MINUTES OF THE ORGANIZATION
MEETING
OF THE
RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION
APRIL 29, 2002
An
organization meeting of the Board of Education was held on Monday evening,
April 29, 2002 at the High School Cafeteria. Meeting was called to order by Ms. Louise B. Davis, Interim
School Business Administrator/Board Secretary at 7:30 P.M. with the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.
N.J. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS LAW
The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to
insure 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 & News, 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 at
the November, 2001 meeting, we are continuing a trial period of 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 ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION MEETING
The Board Secretary announced the results of the Annual
School election held on April 16, 2002, indicating that the successful
candidates were Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Ferrara, and Mr. Novosielski for three-year
terms. The Board Secretary also
announced that the question for General Fund had failed.
OATH OF
OFFICE 1. The School Business Administrator/Board
Secretary administered the oath of office to the newly elected Board Members
Lester Ferguson and Gary Novosielski.
ROLL
CALL:
On roll call the following members were present: Mrs. Ahmed, Mr. Brancato, Mrs. Cevasco,
Mr. Derner, Mr. Ferguson, Mrs. Monahan, Mr. Novosielski, Mrs. Willis. Mr. Ferrara was absent for the entire
meeting.
BOARD
PRESIDENT 2. Motion by Mr. Ferguson, seconded by Mr.
Derner, that Mrs. Willis be nominated for the office of President of the Board
of Education.
Roll call
vote for Mrs. Willis as President:
|
Mrs.
Ahmed Ð aye |
Mr.
Derner Ð aye |
Mrs.
Monahan Ð aye |
|
Mr.
Brancato Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferguson Ðaye |
Mr.
Novosielski Ð aye |
|
Mrs.
Cevasco Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferrara Ð absent |
Mrs.
Willis Ð aye |
The School Business Administrator/Board Secretary
turns the meeting over to the newly elected President.
BOARD
VICE PRESIDENT 3. Motion by Mr. Brancato, seconded by
Mrs. Monahan, that Mr. Derner be nominated as Vice President of the Rutherford
Board of Education.
Roll call
vote for Mr. Derner as Vice-President:
|
Mrs.
Ahmed Ð aye |
Mr.
Derner Ð aye |
Mrs.
Monahan Ð aye |
|
Mr.
Brancato Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferguson Ðaye |
Mr.
Novosielski Ð abstain |
|
Mrs.
Cevasco Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferrara Ð absemt |
Mrs.
Willis Ð aye |
Motion
by Mr. Derner, seconded by Mrs. Cevasco, to adopt Items #4-9.
APPOINTMENTS 4. Motion that the following person or
firm be appointed, to the position listed, through the 2003 Organization
Meeting:
Public Agency Compliance Officer --Mr.
Robert R. Brown, Jr.
Treasurer --Mr.
Edward Cortright
Medical Inspector --Dr.
David L. Isralowitz
Affirmative Action Officer --Mrs.
Hazel Ralph
Sec. 504 Coordinator --Mrs.
Judith DePasquale
--Mrs.
Joan DeLuise
--Mrs.
Marie Fletcher
--Mrs.
Beverly Walker
PROF. SVCS. 5. WHEREAS, Rodney T. Hara, Esq., of the
law firm of Fogarty & Hara have the
BOARD
ATTORNEY
expertise and experience to provide professional services to the Rutherford
Board of Education; and
WHEREAS,
Rodney T. Hara, Esq. has previously provided professional services to the
Rutherford Board of Education to its satisfaction;
BE
IT RESOLVED that the Rutherford Board of Education appoint Rodney T. Hara, of
the law firm of Fogarty & Hara at a rate of $135 per hour for a partner and
$115 per hour for an associate until the next reorganization meeting.
PROF.
