Board of Education Regular Meeting January 13, 2022

Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189

Board of Education
Regular Meeting
January 13, 2022
6 P.M.
Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School Cafeteria

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. Donald Stevens, Jr.
Student Council Rep. Gwendolyn Pair

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/Updates/Presentations

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Presentation Diversity Committee Members

  1. Superintendent’s Report
  2. Student Council Report
  3. Committee Reports
  4. Policy Committee
    1. First Reading of New / Revised Policies:
      • Regular Board Meetings and Rules (Quorum and Parliamentary Procedure)
      • Professional Growth/Staff Development

VI. Board of Education Discussion

VII. Personnel Items

1. Resolved that the Board award the status of tenure to Louisa Vaughan, in the area of Social Work, effective January 22, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

2. Resolved that the Board award the status of tenure to Chelsie Clickner, in the area of Guidance, effective February 1, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

3. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Theresa Pelton, from the position of English Teacher at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, effective February 3, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

4. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Brenda Zawistowski, from the position of Teaching Assistant at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, effective January 2, 2022, as recommended by the Superintendent.

5. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Brandon Dallas from the position of Full-Time Night Cleaner for the Watervliet City School District, effective December 22, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.

6. Resolved that the Board rescind the appointment of Joshua Veshia to the position of Volunteer Wrestling Coach at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, as recommended by the Superintendent.

7. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment transfer of Chance Fosmire from the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner to the position of Full-Time Night Cleaner for the Watervliet City School District, effective January 5, 2022, at a rate of $15.00 per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.

8. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Rosie Sharpe to the position of Board and Games Club Advisor for the ExTRA Program for the 2021–2022 school year, at a stipend of $920.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

9. Resolved that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the probationary appointment of Leah Pike to the position of Speech Language Pathologist, in the tenure area of Speech, at the Watervliet Elementary School, beginning January 18, 2022, at a Step 1 salary, plus master’s degree and credit hours, as per contract. The probationary period shall expire on January 18, 2026, 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. Leah Pike holds a Speech and Language Disabilities certification, (certificate #1427998201).

10. Resolved that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Margaret Shaw Angie to the position of Teaching Assistant, in the tenure area of Teaching Assistant, at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, beginning January 6, 2022, at a Step 6 salary, plus Associate or Bachelor degree stipends, as per contract. The probationary period shall expire on January 6, 2026, contingent upon positive evaluations from his/her direct supervisor throughout his/her probationary period, consistent with the requirements of Education Law Sections 2509, 3012-c, and/or 3012-d. Margaret Shaw Angie holds a Teaching Assistant, Level III, certification (certificate #1451109201).

11. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency provisional appointment of Brenda Zawistowski to the position of Clerk Typist, at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, pending civil service examination results, for a one-year probationary period beginning January 3, 2022, at a pro-rated yearly salary of $25,500.00, plus Associate or Bachelor degree stipends, as per contract as recommended by the Superintendent.

12. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Kelly Leach to the position of Lunch Monitor, at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning January 10, 2022 and ending January 10, 2023, at an hourly rate of $15.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

13. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of the following Coach for the 2021–2022 school year, pending fingerprint clearance and fulfillment of NYSED coaching requirements, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Coaching Winter:
Indoor Track: Ben Valentine

14. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Alexa Whyte to the position of Long-Term Substitute Special Education Teacher, at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, effective January 10, 2022, at a pro-rated Step 1 rate per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.

15. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packet #4).

VIII. Business Items

16. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the months of November 2021 and December 2021, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.

17. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of November 2021, 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 following payment requests, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:

WATERVLIET 2021 CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS

  • Atlantic Testing Lab.
    Invoice #235968
    $511.50
  • CSArch – A/E (11/21)
    Invoice #3781
    $23,362.33
  • CSArch – A/E (12/21)
    Invoice #3849
    $12,994.21
  • CSArch – CM (11/21)
    Invoice #3782
    $45,615.46
  • CSArch – CM (12/21)
    Invoice #3850
    $25,341.92
  • DLC Electric, LLC
    Payment App #008
    $22,841.53
  • Gallo Construction
    Payment App #008
    $4,927.43
  • General Roofing Contractors
    Payment App #007
    $171,247.00
  • R.F. Gordon Mechanical LLC
    Payment App #007
    $61,315.52

19. 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, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.

20. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Contract between the Watervliet City School District and Center for Spectrum Services to provide Educational Services, as recommended by the Superintendent.

21. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Data Privacy Agreement with Healthy Alliance IPA, LLC, submitted by Kirsten DeMento, Data Protection Officer, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

22. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Affiliate Agreement with Healthy Alliance IPA, LLC, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

23. Resolved that the Board amends the Employment Agreement between Dr. Donald Stevens, Jr. and the Watervliet City School District dated August 12, 2021, as outlined in the attached, and authorizes the Board President to execute said addendum and authorizes payment(s) in accordance therewith.

24. Resolved that the Board approve the revised request for Sarah Horaczek to take EPl 700 – Organizational Management and Leadership in Education (3) and EPl 661 – Mindfulness in Organizations and Leadership courses at SUNY Albany beginning January 19, 2022, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

25. Resolved that the Board approve the Payment for Unused Sick Leave in the amount of $9,602.88 to Erin Manning upon her retirement from the Watervliet City School District, effective November 30, 2021, per Article X of the Watervliet Support Staff Association (WSSA) Agreement, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.

26. Resolved that the Board approve the Payment for Unused Sick Leave in the amount of $4,143.25 to Eileen Reinfurt upon her retirement from the Watervliet City School District, effective November 30, 2021, per Article X of the Watervliet Support Staff Association (WSSA) Agreement, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.

IX. Other Items

27. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held December 9, 2021, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.

28. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held November 29, December 7, December 8, December 9, December 13, December 14, December 15, December 20 and December 21, 2021, submitted by Veronica Bedard and Danielle Tetrault, CSE Chairs, as recommended by the Superintendent.

29. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held December 15 and December 17, 2021, submitted by Sarah Horaczek, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.

30. Resolved that the Board approve the 504 Committee’s recommendations for the meetings held December 15 and December 21, 2021, submitted by Veronica Bedard and Danielle Tetrault, 504 Chairs, as recommended by the Superintendent.

31. Resolved that the Board approve the home schooling request of Simone Hytmiah for her child, Kylie McPherson, Grade K, for the 2021–2022 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.

32. Resolved that the Board approve the home schooling request of James and Andrea Charette for their children, Antoinette Charette, Grade K, and Charlotte Charette, Grade K, for the 2021–2022 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.

33. Resolved that the Board approve the excision of Outdated Technology Equipment, as outlined in the attached, submitted Sarah Horaczek, as recommended by the Superintendent.

34. 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: Hannah Greulich
    Role: Student Teacher/Intern
    Cooperating Teacher: TBD
    Dates: 1/19/22 – 5/4/22
  • Name: Alyssa Carl
    Role: Student Teacher/Intern
    Cooperating Teacher: Nick Yatrakis
    Dates: 1/19/22 – 5/11/22

35. Resolved, that pursuant to §1950 of Education Law, the Watervliet City School District is nominating Matt Tedeschi (Westerlo, NY) as a candidate to serve a three-year term as a Capital Region BOCES Board Member for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025 representing Albany County.

36. Resolved, that pursuant to §1950 of Education Law, the Watervliet City School District is nominating Heather Soroka (Watervliet, NY) as a candidate to serve a three-year term as a Capital Region BOCES Board Member for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025 representing Albany County.

X. Board Discussion

XI. Executive Session

1. Recommend an executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular person.

XII. Adjournment

NOTE: All district appointments are subject to fingerprint clearance by the NYS Education Department and verification of Permanent or Pending Certification by NYS.

ADDENDUM

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

  • Name: Jesse Yetto
    Role: Student Teacher/Intern
    Cooperating Teacher: Brian Hoefer
    Dates: 1/18/22 – 3/11/22