologist and approves its inclusion in the Waterford-Halfmoon Teachers Association (“WTA”) bargaining unit.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District ratifies and approves the Agreement dated September 5, 2019, between the District and the WTA, setting forth terms and conditions for the Educational Technologist position, authorizes the Superintendent to execute the Agreement, and authorizes the payment of monies as provided in the Agreement.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the appointment of Ann Dobert as Educational Technologist effective September 1, 2019; stipend per the WTA contract.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board declared as surplus 25 copies each of the following textbooks:  Glencoe Succeeding in the World of Work and McGraw-Hill Science 

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board accept the resignation of Kristina Kennedy as food service worker effective August 19, 2019.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the revised job description for Business Official/Manager.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the following warrants:
General Fund #16 for $28,196.04
Special Aid #6 for $12,212.08

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the four year probationary appointment of Colleen Rishel as Secondary Music Teacher; effective October 7, 2019 through October 7, 2023; NYS Music Certification, Permanent and NYS Certification as School Building Leader; salary per the WTA contract on Step 5 MS 40. 

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved the appointment of Christina Keller as substitute school nurse for the 2019 - 2020 school year; salary per the CSEA contract.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board approved a first request from Erin Bridgers to investigate a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on October 25th for high school art students and others who have completed at least two art electives throughout their high school career.


Comments from the Board of Education, residents and staff
Mrs. Carutasu expressed concern about the following issues and Mr. Pomerville said he would bring those concerns to BCA (architectural firm) and to Mr. Popolizio, Director of Facilities, as appropriate:
No paper towels or touch faucets in the high school student bathrooms and possibly other bathrooms
Loss of handicapped parking spaces nearest the bus garage, noting the inconvenience
for those with mobility issues, especially approaching the grassy slope to the soccer field.

Mrs. Ricci was impressed with the new school calendar and thanked Mrs. Willits for her hard work.

On motion by Mr. Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dehler and by a vote of 7 - 0 the Board went into executive session at 7:35 to discuss a personnel issue.  They returned to regular session at 8:12 and adjourned.


Julie Caulkins
District Clerk