RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION

WORKSESSION – FEBRUARY 3, 2003

 

The Worksession Meeting was called to order at 7:33 P.M. in the High School Cafeteria by President Willis with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  On roll call the following members were present:  Mrs. Ahmed, Mr. Casadonte, Mrs. Cevasco, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Gibney, Mrs. Monahan, and Mrs. Willis.  Mr. Brancato and Mr. Novosielski were absent for the entire meeting.  Mr. Brown and Miss Schneider were also present for the meeting.

 

Pres. Willis welcomed Miss Kari Schneider, Student Representative to the Board.

 

N.J. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW

The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advance notice of and to attend the meeting of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon.  In accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Rutherford Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time and place thereof posted on the bulletin board outside the Borough Clerk's Office, mailed to the News Leader, Herald, South Bergenite, and the Record newspapers, and filed with the Borough Clerk.

 

TAPING AND BROADCASTING OF MEETINGS

As approved by the Rutherford Board of Education, we are taping and broadcasting our worksessions and regular meetings.  These meetings will be broadcast without editing during a two-hour time segment on Tuesday evenings at 8:00 PM on the Comcast public access channel.  At the conclusion of the two-hour segment, the broadcast will end regardless of what part of the meeting is currently being viewed due to the Comcast time constraint.  Any member of the public who wishes to view the two-hour tape should make a written request to the Board Secretary who will have a copy of the tape made available within two weeks of the request.  There will be a nominal fee charged for this tape reproduction.  We welcome comments from residents viewing the broadcast.

 

SPECIAL PRESENTATION:  STUDENT ATHLETIC AWARDS – Presented by Mr. Hurley, H.S. Principal

 

SOCCER:

Meghan Murphy

Soccer  1st Team All-League

Soccer All-County Honorable Mention

 

Kathleen Ervelli

Soccer  1st Team All-League

Soccer All-County Honorable Mention

 

Katherine Freed

Soccer  1st Team All-League

Soccer All-County Honorable Mention

 

Danielle Viggiano

Soccer  All-League Honorable Mention

 

Isabel Mendez

Soccer  All-League Honorable Mention

 

Michelle Ventura

Soccer All-League Honorable Mention

 

Paolo Silva

Soccer 1st Team All-League

Soccer All-County Honorable Mention

 

Joseph Slavik

Soccer 1st Team All-League

Soccer All-County Honorable Mention

 

Steven Zaorski

Soccer 1st Team All-League

Soccer All-County Honorable Mention

 

Donald Kolich

Soccer All-League Honorable Mention

 

Christopher Schiro

Soccer All-League Honorable Mention

 

John Parnofiello

Soccer All-League Honorable Mention

 

Jenna Frattolillo

Soccer 2nd Team All-League

 

Amanda Jones

Soccer 2nd Team All-League

 

Kimberly Magee

Soccer 2nd Team All-League

 

David Valdivia

Soccer 2nd Team All-League

 

Matthew Cahill

Soccer 2nd Team All-League

 

TENNIS:

Kanchi Kacharia

Tennis All-League Honorable Mention

 

Ashley Gullo

Tennis All-League Honorable Mention

 

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY:

Caitlin Gearity

Girls Cross Country All-League Honorable Mention

 

Samantha Scannell

Girls Cross Country All-League Honorable Mention

 

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY:

Robert Bloor

Boys Cross Country 1st Team All-League

Boys Cross Country All-County Honorable Mention

 

Scott Harrison

Boys Cross Country 1st Team All-League

Boys Cross Country All-County Honorable Mention

 

Anthony Cavallaro

Boys Cross Country All-League Honorable Mention

 

Matthew Errico

Boys Cross Country All-League Honorable Mention

 

VOLLEYBALL:

Silva Skenderi

Volleyball 1st Team All-League

Volleyball All-County Honorable Mention

Kari Schneider

Volleyball 2nd Team All-League

 

Stephanie Van Dyk

Volleyball All-League Honorable Mention

 

Jessica Bumpass

Volleyball All-League Honorable Mention

 

FOOTBALL:

Steven Dunn

Football 1st Team All-League

Football 2nd Team All-County

Football 1st Team All-Area

 

Sean Ryan

Football 1st Team All-League

Football 2nd Team All-Area

Football 2nd Team All-County

 

Brian Murphy

Football 1st Team All-League

Football 1st Team All-County

Football 1st Team All-Area

 

Dennis Davis

Football 1st Team All-League

Football 3rd Team All-County

Football 1st Team All-Area

 

Victor Casanova

Football 1st Team All League

 

David Dyson

Football 1st Team All-League

Football 2nd Team All-Area

Football 1st Team All-County

 

Matthew Principe

Football 1st Team All-League

 

Sean Gardner

Football All-League Honorable Mention

 

Christopher Schule

Football All-League Honorable Mention

 

Joseph Donovan

Football 2nd Team All-League

 

Frank Viola

Football 2nd Team All-League

 

Bradley Marquart

Football 2nd Team All-League

 

Cory Dunn

Football 2nd Team All-League

The Board took a ten-minute recess, returning at 7:55 P.M.

