Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York
Board of Education
Date: April 19, 2018
Type of meeting: Regular Meeting
Meeting Opened: 6:00 P.M.
Location: Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School
Board Members Present:
President, Sheri Senecal
Vice President, Heather Soroka
Jeffrey Shellenberger
Steven Hoffman
Board Members Absent: Mary Beth Whited
Superintendent: Dr. Lori S. Caplan
Student Council Rep.: Patrick Ethier
The meeting was opened at 6:02 P.M., with President Sheri Senecal officiating.
Comments from the Floor
There were no comments from the floor.
Old Business
There was no old business to be discussed.
District Recognition
Class C Coach of the Year, Wrestling: Dennis Lane
Varsity Wrestling Team
Board, Staff and Student Reports
Athletic Department Presentation Michael Foust
Budget Update Presentation Keith Heid
Second Reading of Revised Policies:
- Emergency School Closings
- Budget Planning and Development
- Budget Adoption
- District Investments
- Procurement of Goods and Services
- Reserve Funds
- Financial Accountability
- Facilities: Inspection, Operation and Maintenance
- Searches and Interrogations of Students
- Students with Life-Threatening Health Conditions
- Child Abuse and Maltreatment
- Children with Disabilities
- Students with Disabilities Participating in School District Programs
- Transition Services
- Title I Parent and Family Engagement
Items Requiring Board Action
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board adopted following policies, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Emergency School Closings
- Budget Planning and Development
- Budget Adoption
- District Investments
- Procurement of Goods and Services
- Reserve Funds
- Financial Accountability
- Facilities: Inspection, Operation and Maintenance
- Searches and Interrogations of Students
- Students with Life-Threatening Health Conditions
- Child Abuse and Maltreatment
- Children with Disabilities
- Students with Disabilities Participating in School District Programs
- Transition Services
- Title I Parent and Family Engagement
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Board of Education Minutes for the meetings held March 8, 2018 and April 12, 2018, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held February 26, February 27, February 28, March 1, March 5, March 6, March 7, March 12, March 15, March 16, March 20, March 21, March 22, March 26, March 27 and March 28, 2018, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meeting held March 21, 2018, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packets #22 through #25).
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of Bernadette Boardman, Danielle Jones and Roni O’Brien as Election Registrars for the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board designated Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School as the Registration location on April 11, 2018 and May 1, 2018 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following Election Inspectors to work May 15, 2018, 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, Betty Salerno
- Elks Club: Sandra Iannone, Joan Fitch
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and accepted 4-0, the Board approved the appointment of Mark Gilchrist as District Election Machines Supervisor on May 15, 2018 at a pay rate of $300.00 per assignment, as recommended by the Superintendent (abstained: Steven Hoffman).
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Treasurer’s Reports for the months of January 2018 and February 2018, 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 Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board adopted the tentative 2018 – 2019 school district budget in the amount of $27,411,000.00, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the 2018 Property Tax Report Card, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the termination of Elizabeth Melanson from the position of Cafeteria Worker at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective February 12, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the probationary appointment of Matthew Shannon to the position of Teaching Assistant, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning March 19, 2018, at a Step 1 salary, plus Associate or Bachelor degree stipends, as per contract. The probationary period shall expire on March 19, 2022.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the probationary appointment of Bridget Amancio to the position of Cafeteria Monitor, at the Watervliet Elementary School, for a probationary period beginning March 12, 2018 and ending March 12, 2019, at an hourly rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of Frank Mastroianni to the position of Long-Term Substitute Spanish Teacher, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for a period beginning March 21, 2018, at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of James Roth to the position of Home Tutor, for the Watervliet City School District, for a period effective April 20, 2018, at a rate of $25.00 per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following Coach for the 2017– 2018 school year, pending fingerprint clearance and fulfillment of NYSED coaching requirements, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET JR. – SR. HIGH SCHOOL
