Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
March 11, 2021
6 P.M.
Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School
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
A. Superintendent’s Report
B. Student Council Report
C. Committee Reports
- i. Audit Committee
- ii. Policy Committee
- Second Reading of New Policies:
- Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment in the District
- Procurement: Uniform Grant Guidance for Federal Awards
- Second Reading of Revised Policies:
- Administration of the Budget
- School Safety Plans
- Registration and Professional Development
- Employment of Retired Persons
VI. Board of Education Discussion
VII. Personnel Items
1. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Betty Lyon, from the position of Cafeteria Worker at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective February 21, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
2. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Brielle Majewski, from the position of Long-Term Substitute Encore Wellness Teacher at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective February 22, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
3. Resolved that the Board approve the retirement request of Mary Grace Hoffman, from the position of Teaching Assistant at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective February 26, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
4. Resolved that the Board approve the retirement request of Jeffrey Roberts, from the position of Music Teacher at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective June 30, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
5. Resolved that the Board approve the retirement request of Theresa Bradway, from the position of Music Teacher at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective June 30, 2021, as recommended by the Superintendent.
6. Resolved that the Board approve the leave request for Jessica Desmond, effective September 1, 2021 through the 2021– 2022 School Year, to return to work at the start of the 2022–2023 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.
7. Resolved that the Board appoint the following Coaches for the 2020–2021 school year, pending fingerprint clearance and fulfillment of NYSED coaching requirements, at a pro-rated rate for a shortened season, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Varsity Girls’ Soccer: Dan Carpenter
Varsity Boys’ Soccer: Paul Travers
Varsity Girls’ Volleyball: Daniel Short and Michelle Deguire
Cheerleading: Danielle Mele and Chelsie Clickner
Volunteer Cheerleading: Hannah O’Neill
Varsity Boys’ Basketball: Orlando DiBacco
Volunteer Varsity Boys’ Basketball: Matt Plew
Varsity Girls’ Basketball: Kelsey Logan
Varsity Wrestling: Dennis Lane
Volunteer Varsity Wrestling: Dan Pomerer
Assistant Varsity Wrestling: Dan Gibson
Varsity Football: Pete Porcelli
Varsity Assistant Football: Carmine Casale III
Varsity Assistant Football: Nick Baker
Volunteer Track: Angela Wareing
8. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of David Fortuin to the position of Lunch Monitor, at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning February 22, 2021 and ending February 22, 2022, at an hourly rate of $12.50, as recommended by the Superintendent.
9. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Christine Hunter to the position of Long-Term Substitute Encore Wellness Teacher, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective March 3, 2021, at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
10. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Adrian Orozeo to the position of Cafeteria Worker, at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning March 8, 2021 and ending March 8, 2022, at an hourly rate of $12.50, as recommended by the Superintendent
11. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Tatiana Johnson to the position of Long-Term Substitute Social Studies Teacher, at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, effective April 1, 2021, at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
12. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packet #6).
VIII. Business Items
13. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of January 2021, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
- Revenue Status Report
- Cash & Investments
- Appropriation Status Report
14. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of February 2021, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
15. Resolved that the Board approve the Payment for Unused Sick & Vacation Leave in the amount of $88,228.77 for Janelle Yanni, upon her retirement from the Watervliet City School District, effective February 28, 2021, per Article XIII of the Watervliet Administrators’ Association (WAA) Agreement, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
16. Resolved that the Board approve the Payment for Unused Sick Leave in the amount of $3,280.48 for Mary Grace Hoffman, upon her retirement from the Watervliet City School District, effective February 26, 2021, per Article X of the Watervliet Support Staff Association (WSSA) Agreement, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
17. Resolved that the Board approve and adopt the Memorandum of Understanding between the Watervliet Teachers Association and the Watervliet City School District, regarding the Letter of Intent to Retire and Unused Sick Days, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
18. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Data Privacy Agreement with Beneficent Technology, Inc., as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
19. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Data Privacy Agreement with Blooket LLC, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
20. Resolved that the Board approve and adopt the revised District-Level Safety Plan 2020-2021 for the Watervliet City School District, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
21. Resolved that the Board approve the following Standardization Resolution:
WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Watervliet City School District, pursuant to General Municipal Law Section 103(5), believes there is need for standardization for a particular type or kind of equipment, material or supplies based on reasons of efficiency and economy; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Education wishes to standardize a building management control system manufactured by Johnson Controls for the following reasons:
- The Watervliet City School District has an existing Johnson Controls FX (Facilities Explorer) building management control system that is installed and in operation at the District’s Junior/Senior High School and the District’s Elementary School;
- Any modifications, expansions, or upgrades to the District’s building control management system should be with, and maintained as, a Johnson Controls FX system to ensure a consistent and compatible building management control system throughout the District;
- Reliable and consistent performance of the building management control system is of a critical nature given the inherent health and safety requirement to immediately provide effective and efficient building management controls to a school building that may be occupied by students, staff, and visitors;
- The integration of a different manufacturer’s building management control system with the Johnson Controls building management control system already in place at the District would involve overcoming system-specific communication protocol hurdles that, even if they could be overcome, would lead to a more complex and costly system that would be prone to errors, have compromised functionality and would ineffectively deploy the building management control system;
- By standardizing the Johnson Controls FX building management control system, the District will maintain the benefit of a single communication protocol, which increases the systems efficiency and functionality, all at a lower cost of net ownership to the District; and
- District personnel also are trained and familiar with the existing Johnson Controls FX building management control system in place at the District. The use of a standardized product will facilitate training of staff and the transfer of staff between buildings within the District. In addition, common training on a single system will facilitate the use of in-District training of any newly hired buildings and grounds staff so as to minimize the cost of external training.
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED, that pursuant to General Municipal Law Section 103(5), the Watervliet City School District determines, based on the reasons set forth above, that for reasons of efficiency and economy there should be standardization on the type of building management control system used in the District to the Johnson Controls FX building management control system.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, that all future bid specifications which address District buildings and include a building management control system shall provide for the exclusive use of a Johnson Controls FX building management control system.
IX. Other Items
22. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held February 11, 2021, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
23. Resolved that the Board adopt the following policies, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment in the District
- Procurement: Uniform Grant Guidance for Federal Awards
- Administration of the Budget
- School Safety Plans
- Registration and Professional Development
- Employment of Retired Persons
24. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held February 11, February 23, February 24 and February 25, 2021, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
25. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meeting held February 10, 2021, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
26. 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: Todd Neuhaus
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher: Dennis Lane
Dates: Spring 2021 Semester - Name: Emily Moro
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher: Dennis Lane
Dates: Spring 2021 Semester - Name: Humaira Amin
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher: Rachel Thomas
Dates: Spring 2021 Semester
27. Resolved that the board approve and adopt the following resolution:
WHEREAS, on January 22, 2021, the Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that as part of New York State school’s reopening, school-sponsored high-risk winter sports may begin to practice and play effective February 1, 2021 pending approval of local county Departments of Health and,
WHEREAS, New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and Section 2, Colonial Council have issued revised guidelines for Return to Interscholastic Athletics for the 2020-21 season under certain circumstances including the creation of sport specific preparedness plans for each high-risk sport, obtaining informed consent from parents/guardians, medical clearance from the student-athletes’ healthcare provider, and approval by district Boards of Education for each high-risk sport; and
WHEREAS, the Public Health Department of Albany County identified community COVID-19 metrics that must be met in order for interscholastic high-risk sports to resume, including a rolling seven day positivity rate for COVID-19 under 4% within the county and hospital bed capacity in excess of 15% in the capital region,
WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Schools has been authorized to share the plan w/ the medical director for sport specific approval of each plan prior to high risk athletics resuming and to play if approved,
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education of the Watervliet City School District hereby authorizes the resumption of Varsity Football, Girls’ Varsity Soccer, Boys’ Varsity Soccer and Girls’ Varsity Volleyball.
1. The Board delegates to and authorizes the Superintendent to take any action she deems necessary and appropriate to ensure that such sports are implemented in a safe manner consistent with all guidelines (NYS, County, and Section). This includes the authority to temporarily suspend District participation in any of the above sports if the Superintendent deems such action necessary.
28. Resolved that the Board approve the attached 2021–2022 School District Calendar, as recommended by the Superintendent.
29. Resolved that the Board recognize and thank Chris and Samantha McCabe, on behalf of Team McCabe, for donating $500.00 worth of water and Gatorade to be provided to student athletes at the Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
30. Resolved that the Board recognize and thank Staples, for donating $3,680.00 worth of School Supplies and Hand Sanitizers to be given to students in the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.