Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Date: May 7, 2024
Type of Meeting: Regular Meeting
Meeting Opened: 5:59 p.m.
Where: Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School
Board Members Present:
President Sheri Senecal
Vice President Mary Beth Whited
Heather Soroka
Brian White
Victoria Donnelly
Superintendent: Dr. Donald Stevens Jr.
The meeting opened at 5:59 p.m., with President Senecal officiating.
Appointment of District Clerk Pro Tem
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board appointed Dr. Donald Stevens Jr. as District Clerk Pro-Tem for the purpose of taking the minutes of the meeting.
Public Comment
Jen Bisner, 1400 3rd Avenue, Watervliet – expressed concerns about student and staff safety in both buildings, the use of cell phones at WJSHS, and communication protocol when a shelter-in-place, hold-in-place, lockdown, etc. occurs. She stated that she does not believe students are being held accountable for their actions and they are “out of control.” She stated that she wants to know when it will get better and offered to help in any way.
Kyle Daniels, 1108 24th Street, Watervliet – stated that he is running for school board because of the things Mrs. Bisner mentioned and he wants to get the high school back to the way it was when he went to school here.
Presentations/Reports/Comments
- Athletics Update Presentation Brian Ford
- Cafeteria Program Presentation Kirsten DeMento & Darryl Whited
A. Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Stevens shared the following:
- Thank you to Darryl Whited and the food services staff for their support. Numbers are up and we were able to successfully bring on a third kitchen that we are staffing and we are feeding a lot of students.
- Thank you to Mr. Ford for organizing athletics this year. The sports merger has been productive, with high numbers of students participating.
- A copy of the Enrollment Projections Report was shared with each board member.
- We are in talks with our architect regarding another capital project and we are looking at areas that need improvement.
- A copy of the Riverside Special Education Collaborative flyer is also at each board member’s place setting. Thank you to Judy Frost for putting it together and to Molly McGrath for coordinating the services each district specializes in and the programs that best support student needs across districts. This was presented in budget workshops and now we are seeing it come to fruition.
- Youth Day is tomorrow morning. WJSHS students get a peek into how City Government operates.
- There will be a concert Thursday evening in the WJSHS auditorium.
- Transition night is next Tuesday for 5th graders transitioning to WJSHS next year.
- Prom is next Saturday, May 18.
- Thank you to all the board members who attended our first Board Networking and Equity event at Capital Region BOCES
- Kudos to our students. Today was the final official day of testing for grades 3-8 ELA, Math and Science Assessments. It was a completely different vibe as we did computer-based testing and we focused on one grade level at a time.
- Thank you to all of our staff. There have been several days to honor staff, including: Teacher Appreciation Week, School Lunch Hero Day, National School Nurse Day, Administrative Professionals Day, and Principal Day. He stated that we have the best staff that we know and gave kudos to them for all of their hard work.
Audit Committee
- There was no report.
Policy Committee
- Mrs. Soroka noted that the Policy Committee will be meeting on Monday
Meet the Candidates
Heather Soroka and Kyle Daniels each introduced themselves and shared why they are running for school board.
Mrs. Senecal noted that there are two seats up for election on May 21, including her seat, as she is not seeking re-election. She stated that it has been a great privilege to serve on the board and although she is not remaining on the board, she offered to serve in any other capacity in the future.
2024–2025 Budget Hearing
Mr. Heid and Dr. Stevens provided a re-cap of the proposed budget, noting that details were provided in each of the four budget workshops. Mr. Heid noted that the fund balance has increased, with a projected balance of $6.28 million. All budget documents are available on the district’s web site.
Dr. Stevens reminded everyone to vote on May 21 and to attend Special Person’s Night at WES on the 21st as well.
Mrs. Bisner asked what the new vehicle would be used for, noting her frustration with families who do not live in the district being provided transportation (i.e., homeless students) while she gets punished for owning a vehicle and living in district.
Dr. Stevens responded that the new vehicle will primarily be used to support the food service department and as a backup to the Suburban, which provides transportation to displaced families and minor runs during the school day. He also noted that we provide transportation to homeless students because it is required by law. He offered to follow up with her to discuss the matter further.
