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. Carney moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0.
Board Communication: Superintendent Miller indicated that the Board received a thank you in honor of School Board Appreciation. Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded a motion to place all appropriate Board Communications on file with the District Clerk. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0.
Board Recognitions: The Board of Education acknowledged the artwork that was on display from our Elementary as well as Jr/Sr High School students.
Approval of the Minutes: Ms. Gilbert moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded a motion to formally approve the Regular Board of Education Meeting minutes from Wednesday, October 20, 2021. Motion carried 5:0:1. (Mr. Crandall abstained due to being absent from the October meeting).
Business Report: Upon recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Mr. Carney seconded by Ms. Gilbert, the BOE accepts receipt of the October Treasurer’s Report, Revenue Status Report, Appropriation Status Report, General Warrant totaling $3,170,162.17, Capital Warrant totaling $1,003,641.50, Federal Warrant totaling $29,207.84, Expendable Trust Warrant totaling -$149.72, the October Exceptions Report, the October HES/HHS Extra Curricular Treasurer’s Report and 2018 Capital Project Change Order Update. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0. [Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-2021]
Budget Transfers Over: Upon recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Mr. Lewis, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE approved one (1) budget transfer over the $5,000 limit totaling $257,000.00. A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; motion carried 6-0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Return of Unpaid Taxes: Mr. Carney moved and Mr. Lewis seconded the following Board resolution: “RESOLVED, that Brian Crandall, President of the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District, in the Town of Herkimer, County of Herkimer, NY, be and hereby is authorized, empowered and directed to sign on behalf of said Board of Education of said District, the Certificate of the Board of Education of said District attached to the “School Collector’s Return to County Treasurer” of unpaid taxes of said District, which return is for the unpaid taxes assessed upon the lands in said District in the tax list made out and delivered to the Collector on the 18th day of August 2021, and which return is dated and made on the 1st day of November 2021.”
A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Disposal of Surplus Items: Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded to accept the following Board resolution: “WHEREAS, the Herkimer CSD owns the desks and library books, as per attached, which are no longer useful or necessary for the school district’s purpose and are of no value to the Herkimer CSD, 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 6:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Building Blocks Learning Center Resolution: Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Carney seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, the Herkimer CSD has the need for an independent contractor to perform Related Services set forth herein and enters into such an agreement with Building Blocks Learning Center, LLC during the 2021-2022 school year. WHEREAS, it is the Districts desire to enter into this agreement for the 2021-2022 school year; per terms and conditions of the agreement.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Speech Language Therapy of Central NY Resolution: Ms. Fischer moved and Mr. Lewis seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, Herkimer CSD 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 is the Districts desire to enter into this agreement for the 2021-2022 school year; per terms and conditions of the agreement.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Physical Therapy UDO Services Resolution: Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Carney seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, that the BOE does hereby authorize this agreement with Kayla Lachut for Physical Therapy Services for the Herkimer Central School District, effective October 19, 2021 thru June 30, 2022; and, for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contract on the Boards behalf.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Metropolitan Commercial Bank Resolution: Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, that upon the recommendation of Superintendent Miller, the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District does hereby approve Metropolitan Commercial Bank as an official depository of the District pending full council review of any legal requirements”.
A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Change in Rate of Pay Resolution: Mr. Lewis moved, and Mr. Carney seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education hereby authorizes the rate of pay for Certified Substitutes that was previously approved at the July 7, 2021 Reorganizational Meeting, be changed from $110.00 per day to $115.00 per day, and the rate of pay for Uncertified Substitutes be changed from $90.00 per day to $95.00 per day, effective December 31, 2021”.All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Utica College Clinical Agreement: Mr. Lewis moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, the Herkimer Central School District has the desire to enter into an agreement with Utica College for clinical services effective November 1, 2021 – November 1, 2022, per terms and conditions of the agreement; and, for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contract on the Boards behalf.”
A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Independent External Audit Services Resolution: Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Lewis seconded the motion to table agenda item 7t. Independent External Audit Services Resolution until after Executive Session. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0.
Donation to School Resolution: Mr. Fischer moved, and Mr. Carney seconded to accept/approve 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 accept receipt of the donation of an indoor tennis net system from Mr. Joseph Guiffre, to benefit the Herkimer Central School District Physical Education classes; and does hereby accept receipt of the donation from Hannaford Supermarket, to increase Revenue A2705 and to increase the Appropriation Code A2110 450E by $288.00 to benefit the Herkimer Elementary students as needed”.
