BOARD OF EDUCATION
01/21/09
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of the Margaretville Central School District was held on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 in the Board Room.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Lee Austin, Barbara Funck, Robbie Martin and Randy Moore. ROLL CALL
MEMBERS ABSENT: Al Tanzer
OTHERS PRESENT: Tony Albanese (Superintendent), Karen Dietrich (Treasurer) and Teresa Goodchild (Clerk).
At 6:30PM, President Austin called the Regular Meeting to order. CALL TO ORDER
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Funck, seconded by Mr. Moore to move into Executive Session at 6:30PM to discuss the Superintendent's evaluation. Motion carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting resumed at 7:00PM.
From the Board, Mr. Austin wished Mr. Tanzer well, as he is sick and was in the hospital. All agreed. COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
From the Superintendent, Mr. Albanese updated the Board on the following: 1)thanked the Board for allowing him to attend and meet with other Superintendents at the NYSCOSS Conference; 2)updated the Board on the 2009-10 budget process and communications made with the community. A meeting was held with the faculty to inform them of the Governor's proposals and to move up the requisition date to 1/31 with a new electronic requisition process. The PTA is sponsoring a community forum on 2/12; 3)the web page is being updated by Mrs. Leaver and her media class; 4)special thanks to Lore Todd and Margaret Scudder for their unending energy and support in the cafeteria while Birgitte was on leave; 5)recognized Michelle and Kevin Beutel on the loss of their son and our student, Matthew; and 6)had a meeting with Joe Moskowitz utilizing Channel 10 to have information released to the community. COMMENTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
From the Public, Cassie Palen commented on the following: the Board Minutes on the web site need to be updated; status of anti-bullying (evening planned by PTA for 1/30); and whether the NHS violations have been corrected (Mr. Albanese indicated he would have Brigitte Nagle post the members names on the web site as a means of informing parents), COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Martin, seconded by Mrs. Funck to accept the Minutes of 12/17/08 as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Funck, seconded by Mr. Moore to approve the Treasurer's Report and the Activity Fund Report for December 2008 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. TREASURER'S REPORT
The Board audited the Warrants and the Internal Claims Auditor Reports for Warrant #18, 19, 20 and 21. WARRANTS
In communications, the Board received a copy of the letter sent to the VanSteenburgs congratulating them on their son being instated as an Eagle Scout. They also received a letter from Ralph Darmstadt offering himself and other volunteers to do some planting and weeding in the spring. Mr. Albanese said he would meet with Ralph and Mike Boice to develop a scope. COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Albanese gave a PowerPoint presentation on the 2009-10 state aid projections. He also made the presentation to the faculty and staff on Tuesday. He reinforced that students come first, and with challenging economic times, the times call for creative solutions and fiscal creativity. 2009-10 STATE AID PRESENTATION
IT WAS MOVED by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mrs. Funck to accept the resignation from Donna Ramos as Class of 2011 Co-Advisor as of 12/31/08. Motion carried unanimously. RESIGNATION CLASS Co-ADVISOR
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Martin, seconded by Mrs. Funck to appoint Ellen Hanley as the Class of 2011 Co-Advisor effective 1/1/09. Motion carried unanimously. APPOINTMENT CLASS Co-ADVISOR
IT WAS MOVED by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mrs. Martin to approve Mark Adamczyk and Janice Winner as Substitute Teachers for the 2008-09 school year. Motion carried unanimously. SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS Adamczyk & Winner
Karen Dietrich reviewed and answered questions regarding the quarter to date revenue and budget status reports with the Board. QTD REVENUE & BUDGET REPORTS
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Funck, seconded by Mr. Austin MERGER WITH ANDES
“RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Margaretville Central School District hereby approves the merger with Andes Central School District for Boys Modified Baseball, Girls Modified Softball, Varsity Baseball, and Varsity Softball Teams.” Motion carried unanimously. MODIFIED & VARSITY BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
