Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York

Date: February 7, 2019
Type of Meeting: Regular
Meeting Opened: 6:03 P.M.
Where: Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School

Board members present:
President Sheri Senecal
Vice President Heather Soroka
Mary Beth Whited
Steven Hoffman

Board members absent: Amanda Cavanaugh

Superintendent: Dr. Lori S. Caplan

Student Council Rep: Miranda Luck

The meeting was opened at 6:03 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.

Board, Staff and Student Reports

• State Budget Overview Assemblymember John McDonald
• Addressing High Needs and Planning for Tomorrow Presentation David Wareing, Alison Santiago, and Kelly Bariteau
• Second Reading of Revised Policies:
  • Diploma or Credential Options for Students with Disabilities
  • Student Records: Access and Challenge
  • Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Education
  • Suspension of Students
  • Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and Other Substances (Students)
  • Education of Students in Foster Care
  • Student Physicals
  • Medication and Personal Care Items
  • Accidents and Medical Emergencies
  • Dignity for all Students Act
  • Instruction in Certain Subjects
  • Independent Educational Evaluations
• Second Reading of New Policy:
  • Participation in Graduation Ceremonies and Activities

Items Requiring Board Action

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board adopted the following policies, as recommended by the Superintendent:

• Diploma or Credential Options for Students with Disabilities
• Student Records: Access and Challenge
• Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Education
• Suspension of Students
• Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and Other Substances (Students)
• Education of Students in Foster Care
• Student Physicals
• Medication and Personal Care Items
• Accidents and Medical Emergencies
• Dignity for all Students Act
• Instruction in Certain Subjects
• Independent Educational Evaluations
• Participation in Graduation Ceremonies and Activities

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held January 10, 2019, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held January 8 and January 25, 2019, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meeting held January 16, 2019, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packets #18, #19 and #20).

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of December 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 Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the 3-Year Installment Purchase Contract with KS State Bank for the purchase and installation of kitchen equipment at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Cafeteria at a total cost of $48,274.70, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Memorandum of Agreement with Achievements PLLC, for the New York State Early Pre-Kindergarten Program, effective January 30, 2019 – June 30, 2019, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Pre-Referendum Agreement with Collins & Scoville Architecture/Engineering/Construction Management, as outlined and in the attached, effective January 15, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the creation of a Family Outreach Coordinator position for the Watervliet City School District, effective February 7, 2019, as outlined in the attachment to the agenda, at a salary of $30,000.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board rescinded the appointment of Tim Mitchell to the position of Modified Softball Coach for the 2018 – 2019 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Isabella Gutierrez-Noland from the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner, at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective January 23, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Rebecca Young from the position of ESL Teacher, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective February 15, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the leave request for Anna Marie Magyar, effective September 1, 2019 through the 2019 – 2020 school year, to return to work at the start of the 2020 – 2021 school year, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency appointment of Logan Dallas to the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, at a rate of $11.10 per hour, effective January 21, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency probationary appointment of Allan Gadsden, Jr. to the position of Family Outreach Coordinator, for the Watervliet City School District, beginning January 28, 2019 through June 30, 2021, at a pro-rated salary of $30,000.00 (ExTRA Grant), as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency appointment of Donna Cusack to the position of Long-Term Substitute Kindergarten Teacher, at the Watervliet Elementary School, beginning January 31, 2019, at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of Caleb Gleason to the position of Girls’ Modified Softball Coach at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for the 2018 – 2019 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and accepted 3-0, the Board approved the appointment of Pete Porcelli to the position of Head Varsity Football Coach at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, for the 2019 – 2020 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent (abstained: Mary Beth Whited).

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited 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: Amanda Wareing
Role: Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Jeanne Lance
Dates: March 1 – April 1, 2019

Name: Hope Connors
Role: Observer
Cooperating Teacher(s): Marypat Murtagh
Dates: February 1 – May 31, 2019

On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks, the donation of 30 thanksgiving baskets from Capital Communications Federal Credit Union, to provide holiday meals to Watervliet City School District families in need, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of $700.00 worth of vouchers from The Troy Record, to be used to assist families in need in the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the recognized and thanked Homeland Security, for adopting three students for the holidays, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of toys for over 100 children and 3,500 Nerf cars from Toys for Tots to provide toys for Watervliet families in need for the holidays, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of seven bicycles from Tom Mullins, to be given to students in need, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accept, with thanks the donation of scarves, hats and mittens from Martha Chromik, to be handed out to Watervliet Elementary School students in need, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the excision and disposal of 50 obsolete/damaged textbooks, as outlined in the attached, from the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of January 2019, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.

New Business

The district will hold three budget workshops in preparation for the 2019 – 2020 school budget vote. The workshops will be held on:

• March 14, 2019 – Regular Board of Education Meeting
• April 9, 2019 – PTA Meeting
• April 13, 2019 – Budget Breakfast, 9:00 a.m., WJSHS Cafeteria

Comments from the Floor

Dr. Caplan welcomed Mr. Gadsden and asked him to say a few words about his new role with the District.

Mr. Gadsden thanked everyone for the warm welcome and provided the Board with a vision of his role.

Dr. Caplan shared the following:

• I participated in the 10 gallon milk challenge, providing 10 gallons of milk to students in our backpack program.
• I will be going to Los Angeles to present at a conference on women in administration.
• March 3-5 is NYSCOSS Lobby Day.
• February 27 is Lobbying Day.
• I recently attended the BOCES Legislative Breakfast, which was well-attended.
• There will be a Heroin Awareness Town Hall on March 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• The EPK program has begun and is going great.
• Thank you to Coach Hoefer for his service to the football program.
• Welcome to Coach Porcelli. I wish him luck and I am looking forward to what he will bring to the football program.

Mrs. Senecal shared the following:

• Thank you to Coach Hoefer for his years of service to the football program.
• Thank you to Coach Mitchell for his work with the softball team.
• Wished Mr. Gleason well on his upcoming season coaching softball.
• Welcome to Coach Porcelli.

Dr. Caplan invited Coach Porcelli to say a few words.

Mr. Porcelli noted that he is looking forward to being a part of the longstanding tradition the football program has. He is looking forward to recruiting kids, building trust and relationships.

Mr. Hoffman welcomed Coach Porcelli and wished him luck.

Mr. Groat welcomed Mr. Gadsden, noting that it is exciting to have him here and he is making genuine connections with staff and students.

Mr. Foust noted the following:

• Senior Night for Boys’ Basketball will be held tomorrow, February 8.
• Senior Night for Girls’ Basketball will be held on February 11.
• The Boys’ Wrestling team will be in Glens Falls on Saturday.
• The CYO Harry Tucker Tournament will be held on February 10.
• Thank you to Coach Hoefer for his years of service.
• Welcomed Coach Porcelli and wished him well.

Miranda Luck, Student Council Representative, shared the following:

• The National Honor Society and Student Council are working with the City on the Watervliet has Heart Project. They are collecting non-perishable food items for our troops.
• The Student Council met to plan an after school board games event.
• Student Council has extended an invitation to Kirsten Gillibrand to come and speak to them.

Adjournment

On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited, and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Bernadette L. Boardman
Clerk of the Board