WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

Reorganization Meeting

 

MINUTES OF April 23, 2007

 

The Washington Township Board of Education met on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. for their annual reorganization meeting.

 

Swearing in of new Board Members – Karen Graf, Sheila Dempski

 

The meeting was called to order by Juanita Dean, Board Secretary.  Mrs. Dean read the following statement:  The New Jersey Open Public Meeting Law was enacted to insure the right of the public to have advance notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon.  In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Washington Township Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be mailed on May 2, 2006 to The Star Gazette, The Express Times, and to the Clerk of Washington Township.

 

Flag Salute

 

Members in attendance were Sally Christine, Sheila Dempski, Bruce Hazeltine, Heidi Noctor, Anita Smith, Casimir Wyglendowski, Karen Graf.  The Superintendent, Principals and Board Secretary were present.

 

Results of the Election held on April 17, 2007 were as follows:

 

                        Sheila Dempski -  316                           

                        Karen Graf  -  307

           

            Vote for General Fund:

                       

                       Yes      -          248                               No        -          186       

                          

 

Board Secretary requested nominations for President.

 

Sally Christine nominated Karen Graf for President.  There were no other nominations.

 

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Heidi Noctor to elect Karen Graf as President.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Meeting turned over to Board President.

 

Nominations were opened for Vice-President.

 

Sally Christine nominated Anita Smith for Vice-President.  There were no other nominations.

           

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Casimir Wyglendowski to elect Anita Smith as Vice-President.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes –             Motion carried

 

 

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION: (agenda items)

(The public may speak for three (3) minutes unless they have requested to be on the agenda.)

           

Doug Smith asked questions on Motions # 9 and 11.

Minutes of April 23, 2007

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Anita Smith to appoint Juanita Dean as Board Secretary through June 30, 2008.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sheila Dempski, seconded by Anita Smith to appoint Linda Jenikovsky as acting Board Secretary in the absence of the Board Secretary for the 2007-2008 school year.  .  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Anita Smith, seconded by Sally Christine to approve the bid and quote threshold at the maximum allowed by N.J.S.A. 40A:11-3 (a) and 18A:18A-3(a) and appoint Juanita Dean, Business Administrator/Board Secretary as the Qualified purchasing Agent subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et. Seq. RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Board acknowledges receipt, review and evaluation of external peer/quality report of Ardito & Co., LLP - Mr. Douglas Williams, Auditor of Record.

 

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Bruce Hazeltine to designate Ardito & Company, LLP, Stroudsburg, PA, as auditing firm for the 2007-2008 school year and Douglas Williams, Auditor of Record.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Casimir Wyglendowski to appoint the firm of Lindabury, McCormick & Esterbrook to provide legal counsel to the Board for the 2007-2008 school year, and Anthony Sciarrillo, Attorney of Record, fee to be $150. per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Casimir Wyglendowski, seconded by Heidi Noctor to appoint Nathanya Simon to provide legal counsel to the Board for Special Education issues for the 2007-2008 school year, fee to be $165. per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent. RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Sheila Dempski to appoint Gianforcaro, Architects and

Engineers/Planners, as the districts Architect of Record for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

             Motion by Sheila Dempski, seconded by Anita Smith to appoint Dorothy Van Burik as Treasurer of School Monies for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Anita Smith , seconded by Sally Christine to appoint Charles Evans, III as school physician for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Bruce Hazeltine to appoint Keith Neuhs, Principal, as Affirmative Action Officer, Title 9 Compliance Officer, and Section 504 Compliance Officer for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Casimir Wyglendowski to appoint Juanita Dean, Business Administrator/Board Secretary as Title 9 Compliance Officer for contracts for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

Minutes of April 23, 2007

 

Motion by Casimir Wyglendowski, seconded by Heidi Noctor to appoint Keith Neuhs as Attendance

