EAST ROCKAWAY UNION FREE
East Rockaway,
Regular Meeting of the
Board of Education
7:30 P.M., October 20,
2009 – East Rockaway Jr./
Preceded by a Salute to
the Board of Education and a Public Forum
Present: Members of the Board of Education: Marie
Girace,
Absent: Director of Finance and Operations, Concetta
Robinson
1. The meeting was called
to order by Marie Girace at 8:15 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by
Michaelene Abbott Cooper.
2. Upon motion by Linda
Schmidt, seconded by Vicki Alspector the minutes of the September 22, 2009
Board Meeting were unanimously approved.
3. Acknowledge Receipt of
Financial Reports – None
4. Correspondence – One
5. Action Agenda
A. Personnel
Upon motion by Neil Schloth, seconded by Michaelene Abbott-Cooper the following
items #1-14 were unanimously approved:
1. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, accept the resignation of Augustine Tornatore from his
position as social studies teacher, effective November 13, 2009.
2. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, accept
the resignation of Norma Capone from her position as part-time monitor,
effective September 12, 2009.
3. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, approve the part-time appointment of Kathryn E. Wagner
as mathematics teacher for the ALPSS program, effective September 29, 2009
through June 30, 2010, at the hourly salary set forth by the East Rockaway
Board of Education for the 2009 – 2010 school year.
4. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, accept the resignation of Laura Mistretta from the
position of food service worker, effective October 16, 2009.
5. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, accept the resignation of Christine Spadicini-Tiernan
from the position of substitute food service worker, effective October 16,
2009, and approve her appointment to the position of food service worker,
effective October 19, 2009, at the Step 1 hourly salary set forth in the East
Rockaway Food Service and Monitors Unit contract for food service workers for
the 2009-2010 school year.
6. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, approve, in accordance with the applicable New York
State Civil Service Law, the probationary appointment of Kathleen M. Keating
from the position of Clerk/Typist (12 months) to the promotional position of
Senior Clerk Typist (12 months), effective October 21, 2009, at the prorated Step
15 annual salary set forth in the East Rockaway Secretaries Association
Contract for the 2009-2010 school year.
7. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, approve the request of
8. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, approve the probationary appointment of Maureen Schutta
to the position of school social worker (tenure area: school social worker; certification status: provisional),
effective November 9, 2009 through November 8, 2012, at the prorated MA, Step 1
annual salary set forth in the East Rockaway Teachers Association Contract for
the 2009 – 2010 school year.
9. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, approve the appointment of Christine DelValle to the
position of part-time monitor, effective October 21, 2009, at the Step 1 hourly
salary set forth in the East Rockaway Food Service and Monitors Unit contract
for monitors for the 2009-2010 school year.
10. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, accept the resignation of Olga Caldarera from her
position as permanent substitute teacher, effective October 7, 2009, and approve
the appointment of Olga Caldarera, to the position of leave replacement special
education teacher, effective October 8, 2009 through June 30, 2010, at the
prorated MA, Step 2, annual salary set forth in the East Rockaway Teachers
Association contract for the 2009-2010 school year.
11. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, accept the resignation of Richard E. Woods from his position of part-time bus
driver, effective September 28, 2009.
12. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, approve the part-time appointment of Alex Bryer as social
studies teacher for the ALPSS program, effective October 21,, 2009 through June
30, 2010, at the hourly salary set forth by the East Rockaway Board of
Education for the 2009 – 2010 school year.
13. Upon
the recommendation of the superintendent, approve the following temporary
assignments at the hourly salary approved by the East Rockaway Board of
Education:
a. Vanessa Rivero,
substitute ESL teacher, effective September 17, 2009
b. Laura Mistretta,
substitute food service worker, effective October 19, 2009
c. Jennifer O’Brien,
substitute nurse, effective October 21, 2009
d. Courtney DeMarco,
substitute teacher aide, effective October 21, 2009
e. Gina Cestero, substitute
teacher, effective October 21, 2009
f.
Robert
Brockett, substitute cleaner, effective October 21, 2009
14. Upon
the recommendation of the superintendent, approve the continuation of the
“emergency, conditional” personnel appointments for the following individuals
pending receipt of notification of their fingerprint clearance from the State
of
a. Debra McGeary,
substitute teacher aide
b. Christina
Spadicini-Tiernan, substitute food service worker
c. Jennifer O’Brien,
substitute nurse
d. Christine DelValle,
part-time monitor
B.
