Board of Education Regular Meeting May 2, 2023

Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
May 2, 2023
6 p.m.
Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School

A G E N D A

I. Call to Order

President Sheri Senecal

II. Attendance

President Sheri Senecal
Vice President Mary Beth Whited
Heather Soroka
Timothy Delisle
Brian White

Superintendent Dr. Donald Stevens Jr.

III. Appointment of District Clerk Pro-Tem

1. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Jill O’Connell as District Clerk Pro-Tem for the purpose of taking the minutes of the meeting.

IV. Pledge of Allegiance

V. Public Comment

In accordance with Board Policy Number 1510, the privilege of speaking from the floor will be extended to any person in attendance. Persons desiring to speak shall be required to give their name and address and will be limited to three (3) minutes for their presentation. The time allowed each speaker may be adjusted by the chair. The speaker’s privilege may also be terminated by the chair if found to be out of order.

VI. Reports/Comments

Student Voices Initiative: Emma Grimmick, Jeremiah Barnes, Jessenia George

Superintendent’s Report
Student Council Report
Committee Reports
1. Audit Committee
2. Policy Committee

VII. Meet the Candidates

VIII. 2023–2024 Budget Hearing

IX. Board of Education Discussion

X. Personnel Items

1. Resolved that the Board rescind the retirement request of Tina Shufelt from the position of Elementary Teacher at the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.

2. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Yvonne Coiteux, from the position of School Nurse at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective June 23, 2023, as recommended by the Superintendent.

3. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Starr Harris to the position of Full-Time Bus Driver for the Watervliet City School District, effective April 17, 2023, at a rate of $24.00 per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.

4. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Katrina Vacarelli to the position of Part-Time/Substitute Bus Driver for the Watervliet City School District, effective April 24, 2023, at a rate of $24.00 per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.

5. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Bridan Sharpe to the position of Night Cleaning Supervisor at the Watervliet Elementary School for a period beginning April 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2023, at a pro-rated stipend of $2,500.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

6. Resolved that the Board approve an adjusted rate of pay for Darryl Whited, Substitute Bus Driver, from $21.00 to $24.00, effective April 17, 2023, for any school bus driving services performed outside of his contractual work day, as recommended by the Superintendent.

7. Resolved that the Board accept the transfer of Rahila Adalat, from the position of Teacher Aide to the position of Teaching Assistant at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective May 3, 2023, as recommended by the Superintendent.

8. Resolved that the Board approve the following ExTRA Summer Academy Program 2023 appointments at a salary as per contract:

Watervliet Elementary School:
Kindergarten: Michaeleen Backus
1st Grade: Chelsea Shufelt
2nd Grade: Adrienne Todd
3rd Grade: Jennifer Hoefer/Rachel Manning
4th Grade: Jeanne Lance
5th Grade: Beth Jones
K-6 Co-Teach: Gina Smith
K-5 ENL: Valerie Ellison
PE: Kelsey Logan/Brian Hoefer
Art: Caitlyn Santiago
Summer Nurse: Sue Vogel
K-1 TA: Donna Belokopitsky
2-3 TA: Angela Wareing
4-5 TA: Karen Mahar

Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School:
6th/7th Grade: Nikki LaBoissiere
Travel Program: Lauren Lloyd
Travel Program: Dan Ciaramella
8th/9th Grade ELA: Tami Karbowski
8th/9th Grade Math: TBD
9-12 Social Studies: Becky Jones
9-12 ELA: Kristen Hand
9-12 Science: TBD
9-12 Math: TBD
7-12 Co-Teach: TBD
K-12 ENL: Madeline Rehm
Summer Counseling: Dave Olszewski
TA 8th/9th: Haley Menze

Substitutes:
Khalan McNeff
Jessica Willson
Kim Tallmadge
Meghan Dwyer
Tina Shufelt
Robina Hussain

9. Resolved that the Board approve the following Extended School Year (ESY) 2023 appointments at a salary as per contract:

Special Education Teacher(s):
Denise Cusack
Mikayla Rosier
Courtney Unser
Dan Mueller
Speech Therapist: Leah Tremblay
Social Worker: Alexa Giardino
Teaching Assistant(s):
Kelly Gilchrist
Nick Rivera
Janice Sogoian
Bus Monitor:
Kelly Gilchrist
Substitutes:
Tina LaVallee
Juliana Chromik
Kaleigh Hill

10. Resolved that the Board approve an additional seventeen (17) work days per person during the summer for David Olszewski, Kate McAvoy and Chelsie Clickner, Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Guidance Counselors, as recommended by the Superintendent.

