LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Transcription

1 LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEETING MINUTES Date: March 13, 2014 Time: Type of Meeting: Place: Members Present: 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting Cafeteria Christine Blumberg Christine Campeau Robert Keough Michael Nerney Paul Roalsvig Others Present: Mary Jo Dickerson-Superintendent, Victoria Snide-Clerk of the Board, Michael Farrell, Duane Finch, Camille Nerney, George Biffer, Jules Comeau, Wayne and Amy Gerhartz, Micaela Hall, John Gocke, Sally Long, Joseph Koehring, Pete Klein, Christine LaRocque, Jerome Flanagan, Robert Tice, Christine Meixner Call to Order: The President called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. Approved: On Motion by Paul Roalsvig, seconded by Michael Nerney, with all in favor, the revised agenda to: approve CSE Recommendations; discuss Faculty and Staff Survey, and to eliminate approval of the Grades 7/8 Boston Overnight Field Trip May 2-5. minutes of the February 13, 2014 budget meeting, February 13, 2014 regular meeting and February 20, 2014 special meeting. Ms. Blumberg commented that there was a technical error in the procedure in calling for Executive Session at the February 20, 2014 meeting however that error did not change the results voted on at the meeting. The next regular meeting is set for April 10, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. There will be a special meeting on April 29, 2014 at 7:30 a.m. in the Superintendent s Office to vote on the BOCES budget and board of education member. Ms. Blumberg read aloud the rules for Public Participation. Public Participation, Non Agenda Items: Christine LaRocque, on behalf of the Long Lake Public Library, thanked the school for busing students to and from a very successful after school library program, Puppet Boot Camp. Jerome Flanagan spoke regarding the usage of snow days. Camille Nerney spoke on the direction and leadership of Long Lake Central School.

2 Public Participation, Superintendent Update: Mary Dickerson would like all to look at the students You Tube video on the school website for the NY Lottery contest. Our driver education program has been approved through Sally Long will hold a PARP celebration on March 27, 2014 at 5 p.m. There is also a reading competition between faculty/staff and students. The school has a loaner bus, Scholastic Inc. Bus #112, until our new bus arrives in April. March 21, 2014 is Superintendent s Conference Day. Board members can join us for breakfast and/or lunch. Mary Dickerson recently met with Senator Hugh Farley and discussed the tax cap difficulties, the Gap Elimination Adjustment, our sharing with the Town and County, and funding for distance learning. Senator Farley stated he had lunch with Governor Cuomo and Long Lake CSD was mentioned and it was not in a positive manner. Michael Nerney commented that off and on over the years someone in Albany says we need to consolidate but that it is mostly political talk. The school needs to be careful how we discuss this to not discourage our teachers and young families. Bill Farber is working with schools, towns, and area representatives to discuss Hamilton County needs. Christine Blumberg mentioned the PTSO link to Amazon on the school website. Public Participation, Agenda Items: Joseph Koehring, High School French Teacher, presented his French curriculum via a power point presentation. Robert Tice and Micaela Hall also commented on the French program. Board Actions: the January, 2014 Treasurer s Reports. Warrants #16, 17 and 18, Budget Transfer Schedule #3, and Comprehensive Budget and Revenue Status Reports for the General and Lunch Funds were presented. The preliminary budget was presented. Currently the budget shows an increase of % with a levy increase of %. This budget would result in $25 more in school taxes on a $100,000 home. All Board members felt they cut a lot from the budget last year, and they already went over this budget line by line. Michael Nerney would like to advertise for a new school psychologist. Christine Blumberg asked board members to have their cuts prioritized in case the budget does not receive the 60% majority it needs to pass. General Discussion: Christine Blumberg reported that the BOCES Administrative Budget is increasing. Mary Dickerson reported on Committee Meetings. The Health, Safety Wellness Committee has rescheduled the social media assembly for Thursday, March 27, 2014.