Other Items
Upon motion by Vicki Alspector, seconded by Linda
Schmidt the following items #1-13 were unanimously approved:
1. Approve the club advisor
assignments for the 2009-– 2010 school year as more fully set forth on the
attached schedule of Club/Advisor assignments and authorize the president of
the Board of Education to execute the charters.
2. Approve the winter
sports 2009-2010 coaching assignments as more fully set forth on the attached
schedule.
3. Approve the Second
Amendment to the Employment Agreement dated March 20, 2007 between the Board of
Education and Roseanne C. Melucci, Ed.D. as the Superintendent of Schools and
authorize the President of the Board of Education to execute the Second
Amendment on behalf of the board.
4. Approve the Memorandum of Agreement with Mary
Volino as the Secretary to the Superintendent/Board of Education, effective
July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, and authorize the superintendent of schools
to execute the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of the East Rockaway Board of
Education.
5. Approve
the Amendment to the Employment Agreement dated January 20, 2009 between the
Board of Education and Concetta Robinson as the Director of Finance &
Operations and authorize the President of the Board of Education to execute the
Amendment on behalf of the board.
6. Approve
the termination of the services of Concetta Robinson as the Director of Finance
& Operations, as well as all other ancillary positions held by her,
effective November 19, 2009.
7.
Approve the
contract with Shari Berman for choreography and consultation services for the
period November 1, 2009 through February 7, 2010 and authorize the President of
the Board of Education to execute the contract.
8.
Approve the contract with Christina Lalama for pianist
accompaniment services for the period December 1, 2009 through December 10,
2009, and authorize the President of the Board of Education to execute the
contract.
9.
Approve the request for proposal and contract with
Caryl Oris, M.D. for psychiatric consultation services for the 2009-2010 school
year and authorize the Board President to execute the contract.
10. Approve
the donation of the Global Electric Motorcars, LLC (GEM), a Daimler Chrysler
Company, Vehicle Identification No. 5ASAG474X2F030330, 2 passenger/short bed,
to Nassau BOCES for its automotive educational program.
11. Approve
the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the East Rockaway UFSD hereby
accepts with gratitude a scholarship to be known as “The Timothy J. Motherway
Memorial Scholarship Fund.”
12. Approve
the agreement with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
(LICADD) as the employee assistance program provider for the period October 15,
2009 through October 14, 2010, and authorize the superintendent of schools to
execute the agreement.
13. Approve the license with MSG Varsity Network
LLC for the 2009-2010 school year and authorize the President of the Board of
Education to execute the contract.
C. Budget Transfers
a. Upon the recommendation
of the superintendent, the Board of Education approves the following budget transfers: NONE
Upon motion by Vicki Alspector, seconded by
Michaelene Abbott-Cooper the following items D & E were unanimously
approved:
D. Approval of CSE
Recommendations
E. Approval of CPSE
Recommendations
7. Policy Matters for
Review
1. Policy No. 004.81 Petty Cash / Petty Cash Accounts
2. Policy No. 004.81-R Petty Cash Accounts Regulations
8. Superintendent’s Report
Thank you to our Board
of Education. I have just had the
pleasure of spending three days with them this weekend at the annual school
boards association conference. We are
fortunate to have such a wonderful group of people who work well together and
truly care about the children of the community.
It is my pleasure to work with them.
Andrew Stern essays were completed and are now
in the judging phase. The Stern family
will announce the winners at the December board meeting. Elementary, middle and high school students
submitted heartfelt essays for the essay contest. The theme was bravery.
The cognitive abilities
test, aka, COGATS was completed in grade 3 at both elementary schools.
