EAST ROCKAWAY UNION FREE
East Rockaway,
Regular Meeting of the
Board of Education
7:30 P.M., September 21,
2010 – East Rockaway Jr./
Preceded by a Public
Forum
Present: Members of the Board of Education: Linda
Schmidt; Neil Schloth; Michaelene Abbott-Cooper; Patti Nicoletti; Kristin
Ochtera; Superintendent, Dr.
1. The meeting was called
to order by Linda Schmidt at 7:30 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by
Neil Schloth.
Upon
motion by Patti Nicoletti, seconded by Michaelene Abbott-Cooper the following
items
#2
& 3 were unanimously approved:
2. Approval of Minutes
–August 12, 2010
3. Approval of Minutes –
August 30, 2010
4. Acknowledged Receipt of
Financial Reports, December 2009 through June 2010
5. Correspondence – One
6. Action Agenda
A. Personnel
Upon
motion by Neil Schloth, seconded by Kristin Ochtera the following items #1-10 were
unanimously approved:
1. Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent, accept the following resignations:
a. Evelyn Wing, teaching
assistant, effective September 2, 2010
b. Christine Sausa, teacher
aide and substitute teacher, ALPSS, effective August 19, 2010
c. Vanessa Rivero, teacher aide and substitute teacher,
ALPSS, effective August 20, 2010
d. Karen Wansor-Polito,
Junior High Cross Country Coach, effective August 30, 2010
e. Dineen Cilluffo, food service worker, effective August 31,
2010
f.
Jennifer
Gentile, substitute teacher aide, effective September 6, 2010
2. Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent, approve the following teacher aide appointments, at the
hourly salary established by the East Rockaway Teacher Aides Association
contract for the 2010– 2011 school year:
a. Courtney DeMarco, Step
A, effective September 2, 2010
b. Erica Nadel, Step 2,
effective September 2, 2010
c. Jennifer Gentile, Step A,
effective September 7, 2010
d. Melissa Hawxhurst, Step A,
effective September 15, 2010
e. Linda Lindsley, Step 1,
effective September 7, 2010
3. Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent, approve the probationary appointment of Elisa Kerin to
the position of school media specialist (library), (tenure area: school media
specialist; certification status: Permanent),
effective September 1, 2010, through Au
4. Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent, approve the following part-time appointments for the
ALPSS program, effective September 7, 2010, through June 30, 2011, at the
hourly salary set forth by the East Rockaway Board of Education for the
2010-2011 school year.
Emanuela Alessandro........................... Science
Teacher
Anna Aviani......................................... Special
Education Teacher
Joseph DeMarco................................. English
Teacher
MaryBeth Palazzolo............................. Mathematics
Teacher
Alan Freeman...................................... Social
Studies Teacher
Marcello Baez..................................... Physical
Education Teacher
Dana Levenberg.................................. Physical
Education Teacher
........... ................................... and
Health Education Teacher
Malka Witt.......................................... Art
Teacher
Marisa Rascionato............................... Guidance
Counselor
Maureen Schutta................................. School
Social Worker
Megan Lynch...................................... School
Social Worker
Kathleen Hannan................................. Substitute
Teacher
Kathryn Klock.................................... Substitute
Teacher
Allison McKeon.................................. Substitute
Teacher
Anthony Weber................................... Substitute
Administrator-in-Charge
Christian Soto...................................... Substitute
Administrator-in-Charge
Frank Cuttita....................................... Substitute
Administrator-in-Charge
Eileen Weidman................................... Substitute
Administrator-in-Charge
Jeanne Abrami..................................... Teacher
Aide
John Denny......................................... Teacher
Aide/Substitute Teacher
Michael Lawson.................................. Monitor
5. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent,
approve the revised fall coaching assignments more fully set forth on the
attached 2010-2011 Coaching Schedule at the stipend salary set forth in the
East Rockaway Teachers Association contract for the 2010 – 2011 school
year.
6. Approve the club advisor
assignments for the 2010-2011 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.
7. Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent, approve the following part-time home tutor appointments,
effective September 7, 2010, through June 30, 2011, at the hourly salary set
forth in the East Rockaway Teachers Association contract for home instruction
for the 2010-2011 school year:
a. Kathleen Hannan
b. Eleanor Perri
c.
d. Anna Aviani
e. Joseph Whalen
8. Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent, rescind Personnel Item 8 from the Au
9. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent,
approve the following temporary assignments at the hourly salary approved by
the East Rockaway Board of Education:
None
10. 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
None
Upon
motion by Michaelene Abbott-Cooper, seconded by Kristin Ochtera the following item #11 was unanimously
approved:
11. Upon the recommendation of the
Superintendent, approve the appointment of Stennett McCarthy, to the position
of part-time bus driver, effective September 22, 2010, at the hourly salary
established by the East Rockaway Board of Education on the Non-Contractual
Salary Schedule for the 2010-2011 school year.
B. Other Items
Upon
motion by Michaelene Abbott-Cooper, seconded by Patti Nicoletti, the following items #1-19 were unanimously
approved:
1. Approve the employment agreement with
2. Approve the employment agreement with Robert
Guzowski as the Administrator in Charge for the ALPSS program, effective July
1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, and authorize the Superintendent to execute the
agreement on behalf of the East Rockaway Board of Education.
3. Approve the employment agreement with Anthony
Quercia as the Director of Facilities, effective July 1, 2010, through June 30,
2011, and authorize the Superintendent to execute the agreement on behalf of
the East Rockaway Board of Education.
4. Approve the Memorandum of Agreement with Mary
Volino as the Secretary to the Superintendent/Board of Education, effective
July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, and authorize the Superintendent to
execute the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of the East Rockaway Board of
Education.
5. Approve the following resolution:
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that upon the
recommendation of the District’s Director of Finance & Operations and the
District’s legal counsel, the Board of Education of the East Rockaway Union
Free School District approves the Settlement Agreement and Release resolving a
certain matter between and among the District, ECS Mechanical Contracting, Inc.
and Utica Mutual Insurance Company, relating to a construction contract, and be
it further RESOLVED that the Board authorizes the Board President to execute
said Settlement Agreement and Release on behalf of the District.
6. Approve the following resolution:
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the
7. Approve the revised
Non-Contractual Salary Schedule for the 2010-2011 school year.
8. Approve the terms and
conditions of the contract with RCP Consultants Inc. for professional
development workshops for the period September 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011,
and authorize the President of the Board of Education to execute the contract
on behalf of the Board of Education.
9. Approve the terms and
conditions of the contract with SEL Media for professional development
workshops, Emotional Literacy in the Classroom, Grades 3 – 5, on September 30,
2010, and authorize the President of the Board of Education to execute the
contract on behalf of the Board of Education.
10. Approve the terms and
conditions of the contract with Jacquelyn Nealson for the FAFSA (Financial Aid)
workshop to be held on November 8, 2010, and authorize the President of the
Board of Education to execute the contract on behalf of the Board of Education.
11. Approve the terms and
conditions of the contract with John Steve Kerge for the FAFSA (Financial Aid)
workshop to be held on January 5, 2011, and authorize the President of the
Board of Education to execute the contract on behalf of the Board of Education.
12. Approve the tuition
agreement with Levittown UFSD for career and technical programs education for
six (6) students for the 2010-2011 school year and authorize the President of
the Board of Education to execute the contract.
13. Approve the tuition
agreement with Hicksville UFSD for special education services for one (1)
student for the 2010-2011 school year and authorize the President of the Board
of Education to execute the contract.
14. Approve the admission of
Lynbrook UFSD Students I.D. Nos. 20220959 and 20220072 to attend the East
Rockaway Public Schools special education 2010 summer school program and
authorize the President of the Board of Education to execute the resulting
tuition agreement between the Board of Education of East Rockaway UFSD and the
Board of Education of Lynbrook UFSD.
15. Approve for purpose of disposal as obsolete
the textbooks specifically listed on the attached Textbook Removal Form.
16. Accept a donation from Astoria
Federal Savings & Loan Association of one (1) Acer 17” LCD Monitor and
Ienovo ThinkCentre CPU, Serial No. 0841A5US5AAXTG, computer to the Rhame Avenue
School as a result of student, Meagan Ochtera’s winning essay contest entry.
17. Approve the purchase of
the following textbooks:
McDougal Littell; Avancemos!,
18. Approve the admission of
Lynbrook Student I.D. No. 20137089
to attend the East Rockaway Public Schools for the 2010-2011 school year and
authorize the President of the Board of Education to execute the resulting
tuition agreement between the Board of Education of East Rockaway UFSD and the
Board of Education of Lynbrook UFSD.
