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Agenda:

MINUTES OF THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF EDUCATION

President Kish called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.  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 also been filed with the Township Clerk and posted in two school locations.”

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.

ROLL CALL

Present:  Donna Drake, Ernie Gallant, Joe Kennedy, Frank Kish, Greg McGann, Timothy McGuinness, Jesse Rozycki, Raisy Stammherr and Bill Taggart.

Absent:  None

Others Present:  Albert V. Purdy, Superintendent; Teresa E.  Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; and approximately 25 members of the public.

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Margaret McGrath – Mrs. Barna read a letter of notice to retire from Mrs. McGrath.

2. PTA – Letter inviting the Board members to their next General Meeting on April 1st for a meet the Board and candidates’ night.

3. The 2003 Financial Disclosure Statements have been distributed to all Board members.  These are mandatory and must be completed by April 30, 2004.

MINUTES

Motion by Drake, second by Stammherr, that the minutes of February 10, 2004 and March 2, 2004 be approved and filed.

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

BILL LIST

Motion by Rozycki, second by Gallant, that the bills submitted for the March 9, 2004 meeting be approved for payment.

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORTS

Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that the Secretary/Treasurer Reports submitted for the month ending January 31, 2004, which agree with each other and the bank be approved and filed.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

FINANCIAL REPORT CERTIFICATION

Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, 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, 2004, 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.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Finance Committee, approve the preliminary 2004-2005 school year budget for submission to the Warren County Office of Education for approval as follows:

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Gallant, second by Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, accept with regrets the retirement of Margaret McGrath effective July 1, 2004.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Taggart, second by Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a list of substitute teachers for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year as presented and attached to these minutes.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by McGann, second by Drake, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the Lopatcong Elementary School as the polling place for District 6 and the Lopatcong Township Middle School as the polling place for Districts 3 and 4 for the following election dates:

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Rozycki, second by Gallant, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following construction change orders to contract #5 for Wind Gap Electric:

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Drake, second by Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the Professional Development Plan for the 2004-2005 school year as submitted and approved by the Warren County Department of Education.

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Stammherr, second by Kennedy, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve health benefit premium increases for the 2004-2005 school year as proposed by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield as follows:

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Kennedy, second by Gallant, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, accept Fiscal Year 2004 No Child Left Behind Grant funds as follows:

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Gallant, second by McGuinness, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a contract with Children’s Therapy Services Inc.  for occupational therapy services for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year effective February 5, 2004 in the amount of $68.00 per hour.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by McGuinness, second by 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 Taggart, second by Drake, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the use of the Lopatcong Township Middle School gym by the Athletic Association on March 21, 2004 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm for Basketball playoffs.

Vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by McGann, second by Gallant, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the transfer of $14,753.05 from Capital Reserve into Fund 30 for State Project #2790-050-02-0900.

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Mr. Taggart questioned what project this was referring to.  Mrs. Barna indicated that this is a transfer from the Capital Reserve Account to record the Board’s share of the carpet replacement project in the seventh and eighth grade pod.

Motion by Rozycki, second by Stammherr, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following transfers within the 2003-2004 school year budget:

Roll call vote:  9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Drake, second by Rozycki, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent and the Finance Committee transfer $36,154 of excess interest in the Construction Account into the following accounts:

Roll call vote:    9 – Yes.  Motion carried.

ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

Mr. Purdy indicated that the plans for the Dedication Ceremony are moving forward.  Invitations have been sent and Vitetta is preparing the program.  The ceremony is being held Saturday, April 1, 2004 at 1:00pm.

REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG

Mr. Kish passed around the information on new personnel and personnel changes for Phillipsburg as well as Phillipsburg’s Professional Development Plan.

In regards to Phillipsburg’s budget, the Board was appreciative of the additional funding that was received from the State.  Sending districts benefit greatly by the Abbott funding.

