RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION

WORKSESSION Ð SEPTEMBER 30, 2002

 

The Worksession Meeting was called to order at 7:30 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. Brancato, Mrs. Cevasco, Mrs. Monahan, and Mrs. Willis.  Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Ferrara, and Mr. Novosielski were absent for the entire meeting.  Mrs. Conlon and Mr. Brown were also present for the meeting.

 

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.

 

RESULTS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 SPECIAL ELECTION

Yes:  2,184      No:  1,223        Percentage of Voters: 32%

 

SPECIAL PRESENTATION Ð FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT Ð CHAPIN ARCHITECTURAL

 

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT:

¯     Pres. Willis announced that the next meeting will be held on Monday, October 7, 2002 at 7:30 PM in the High School Cafeteria and thanked everyone who was involved with the passing of the referendum.

 

MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC  (Action Items Only)  7:58 P.M.  No comments made

 

NEW BUSINESS  (Action to be Taken)

 

MINUTES APPROVAL             1A.  Resolution by Mr. Brancato, seconded by Mrs. Ahmed.

                                                BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION that the minutes of the regular meeting of September 9, 2002 be approved as recorded.

 

Roll call vote:

Mrs. Ahmed Ð aye

 

Mrs. Monahan Ð aye

Mr. Brancato Ð aye

Mr. Ferguson Ðabsent

Mr. Novosielski Ð absent

Mrs. Cevasco Ð aye

Mr. Ferrara Ð absent

Mrs. Willis Ð aye

 

 

PERSONNEL

Motion by Mrs. Ahmed, seconded by Mrs. Cevasco to adopt Personnel Items #1A-4A.

EMERGENT HIRES                  1A. 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:

 

Coreen Clark - Custodian

Mary Murphy Ð Special Education Teacher

Lida Phatthanasombati Ð Substitute Teacher

Elizabeth Scherba Ð Substitute Teacher

Stefanie Kaup Ð Substitute Teacher

 

WILLIAM KLEIN                       2A. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Mr. William Klein as a substitute special education teacher at Union School effective 9/19/02 for six days at the per diem rate of $268.65.

 

MARY MURPHY                       3A. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Mrs. Mary Murphy as a special education teacher at the high school effective 10/1/02 through 6/30/03 at the annual salary of $37,701 (step 4, level 1 pro-rated).  This is a replacement for Ms. Petrasek.

 

COREEN CLARK                     4A. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Ms. Coreen Clark as a third shift custodian at Union School and the District Pool effective 10/1/02 through 6/30/03 at the annual salary of $28,990 (step 5 pro-rated) plus $2,319 (8% third shift differential pro-rated) when working the third shift.  This is a replacement position.

 

Roll call vote Personnel Items #1A-4A:

Mrs. Ahmed Ð aye

 

Mrs. Monahan Ð aye

Mr. Brancato Ð aye

Mr. Ferguson Ðabsent

Mr. Novosielski Ð absent

Mrs. Cevasco Ð aye

Mr. Ferrara Ð absent

Mrs. Willis Ð aye

 

Motion by Mrs. Ahmed, seconded by Mrs. Cevasco to approve Personnel Items #5A and 6A.

JOEL DE BARROS                  5A. Motion to accept the resignation of Mr. Joel DeBarros as special education teacher at Union School effective 9/20/02.

 

                                                Approved.

 

SUSAN STRUCK                      6A. Motion to accept the resignation of Ms. Susan Struck as a lunch monitor at Lincoln School effective 9/4/02.

 

                                                Approved.

 

Motion by Mrs. Ahmed, seconded by Mrs. Cevasco to adopt Personnel Item #7A.

CARMEN DE VITO                   7A.  BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to increase the hourly rate of Carmen DeVito, student worker in the computer department, from $7.00 per hour to $7.25 per hour, effective 9/1/02.

 

Roll call vote Personnel Item #7A:

Mrs. Ahmed Ð aye

 

Mrs. Monahan Ð aye

Mr. Brancato Ð aye

Mr. Ferguson Ðabsent

Mr. Novosielski Ð absent

Mrs. Cevasco Ð aye

Mr. Ferrara Ð absent

Mrs. Willis Ð aye

 

FINANCE:

Motion by Mr. Brancato, seconded by Mrs. Cevasco to adopt Finance Item #1A.

