Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
May 7, 2024
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. Appointment of District Clerk Pro Tem
1. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Donald Stevens Jr. as District Clerk Pro-Tem for the purpose of taking the minutes of the meeting.
V. 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.
VI. Reports/Comments
Athletics Update Presentation Brian Ford
Cafeteria Program Presentation Kirsten DeMento & Darryl Whited
- Superintendent’s Report
- Student Council Report
- Committee Reports
- Audit Committee
- Policy Committee
VII. Meet the Candidates
VIII. 2024–2025 Budget Hearing
IX. Board of Education Discussion
X. Personnel Items
1. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Stephanie Maes from the position of Special Education Teacher at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective June 30, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.
2. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Jamie Binkley to the position of Cafeteria Supervisor for the Watervliet City School District, effective April 29, 2024, at a rate of $17.00 per hour plus $2.00 per hour supervisor stipend, as recommended by the Superintendent.
3. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Jamie Binkley to the position of EVOLVE Cooking Club Advisor at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective April 29, 2024, at a stipend of $100.00 per week, as recommended by the Superintendent.
4. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Michael Zitolo and Alexa Giardino as Co-Advisors of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for the 2023 – 2024 school year, effective May 7, 2024, at a split stipend of $1080.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
5. Resolved that the Board approve the following Summer Academy Program 2024 appointments at a salary as per contract:
Kindergarten: Michaeleen Backus (Level III)
1st Grade: Shannon Rodriguez (Level I)
2nd Grade: Adrienne Todd (Level III)
3rd Grade: Jennifer Hoefer/Rachel Manning (Level III/2)
4th Grade: Jeanne Lance (Level III)
5th Grade: Sarah Hulslander (Level III)
6th Grade: Beth Jones (Level II)
K-6 Co-Teach: Gina Smith (Level III)
7th Grade: Nikki LaBoissiere (Level III)
K-5 ENL: Angela Quinonez (Level I)
Music: AJ Kane (Level I)
Art: Caitlyn Santiago (Level I)
Travel Program: Lauryn Lloyd (Level III), Daniel Ciaramella (Level III)
Travel Program TA: Margaret (Peg) Angie & Kelsey Logan (per contract)
Elementary TA: Donna Belokopitsky, Robina Hussain, Angela Wareing, Karen Mahar, Jason Vasquez, York Bush (per contract)
School Counselor: Mia Rockwell (Level I)
Substitutes: Kaleigh Hill & Kim Tallmadge
6. Resolved that the Board approve the following Summer School 2024 appointments at a salary as per contract:
Grade 8/9 ELA: Dylan Kane (Level II)
9-12 Social Studies: Alison Callagan (Level I)
9-12 ELA: Tami Karbowski (Level III)
9-12 Math: Steve Keena (Level I)
6-12 ENL: Madeline Rehm (Level III)
7. Resolved that the Board approve the following Extended School Year (ESY) 2024 appointments at a salary as per contract:
Special Education Teacher(s): Denise Cusack, Mikayla Rosier, Courtney Unser, Jania Dockery, Dan Mueller
Speech Therapist: Cassandra Berman
Teaching Assistant(s): Meghan Wallas, Joanna Beams, Emma Buck, Kelly Gilchrist, Janice Sogoian, Rebecca Phillips
Bus Monitor: Kelly Gilchrist
Substitutes: Nicholas Rivera, Kaleigh Hill, Kim Tallmadge, Veronica Wilson, Laura Zasada
8. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of the following Coaches for the 2024– 2025 school year, pending fingerprint clearance and fulfillment of NYSED coaching requirements, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Coaching Fall:
Varsity Boys Soccer: Brian Ford
Modified Boys Soccer: Peter Mason
Varsity Girls Soccer: Nicholas Grolley
Varsity Girls Volleyball: Michele DeGuire
Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball: Thomas Hayes
Modified Girls Volleyball: Erica Legault
9. Resolved that the Board approve Additional Work Days during the summer for the following staff, at a rate per contract, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School:
David Olszewski – 21 days
Kate McAvoy – 20 days
Mia Rockwell – 10 days
Veronica Wilson – 6 days
Rosie Sharpe – 10 days
Watervliet Elementary School:
Kelly Bariteau – 6 days
Danielle Tetrault – 6 days
Geraldine Ferris – 10 days
District:
Danielle McKee – 5 days with Family Opportunity Center Grant
Madelyn Degler – 10 days with Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention (ExTRA) Grant
10. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packets #10, #14 and #15).
XI. Business Items
11. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of April 2024, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
12. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of March 2024, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
Revenue Status Report
Cash & Investments
Appropriation Status Report
13. Resolved that the Board approve the following payment requests, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET 2020 CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS
- AFSCO Fence Supply
Invoice # 23-29367-1
$14,500.00 - DLC Electric, LLC
Invoice # 78747
$3,164.00 - Ray Audio Video
Invoice # I-212579
$19,854.10 - Securitas Technology Corp.
Invoice # 6004082671
$4,338.54 - Trane US Inc.
Invoice #314488540
$5,714.00
WATERVLIET 2022 ARPA CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS
- DLC Electric, LLC
Payment Application #013
$232,199.00 - R.F. Gordon Mechanical
Payment Application #004
$2,850.00
14. Resolved that the Board approve the following bid results, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
$7,000,000 Bond Anticipation Notes – 2024 (Renewal)
Bidder Interest Rate
Jeffries LLC 3.6890%
Other Bidders
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. 3.7961%
Bank of Greene County 3.9900%
Pioneer Bank 4.0200%
TD Securities 4.0720%
15. Resolved that the Board approve the creation of the following course to be offered to students in Grade 12, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, who have completed English 9, English 10, English 11, passed the English Regents, and plan to attend college after graduation, beginning in the 2024 – 2025 school year, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- ENGL 101: Composition
16. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of the following Election Inspector to work May 21, 2024, for the School District Election and Budget vote, at the rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent:
Watervliet Elementary School: Patricia Fitzgerald
XII. Other Items
17. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meetings held April 9 and April 24, 2024, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
18. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held February 13, March 18, March 20, March 26, March 27, March 28, April 9, April 10, April 12, April 15, April 16, April 17, April 18, April 19, April 22, April 23, April 24, April 25 and April 26, 2024, submitted by Veronica Wilson, Rebecca Phillips and Daniele Tetrault, CSE Chairs, as recommended by the Superintendent.
19. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held April 17, April 18 and April 19, April 24, April 25 and April 26, 2024, submitted by Molly McGrath, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
20. Resolved that the Board approve the home schooling request of the parent/guardian of the following student, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Student ID 900014898 – grade 9
21. WHEREAS, Gordie Johnson served as Coach of the of Girls’ Varsity Basketball team for 17 years; and
WHEREAS, his overall record was 268-126, with seven Section II Class B/CC Championships, 2 Colonial Council League Championships and 2 NYS Class B Regional Championships; and
WHEREAS, Coach Johnson received 14 Coach of the Year Awards; and
WHEREAS, the naming of the team walkway to the gymnasium is an appropriate recognition,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Watervliet City School District Board of Education hereby names the team walkway to the gymnasium “Gordie Johnson Way”.
XIII. Executive Session
22. Recommend an executive session to discuss matters related to the removal of a particular person.