RIGHT-TO-KNOW 6. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION to appoint
SERVICES Environmental
Remediation and Management, Inc. for Right-to-Know services for the 2002-03
school year pursuant to 18A:18A-37(a) at a rate of:
¤
Hazardous Chemical Audit and Survey $5,000
¤
Labeling Ð Top Five Ingredients $2,500
¤
Unknown Compounds Research $500
¤
Training (where applicable)
á
4-hour sessions $900
á
2 Hour Sessions
$450
á
(up to 25 individuals)
¤
Other (where applicable)
¤
Project Manager $60
per hour
¤
Technician $45
per hour
¤
Word Processor $20
per hour
¤
Shift Differential/weekends 1.5
x hourly rate
¤
Holidays (4 hour minimum) 2
x hourly rate
Cost for
missing MSDS will be $5.00 each, up to 400, with no charge for first ten
sheets.
SECRETARY
PRO‑TEM 7. BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE RUTHERFORD
BOARD OF EDUCATION that in the absence of the School Business
Administrator/Board Secretary, the Superintendent of Schools is appointed
Secretary pro‑tem, and in the absence of both the School Business
Administrator/Board Secretary and the Superintendent of Schools, the Vice
President of the Board of Education is appointed Secretary pro‑tem.
DEPOSITORIES 8. BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE RUTHERFORD
BOARD OF EDUCATION authorizes the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary
to invest excess funds in approved banking institutions, such institutions
being covered by the Governmental Unit Deposit Act.
Trust
Co. of N.J.
PNC
Bank, W. Paterson
Valley
National Bank, Harrison
Summit
Bank, Rutherford
Bank
of New York (National Community Div.), Ruth., NJ
Boiling
Springs Savings & Loan, Rutherford, N.J.
First
Union, Rutherford, N.J.
Fleet
Bank, Glen Rock
Bankers
Trust Co. (NJ Cash Management Fund) Trenton
Chase
Bank, Paramus
Class/MBIA
Great
Falls-Totowa
Kearny
Federal Savings Bank, Kearny
NJ ARM
MEETINGS 9.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION as follows:
l.
That the Regular monthly meetings of this Body shall be held on the
second Monday of each month, the Monday following the Annual School Election,
and the last Monday in June.
2.
That said Regular Meetings shall be held at the Rutherford High School
Cafeteria and shall commence at 7:30 P.M.; and that every Monday of each month
is reserved and scheduled to be Worksessions of the Board and shall be held in
the Rutherford High School Cafeteria at 7:30 P.M. unless otherwise notified,
cancelled, or deferred to start at a later hour. At each Worksession, action may be taken should the need
arise. The public section of the
meeting shall end by 11:00 PM, unless a majority of the Board members present
approve an extension of the meeting.
3.
That should there be any revision or revisions in said schedule within 7
days following said revision or revisions, notices thereof shall be posted and
mailed as herein provided.
4.
That within 7 days of the date of the annual Organization meeting of the
Body, or within 7 days of any revision or revisions in the schedule of Regular
meetings, there shall be posted and maintained throughout the year at the
office of the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary of this Body, the
schedule of all Regular meetings and any revision or revisions thereof. Said Notice or Notice of such meetings
shall also be mailed to the following newspapers: The Leader of Rutherford, The North Jersey Herald &
News, South Bergenite, and The Record.
The Record shall be the official newspaper of the District. Copies of said Notices shall also be
filed with the Municipal Clerk of the Borough of Rutherford.
5.
Special meetings of the Body may be held provided at least 48 hours
advance notice of said meetings setting forth the time, date, location, and to
the extent known, the agenda which notice shall state whether formal action may
or may not be taken. Said Notices
shall be posted at the location set forth in Paragraph 4 above and shall be
mailed to the newspapers set forth therein.
Agendas for all meetings shall be posted in the
places referred to in Paragraph 4 at least 48 hours in advance and shall be
forwarded to the newspapers set forth in Paragraph 4 in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3d, Ch.23l, P.L.
1975.
