January 11, 2005

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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, January 11, 2005 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

  1. Call Meeting to Order, Flag Salute, Opening Statement, Roll Call

  2. Correspondence

  3. Minutes, Bill Lists, Secretary/Treasurer Reports, Certify Financials

  4. Public Comment on Agenda Items

  5. New Business - Action Items

R-95-05           Substitute Approval

R-96-05           Maternity Leave Request

R-97-05           Horizontal Salary Guide Movement

R-98-05           Tuition Contract with Stepping Stone School

R-99-05           Approve Short-Term Substitutes

R-100-05         Approve Short-Term Substitute

R-101-05         Field Trip Approval

R-102-05         Transfer of Uncommitted Funds

R-103-05         Stipends For 2004-2005 School Year

R-104-05         Accept Above Average Enrollment Growth Aid

R-105-05         Appropriate FY 2003-2004 Extraordinary Aid

R-106-05         Appropriate FY 2003-2004 Non-Public Transportation Aid

R-107-05         Grant Additional Sick Leave

R-108-05         Approval of Job Descriptions for Head Custodian and Custodians

  1. Administrators Report

  2. Representative Information from Phillipsburg Board of Education

  3. Legislative Update

  4. Other Items of an Emergent Nature

  5. Other Public Comments

  6. Adjournment

An Executive Session may 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 THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF EDUCATION

President Kish called the meeting to order at 7:31pm.  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, Tim McGuinness, Jesse Rozycki, and Bill Taggart.

Absent:  Raisy Stammherr

Others Present:  Albert V. Purdy, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; Matthew Eagleburger, Assistant Principal; John Comegno, Board Attorney; and ten members of the public.

CORRESPONDENCE

  1. Warren County School Boards Association – Notice of meeting to be held January 20, 2005.

  2. Amy Martin – Mrs. Barna read a letter from Amy Martin, Elementary School Librarian, thanking the board and Mrs. Barna for the beautiful library furniture.

MINUTES

Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that the minutes of December 14, 2004 be approved and filed.

Vote:  8 - Yes.  Motion carried.

BILL LIST

Motion by Taggart, second by Rozycki, that the bills submitted for the January 11, 2005 meeting be approved for payment.

Vote:  8 - Yes.  Motion carried.

SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORTS

Motion by Taggart, second by Kennedy, that the Secretary/Treasurer Reports submitted for the month ending November 30, 2004, which agree with each other and the bank be approved and filed.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

FINANCIAL REPORT CERTIFICATION

Motion by Taggart, second by Gallant, 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 November 30, 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:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-95-05

SUBSTITUTE APPROVAL

Motion by Gallant, second by Glennon, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Philip Kinney III and Dawn Lindsay as substitute teachers for the remainder of the 2004-2005 school year.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-96-05

MATERNITY LEAVE REQUEST

Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve a maternity leave for Susan Gotimer-Mahoney as requested effective May 2, 2005.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-97-05

HORIZONTAL SALARY GUIDE MOVEMENT

Motion by Taggart, second by McGuinness, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve horizontal salary guide movement for the following eligible staff members effective February 1, 2005:

Michael Alvino KK/BA15
Penny Torcivia LL/BA30
Scott Yerger KK/BA15

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

Note:   Certified Staff members who have completed additional graduate level courses become eligible for salary guide advancement at the completion of a certain number of credits.

R-98-05

TUITION CONTRACT WITH STEPPING STONE SCHOOL

Motion by McGann, second by Kennedy, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of one Lopatcong student at Stepping Stone School effective December 20, 2004 and to approve a tuition contract with Stepping Stone School for such placement in the amount of $182.87 per day for an amount not to exceed $20,481.44.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-99-05

APPROVE SHORT-TERM SUBSTITUTES

Motion by Glennon, second by Rozycki, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve short-term substitutes for maternity disability leaves as follows:

Substitute

Teacher

Effective Date

Locator

Jane Brown Patti Raniszewski March 7, 2005 OO/BA

Debbie Highet

Susanna Ludlow March 30, 2005 OO/BA
Shari Layson Susan Gotimer-Mahoney May 2, 2005 OO/BA

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-100-05

HIRE TECHNOLOGY TEACHER

Tabled to end of meeting.

Note:  Due to the retirement of a teacher effective March 1st, the district is hiring a teacher to replace the teacher who is retiring.

