The Regular Board of Education Meeting was called to order at 6:30 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: Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Carney seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.
Board Communication: Superintendent Miller indicated that the Board received several informational items that were not included in their Board packet for information only and noted they will be referred to later in the meeting. Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded a motion to place all appropriate Board Communications on file with the District Clerk. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.
Approval of the Minutes: Mr. Carney moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded a motion to formally approve the Board of Education Budget Hearing Meeting minutes from Tuesday, December 14, 2021. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.
Business Reports: Upon recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Ms. Gilbert seconded by Mr. Mihevc, the BOE accepts receipt of the December Treasurer’s Report, Revenue Status Report, Appropriation Status Report, General Warrant totaling $2,770,039.88, Capital Warrant totaling $475,058.01, Expendable Trust Warrant totaling $73.61, the December Exceptions Report, the December HHS/HES Extra-Curricular Treasurer’s Report, and 2018 Capital Project Change Order Update. A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01-19-22)
Financial Single Audit Report: Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Miller and the District Audit Committee, on a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Petucci, the Board accepted the District’s 2020 -2021 Financial Single Audit Report and approved its submission to the New York State Education Department.
A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; Motion caried 5:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01-19-22)
Property Tax Settlement Resolution: Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded the following Board resolution: “Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent and receipt of Notice of Settlement and Demand for refund in the matter of Herkimer management LLC, it is Resolved; That such refunds are approved from the District’s applicable tax certiorari reserves and may be paid as required by the Settlement Agreement between the Herkimer Associates, LLC and the Town of Herkimer”.
A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; Motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01-19-22).
Superintendent Search Resolution: Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, that the Herkimer Central School District Board of Education authorizes District Superintendent Sandra R. Sherwood to be the Search Consultant to the Board for the purpose of recruiting a Superintendent of Schools, and to furthermore, reimburse the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES for expenses related to the process. The Herkimer Central School District agrees to defend and indemnify Sandra R. Sherwood with respect to any claim and/or civil action arising out of the performance of such duties to the maximum extent permitted by law”.
All voted in favor; Motion carried 5:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01-19-22).
Superintendent Report:
Superintendent Miller provided the following update: The state executive school budget proposal contains a $1.7 million foundation aid increase for Herkimer. The expense base aids from the runs need to be reviewed and an initial revenue and expense projections should be ready in February. The state aid increases are in line with planned decreases in federal funds from the ARP planning and other sources which should make programmatic development under ARP sustainable for the Herkimer Central School District. All federal grants are submitted and approved including ARP. The final ARP grant, grant narrative and FS 10 are posted to the district website. The new expanded pre-K grant which includes an additional $180,000 for a total of more than $240,000 in federal/state support has made our full day pre-k program sustainable in the long term.
A brief discussion followed.
Administrative Reports: Mr. Abbe, Ms. Vogt and Ms. Tomaso’s reports were all reviewed by the BOE. A brief discussion followed. Mr. Carney again expressed his desire to have a student representative at the meetings.
