Date December 18, 2008 Kind of Meeting Regular
Where Held Hunter CafeteriaPresiding Officer Brian Wilson,
President
Brian Byrne, Marc Czermerys,Gerry Loucks,Members Present
Rachel Tripsas and Brian Wilson
Patrick Darfler Sweeney, Melinda McCool AdministrationPresent
Brooke VanFleet and Simon Williams
Marianne Romito Administrative Support
At 7:30 the meeting was called to order Call to Order
by Mr. Wilson.
Motion made by Mr. Loucks, seconded Minutes
by Mr. Tripsas to accept the minutes for12/4/08
December 4, as presented.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
No business or financial reportsFinancial/Business
presented.
Zachary Tripsas, Student Council Student Council
Representative, reported the water
bottle sale is going very well. The
Student Council sponsored the
well-attended Senior Citizen Holiday
Dinner on December 16. Students of
the month for December are Lisa Arangio
and Adam Huetter.
Mr. Sweeney reported on the hearingBOCES Public Hearing
held in Oneonta at the Foothills
Performing Arts Center in regard to
the proposed ONC/BOCES restructuring.
Regent Robert Tallon facilitated the meeting.
The superintendent mentioned there was
a very impressive group of speakers and
agreement broke out in regard to the outcome
the 19 component districts would like to see;
the ONC/BOCES remaining, as is. Mr. Sweeney
mentioned we shouldexpect a decision within
the next two tofour weeks. Stated if things go
as hopefully expected, the process for finding
Minutes
December 18, 2008
a new BOCES Superintendent search would
begin immediately with a placement by July
of 2009. Mr. Sweeneycitedthetop notch
job Jeff Davisis doing as Interim BOCES
Superintendent.
Andy Howe, BBL Construction Services, gaveConstruction Update
his monthly update on the district’s additions
and renovations. Mentioned roof installation is
complete at both buildings. The CMU walls at
the new addition are complete and the roof
installation at the addition will start the week of
the 29th. Site work continues and the 1989
addition veneer is near term. DEP has been on
site and left a listof items to be addressed by
the Site Contractor. Field work continues
and the Hunter Elementary boiler has been replaced.
Mr. Howe mention there will be a savings of $24,000
because no asbestos was found in the boiler area in
the Elementary School. The boiler in Tannersville
will be replaced starting next weekand the electrical
contractor has installed conduits for thenew light poles
near the main and bus parking areas.
Mr. Williams reported he received positive feed backAdministrative Reports
from therecently held Parent-Teacher Conferences and Mr. Williams
thanks to Kate Goodrichfor coordinating the appointments.
Mr. Williams facilitatedanother Staff Development
Workshop for teachers on brainresearch. The FBLA
coordinated the “Toys for Tots” drive forapproximately 70
children in the community and thanks to Mrs. Schuman
and Barnum for helping the students with thedrive.
Noted there are banners displayed in the Tannersville
School reflecting the various character traits students
have been working on. The annual Senior Citizens’
Dinner was anoutstanding and well-organized event,
thanks to the cafeteriastaff, faculty and student council.
Mrs. McCool mentioned Mrs. Bonville, Mrs. Lenz andMrs. McCool
Ms. Colandrea have been meeting with faculty weekly
discussing response to intervention strategies. Elementary
faculty, Greg Fletcher and Jeff Graham presented uses for
the newPromethean Boards as part of a staff development
Minutes
December 18, 2008
session. Interim reports to be mailed Monday 12/22,
the Winter Concert was held last night, a great
job by the students and Danielle Gallo, the 5th grade
presented a play witha character education theme,
a very nice job by Mr. Chromczak and his students.
The 3rd grade held their annual international luncheon
and invited the Platte Clove Community children to
join them. The 4th grade’s SPCA visit for
tomorrow has been rescheduled. Mrs. McCool
acknowledged Mrs. Davis for distributing food bank
items tothe community, Mrs. Sofranko for organizing
the Elementary Science committee, Mrs. Iacono for a
technology staffdevelopment and Mrs. Coloton and
Mrs. Barnett for organizing the international luncheon.
