Watervliet City School District > Board of Education > Meeting Schedule, Agendas and Minutes > Board of Education Regular Meeting: December 13, 2022

Board of Education Regular Meeting: December 13, 2022

Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189

Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Date: December 13, 2022
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. 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

How has COVID Impacted the Work We are Doing? Presentation Ryan Groat & Jessie Richards

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

First Reading of Revised Policies:

  • Public Access to Records
  • Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment in the District
  • Title IX and Sex Discrimination
  • Sexual Harassment of Students

Second Reading of Revised Policies:

  • Appointments and Designations by the Board of Education
  • Absentee Ballots
  • Budget Adoption
  • Acceptance of Gifts, Grants, and Bequests to the District
  • Financial Accountability
  • Records Management
  • Privacy and Security for Student Data and Teacher and Principal Data
  • School Safety Plans
  • Fire and Emergency Drills, Bomb Threats and Bus Emergency Drills
  • School Bus Safety
  • Idling School Buses on School Grounds
  • Qualifications of Bus Drivers
  • Textbooks, Library Materials, and Other Instructional Materials
  • Objection to Instructional Materials and Controversial Issues

    VI. Board of Education Discussion

VII. Personnel Items

1. Resolved that the Board remove from the table and postpone indefinitely the appointment of Hannah O’Neill to the position of Winter Cheerleading Coach for the 2022–2023 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.

2. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Kimberly Burns, from the position of Full-Time Bus Driver for the Watervliet City School District, effective November 17, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

3. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Jim Lyndsay, from the position of Tutor for the Watervliet City School District, effective December 2, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

4. Resolved that the Board approve the termination of the teaching overage for Todd Birmingham for the 2022–2023 academic school year at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective November 28, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

5. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Molly McGrath as Title IX Compliance Officer for the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.

6. Resolved that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the probationary appointment of Kayla Freeden to the position of Band Teacher, in the tenure area of Music, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning January 3, 2023, at a Step 3 salary, plus master’s degree and credit hours, as per contract. The probationary period shall expire on January 3, 2027, contingent upon achievement of effective or highly effective APPR ratings necessary to receive tenure throughout his/her probationary period, consistent with the requirements of Education Law Sections 2509, 3012-c, and/or 3012-d. Kayla Freeden holds a Music Education (K-12) certification (certificate #11342275191).

7. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Janina Rudzinski to the position of Math AIS/Building Substitute Teacher, at the Watervliet Elementary School, beginning December 19, 2022, at a rate of $150.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.

8. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Kathleen Zito to the position of Math AIS/Building Substitute Teacher, at the Watervliet Elementary School, beginning December 19, 2022, at a rate of $150.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.

9. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of the following staff as Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Club Advisors for the 2022–2023 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Donna Belokopitsky Class of 2025 Co-Advisor
Brenda Zawistowski Class of 2025 Co-Advisor
Nikki LaBoissiere Class of 2026 Advisor
Christa Farruggio Yearbook Advisor
Meg Fronczek Varsity/Cannoneer Club Advisor

10. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of the following staff as Watervliet Elementary School Club Advisors for the 2022–2023 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Tina Spenard Student Ambassador Co-Advisor
Brenda Zawistowski Student Ambassador Co-Advisor
Geraldine Ferris Garden Club Advisor

11. Resolved that the Board appoint the following Coaches for the 2022–2023 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:

  • Basketball Volunteer: Zach Sierra
  • Track and Field Volunteer: Christopher Mannolini-Adams, Rolis Graham
  • Cheerleading: Alexa Brierly, Paige Martin (Co-Coaches)

12. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packet #5).

VIII. Business Items

13. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of November 2022, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.

14. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of October 2022, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:

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

    15. Resolved that the Board approve the following Bid Result, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:

New 2023 GMC 3500HD Sierra Pickup Truck with Hydraulic Snowplow

  • Goldstein Buick GMC: $53,587.50

16. 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 (10/22)
Invoice # 4819
$6,481.45
CSArch – CM (10/22)
Invoice # 4820
$12,670.96
DLC Electric, LLC
Payment App # 019
$100,837.42
Gallo Construction
Payment App # 017
$18,620.46
Trane U.S. Inc.
Invoice # 312686822
$430.00
Invoice # 312728987
$12,559.90
Invoice # 312781444
$1,090.00

17. Resolved that the Board authorize the signature on checks issued against the Watervliet High School Extracurricular Account to be that of Jessie Richards, Watervliet High School Principal, as recommended by the Superintendent.

18. Resolved that the Board approve the attached 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. WHEREAS, the Watervliet City School District Board of Education (BOE) seeks to undertake a capital project consisting of building renovations, storage building expansion, loading dock reconstruction, retaining wall reconstruction, pavement upgrades, digital school sign installations and electrical / stand by generator installations at the following school sites:

  1. Watervliet Junior / Senior High School
  2. Watervliet Elementary School

WHEREAS, the Watervliet City School District will utilize the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant for the cost of the capital project, updated from the September 13, 2022 resolution.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education approves the following to cover the 2022 ARPA Project capital project expenses:

  • $2,124,960.00 to be expended from the ARPA grant.

    20. Resolved that the Board approve the Addendum to the Memorandum of Agreement between the Watervliet City School District and the City of Watervliet for a School Resource Officer Program, effective December 14, 2022, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

21. Resolved that the Board approve an amendment to the Employee Benefits Documents for Non-Aligned Employees, Cook Manager, Managerial/Confidential Employees, and Cafeteria Workers and Lunchroom Monitors, for the 2022–2023 school year, allowing for the Christmas Eve. holiday to be observed on Tuesday, December 27, 2022 instead of Friday, December 23, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

IX. Other Items

22. Resolved that the Board waive a second reading and adopt the following policies, as recommended by the Superintendent:

  • Public Access to Records
  • Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment in the District
  • Title IX and Sex Discrimination
  • Sexual Harassment of Students

23. Resolved that the Board delete the following policies, as recommended by the Superintendent:

  • Contingency Budget
  • School Bus Safety Program
  • Curriculum Development, Resources and Evaluation
  • Selection of Library and Multimedia Materials
  • Objection to Instructional Materials
  • Controversial Issues
  • Textbooks/Workbooks/Calculators/Instructional Computer Hardware

24. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held November 8, 2022, 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 October 26, October 27, October 28, November 3, November 15, November 16, November 17, November 28, November 29, November 30 and December 2, 2022, submitted by Veronica Bedard and Danielle 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 November 7 and November 16, 2022, submitted by Molly McGrath, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.

27. Resolved that the Board approve the home schooling requests of the parents/guardians of the following students, as recommended by the Superintendent:

  • Student ID 900011722 – grade 8
  • Student ID 900013014 – grade 6
  • Student ID 900014396 – grade 12
  • Student ID 900014122 – grade 12

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): Rachel Kelly
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Gina Smith, Stephanie Maes, Kate Diaco, Marypat Murtagh, Mikayla Rossier, Tina LaValee, Denise Cusack
Dates: 11/28/22 – 12/12/22

Name(s): Laura Borrelli
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Samantha Walsh
Dates: Spring 2023 semester

Name(s): Tiffany Valentin
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Amanda Ciampi
Dates: Spring 2023 semester

Name(s): Christina Bruno
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Suzanne Vogel
Dates: Spring 2023 semester

29. Resolved that the Board approve the excision of broken/irreparable/outdated computer technology equipment, as outlined in the attached, recommended by the Superintendent.

30. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks the $1,500.00 donation from Richard and Susan Denue, to the Watervliet Elementary School, to be used to purchase holiday gifts for elementary students in need, as recommended by the Superintendent.

X. Board Discussion

XI. Adjournment