Board of Education Discussion
- Mrs. Whited noted that the students did a great job at the spring concert.
Mrs. Senecal shared the following:
- Thank you to everyone who participated in development of the district budget.
- Best wishes to both candidates running for school board.
- Please remember to go out and vote on May 21 and join us back here at 8:30 p.m. for the results of the vote.
- Thank you to all who helped Mrs. Fronczek with the alumni game and all those who supported it by playing, donating or attending the game. It was a great event that was very well attended.
- Expressed appreciation to all teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, and a shout out to all school lunch heroes, school nurses, and administrative professionals. Thank you for all you do to make sure the students are fed, nurtured and have all they need.
- Check out the district web site for information on students who participated in the second annual Capital Region Poetry Slam on April 11. Kharyn Acosta came in second place with a poem called “To My Older Brother.”
- Congrats to Zayden Crouse for breaking the school record and achieving 21 strikeouts during the April 6 game.
- There are several upcoming events including the spring concert, spring dance for grades 6-8, transition night for 5th graders, the jr. – sr. prom and prom walkthrough in the gym prior to prom, kindergarten registration, school budget vote/board election and special persons night, National Honor Society/National Jr. Honor Society inductions, and spirit day at WES. There is no school on May 24 and May 27.
Items Requiring Board Action
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Stephanie Maes from the position of Special Education Teacher at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective June 30, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency appointment of Jamie Binkley to the position of Cafeteria Supervisor for the Watervliet City School District, effective April 29, 2024, at a rate of $17.00 per hour plus $2.00 per hour supervisor stipend, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency appointment of Jamie Binkley to the position of EVOLVE Cooking Club Advisor at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective April 29, 2024, at a stipend of $100.00 per week, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of Michael Zitolo and Alexa Giardino as Co-Advisors of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for the 2023 – 2024 school year, effective May 7, 2024, at a split stipend of $1080.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Summer Academy Program 2024 appointments at a salary as per contract:
- Kindergarten: Michaeleen Backus (Level III)
- 1st Grade: Shannon Rodriguez (Level I)
- 2nd Grade: Adrienne Todd (Level III)
- 3rd Grade: Jennifer Hoefer/Rachel Manning (Level III/2)
- 4th Grade: Jeanne Lance (Level III)
- 5th Grade: Sarah Hulslander (Level III)
- 6th Grade: Beth Jones (Level II)
- K-6 Co-Teach: Gina Smith (Level III)
- 7th Grade: Nikki LaBoissiere (Level III)
- K-5 ENL: Angela Quinonez (Level I)
- Music: AJ Kane (Level I)
- Art: Caitlyn Santiago (Level I)
- Travel Program: Lauryn Lloyd (Level III), Daniel Ciaramella (Level III)
- Travel Program TA: Margaret (Peg) Angie & Kelsey Logan (per contract)
- Elementary TA: Donna Belokopitsky, Robina Hussain, Angela Wareing, Karen Mahar, Jason Vasquez, York Bush (per contract)
- School Counselor: Mia Rockwell (Level I)
- Substitutes: Kaleigh Hill & Kim Tallmadge
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Summer School 2024 appointments at a salary as per contract:
- Grade 8/9 ELA: Dylan Kane (Level II)
- 9-12 Social Studies: Alison Callagan (Level I)
- 9-12 ELA: Tami Karbowski (Level III)
- 9-12 Math: Steve Keena (Level I)
- 6-12 ENL: Madeline Rehm (Level III)
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Extended School Year (ESY) 2024 appointments at a salary as per contract:
- Special Education Teacher(s): Denise Cusack, Mikayla Rosier, Courtney Unser, Jania Dockery, Dan Mueller
- Speech Therapist: Cassandra Berman
- Teaching Assistant(s): Meghan Wallas, Joanna Beams, Emma Buck, Kelly Gilchrist, Janice Sogoian, Rebecca Phillips
- Bus Monitor: Kelly Gilchrist
- Substitutes: Nicholas Rivera, Kaleigh Hill, Kim Tallmadge, Veronica Wilson, Laura Zasada
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of 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 Fall:
- Varsity Boys Soccer: Brian Ford
- Modified Boys Soccer: Peter Mason
- Varsity Girls Soccer: Nicholas Grolley
- Varsity Girls Volleyball: Michele DeGuire
- Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball: Thomas Hayes
- Modified Girls Volleyball: Erica Legault
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved Additional Work Days during the summer for the following staff, at a rate per contract, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School:
- David Olszewski – 21 days
- Kate McAvoy – 20 days
- Mia Rockwell – 10 days
- Veronica Wilson – 6 days
- Rosie Sharpe – 10 days
Watervliet Elementary School:
- Kelly Bariteau – 6 days
- Danielle Tetrault – 6 days
- Geraldine Ferris – 10 days
District:
- Danielle McKee – 5 days with Family Opportunity Center Grant
- Madelyn Degler – 10 days with Extended School Day/School Violence Prevention (ExTRA) Grant
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packets #10, #14 and #15).