Weather permitting, the SPTO will be treating PK-2 to
the Polar Express movie at the HunterTheater on
Monday.
Mrs. Van Fleet reported she and her assistant, Mrs. Van Fleet
Mrs. Phelan, are in the process of finishing up
PD reports which are due to the State by 1/5/09.
An accelerated math program has just been
implemented by the AIS teachers to enhance
Math instruction for K-12 students. This software
creates paper assignments tailored to individual
student’s level and generates a report. Special
Education teachers attended a training on 12/2 and
were provided with updated information on the
Educational Benefit program.
Mr. Sweeney mention the fiscal crisis facing the Mr. Sweeney
State of New York with a record $47 billion deficit
and stated school aid will not go untouched by these
dismal numbers. He stated, at present, the district
expects no mid-yearschool aid reduction, but
preliminary figures show the district may be looking
ata $159,000 reduction in funding for 2009-10. The
Superintendent does not believe the budget will go in
on time, but as districtbudgettime rolls around,
acknowledged we must plan to lay the ground work
for an aid reduction and noted he will be working with
his department heads to put in placea timely and
realistic budget for 2009-10.
Minutes
December 18, 2008
Following a third reading of Policy #9271 – RegularPolicy #9271
and Long Term Substitute Teachers, a motion wasApproval
made by Mr. Loucks, seconded by Mr. Czermerys
to approve the Policy.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mrs. Tripsas, seconded byRetirement Ext.
Mr. Byrne to approve a request for an extensionMrs. Slutzky
of eligibility for an early retirement incentive
for Barbara Slutzky, English Teacher.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Czermerys, secondedMileage Rate
by Mrs. Tripsas to approve a change in the
district mileage rate from .585 per mile to
.55 per mile according to IRS guidelines,
effective1/1/2009. CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Czermerys, secondedSub List Addition
by Mr. Loucks to approve Beverly Resnick-Dezan
for the Active Substitute List for 2008-09.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mrs. Tripsas, seconded2009 Senior & Disabled
by Mr. Byrne to raise the maximumCitizens’ Tax Exemption
income limit to $19,500 for 2009 for
Senior and Disabled Citizens.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Byrne, secondedTax Certiorari - Trailside
by Mr. Czermerys to accept judgment in
Tax Certiorari Matter; Index #08-1176, in
the matter of the Application of Trailside
Condominium Association I – against - the
Assessor of the Town of Hunter, The Board
of Assessment Review of the Town of
Hunter and the Town of Hunter, New York.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Byrne, seconded Fuel Bid 06-07
by Mr. Czermerys and upon the
recommendation of the Superintendent,
Minutes
December 18, 2008
resolved that the lawfirm of Ferrara,
Fiorenza, Larrison,Barrett & Reitz, C.C.
is retained to represent the District relating
to the ultra low sulfur diesel floating
differential charge imposed by
Granite Capital Holdings, Inc., dba
Mirabito Fuel Group, during the 2006-2007
fuel bid period. The law firm will represent
the District in any litigation that may follow
and the District will agree to accept the
outcome of such litigation.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion made by Mr. Byrne, seconded byApproval:
Mr. Czermerys to approve the district’sAIS Plan 09-10
AIS Plan for one year, commencing
1/1/2009 through 1/1/2010.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Motion was made by Mr. Loucks, secondedLong Term Leave
by Mrs. Tripsas to appoint Melanie SerbayReplacement – M.Serbay
as the long term substitute for Nichole Jozic,
Pre-K teacher, effective 12/22/08 according
to the district’s policy for long term substitutes.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
At 8:40 on a motion from Mr. Loucks,Adjourn to ES
seconded by Mrs. Tripsas the meeting
adjourned to executive session to discuss
the employment history of a particular
person and contractual issues.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Norita Johannessen
Clerk
At 9:30 on a motion from Mr. Byrne,Regular Session
seconded by Mr. Loucks the meeting
returned to regular session. No executive
Minutes
December 18, 2008
action taken.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
At 9:31 on a motion from Mrs. Tripsas,Adjourn
seconded by Mr. Czermerys the meeting
was adjourned.
CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Darfler-Sweeney
Clerk Pro Tem