Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York
Board of Education
Date: August 9, 2018
Type of Meeting: Regular Meeting
Meeting Opened: 5:50 P.M.
Where: Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School
Board Members Present: President, Sheri Senecal, Vice President, Heather Soroka, Mary Beth Whited, Amanda Cavanaugh
Board Members Absent: Steven Hoffman
Superintendent: Dr. Lori S. Caplan
The meeting was opened at 5:50 P.M., with President Sheri Senecal officiating.
Appointment of District Clerk Pro Tem
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the approved the appointment of Dr. Lori S. Caplan as District Clerk Pro-Tem for the purpose of taking the minutes of the meeting.
Reconvene
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Amanda Cavanda and unanimously accepted, Executive Session was terminated; and the Board of Education returned to open session at 6:22 p.m.
Comments from the Floor
There were no comments from the floor.
Old Business
There was no old business to be discussed.
Board, Staff and Student Reports
There were no board, staff or student reports.
Items Requiring Board Action
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held July 2, 2018, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meeting held July 25, 2018, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the contract for Health & Welfare Services at the rate of $834.71 for one student who resides in the Watervliet City School District and attends a private and/or parochial school in the East Greenbush Central School District beginning September 2017 through June 2018 for a total cost of $834.71, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Final 2017 – 2018 AS-7 Contract with Capital Region BOCES, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Preliminary 2018 – 2019 AS-7 Contract with Capital Region BOCES, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the eligibility guidelines for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2018 – 2019 school year, submitted by Darryl Whited, Food Service Director, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Memorandum of Agreement with the Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP) – Head Start Program, for the New York State Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program, effective July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Intermunicipal Agreement with the South Colonie Central Schools, for July and August Education Services, effective July 1, 2018 August 31, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the School District Legal Counsel Agreement with Girvin and Ferlazzo, PC, for General Legal Counsel Services, effective July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Memorandum of Agreement with Whitney Young Health, for School Physician Services, effective July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Consulting Agreement with Needham Risk Management Resource Group, LLC, for Risk Management Services, effective July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the creation of a new Director of Educational Programs and Accountability administrative position, for the Watervliet City School District, effective August 1, 2018, aligned to the Watervliet Administrators’ Contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Kristyn Brozowski from the position of Elementary Teacher, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective August 11, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the provisional appointment of Deborah Grimmick to the position of Clerk Typist, in the Main Office at the Watervliet Elementary School, pending civil service examination results, for a one-year probationary period beginning July 23, 2018, at a pro-rated yearly salary of $23,500.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the provisional appointment of Emma Eames to the position of Clerk Typist, in the Assistant Principal’s Office at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, pending civil service examination results, for a one-year probationary period beginning August 13, 2018, at a pro-rated yearly salary of $21,000.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the probationary appointment of Briana DelBene to the position of English Language Arts Teacher, Grades 9-12, in the tenure area of English Language Arts, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning September 4, 2018, at a Step 5 salary, plus master’s degree and credit hours, as per contract. The probationary period shall expire on September 4, 2022, unless extended in accordance with the provisions of Section 2509(2)(b) of the Education Law.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of Meghan Mitchell to the position of Long-Term Substitute Spanish Teacher, Grades 7-9, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning September 4, 2018, at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the transfer of Maria Whited from the position of Cafeteria Supervisor to the position of Cafeteria Worker, effective July 1, 2018, at a rate per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the transfer of Christine DeMento from the position of Cafeteria Worker to the position of Cafeteria Supervisor, effective July 1, 2018, at a rate per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of Robina Hussein to the position of ESY Summer Program Teaching Assistant, effective July 23, 2018, at a rate per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following staff to the positions outlined below for the 2018 – 2019 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Computer Coordinator WES (0.5): Lauren Lloyd
- Extra Program WES Homework Help: Joelle Bird
- Extra Program WES Board and Games Club: Joelle Bird
- Extra Program WHS Fitness Club: Kate Choi
- Pivot Program Teacher (4 hours/week): Lisa Suders
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following staff at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School for the 2018 – 2019 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
Class Advisors:
- Class of 2020: Kate Choi (0.5) and Lyndsay Moore (0.5)
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the request for Sonya Daniels to serve as Student Teacher/Intern in Jennifer Hoefer’s class at the Watervliet Elementary School from September 4, 2018 through October 19, 2108, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the request for Cassie Belanger to serve as Student Teacher/Intern in Kate Diaco’s class at the Watervliet Elementary School from October 22, 2018 through December 7, 2109, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the revised Employment Benefit Document for Cafeteria Workers and Lunchroom Monitors, effective July 1, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Amanda Cavanaugh, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved and adopted the 2018 – 2021 Watervliet City School District Board of Education Goals, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved and adopted the District-Wide Code of Conduct, for the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board approved and adopted the Technology Plan, 2018 – 2021, for the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks, the donation of two couches from Robyn Scotland, to the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Mental Health Office, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the months of June 2018 and July 2018, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
New Business
There was no new business to be discussed.
Comments from the Floor
Dr. Caplan shared the following:
- Welcome to the district, Ms. DelBene.
- Officer Toleman will begin visiting WES on a regular basis.
- On August 12, Whitney Young Health Center will be hosting a press conference and holding a community advisory committee meeting.
- Thank you to everyone for their assistance in getting the Whitney Young Health Clinic up and running in the Watervliet City School District.
- On September 20th, I will be recognized at Whitney Young’s annual Legacy Fundraising event. I will be presented with the Community Partner Award.
Executive Session
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board the Board entered into executive session at 6:22 p.m. to discuss matters leading to the discipline of a particular person.
Adjournment
On a motion by Amanda Cavanaugh, seconded by Mary Beth Whited, and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned executive session and adjourned the meeting at 6:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bernadette L. Boardman
Clerk of the Board
All district appointments are subject to fingerprint clearance by the NYS Education Department and verification of Permanent or Pending Certification by NYS.