REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
October 18, 2007
Location: RJK Middle School Cafeteria
7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL A. Present: Alyce Van Etten, Robert Stewart, Richard Feller,
Eugene Nesin, Yvonne Housman, Liza Glick, Jacob Billig (arrived at
9:10 p.m.), Tara Buckstad, Vivian Liff, Taylor Fasce´, Student
School Board Member (left at 8:25 p.m.)
Absent:
Also Present: Patrick Michel, Superintendent of Schools (left at
10:00 p.m.)
Kathleen Pagano-Fuller, Assistant Superintendent for Student
Learning (left at 10:00 p.m.)
Mary Ryan Buchholz, District Clerk (left at 8:35 p.m.)
President, Robert Stewart, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Upon motion by Alyce Van Etten, seconded by Tara Buckstad, the Board
of Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, voted
to amend the Consent Agenda by removing item E.4, CPSE Services,
because there were none.
Yes: 8 (Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin, Stewart,
Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent: Jacob Billig
PRESENTATIONS
B.
1. Board Recognition Week – October 22-26, 2007 - Dr. Patrick Michel
presented each Board of Education member with a Certificate and a
small gift of an umbrella.
2. Overview of Athletic Program and a Proposed New Program – Douglas
Murphy, Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics gave
the Board of Education a presentation of a proposed Football program
being introduced into the District’s athletic program.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
C. Hildy Rosenberg Schoonmaker – Would like to see improvement of
existing sports programs before incorporating a new program. Would
like to see more competition within Sullivan County rather than
competing with larger schools in Orange County.
Mike Banks – Compared subsequent spectator parking problems to other
schools and how they manage to make it work. Suggested using Cooke
Elementary School’s parking lot.
Don Thomas – A football coach for the Monticello League. Sees how
well the children respond to football. Gives them encouragement to
succeed.
Anthony D’Abbraccio - A former football player that would like to
see football being offered in the Monticello Central School
District’s athletic program. Believes the football program would
reduce school violence and bring students together.
Ron Reece – Division III Coach at the Youngsville School District.
Explained how their football program began with nothing and how it
can grow to become successful. Believes the children play with their
hearts because of the love of the game.
Tom McCreery – Would like to see a football program in the
Monticello Central School District. Believes the program can grow to
include Band, Cheerleading, and an A.V. Club.
Leslie Vasquez – His son participates in the Monticello League.
Thinks that the football program would encourage to stay off the
streets and to achieve better grades in school.
Robert Mathis – Son participates in the Monticello League. He is
proud of how his son plays and his love of the game of football.
Would like to see it come to the District level.
Steven & Renee’ Jackson – Played sports in High School but what was
limited to a range of sports because of his size. Would like
football to come to Monticello Central School District so that it
can offer more opportunities for students to participate in a sport
that would accommodate larger body frames.
Gary Takolrian – Would like to see football come to Monticello
Central School District’s sports program. Believes football takes a
boy and turns them into men.
BOARD REPORT OUT
D. Taylor Fasce gave a report on student activities at the High
School.
Patrick Michel gave a report out on how High School Students are
helped by taking college courses during High School.
Robert Stewart gave a report out on the Chase PTO meeting. Was
impressed with the Baccalaureate Program presentation. Would like
the group to give a presentation to the Board of Education at the
meeting being held on November 15th at the Chase Elementary School.
Alyce Van Etten gave a report out on the ALT Meeting leadership
presentation.
CONSENT AGENDA
E. Upon motion by Yvonne Housman, seconded by Tara Buckstad, the
Board of Education upon recommendation of the Superintendent, voted
to approve the Consent Agenda.
Yes: 8 (Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin, Stewart,
Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent: Jacob Billig
E.1.a. Minutes of October 4, 2007 – Regular Meeting
E.2 PERSONNEL
E.2.a. APPOINTMENT
Resolved, that the Board of Education of the Monticello Central
School District, pursuant to Section 3012 of the Education Law and
in compliance with Part 30.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents,
upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, does
hereby appoint Janet Moss, to the position of Teacher Aide at a
salary of $7.75 per hour for 6 hours per day and 185 days per year,
pro-rated, for a probationary period of 60 work days with benefits
as per the Teacher Aide contract, replacing Jeanette Taggart, to be
effective October 15, 2007.
E.2.b. APPOINTMENT
Resolved, that the Board of Education of the Monticello Central
School District, pursuant to Section 3012 of the Education Law and
in compliance with Part 30.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents,
upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, does
hereby appoint Nubia Perez to the position of Cleaner at a salary of
$21,000 per year for 8 hours per day and 260 days per year,
pro-rated, for a probationary period of 60 work days with benefits
as per the custodial contract, replacing Geovanny Gil, to be
effective August 31, 2007.
E.2.c. APPOINTMENT
Resolved, that the Board of Education of the Monticello Central
School District, pursuant to Section 3012 of the Education Law and
in compliance with Part 30.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents,
upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, does
hereby appoint Jose Rodriquez to the position of School Monitor at a
salary of $10.00 per hour for 6.5 hours per day and 185 days per
year, pro-rated, for a probationary period of 60 work days with
benefits as provided, replacing David Budinich, to be effective
October 22, 2007.
