Board of Education Regular Meeting October 8, 2024

Watervliet City School District

Watervliet, New York 12189

Board of Education

Regular Meeting

October 8, 2024

6 p.m.

Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School

President Mary Beth Whited

Mary Beth Whited, President

Brian White, Vice President

Heather Soroka

Victoria Donnelly

Kyle Daniels

Superintendent Dr. Donald Stevens Jr.

Student Council Rep. Owen Zawistowski

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.

A. Superintendent’s Report

B. Student Council Report

C. Committee Reports

i. Audit Committee

ii. Policy Committee

1. Resolved that the Board accept the resignation of Ehren Lewis from the position of Alternate Education Teacher at the EVOLVE Program, effective September 13, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.

2. Resolved that the Board rescind the appointment of Ariana Dockstader and Kaylee Maldonado from the position of ExTRA Club Art Co-Advisors, to take on a different advisor role, as recommended by the Superintendent.

3. Resolved that the Board approve Six Additional Work Days during the past summer for Chelsie Gleason, at a rate per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.

4. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency transfer of Chloe Swinney from the position of Part-Time Food Service Worker, to the position of Full-Time Food Service Worker, for the Watervliet City School District at the Heatly location, effective September 3, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.

5. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Jeremy Brand to the position of Building Substitute at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective September 6, 2024, at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.

6. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Joshua Bagnardi to the position of Full-Time Bus Driver for the Watervliet City School District, effective September 11, 2024, at a rate of $27.00 per hour, as recommended by the Superintendent.

7. Resolved that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Elizabeth Edwards to the position of Music Teacher, in the tenure area of Music, at the Watervliet Elementary School, beginning September 23, 2024, at a Step 1 salary, plus master’s degree and credit hours, as per contract.  The probationary period shall expire September 23, 2028, contingent upon achievement of effective or highly effective APPR ratings necessary to receive tenure throughout his/her probationary period, consistent with the requirements of Education Law Sections 2509, 3012-c, and/or 3012-d. Elizabeth Edwards holds a Music certification, (certificate #1800153241).

8. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Maria Spencer to the position of Long-Term Substitute School Counselor at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective September 18, 2024, at a rate of $200.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.

9. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Robin Dombroski to the position of Part-Time Food Service Worker at the Watervliet Elementary School, at an hourly rate of $17.00, effective September 16, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.

10. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Livis Robinson to the position of Full-Time Night Cleaner for the Watervliet City School District, at a rate of $17.00/hour, effective September 23, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.

11. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency probationary appointment of Laura Deming to the position of Part-Time Substitute Security Aide at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, at a Step 1 Aide rate, per contract, effective October 9, 2024, as recommended by the Superintendent.

12. Resolved that the Board approve the emergency appointment of Margaret Angie to the position of After-School Detention Monitor at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective September 24, 2024 through the remainder of the 2024 – 2025 school year, at an hourly rate per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.

13. Resolved that the Board appoint the following staff as ExTRA Club Advisors at the Watervliet Elementary School for the 2024 – 2025 school year, at the current rate, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Yearbook Club: Ariana Dockstader & Kaylee Maldonado (Co-Advisors) 

Art Club: Abby Lammon

Drama Club Substitute: Allison Fried 

Chorus Club: Beth Edwards 

14. Resolved that the Board appoint the following staff as ExTRA Club Advisors at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School for the 2024 – 2025 school year, at the current rate, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Art Club: Nicole Zumpano 

Cooking Club: Jeremy Brand 

15. Resolved that the Board appoint the following staff to the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Club Advisors for the 2024 – 2025 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Club Advisors: 

Jazz Band: Andrew Gorman

Marching Band: Andrew Gorman

Middle School Band: Andrew Gorman

16. 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 Fall:

Assistant Modified Football: William Ronan (prorated, effective October 1, 2024) 

Volunteer Assistant Football: Tahle Teabout

Volunteer Assistant Volleyball: Jessenia George

Volunteer Cheerleading: Jessica Kelly

Coaching Winter:

Indoor Track: William Ronan

Boys’ Junior-Varsity Basketball: Darnell Sutton

17. Resolved that the Board approve the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packets #2 and #3).

18. Resolved that the Board accept the Internal Claims Auditor Reports for the month of September 2024, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.

19. Resolved that the Board approve the following Treasurer’s Reports for the months of June, July and August 2024, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:

Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls

Revenue Status Report

Cash & Investments

Appropriation Status Report

20. Resolved that the Board approve one (1) 2024 Summer School Special Education Transportation Contract Extension between Star & Strand and the Watervliet City School District at a cost of $140,099.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

21. Resolved that the Board approve thirty (30) 2024-25 Regular School Year Special Education Transportation Contract Extensions between Star & Strand and the Watervliet City School District at a cost of $1,359,387.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

22. Resolved that the Board approve one (1) 2024-25 Regular School Year Transportation Contract Extension between Durham Transportation and the Watervliet City School District at a cost of $303,685.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

23. Resolved that the Board approve twelve (12) 2024-25 Regular School Year McKinney-Vento Transportation Contract Extensions between Star & Strand and the Watervliet City School District at a cost of $1,079,975.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

24. Resolved that the Board approve the Healthy Vending Machine Agreement between the Fresh First Vending LLC and The Watervliet City School District, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

25. Resolved that the Board approve the Cooperative Agreement between Hudson Valley Community College and the Watervliet City School District, to provide college in the high school courses during the 2024 – 2025 school year, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

26. Resolved that the Board approve the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held September 10, 2024, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.

27. Resolved that the Board approve the home-schooling requests of the parents/guardians of the following students, as recommended by the Superintendent:

28. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks, a check from the BelleJar Foundation in the amount of $54,837.00, to fund the Pivot Program, as recommended by the Superintendent.

29. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks, the donation of school supplies from the Joseph Wiley, on behalf of NextStep Federal Credit Union, to be given to district students in need, as recommended by the Superintendent.

30. Resolved that the Board accept, with thanks, the donation of school supplies from the Mayor Charles Patricelli, to be given to district students in need, as recommended by the Superintendent.