Officer for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Sheila Dempski to appoint Marjorie Levine as liaison for Homeless Children for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sheila Dempski, seconded by Anita Smith to appoint Juanita Dean, Business Administrator/Board Secretary as Custodian of School Records.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Anita Smith, seconded by Sally Christine to authorize the President and Vice-President as two officers authorized to sign checks and other corporate obligations of the Board.  Board President signature stamp to be used in accordance with Board Policy.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Bruce Hazeltine to establish a Petty Cash Fund in the amount of $250.00 for the 2007-2008 school year and that checks for the Petty Cash Account, reimbursed by the Board, and checks for the school Student Activity, Cafeteria Account, Port Colden School House fund, and JUCITF (SUI) Account be signed by the Superintendent and Board Secretary or the Acting Board Secretary in the absence of the Board Secretary.  Interest earned on Student Activity Account to be distributed proportionately to individual accounts. Superintendent signature stamp to be used in accordance with Board Policy.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Casimir Wyglendowski that checks for the regular checking account be signed by the President or alternate, the Treasurer, and the Board Secretary.  Board President and Treasurer signature stamp to be used in accordance with Board Policy.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Casimir Wyglendowski, seconded by Heidi Noctor that checks for the payroll and agency accounts be signed by the Treasurer of School Monies or Board President or Vice-President in the absence of the President.  Board President and Treasurer signature stamp to be used in accordance with Board Policy.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Sheila Dempski that Skylands Bank and PNC Bank be used as depository of school funds.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sheila Dempski, seconded by Anita Smith that the Board Secretary be authorized to invest school funds at the best interest rates available in any bank approved as a depository for public funds.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Anita Smith, seconded by Sally Christine to appoint Brown & Brown, as Insurance Agent of Record.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Bruce Hazeltine to designate The Express Times and/or The Star Ledger as official newspapers for notices pertaining to Board meetings and legal advertising.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

Minutes of April 23, 2007

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Casimir Wyglendowski to approve the following Tax Shelter Annuity Companies for the 2007-2008 school year.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

            Oppenheimer Shareholder Services                     Financial Resources

            Lincoln Investment Planning                                Legend Group

            Dean Witter Trust Company

 

 

 

Motion by Casimir Wyglendowski, seconded by Heidi Noctor to empower the Superintendent and Board Secretary to implement the budget pursuant to policies and regulations of the State Board and Washington Township Board of Education.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Sheila Dempski to authorize the Board Secretary to

pay bills prior to Board approval in the event of a board meeting held after the 15th of the month or to

            secure a discount if paid within a certain time period, as recommended by the Superintendent.  RCV:Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sheila Dempski, seconded by Anita Smith to designate the Superintendent to approve budget line item transfers between Board Meetings to be ratified by the Board at their next regular meeting as per       NJSA 18A:22-8.1.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

            Motion by Anita Smith, seconded by Sally Christine to approve purchases using the State Purchasing Contracts for the 2007-2008 school year as follows

 

                                                School Specialties         Cascade School Supplies                      

                                                Dell Computer                Stewart Industries

                                               

and any other vendor with a State Purchasing Contract.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Bruce Hazeltine to hold regular Board Meetings the 2nd Monday of the month unless otherwise stated.  Meetings to begin at 7:30 p.m. and to be held in the Brass Castle School.  RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Casimir Wyglendowski to adopt the following calendar of meetings for the 2007-2008 school year for the Washington Township Board of Education:

 

 

 

REGULAR MEETINGS FOR 2007-2008

 

                                                May                  14

                                                June                 11                             

                                                July                  16         (3rd Monday)        

                                                August              27         (4th Monday)

                                                September        17         (3rd Monday)  

                                                October             15         (3rd Monday)

                                                November          12        

Minutes of April 23, 2007

            

                                                December         10

                                                January             14

                                                February           11

                                                March               10

                                                April                    7        (1st Monday)

                                                April                  28         Re-organization   (4th Monday)                        RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

                    

Motion by Casimir Wyglendowski, seconded by Heidi Noctor to establish the agenda for the 2007-2008 school year as follows:

Call meeting to order, Minutes, Public Input (agenda items), Secretary's Report, Treasurer's Report, Status of Accounts Report, Funds, Bills List, Superintendent's Report, Update - Progress of Goals and Objectives, Correspondence, Committee Reports - Facilities & Transportation - Education - Personnel - Finance & Policy, Public Input (old and/or new business), Executive Session (when necessary), Open Session, Adjournment. 

