Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
January 14, 2021
6 p.m.
Livestream
A G E N D A
I. Call to Order : President Amanda Cavanaugh
II. Attendance
President Amanda Cavanaugh
Vice President Sheri Senecal
Heather Soroka
Mary Beth Whited
Timothy Delisle
Superintendent Dr. Lori S. Caplan
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. 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.
V. Reports/Comments
- Superintendent’s Report
- Student Council Report
- Committee Reports
- i. Audit Committee
- ii. Policy Committee
First Reading of Revised Policies:
- Duties of the Extraclassroom Activity Fund Central Treasurer and Faculty
- Auditor
- Public Complaints
- Extraclassroom Activity Fund
- Information Security Breach and Notification
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
- Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, and Other Substances
VI. Board of Education Discussion
VII. Personnel Items
1. Resolved that the Board award the status of tenure to Lisa Suders, in the area of Social Studies, effective January 31, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
2. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Kathleen Darling, from the position of Food Service Worker at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective December 17, 2020, as recommended by the Superintendent.
3. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Bonnie Sicko, from the position of Lunch Monitor at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective January 4, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
4. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Charles Rorie, from the position of Lunch Monitor at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective January 4, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
5. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Kirsten DeMento as a Title IX Compliance Officer for the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.
6. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of David Wareing to the position of Substitute Bus Driver, for the Watervliet City School District, effective January 4, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
7. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Michaeleen Backus to the position of Interim Internal Claims Auditor, for the Watervliet City School District, effective December 21, 2020, at an hourly rate of $30.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
VIII. Business Items
8. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of November 2020, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
- Revenue Status Report
- Cash & Investments
- Appropriation Status Report
9. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of December 2020, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
10. Resolved that the Board approve the Payment for Unused Sick Leave, in the amount of $3,925.00, for Mike Motkowicz, upon his retirement from the Watervliet City School District, effective December 2, 2020, per the terms of the Employee Benefits Document for Non-Aligned Employees, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
11. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Corrective Action Plan prepared in response to the Watervliet City School District Independent Audit Report for the period ended June 30, 2020, by Teal, Becker & Chiaramonte, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
12. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Letter of Agreement with Russell Sage College, allowing students to earn college credit for PED 225 Concepts of Fitness and Wellness, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
13. Resolved that the Board approve the request for Donald Stevens to take EDL 743 – Foundations of Inquiry, EDL 755 – Doctoral Research I and EDL 773: Dissertation Writing III courses at Sage College beginning January 21, 2021, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
IX. Other Items
14. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held December 10, 2020, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
15. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held December 2, December 8, December 17, December 21 and December 22, 2020, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
16. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meeting held December 16, 2020, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
17. Resolved that the Board approve the following Student Teacher requests at the Watervliet Elementary School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name: Alex Rollo
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher(s): Michelle Brown
Dates: January 18–March 31, 2021 - Name: Kristen Emanuele
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher(s): Kara Cunningham
Dates: January 20–April 12, 2021 - Name: Carley Hillman
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher(s): Ena Minnick
Dates: March 15–May 15, 2021
18. Resolved that the Board approve the following home schooling request, for the remainder of the 2020 – 2021 school year, effective December 14, 2020, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Student: Jah’dae Hytmiah, Grade 1
Student: Samara Hytmiah, Grade 2
Parent/Guardian: Janine Grevious and Sherworth Hytmiah
19. Resolved that the Board recognize and thank Carleen Legault, on behalf of Arsenal City Kids, for donating 500 Handmade Masks to be given to students in need in the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
20. Resolved that the Board recognize and thank Anthony Curro for donating Weights to the weight room at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
21. Resolved that the Board recognize and thank Joseph Dragone, Senior Executive Officer at BOCES, for facilitating a donation of 309 Refurbished Laptops from Ron Sampson, Senior Vice President and General Manager at US Fab Operations, and Tom Caulfield, Chief Executive Officer at GlobalFoundries, to be utilized for remote instruction, as recommended by the Superintendent.
22. Resolved that the Board recognize and thank Frank Gilchrist, on behalf of Arsenal City Kids, for donating Backpacks Filled with School Supplies to be given to students in need in the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
Addendum #1:
23. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Diane Solomon to the position of Long-Term Substitute Spanish Teacher (Virtual), at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective January 11, 2021 at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
Addendum #2:
24. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Molly Byron to the position of Long-Term Substitute English Teacher, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective January 15, 2021 at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
X. Board Discussion
XI. Adjournment
NOTE: All district appointments are subject to fingerprint clearance by the NYS Education Department and verification of Permanent or Pending Certification by NYS.