APPROVAL OF BILLS:            1A.  BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION that the bills listed below be approved.

 

                                                Accounts Payable                    Void Check #017193

                                                                                               (included in 6/25/02 bill list         -432.00

                                                                                               Void Check #017185

                                                                                               (included in 6/25/02 bill list)          -50.00

                                                                                               9/30/02                                644,205.00

                                                                                                                                         $643,723.00

 

                                                Offline Checks                         9/24/02 (Election Expenses)     $479.76

 

                                                Payroll                                7/12/02                                              80.00

                                                                                          9-13-02                                     892,186.77

                                                                                                                                         $892,266.77

                                                General Activities                     9-5-02                                         540.00

                                                                                               9-11-02                                         57.95

                                                                                               9-12-02                                    1,000.00

                                                                                               9-12-02                                    2,651.54

                                                                                               9-17-02                                       480.00

                                                                                               9-18-02                                       160.37

                                                                                               9-19-02                                       250.00

                                                                                               9-19-02                                       344.41

                                                                                               9-20-02                                       926.51

                                                                                               9-25-02                                    2,073.79

                                                                                                                                             $8,484.57

 

                                                Total                                                                               $1,544,954.10

 

Roll call vote Finance Item #1A:

Mrs. Ahmed Ð aye

 

Mrs. Monahan Ð aye

Mr. Brancato Ð aye

Mr. Ferguson Ðabsent

Mr. Novosielski Ð absent

Mrs. Cevasco Ð aye

Mr. Ferrara Ð absent

Mrs. Willis Ð aye

 

NEW BUSINESS:  (Action will not be taken)

PERSONNEL:

Chairperson Ahmed reported on Personnel items to be acted upon at the October 7, 2002 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.

 

SALARY ADJUSTMENTS         1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve the following salary adjustments effective 9/1/02 due to attaining additional graduate credits:

 

Joan Lord           From:  Step 16  Level 4  $75,821 (Incl. Long. 1 $900)

                           To:       Step 16  Level 5  $79,960 (Incl. Long 1  $900)

 

John DePalma    From:  Step 8   Level 4  $46,561

                            To:       Step 8   Level 5  $49,061

 

Carol Drewes      From:  Step 12  Level 1  $48,401

                            To:      Step 12  Level 2  $50,561

 

Amy Murphy        From:  Step 6, Level 1   $39,343

                           To:      Step 6, Level 2   $40,079

 

COACHING ASSIGNMENT      2. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to make the following changes to the coaching assignments for the 2002-2003 school year and at the noted annual stipends:

 

Rescind:

David Frazier as Head GirlsÕ Cross Country Coach

 

Appoint:

Kathryn Bertrand as Head GirlsÕ Cross Country Coach - $4,253

 

H.S. CO-CURRICULAR             3. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to make the following changes to the high school co-curricular assignments for the 2002-2003 school year and at the noted annual stipends:

 

Rescind:

William Mulcahy - Class Sponsor Ð Gr. 12

David Frazier Ð Intramurals

Kristen Karlicek Ð Weight Room Advisor

Donald Sommerkamp Ð Weight Room Advisor

 

Appoint:

Judith Leonard Ð Class Sponsor Ð Gr. 12 - $1,215

Kenneth Berk Ð Intramurals - $1,435

Toni Salvatore Ð Weight Room Advisor - $15.00 per hour

Margaret Nastasi Ð Advisor to Future Teachers of America Ð No Stipend

Sharon Waller Ð Public Relations Advisor Ð No Stipend

 

KIMBERLY BEGGS                 4. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Miss Kimberly Beggs as a home instructor effective 10/15/02 at the hourly rate of $25.00.

 

LEAH STEEN                           5. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to grant, under the Family Leave Act, a disability leave, with pay, to Mrs. Leah Steen from     1/11/03 through twenty (20) days following the birth of her child or until sick leave is exhausted (not to exceed 40 days, 20 before and 20 after), to be followed by a child rearing leave, without pay, through 6/30/03.

 

DIANE MOE                             6. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to increase the hours of Mrs. Diane Moe, BSI teacher, from 19 ½ hours to 22 hours per week. 

 

BEVERLY LALLY                    7. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Ms. Beverly Lally as a permanent lunch monitor at the WASAL schools effective 9/1/02 at the hourly rate of $8.25.