IT WAS MOVED by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mrs. Funck to approve the CSE Recommendations as presented. Motion carried unanimously. CSE RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr. Albanese discussed the 2009-10 school calendar with the Board. He has given the faculty and staff four different options to look at, all calculating 186 days in the calendar due to inclement weather conditions. With Labor day on Monday, 9/7, 3 of the options have school starting before Labor Day. 1 of the options starts after Labor Day, but only has a four-day weekend for a February break. The Superintendents are also looking to move the Spring Break to the 3rd week in April rather than following Easter at the beginning of the month. 2009-10 SCHOOL CALENDAR
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Funck, seconded by Mr. Moore MTA
"This Memorandum of Agreement, between the Margaretville Teachers Association and the Margaretville Central School Board of Education, regards Article VIII, Requisitions and Supplies. Specifically, the Teachers Association agrees to alter one date in Section 4. The February 15th date, to complete forms, shall be changed to January 30th. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT 2008-09 Requisitions
The Board of Education agrees to provide three hours of time, during the January 12th Collaboration, in its entirety, be devoted to requisition preparation. In addition, the Board of Education shall provide technical assistance to those association members requesting it during this three hour period, and also on other mutually agreed upon times association members request such assistance.
This agreement is solely for the 2008-09 school year. This agreement does not suggest or imply a change of the contract in any other year or section. This Memorandum of Agreement does not set a precedent for either party."
Motion carried unanimously.
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Funck, seconded by Mrs. Martin to change the February Meeting date to Wednesday, February 25, 2009, with the Budget Workshop at 5:30PM and the Regular Meeting at 7:00PM. Motion carried unanimously. MEETING DATE CHANGE February 25,2009
The Senior Class submitted a request for transportation to the port in NYC for their spring break cruise. The Board deferred the item until the February Board Meeting. SENIOR CLASS TRANSPORTATION
A letter of decision was received from Commissioner Mills stating that the ONC BOCES would be maintained as is and a Superintendent be hired. ONC BOCES RULING
A discussion took place regarding the Tuition Policy. Mr. Albanese expressed that the Board could leave it as is, or offered the following considerations: 1. Shall MCS afford non-resident students of a MCS employee the opportunity to attend MCS tuition free? 2. Shall there be a need to set criteria with conditions for acceptance and continuation for non-resident student of a MCS employee? 3. Shall all other non-resident students be afforded the opportunity to attend MCS on a tuition basis set by the BOE or 4. Shall no non-resident student of MCS be afforded the opportunity to attend MCS unless the student is a non-resident student of a MCS employee? Mr. Albanese will put together a draft policy for the February Meeting for the Board to review. TUITION POLICY DISCUSSION
The Board discussed Policy Manual update options. Erie 1 BOCES can update for $4100/year for two years ($8200), which would be BOCES aided. NYSSBA can update for $4750/year for two years ($9500), which is not BOCES aided. It was decided that it would be money well spent, even with budget cuts and restraints. IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Martin, seconded by Mr. Moore to contract with the Erie 1 BOCES to update the MCS Policy Manual. Motion carried unanimously. POLICY MANUAL UPDATE Erie 1 BOCES
There will be a Hall of Fame Dinner held on Friday, February 20th at the Hidden Inn. Margaretville's retired Athletic Director, Ron Tweedie, will be one of the inductees. Reservation forms were provided to the Board Members. HALL OF FAME DINNER INFORMATION
Mike Boice is checking into utilizing solar energy for the building. SOLAR POWER
Linda Taylor recognized the excellent job done by Kari Politylo, a long-term substitute for the 1st semester of high school English. RECOGNITION OF LONG-TERM SUB
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Funck, seconded by Mr. Moore to move into Executive Session at 8:20PM to discuss personnel matters. Motion carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting resumed at 8:40PM.
IT WAS MOVED by Mrs. Martin, seconded by Mr. Moore to adjourn the meeting at 8:40PM. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT
Approved:____________________ Clerk:____________________________________