DRAFT: Nov. 19, 2025, minutes

Present:
Matthew Collis
Brian Crandall, President
Diann Fischer
Joseph Lamanna, Vice President
Aleksander Verenich
Landon Ploss, Ex Officio Student Member

Kathleen A. Carney, Superintendent of Schools
Chad Hess, Business Manager
Gina McKernan, District Clerk
Michele Gilbert, District Treasurer

Administration:
Nicole Crandall
Corenne Holmes
Maria Lindsay
Todd Manley
Cristi Paragi
Michelle Ploss
Renee Vogt

Absent:
Robert Mihevc
Scott Petucci

Others Present:
Brooke Jones
Students

The regular meeting was called to order at 6:08 p.m. in the Herkimer Middle-High School Media Center by Board President Brian Crandall and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.

Public Comment
None

Approval of the Agenda
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0

Board Recognized Artwork displayed from the Middle-High School Students

Approval of the Minutes
Mr. Collis moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded a motion to approve the regular BOE meeting minutes from Wednesday, October 14, 2025, as presented.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna
Nayes: 0
Abstained: Aleksander Verenich

Approval of Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Verenich, the Board approved the following financial reports:
• Treasurer’s Report – October 2025
• General Fund Warrant – October 2025
• HHS/HES Extra-Curricular Report – October 2025

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mr. Collis, the Board approved the following financial report:
• Budget Transfers over $5,000 – October 2025

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Acceptance of 2024-2025 Independent Audit Report and Extra-Classroom Audit
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Kathleen A. Carney, and the District Audit Committee, on a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mr. Collis the Board hereby accepts the district’s 2024-2025 Independent Audit Report and 2024-2025 Extra-Classroom Audit as presented, and approves submission to the appropriate government agencies.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Acceptance of 2024-2025 Audit Corrective Action Plan
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Kathleen A. Carney, and the District Audit Committee, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer seconded by Mr. Collis, the Board hereby accepts the district’s 2024-2025 Audit Corrective Action Plan as presented, and approved submission to the appropriate government agencies.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Mr. Hess provided updates for the Business Office

Waiving Readings for Adoption of Policies
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Fischer second 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:

• Policy 4303 Fund Balance and Reserve Funds
• Policy 4507 Tax Exempt Bonds-Post Issuance Compliance
• Policy 4600 Petty Cash Funds and Cash in School Buildings
• Policy 4601 Extra Classroom Activities Funds
• Policy 4602 Expense Reimbursements and Meals and Refreshments

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.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Waiving Readings for Adoption of Deletion of Policy
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 deletion; and

WHEREAS the Board of Education wishes to delete the following policies recommended by the Policy Committee, to wit, suggestions were sent to the Policy Service to accept revisions and to delete the following policies:

• Policy 4508 Federal Funds Purchasing

THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby waives the Board of Education’s customary practice of three readings prior to the deletion of policies, and deletes the policies, incorporated by reference in the minutes of this meeting.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

MOA – Indoor Track – Varsity Head Coach
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Collis seconded the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby approves the Memorandum of Agreement by and between the Herkimer Central School District (HCSD) and the Herkimer Faculty Association (HFA) as presented;
WHEREAS, the parties enter into this agreement effective retroactive July 1, 2025, and for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contract on the Boards behalf.”

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

MOU – Valley Health Services, Inc. and/or Valley Residential Services, Inc.
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the agreement between the Valley Health Services, Inc. and/or Valley Residential Services, Inc and the Herkimer Central School District to provide advanced planning for an emergency evacuation for Valley Health Service Residents in a case where a disaster takes place and warrants an evacuation; and,

WHEREAS it is the districts desire to enter into this agreement from October 23, 2025, through September 22, 2026; per the terms and conditions of the agreement.”

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – Creation of Scholarship Account
Mr. Collis moved and Mr. Lamanna seconded the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby authorizes the creation of a Scholarship Award donated from the Herkimer Fishing Derby”.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – Designation of Appointments
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Kathleen A. Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mr. Collis, the Board of Education formally approves the following 2025-2026 school year Designation of Appointments:

Supervisors of Attendance: To approve the appointment of building principals to serve as supervisors of attendance for their respective buildings for the 2025-2026 school year as part of their regular duties; and further to appoint designees to fulfill this role, as part of their regular duties, in the absence of the principal:

Building – Principal – Designee
High School – Maria Lindsay – Nicole Crandall
Middle School – Maria Lindsay – Todd Manley

c) Dignity Act Coordinators: To approve the appointment of building principals to serve as Dignity Act Coordinators for their respective buildings for the 2025-2026 school year as part of their regular duties; and further to appoint assistant principals as their designees to fulfill this role, as part of their regular duties, in the absence of their principal:

Building – Principal – Designee
High School – Maria Lindsay – Nicole Crandall
Middle School – Maria Lindsay – Todd Manley

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – Recommendation for Special Inspections-Capital 2024
Mr. Verenich moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded to accept the following Board resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board
of Education hereby agrees to accept the proposal for Special Inspections for Capital Project 2024
with Kenney Geotechnical Engineering Services, PLLC as presented and recommended by C&S Companies.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – Return of Unpaid Taxes
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Collis 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 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 20th day of August 2025, and which return is dated and made on the 14th day of November 2025.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – Donation of Piano
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District accepts the following donation of a piano to the Herkimer Central School District from the Briana Brindisi.”

