Dec. 14, 2021, minutes

The Regular Board of Education Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School Library Media Center by President Crandall and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.

President Crandall explained that the Board of Education welcomes public comment and community input at meetings.  However, we caution that we are not authorized to engage in conversations pertaining to individual students, faculty, staff or administrators.  Topics of this nature may only be discussed during executive session and must be coordinated with the Superintendent of Schools prior to a BOE meeting.

Public Comment:

The Board of Education heard no comments from the public.

Approval of the Agenda:

Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Carney seconded a motion to formally move Item 7r. (Business Reports/Superintendent Report) to the top of the agenda.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0.   A discussion followed.

Superintendent’s Report:

The district was forced to adjust the calendar and move to remote instruction because of transportation staffing issues. Remote education will take place for three days this week for regular education students and our out of district special education students will be provided transportation to their programs. The district will provide meals to students for the next 6 days at three locations and make special accommodations to provide meals to those who cannot get their meals at one of those locations. The district will use three of five emergency days as well to minimize the use of remote instruction.

The district’s ARP grant and title grant were both resubmitted and are under review along with the extended pre k grant.

The district is projected to receive about $1.7 million more in foundation aid in 2022-23 as we projected last year. The total aid increase for 2022-23 should be around $2 million dollars and we should have confirmation of that number by the end of January. I asked administrators to have their projected student counts, staffing needs and other budget needs to the business office by February 1, 2022. The district will be able to use the revenue numbers and expenditure numbers to develop a preliminary budget by the middle of March with the budget being finalized in April.

Board Communication:

Ms. Gilbert moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded a motion to place all appropriate Board Communications on file with the District Clerk.  All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0.

Approval of the Minutes: Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Carney seconded a motion to formally approve the Special Board of Education Meeting minutes from Friday, November 19, 2021.   All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0.

Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded a motion to formally approve the Regular Board of Education Meeting minutes from Wednesday, November 17, 2021.   Motion carried 6:0:1 (Mr. Petucci abstained due to being absent from that meeting).

Business Reports:

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Mr. Lewis seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE accepts receipt of the November and Revised October Treasurer’s Reports, Revenue Status Report, Appropriation Status Report, General Warrant totaling $1,885,843.39, Capital Warrant totaling $202,014.56, the November Exceptions Report, the November HES/HHS Extra Curricular Treasurer’s Report, 2018 Capital Project

Change Order Update and four (4) Budget Transfer under the $5,000 total  All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-2021).

Budget Transfers Over: Upon recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Carney, the BOE approved one (1) budget transfer over the $5,000 limit totaling $163,874.72.  A brief discussion followed.  All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0  (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

RFP Proposal: Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, the Herkimer Board of Education has the desire to reject all proposals received from the RFP issued October 2021.”

A brief discussion followed.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

Independent Audit Services RFP: Mr. Carney moved and Ms. Fischer seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, the Herkimer CSD has the desire to hire an Independent Auditor to perform all the necessary steps to complete the district annual audit requirements.

WHEREAS, it is the Districts desire to enter into an agreement for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024, with possible extension for fiscal years ending June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2026; per terms and conditions of the RFP.”

A brief discussion followed.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

Donation to School Resolution: Ms. Fischer moved, and Ms. Gilbert seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, does hereby accept receipt of the donation from Wal-Mart, to increase Revenue A2705 and to increase the Appropriation Code A2110 400E by $5,000.00 to be used for students selected for Shop with a Cop”.

A brief discussion followed.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

Little Falls CSD Combining Sports (Varsity):

I am seeking formal approval of the following resolution: Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education hereby authorizes the combining of the Herkimer CSD and Little Falls City School District varsity wrestling teams.

A brief discussion followed.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

EBALR Resolution:

Mr. Lewis moved and Ms. Gilbert seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, the Herkimer Board of Education hereby authorizes an increase to the 2021-2022 budget in the amount of $141,784.00 funded from the EBALR reserve for the purpose of distribution of funds for vacation/sick time benefits.”

All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

School Bus Agreement Resolution: Mr. Lewis moved, and Ms. Gilbert seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, the Herkimer Board of Education hereby approves the School Bus Agreement as presented, outlining the leasing of school buses and bus garage facility to Birnie Bus in accordance with the awarded RFP”.

A brief discussion followed.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

Cooperative Purchasing Bid Resolution: Ms. Fischer moved, and Ms. Gilbert seconded the following Board resolution:  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 equipment, supplies and contract items, and WHEREAS,  The Central School named below 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-o, and  WHEREAS, The Central School named below 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 Central School listed below 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 Central School listed below 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 Central School listed below agrees to (1) abide by 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).

A brief discussion followed.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

Cooperative Purchasing Participation Resolution: Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded the following Board resolution: 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 Central School named below 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 Central School named below 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 Central School listed below 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 Central School listed below authorizes the 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 Central School listed below 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).

All voted in favor:  Motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

Superintendent’s Reports:

Administrative Reports: Mr. Abbe, Ms. Tomaso, Ms. Vogt and Ms. Paragi’s reports were all reviewed by the BOE.  A brief discussion followed.

Staffing Recommendations: Mr. Lewis moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded the motion to table agenda item 8b. Staffing Recommendations until after Executive Session.  All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0.

CSE/CPSE Program / Placement Recommendations

Upon recommendation from Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Ms. Gilbert, the BOE approved the Committee on Special Education, the Sub-Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Preschool Special Education program/placement recommendations as presented. All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-2021).