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of April 2024, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of March 2024, 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 Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following payment requests, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
WATERVLIET 2020 CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS
- AFSCO Fence Supply
Invoice # 23-29367-1
$14,500.00 - DLC Electric, LLC
Invoice # 78747
$3,164.00 - Ray Audio Video
Invoice # I-212579
$19,854.10 - Securitas Technology Corp.
Invoice # 6004082671
$ 4,338.54 - Trane US Inc.
Invoice # 314488540
$5,714.00
WATERVLIET 2022 ARPA CAPITAL PROJECT – ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS
- DLC Electric, LLC
Payment Application #013
$232,199.00 - R.F. Gordon Mechanical
Payment Application #004
$2,850.00
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following bid results, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
$7,000,000 Bond Anticipation Notes – 2024 (Renewal)
Bidder
- Jeffries LLC
Interest Rate: 3.6890%
Other Bidders
- Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.
Interest Rate 3.7961% - Bank of Greene County
Interest Rate 3.9900% - Pioneer Bank
Interest Rate 4.0200% - TD Securities
Interest Rate 4.0720%
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the creation of the following course to be offered to students in Grade 12, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, who have completed English 9, English 10, English 11, passed the English Regents, and plan to attend college after graduation, beginning in the 2024–2025 school year, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- ENGL 101: Composition
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following Election Inspector to work May 21, 2024, for the School District Election and Budget vote, at the rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Watervliet Elementary School: Patricia Fitzgerald
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Board of Education Minutes for the meetings held April 9 and April 24, 2024, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held February 13, March 18, March 20, March 26, March 27, March 28, April 9, April 10, April 12, April 15, April 16, April 17, April 18, April 19, April 22, April 23, April 24, April 25 and April 26, 2024, submitted by Veronica Wilson, Rebecca Phillips and Daniele Tetrault, CSE Chairs, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held April 17, April 18 and April 19, April 24, April 25 and April 26, 2024, submitted by Molly McGrath, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the home schooling request of the parent/guardian of the following student, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Student ID 900014898 – grade
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Sheri Senecal and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Gordie Johnson served as Coach of the of Girls’ Varsity Basketball team for 17 years; and
WHEREAS, his overall record was 268-126, with seven Section II Class B/CC Championships, 2 Colonial Council League Championships and 2 NYS Class B Regional Championships; and
WHEREAS, Coach Johnson received 14 Coach of the Year Awards; and
WHEREAS, the naming of the team walkway to the gymnasium is an appropriate recognition,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Watervliet City School District Board of Education hereby names the team walkway to the gymnasium “Gordie Johnson Way”.
NYSSBA Award
Dr. Stevens presented a NYSSBA Board Achievement Award to Heather Soroka. This award is a Level IV award, which is a lifetime achievement award.
Executive Session
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the board entered into executive session at 7:07 p.m. to discuss matters related to the removal of a particular person.
Adjournment
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Victoria Donnelly and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bernadette L. Boardman
Clerk of the Board