R-101-05

FIELD TRIP APPROVAL

Motion by Rozycki, second by Gallant, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following field trips:

7th Grade Medieval Times April 8, 2005
7th and 8th Grade Band Phillipsburg High School February 28th and March 1st and 3rd, 2005
Band Hershey Park May 13, 2005
6th Grade Band North Warren HS March 18, 2005

Vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-102-05

TRANSFER OF UNCOMMITTED FUNDS

Motion by Kennedy, second by McGuinness, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the transfer of funds within the 2004-2005 school year budget as follows:

From

To

Amount

11-000-230-339

Administrative Purchase of  Professional Services

11-000-230-590

Administrative Other Contract Services

$1,000

11-000-262-420

Plant Repair/Maintenance

11-000-261-420

School Facility Repair/Maintenance

$2,900

 

TOTAL

$3,900

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-103-05

SET STIPENDS FOR 2004-2005 SCHOOL YEAR

Motion by Gallant, second by Rozycki, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the following stipends for the 2004-2005 school year:

Student Council Kenney Lutz, Katie Knarr $1,306.25
Drama Club Trish Steel, Janine Arnold, Rudy Crevani $1,306.25
Special Olympics To be determined  $1,045.00
School Newspaper Scott Yerger, Kimberly Norton $783.75
Instrumental Music Rudy Crevani $522.50
Choral Music Linda Kohl $522.50
Forensics To be determined $522.50
Yearbook Debbie Evans  $261.25
Young Consumers Program Sandy Malham $261.25
Graduation Ben Mehlman $261.25

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-104-05

ACCEPT ABOVE AVERAGE ENROLLMENT GROWTH AID

Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, accept $56,228 of addition al state aid for Above Average Enrollment Growth and appropriate these funds for the 2004-2005 school year budget into line item accounts to be determined.  Appropriation of these funds does not require Commissioner approval.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-105-05

APPROPRIATE FY 2003-2004 EXTRAORDINARY AID

Motion by Taggart, second by Glennon, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, increase the 2004-2005 school year budget by $1,610 of fiscal year 2003-2004 school year Extraordinary Aid.  This amount will be appropriated into account #11-120-100-101 1-5 Teacher Salaries.  This appropriation does not require Commissioner approval.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-106-05

APPROPRIATE FY 2003-2004 NON-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AID

Motion by Taggart, second by Glennon, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, increase the 2004-2005 school year budget by $1,186.00 of fiscal year 2003-2004 school year Non-Public Transportation Aid.  This amount will be appropriated into account #11-000-270-503 Aid-In-Lieu of Transportation.  This appropriation does not require Commissioner approval.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Mr. Purdy informed the Board that the Report Card Narratives are complete and copies have been distributed in the board packets for the Boards review.

REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG BOE

Mr. Kish distributed the Professional Development Plan from Phillipsburg for the Board’s review.

Mr. Kish spoke about the SMART Program (Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television).  This program is geared towards making parents and students aware of the effects of violent in computer games and television.  Mr. Eagleburger also attended a workshop on this topic and the workshop discussed how the media affects kids and promotes violence.  There was a study that showed that students who are less exposed to television and playing video games had better grades in school and less incidents of bullying.

Mr. Kish passed around the personnel changes for the Phillipsburg district for the Board’s review.

Pre-bidding is to take place in February and the site development bid package is to be going out in February to start development on the fields at the new high school location.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

New Jersey School Boards Association is to support a bill in the legislature of $52M to fund special education costs in excess of $40,000.

ITEMS OF EMERGENT NATURE

Mr. McGuinness gave an update on the Superintendent Search.  Diane Morris of New Jersey School Boards Association is recommending that the ad be run a third time in the Star Ledger due to a low response on the original ads.

The Board agreed to have the ad run a third time in the Star Ledger as well as the Express-Times and the Morning Call.  The Board will still review the first round on resumes on February 1, 2005.

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 personnel issues, 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 8:21pm 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:  8 - Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 9:40pm.

Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

R-100-05

APPROVE SHORT-TERM SUBSTITUTE

Motion by Gallant, second by Taggart, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the hiring of Kathryn Reading as a short-term substitute for the Technology Lab effective March 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005 and to be paid at Locator OO/BA.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-107-05

GRANT ADDITIONAL SICK LEAVE

Motion by McGuinness, second by Gallant, that be it

RESOLVED, upon the request of teacher, Mrs. Linda Kohl, that the Board consider the grant of extended leave and consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and N.J.S.A. 18A:30-6, the Board approves paid prolonged absence by Mrs. Kohl, not to exceed 25 days (upon exhaustion of existing sick time), during which absence, Mrs. Kohl will be paid her daily salary (1/200th of her annual salary), less the pay of a substitute, or the estimated cost of the employment of a substitute.

Roll call vote:  8 – Yes.  Motion carried.

R-108-05

APPROVAL OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR HEAD CUSTODIAN AND CUSTODIANS

Motion by McGuinness, second by Taggart, that be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve job descriptions for Head Custodian and Custodian as presented and attached to these minutes.

Roll call vote:  7 – Yes.  Gallant – abstain.  Motion carried.

Mr. Kish made an announcement that he is changing the title of the Buildings and Grounds Committee to Facilities/Technology Committee to encompass the duties and decision making of technology.

Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 9:54pm on a motion by McGuinness, second by McGann.

Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Teresa E. Barna, RSBO

Business Administrator/

Board Secretary

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