RCV:  Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Sheila Dempski to:

            Confirm existing policies of the Board.

            Confirm that the 25th of the month be the cutoff date for receiving bills,

            Confirm that substitute teachers and other substitute staff be paid on the first payday of the

            month unless they are working on a continuous long term basis,

RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Sheila Dempski, seconded by Anita Smith to approve the adoption of the 2007-2008 curricula, services, programs, and series listed below and instructional materials that support these curricula and programs: RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

            CURRICULA: (Grades Kindergarten through six)

                                    Mathematics                             Art

                                    Reading                                    Music

                                    World Language

                                    Language Arts                           Technology    

                                                Spelling                         Physical Education

                                                Handwriting                   Health/Safety

                                                English                         Family Life

                                                Study Skills                   Speech Correction

                                                Library Skills                 Special Education

                                    Science                                                            Resource Centers

                                    Social Studies                                       Supplemental Instruction

                                    Gifted/Talented                                      Perceptually Impaired

                                                                                                Multiply Handicapped

                        PROGRAMS:

                                    Basic Skills Improvement            Disaffected Pupil Services

                                    Guidance and Counseling           Disruptive Pupil Services

                                    Character Education                   Developmental Reading Assessment-DRA

                                    Skills For Adolescence               Affirmative Action Services

                                    Skills For Growing                      Project Read/Project Write

                                    Bridges/Literature Based            Daily Oral Language

                                    Increasing Student Spelling Achievement

Minutes of April 23, 2007

 

SERIES:

                    Curricula Area        Textbook (s)                             Publisher                     Copyright

 

                        Health               Health (1-3)                               McGraw Hill                   1999

                                                Your Health (4&5)                      Harcourt Brace              2003

                                                Growing to Maturity                    Scott Foresman             1987

                                                Teen Health (6)                          Glencoe/McGraw Hill      2003

                                                Human Sexuality (6)                   Scott Foresman            1995

                                                Skills for Adolescence(6)            Lyons  Quest                 1992

                                                Skills for Growing (Kg-5) Lyons Quest                  1992

                        Mathematics     Trail Blazers (K-5)                      Kendall/Hunt (2nd Ed.)     2004

                                                Connected Math (6)                    Scott Foresman             2004

                                                Mastering Math Facts (1-4)         Otter Creek Inst.            2003    

                        Science                        Foss (Full Option Science          Delta Education /           2005

                                                             System)                          Lawrence Hall of

                                                                                                   Science

                        Social Studies   My World (1)                             McGraw Hill                   2001

                                                People Together (2)                    McGraw Hill                   1999

                                                Communities Around Us(3)         Silver Burdett                 1997                                                     New Jersey Adventure                Gibbs/Smith                  2000

                                                              (Gr.4)

                                                United States (5)                        MacMillian/                    1996

                                                                                                McGraw Hill

                                                World (6)                                   MacMillian/                    1996                                                                                                                             McGraw Hill

                        Language Arts/                                         

Reading            English (1-3)                             Houghton Mifflin             2001

                           English (4-6)                           Houghton Mifflin             1998

                                                             Spotlight on                  MacMillian/             

                                                             Literature (1-3)              McGraw Hill                   1997

                                                             Phonics (1)                   Pearson Learning/          1998 

                                                                                                            Modern Curriculum

                                                                                                    Press 

                                                DRA2(1-3)                                 Pearson Learning Grp.   2007

Write Source (6)            Houghton Mifflin             1999                                           Spelling (4-6)                             Spelling Connections      2000   

