Date: April 16, 2025
Kind of Meeting: Regular
Place: Herkimer Middle-High School Library Media Center
Members Present: President Brian Crandall, Vice President Joseph Lamanna, Matthew Collis, Diann Fischer, Robert Mihevc, Scott Petucci, and Aleksander Verenich
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Superintendent Kathleen Carney, Chad Hess, Gina McKernan, Zachary Abbe, Maria Lindsey, Nicole Crandall, Renee Vogt, Cristi Paragi, Michelle Ploss, Correne Holmes, Staff and Students
President Crandall called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Public Comment:
None
Approval of the Agenda:
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Collis seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted. All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0
Agriculture Class and FFA Members Presentation
Board Recognition
- Artwork displayed from Middle-High School Students
- NYS Art Teachers Association Legislative Student Art Exhibit
- Thank you from the Musical
Approval of the Minutes
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded a motion to approve the Board of Education regular meeting minutes from March 19, 2025. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0:2
Approval of Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the Board approved the following financial reports:
- Treasurer’s Report – March 2025
- General Warrant – March 2025
- Internal Claims Auditors Exception Report – March 2025
- HHS/HES Extra-Curricular Report – March 2025
- Budget Transfers under $5k – March 2025
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
Mr. Hess provided updates for the Business Office
Waiving Readings for Adoption of Policies
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded the following Board resolution:
WHEREAS it is customary practice of the Board of Education to have three readings of a policy prior to its adoption; and
WHEREAS the Board of Education wishes to adopt the following policies recommended by the Policy Committee, to wit, suggestions were sent to the Policy Service to accept revisions and to adopt the following policies:
- #4002 Reports of Possible Violations of Policy or Law
- #4100 Accounting of Funds
- #4101 Bonding of District Personnel
- #4200 Budget Planning
- #4201 Budget Publications and Hearing
- #4202 Budget Transfers
- #4203 Contingency Budget
THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby waives the Board of Education’s customary practice of three readings prior to the adoption of policies, and adopts the following policies, incorporated by reference in the minutes of this meeting.
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
Granting of Juneteenth as Paid Holiday
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the Herkimer Central School District Board of Education does hereby authorize the Superintendent of Schools to grant the federal holiday, Juneteenth (Thursday, June 19, 2025) to all 11- and 12-month CSEA employees as a paid holiday.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
2024-2025 School Calendar Adjustment
Mr. Verenich moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded to accept the following Board resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, upon recommendation of the Superintendent of the Schools, I would be seeking Board approval to adjust the 2024-2025 school calendar to reflect the following:
- April 17, 2025 – Unused Emergency Day
- May 23, 2025 – Unused Emergency Day
- May 27, 2025 – Unused Emergency Day
THEREFORE, should there be a reason for the school district to use an emergency day, May 27, 2025, will be a day in session.
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
BOCES Election Vote
“BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District does hereby authorize the District Clerk to cast one vote for a BOCES Board of Education member.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
BOCES 2025-2026 Administrative Budget
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded the following Board resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District does hereby authorize the District Clerk to cast one vote for the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Administrative Budget as presented for the 2025-2026 school year.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
Management Advisory Group Business Operations, Inc.
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Collis, seconded the following Board resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education hereby agrees to enter into the 2025-2026 Management Advisory Group Business Operations, Inc. (MAGBO) as presented; and,
THEREFORE, it isthe Districts desire for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contracts on the Boards behalf.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
DCMO BOCES Cooperative Purchasing
Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded to accept 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 04/16/2025
Disposal of Surplus Items
Mr. Collis moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded to accept the following Board resolution
“WHEREAS the Herkimer Central School District owns the items listed on the attached spreadsheet which are no longer useful or necessary for the school district’s purpose and are of no value to the Herkimer Central School District, as indicated in Ms. Boylan’s Fixed Asset Inventory Control Form, and;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby declares those items to be surplus as they have no further value to the school district and authorizes the Business Office to inform the appropriate personnel to dispose of those items in the best interest of the school district.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
Adoption of Operations Budget/ Board Vote
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded the following Board resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, does hereby adopt the 2025-2026 Operations Budget in the amount of $35,250,696 to be presented to district residents for a formal vote on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
2025-2026 Property Tax Report Card Adoption
Mr. Verenich moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District does hereby authorize the Superintendent of Schools to submit and certify the property tax report card to the New York State Education Department (SED) for the 2025-2026 school year”.
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
Tentative Agreement of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Full and Part-Time Non-Teaching Unit
Mr. Mihevc moved and Mr. Lamanna seconded the following Board resolution:
“WHEREAS the negotiating team for the Herkimer Central School District and the Herkimer Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Full and Part-Time unit executed a Tentative Agreement on April 14, 2025, calling for a five-year collectively negotiated agreement to the one that expires on June 30, 2025; and
“WHEREAS legislative approval is required by the Board of Education to implement the funding of said Agreement;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the BOE hereby accepts the Tentative Agreement between the Herkimer Central School District and the Herkimer CSEA covering the period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030, and authorizes the funding of those monies necessary to implement the provision of the 2025-2030 collectively negotiated agreement; and, for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contract on the Boards behalf.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
Superintendent Carney Updates
Administrative Reports
STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by M2. Fischer, the Board of Education approved the following personnel actions as presented.
