BOARD OF EDUCATION
Newton, NJ
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 8, 2009
Mr. Heckman, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Board OPENING
Office at 57 Trinity Street, Newton, NJ, noting in the opening statement that the notice
of this meeting was sent to the New Jersey Herald, the Star Ledger, and the Town Clerk
of Newton on May 29, 2009 and appropriately posted. The notice requirements of the
Open Public Meetings Act have been satisfied.
Members Present: Mr. Caffrey, Mrs. Carr, Ms. Cooke, Ms. Egner, Ms. Gianni, Mr. Heckman, ROLL CALL
Mr. Jackson, Mr. Mistry, Mr. Morris, Mrs. VanAuken and Dr. Greene
Members absent: Mr. Kelly
There were no comments on agenda resolutions. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The Finance Committee reported on ARRA funding, bidding two buses, a draft calendar, COMMITTEE RPTS.
a draft budget, and methods for calculating tuition.
There were no sending district reports. SENDING DIST. RPT.
The following student will be home schooled for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year. SUPT. REPORT/
The revised state regulations require that I formally notify the board of education on the status ED. HIGHLIGHTS
of this student. Board of Education approval is no longer necessary. The reporting of this in the
Superintendent’s Report will allow for the board minutes to record that you have been notified.
Grade 5 Student (S7633967110)
Dr. Greene gave the Student Council report on Senior Citizen Luncheon, Lock-in, and Semi-formal.
Ms. Snyder stated the ending check number on the November 24, 2009 bill list should be SBA/BS REPORT
#031879 and has been changed in the minutes.
Ms. Snyder also noted the addition of two NHS choir programs added to Program, Item E.
Ms. Snyder advised the board about bids for two school buses.
Motion made by Ms. Cooke, seconded by Mr. Jackson that the 11 member board approve BOARD BUSINESS
the following:
A. Approve the minutes of the following meeting:
Regular Meeting of November 24, 2009
B. Authorize the secretary to pay bills and warrants Nos. 031880 to 031942
as per bill list dated 12/08/09 in the amount of $1,174,737.81, as per
Attachment A.
C. Approve the financial reports from the Board Secretary and the Treasurer
of School Monies for the month of November, 2009 as on file in the Business
Office.
D. Accept the Board Secretary’s certification, as attached, (pursuant to NJAC
6:20-2.12(d)) that as of November 30, 2009 no budgetary line item account has
obligations and payments (contractual orders) which in total exceed the
amount appropriated by the Board of Education pursuant to NJSA
18A-22-8 & 18A-22-8.1.
E. Pursuant to NJAC 6:23-2.11, certify that as of November 30, 2009
after review of the secretary’s financial report (appropriations section)
and upon consultation with the appropriate district officials, to the best
of our knowledge, no major account or fund has been overexpended in
violation of NJAC 6:20-2.12(a) and that sufficient funds are available to
meet the district’s financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.
F. Approve the line item transfers and 10% report as per Attachment B.
Carried unanimously by a roll call vote of the 11 member board with the following exception:
Mr. Jackson abstained on Item A, the minutes of the meeting of November 24, 2009.
Motion made by Mrs. Carr, seconded by Mr. Jackson that the 9 member board approve the PROGRAM
following:
A. Approve an Even Start parent trip to Sparta to pick up donated gifts.
B. Approve the following Halsted Middle School field trip:
Class/Club Purpose Location
8th Grade Orientation Sussex County Technical School
Carried unanimously by a roll call vote of the 9 member board.
Motion made by Ms. Egner, seconded by Ms. Gianni that the 11 member board approve
the following:
C. Approve the placement of the following students on homebound instruction:
Student ID#S2670 Grade 9 11/30/09
Student ID#S1272 Grade 11 11/19/09
Student ID#S1017 Grade 12 11/24/09
D. Approve the out of district placement of a grade 10 student to attend Phillipsburg
High School, effective 9/01/09, at a tuition rate of $11,025.
E. Approve the following Newton High School field trips:
Class/Club Purpose Location
Science Curriculum Livingston High School
Consumer Math Curriculum LPS-Andover and GHS Green
NHS Choir Concert Lafayette House
NHS Choir Concert Halsted Middle School
F. Approve the following textbook at Newton High School for Calculus Honors/AP for the school year 2010-2011:
Calculus Early Transcendentals Single Variable
Carried unanimously by a roll call vote of the 11 member board.
