Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Date: February 4, 2020
Type of Meeting: Regular Meeting
Meeting Opened: 5:34 P.M.
Where: Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School
Board Members Present:
President Sheri Senecal
Vice President Heather Soroka
Mary Beth Whited
Steven Hoffman
Amanda Cavanaugh
Superintendent: Dr. Lori S. Caplan
Student Council: Miranda Luck
The meeting was opened at 5:34 P.M., with President Senecal officiating.
Executive Session
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board entered into executive session at 5:34 p.m. to discuss:
- matters related to the Superintendent’s contract.
Reconvene
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board reconvened at 6:44 p.m.
Public Comment
Christine Hosgood – 2 Early Drive, Apt. B, Watervliet, NY – Ms. Hosgood expressed her dismay about not allowing 7th/8th grade students to go to their lockers prior to lunch. Ms. Hosgood also noted that she feels that enforcement of rules is inconsistent. She suggested that each classroom have a central location where students put their cell phones at the beginning of class. Finally, Ms. Hosgood said that she heard students were not allowed to have drinks or water bottles in class until noon. She said her son is an athlete and he needs access to fluids.
Old Business
There was no old business to be discussed.
Administrative Reports/Presentations
- Class Rank Committee Update Presentation Ryan Groat
- Student Council Report
Miranda Luck shared the following: - The annual Watervliet has Heart drive to gather paper, toiletry and non-perishable products for our troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other countries overseas has begun. It will run through Valentines Day.
- A second “game afternoon” will be held Thursday, February 13 at 2:30 p.m. Students can come in and play board games prior to February break. Board Members are welcome.
- On Tuesday, February 11, Student Council will meet with Ms. DeMento and Mr. Whited regarding breakfast and lunch choices/selections.
- Student Council will be reaching out to the Democratic Presidential candidates to see if they can make an appearance at Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School prior to Primary Day on April 28.
- Students will once again be given the opportunity to register to vote during an upcoming social studies class. The date is yet to be determined, but information will be shared when it is set. As in the past, they will be working in collaboration with the League of Women Voters.
Board Discussion
Mrs. Senecal noted the following:
- The next Board meeting is March 12 at 6:00 p.m.
- Most of the Board members attended the Diversity Discussion. It was a great event.
- Check out the District’s web site for good news.
Items Requiring Board Action
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held January 9, 2020, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meeting held January 15, 2020, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held January 6, January 10, January 17, and January 21, 2020, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packet #11).
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of December, 2019, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
- Revenue Status Report
- Cash & Investments
- Appropriation Status Report
On a motion by Amanda Cavanaugh, seconded by Heather Soroka and accepted 4-0 (Steven Hoffman abstained), the Board approved the appointment of the following Election Inspectors to work February 4, 2020, for the School District Election and Budget vote, at the rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent:
Watervliet Elementary School: Judith Ethier, Maria Razzano, Tracey Maloney
Elks Club: Phyllis Carroll, Deborah Edwards, Elizabeth Sedgewick
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and accepted 4-0 (Steven Hoffman abstained), the Board approved the appointment Mark Gilchrist as District Election Machines Supervisor on February 4, 2020 at a pay rate of $300.00 per assignment, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the request to increase the hourly pay rate for Louise Strock by $.50, as she acts in the capacity of Lead Lunch Monitor, as outlined in the attached, effective January 13, 2020, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the request for Donald Stevens to take EDL 720: Leadership Learn Committees, EDL 736: School District Leadership Internship II and EDL 745: Intro. to Research Methods courses at Sage College beginning January 24, 2020, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the creation of a grand-funded 0.33 FTE McKinney Vento Liaison position for the Watervliet City School District, effective February 5, 2020 as outlined in the attached, at a rate of $20.00 per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the termination of Melanie Irvine from the position of Cafeteria Monitor, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective January 9, 2020, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Morgan Price from the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective January 21, 2020, as recommended by the Superintendent
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Monique Anastahas from the position of Teaching Assistant, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective January 31, 2020, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Crystal Preston from the position of Art Teacher at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective February 29, 2020, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency probationary appointment of Lisa Hoefer to the position of Lunch Monitor, at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning January 21, 2020 and ending January 21, 2021, at an hourly rate of $12.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency probationary appointment of Bonnie Sicko to the position of Lunch Monitor, at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning January 27, 2020 and ending January 27, 2021, at an hourly rate of $12.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the probationary appointment of Briden Sharpe to the position of Full-Time Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning February 6, 2020 and ending February 6, 2021, at an hourly rate of $15.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency probationary appointment of Michael McFarland to the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning January 23, 2020 and ending January 23, 2021, at an hourly rate of $11.80, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following Club/Class Advisors, effective January 13, 2020 through the remainder of the 2019 – 2020 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Lunch Detention Monitors: Michelle DeGuire and Amanda Gabrione
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Student Teacher/Observer requests at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name: Shane Wenz
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher: Peter Strand
Dates: January 21 – March 20, 2020 - Name: Rebecca Jones
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Teacher: Allison Novotarski
Dates: Spring 2020 Semester
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Student Teacher/Observer requests at the Watervliet Elementary School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name: Katherine Zyniecki
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher: Jeanne Lance
Dates :March 1 – May 31, 2020 - Name: Davina Gladney
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Teacher: Ena Minnick
Dates: February 1 – April 30, 2020
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the 2020 – 2021 School District Calendar, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the excision of obsolete/damaged textbooks, 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 from Rosa Hosp to the WIN (What I Need) Program, in memory of former WJSHS teacher Nancy Frate, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the months of December 2019 and January 2020, submitted by Roni O’Brien, as recommended by the Superintendent.