                                                                Spelling (4-6)             Zaner Bloser                  1997

                                                                Spelling (4)                Riverside                       1988

                                                                Spelling Connect.(2-3)Zaner Bloser                  2007    

                        Supplemental                           

                        Handwriting                   Handwriting (K-3)           Zaner Bloser                  2003

 

 

Board President appointed Sally Christine and Sheila Dempski, alternate, as Delegate to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

 

Board President appointed Karen Graf and Anita Smith, alternate, to the Warren County School Boards Association.

 

Board President appointed Heidi Noctor as Legislative delegate.

 

 

 

 

Minutes of April 23, 2007

 

 

SECRETARY'S REPORT:

 

Procedures regarding over expenditure of funds as required by N.J.A.C. 6:20-2.12.

Attached review of N.J. School Board Member Code of Ethics

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Heidi Noctor that the Washington Township Board of Education rescind the motion of March 12, 2007 and hereby establish the school district travel maximum for the 2007-2008 school year at the sum of $48,000. and the school Business Administrator shall track and record these costs to insure that the maximum amount is not exceeded, as recommended by the Superintendent.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Sheila Dempski to approve the Student Activity, Petty Cash, and Cafeteria Account Reports for the month ending March 31, 2007, as presented.  MV: Unanimous – Motion Carried

 

Motion by Sheila Dempski, seconded by Anita Smith to approve the Secretary’s Report for March 31, 2007 showing a cash balance of $2,666,118.42. MV: Unanimous – Motion Carried

 

Motion by Anita Smith, seconded by Sally Christine to approve the Treasurer's Report for March 31, 2007, showing a cash balance of $2,666,118.42, and note that the report is in agreement with the Secretary's Report for March 31, 2007.  MV: Unanimous – Motion Carried

 

Motion by Sally Christine, seconded by Bruce Hazeltine to certify that no line item account has encumbrances and expenditures, which in total exceed the line item appropriation in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11 (a) and no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(b).  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Casimir Wyglendowski to approve the Bills List for April 2007.  MV: Unanimous – Motion Carried

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

 

WCSBA – Nominations for Officers of WCSBA

Committee Preferences

                       

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

Finance & Policy Committee:

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Sheila Dempski to approve the attached transfers, as recommended by the Superintendent.  RCV: Christine, Dempski, Hazeltine, Noctor, Smith, Wyglendowski, Graf – All voting yes – Motion carried

 

PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION: (old and/or new business)       

(The public may speak for three (3) minutes unless they have requested to be on the agenda.)

 

None

Karen Graf complimented the Science Fair.

Anita Smith complimented the Project Read presentation.

 

 

Minutes of April 23, 2007

 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Casimir Wyglendowski, seconded by Heidi Noctor, Whereas, the Board must consider matters involving personnel, deliberation of such matters may be held in private under the Open Public Meeting Act, NJSA 10:4-6, the Board will adjourn to executive session to discuss the above mentioned matters, to the exclusion of all others.  If an action results, it will be taken following re-entry into regular session.

 

                                    Time:  8:10pm                MV: Unanimous – motion carried

 

Motion by Bruce Hazeltine, seconded by Heidi Noctor to return to open session.

 

                                    Time:  8:30 pm              MV:  Unanimous – motion carried

 

Discussion on school safety/security/parent notification issues in light of VA Tech.

 

Discussed capital projects – Brass Castle entrance, Port Colden electrical work, Port Colden entrance on hold for the moment.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Motion by Heidi Noctor, seconded by Anita Smith to adjourn.

 

Time:  8:40 p.m.   MV:  Unanimous – Motion carried

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

                                                                                    Juanita Dean

                                                                                    Business Administrator/Board Secretary