Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York 12189
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
January 14, 2025
6 p.m.
Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School
A G E N D A
I. Call to Order
President Mary Beth Whited
II. Attendance
Mary Beth Whited, President
Brian White, Vice President
Heather Soroka
Victoria Donnelly
Kyle Daniels
Superintendent Dr. Donald Stevens Jr.
III. Student Council Rep.
Owen Zawistowski
IV. Pledge of Allegiance
V. Public Comment
In accordance with Board Policy Number 1510, the privilege of speaking from the floor will be extended to any person in attendance. Persons desiring to speak shall be required to give their name and address and will be limited to three (3) minutes for their presentation. The time allowed each speaker may be adjusted by the chair. The speaker’s privilege may also be terminated by the chair if found to be out of order.
VI. Reports/Comments
2023-2024 NYS Testing Data Presentation (3-8 Assessment Data) Kelly Webster
Watervliet Elementary School Reading Horizons Presentation Ryan Groat
- Superintendent’s Report
- Student Council Report
- Committee Reports
- Audit Committee
- Policy Committee
VII. Board of Education Discussion
- March 11 @ 6:00 p.m. – State Budget Overview, Assembly Member John McDonald / Budget Presentation at BOE Meeting
- March 25 @ 6:00 p.m. – Community Budget Workshop in WJSHS Conference Room
- April 2 @ 6:00 p.m. – Budget Workshop at PTA Meeting
- April 8 @ 6:00 p.m. – Final Budget Presentation
- April 23 @ 6:00 p.m. – Special BOE Meeting for BOCES Budget Vote
- May 6 @ 6:00 p.m. – Budget Hearing
- May 20 @ 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Budget Vote and BOE Election
VIII. Personnel Items
1. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Bailey Durham from the position of Library Aide at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective January 8, 2025, as recommended by the Superintendent.
2. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Jeremy Brand from the positions of Building Substitute and Cooking Club Advisor at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective January 8, 2025, as recommended by the Superintendent.
3. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency transfer of Briana Mahoney from the position of Substitute Cafeteria Worker, to the position of Part-Time Cafeteria Worker, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective December 1, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.
4. Resolved that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of MaryAnn Veshia to the position of Teaching Assistant, in the tenure area of Teaching Assistant, at the Watervliet Elementary School, beginning January 2, 2025, at a Step 8 salary, plus verified Associate or Bachelor degree stipends, as per contract. The probationary period shall expire on January 2, 2028, contingent upon positive evaluations from his/her direct supervisor throughout his/her probationary period, consistent with the requirements of Education Law Sections 2509, 3012-c, and/or 3012-d. MaryAnn Veshia holds a Level III Teaching Assistant certification, (certificate #954730151).
5. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Davonte Jones to the position of Hall Monitor, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for a probationary period beginning January 2, 2025 and ending January 2, 2026, at a Step 1 Teacher Aide salary, per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.
6. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Ghulam Naveed to the position of Lunch Monitor at the Watervliet Elementary School, at a rate of $17.00/hour, for a probationary period beginning January 2, 2025 and ending on January 2, 2026, as recommended by the Superintendent.
7. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency provisional appointment of Katherine Negron to the position of Keyboard Specialist, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for a one-year probationary period beginning January 3, 2025, at a pro-rated yearly salary of $36,000.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
8. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Malcolm Singleton to the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner for the Watervliet City School District, at a rate of $17.00/hour, effective December 9, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.
9. Resolved that the Board appoint the following After-School Detention Monitors at the Watervliet Elementary School effective January 13, 2025 and continuing for the remainder of the 2024 – 2025 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Michele DeGuire
- MaryAnn Veshia
10. Resolved that the Board appoint the following Intramurals Supervisors at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School for the remainder of the 2024 – 2025 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Kelsey Logan
- Marc Fruscio
11. Resolved that the Board appoint the following Coaches for the 2024– 2025 school year, pending fingerprint clearance and fulfillment of NYSED coaching requirements, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Coaching Winter:
Volunteer Wrestling: Cameron Groncki
Volunteer Indoor Track & Field: Alana Carroll
12. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Ana Hartley to the position of Long-Term Substitute General Science Teacher – Grade 8, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective January 20, 2025, at a rate of $200.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
13. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Jessica Senecal to the position of Long-Term Substitute Elementary Teacher – Grade 2, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective March 21, 2025, at a rate of $200.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
14. Resolved that the Board approve the appointment of Hannah Brown to the position of Long-Term Substitute Elementary Teacher – Grade 2, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective March 21, 2025, at a rate of $200.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
15. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packet #8).
IX. Business Items
16. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of December 2024, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
17. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of November 2024, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
- Revenue Status Report
- Cash & Investments
- Appropriation Status Report
18. Resolved that the Board approve the Payment for Unused Vacation Leave in the amount of $6,230.16 for Bridan Sharpe, upon his resignation from the Watervliet City School District, effective November 29, 2024, per Article VIII of the Employee Benefits Document for Non-Aligned Employees, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
19. Resolved that the Board approve the Payment for Unused Sick Leave in the amount of $3,450.42 to Lisa Dubrule, upon her retirement from the Watervliet City School District, effective June 30, 2024, per Article X of the Watervliet Support Staff Association (WSSA) Agreement, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.
20. Resolved that the Board approve the Educational Services Agreement with Vanderheyden, for services provided to a student enrolled in the Vanderheyden program, effective January 2, 2025 – June 26, 2025, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
21. Resolved that the Board approve the attached Revised Employee Benefits Document for Cook Manager of the Watervliet City School District, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
X. Other Items
22. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held December 10, 2024, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
23. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held December 6, December 10, December 11, December 12, December 17, December 18, December 19 and December 20, 2024, submitted by Molly McGrath, Veronica Wilson, Rebecca Haws, and Danielle Tetrault, CSE Chairs, as recommended by the Superintendent.
24. Resolved that the Board approve the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held January 2 and January 3, 2025, submitted by Molly McGrath, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
25. Resolved that the Board approve the home-schooling requests of the parents/guardians of the following students, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Student ID 900010222 – grade 11
26. Resolved that the Board approve the following Student Observer/Volunteer requests at the Watervliet City School District, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name(s): Jessica Scensny
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Professional: Kelsey Logan, WJSHS
Dates: Spring Semester 2025 - Name(s): Kevin Walsh
Role: Student Observer
Cooperating Professional: Ryan Groat, WES & Jessie Williams, WJSHS
Dates: January – June 2025
27. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks, the $500 donation from the Price Chopper/Market 32 to the Watervliet City School District Food is Fuel Backpack Program, as recommended by the Superintendent.
28. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks the donation of Several Handmade Blankets from Marciella Forget, to be given to students in need, as recommended by the Superintendent.
29. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks the donation of Bus Cleaning and Restoration Services from Quick Response Restoration, Inc., as recommended by the Superintendent.
XI. Executive Session
1. Recommend an executive session to discuss matters related to:
- The employment history of a particular person.
XII. Adjournment
NOTE: All district appointments are subject to fingerprint clearance by the NYS Education Department and verification of Permanent or Pending Certification by NYS.