Mr. Kish also passed around the revised policy on the “Code of Conduct ” Mr. Kish would like the Policy Committee to review this.

Phillipsburg has hired NJ K-12 Architectural Group as the firm that will assist Phillipsburg in moving forward with the plans for a new high school.  The target opening date is Fall 2007.  Ball fields should be started by the end of the summer.  Official ground breaking will be in 11 months.  The building will be close to the top of the mountain which will have a curvy road and 400-500 car parking.  The building is 326,000 square feet in three stories.  There will be a clock tower and a brick front.  The sidewalks and bike path connect with the township.  There is an allowance for future expansion.  There will be one main corridor with lockers.  There will be a media center, TV station, Swimming Pool and a Community Center.  The main level will house ninth and tenth grades.  Third level will house eleventh and twelfth grades and the Second level will be the shared or common areas.

Mr. Kish also read excerpts from the Phillipsburg Press Release on Administrative Costs.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Mr. Taggart advised the Board that at the Annual Delegate Assembly there was discussion on the full funding of State Aid to Schools.  This would be accomplished several ways including the reimplementation of CEIFA at 50 percent of Statewide School Costs, 100 percent of Special Education Transportation Costs, 40 percent of Special Education Costs and the reform of local property taxes.

New Jersey School Boards Association will work with Education Advocates to fight any negative impacts as a result of No Child Left Behind.

There was also discussion regarding the NJ SMART program which would be a statewide Student ID database that would track students from K-12 including test scores.

OTHER ITEMS OF EMERGENT NATURE

Mr. Kish announced that the Public Hearing on the 2004-2005 school year budget will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2004.

Mr. Kennedy spoke on behalf of the Education Committee.  Information contained in the Board’s packet regarding the awards ceremony and graduation should be withdrawn.  No consensus was reached.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mrs. Buckley – Did the increase in tuition to Phillipsburg High School remain at 3 percent?  Yes.

Ed Krusman – Does the tuition to Phillipsburg High School include adjustments.  Yes.  There is a $275,000 credit adjustment to the budgeted amount to Phillipsburg High School to reflect actual tuition rates and student enrollment from the 2000-2001 school year.

Catherine Jerry expressed that she is frustrated with some of her experiences with the Lopatcong Elementary School.  There seems to be a disconnect between the school and the parents as well as an arrogant demeanor.  There is a lack of communication.  There has been alleged criminal activity in school regarding drugs.  The school was not helpful in offering clarifying information regarding this incident.  Mrs. Jerry continued to read a prepared statement that is attached to these minutes.

Mr. Kish thanked Mrs. Jerry for bringing these things to the Board’s attention.  Mr. Kish also stated that the Board would review the letter.

Mrs. Drake addressed the issue of the roles of the administrators.  The Board needs to reevaluate their roles and get the correct people in the correct roles.

Mrs. Stammherr indicated that the Administration has been dealing with the opening of a new school and it has been a very busy year.

Susan Flanagan spoke in regards to the Committee for the parents.  Her biggest concern is communication.  She is disappointed that we are going onto another month without the parent committee in place.

Mrs. Drake stated that Mrs. Flanagan should not be disappointed as to the status of the parent committee.  The committee is very close to having this idea implemented.  The committee of the Board has been working diligently on this.

Mrs. Buckley is concerned with the amount of dog waste that is in the field by the middle school.  She advises the administration for the teachers to caution the students as to where they step when outside for gym class.  There is no signage.

The Administration just recently has been made aware of the extent of this problem and has already been in the process of acquiring signs and revising policy.

The Board took a five minute recess.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by McGuinness, seconded by Rozycki,

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 and personnel, the disclosure of which could constitute and unwarranted invasion of privacy; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education adjourn to executive session at 9:20pm to discuss the above mentioned matter 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 McGuinness, second by Taggart, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 10:30pm.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 10:31pm on a motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant.  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa E.  Barna, RSBO

Business Administrator/

Board Secretary

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