Minutes May 14, 2013

DOVER UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Dover Plains, NY 12522

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY – MAY 14, 2013

High School Library

MINUTES

I. OPENING PROCEDURES:

President Infantino called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

President Infantino led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

B. ANNOUNCEMENT RE: CAPACITY, EXITS AND EVACUATION:

President Infantino announced that the capacity of the Dover High School Library is 70 persons and also advised where the exits are located.

C. ATTENDANCE:

Board Members: Also Present:

Russell Infantino, President Michael Tierney, Superintendent

Gail Rohr, Vice-President Christopher Prill, Asst. Supt. for

Brigid Casson Business Affairs

Walter Cropley Gail Gasparro, District Clerk

Penny Dye 9 community members

Patricia Hoag

Jane Meunier-Gorman

Lisa Seifts

Board Members Absent:

Marie Spencer

D. EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Motion by Brigid Casson, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to recess into Executive Session at 7:01 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the Superintendent’s evaluation.

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Gail Rohr, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to return to Regular Session at 7:38 p.m.

E. LEGISLATIVE REPORT:

Lisa Seifts heard talk about a group looking into the possibility of a county school district, but she is unclear about details.

F. STUDENTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION:

None

G. PERSONS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY:

·  Inquiry regarding Mr. Sowul’s field trip request to New York City.

II. PRESENTATIONS:

1.  Focus Review Update – Mr. Tierney said the District is in its second day of the intensive Focus Review. The results will not be known for at least two months due to a backlog of work by the State. Mr. Tierney had originally been told that the turnaround for results would be one week.

2. Football Merger – Mr. Tierney said that the deadline to approve the football merger between the Dover UFSD and the Webutuck CSD is this week. Mr. Esposito (Athletic Director) and Mr. Borror (Football Coach) were in attendance to answer any questions about the merger.

ITEMS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK (*) WERE APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA.

III. ROUTINE MATTERS:

*A. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to accept the minutes of the regular Board of Education Meeting of April 23, 2013.

*B. ACCEPTANCE OF CASH DISBURSEMENTS:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to accept the following Cash Disbursement Schedules: SN-138 through SN-145.

IV. NEW BUSINESS:

A. INSTRUCTIONAL:

*1. APPOINTMENT OF EMILY CARLSON, LONG-TERM LEAVE REPLACEMENT FOR KATHERINE McKEON:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve the appointment of Emily Carlson as a long-term leave replacement for Katherine McKeon, Elementary Education Teacher at the Dover Elementary School, effective April 2, 2013 through June 21, 2013.

Certification: New York State

Certification Area: Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)

Certification Type: Initial

Eff. Date of Cert.: Sept. 1, 2012 – Aug. 31, 2017

Tenure Area: Not applicable

(continued on page 3)

APPOINTMENT OF EMILY CARLSON, LONG-TERM LEAVE REPLACEMENT FOR KATHERINE McKEON (Cont’d):

Salary for the 2012/2013 school year will be at Level B, Step 1: $44,928.00, pro-rated. Benefits will be in accordance with the DWTA Contract. The probationary period is not applicable.

*2. APPOINTMENT OF DANIELLE ZIZZO, LONG-TERM LEAVE REPLACEMENT FOR KRISTA SRTONG:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve the appointment of Danielle Zizzo as a long-term leave replacement for Krista Strong, Elementary Education Teacher at the Wingdale Elementary School, effective March 11, 2013 through June 21, 2013.

Certification: New York State

Certification Area: Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6)

Certification Type: Initial

Eff. Date of Cert.: Feb. 1, 2011 – Jan. 31, 2015

Tenure Area: Not applicable

Salary for the 2012/2013 school year will be at Level B, Step 1: $44,928.00, pro-rated. Benefits will be in accordance with the DWTA Contract. The probationary period is not applicable.

*3. APPOINTMENT OF CHRISTOPHER DeSARIO, LONG-TERM LEAVE REPLACMENT FOR CHRISTINE SCHMITT:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve the appointment of Christopher DeSario as a long-term leave replacement for Christine Schmitt, Reading/English Teacher at the Dover Middle School, effective March 18, 2013 through June 21, 2013.

Certification: New York State

Certification Area: Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6)

Certification Type: Initial

Eff. Date of Cert.: Feb. 1, 2013 – Jan. 31, 2018

Tenure Area: Not applicable

Salary for the 2012/2013 school year will be at Level B, Step 1: $44,928.00, pro-rated. Benefits will be in accordance with the DWTA Contract. The probationary period is not applicable.

B. NON-INSTRUCTIONAL:

None.

