Date: May 28, 2025
Kind of Meeting: Regular
Place: Herkimer Middle-High School Library Media Center
Members Present: President Brian Crandall, Vice President Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, and Scott Petucci
Members Absent: Diann Fischer and Aleksander Verenich
Others Present: Superintendent Kathleen Carney, Chad Hess, Gina McKernan, Zachary Abbe, Maria Lindsey, Nicole Crandall, Renee Vogt, Cristi Paragi, Michelle Ploss, Correne Holmes, Matthew Collis, Talia Baker, Chief Michael Jory
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:
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted. All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0
Approval of the Minutes
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded a motion to approve the Board of Education regular meeting minutes from April 16, 2025, and Budget Hearing on May 12, 2025. All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0
Approval of Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mr. Petucci, the Board approved the following financial reports:
- Treasurer’s Report – April 2025
- General Warrant – April 2025
- Internal Claims Auditors Exception Report – April 2025
- HHS/HES Extra-Curricular Report – April 2025
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Mihevc, the Board approved the following financial report:
- Budget Transfers over $5k – April 2025
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Mr. Hess provided updates for the Business Office
Improving Vendor Management Resolution
Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded the following Board resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District authorizes the attorneys designated by the ROC to negotiate and approve of DPAs for software and/or technology resources; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Herkimer Central School District Board of Education grants the ROC and its designated attorneys the authority to negotiate the terms and conditions of DPAs and take such actions so as to effectuate the purposes and intent of this resolution.
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Modification of the 2025-2026 BOE Reorganizational Date
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded to approve the following Board resolution:
Be it Resolved, that upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Herkimer Central School District Board of Education meeting date be revised,
- July 9, 2025, changed to July 2, 2025
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Creation of Scholarship Account
Mr. Lamanna moved and Mr. Mihevc seconded the following Board resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby authorizes the creation of a Scholarship Award in honor of Dorothy D’Arpino”.
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Non-Transportation Requests
Mr. Mihevc 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 following transportation requests for the 2025-2026 school year:
Mohawk Valley Christian Academy
| Student 1 | 360 Protection Ave, Apt. M14, Herkimer |
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Catholic Charities Agreement
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded the following Board resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby approves the attached agreement between the Herkimer County Prevention Council at Catholic Charities of Herkimer County and the Herkimer Central School District as presented. This agreement shall begin September 1, 2025, and shall extend through and including June 30, 2026.
WHEREAS The Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to signon behalf of the Board to enter into the agreement.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
MORIC Equipment Resolution
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:
WHEREAS it is the plan of a number of PUBLIC-SCHOOL DISTRICTS and the MADISONONEIDA BOCES (the “BOCES”) during the 2025-2026 school year to bid jointly for the purchase of various types of computers and technology commodities (the “Commodities”); and
WHEREAS AS, the Herkimer Central School District (“the School District”) is desirous of participating in the joint bidding of the Commodities, as authorized by General Municipal Law, Article 5-G; and
WHEREAS, this Board of Education has received and reviewed the Cooperative Bid Procedures (“the Procedures”) governing its right and responsibilities should it elect to participate in the joint bidding of commodities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance with Cooperative Bid Procedures the Board of Education agrees to award bid purchase item purchases according to the recommendation of the BOCES if such award is in the best interest of the school district.
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
2025-2026 Central Valley Academy- Combining Sports
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Mihevc 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 Central School District and Central Valley Academy Girl’s Modified, Junior Varsity and Varsity Field Hockey teams for the 2025-2026 school year. This is contingent on the approval of Central Valley Academy Board of Education.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Waiving Readings for Adoption of Policies
Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Lamanna 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:
- #2307 Ex Officio Student Member of the Board
- #4001 Fiscal Responsibilities
- #4204 School Tax Assessment and Collection
- #4205 Real Property Tax Exemption for Persons Over 65 years of Age
- #4300 Borrowing Funds
- #4301 Investments Policy
- #4302 Insurance
- #4304 Deposits
- #4400 Audit Committee
- #4401 Annual Audit
- #4402 Internal Audit Function
- #7002 Education of Homeless Children
- #7002.1 Procedures for Achieving Education of Homeless Children
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 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Appointment of Student Board Member Representative
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, the Herkimer Central School District Board of Education does hereby appoint a representative of the Class of 2026 as the Ex Officio Student Board Member for the 2025-2026 school year.
