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Agenda:NOTICE OF MEETING: The Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 7:30pm at Lopatcong Township Middle School located at 321 Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room. To gain admittance, please use the entrance at Stonehenge Drive. The meeting will be open to the public at 7:30pm. AGENDA
Roll Call Correspondence Minutes of August 22, 2006 and Bill Lists; July 2006 Secretary/Treasurer Reports; Certify Financials Public Comment on Agenda Items New Business - Action Items R-034-07 Substitute Approval R-035-07 Horizontal Salary Guide Movement R-036-07 Approve Morning Monitors R-037-07 2006-2007 Goals and Objectives R-038-07 Agreement with American Red Cross R-039-07 Agreement with Warren County Health Department R-040-07 Update to the Memorandum of Agreement R-041-07 Transfer to Uncommitted Funds R-042-07 Tuition Contract with the Midland School R-043-07 Second Reading and Adoption of Policy File #3542.1 Entitled “Student Wellness and Nutrition” R-044-07 Requests for Use of Facilities R-045-07 Public Sale of the Delaware Park School
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 your understanding.
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Minutes:MINUTES OF THE LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION President Gallant called the meeting to order on September 12, 2006 at 7:30 pm. Mrs. Barna read the following opening statement, “I would like to announce and have placed in the minutes that adequate notice of this special 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 been filed with the Township Clerk and posted at both school locations.” The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. ROLL CALL Present: Dennis Drake, Robert Edinger, Ernie Gallant, Kurt Kessler, Greg McGann and Bill Taggart. Absent: Terry Glennon, Frank Kish, and Jesse Rozycki Others Present: Dr. Michael Rossi, Superintendent; Teresa E. Barna, Business Administrator/Board Secretary; Rosemary Kowalchuk, Principal; Stephen Geisel, Assistant Principal; Matthew Eagleburger, Assistant Principal; and seven members of the public. MINUTES Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Edinger, that the minutes of the August 22, 2006 meeting be approved and filed. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. BILL LIST Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. Edinger, that the bills submitted for September 12, 2006 meeting, to include operating account be approved for payment. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORTS Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. Drake, that the Secretary/Treasurer’s Report submitted for the month ending July 31, 2006 which agree with each other and the bank be approved and filed. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. FINANCIAL REPORTS CERTIFICATION Motion by Mr. Taggart, seconded by Mr. Edinger, 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 July 31, 2006, 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. Motion carried on unanimous voice vote. Dr. Rossi gave a brief introduction of each new staff member and welcomed them to the Lopatcong Township School District. Donna Bellfy is the 5th grade math teacher and a graduate of Moravian College. Rick Bonney is a Lopatcong grad and is teaching basic skills. Stacy Conner is the guidance counselor at the middle school and is a graduate of the University of Delaware. Jennifer Gable is the reading specialist at the middle school and has recently moved to Alpha. Paul Kelly teaches 7th grade language arts. Paul has his masters in the performing arts and is active in theatre arts. Lauren Mazza-Spigner teaches 8th grade literacy and is a graduate of Lafayette College. Cortney Veres teaches grade 1, has completed a 5 year masters program and has filled in for us for a long-term maternity leave. Rick Maisto is teaching Gifted and Talented at the middle school. Dr. Rossi worked with him in Hillsborough and comes to us from Byram Township. Nicole Kocsis will be teaching ˝ time in the physical education department. Nicole comes to us from Phillipsburg and should start by October 2, 2006. Ben Whitehead is a custodian at the elementary school. Ben comes to us with 18 years of experience in industry and is a welcome addition to our maintenance staff. Steve Hassan is a custodian at the elementary school as well. Steve comes to us from High Bridge School District in Hunterdon County. Christina Ivanoff is a full-time aide working with Kindergarten and Special Ed students/ Christina comes to us from Readington Township and is pursuing her teaching certification. Maria Barna will be the teacher in a special education classroom. She also comes to us from Phillipsburg and should start in the middle of October. The Board took a ten minute recess to meet and greet the new staff. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS Lee Rozycki asked several questions pertaining to the Student Wellness and Nutrition Policy. The Board and the public held a discussion about the policy. The policy would move forward as presented. Beth Meier – Regarding the Public Sale of the Delaware Park Building, Is there any interest in the building for use as a community center? Mr. Gallant stated that he has recently spoken to the mayor and the he indicated that the council was not interested in the building at this point. Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Kessler, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Renee Jimenez and Robin Wodzisz as substitute teachers for the 2006-2007 school year. Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve horizontal salary guide movement for the following staff members effective September 1, 2006:
Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Edinger, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve Richard Bonney, Heather Burke, Patricia Steele and Linda Taggart as morning monitors at the elementary school for the 2006-2007 school year at a stipend of $1,500 each. Roll call vote: 5 – Yes. Taggart – Abstain. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Kessler, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the 2006-2007 District Goals and Objectives as submitted and approved by the Warren County Office of Education. Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Drake, second by Mr. Kessler, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, authorizes the Superintendent, Michael A. Rossi, to enter into an agreement with the American Red Cross for use of the middle school as a Mass Care Shelter in the event of a local disaster. Vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Tabled until a future meeting. Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the Update to the Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement between the Lopatcong Township Board of Education and the Lopatcong Township Police Department after an annual meeting held August 31, 2006. Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Mr. Drake asked for an explanation of this agreement. Mrs. Kowalchuk responded that it is an agreement between the school district and the police department as to how the school district will respond to certain student related issues that may involve the police authorities. Mr. Gallant clarified that this agreement gives discretion to the administration on how a situation should be handled depending on the severity of the incident. Motion by Mr. Edinger, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the transfer of $420 from Account # 11-000-240-500 to Account # 11-000-240-300 within the School Administration accounts. Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve the placement of one Lopatcong student at the Midland School for the 2006-2007 school year beginning September 6, 2006 and to approve a tuition contract with the Midland School for such placement in the amount of $192.80 per day for a total of $34,704.00. Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried.