E.2.d. LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Ellen Alewitz, Music Teacher requests a leave of absence due to
medical reasons as per the Family Medical Leave Act effective
September 18, 2007 to November 16, 2007.
E.2.e. RESIGNATION
Anthony Durante, School Bus Driver wishes to resign effective
October 26, 2007, for purposes of retirement.
E.3. CSE SERVICES
E.5 EXCESSED ITEMS
ACTION ITEMS
F.1. Old Business - None
F.2. New Business
F.2.a. RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING TEACHERS
Upon motion by Vivian Liff, seconded by Tara Buckstad, the Board of
Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent voted to
approve the Resolution to Recognizing Teachers.
Yes: 8 (Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin, Stewart,
Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent: Jacob Billig
F.2.b. APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYEES
Upon motion by Alyce Van Etten, seconded by Eugene Nesin, the Board
of Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent voted to
approve the appointment of Substitute Employees.
Yes: 8 (Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin, Stewart,
Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent: Jacob Billig
F.2.c. BUDGET TRANSFERS
Upon motion by Yvonne Housman, seconded by Liza Glick, the Board of
Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent voted to
approve the Budget Transfers.
Yes: 8 (Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin, Stewart,
Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent: Jacob Billig
President, Robert Stewart, appointed Kathleen Pagano-Fuller to be
Clerk Pro Tem for the remainder of the meeting due to District
Clerk, Mary Buchholz having to leave at 8:35 p.m.
CORRESPONDENCE
G. Distributed to Board of Education members.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION
H.a Compliance with Section 1708 of New York State Education Law
Annual Visit to Schools – Board of Education members did a
walkthrough of the RJK Middle School, with the exception of the 3rd
floor wing.
H.b. Audit Committee – No report. The next meeting will be in
December 2007, a date to be determined. Robert Stewart will check on
the date and report back to the Board.
H.c. Facilities Committee Construction Update – The dance studio is
complete. Mirrors will be installed next week.
Fitness Center – Well on its way to completion. On October 26, 2007,
will be open for business.
The YMCA Board held its meeting at the Wellness Center this week. A
ribbon cutting ceremony to be announced. Linda Cellini will organize
the event.
H.d. Board Retreat – Will be held on October 30, 2007 from 5 p.m. to
7 p.m. A tentative agenda has been proposed:
Will have a NYSSBA Convention report out for members unable to
attend.
H.e. Cafeteria – Send suggestions to Robert Stewart or Alyce Van
Etten.
A firm has been hired to review the District’s food program.
Focus groups will be formed in the evening to accommodate parents
and community members.
H.f. School Board Convention - A work session was held later in the
meeting.
H.g. Superintendent and Board Evaluation – Deferred for now.
H.h. Five Year Vision Grid – The Five Year Vision is built as a
community. Many ideas will be used to build the vision together.
Three years ago the vision outline was presented to the Board of
Education.
H.i. Trip to the Recycling Facility and Action Plan Development –
Pat Michel, Robert Stewart, John Travis, and the Head Custodian met
with Bill Cutler, Recycling Coordinator for Sullivan County. The
group was given a very informative tour of the recycling facility.
John Travis will provide a list of what our current recycling
program consists of.
More presentations will be given to the Board of Education by
recycling groups so that the District can develop plans.
H.j. Patterns for Progress Fellows Meeting – Patrick Michel has been
selected to participate in the New Patterns for Progress Fellow
Program. The Fellows Program serves as a model for training leaders
in regional solutions and fostering new ideas for the Hudson Valley.
The program will begin October 13, 2007 with a kick-off orientation.
Vivian Liff commented on how nice it was to see such a diverse group
attending the meeting. Commented on well behaved the children were
during the presentation.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
I. Hildy Schoonmaker – Had questions regarding the Honors Program.
To be discussed at next Board of Education meeting.
Sue Purcell: Honors Program. Never received information regarding
the changes in the program.
At 9:10 p.m., President, Robert Stewart called a recess to have a
short work session regarding the upcoming NYSSBA convention.
At 9:21 p.m., President, Robert Stewart reconvened the Board of
Education Meeting.
Honors Program – A discussion was held regarding the Honors Program.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Upon Motion to go into Executive Session Richard Feller, seconded by
Tara Buckstad at 9:55 p.m. to discuss the employment history of a
particular person.
Yes: 9 (Billig, Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin,
Stewart, Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent:
Motion to come out of Executive Session at 10:20 p.m. by Richard
Feller, seconded by Vivian Liff.
Yes: 9 (Billig, Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin,
Stewart, Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent:
ADJOURNMENT
J. Motion to adjourn at 10:20 p.m. by Tara Buckstad, seconded by
Liza Glick.
Yes: 9 (Billig, Buckstad, Feller, Glick, Housman, Liff, Nesin,
Stewart, Van Etten)
No: 0
Absent:
Clerk Pro Tem
Kathleen Pagano-Fuller
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ryan-Buchholz, District Clerk