6. Anything
to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the affirmative vote of three fourths
(3/4) of the members present, an emergency meeting may be held without the 48
hour notice provided for in Paragraph 5 above, if:
(1) such meeting is required in order to deal with
matters of such urgency and importance that a delay for the purpose of
providing adequate notice would be likely to result in substantial harm to the
public interest; and (2) the
meeting is limited to discussion of and acting with respect to such matters of
urgency and importance; and (3) notice of such meeting is provided as soon as
possible following the calling of such meeting by posting written notice of the
same in the public place described in Paragraph 4 above, and also by notifying
the newspapers described in Paragraph 4 by telephone, telegram, or by
delivering a written notice of same to such newspapers; and
(4) either (a) this Body could not reasonably have
foreseen the need for such meeting at a time when adequate notice could have
been provided; or (b) although this body could reasonably have foreseen the
need for such meeting at a time when adequate notice could have been provided,
it nevertheless failed to do so.
At the commencement of each public meeting of this
Body, the person presiding shall announce publicly, and shall cause to be
entered in the Minutes of the meeting, an accurate statement to the effect:
a.
that adequate notice of the meeting has been provided, specifying the
time, place, and manner in which such notice was provided; or b. that adequate notice was not provided,
in which case such announcement shall state (l) the nature of the urgency and
importance referred to in Paragraph 6 above and the nature of the substantial
harm to the public interest likely to result from the delay in the holding of
the meeting; (2) that the meeting will be limited to discussion of and acting
with respect to such matters of urgency and importance; (3) the time, place,
and manner in which notice of the meeting was provided; and (4) either (a) that
the need for such meeting could not reasonably have been foreseen at a time
when adequate notice could have been provided, in which event, such
announcement shall specify the reason why such need could not reasonably have
been foreseen; or (b) that such need could reasonably have been foreseen at a
time when adequate notice could have been provided, but such notice was not
provided in which event the announcement shall specify the reason why adequate
notice was not provided.
7.
All meetings of this Body shall be open to the public except where this
Body proposes to discuss any or all of the items set forth in Section 7b of Ch.
231, P.L. 1975.
8.
Whenever it is proposed to discuss any matters covered in Section 7b of
Ch. 231, P.L. 1975, this body shall first adopt a Resolution setting forth the
general nature of the subject or subjects to be discussed, and the time when,
and the circumstances under which the discussion conducted in closed session
can be disclosed to the public.
9.
Minutes shall be kept of all public meetings of this Body which Minutes
shall show the time and place, the members present, the subjects considered,
the action taken and the votes of each member together with any other
information required to be shown in the Minutes by law. Copies of said Minutes shall be made
promptly available to the public provided, however, that nothing therein
contained shall be construed to require inclusion in said Minutes of
discussions which took place privately under the provisions of Section 7b of
Ch. 231, P.L. 1975.
Minutes of meetings other than regularly scheduled
or special meetings may, at the option of the School Business
Administrator/Board Secretary of this Board, be kept on tape or cassette and
need not be transcribed so long as they are made available to persons
interested in same, at mutually convenient times.
10.
Whenever any person desires that there be mailed to him or her copies of
any meetings, schedules or revisions thereof, such person shall be entitled to
receive such notices upon the payment of the sum of $1.00 per month. Any and all such requests shall
terminate at midnight on December 31st but shall be renewable upon a new
request made to the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary of this Body
accompanied by the payment of the sum hereinabove set forth.
11.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require the opening to the
public any gathering attended by less than an effective majority of the members
of this Body.
Rutherford Board of Education
Proposed Meeting Schedule
2002-2003
May 6 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
13 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
20 Worksession
- Policy 7:30
p.m.
June 3 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
10 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
24 Worksession/Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
July 8 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
15 Worksession
Ð Policy 7:30
p.m.
August 5 Worksession/Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
26 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
September 9 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
30 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
October 7 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
21 Worksession
Ð Policy 7:30
p.m.
November 4 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
11 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
December 2 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
9 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
January 6 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
13 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
February 3 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
10 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
March 3 Worksession 7:30
p.m.
10 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
24 Worksession/Budget
Hearing 7:30
p.m.
April 7 Regular
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
28 Reorganization
Meeting 7:30
p.m.
Roll call
vote Items #4-9:
|
Mrs.
Ahmed Ð aye |
Mr.