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – HEA – Abolish/Appointment
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Verenich seconded to accept the following Board resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education hereby (1) abolishes the CSE/CPSE Chairperson in the CSE/CPSE Chairperson tenure area, effective November 19, 2025; (2) creates one (1) administrative position of Director of Special Education and K-8 Curriculum, effective November 20, 2025; and (3) appoints Correne Holmes to the position of Director of Special Education and K – 8 Curriculum in the Director of Special Education and K – 8 Curriculum tenure area, for a three year probationary period, commencing July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. Ms. Holmes shall be credited with prior years of service towards her probationary period in the Director of Special Education and K – 8 Curriculum tenure area in consideration of her service in the CSE/CPSE Chairperson tenure area. Ms. Holmes’ starting salary as Director of Special Education and K -8 Curriculum shall be $125,190.88, retroactive to July 1, 2025. All other terms and benefits shall be set forth in the HEA Agreement.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – CSEA – Titles/Work Week
Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Collis seconded to accept the following Board resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby abolishes four (4) Typists and one (1) Office Assistant I, effective June 30, 2025;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby creates five (5) Office Assistant II positions, and appoints the following individuals to such positions, effective July 1, 2025:

• Brianna Lawrence
• Jami Lyga
• Melissa Moorehead
• Dina Petucci
• Susan Steele

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby approves one (1) existing Office Assistant II position to be a forty (40) hour work week and be assigned to the Special Programs/Education office, effective November 3, 2025.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board hereby approves the inclusion of full-time Office Assistant II to be within the CSEA contract, subject the terms and conditions therein, subject to negotiation for any provision requiring clarification and/or further discussion, approves the memorandum of agreement as it relates to the transition of Typists and Office Assistant I to Office Assistant II’s and approves payment thereunder.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Resolution – Award of 2025-2026 Capital Outlay
Mr. Collis moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Herkimer Board of Education hereby acknowledges receipt of bids for the 2025-2026 Capital Outlay Project; and,

THEREFORE, it is the District’s desire to award the contract to: Murnane Building Contractors, Inc., (General Construction Contract) in the amount of $89,900.00, for the total construction cost”.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

MOU – Herkimer County HealthNet
Mr. Collis moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED, that the BOE hereby accepts the Memorandum of Understanding between the Herkimer Central School District and the Herkimer County HealthNet regarding the partnership to collaboratively create and sustain school environments where it is easier for students, families, and staff to make healthy choices through policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) approaches that promote health, wellness, and equity; and for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the MOU on the Boards behalf.”

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Superintendent Updates

Student Representative Report

Administrative Reports

CSE/CPSE Program/Placement Recommendations:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Verenich, the BOE approved the Sub-Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Preschool Special Education program/placement recommendations as presented.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon recommendations of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the BOE approved the following personnel.
Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0
Material filed in the supplemental file dated 11/19/2025

Non-Instructional Appointments:

Name: Jones, Juliette
Position: RN
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Salary: $30.50/hour

Child Care Leaves:

Name: Heuser, Madison
Position: MS-HS Music Teacher
Effective Date: On/About March 18, 2026
Anticipated leave approximately 6-12 weeks; pending physician’s release

Name: Lanahan, Vanessa
Position: MS-HS Physical Education Teacher
Effective Date: On/About February 3, 2026
Anticipated leave approximately 6-12 weeks; pending physician’s release

Substitute Appointments:

Name: Crandall, Rylee
Position: Substitute Teacher
Location: District Wide
Effective: November 20, 2025
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute

Name: Lindsay, Olivia
Position: Substitute Teacher
Location: District Wide
Effective: November 20, 2025
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute

Name: Ploss, Aiden
Position: Substitute Teacher
Location: District Wide
Effective: November 20, 2025
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute

Short Term Substitute Appointments:
Name: Cleary, Cole
Position: Short Term Physical Education Teacher
Location: Middle-High School
Effective: On or About February 3, 2026
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute

Name: Steere, Sheila
Position: Short Term Kindergarten Teacher
Location: Elementary School
Effective: October 14, 2025
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute

Teaching Tenure Appointments:

Name: Decker, Aaron
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: Music Education
Probationary Period: 01/03/2023 – 01/02/2026
Effective Date: January 3, 2026

Name: Sperling, Kristy
Location: Middle-High School
Tenure Area: Elementary Education
Probationary Period: 02/21/2022 – 02/20/2026
Effective Date: February 21, 2026

2025-2026 Extra-Curricular Appointments:

Name – Position – Salary
Johnson, Amanda – Spring Theatrical Co-Advisor/Assistant – $902.50
Schumske, Emily Spring – Theatrical Co-Advisor/Assistant – $902.50

President Crandall reminded the BOE the next meeting is at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2025, at the Middle-High School Library.

On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE entered into Executive Session for issues pertaining to current litigation and issues pertaining to negotiations pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law with the CSEA unit. The Board may take action in public session after the Executive Session ends, and the Board returns to public session.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0

Executive Session:
The Board moved into Executive Session at 7:15 p.m.
The Board exited Executive Session at 7:57 p.m.

Adjournment:
On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, and seconded by Mr. Collis, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 8:00 p.m.

Ayes: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich
Nayes: 0
Abstained: 0

______________________
Gina McKernan
School District Clerk