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Agenda:LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION 321 Stonehenge Drive Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 at 7:30pm at Lopatcong Township Middle School located at 321 Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be held in the Cafetorium. To gain admittance, please use the entrance at Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be open to the public at 7:30pm. AGENDA
R-01-05 Substitute Approval R-02-05 Accept Letter of Resignation R-03-05 Hire Child Study Team Secretary R-04-05 Teacher Transfer R-05-05 Full-Time Contract for Physical Education Teacher R-06-05 Job Title Change for Library Clerk R-07-05 Hire Part-Time Physical Education Teacher R-08-05 Tuition Contract with Warren County Special Services School District R-09-05 Tuition Contract with Shepard High School R-10-05 Renewal of Transportation Contracts R-11-05 Joint Transportation Agreement with Bloomsbury BOE R-12-05 Field Trip Approval R-13-05 Speech Therapy Services R-14-05 Speech Therapy Services R-15-05 Withdrawal From Capital Reserve R-16-05 Authorize Application To New Jersey Board of Public Utilities R-17-05 Appointment of Architect R-18-05 Transfer of Uncommitted Funds
An Executive Session will be called at the end of the regular session 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 understanding.
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Minutes:MINUTES OF 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 at both school locations.” The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. ROLL CALL Present: Ernie Gallant, Terry Glennon, Joe Kennedy, Frank Kish, Greg McGann, Raisy Stammherr and Bill Taggart. Absent: Donna Drake and Tim McGuinness Others Present: Albert V. Purdy, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; and two members of the public. CORRESPONDENCE
MINUTES Motion by Gallant, second by Taggart, that the minutes of June 29, 2004 be approved and filed. Vote: 7 - Yes. Motion carried. BILL LIST Motion by Gallant, second by Stammherr, that the bills submitted for the June 29, 2004 meeting be approved for payment. Vote: 7 - Yes. Motion carried. Prior to the Board proceeded with regular business, Mr. Kish asked the Board to orally recite the New Jersey Board member Code of Conduct one at a time. Mr. Kish also announced that he will not be seeking the presidency position next year and expects another member to take the position.
Motion by Gallant, second by Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Laura Gulick and Marisa Damiano as substitute teachers for the 2004-2005 school year and to be paid at the appropriate substitute rate. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Taggart, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve with regrets that resignation of Laura Wynkoop as a Physical Education Teacher effective immediately. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by McGann, second by Kennedy, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the emergent hiring of Mary Alice Zito for the position of Child Study Team Secretary. Mrs. Zito will be offered a 50 percent contract at a salary of $XX,XXX. This position has been made a non-union position. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Glennon, second by Stammherr, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the transfer of Sara Wanisko from the position of part-time special education teacher and part-time social worker to full-time social worker effective immediately. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Stammherr, second by Glennon, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, offer a full-time contract to Heather Burke as a physical education teacher for the 2004-2005 school year and approve the transfer of Miss Burke from the middle school to the elementary school. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Tabled until after Executive Session.
Motion by Kennedy, second by Stammherr, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the emergent hiring of Denise Cumiskey as a half-time Physical Education for the 2004-2005 school year at 50 percent of Locator MM/BA. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Gallant, second by McGann, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of two Lopatcong students in the Summer Extended Year Program at Warren County Special Services School District and to approve a tuition contract with Warren County Special Services School District in the amount of $3,860 per student for a total of $7,720. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Taggart, second by Gallant, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of one Lopatcong student at Shepard High School for the 2004-2005 school year and to approve a contract with Shepard High School for such placement in the amount of $201.29 per day for a total of $36,232.20. Roll call vote: 7 – 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 renewal of transportation contracts with Brad & Kim Dalrymple, Inc. for the 2004-2005 school year for the transport of Lopatcong students eligible for transportation to and from school as follows:
Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Glennon, second by Kennedy, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a Joint Transportation Agreement for Route # JPHS0203 with Bloomsbury Borough Board of Education for the transport of high school students to and from Phillipsburg High School for the 2004-2005 school year in the amount of $11,884.58 to be paid by Bloomsbury to Lopatcong Township. Lopatcong Township Board of Education will be the host district and Bloomsbury will be the joiner district. Lopatcong’s share of this route is $2,263.73. Vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Stammherr, second by Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a field trip for the summer Preschool Program to the Trexler Game Preserve on August 11, 2004. Vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Kennedy, second by Glennon, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Linda Maffei, Speech Pathologist of Pediatric Speech Therapy to provide speech therapy services for the 2004-2005 school year at a rate of $375 per day for two days per week. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried. A discussion took place regarding the need to contract for speech therapy services rather than hiring a speech therapist on staff. The administration explained to the Board that speech therapists are in short supply. The district has publicly advertised the position twice and there have not been any qualified candidates.
