Board of Education
Downsville Central School District
Downsville, NY 13755
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School District was held in the Superintendent’s Office at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The meeting was called to order by the Board President, Brian LaTourette, at 6:31 PM with the following Call to Order members and administration present: Dale Stone, Gary Champlin and Chris Towsley and Superintendent
John Evans
Members and Administration Absent: Chuck Dunlap, Principal Tim McNamara and Administrator/
Director of Guidance Rob Rhinehart
Others present: Chris Odell, Toni Vessey, Betty Early, Jody Reed and Grace Jones
A motion was made by Stone, seconded by Towsley, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held Minutes Approved on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 and the Annual Budget Meeting on Monday, May 11 and the 2015-2016
Budget Vote and Election held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 as presented. Yes 4 No 0 Carried
A motion was made by Champlin, seconded by Towsley, to approve the Financial Reports including the Financial Reports
General Fund, School Lunch Fund, Student Activity Fund and the Internal Claims Audit for the month of Approved April 2015. Yes 4 No 0 Carried
The following items were discussed: Board Items
1. Recognition and Thanks to Grace Jones for her 20 years of service to the district as the
Tax Collector.
2. Results of the 2015 Annual Budget Vote and Election
Proposition 1 – 2015-2016 Budget
Yes 95 No 29 Blank 1 Total Votes 125 Passed
Proposition 2 – BOE Member Election
Charles Dunlap III 106 Elected
Bonnie Seegmiller (write-in) 1
Blank 18
3. Graduation Events and Dates
· Baccalaureate – Thursday, June 25th – 7:00 Colchester Community Church
· Senior Breakfast – Friday, June 26th – 9:00 DCS Cafeteria
· Graduation Practice – Friday, June 26th – following breakfast
· Graduation – Friday, June 26th – 8:00 PM – DCS Gymnasium
4. DCMO BOCES Librarian of the Year- Congratulations to DCS Librarian, Jane Walker-Lloyd, for being awarded the 2014-2015 DCMO BOCES Librarian of the Year.
5. NYSSBA Convention – October 18- 20, 2015 in New York City. Mr. Evans and Board
Members Dale Stone, Gary Champlin and Chris Towsley will attend. Brian LaTourette will be attending as the Area 8 Director of the NYSSBA.
The floor was open for visitors in attendance to speak or express comments or concerns. Voice of Visitors
1. Mrs. Jody Reed spoke on behalf of Girl Scout Gabrielle Ryan regarding a proposed project honoring veterans who are graduates of DCS. As part of her pursuit of the Girl Scouts “Gold
Award”, Gabrielle was granted permission by the BOE at a previous meeting to construct a wall at DCS honoring current and past service men and women. Mrs. Reed is Gabrielle’s mentor for this project and informed the board that the Girl Scouts have also approved the project. Mrs. Reed, Gabrielle, Mr. Evans and Superintendent of Building and Grounds Ron Henderson will work together on the location of the wall. As the project will involve fundraising for the materials and extensive research of veterans, it is expected that it will take approximately two years to complete.
Upon the recommendation of the Committees on Special Education and Pre-School Special Education, CSE/CPSE a motion was made by Stone, seconded by Champlin, to approve the services requested for student Recommendations
#2239 as presented. Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Mr. Evans, Superintendent gave the following reports: Reports
1. Sports Update – Mr. Evans shared that a request had been made by the Livingston Manor Shared Sports School District that they be allowed to join the shared Roscoe/Downsville football team for the 2015 season. He further stated that as of now the number of participants is fairly low compared to other schools and that the estimated number of Livingston Manor students is 14. Therefore, the impact would be a benefit for the team. It was decided that this item would be added to the agenda for action.
2. Tax Collector – Mr. Evans informed the board that due to the recent retirement of our current Tax Collector, that the administration has been researching the options available to fill the position including filling the position “in house” with a current staff member. He will let the board know of the decision when it is reached.
3. Early Learning Program – Mr. Evans shared with the board that consideration is being given to extend the time of the Early Learning Program (Pre-K) for 4 year old children. By extending the hours it would allow for the children to use district transportation to and from school. The plan would be that these children would have their specials and other activities outside of the classroom for the first portion of the morning to allow for the FIRST Program (2/3 year old) to continue. Several times since the beginning of this program it has been voiced that more children could participate if transportation was provided both to and from school. It was also noted that there would not be a need for additional teaching staff; that our current staff would be sufficient.
Mr. Evans, Superintendent, requested that in order to meet the mandated price equity requirement that New Business it would be necessary to raise the student lunch price in the amount of .05¢.
A motion was made by Champlin, seconded by Towsley, that the PK-12 grade student lunch price for the Lunch Price Increase 2015-2016 school year be increased from $1.90 to $1.95. Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Mr. Evans, Superintendent, presented the Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the 2015-2016 school 2015-16 Cooperative year to be approved in order to allow the District to participate in the program. Purchasing
Agreement
A motion was made by Stone, seconded by Towsley, that the Cooperative Purchasing Agreement,
Generic Agreement and Food and Cafeteria Supplies Agreement for the 2015-2016 school year be approved as follows:
Cooperative Purchasing Agreement
WHEREAS,
The Cooperative Purchasing Service is a plan of a number of public school districts in the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-
Otsego BOCES Area in New York, to bid jointly equipment, supplies and contract items, and:
WHEREAS,
The Downsville Central School is desirous of participating with other districts in the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego
BOCES in the joint bidding of the items mentioned above as authorized by General Municipal Law, Section 119-o, and
WHEREAS,
The Downsville Central School wishes to appoint the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES to advertise for bid, accept,
tabulate bids and award bids on their behalf; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School hereby appoints the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego
BOCES to represent it in all matters relating above, and designates the Evening Sun Newspaper as the legal publication for all
Cooperative Purchasing bid notifications, and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School authorizes Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES to
represent it in all matters leading up to the entering into a contract for the purchase of the above mentioned commodities, and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School agrees to (1) assume its equitable share of the costs of the
Cooperative Bidding; (2) abide by majority decisions of the participating districts; (3) abide by the Award of the BOCES Board;
(4) and that after the award of the bid it will conduct all negotiations directly with the successful bidder(s).