All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
Superintendent Report:
Administrative Reports: Mr. Abbe, Ms. Tomaso and Ms. Vogt’s reports were all reviewed by the BOE. A brief discussion followed.
Staffing Recommendations
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Mr. Lewis, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE approved the following personnel actions as presented. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0:
Teaching Resignation:
Name: Valasek, Paul
Position: Special Education Teacher
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: November 28, 2021
Non-Teaching Resignation:
Name: Anderson, Lori
Position: RN
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: December 12, 2021
Name: Gay, Jodi
Position: Typist
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: November 9, 2021
Name: Hyney, Alyssa
Position: 1:1 Substitute Aide
Location: St. Francis de Sales School
Effective Date: November 4, 2021
Staffing Appointments:
NAME: Lowell, Sylvia
TENURE AREA(s): Special Education
DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROBATIONARY SERVICE IN EACH TENURE AREA
September 1, 2021
EXPIRATION DATE OF PROBATIONARY APPOINTMENT: August 31, 2024
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 all of the 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 1, 2021
SALARY: Step 22 2021-2025 Herkimer Faculty Association Contract
Non-Teaching Appointments:
Name: Waghorn, James
Position: Full-Time Cleaner
Effective Date: 6 month probation: November 29, 2021- May 28, 2022
Salary: $13.50/hr. (Pending Fingerprint Clearance)
Retired Substitute Appointment:
Name: Krause, John
Position: Teacher
Location: Jr./Sr. High School
Effective Date: 2021 – 2022 School Year, as needed
Salary: Based on Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitutes
Substitute Appointment:
Name: Goldman, Andrew
Position: School Psychologist
Effective Date: November 12, 2021
Salary: $300/day per diem (Pending Fingerprint Clearance)
Name: Becker, Hannah
Position: Long-Term Substitute/Licensed Teaching Assistant
Effective Date: November 29, 2021 – June 30, 2022
Salary: 7.5 hr day/$125 per day
CSE/CPSE Substitute Aide Appointment:
Name: Doolittle, Tami
Position: 1:1 Substitute aide at St. Francis de Sales
Effective Date: November 3, 2021 – June 30, 2022
Salary: $15.00/hour
Coaching Recommendations:
2021-2022 Winter Interscholastic Coaching Appointments*
Name: Maxam, Roger
Position: Girls JV Volleyball
Salary Per HFA Contract
* Conditioned upon a sufficient number of schools participating to merit a season with sufficient student participation to field a team
CSE/CPSE Program / Placement Recommendations
Upon recommendation from Superintendent Miller, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Carney, 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 6:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-2021)
Board of Education Reports:
Designation Appointment: Ms. Gilbert moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded to approve the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District
hereby approves Ms. Renee Vogt as Elementary School Arts in Education Coordinator and
Mr. Zachary Abbe as Jr./Sr. High School Arts in Education Coordinator. The stipend per HEA contract, will be split 25% Elementary Coordinator and 75% Jr./Sr. High School Coordinator.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-2021)
Land Swap Resolution:
Ms. Fischer moved, and Ms. Gilbert seconded to approve the following Board resolution: “BE IT RESOLVED, that the land swap authorized by Chapter 276 of the laws of 2020 is approved and the Board President is hereby authorized to sign any documents necessary for completion of the land swap”.
A brief discussion followed. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11-17-21)
FMLA Regulation Updates: Mr. Miller explained the updates that were made to the Family Medical Leave Act Regulations 6300.2, 6300.3, 6300.4 and 6300.5.
President’s Update:
President Crandall commended the soccer, cross country and football teams for their successful seasons this fall. He thanked everyone for all the help and well wishes he received and was happy to report that he is doing well.
Future Meeting Dates/Agenda Items: The next scheduled BOE meeting will be on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 in the Jr./Sr. High School Media Center. There was discussion of a special meeting on Monday, November 22, 2021 and everyone agreed that they were available.
Meeting Evaluation:
Mr. Carney, this evening’s meeting evaluator, presented his review of the November 17, 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 6:0.
Executive Session
The Board moved into Executive Session at 6:50 p.m. The Board exited Executive Session at 8:35 p.m.
Adjournment: On a motion made by Mr. Lewis and seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 8:37 p.m. All voted in favor 6:0.