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Speech Language Therapy of Central NY Agreement
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded the following Board resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED, Herkimer Central School District has the need for an independent contractor to perform speech language therapy services set forth herein and enters into such an agreement with Speech-Language Therapy of Central New York, LLC, and
WHEREAS it isthe Districts desire to enter into this agreement from July 1, 2025, thru June 30, 2026, per terms and conditions of the agreement. “
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Operations Budget Vote Results
Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded the following Board resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, does hereby accept the 2025-2026 Operations Budget/Board vote results from Tuesday, May 20, 2025.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
SEQRA Resolution Capital Outlay Project – Art Room
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Herkimer Central School District Board of Education finds and
concludes that the proposed Project is a Type II action within the meaning of 6 NYCRR 617.5
and, therefore, is not subject to review under SEQRA and the regulations thereunder.
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Superintendent Carney Updates
Administrative Reports
Staffing Recommendations
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the Board of Education approved the following personnel actions as presented.
All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Amendment:
Jory, Cheryl – Students with Disabilities (7th-8th Grade) – Amend Tenure from 3 years to 2 years, effective September 2, 2025 – September 1, 2027 [BOE Meeting: 04-16-2025]
Administrative Resignation:
Name: Abbe, Zachary
Position: High School Principal
Location: Middle-High School
Effective: June 30, 2025
Non-Teaching Resignation:
Name: Farrington, Sandhya
Position: Elementary School Nurse
Location: Elementary School
Effective: June 27, 2025
Teaching Appointment:
| NAME: | Baldwin, Aaron |
| TENURE AREA(s): | Music Education K-12 |
| 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 2 Per HFA Contract |
Teaching Appointments (continued):
| NAME: | St. James, Cynthia |
| TENURE AREA(s): | Students with Disabilities – 7-12 |
| 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: | Valerio, Logan |
| TENURE AREA(s): | Social Studies 7-12 |
| 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 2 Per HFA Contract |
Summer Teaching Appointments:
Name: Steele, Alan
Position: Drivers Ed
Effective Date: July 1, 2025 – July 24, 2025
Salary: Daily Rate equal to 1/200th of Step 15
Teaching Tenure Appointments:
Name: Saugh, Carolyn
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: School Counselor
Probationary Period: 08/10/2022 – 08/09/2025
Effective Date: August 10, 2025
Name: Rich, Kristen
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: Health/Physical Education
Probationary Period: 08/31/2022 – 08/30/2025
Effective Date: August 31, 2025
Name: Roorda, Jamie
Location: Elementary School
Tenure Area: Elementary Education
Probationary Period: 09/01/2021 – 08/31/2025
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Name: Meszler, Susan
Location: Elementary School
Tenure Area: Licensed Teacher Assistant
Probationary Period: 09/01/2021 – 08/31/2025
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Name: Baker, Talia
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: Agricultural Production, Science and Business 7-12
Probationary Period: 09/01/2021 – 08/31/2025
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Name: Brown, Sarah
Location: Elementary School
Tenure Area: Elementary Education
Probationary Period: 09/01/2021 – 08/31/2025
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Teaching Tenure Appointments (continued):
Name: Klink, Kayla
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: School Social Worker
Probationary Period: 09/01/2021 – 08/31/2025
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Name: Macri, Barbara
Location: Elementary School
Tenure Area: Students with Disabilities – Birth – 6th
Probationary Period: 09/01/2023 -08/31/2025
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Name: Futscher, James
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: Students with Disabilities – 7-12
Probationary Period: 09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025
Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Name: Bello, Brianne
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: Library Media Specialist
Probationary Period: 09/22/2021 – 09/21/2025
Effective Date: September 22, 2025
Name: Freeland, Gabriella
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: Family and Consumer Science
Probationary Period: 09/23/2022-09/22/2025
Effective Date: September 23, 2025
2025-2026 Student Teaching Placement:
Student Teacher: Jacobs, Mason
Certification Area: Elementary Education
Cooperating Teachers: Denton, Heather
Maldonado, Marissa
Location: Herkimer Elementary School
Effective: September 2, 2025 – December 19, 2025
Student Teacher: Traut, Hailey
Certification Area: Speech Language
Cooperating Teachers: Richard, Stacy
Location: Herkimer Elementary School
Effective: September 2, 2025 – December 12, 2025
Administrative Internship Appointment:
Name: Kozma, Krista
Position: Administrative Intern
Effective Date: September 2, 2025 – June 30, 2026
CSE/CPSE Program/Placement Recommendations:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, 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 4:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 05/28/2025
Future Meeting:
President Crandall reminded the Board that June 18 is a regular board meeting and July 2 is the reorg and regular board meeting at 6 p.m.
On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mr. Mihevc, 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 4:0
Executive Session:
The Board moved into the Executive Session at 6:50 p.m.
The Board exited the Executive Session at 9:17 p.m.
Adjournment:
On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mr. Petucci, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 9:19 p.m. All voted in favor; motion carried 4:0
______________________
Gina A. McKernan
School District Clerk
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