11. Resolved that the Board approve an additional six (6) work days during the summer for Veronica Wilson, Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Psychologist, as recommended by the Superintendent

12. Resolved that the Board approve an additional six (6) work days during the summer for Kelly Bariteau and Danielle Tetrault, Watervliet Elementary School Guidance Counselor, as recommended by the Superintendent.

13. Resolved that the Board approve an additional five (5) work days during the summer for Danielle McKee, Family Opportunity Center Grant School Counselor, as recommended by the Superintendent.

14. Resolved that the Board approve an additional five (5) work days during the summer for Madelyn Degler, Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention (ExTRA) Grant School Counselor, as recommended by the Superintendent.

15. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packet #14).

XI. Business Items

16. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of April 2023, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.

17. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of March 2023, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
Revenue Status Report
Cash & Investments
Appropriation Status Report

18. Resolved that the Board approve the Revised Corrective Action Plan, prepared and submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, in response to the Watervliet City School District’s Independent Audit Report for the period ended June 30, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

19. Resolved that the Board approve the following bid results, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:

$9,000,000 Bond Anticipation Notes – 2023 (Renewal)
Bidder: Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
Interest Rate: 3.1690%

Other Bidders:
Jeffries LLC (3.2030%)
BNY Mellon Capital Markets (3.3799%)
Pioneer Bank (3.7100%)

20. Resolved that the Board approve the following payment requests, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:

WATERVLIET 2021 CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS

CSArch – A/E (03/23)
Invoice # 5383
$1,296.29
CSArch – CM (03/23)
Invoice # 5384
$2,534.19
Girvin & Ferlazzo, PC
Statement # 28
$86.00
R.F. Gordon Mechanical, LLC
Payment Application # 014
$84,091.76
TRANE US Inc.
Invoice # 313413859
$2,735.40

21. Resolved that the Board approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the The Watervliet Teachers Association, dated April 28, 2023, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

22. Resolved that the Board approve the Assistive Technology Service Agreement between the Watervliet City School District and Thomas McKee, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

23. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of the following Election Inspectors to work May 16, 2023, for the School District Election and Budget vote, at the rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Elks Club: Marcia Carlson, Phyllis Carroll, Karen Pelech

XII. Other Items

24. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meetings held April 4 and April 19, 2023, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.

25. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held March 21, March 22, March 27, March 28, March 29, March 31, April 3, April 4, April 5, April 6, April 19 and April 20, 2023, submitted by Molly McGrath, Veronica Wilson and Daniele Tetrault, CSE Chairs, as recommended by the Superintendent.

26. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held April 5, April 6 and April 19, 2023, submitted by Molly McGrath, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.

27. Resolved that the Board approve the home schooling request of the parent/guardian of the following student, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Student ID 90001348 – grade 2

28. Resolved that the Board approve the following Student Teacher requests at the Watervliet Elementary School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Name(s): Christina Pfister
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Samantha Walsh
Dates: Fall 2023 Semester

29. Resolved that the Board approve the following Student Teacher/Observer/Intern requests at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Name(s): Ian Brown
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher(s): Scott Emerson
Dates: April 17–May 12, 2023

Name(s): Kierra Keyes-Parker
Role: Administrative Intern
Cooperating Teacher(s): David Wareing
Dates: Spring 2023 Semester (for 1 day, TBD)

30. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks the $3,000.00 donation from the estate of Vincent Ciraulo, to the Watervliet City School District Albert Morelli Scholarship Award fund, as recommended by the Superintendent.