C. OTHER BUSINESS:

*1. APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve the following:

Upon the determination after review by the Dover District Committee on Special Education, and with parental notification and consent, the named students shall be placed in Special Education programs, as outlined in Attachment #051413-01.

Names of students are on file in Office of Special Education; however, in accordance with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1976, as amended, the Dover Union Free School District maintains the confidentiality of pupil records.

*2. APPROVAL OF FIELD TRIP:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve a field trip request for the Third Grade class to visit the Bronx Zoo on June 4, 2013, at a cost of $37.30 per student, to be paid by students and Third Grade funds.

*3. APPROVAL OF FIELD TRIP:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve a field trip request for the High School Band students to attend a combined performance of the New York Philharmonic and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at Lincoln Center in New York City on Saturday, June 1, 2013, at an approximate cost of $90.00 per student, to be paid by the students.

*4. APPROVAL OF FOOTBALL MERGER:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve a football merger (Modified and Varsity) between the Dover UFSD and the Webutuck CSD for the 2013/2014 school year.

*5. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ASSIGNMENTS:

Motion by Patricia Hoag, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to approve the following extra-curricular assignments for the 2012/2013 school year:

·  Fifth Grade Newspaper Club Advisors – Jeryl Fontana and Elaine Carey – Shared stipend $1,142.00 ($571.00 each)

·  DES Computer Club Advisor – Cari Buffone – Stipend $1,778.00

V. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1.  Energy Performance Contract – Mr. Prill is recommending that we delay signing the contract until he can clarify some of the wording in the document.

2. Quarterly Extra-Class Treasurer’s Report – The Board received a copy of the Extra-Class Treasurer’s Report for the period 10/1/12 – 12/31/12.

3. Naming the Auditorium in memory of Mitchell Colucci – Mr. Tierney has heard about an online petition requesting that the auditorium be named after Mitchell Colucci, but he has not yet seen it. He said he would support a memorial being placed in or near the auditorium, but that the district would not be able to cover the cost as it would be a gift of public funds. He also mentioned that a scholarship fund has already been set up by the family.

4. SRO Program – Mr. Tierney said he recently met with the County and three other school districts (Arlington, Pawling, Wappingers) regarding the SRO position. The cost of the SRO has gone from an original quote of $60,000 to $72,000 (plus benefits). The County is also looking for a five-year commitment, regardless of whether or not our budget passes. Mr. Tierney will continue to try to negotiate better terms.

VI. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS:

A. COMMUNICATION: WRITTEN AND VERBAL:

1. Members of the Board

·  There was a good turnout for the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony which took place earlier this evening. Congratulations to all the students.

·  The Honors Program Presentations that took place on May 6th and 7th were a success.

·  Kudos to everyone who participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life that was held here on May 4th. The event was a huge success, with over $54,000 raised to date. Many community members and visitors commented on what a great facility we have.

·  The Lions Club, along with students, did a great job with the roadside cleanup along Route 22 this past weekend.

·  Inquiry regarding whether the Students’ Driver Safety Course is mandated for our student drivers.

·  Mrs. Meunier-Gorman remarked that both Mrs. Rizzo and Mr. Doherty had done a great job in handling a personal situation that arose recently.

·  The Board urged everyone to vote at the annual budget/candidate vote which will take place on Tuesday, May 21st from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Middle School gymnasium.

·  Mr. Tierney shared an update on two former Dover graduates, Nick and Erin Franco. Nick (Class of 2007) went on to graduate from Boston College and just became a Fulbright Scholar. Erin (Class of 2009) is graduating from Washington College and will pursue a career in the healthcare industry.

2. Persons to address the Board of Education

·  A parent of three young children made a plea for our district to hire a School Resource Office for each of our buildings. She has an ongoing petition that she will forward to the Board of Education. Also, she would like to contact Mr. Molinaro’s office to inquire about help with funding.

B. SCHOOL CALENDAR:

1. Annual Budget/Candidate Vote – May 21, 2013, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., M.S. Gymnasium.

2. Festival of Excellence – May 21, 2013, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Middle/High School.

3. Board of Education Meeting – May 28, 7:00 p.m., H.S. Library.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Motion by Brigid Casson, second by Penny Dye, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to recess into Executive Session at 8:16 p.m. for the purpose of discussing:

a.  The employment history of an employee.

b.  Collective negotiations.

Motion by Brigid Casson, second by Gail Rohr, and carried 8 yes – 0 no, to return to Regular Session at 8:44 p.m.

VII. ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Penny Dye, second by Gail Rohr, and carried unanimously, to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gail Gasparro, District Clerk

/gg

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