 

ELIZABETH JIMENEZ              8. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Ms. Elizabeth Jimenez as a substitute lunch monitor for the 2002-2003 school year at the hourly rate of $7.00.

 

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS       9. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ the following as substitute teacher(s) effective 10/1/02 at the per diem rate of $70.00 and in accordance with law:

 

Steven Delpome

Lida Phatthanasombati

Elizabeth Scherba

Stefanie Kaup

Gianna Caruso

Karen Kelly

 

GAIL KING                               10. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Mrs. Gail King as a teacher assistant at Union School effective immediately for 6.25 hours per day at the hourly rate of $12.50.

 

STEVEN DELPOME                 11. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to employ Mr. Steven Delpome as a substitute teacher assistant effective 10/1/02 at the hourly rate of $8.50.

 

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION:

Mrs. Monahan reported on Curriculum items to be acted upon at the October 7, 2002 meeting.

HOME INSTRUCTION              1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve home instruction for Student ÒDÓ (name on file in the office of the superintendent) effective 9/9/02.

 

OUT-OF-DISTRICT                   2. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve

PLACEMENT                           the following out-of-district placements of students (names on file in the office of special services) for the 2002-2003 school year at the annual tuitions listed:

 

                                                Student #2000062 Ð CP Center, Clifton      - $43,625.00

                                                Student #2002492 Ð SBJC, Maywood        - $28,896.00

                                                Student #2000103 Ð Barnstable Academy - $29,800.00

 

                                                To Rescind the Following Placements:

                                                Student #2000062 Ð Bleshman School

                                                Student #2000353 Ð Brownstone School (student will be staying in district)

 

BERGEN ACADEMY                3. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve the attendance at the ITT Academy in Teterboro of Student ÒEÓ (name on file in the office of the superintendent) grade 9 for the 2002-2003 school year.

 

OUT-OF-DISTRICT                   4. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to rescind

PLACEMENT                           the placement of Student #2000255 at the Palisades Learning Center.  The student has withdrawn from school.

 

POLICY:

Chairperson Cevasco reported on Policy items to be acted upon at the October 7, 2002 meeting.

 

POLICY BOOK                        1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve the following new/revised policies contained in the following sections of the new policy book on first reading:

 

3000                      Concepts and Roles in Business and Noninstructional Operations; Goals and                        Objectives

3100                      Budget Planning, Preparation and Adoption

3160                      Transfer of Funds Between Line Items/Amendments/Purchases Not Budgeted

3220                      State Funds; Federal Funds

3250                      Income From Fees, Fines, Charges

3260                      Sale and Disposal of Books, Equipment and Supplies:  Sale, Licensing and

                              Rental of Property

3280                      Gifts, Grants and Bequests

3320                      Purchasing Procedures

3326                      Payment for Goods and Services

3327                      Relations with Vendors

3400                      Accounts

3440                      Inventories

3450                      Money in School Buildings

3451                      Petty Cash Funds

3453                      School Activity Funds

3453.1                   Class Funds

3510                      Operation and Maintenance of Plant

3514                      Equipment

3510.1                   Key Policy

3515                      Smoking Prohibition

3516                      Safety

3541.1                   Transportation Routes and Services

3541.31                 Transportation by Private Vehicle

3541.3                   Non-School Use of District Vehicles

3541.33                 Transportation Safety

3542                      Food Service

3570                      District Records and Reports

3571.4                   Audit

 

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS:

 

OLD BUSINESS: (No action to be Taken)

 

MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:  8:18 P.M.

A parent asked a question about the string instrumental music program at Lincoln School.

 

Meeting was then closed to the public at 8:26 P.M.

 

INTERVIEW PROSPECTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

¯     Mr. Thom Casadonte

¯     Mr. John Gibney

¯     Mr. Joseph Wisniewski

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:          Motion by Mrs. Ahmed, seconded by Mr. Brancato that an Executive Session be held at 8:57 P.M. for the purpose of discussing Personnel and negotiations.  Action may or may not be taken.  The Board expects to return within 30 minutes.

 

                                               Approved.

 

The Board returned at 9:44 P.M.

 

ADJOURNMENT:                    Motion by Mrs. Monahan, seconded by Mrs. Ahmed that the meeting be adjourned at 9:44 P.M.

 

                                               Approved.