 

INTERIM REPORT ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF DISTRICT GOALS – Presented by Pres. Willis

 

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT:

Ψ     Pres. Willis reminded the public of the February 24, 2003 deadline to file petitions for School Board Elections.

Ψ     Pres. Willis gave an update on the impact of the Encap project on the school facilities.

Ψ     Pres. Willis reminded senior citizens that help for filing forms for tax relief is being provided by Mr. Ferguson.

 

MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC  (Action Items Only)  8:02 P.M.

Union School PTA President lobbied against a full week off in February.

 

Mrs. Helen Schneider commented that she does not want school to start before Labor Day.

 

Mrs. Maureen Bigley asked when the last school day for students is this year.

 

Meeting was then closed to the public at 8:07 P.M.

 

NEW BUSINESS  (Action to be Taken)

MINUTES APPROVAL             1A.  Resolution by Mr. Casadonte, seconded by Mr. Ferguson.

                                                BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION that the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 13, 2003 be approved as recorded.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Mrs. Ahmed – aye

Mrs. Cevasco – aye

Mrs. Monahan – aye

Mr. Brancato – absent

Mr. Ferguson – aye

Mr. Novosielski – absent

Mr. Casadonte – aye

Mr. Gibney – aye

Mrs. Willis – aye

 

PERSONNEL:

EMERGENT HIRES                 1A. Resolution by Mrs. Ahmed, seconded by Mrs. Cevasco.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ the following applicant(s) under the emergent hiring law as per the State Department of Education:

 

                                                Marguerite Van Wowk – Substitute Teacher

                                                Paul Falstrom – Substitute Custodian

                                                Sandra Viggiano – Substitute Secretary

                                               

Roll Call Vote Personnel Item #1A:

Mrs. Ahmed – aye

Mrs. Cevasco – aye

Mrs. Monahan – aye

Mr. Brancato – absent

Mr. Ferguson – aye

Mr. Novosielski – absent

Mr. Casadonte – aye

Mr. Gibney – aye

Mrs. Willis – aye

 

 

FINANCE:

APPROVAL OF BILLS:            1A.  Resolution by Mr. Gibney, seconded by Mrs. Cevasco.

                                                BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION that the bills listed below be approved.

 

                                                Accounts Payable                2-4-03                           $512,087.86

                                                                                            1-29-03                               4,882.00

                                                                                                                                 $516,969.86

 

                                                Payroll                                  1-15-03                         $906,633.14

                                                                                            1-16-03                             10,727.30

                                                                                                                                 $917,360.44

                                                General Activities                 1-10-03                                  $35.00

                                                                                            1-13-03                                  457.15

                                                                                            1-15-03                                  825.00

                                                                                            1-16-03                               6,625.00

                                                                                            1-21-03                               6,637.51

                                                                                            1-22-03                                  361.45

                                                                                            1-24-03                               3,270.00

                                                                                            1-28-03                               4,000.00

                                                                                            1-28-03                                  210.26

                                                                                                                                   $22,421.37

 

                                                Total                                                                       $1,456,751.67

 

Roll Call Vote Finance Item #1A:

Mrs. Ahmed – aye

Mrs. Cevasco – aye

Mrs. Monahan – aye

Mr. Brancato – absent

Mr. Ferguson – aye

Mr. Novosielski – absent

Mr. Casadonte – aye

Mr. Gibney – aye

Mrs. Willis – aye

 

NEW BUSINESS:  (Action will not be taken)

Discussion:    Mrs. Cevasco presented the following resolution for placement on the February 10, 2003 agenda.

 

STATE MANDATE/STATE PAY RESOLUTION

 

                                                WHEREAS, unfounded mandates exacerbate New Jersey’s historic over-reliance on regressive property taxes as a source of funding for educational programs and services; and

 

                                                WHEREAS, unfounded mandates separate responsibility from accountability by allowing State level officers to take credit for addressing a real or perceived problem, without having to consider the solution’s cost; and

 

                                                WHEREAS, unfounded mandates force local officials to implement the State’s dictates, leading the public to hold local boards of education accountable for any tax increase necessitated by the mandate, as well as for the mandated solution’s effectiveness; and

 

                                                WHEREAS, New Jersey’s voters have approved a constitutional amendment limiting the imposition of future unfounded State mandates on school districts, municipalities, and counties; and

 

                                                WHEREAS, such limitations would help local boards contain future property tax increases and impose greater discipline on State government officials; and

 

                                                WHEREAS, the Rutherford Board of Education believes the State should not impose unfounded mandates upon local school boards, and that it should fully fund every mandate or seek its suspension or repeal;

 

                                                NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Rutherford Board of Education urges the Governor and Legislature not to enact any law, rule or regulation constituting an unfunded mandate upon local government, and directs that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Governor and all legislators representing the 36th district, and to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

 

PERSONNEL:

Chairperson Ahmed reported on Personnel items to be acted upon at the February 10, 2003 meeting.