Motion made by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mrs. Carr that the 9 member board approve PERSONNEL
the following:
Based upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the following
personnel resolutions are presented for approval:
A. Approve the following volunteers for Robotics:
Jim Hofmann James Wooster Ella Gaal Pete Zuroff
Brian Bennington John Geaney Lauren Geaney Jesse Clark
Eliza Bareiss Wesley Bedrosian Brian Francis Doug Wong
Ed Petersen Beth Bitler Susan Stobie Hau Do
Paul Alex, Sr. Shannon McCarney Chris Land Debol Gupta
Eric McNulty John McMonagel
Ms. Gianni stated she was pleased at the large list of volunteers.
B. Approve an extra hour per week for Lori Ingram, teacher assistant at Merriam Avenue
School, to allow a special needs student to attend an after school club, $15 per hour for
12 weeks.
C. Approve the following Fitness Center supervisors at Halsted Middle School, to be
paid $30 per hour not to exceed $1,000 through the NJ Coordinated School Demonstration
Project:
Jared Roe
Meg Waldron
D. Approve Keith Schouppe as a Halsted Middle School Ski Club volunteer.
Carried unanimously by a roll call vote of the 9 member board.
Motion made by Ms. Cooke, seconded by Ms. Egner that the 11 member board approve the
following:
E. Approve a combination of paid and unpaid leave of absence for Denise Gilchrist,
English teacher at Newton High School, from November 24, 2009 to December 22,
2009.
F. Approve an unpaid leave of absence for Coleen Howell, substitute bus driver, from
November 30, 2009 to January 15, 2010.
G. Approve the following substitutes for the 2009-2010 school year:
Patricia Gentile Kathy Heatter Kelsey Nelson Sharon Triolo
Nancy Owens - substitute teacher assistant
Carried unanimously by a roll call vote of the 11 member board.
Motion made by Mr. Jackson, seconded by Ms. Gianni that the 11 member board approve BUSINESS
the following:
A. Approve the following district purchases:
District Description Amount
Rockhurst University In-house Seminar $ 3,500
Telecom Management Nortel Voice Mail System $ 4,962
Nisivoccia & Co CAFR $ 2,000
D & E Repair/Maintenance Buses $ 2,788
Phillipsburg BOE 09/10 Student Tuition $11,025
B. Approve district travel expenses as per Attachment C.
C. Approve the acceptance of the NCLB Title I ARRA Funds in the amount
of $65,267.
D. Approve the application of the New Jersey Coordinated School Health
Demonstration Project in the amount of $10,000 for Halsted Middle School.
E. Approve an agreement with the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council
as the lead agency for the conduct of certain functions relating to the purchase
of work, materials, supplies and services expiring on September 30, 2011.
F. Approve the acceptance of a donation of $41.80 (% of sales from local
retailers) from Ohiopyle Prints, Inc. to be used at the board’s discretion.
G. Approve the resolution binding the Newton Board of Education to purchase
electric generation services through the Alliance for Competitive Energy
Services (ACES) bid cooperative pricing system as per Attachment D.
H. Approve the resolution binding the Newton Board of Education to purchase
natural gas generation services through the Alliance for Competitive Energy
Services (ACES) bid cooperative pricing system as per Attachment E.
I. Approve Sections 1 through 5, and Section 13 of the Standard Operating
Procedures and Internal Controls Manual.
Carried unanimously by a roll call vote of the 11 member board.
Mrs. VanAuken stated she attended the mandated training. OLD BD. BUSINESS
Mr. Caffrey stated he likes having the listing of student programs. NEW BD. BUSINESS
Mr. Jackson stated he really enjoyed the fall drama program.
President’s Statement
This public session is designed for members of the public to speak on issues for Board PUBLIC COMMENTS
consideration. By law, the Board of Education is under no obligation to respond to
public comment. If the Board of Education chooses to respond, it does not waive
its right thereafter not to respond. Please identify yourself and spell your last name.
Mrs. Thomas questioned the ARRA funding article in today’s newspaper.
Committee of the Whole – This public committee meeting is designed for the board of education
to discuss issues that may appear on future board agendas. Please consider that an individual
employee’s terms and conditions of employment cannot be discussed prior to that employee being
given proper notice.
Buildings and Grounds
The board discussed the Long Range Facility Plan and the notification that instead of all
districts redoing their Long Range Facility Plan in 2010 they will be required to for a 5 year
plan.
Personnel
The board discussed the Board Self-Evaluation Plan. Mr. Heckman stated that if no one objected, he,
Mr. Caffrey, Dr. Green and Ms. Snyder would meet following the meeting to review the plan.
Curriculum
There was no discussion of curriculum.
Finance
Ms. Snyder presented information on interpreting the Expenditure Report.
Motion made by Mrs. VanAuken, seconded by Ms. Egner that the meeting adjourn to executive
session at 7:37 PM. to discuss negotiations, not to reconvene. Said discussion may be disclosed to
the public when appropriate.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Snyder
School Business Administrator/ Board Secretary