19. Approve the admission of
Hewlett-Woodmere UFSD Students I.D. Nos. 14209, 16479, and 18028 to attend the
East Rockaway Public Schools for the 2010-2011 school year and authorize the President
of the Board of Education to execute the resulting tuition agreement between
the Board of Education of East Rockaway UFSD and the Board of Education of
Hewlett-Woodmere UFSD.
C. Budget Transfers
a. Upon the recommendation
of the Superintendent, the Board of Education approves the following budget
transfers: None
Upon motion by Kristin Ochtera, seconded by Neil
Schloth, the following items D&E were unanimously approved:
D. CSE Recommendations
E. CPSE Recommendations
7. Policy Matters: None
8. Superintendent’s Report.
Welcome back
everyone. Thank you for being with us
this evening.
First
I’d like to introduce our new staff who are here this evening.
Here’s
what’s happening in our schools.
I
am proud to report to you that Erin Eschbach, Chris Chiaffitelli and Cody
Hirashima were named AP Scholars by the College Board. You may have seen this in last week’s
Herald. Congratulations to each of them
on this accomplishment.
Cody also has another reason to be proud. Cody earned the highest composite score of 36
on the ACT® college admissions and placement exam. On average, less than one-tenth of one
percent of all test takers earns the top score!
To put this in perspective, 1.5 million 2009 graduates took the test and
of that number just 638 earned the top score.
Congratulations
also go out to Joe McGeary, one of our 7th grade students. Joe was selected as a Long Island Young
Scholar of Mathematics to participate in the Institute for Creative Problem
Solving for Gifted and Talented Students for the academic year 2010-2011. Excellent recognition for Joe!
Last
year, the Board of Regents made several changes to the 3-8 testing
program: The English language arts
assessment was moved from January to April and the mathematics assessment was
moved from March to May. As a result of
moving the assessments, the 3-8 tests contained a broader range of material. The State Education Department (SED) also
increased the score required to demonstrate proficiency (sometimes called the
“passing score”) which means students needed to answer more questions correctly
in order to be considered “proficient.”
For example, on the Grade 3 ELA exam administered in 2008-2009 a child
needed to answer 73% of the test correctly to achieve a passing score. For this past year, the 2009-2010
administration, a child needed to answer 88% of the test correctly to achieve a
passing score. In addition, the state
redefined Level 2 as meeting the basic standard. In the past it was defined as partially
meeting the learning standards.
Similarly they have redefined Level 3 as meeting the proficiency
standard, whereas in the past it was defined as meeting the learning
standard.
As
a result of these changes, fewer of our students, like other students in the
County and State, attained Levels 3 or 4 on the assessments for 2009-2010. As we compared our results to the County we
see that in English Language Arts, our students performed better than or equal
to the County average in Grades 4, 6, and 8 and not as well as the County
average in Grades 3, 5, and 7. In
mathematics, our students performed as well as or better in all elementary
grades (3, 4, 5 and 6) and not as well as the county average in Grades 7 and
8. These results will be analyzed
closely and addressed throughout the school year. Please know that your child’s individual
scores have not been sent to us from SED but as soon as they are we will send
them home.
Also
the 5th and 8th grade social studies assessments have
been discontinued by SED in an effort to save money.
Our
secondary science teachers continue to bring live science and nature into their
classrooms. Aside from science-related
posters in the classrooms, you could find living animals in most science
classroom. This includes two boa snakes,
a guinea pig, a tortoise, a variety of lizards (i.e. chameleon, gecko), fish,
and, of course, our Living Lab.
The
new course, Business Skills for the 21st Century, has begun the new
curriculum which will incorporate a culminating project that highlights our 9th
grade students’ technology skills.
The technology department teachers
will be implementing
new Lego robotics projects in the Electronics classes.
Two
Good for Drugs program will be instituted this year in grades K-6; 7th
grade health classes; 11th grade health classes. Mr. Vito, Mr.Rinn
and the district social workers attended training in June to deliver the
program.
Health
Smart Program: Grades 4-6 will be added to the program to cover K-6 health
curriculum in the elementary schools. Classroom teachers will deliver the
lessons during the school year.
In
an effort to meet the Physical Education mandate K-3, we will institute
“Activity Works” program beginning mid November after a training session is
held in each elementary school.
Annual
September 11th essay contest, sponsored by the Stern family, is
underway.
Thank
you to the Education Foundation for providing funds to each of our three
libraries to increase their collections.
Our
Varsity football team opened with a win over Floral Park and another against
CAPTA/PHYS
ED collaboration trying to win a $ 1,000.00 Grant from the National PTA to
provide pedometers for all students.