 

PERSONNEL:                          Motion to move the following resignations, retirements, salary adjustments, reassignments, appointments, etc., pending approval from the State Department of Education, subject to the New Jersey Criminal Background Check and other legal requirements.

 

DR. ELLEN PLATT                   1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION for the Child Study Team to utilize the services of Dr. Ellen Platt to conduct psychiatric evaluations/consultations at a fee of $500 per consultation.

 

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS       2. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ the following as substitute teacher(s) effective 2/4/03 at the per diem rate of $70.00 and in accordance with law:

 

Marguerite Van Wowk

Meredith Lampmann

Richard Falcicchio

Adrian Dobre

 

HOME INSTRUCTOR               3. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Ms. Pamela Brillante as a home instructor effective 1/22/03 at the hourly rate of $25.00.

 

SUB CUSTODIAN                    4. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to raise the rate of pay for substitute custodians to $10.00 per hour effective 2/10/03.

 

SUB CUSTODIANS                  5. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to raise the rate of pay for the following substitute custodians to $10.00 per hour effective immediately:

 

Thomas Federick

Rene Garcia

 

PARENT EDUCATION              6. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to appoint

COORDINATOR                       Ms. Pamela Brillante the Parent Education Coordinator effective 2/1/03 through 6/30/03 at the annual stipend of $2,000 (pro-rated).

 

PAUL FALSTROM                    7. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Mr. Paul Falstrom as a substitute custodian effective January 29, 2003 at the hourly rate of $10.00.

 

LILIAN CABELLO                    8. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to grant, under the Family Leave Act, a disability leave to be followed by a child rearing leave, without pay, to Lilian Cabello from March 10, 2003 through May 30, 2003.

 

SANDRA VIGGIANO                9. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Ms. Sandra Viggiano as a substitute secretary effective 2/4/03 at the hourly rate of $8.50.

 

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION:

Mrs. Monahan reported on the meeting of the Curriculum Committee and items to be acted upon at the February 10, 2003 meeting.

 

OUT-OF-DISTRICT                   1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to PLACEMENT  approve the out-of-district placement of the following students (names on file in the                office of special services):

 

                                               Student #2000053 – Essex Valley     – effective 1/21/03 – Annual Tuition: $31,373

                                               Student #2000421 – ACES Program – effective 1/27/03 – Annual Tuition: $34,000

 

OVERNIGHT CLASS TRIP       2. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to permit Mrs. Judith Leonard to accompany 3 students to Cherry Hill, NJ for the FBLA State Competition from March 25, 2003 through March 26, 2003.

 

HOME INSTRUCTION              3. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve home instruction for the following students (names on file in the office of the superintendent):

 

                                                Student “J” – effective 1/9/03

                                                Student “K” – effective 1/11/03

 

CURRICULUM REVIEW CYCLE     4. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve the five-year Curriculum Review Cycle for the 2002-2003 school year through the 2006-2007 school year.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL IMMIGRANT       5. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to STUDENT AID    approve submission of the application for Title III Supplemental Immigrant Student         Aid for FY 2003 in the amount of $7,114.

 

DISCUSSION ITEM:                 SCHOOL CALENDAR OPTIONS

Discussion was held about upcoming calendars for the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 school years. Topics included starting each year on September 1st, February break, the timing of the Spring break, and the timing of the end of school in June, and consistency in planning. Consensus was reached on eliminating holidays between the start of school and Teacher's Convention in November.  This would move the Professional Workshop Day to the end of the year.

 

FINANCE:

DISCUSSION ITEM:                2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR BUDGET

General discussion took place about potential ways to control costs. Mr. Brown informed the Board that the state aid numbers would be released on Thursday, February 6th and that the tax impact would be presented at the next meeting.

 

POLICY:

Chairperson Cevasco reported on the meeting of the Policy Committee.

 

OLD BUSINESS: (No action to be Taken)

 

MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:  9:49 P.M.

Mrs. Schneider encouraged the Board to consider asking for some employee contribution toward health benefits in the ongoing negotiations with the REA..

 

Meeting was then closed to the public at 9:52 P.M.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:          Motion by Mrs. Cevasco, seconded by Mrs. Ahmed that an Executive Session be held at 9:52 P.M. for the purpose of discussing negotiations.  Action may or may not be taken.  The Board expects to return within five minutes.

 

                                               Approved.

 

The Board returned at 9:59 P.M.

 

ADJOURNMENT:                    Motion by Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr. Casadonte that the meeting be adjourned at 10:02 P.M.

 

                                               Approved.