Derner Ð aye |
Mrs.
Monahan Ð aye |
|
Mr.
Brancato Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferguson Ðaye |
Mr.
Novosielski Ð aye, no #5 |
|
Mrs.
Cevasco Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferrara Ð absent |
Mrs.
Willis Ð aye |
Motion
by Mr. Derner, seconded by Mr. Brancato to adopt Items #10-19.
SCHOOL
DISTRICT 10. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the
WARRANTS following
officers' signatures be approved for school district warrants:
President
or Vice President
and
School
Business Administrator/Board Secretary or
Superintendent
of Schools and
Treasurer
PAYROLL
CHECKS 11. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the Treasurer, be designated to sign the Payroll Checks.
PAYROLL
AGCY CHECKS 12. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary or the
Superintendent of Schools and the Treasurer be authorized to sign the Payroll
Agency Checks.
CAFETERIA
CHECKS 13. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the Superintendent of Schools, the School Business
Administrator/Board Secretary or the Treasurer be authorized to sign the
Cafeteria Checks-such checks requiring two of the above three signatures.
PETTY CASH
CHECKS 14. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the Superintendent of Schools, the School Business
Administrator/Board Secretary or the Treasurer be authorized to sign the Petty
Cash Checks‑such checks requiring two of the above three signatures.
SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES 15. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the
CHECKS Superintendent
of Schools, the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary or the Treasurer
be authorized to sign the School Activities Checks, such checks requiring two
of the above three signatures.
UNEMPLOYMENT
COMP. 16. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the
ACCOUNT
CHECKS Superintendent
of Schools, the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary or the Treasurer
be authorized to sign the Unemployment Compensation Account Checks, such checks
requiring two of the above three signatures.
ATHLETIC
ACCOUNT 17.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION that the
CHECKS Athletic
Director and the High School Principal be authorized to sign the Athletic
Account Checks, such checks requiring two signatures.
IMPROVEMENT
AUTHORI‑ 18. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the
ZATION
CHECKS following
officers' signatures be authorized to sign the Improvement Authorization
Checks:
President
or Vice President
and
School
Business Administrator/Board Secretary or
Superintendent of Schools and
Treasurer
BUSINESS
CONDUCT 19. BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE RUTHERFORD
BOARD OF EDUCATION continues and conducts the business of the Board of
Education according to the appropriate statutes, administrative codes, rules,
regulations, and policies and procedures of the district, which are hereby
readopted.
Roll call
vote Items #10-19:
|
Mrs.
Ahmed Ð aye |
Mr.
Derner Ð aye |
Mrs.
Monahan Ð aye |
|
Mr.
Brancato Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferguson Ðaye |
Mr.
Novosielski Ð aye |
|
Mrs.
Cevasco Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferrara Ð absent |
Mrs.
Willis Ð aye |
BOARD
MEMBER 20. Resolution by Mr. Derner, seconded by
Mr. Novosielski.
CODE OF
ETHICS BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION that the Board of Education
adopt Board Member Code of Ethics, as adopted May 10, 1975 by the Delegate
Assembly, New Jersey School Boards Association, as follows:
(Pres. Willis stressed the importance of this code
and was read by the members for those present)
1. I
will uphold and enforce all laws, state board rules and regulations, and court
orders pertaining to schools.
Desired changes should be brought about only through legal and ethical
procedures.
2. I
will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will
seek to develop and maintain public schools which meet the individual needs of
all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing.
3. I
will confine my board action to policymaking, planning and appraisal, and I
will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those
who will be affected by them.
4. I
will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together
with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.
5. I
will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make
no personal promises nor take any private action which may compromise the
board.
6. I
will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or
partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the
gain of friends.
7. I
will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools, which, if
disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. But, in all other matters, I will
provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members,
interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its schools.
8. I
will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration
of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer.
9. I
will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their
duties.
10. I
will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on
such complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative
solution.
Roll call
vote Item #20:
|
Mrs.
Ahmed Ð aye |
Mr.
Derner Ð aye |
Mrs.