3 The Shared Decision Making Committee will have a Mock DWI presentation on May 8, 2014 in collaboration with Indian Lake CSD and EMS and Fire Departments from Long Lake, Indian Lake and Raquette Lake. They have contacted Stewarts, PTSO, Lions Club and others to get true community involvement for Community Connections night on May 15, The PDP Committee discussed the March 21, 2014 Superintendent s Conference Day agenda. Mary Dickerson met with the True North Superintendents on February 26, They discussed the Minerva Cares website and were looking to do a board of education resolution regarding educational funding. All schools have similar problems with spring sports programs. Approved: On Motion by Paul Roalsvig, seconded by Robert Keough with all in favor Policy # 3120 School District Standards and Guidelines for Web Page Publishing, #5570 Financial Accountability, #5660 School Food Service Program (Lunch and Breakfast), #7660 Parent Involvement for Children with Disabilities, and #8450 Home Tutoring (Homebound Instruction). the School Calendar. Approved: On Motion by Paul Roalsvig, seconded by Michael Nerney, with all in favor the Section VII Sports Merger application for Approved: On Motion by Michael Nerney, seconded by Paul Roalsvig, with all in favor, May 27, 2014 and June 27, 2014 as snow days if not used before those dates. Approved: On Motion by Christine Campeau, seconded by Robert Keough, with all in favor, CSE Recommendations for student # and # The Board discussed the Linking Lakers newsletters. The budget newsletter needs to be adjusted to inform the voters about the budget without asking them to approve the budget. Michael Nerney asked what the wording Time to Move On meant in the prior newsletter. The Board reviewed the costs of the newsletter mailing and who should receive it. The Board chose to make that decision on an issue by issue basis with the budget newsletter being sent to everyone. A letter was received from John Hosley regarding an article in the previous newsletter on High Tax Reduction. Christine Blumberg read a letter received from Ruth Howe opposing retiree health insurance contributions. Christine Campeau read a letter in response. Christine Blumberg has written a letter regarding decreasing state aid and would like the Board to authorize her to sign it on behalf of the Board. Board members will review and get back to her. All board members should have copies of the board of education calendar. Approved: On Motion by Christine Campeau, seconded by Robert Keough, the following resolution regarding the Elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment:

4 Calling upon the New York State Legislature to immediately eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment Whereas: The NYS Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) was implemented in 2010 as a one time reduction in education aid to help NYS balance its budget and the GEA has continued in every budget since then; Whereas: The GEA since its inception has reduced state aid to the Long Lake Central School by $388,360; Whereas: This reduction in aid has resulted in a cost shift to the local property taxpayers in the Long Lake Central School District; and Whereas: This cost shift has resulted in unsustainable measures to balance the Long Lake Central School budget, including the reduction and elimination of school programs, personnel, and services, and the reduction of school district fund reserves; Whereas: Efforts by the Long Lake Central School District to sustain programs and services and contain budget are simultaneously constrained by Property Tax Levy Cap Legislation, unfunded and underfunded mandates, and increases in pension, health care costs; and mandated implementation of Common Core Learning Standards and teacher/principal performance reviews; and Whereas: Adequate State funding is constitutionally mandated and essential to meet all mandates and obligations and to maintain the quality of education in the Long Lake Central School; and Whereas: New York State, through its Gap Elimination Adjustment, has systematically reduced K-12 funding since ; and Whereas: New York State touts recent aid increases as generous support to schools, although overall, school districts are receiving less in State Aid than ; and Whereas: Some school districts even have had State Aid DECREASES; Resolved, That the Long Lake Central School Board of Education calls upon the New York State Legislature to immediately exempt State Aid for education from the calculation of the Gap Elimination Adjustment. Christine Campeau, Robert Keough and Paul Roalsvig approved the Resolution. Christine Blumberg and Michael Nerney opposed the Resolution. The Maintenance Committee is still reviewing recently received documents from Mosaic Architects on the window and electrical capital projects. Therefore there will not be a vote on any capital project at the May meeting but it will be considered for a later date. Nicole Curtin submitted the outline for a year long Environmental Science Course. Failed: On Motion by Michael Nerney, seconded by Christine Campeau, a web based survey for all faculty and staff to be taken anonymously and voluntarily with questions constructed

5 collectively by the board members. Christine Campeau and Michael Nerney voted for the survey. Christine Blumberg, Robert Keough and Paul Roalsvig opposed the Motion. A first policy reading of #5410 Purchasing: Competitive Bidding and Offering, #5411 Procurement of Goods and Services, and #5413 Alternative Formats for Instructional Materials took place. Minor corrections were made on Policy #5410 and # nd Public Participation: Jules Comeau spoke regarding the lack of Motions on Executive Session at the February 20, 2014 board meeting. Camille Nerney spoke regarding the newsletter and the direction and leadership at Long Lake Central School. Micaela Hall spoke in support of the web based survey. Christine LaRocque spoke regarding the library computer class, common core, sports participation for homeschooled students, bus transportation to events, retiree benefits and preschool. Motion to go into Executive session by Robert Keough, seconded by Christine Campeau, at 9:44 p.m. Items to be discussed: Employment History of a Particular Person. Christine Blumberg, Christine Campeau, Robert Keough and Paul Roalsvig approved the Motion. Michael Nerney opposed the Motion. Motion to come out of Executive session by Michael Nerney, seconded Christine Campeau, with all in favor at 10:47 p.m. Adjournment: On Motion by Michael Nerney, seconded by Robert Keough, with all in favor, the Board adjourned at 10:49 p.m. Clerk of the Board Victoria J. Snide