All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 04/16/2025
Teaching Retirement:
Name: Steere, Sheila
Position: Elementary Teacher
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: June 30, 2025
Teaching Appointment:
| NAME: | Young, Hannah |
| TENURE AREA(s): | Elementary Education |
| DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROBATIONARY SERVICE IN EACH TENURE AREA | September 2, 2025 |
| EXPIRATION DATE OF PROBATIONARY APPOINTMENT | September 1, 2029 |
| To the extent required by the applicable provisions of Education Law Section 2509, 2573, 3213 and 3014, in order to be granted tenure, the classroom teacher or building principal shall have received composite or overall annual professional performance review ratings pursuant to Education Law 3012-d of either effective or highly effective in at least three (3) of the four (4) preceding years. If the classroom teacher or building principal receives an ineffective composite or overall rating in the final year of the probationary period, he or she shall not be eligible for tenure at that time. For purposes of this subdivision, classroom teacher and building principal mean a classroom teacher or building principal as such terms are defined in Sections 30-2.2 and 30-3.2 of the Part. | |
| EFFECTIVE | September 2, 2025 |
| SALARY | Step 1 Per HFA Contract (Pending certification) |
| NAME: | Jory, Cheryl |
| TENURE AREA(s): | Students with Disabilities (7th-8th grade) |
| DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROBATIONARY SERVICE IN EACH TENURE AREA | September 2, 2025 |
| EXPIRATION DATE OF PROBATIONARY APPOINTMENT | September 1, 2028 |
| To the extent required by the applicable provisions of Education Law Section 2509, 2573, 3213 and 3014, in order to be granted tenure, the classroom teacher or building principal shall have received composite or overall annual professional performance review ratings pursuant to Education Law 3012-d of either effective or highly effective in at least two (2) of the three (3) preceding years. If the classroom teacher or building principal receives an ineffective composite or overall rating in the final year of the probationary period, he or she shall not be eligible for tenure at that time. For purposes of this subdivision, classroom teacher and building principal mean a classroom teacher or building principal as such terms are defined in Sections 30-2.2 and 30-3.2 of the Part. | |
| EFFECTIVE | September 2, 2025 |
| SALARY | Step 18 Per HFA Contract |
Teaching Appointments:
Name: Meyer, Chanel
Position: .4 Spanish
Location: Middle-High School
Effective Date: September 2, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Salary: Step 6 (prorated) Per HFA Contract
Name: Poltynski, Karen
Position: .66 Spanish
Location: Middle-High School
Effective Date: September 2, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Salary: Off Step (prorated) Per HFA Contract
Name: Steele, Alan
Position: .5 Driver’s Education Teacher
Location: Middle-High School
Effective Date: September 2, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Salary: Step 15 (prorated) Per HFA Contract
Tutor Appointments:
Name: Seifried, Wayne
Position: Tutorial Services
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: April 17, 2025 – June 30, 2025, as needed
Salary: $25 per hour – Per 2021-2025 Herkimer Faculty Association Contract
Substitute:
Name: Couchman, Melia*
Position: Substitute Teacher
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: April 17, 2025 – June 30, 2025
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitutes (*Pending fingerprint clearance)
Name: Peckham, Alexander*
Position: Substitute Teacher
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: May 5, 2025 – June 30, 2025
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitutes (*Pending fingerprint clearance)
Summer Appointments:
Name: Lyga, Jami
Position: Summer Receiving (Middle-High School)
Effective Date: July 7, 2025 – September 27, 2025
Salary: $18.00/hr
Summer Appointments (continued):
Name: Moorehead, Melissa
Position: Summer Receiving (Elementary School)
Effective Date: July 7, 2025 – September 27, 2025
Salary: $18.00/hr
CSE/CPSE Program/Placement Recommendations:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Petucci, the Board of Education approved 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 04/16/2025
Future Meeting:
President Crandall gave updates and asked if anyone would like to contribute to the 27th Annual Senior Lock-In to please let him know.
He reminded the Board that May 6 at 6 p.m. is the Budget Hearing, May 20 from 12-8 p.m. is the Budget Vote at the Middle-High School Library and the next scheduled regular Board of Education meeting will be Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 6 p.m.
On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the Board of Education entered into Executive Session for the purpose of legal and personnel issues. 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 the Executive Session at 7:15 p.m.
The Board exited the Executive Session at 9:40 p.m.
Adjournment:
On a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Collis, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 9:42 p.m. All voted in favor; motion carried 7:0.
______________________
Gina A. McKernan
School District Clerk
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