New Business
There was no new business to be discussed.
Administrators’ Comments
Mrs. Webster shared the following:
- Abigail Wright, 4th grader, went to the spelling bee. Although she did not win, we are extremely proud of her. She was interviewed by the Schenectady Gazette, and it will appear tomorrow.
- Cabin Fever Day was held on Friday. Empathy was the focus. The conversations and projects were both great.
- During the month of February, the Pennies for Patients fundraiser will be held to raise money for children with cancers. Last year, $2,700.00 was raised.
- Next Thursday, February 13, is the Valentine’s Day Dance
February 4, 2020
Ryan Groat shared the following:
- Report Card night is Thursday, February 13, 2020. Seniors created special invitations for their parents. Financial Aid night will coincide with this event. Students will have the opportunity to volunteer to assist with set-up, prep, serving food and clean up, as well as watching children while parents are attending.
- Seniors are excited, as they start receiving acceptance letters from colleges. Miranda Luck was recently interviewed by Harvard University. Rubab Raza was interviewed by Harvard in December.
Janelle Yanni noted the following:
- On Friday, WES will have presentations from a staff member of the Melodies Center. We have an elementary student who was diagnosed with Leukemia in May. She will be returning to school on Monday and these presentations are being held in conjunction with her return.
- Jumping Beans coffee service has been running successfully. Our third week will be coming up.
Dave Wareing shared the following:
- We are headed into sectionals.
- JJ Chestnut scored his 1,000th career point.
- Three wrestlers earned their 100th victory.
- Two track athletes are in the top 4-5 slots of their competitive world.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Caplan shared the following:
- The Comptroller assigned “No Designation” as the district’s Fiscal Stress score. In 2013, we were designated as the “Most Fiscally Stressed” district in New York State. He assigned a designation of “Susceptible” for an Environmental Stress score.
- On Friday, elected officials met with the BOCES Legislative Committee to discuss regionalization of schools. The white paper that was written was shared with the BOE.
- Regents will be doing graduation requirements roundtables across the state. They are focused on whether to eliminate State Regents exams. The next roundtable is in Albany. All are invited.
Mrs. Cavanaugh asked what the chances are of regionalizing schools.
Dr. Caplan noted that she has heard NYSUT is pushing back due to the fear of loss of jobs.
Mrs. Senecal asked what sports programs would look like under a regionalized school mode.
Dr. Caplan indicated that details would still need to be worked out.
Mr. Hoffman asked about the cost for transportation of homeless students. Where are they transported to and from?
Dr. Caplan noted that the district is responsible for transporting students within a 50 mile radius to their temporary housing arrangement.
Mr. Hoffman asked how many homeless students we have.
Dr. Caplan noted that we have several homeless students.
Mrs. Cavanaugh asked if there are any incentives or kickbacks for shared services.
Dr. Caplan responded that there are incentives, but it would have to be new, county-wide shared services.
Adjournment
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka, and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned the meeting at 7:32 p.m.
Reconvene
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh, and unanimously accepted, the Board reconvened the meeting at 8:39 p.m.
Receive
On a motion by Amanda Cavanaugh, seconded by Mary Beth Whited, and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the following results of the Capital Project Proposition:
WARD I AND MANNSVILLE – ELKS CLUB
YES = 48
NO = 23
WARDS II, III AND IV – WES
YES = 75
NO = 28
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
YES = 15
NO = 9
TOTAL
YES = 138
NO = 60
Adjournment
On a motion by Amanda Cavanaugh, seconded by Mary Beth Whited, and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned the meeting at 8:42p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bernadette L. Boardman
Clerk of the Board