At the high school, from
the social studies department, on 10/16, 9th graders attended an
in-school assembly presented by Dr. Patch, Egyptologist, on Gods/Goddesses and
Architecture. From the English
department, middle school English students are learning, among other things,
the importance of word choice and development when writing responses. 9th graders are continuing their
study of the short story, with attention to the elements and style particular
to this genre. 10th graders
will soon complete a comparative analysis of Elie Wiesel’s Night and Hotel
Rwanda, which simultaneously improves their critical thinking skills and
prepares them for this year’s Global History Regents. Many 11th grade students, who are
currently studying the Puritan Era via The Crucible and The Scarlet
Letter, will attend this year’s trip to
News on outside of the
classroom learning includes a trip to Fox Studios for students in our video
production electives. A second trip for
students studying technology will be to the Apple store where students will
learn more about podcasting, image editing, video production and animation.
At
Grade 5 students became cartographers. They created 2-d and 3-d maps. The 3rd and 4th grade
students visited the 5th grade to ask questions that related to the
maps. This was a culminating activity to
the social studies project. Writing at
Grade 4 is reading Native American Legends in
preparation for the Pow-Wow.
October is Fire Safety Month and here are some
of the activities in our schools.
At
A new grade 6 report
card will be introduced this December using our new student management system
Infinite Campus. Also this year
elementary student photos will now be saved in the system electronically as
well as hard copy to student files.
ALPSS has a large
enrollment this year as compared to last and is off to a good start. There will
be a BOE presentation about ALPSS in January.
We have a new class for Students with Autism –
students are being integrated with their non-disabled peers and are doing well.
The new self-Contained class at CA is also
running smoothly – all new students have adjusted and are meeting with success.
Inclusion teachers in
all three buildings will be meeting with Dr. Gloria Wilson from
From our athletic department, the following is a
snapshot of wins and losses to this point of the season:
Boys Varsity Cross Country is having its best
year in many! Their record is 4-2.
Girls Varsity Cross Country is 1 – 5
Girls Varsity Volleyball 7-2 Headed for the
Girls JV Volleyball 2-2 This is a rebuilding
year!
Girls MS Soccer 2-0
Girls JV Soccer 5-2
Girls Varsity Soccer 2-4-2
Boys JV Soccer 2-5
Boys Varsity Soccer 3-4
Ms Football 0-1
JV Football 4-1
Varsity Football 4-2
Also, the National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse on the Web was introduced at Fall Tip Off
Night.
I am pleased to announce
that Kenny Anderson and Denise LoBelle were selected as Physical Education
Senior Award winners to be honored in December at a dinner.
Athletics at
In
the arts at Centre Avenue Grade 6 is using recycled materials to make
sculptures/ Gr.5 learning "1 point perspective"
(depth). In Art class, Kindergarten is
learning about Picasso. At Rhame the
strings program has begun full force with an enrollment of 19 new fourth
graders. The 6th and 5th graders have begun
rehearsals as well as their lessons.
Orchestra has just finished their first selection for the Holiday
Concert. The 6th graders have selected
their ensemble pieces and have begun work on them. Out of 15 students, 9 are new players. Also in the elementary school music program,
elementary band has implemented the use of Smart Music. Smart Music is a computer software program
that is used as a practice aid, both in class and at home. Students receive instant feedback from the
program and can send their efforts to Mr. Ceglio via email. Mr. Ceglio in turn
can comment and encourage the students through communications all-week
long. Smart Music has been used in the HS band program for the past two
years with great success and we are expecting similar results at the elementary
level.
Other fine arts news…
We’re off to see the Wizard” – The first meeting
for this year’s musical, The Wizard of Oz”, was held on Thursday, October 15th.
Approximately 100 students attended this meeting to receive instructions on the
audition process and to receive their audition packets. Auditions will take place during the first
week of November.
The SEDL component of
our program this month focuses on the following words: pride and motivation at
Mrs. Singer represented
our district by presenting a workshop at this year’s LIASCD (Long Island
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) conference which was
held on October 16th. The topic of her presentation was “CULTIVATING
OUR INNER RESOURCES - EMOTIONAL LITERACY FOR STUDENTS”.
Dr. Marc Brackett, the
Founder and President of Emotionally Intelligent Schools, will be at our
school on October 27th. He will be visiting classrooms and talking with
teachers about best SEL instructional practices.