Staffing Recommendations: Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Carney, the BOE approved the following personnel actions as presented. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0:
Teaching Retirement:
Name: Couchman, Melody
Position: Pre-K Teacher
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: June 30, 2022
Name: Davis, Deborah
Position: Kindergarten Teacher
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: October 2, 2022
Teaching Resignation:
Name: Moskal, Kristine
Position: Science Teacher
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: January 21, 2022
Non-Teaching Retirement:
Name: Heap, Dale
Position: Cleaner
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: February 25, 2022
Staffing Appointments:
| NAME: | Wallace, Kristy | |
| TENURE AREA(s): | Childhood Education (1-6) | |
| DATE OF COMMENCEMENT
OF PROBATIONARY SERVICE IN EACH TENURE AREA |
February 21, 2022 |
|
| EXPIRATION DATE OF PROBATIONARY
APPOINTMENT |
February 20, 2026
|
|
| 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 (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 | February 21, 2022 | |
| SALARY | Step 4 2021-2025 Herkimer Faculty Association Contract | |
Non-Teaching Appointment:
Name: Gilbert, Hannah
Position: Typist
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: January 11, 2022
Salary: $16.75/hour
(Probationary period from January 11, 2022 – July 10, 2022)
Non-Teaching Appointment (Amended BOE 12/14/21):
Name: Pouliot, Sydney
Position: Typist
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: January 5, 2022
Prob. Period Serv: January 5, 2022 – July 4, 2022
Salary: $16.75/hour
Substitute Appointment:
Name: Johnson, Amanda
Position: Substitute
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: December 20, 2021 – January 31, 2022
Salary: Per Payment Guidelines for Substitutes
Name: Johnson, Amanda
Position: Long-Term Substitute (Pending Certification)
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: February 1, 2022 – June 24, 2022
Salary: Per Payment Guidelines for Substitutes
Substitute Appointment (Amended 12/14/21):
Name: Thuener, Jessica
Position: Long-Term Substitute/Licensed Teaching Assistant
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: January 3, 2022 – June 30, 2022
Salary: 7.5 hr day/$125 per day
Extra- Curricular Appointments:
Name: Lalonde, Jillian
Appointment: Spring Theatrical Production Director
Salary: $2,450
Winter 2021-2022 Unpaid Coaching Appointment:
Couchman, Brett – Varsity Indoor Track Volunteer Assistant Coach
CSE/CPSE Program / Placement Recommendations: Upon recommendation from Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Mr. Carney, 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 5:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01-19-22)
Board of Education Reports:
MOA with CSEA Full-Time: Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Carney seconded the following Board resolution: “WHEREAS, BE IT RESOLVED, that the BOE hereby accepts the Memorandum of Agreement between the Herkimer Central School District and the Civil Service Employee Association Full-Time Non-Teaching Unit (CSEA); and, for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contract on the Boards behalf.”
All voted in favor; Motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01-19-22).
MOA with CSEA Part-Time: Mr. Carney moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded the following Board resolution: “WHEREAS, BE IT RESOLVED, that the BOE hereby accepts the Memorandum of Agreement between the Herkimer Central School District and the Civil Service Employee Association Part-Time Non-Teaching Unit (CSEA); and, for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contract on the Boards behalf.”
All voted in favor; Motion carried 5:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01-19-22).
President’s Update: President Crandall congratulated Mr. Miller on his retirement. He thanked him for all of the hard work he has done for our district and wished him well.
Future Meeting Dates/Agenda Items: The next scheduled BOE meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 6 p.m. in the elementary cafeteria. Curriculum council presentations will take place prior to the board meeting at 5:30. The April 20, 2022 Board of Education meeting was changed to Tuesday, April 19, 2022 due to budget calendar restrictions. All agreed on date change.
Mr. Carney commended the girls’ varsity basketball team for making cards and delivering them to a community member who was undergoing health issues.
Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Carney seconded a motion to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing negotiations with HFA and particular personnel. 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 5:0.
Executive Session: The Board moved into Executive Session at 7:30 p.m. Interim Deputy Administrator, Mr. Gary Tutty and High School Principal, Ms. Mary Tomaso were invited into executive session as well. Ms. Mary Tomaso exited Executive Session at 7:42 p.m.
The Board exited Executive Session at 8:01 p.m. and entered into regular session at 8:02 p.m.
Ms. Sandra Sherwood Presentation-Superintendent Search: Ms. Sandra Sherwood gave an overview of the Superintendent search process. A brief discussion followed.
Meeting Evaluation: Ms. Gilbert, this evening’s meeting evaluator, presented her review of the January 19, 2022 Board of Education meeting.
Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Carney seconded a motion to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing negotiations with HFA and particular personnel. 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 5:0.
Executive Session: The Board moved back into Executive Session at 8:34 p.m. Deputy Interim Administrator, Mr. Gary Tutty and Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent, Ms. Sandra Sherwood were in attendance.
The Board exited Executive Session at 9:32 p.m.
Adjournment: On a motion made by Mr. Carney and seconded by Ms. Gilbert, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 9:34 p.m. All voted in favor 5:0.