Motion by Gallant, second by Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Warren County Special Services School District to provide speech therapy services for the 2004-2005 school year as necessary up to three days per week at a rate of $375 per day. Roll call vote: 7 – 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 withdraw of $34,000 from the district’s Capital Reserve account as approved in the 2004-2005 school year budget presented to the voters in April. This withdraw from Capital Reserve will be used to perform required maintenance on the roofing system at the Lopatcong Elementary School. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by McGann, second by Glennon, WHEREAS, the Lopatcong Township Board of Education is desirous of obtaining funds under the New Jersey Clean Energy Program for the installation of solar panels, and WHEREAS, the solar panels will provide a clean and economic energy source to the Lopatcong Township Schools, now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lopatcong Township Board of Education authorizes the Board President and the Business Administrator to submit an application to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to apply for funds under the Clean Energy Program for installation of Solar Electric Systems on various schools in the district, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Business Administrator is authorized to complete the application on behalf of the Board of Education, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the School Business Administrator be authorized to deliver the application to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Glennon, second by Stammherr, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, appoint CAM Design Group Architects of Blairstown, NJ as the approved architect for professional services relating to the Solar Electric System installation at a rate of 6% of the project cost. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Stammherr, second by Kennedy, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve transfers within the 2003-2004 school year budget as follows:
Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT None REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG The Board along with the architect is in the process of determining what items will be presented to the voters of Phillipsburg for approval in regards to the additional items to be included in the Phillipsburg High School building project. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Mr. Taggart informed the Board that Governor McGreevey did sign bill S1701. This bill is devastating to school districts. S1701 requires Boards of Education to reduce their fund balances to 2% over a two year period and caps school district budget a 2.5% increase in expenditures. The legislature has also underfunded Extraordinary Aide for students whose special education program costs are in excess of $40,000. ITEMS OF EMERGENT NATURE Mr. Kish read a letter written by Mrs. Barna to Mr. Victor Camporine. This letter was thanking Mr. Camporine for his efforts in passing legislation that prevents Abbott districts from including Parity Aid in their tuition calculation to sending districts. Mr. Gallant stated that he has spoken with the Mayor regarding the township taking over the maintenance of the retention basin. The township should be getting back to us shortly. The Buildings and Grounds Committee has not yet met to review the proposal for reduction of outside chiller noise. PUBLIC COMMENT Gail Sacelaris stated that she commends JoAnn Houseman, CST Director, for doing such a good job in getting a qualified Speech Therapist. Her child has worked with Linda Maffei during last school year and is looking forward to her child continuing services with her. Mr. Glennon – Why is the Country Hills section of the township always in the afternoon Kindergarten session? Could it be made more equitable by swapping year to year the section of the township that go in the morning and those that go in the afternoon? Mr. Purdy and Mrs. Kowalchuk explained to Mr. Glennon that the decision as to how students are selected for a Kindergarten session has a lot to do with the number of students and the location of their homes in conjunction with the bus routes. The state has required schools to be efficient in transporting students to and from school. Therefore, the routes must be tiered. Coordinating the number of students on the bus, how long a route will be in order to tier it and the size of the Kindergarten classes is all taken into consideration by the administration when making these decisions. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Taggart, seconded by Gallant, 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 8:55 p.m. 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: 7 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Gallant, second by Taggart, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 10:05pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
Motion by Kennedy, second by Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a change in job title for Jaqueline Ellard from Library Clerk to Classroom Aide for the 2004-2005 school year. Roll call vote: 7 – Yes. Motion carried. A brief discussion took place regarding the creation of an email list for notifying parents of event and school news. The Board was in agreement with this concept and would like to research how this would actually work and how to best protect the district against viruses. Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 10:15pm on a motion by McGann, second by Gallant. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Teresa E. Barna, RSBO Business Administrator/ Board Secretary
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