Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
December 12, 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
Brian White
Victoria Donnelly
Superintendent Dr. Donald Stevens Jr.
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. Presentation/Reports/Comments
Embracing the Positive Presentation Kelly Webster
- Superintendent’s Report
- Student Council Report
- Committee Reports
- Audit Committee
- Policy Committee
VI. Board of Education Discussion
VII. Personnel Items
1. Resolved that the Board rescind the appointment of Jackie Bishop to the position of Jr. High School Student Council Advisor at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School for the 2023 – 2024 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.
2. Resolved that the Board rescind the appointment of Shaquille Mayo to the position of Modified Basketball Coach at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School for the 2023 – 2024 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.
3. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Shaquille Mayo from the position of Hall Monitor at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective December 4, 2023, as recommended by the Superintendent.
4. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Edwin Miranda to the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner, for the Watervliet City School District, beginning November 13, 2023, at rate of $17.00 per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.
5. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Janelle Yanni to the position of Interim Administrator for the Watervliet City School District, effective November 27, 2023, at a per diem rate of $500.00, for the purposes of conducting staff observations, as recommended by the Superintendent.
6. WHEREAS, pursuant to the requirement of Education Law Section 3012-c and Part 30-2.9 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, the individuals named below have completed all the necessary training to be recertified as lead evaluators of classroom teachers:
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby recertifies the following individual as lead evaluator of classroom teachers:
Janelle Yanni
7. Resolved that the Board approve the probationary appointment of Jeremy Boyd to the position of Hall Monitor, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for a probationary period beginning December 19, 2023 and ending December 19, 2024, at a Step 1 Teacher Aide salary, per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent,
8. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Jania Dockery to the position of Job Coach for the Watervliet City School District, effective December 13, 2023, at a grant-funded stipend in the amount of $2,000.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
9. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of the following staff as Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Advisors for the 2023 – 2024 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
Marching Band: Kayla Freedon (effective September 1, 2023)
Jazz Band: Kayla Freedon (effective September 1, 2023)
Grades 6-8 Band: Kayla Freedon (effective September 1, 2023)
Jr. High School Student Council: Jackie Bishop & Claudia Bunting-Marshall
(Co-Advisors effective September 1, 2023)
APEX English: Dylan Kane
After-School Detention Substitute: Valerie Ellison
10. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of the following Coaches for the 2023– 2024 school year, pending fingerprint clearance and fulfillment of NYSED coaching requirements, at a rate as per contract, unless outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Coaching Winter:
Indoor Track Assistant: Sean Meade, Jr.
Modified Basketball Coach: Brian Ford
11. Resolved that the Board approve the following emergency teaching overages for the 2023 – 2024 academic school year at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, as outlined in the attached, effective November 1, 2023, unless otherwise stated below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
• Nicholas Grolley (+.2 FTE)
• Steve Keena (+.2 FTE)
• Angela Aubrey (+.2 FTE) (Effective November 22, 2023)
• Michael Dempsey (+.2 FTE)
• Jessica Willson (+.2 FTE)
• Scott Emerson (Daily Class Coverage Rate)
12. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Joseph Navojosky to the position of Cafeteria Supervisor at the kitchen operated at Green Island UFSD, effective December 1, 2023, with the applicable stipend, per the Employee Benefits Document, as recommended by the Superintendent.
13. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packet #5).
VIII. Business Items
14. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of November 2023, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
15. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of October 2023, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
- Revenue Status Report
- Cash & Investments
- Appropriation Status Report
16. Resolved that the Board approve the following payment requests, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET 2022 ARPA CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS
- CSArch – AE
Invoice #6111
$10,129.55 - CSArch – CM
Invoice #6112
$10,500.00
WATERVLIET 2020 CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS
- DLC Electric, LLC
Payment App. #026
$24,280.96
Payment App. #027
$32,611.11 - Gallo Construction
Payment App. #021
$44,126.79
17. Resolved that the Board approve the attached resolution authorizing participation in the New York State School and Municipal Energy Consortium (NYSMEC) Cooperative Energy Purchasing Service for Electricity, commencing May 1, 2024, for a period of one to three years, pending bid results, as recommended by the Superintendent.
18. Resolved that the Board approve the attached resolution authorizing participation in the New York State School and Municipal Energy Consortium (NYSMEC) Cooperative Energy Purchasing Service for Natural Gas, commencing May 1, 2024, for a period of one to three years, pending bid results, as recommended by the Superintendent.
19. Resolved that the Board approve the Educational Services Agreement with Vanderheyden, for services provided to a student enrolled in the Vanderheyden program, effective November 27, 2023 – June 26, 2024, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
20. Resolved that the Board approve the Cooperative Agreement with Hudson Valley Community College, to provide college in the high school courses for the 2023 – 2024 school year, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
21. Resolved that the Board approve the Data Privacy Agreement with Canva US, Inc., as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
IX. Other Items
22. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held November 14, 2023, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
23. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held November 9, November 15, November 17, November 20, November 21, November 29, and December 1, 2023, submitted by Veronica Wilson and Daniele Tetrault, CSE Chairs, as recommended by the Superintendent.
24. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held November 15, 2023, submitted by Molly McGrath, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
25. Resolved that the Board approve the home schooling requests of the parents/guardians of the following students, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Student ID 900014793 – grade 8
- Student ID 900011662 – grade 8
- Student ID 900010493 – grade 11
26. Resolved that the Board approve the following Student Teacher request at the Watervliet Elementary School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name(s): Joshua White
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher(s): Jeanne Lance
Dates: Spring 2024
27. Resolved that the Board approve the following Student Teacher requests at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name(s): Nicholas Farreta
Role: Student Teacher/Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Tami Karbowski
Dates: Fall 2023
28. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks, the donation of Several Men’s and Ladies Winter Coats from Michelle and Kevin Ninstant to the Watervliet Jr. –Sr. High School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
29. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks, the donation of an Original Oversized Class of 1938 Photograph from Tom and Judy Clements on behalf of Clement Frame Shop & Art Gallery to the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.
X. Board Discussion
XI. Executive Session
30. Recommend an executive session to discuss matters related to the employment history of a particular person.