- Coaching Spring:
Modified Outdoor Track and Field: William “Tyler” Ronan
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of Kerry Degnan to the position of After School Peer Tutor, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning March 26, at the hourly contractual AIS rate, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and accepted 4-0, the Board approved the appointment the following Summer School 2018 appointments at a salary as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent (abstained: Steven Hoffman):
- Gina Smith, Elementary Self-Cont. Special Ed. Teacher, Grades K-2
- Caleb Gleason, Elementary Self-Cont. Special Ed. Teacher, Grades 3-4
- Daniel Mueller, Elementary Self-Cont. Special Ed. Teacher, Grades 5-6
- Kim Barkamian, Elementary Self-Cont. Special Ed. Teacher, Grades 7-8
- Kelly Gilchrist, Teaching Assistant, Grades K-2 & Bus Monitor
- Janice Sogoian, Teaching Assistant, Grades K-2
- Debbie Grimmick, Teaching Assistant, Grades 3-4
- Jessica Wilson, Teaching Assistant, Grades 3-4
- Katrina Davis, Teaching Assistant, Grades 5-6
- Marie Schlosser, Teaching Assistant, Grades 5-6
- Grace Hoffman, Teaching Assistant, Grades 7-8
- Karen Maher, Teaching Assistant, Grades 7-8
- Jennifer Donovan, Speech Therapist, 2 days per week
- Beth Lipson, Social Worker, 3 days per week
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board awarded the status of tenure to Michaeleen Backus, in the area of Reading, effective September, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Jeffrey Shellenberger and unanimously accepted, the Board awarded the status of tenure to Kelly Bariteau, in the area of School Counseling and Guidance, effective September, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board awarded the status of tenure to Amanda Ciampi, in the area of Special Education, Birth – 6, effective September, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board awarded the status of tenure to Jessica Desmond, in the area of Elementary Education, effective September, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the home schooling request of Michele Merwitz for her child, Gabe Gibson, Grade 7, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of $500.00 from the Stewarts Shops Holiday Match Program, to the Watervliet City School District UPK Program, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the excision and donation/sale of eight access points, submitted by Kirsten DeMento, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the excision and disposal of one broken table, bar code number 500307, submitted by Donald Stevens, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the attached Revised 2018-19 School Calendar, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of March 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:
- Congratulations to the elementary teachers receiving tenure this evening.
- The Legislative Committee at BOCES will begin going to the capitol every month. Next week she will be going to visit senators and representatives.
- On April 25, she and Anita Murphy will be doing a presentation on poverty to Phi Delta Kappa.
- The BOCES Budget Vote and Election is on April 25 at 7:15 a.m.
- Congratulations to the wrestling team. They have displayed great sportsmanship.
- Congratulations to Dennis Lane on earning the title “Coach of the Year” for the fourth time.
Patrick Ethier noted that the following:
- Thank you to Dr. Caplan and the administration for allowing the students to hold a rally in support of Parkland.
- Next week, the Student Council will be holding a voter registration drive in conjunction with social studies classes and after school.
- The National Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held on May 10 at 7:00 p.m. Twenty-five students are eligible for induction. They will be notified by May 1, 2018.
Ryan Groat noted that Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School has been selected to be the host school next year for P-Tech. WJSHS will also be a participating school. There will be a meeting in the auditorium on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. Sixty students have expressed an interest in this great opportunity. The program begins this summer.
Discussion: Mr. Hoffman asked how students can apply.
Mr. Groat noted that there is an online application. The principal of the program and select staff will form a committee and go through the selection process.
Kelly Webster shared the following:
- 184 students were recognized for making honor and high honor roll.
- Congratulations to teachers who received tenure tonight. They truly earned it.
Mr. Shellenberger noted that he participated in a dodgeball tournament at WES. He had a great time. It was very competitive and his team was eliminated first. He is looking forward to the event next year.
Adjournment
On a motion by Jeffrey Shellenberger, seconded by Steven Hoffman, and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bernadette L. Boardman
Clerk of the Board
NOTE: All district appointments are subject to fingerprint clearance by the NYS Education Department and verification of Permanent or Pending Certification by NYS.