Motion by Mr. Kessler, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, adopt policy file code 3542.1 entitled “Student Wellness and Nutrition” as read, attached to these minutes and filed in the district policy manual. Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Drake, second by Mr. Taggart, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, upon recommendation by the Superintendent, approve requests for use of facilities as follows:
Vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Taggart, second by Mr. Drake, that be it RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby directs the Superintendent and the Business Administrator to conduct a public sale of the Delaware Park School, a building owned by the Lopatcong Township Board of Education, located at 21 North Second Street, Phillipsburg, New Jersey and to conduct such sale pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:20-6, et seq. The Board also fixes the minimum price of the building and land at $250,000.00. Upon completion of the sale, the Board of Education reserves the right to accept or reject the highest bid. Roll call vote: 6 – Yes. Motion carried. Dr. Rossi reported that Lopatcong has eight students participating in an Honors Algebra course at Phillipsburg High School. The elementary school intake process is working out well. Every child was in their seat by 8:03am, announcements were done by 8:10am. Through this new process, we have gained 15 more teaching minutes each day. There is a new look at the Elementary School. Dr. Rossi suggested to the Board that a future board meeting be held at the elementary school so that the Board and the public can see the changes. The 2006-2007 District Goals and Objectives have been approved by the county office. The district is doing a drive to get parents to register on the Instant Alert System so that it can be used effectively. The Board is developing a mission statement. Input will be sought from all parties. Back to School Nights are taking place. Grades 6-8 will be tomorrow night and Grades 1-4 will be next week. Kindergarten and Grade 5 Back to School Nights have already taken place. REPRESENTATIVE INFORMATION FROM PHILLIPSBURG Mr. Gallant stated that Phillipsburg is waiting for a priority list to be released from the State as to what projects will move forward. Phillipsburg is hoping to be on that list. Mr. Taggart gave special thanks to Mr. Ron Marinelli for his dedication and efforts with the repair of the elementary school parking lot project. The parking lot was on unstable soil and needed to be corrected before it could be repaved. During rain and over an entire weekend late in August, Mr. Marinelli dug out the areas, backed filled it with stone and had the whole area ready for paving by Tuesday. Mr. Marinelli went above and beyond his call of duty for the district. Laura Griffith stated that she saw an article in the Warren Reporter indicating that Lopatcong students would be visiting the Avon School in Newark. Why Newark? Dr. Rossi explained that the visits to Newark was part of a grant which he wrote that focused on Cultural Diversity Awareness. The district’s professional development survey showed that there was a need in this area. The grant was awarded to Dr. Rossi through the Geraldine Dodge Foundation. There will be teacher training and three visits to the Avon School by teachers and 12 students will report there experiences. The Avon School will send 12 students to Lopatcong for the same purpose. Mrs. Griffith expressed that she does not agree with our students interacting in each other’s schools. Beth Beyer stated that she had a bad experience with a teacher last year and wanted to know how to communicate this information to the Board. Mr. Gallant stated that if all avenues through the administration have been exhausted, then a letter can be written to the Board and sent to the Board Secretary. Mr. Gallant also stated that all letters to the Board should be signed by an individuals, since anonymous letters are not given much attention. Lee Rozycki stated that she noticed that there are 5 marking periods on the middle school schedule. Mrs. Kowalchuk stated that this would be reviewed with the parents at Back to School Night. Lee Rozycki inquired about recess and if there was definitely recess in the elementary school schedule. Dr. Rossi stated that each teacher has recess built into their schedule and it is at the teachers discretion. The teachers should be addressing this with the parents during Back to School Night. Mr. Mengucci inquired about the condition of the Delaware Park School Building. Mrs. Barna responded that the condition of the building is not great and that there are environmental issues within the building with mold on the plaster walls, etc. Mrs. Crossley stated that she was having a hard time hearing the board members during the meeting and perhaps microphones could be considered. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Mr. Edinger seconded by Mr. Drake, 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 9:15pm 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: 6 - Yes. Motion carried. Motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Edinger, that the Board of Education return to regular session at 9:56pm. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Hearing no further business, the Board adjourned at 9:57pm on a motion by Dr. McGann, second by Mr. Edinger. Respectfully submitted, Teresa E. Barna, RSBO Business Administrator/ Board Secretary
These minutes are provided as a convenience to the residents of Lopatcong Township and do not constitute the official minutes of the Lopatcong Township Board of Education which are maintained in the BOE Office in the Middle School.
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