Monahan Ð aye |
|
Mr.
Brancato Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferguson Ðaye |
Mr.
Novosielski Ð aye |
|
Mrs.
Cevasco Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferrara Ð absent |
Mrs.
Willis Ð aye |
Motion by Mr. Derner, seconded
by Mrs. Ahmed to adopt Items #21-31.
OFFICIAL
ADDRESS 21. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the official address of the Board of Education be approved as
follows:
Rutherford
Board of Education
Rutherford
Borough Hall
176
Park Avenue
Rutherford,
New Jersey 07070
OFFICIAL
SEAL 22. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the official seal of the Board of Education be approved as
that which is in the possession of the School Business Administrator/Board
Secretary.
ADVERTISEMENTS/ 23. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that the
NEWSPAPERS School
Business Administrator/Board Secretary be authorized to advertise for Bids for
school supplies, equipment, and services as outlined in the statutes governing
local public contracts, and other legal advertisements in one of the following
newspapers which circulate in the school District:
The
Herald & News
The
Leader of Rutherford
The
Record
The
South Bergenite
The
Star Ledger
COOPERATIVE
PRICING 24. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that
PROGRAM authorization
be granted for participation in a cooperative pricing program with the County
of Bergen for the purchase of selected items needed for continued operation of
schools. (N.J.S. 40A:11‑11(5)
REP. TO 25. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION to
JOINTURE
COMMISSION appoint
Mrs. Leslie Conlon as the district's representative to the South Bergen
Jointure Commission from July 1, 2002 until the 2003 reorganization meeting.
N.J.S.I.A.A. 26. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that Rutherford High School be enrolled as a member of the
N.J.S.I.A.A. to participate in the approved interscholastic athletic programs
sponsored by the N.J.S.I.A.A. under Ch. 172, L1979 (NJSA 18A:11‑3, et
seq).
WORKERS
COMP. 27. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD
OF EDUCATION that authorization be granted for participation in the South
Bergen Region VII Workers Compensation Pool.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED to approve continuation with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.,
Inc., Agent, for the districtÕs liability insurance policies.
POLICIES 28.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve the existing
policies of the Rutherford Board of Education for the 2002-2003 school year.
TEXTBOOKS 29.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to approve the existing
elementary and high school textbooks for the 2002-2003 school year.
5-YEAR CURRICULUM 30.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION to
CYCLE approve
the 5-Year Curriculum Cycle for the Rutherford Public Schools for the 2002-2003
school year.
CURRICULUM 31.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BO-ARD OF EDUCATION to approve the existing
elementary and high school curriculum for the 2002-2003 school year.
Roll call
vote Items #21-31:
|
Mrs.
Ahmed Ð aye |
Mr.
Derner Ð aye |
Mrs.
Monahan Ð aye |
|
Mr.
Brancato Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferguson Ðaye |
Mr.
Novosielski Ð aye |
|
Mrs.
Cevasco Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferrara Ð absent |
Mrs.
Willis Ð aye |
SCHOOL
ELECTION HOURS 32. Resolution by Mrs. Cevasco, seconded by
Mr. Novosielski.
BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE RUTHERFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION that the hours of the Annual School Election and any
Special Election shall be between the hours of 7:00 AM until 9:00 PM in the
School District, at Union, Pierrepont, Sylvan, Lincoln, High School, and
Congregational Church.
Roll call
vote Item #32:
|
Mrs.
Ahmed Ð aye |
Mr.
Derner Ð aye |
Mrs.
Monahan Ð aye |
|
Mr.
Brancato Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferguson Ðaye |
Mr.
Novosielski Ð aye |
|
Mrs.
Cevasco Ð aye |
Mr.
Ferrara Ð absent |
Mrs.
Willis Ð aye |
ADJOURNMENT: Motion
by Mrs. Cevasco, seconded by Mr. Novosielski, that the meeting be adjourned at
7:50 P.M.
Approved.
Respectfully
submitted,
Louise
B. Davis
Interim
School Business Administrator/Board Secretary