Our
facilities department reports that there was a change in the location of the
handicapped spots at
The Technology
department is excited about the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of
Science and Technology) Lego Robotics Club which will be participating in the
Lego Robotics competition. FIRST LEGO League (FLL) introduces young
people, ages 9 to 14, to the fun and excitement of science and technology while
building self-confidence, knowledge and life skills. FLL challenges
students to think like scientists and engineers. Alongside adult mentors, FLL
teams solve problems using engineering concepts, presentation techniques and
robots. The team will build and program a LEGO robot to complete as many
missions as possible in a 2 minute time period. The missions are based on a
theme. This year the theme, called "Smart Move", is based on
Transportation. East Rockaway will have 10-15 middle school students
along with 3-4 HS students (who will act as mentors) participate in this year's
contest. The contest will take place sometime in January. This club replaces the 7th and 8th
grade activity club.
Our "It's
Academic" team advisor, Mary Orzano, is making plans for our team to
participate in an episode of Cablevision’s “LI Challenge” next month in NYC.
At
When the calendar went
to print in August we were not settled on the testing and scoring dates and
therefore did not list the half days for staff development. We have recently identified those days
as: January 13th for the HS,
May 3rd for the elementary schools and May 12 for all three
schools. This is now posted on the
calendar pages on our website.
Flu season is upon
us. We had several students absent from
a particular class yesterday. Parents
have been notified. Please monitor your
child’s health and visit your primary care physician if your child is showing
symptoms of the flu.
We have received many
calls from residents regarding their school taxes. Some people have come in with their tax bills
to have us review them. What we are
seeing is that the change in the assessed value of the homes and the star and
enhanced star changes in reductions are increasing school taxes by $100 and
$300. On top of this the Governor has
proposed to cut approximately $306,000 from East Rockaway midway this
year. I have written to our
representatives and I ask you to do the same to make sure this doesn’t
happen.
Last month many parents
came to the Board to talk about the request for no peanut butter in the all
purpose room. We continue to believe
that we must do what we can to reduce the risk of exposure for the students who
have a life threatening allergy. At the
same time we understand that sometimes this is your only option. Under those circumstances
That concludes my report.
9. Privilege
of the Floor
A
community member had called Mr. Fortgang’s office regarding individuals who
were handing
out
pro-life information to our school children.
Another
community member questioned why we have an 8th grade moving up
ceremony and the
time it
is held.
Another
community member showed her frustration with the increasing school taxes.
Mr.
Fortgang, on behalf of the administrators, thanked the board for all they do
for the district and
students.
10. Board Member Comments
Neil Schloth – Thank you
board member is a lot of work and this makes it worth it. At the
conference, I attended a class last
weekend on new technology and green technology and how we can get
involved in upgrading to
enhance learning. Thank you for coming.
Michaelene Abbott-Cooper – I
enjoyed working with the board this weekend. I have found that
all districts are working on the same
problems. Thank you Mrs. Veltre’s class, I look forward to
being
at your graduation twelve years from now. I will continue to fight for the
district. Parent
involvement
is very important. The Budget Advisory
Committee meeting is January 13, please
join
us. Thank you for coming.
Linda Schmidt – Thank you for
coming and staying for the business portion of our meeting. Thank
you
to the children and Mrs. Veltre. Being a board member is a big responsibility,
but when you see
the
faces of the children, it is all worth it. We attended conferences in
grow
as a school board. Thank you for coming.
Vicki Alspector – I have been on
a committee with county executives for three years and we meet
once
a month to talk about taxes. Long Island Districts receive as little as 6% of
what we pay in
state
income taxes whereas districts upstate get back as much as 1200% (or 12x) what
they pay as a
community. The rest of the state sees
with
our budget. We do a lot with teaching, technology, sports, and shared services
as cost savings
measured. East Rockaway is involved in more cooperatives than most
districts and started many of
them.
Thank you for coming.
Marie Girace – A part of the
conference was based on negotiations, long term financials and how
to be
fiscally conservative. For a small
district we do a lot with a little.
Politicians think we live
high
on the hog. The budget process is coming up and we will proceed in a
conservative manner.
We
have to answer to the parents and the taxpayers; those little kids are what it
is all about. One of
the
speakers asked about the children in the district and told us, “If the children
are doing well, then
you
are doing well”. Thank you
11.
Upon motion by
Neil Schloth, seconded by Michaelene Abbott-Cooper and unanimously
approved the meeting was adjourned at
9:27 pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
Denise
Lobascio
District
Clerk