2022-2023 Operations Budget Calendar:

Upon recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Lewis, the BOE voted to accept/approve the copy of the 2022-2023 Budget Calendar as presented. All voted in favor, motion carried 7:0.

Board of Education Reports:

Interim Administrator Agreement: Mr. Lewis moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded the following Board resolution: “RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District approves the contract between Mr. Gary Tutty and the district, authorizes the President of the Board of Education to sign the agreement, and further RESOLVED that the Board appoints Mr. Tutty as Interim Deputy Administrator effective December 20, 2021 through January 31, 2022, and then appoints Mr. Tutty as Interim Superintendent effective February 1, 2022, all in accordance with the terms of the above approved contract”.

All voted in favor:  Motion carried 7:0  (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-2021).

President’s Update:

President Crandall extended his wishes for all to have a happy holiday.

Future Meeting Dates/Agenda Items:

The next scheduled BOE meeting will be on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 in the Jr./Sr. High School Media Center, and it was noted that Ms. Sandra Sherwood will be in attendance to discuss the Superintendent Search process.

Meeting Evaluation: Ms. Fischer, this evening’s meeting evaluator, presented her review of the December 14, 2021, Board of Education meeting.

Ms. Gilbert moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded a motion to move into Executive Session. The Board may take action in public session after the Executive Session ends and the Board returns to public session.  All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0.

Executive Session: The Board moved into Executive Session at 7:45 p.m.

The Board exited Executive Session at 8:13 p.m.

Mr. Lewis moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded a motion to remove from the table, agenda item 8.b. Staffing Recommendations.  All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0.

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Carney, the BOE approved the following personnel actions:

Teaching Resignation:

Name:                                             Kemler, Cynthia
Position:                                         Licensed Teaching Assistant
Location:                                        Elementary School
Effective Date:                             February 11, 2022

Non-Teaching Resignation:

Name:                                             Rosenburg, Mackenzie
Position:                                         Typist
Location:                                        Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date:                             December 31, 2021

Teaching Tenure Appointments:

Name:                                                            Klock, Courtney
Position:                                         Licensed Teaching Assistant
Location:                                        Jr./Sr. High School
Tenure Area:                                Teaching Assistant
Prob. Period Served:                January 2, 2018 – January 2, 2022
Effective Date:                             January 3, 2022

Non-Teaching Appointment:

Name:                                             Pouliot, Sydney
Position:                                         Typist
Location:                                        Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date:                             December 27, 2021
Prob. Period Serv:                      December 27, 2021 – June 26, 2022
Salary:                                              $16.75/hour (Pending Fingerprint Clearance)

Name:                                             Vincent, Karen
Position:                                         School Nurse (RN)
Location:                                        Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date:                             December 20, 2021
Prob. Period Serv:                      December 20, 2021 – June 19, 2022
Salary:                                              $27.50/hour

Non-Teaching Appointment  (Amended BOE 11/17/21):

Name:                                             Waghorn, James
Position:                                         Full-Time Cleaner
Effective Date:                             November 29, 2021
Prob. Period Serv:                      November 29, 2021 – May 28, 2022
Salary:                                              $13.50/hr.

Non-Teaching Appointment  (Amended BOE 07/07/21):

Name:                                             Wilcox, Elizabeth
Position:                                         Full-Time Cleaner
Effective Date:                             July 11, 2021
Prob. Period Serv:                      July 11, 2021 – January 10, 2022
Salary:                                              $13.50/hr.

CSE/CPSE Substitute Aide Appointment:

Name:                                             Weaver, Kari
Position:                                         1:1 Substitute aide at St. Francis de Sales
Effective Date:                             December 6, 2021 – June 30, 2022
Salary:                                              $15.00/hour

Substitute Appointment:

Name:                                             Futscher, James
Position:                                         Long-Term Substitute
Location:                                        Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date:                             February 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022
Salary:                                              Per Payment Guidelines for Substitutes

Name:                                             Thuener, Jessica
Position:                                         Long-Term Substitute/Licensed Teaching Assistant
Location:                                        Elementary School
Effective Date:                             January 3, 2022
Salary:                                              7.5 hr day/$125 per day

Home Tutor Appointment:

Name:                                             Dessaro, Dina
Position:                                         Tutorial Services (District-Wide)
Effective Date:                             2021-2022 School Year, as needed
Salary:                                             Per HFA Contract

Home Tutor Appointment: (Amended BOE 10/20/21)

Name:                                              Lockwood, Teresa
Position:                                         Tutorial Services (District- Wide)
Effective Date:                             2021-2022 School Year, as needed
Salary:                                             Per HFA Contract

Mentor Appointments for 2021-2022 School Year:

Schoff, Deb, Classroom Teacher (Mentor)
Vickio, Ashley, Classroom Teacher (Mentee)
Salary per the HFA contract
Wheeler-Stapf, Heather, Art Teacher (Mentor)
Lewandrowski, Kory, Physical Education Teacher (Mentee) Salary per the HFA contract

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Mr. Carney, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE approved the memorandum of agreement with the Herkimer Faculty Association (HFA) dated 12-14-21.  All voted in favor.  Motion carried 7:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 12-14-21).

Adjournment: On a motion made by Ms. Fischer and seconded by Ms. Gilbert, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 8:17 p.m.  All voted in favor 7:0.

 

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