Generic Agreement
WHEREAS,
It is a plan of the Downsville Central School District in the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES Area in New York,
to bid jointly equipment, supplies and contract items, and,
WHEREAS,
The Downsville Central School is desirous of participating with other districts in the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego
BOCES Area in the joint bidding of the items mentioned above as authorized by General Municipal Law, Section 119-0, and
WHEREAS,
The Downsville Central School wishes to appoint a committee made up of participating schools to assume the responsibility
for drafting of specifications, advertising for bids, accepting and opening bids, tabulating bids and providing the information to their
Board of Education who will make the awards; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School hereby appoints the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES
to represent it in all matters relating above, and designates the Evening Sun Newspaper as the legal publication for all Cooperative
Purchasing bid notifications, and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School authorizes the above committee to represent it in all matters
leading up to the entering into a contract for the purchase of the above mentioned items, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School agrees to (1) abide by the majority decisions of the participating
districts on quality standards; (2) that it will award contracts based on information provided from the bid; (3) and that after the
award of the bid it will conduct all negotiations directly with the successful bidder(s).
Food and Cafeteria Supplies Agreement
WHEREAS,
It is a plan of a number of public school districts in the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES Area in New York, to bid
jointly Cafeteria supplies including but not limited to food and paper items, and
WHEREAS,
The Downsville Central School is desirous of participating with other districts in the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego
BOCES Area in the joint bidding of the commodities mentioned above authorized by General Municipal Law, Section 119-o, and
WHEREAS,
The Downsville Central School wishes to appoint a committee made up of participating schools to assume the responsibility
for drafting of specifications, advertising for bids, accepting and opening bids, tabulating bids and awarding bids and reporting
the results to the schools; therefore;
BE IT RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School hereby appoints the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES
to represent it in all matters relating above, and designates the Evening Sun Newspaper as the legal publication for all Cooperative
Purchasing bid notifications, and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School authorizes the above committee to represent it in all matters
leading up to the entering into a contract for the purchase of the above mentioned commodities, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That the Board of Education of the Downsville Central School agrees to (1) assume its equitable share of the costs of the
Cooperative Bidding; (2) abide by majority decisions of the participating districts on quality standards; (3) that it will award contacts
according to recommendations of the committee; 4) and that after the award of the bid it will conduct all negotiations directly with
the successful bidder(s).
Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Mr. Evans, Superintendent, requested authorization to enter into an agreement with Delaware Authorize
Opportunities Inc. for next year for the services they provide to pre-school children with special needs. Agreement
Delaware
A motion was made by Champlin, seconded by Stone, to authorize the Superintendent to enter into an Opportunities agreement and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Delaware Opportunities Inc. for the 2015-
2016 school year to provide services to preschool children eligible for special education and related services. Yes 4 No 0 Carried
A discussion was held regarding the date for the 2015-2016 Organizational Meeting of the BOE. It is Organizational recommended by the State the meeting be held on July 1st each year. If that is not possible, it must Meeting (15-16) be done by July 15th.
A motion was made by Stone, seconded by Champlin, to set the date for the 2015-2016 Organizational
Meeting of the Board of Education on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 6:00 PM beginning with a walk-through of the building and the business portion of the meeting at 7:00 PM in the Superintendent’s Office.
Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Mr. Evans, Superintendent, shared with the board a request from Jane Walker-Lloyd, Librarian, to be Discard Library authorized to discard outdated library books. The books will be sent to BOCES for recycling. Books
A motion was made by Champlin, seconded by Towsley, to authorize the library to discard outdated books by removing them from our library system and sending them to BOCES for recycling.
Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Mr. Evans, Superintendent, requested the board accept a donation from the organization that holds Accept Donation
their indoor model airplane event here at DCS each fall. NEAT Organization
A motion was made by Towsley, seconded by Champlin, to accept a donation of $350 given to the District
with thanks and appreciation given to the district and designated for the Library Tech Club from the monies raised at the Indoor Model Airplane Event that the NEAT Pilots have each fall at DCS.
Yes 4 No 0 Carried
A motion was made by Stone, seconded by Champlin, to add the following item to the agenda: Agenda Addition
VI. New Business – g. Authorize Shared Sports – Football. Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Mr. Evans, Superintendent, suggested that the board authorize the Livingston Manor School District Shared Sports - be allowed to join the shared sports team of Roscoe and Downsville for the sport of football for the Football 2015 season.
A motion was made by Stone, seconded by Champlin, to grant the request of Livingston Manor Central
School District to join the Roscoe/Downsville shared football team for the 2015 season.
Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, a motion was made by Towsley, seconded by Recommendations
Champlin, that Todd Felter be appointed to the substitute LTA and Teacher’s Aide lists for the 2014-15 Appointments school year. Yes 4 No 0 Carried Substitute
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, a motion was made by Champlin, seconded by Summer Activity Towsley, that the following 2015 Summer Activity Program Directors be appointed at a salary of $1000: Program Directors
Arts & Crafts - Phyllis Leone
Library/Reading - Stephanie Brock
Recreation - Dustin Keesler
Substitute - Jaclyn Miceli
Yes 4 No 0 Carried
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, a motion was made by Towsley, seconded by Summer Academic Champlin, that the following 2015 Summer Academic Program Teachers be appointed beginning on Program Teachers