The
first meeting for this year’s musical, The Sound of Music”, will be held on Tuesday,
October 12th. Auditions will take
place during the last week of October.
The
senior chorus will be performing at next week’s Back-to-School Night. The chorus has also been invited to sing “
New
showcases to display student artwork were purchased and installed before school
began. We look forward to filling them
and admiring the work of our students.
Centre:
Art Classes are working on self-portraits, elements and principles of design.
Our
SEDL program continues to flourish. Mrs.
Singer will present a SEL overview to the elementary school teachers on
September 20 (RA) and on September 29 (CA).
Superintendent’s Conference Day
(September 30) will include the following training:
Grades
K-5- SEL training; Grades 6-8- SEL Refresher Workshop with Dr. Marc Brackett;
Grade 9- Service Learning Workshop with Cathy Berger Kaye.
Students are scheduled to attend the
Nassau BOCES Outdoor and Environmental Education/Teambuilding Program. 7th graders will go on September 23rd
and the 8th graders went on September 17th.
Another
out of classroom learning experience for SEL occurred on Wednesday, 9/15 when
our students from the Life Skills program participated in Surfers Healing in
Long Beach. This is a program for
students with autism and related disorders.
There was no cost to the district.
ER was able to participate in this program that has a long waiting list
due to the efforts of
Elementary
SEL words this month are: Motivation and
Pride.
You
may have noticed how fantastic our buildings look. Thank you to Mr. Quercia and his staff. In August the Board, along with Mr. Quercia
our Director of Facilities conducted its annual walk-through of the buildings
to make some notes for work to be accomplished this year. This week Mr. Quercia will work with the
architect to address the building condition survey that will be submitted to
the State Education Department for review.
You
may have noticed the new parking lot at
Our
maintenance staff installed 11 new Smart Boards this summer. There are more on the way. Many teachers attended Smart Board workshops
this past summer. Some teachers are also going to BOCES sponsored
workshops this fall/winter. We will
continue our efforts in staff development to assist the teachers in using this
technology.
We
received our recycling report and learned that ER Schools helped save 75 trees
with our recycled efforts last year from March through June. We recycled paper, plastics and cans and
cardboard. Total materials collected
were 5.85 tons. We will continue this
practice this year.
That
concludes my report.
One community member
asked what the difference in the cost of
transporting private schools
students last year and this year was.
Another community member
asked for clarification of the out of district students who are attending our schools.
Three community members
brought questions regarding testing, scoring of tests and changes.
There
was a discussion concerning our Guidance Department.
Kristin Ochtera – This was a
good conversation and thank you for bringing it up. When asking about test scores, college,
etc. you can bring it up to the PTA and there you will find out if there is an issue for the board. Thank you for the clarification as to where
the responsibility lies. There is
a chain of command. Thank you for bringing us your perspective and I hope the meetings continue to be populated
with parents who want to move
forward as a district so we can make East Rockaway the best it can be. Welcome
to the new teachers. I look forward to October.
Neil Schloth – I am looking forward to a positive
year with growth. We appreciate your input
of what needs to be fixed. If you have a problem with a School please talk to
the Teacher first. If that fails
go to the Principal next. After that, you could bring it to the Superintendent. and then to the Board of
Education.. If you use the Chain of Command there
is a better chance of resolving the problem in the proper manner.
As a
parent of a senior last year I can tell you that it is very important to get involved
with guidance as soon as possible. My wife and I did and our experience was great. You can’t wait till the last minute because there are so
many things to do. Apply to the colleges as soon as you can so if you have
problems they can be addressed
and corrected right away. It hurts
to know these things happen. Thank you for
coming.
Michaelene Abbott-Cooper – Thank
you for coming. Your comments are great. Your concerns
are greater. We will talk about it and get back to you.
Patricia Nicoletti – This was a
great meeting. You have brought up some very valid points. We are listening and striving forward together. Please come out next month and bring a friend.
Welcome to new staff.
Linda Schmidt – Thank you for
coming out. Thank you to the new staff. Welcome Patti and Kristin. Thank you Tony and the custodians for making
the building look great. If you get a
chance walk by the art room to see the cases that will be filled with the students’ artwork. See you next month.
11. Adjournment
Upon
motion by Michaelene Abbott-Cooper, seconded by Neil Schloth and unanimously passed, the meeting was adjourned at
9:05 pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
Denise
Lobascio
District
Clerk