Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York
Date: May 14, 2019
Type of Meeting: Regular
Where: Watervliet Jr.–Sr. High School
Board Members Present:
President Sheri Senecal
Vice President Heather Soroka
Mary Beth Whited
Steven Hoffman
Amanda Cavanaugh
Superintendent: Dr. Lori S. Caplan
The meeting was opened at 6:04 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
STEAM at Watervliet Elementary School Presentation, Kelly Webster
Second Reading of Revised Policy:
Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers
Meet The Candidates
Philip DiPompei and Sheri Senecal, candidates for the Board of Education, introduced themselves and discussed why they are running for a seat on the Board of Education.
2019–2020 Budget Hearing
Mr. Heid shared information on the district’s proposed budget for 2019 – 2020.
Items Requiring Board Action
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board adopted the following policy, as recommended by the superintendent:
- Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers Policy
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Board of Education Minutes for the meetings held April 17, 2019 and April 18, 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 Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held April 10, April 17, and May 1, 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 Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held April 8, April 10, April 12, April 15, April 16, April 17, April 18, April 29, and May 1, 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 #26 and #27).
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following Election Inspector to work May 21, 2019, for the School District Election and Budget vote, at the rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Watervliet Elementary School: Tracy Maloney
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Treasurer’s Reports for the months of March 2019, 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 request to create an Assistant Superintendent position, as outlined in the attached, effective July 1, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the request for Dawn Sylvester to take the Pre-K – 12 TESOL and Bilingual Teaching Practices and Assessment in the Content Areas course (3 credits) at Malloy College beginning May 12, 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 request for Dawn Sylvester to take the Structure and Application of American English course (3 credits) at Malloy College beginning June 21, 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 accepted the resignation of Chase Frament from the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective May 7, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Mary Beth Whited, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the retirement request of Elizabeth Sutherland from the position of Cafeteria Worker at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective June 27, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the termination of Joseph Rowe from the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective April 23, 2019, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Amanda Cavanuagh, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, and upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approved the probationary appointment of Anna Makovik to the position of Math Teacher, Grades 7-12, in the tenure area of Secondary Mathematics, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning September 3, 2019, at a Step 1 salary, plus master’s degree and credit hours, as per contract. The probationary period shall expire on September 3, 2023, 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. Anna Makovik holds a certification as a Mathematics 7-12, Transitional B (certificate #1289009191).
On a motion by Amanda Cavanuagh, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency probationary appointment of Alexis Rivera to the position of Hall Monitor at the Watervliet Jr – Sr. High School, at a rate of $11.20 per hour, plus Associate or Bachelor degree stipends, as per contract, effective April 29, 2019, 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 Daniel Moore to the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, at a rate of $11.10 per hour, effective April 29, 2019, 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 Morgan Price to the position of Part-Time Night Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, at a rate of $11.10 per hour, effective April 29, 2019, 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 Taleea Watkins to the position of Substitute Part-Time Night Cleaner at the Watervliet Elementary School, at a rate of $11.10 per hour, effective May 3, 2019, 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 Kristin Lofink to the position of Long-Term Substitute English Teacher, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, effective May 6, 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 an additional seventeen (17) work days per person during the summer for David Olszewski, Kate McAvoy and Chelsie Clickner, Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School Guidance Counselors, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the an additional seven (7) work days during the summer for Kelly Bariteau, Watervliet Elementary School Guidance Counselor, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Amanda Cavanaugh and accepted 4-0 (Steven Hoffman abstained), the Board approved the following Summer School 2019 appointments at a salary as per contract:
- Jillian Harmon 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 3-4
- Marie Schlosser Teaching Assistant, Grades 5-6
- Grace Hoffman 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 Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following ExTRA Summer Academy 2019 appointments at a salary as per contract:
Teachers:
- Sarah Hulslander, Kindergarten
- Chelsea Shufelt, Grade 1
- Adrienne Todd, Grade 2
- Samantha Spano, Grade 3
- Jeanne Lance, Grade 4
- Joelle Bird, Grade 5
- David Olszewski, Grade 6
- Lauryn Lloyd, Grade 7
- Jessica Willson, Math, Grades 7-8
- Shelley Palkovic, ELA, Grades 7-8
- Lyndsay Moore, Travel Program, Grades 7-8
- Briana DelBene, Travel Program, Grades 7-8
- Dennis Lane, PE (Part-time: 0.5)
- Brian Hoefer, PE (Part-time: 0.5)
- Chelsie Clickner, School Counselor (0.5)
- Louisa Boehlert Vaughan, School Counselor (0.5)
- Tina Shufelt, Substitute
- Meaghan Castle, Substitute
- Gina Smith, Substitute
Teaching Assistants:
- Stacey Clermont, Kindergarten
- Rosie Sharpe, Grade 1
- Rebecca Haessler, Grade 2
- A.J. Ferris, Grades 3-4
- Juliana Chromik, Grades 5-6
- Brenda Zawistowski, Grade 7
- Shelley Palkovic, Grades 7-8
- Jessica Willson, Grades 7-8
- Annmarie Gleason, Travel Program
- Karen Mahar, Travel Program
- Tina Spenard, Substitute
School Nurse:
Sue Vogel
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted and thanked the following people for their donations to the Watervliet Elementary School Community Garden, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name: Alyssa Joseph, MPH
Item: Six garden beds, raised bed liners, water programmable timer, soaker hoses, and volunteered her time at the garden event - Name: S.M. Gallivan
Item: Five yards of soil and three yards of wood chips - Name: Saratoga Sod Farm
Item: One yard of soil - Name: Jennifer and Chuck Donovan
Item: One greenhouse - Name: Amanda and Carol Ann Cavanaugh
Item: Gardening supplies
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Mary Beth Whited and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted and thanked the following people for their donations to the WIN (What I Need) Program, in memory of former WJSHS teacher Nancy Frate, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- David and Karen Kehoe
- John (Jack) Weaver
- Janet McLaughlin
- Elizabeth Cushing
- Margaret Collins/Joan Puglia
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 April 2019, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
New Business
There was no new business discussed.
Comments from the Floor
Dr. Caplan shared the following:
- Offered her condolences and thanked the family of Nancy Frate for requesting donations in Mrs. Frate’s memory go to the WIN (What I Need) Program.
- Spent the day at the Capitol for Lobby Day.
- Tomorrow, Mrs. Webster will be acknowledged as a Champion of Character at the Century House.
- Thank you to Mrs. Sutherland for her 25 years of service to the district.
- Congratulations to Mrs. Makovick.
Mr. Heid noted that, at the last Board meeting, the Board approved a resolution allowing the District to issue refunding bonds for the District’s outstanding Serial (2012) Bonds. As a result, the S&P rating was increased from an A- to an A. This will save the district money going forward.
Mr. Foust noted that Friday night is senior night for the baseball and softball teams.
Mr. Whited shared the following:
- May 3 was National School Lunch Day. Thank you to all staff and administrators who helped out.
- Pizzas being served tonight are from the new pizza oven. Enjoy!
Mr. Hoffman asked if a lot of people signed up for the active shooter drill on June 1.
Dr. Caplan noted that 15 people have signed up thus far.
Mr. Groat noted that prom was last weekend and it went perfectly. Students were well behaved and he received lots of positive comments from staff working, as well as Mr. Delisle from the Black Bear.
Mrs. Yanni noted that Achievements invited her to their Transition Night on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.
Mrs. Senecal noted that Friday is the Jr. High School semi-formal and the WJSHS concert is Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Mr. Emerson stated that Youth Day is May 30.
Adjournment
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Mary Beth Whited, and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bernadette L. Boardman
Clerk of the Board