The Friendship Central School Board of Education held its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Conference Room. The meeting was called to order by President William Ritchie at 6:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by roll call.
William Ritchie Present
Craig Plaisted Present
Wendy Blimline Present
James Lewis Present
Richard Stewart Present
Also Present:
Mrs. Judy May, Superintendent
Mr. Chris Cornwell, Building Principal
Ms. Tammy Wise, Director of Pupil Personnel/Student Services
Mr. Robert Lingenfelter, District Treasurer
Mrs. Laurie Ellis, District Clerk
Mr. Todd Chadwick, Teacher
Communication / Commendation
Belfast Central School Board Letter
Superintendent’s Report:
· The current Friendship Central School enrollment is included in the Board Packet
· The DTSDE Survey will launch March 1 and continue until March 15. This survey will be available to all parents, students and staff. Parents will have the opportunity to participate in the survey during the Academic Showcase.
· Mrs. May will be attending Focus School Training/Updates in Albany on January 30-31, 2017.
Principal’s Report:
· Mr. Cornwell presented the Board with and updated discipline report that also included how many repeat offenders.
District Treasurer Report:
· Included in the Board packet was the second quarter budget transfers that is for information purposes.
· Mr. Lingenfelter handed out the first portion of the 2017-2018 budget and reviewed it with the Board.
Director of Pupil Personnel / Student Services Report:
· Ms. Wise presented the Board with a draft of the required New York State regulations for SEIT Services. SEIT Services are for Preschool age children beginning at the age of three.
· Ms. Wise shared that the Special Education department is working hard on scheduling meetings on new referrals, which is a process that begins 60 days prior to the first meeting.
Reports:
· Mr. Chadwick shared the many events and happenings with the students. We will have around 6-8 students that will be attending the Allegany County Music Fest and 12-15 participants for the Solo Fest.
· Winter Formal is being held on January 27, 2017
· Pennies for Patience will begin January 20, 2017
· Many of our staff have utilized the Teacher Desk in Buffalo to get free classroom supplies.
Craig Plaisted moved, seconded by Wendy Blimline to act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the following consent agenda items:
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the minutes of the December 21, 2016 meeting as submitted by District Clerk, Laurie Ellis.
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the period of November 1, 2016 through November 30, 2016 as presented.
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to accept the warrant reports for the month of November for General, School Lunch, Federal, Extra-Curricular and Trust and Agency.
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the Internal Audit report as presented.
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the new procedures regarding Post-Issuance Compliance as follows:
WHEREAS, the Internal Revenue Service has issued regulations requiring issuers of tax-exempt obligations to certify on various forms that they actively monitor compliance with federal tax rules following the issuance of such obligations; and
WHEREAS, the District is an occasional issuer of tax-exempt obligations and thus is subject to the aforementioned compliance requirements which are critical for the preservation of the preferential tax status of those obligations; and
WHEREAS, it is therefore in the best interest of the District to adopt formal written procedures to ensure such compliance and to designate an official responsible for ensuring that such procedures are followed; and
WHEREAS, the District previously adopted interim post-issuance tax compliance procedures (the “Original Procedures”); and
WHEREAS, it was intended that the Original Procedures would be periodically updated and supplemented; and
WHEREAS, Hodgson Russ LLP, as bond counsel to the District, has prepared and has recommended that the District adopt updated and more comprehensive post-issuance tax compliance procedures;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the District hereby adopts the updated and more comprehensive post-issuance tax compliance procedures that are attached hereto as “Schedule A” and resolves to be governed thereby; and be it further
RESOLVED, that such Schedule A will be placed in its entirety in the official records, files and minutes of the District and adhered to going forward; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote, which resulted as follows:
Ayes – 5 Noes – 0 Absent – None
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the new procedures regarding Bond and Note Financings Sec-Driven Continuing Disclosure Compliance as follows:
WHEREAS, Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Rule 15c2-12 (the “Rule”) generally prohibits underwriters from purchasing or selling municipal securities unless the issuer of such securities has entered into a continuing disclosure obligation; and
WHEREAS, the District is an occasional issuer of municipal securities and thus has entered into continuing disclosure obligations (or will do so) from time to time; and
WHEREAS, Hodgson Russ LLP, as bond counsel to the District, has prepared and has recommended that the District adopt certain SEC-driven continuing disclosure compliance procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education deems it to be in the best interest of the District to adopt formal written procedures to help ensure continuing disclosure compliance, and to designate an official responsible for ensuring that such procedures are followed;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the District hereby adopts the continuing disclosure compliance procedures that are attached hereto as “Schedule A” and resolves to be governed thereby; and be it further
RESOLVED, that such Schedule A will be placed in its entirety in the official records, files and minutes of the District and adhered to going forward; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote, which resulted as follows:
Ayes – 5 Noes – 0 Absent – None
Motions were unanimously approved.
James Lewis moved, seconded by Richard Stewart to act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the following personnel items:
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to accept with much regret the resignation of Paul Braun as Third Grade Teacher effective June 30, 2017.
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the following substitutes for the 2016-2017 school year:
Sarah Kichman – Non-Certified K-12
Ashley Jordon – Non-Certified K-12
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the following Bus Driver substitutes pending they meet all of the mandated 19A and NYSED requirements for a New York State School Bus Driver:
Daniel Hunt and Brian Swank
Motions were unanimously approved.
Richard Stewart moved, seconded by Craig Plaisted to act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the following:
December 19, 2016 December 20, 2016 December 22, 2016
020300003 020210064 002019052
020300002 020230071 002020075
020210007 020280001
January 3, 2017 January 5, 2017 January 6, 2017
002016007 020260018 020280015
020220066 020300005
Motion was unanimously approved.
Wendy Blimline moved, seconded by James Lewis to act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the following items:
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the Richardson & Pullen, P.C. Retainer Agreement as presented.
To act upon the recommendation of the Superintendent to approve the Occupational Therapist Agreement between Friendship Central School and Belfast Central School as presented.
Motions were unanimously approved.
Craig Plaisted moved, seconded by Wendy Blimline that the Board of Education go into executive session at 7:00 p.m. to discuss a particular personnel matter.
Motion was unanimously approved.
The Board reconvened at 7:24 p.m.
James Lewis moved, seconded by Wendy Blimline to adjourn at 7:25 p.m.
Motion was unanimously approved.
Laurie Ellis
District Clerk