DRAFT: Oct. 14, 2025, minutes

Present:
Matthew Collis
Brian Crandall, President
Diann Fischer
Joseph Lamanna, Vice President
Robert Mihevc
Scott Petucci
Landon Ploss, Ex Officio Student Member

Kathleen A. Carney, Superintendent of Schools Others Present:
Chad Hess, Business Manager Brooke Jones
Gina McKernan, District Clerk

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

Absent:
Aleksander Verenich

The regular meeting was called to order at 6:00 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. Collis seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted.

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0.

Board Recognized Artwork displayed from the Middle-High School Students

Approval of the Minutes
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Collis seconded a motion to approve the regular BOE meeting minutes from Wednesday, September 17, 2025, as presented.

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0:1

Approval of Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Mihevc, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the Board approved the following financial reports:
• Treasurer’s Report – September 2025
• General Warrant – September 2025
• Internal Claims Auditors Exception Report – September 2025
• Extracurricular Summary Report – September 2025

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 – Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/14/2025

Mr. Hess provided updates for the Business Office

Board of Education Amendment for October and April Meetings
Mr. Collis 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 2025-2026 Board of Education calendar to reflect the following:

• October 15, 2025, to October 14, 2025
• April 22, 2026, to April 15, 2026

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 – Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/14/2025

Donation from Presbyterian Church of Ilion
Mr. Petucci 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 $200 to the Herkimer Central School District from the First Presbyterian Church of Ilion.”

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 – Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/14/2025

Dolgeville School District – Combining Sports
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Petucci 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 Dolgeville Central School District Girl’s Varsity Wrestling team for the 2025-2026 school year. This is contingent on the approval of Dolgeville Central School District Board of Education.”

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 – Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/14/2025

Disposal of Surplus Items Resolutions
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded to accept the following Board resolution

“WHEREAS the Herkimer Central School District owns the items listed on the Fixed Asset Inventory Contral spreadsheet provided by Mr. Verenich which are no longer useful or necessary for the school district’s purpose and are of no value to the Herkimer Central School District, 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 10/14/2025

Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Collis seconded to accept the following Board resolution

“WHEREAS the Herkimer Central School District owns the items listed on the Fixed Asset Inventory Contral form provided by Mr. McKernan which are no longer useful or necessary for the school district’s purpose and are of no value to the Herkimer Central School District, 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 10/14/2025

Award of Contract for 2024 Capital Project Resolution
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Lamanna 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 2024 Capital Project and,

THEREFORE, it is the districts desire to award those contracts to: Murnane Building Contractors, Inc. (General Construction Contract) in the amount of $9,972,000; Central Paving, Inc. (Site Construction Contract) in the amount of $3,402,250; Tioga Construction, Inc. (Bridge Construction Contract) in the amount of $1,891,000, ; H.J. Brandeles, Corporation (Plumbing Construction Contract) in the amount of $1,149,000, H.J. Brandeles, Corporation (HVAC Construction Contract) in the amount of $3,300,700, Mid-State Electrical Contracting (Electrical Construction Contract) in the amount of $3,619,000, Day Automation (Building Security Systems) in the amount of $120,000, Day Automation (Building Automation Controls) in the amount of $529,558.08, GAMETIME (Playground Equipment & Surfacing) in the amount of $249,584.68, Toth’s Sports (Interior & Exterior Scoreboards) in the amount of $463,615 and Musco Sports Lighting, LLC (Athletic Field Lighting) in the amount of $772,421 for a total construction cost of $25,469,128.76.”

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 – Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/14/2025

Superintendent Updates

Student Representative Report

Administrative Reports

CSE/CPSE Program/Placement Recommendations:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE 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 6:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/14/2025
President Crandall provided updates and reminded the BOE the next meeting is at 6pm on November 15, 2025, at the Middle-High School Library. Also, the Auditor will be in at 5:30pm on November 15 to discuss his findings.

On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE 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. 6:0 in favor; Motion Carried.

Executive Session:
The Board moved into Executive Session at 7:10 p.m.
The Board exited Executive Session at 8:05 p.m.

STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon recommendations of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Petucci, the BOE approved the following personnel action 5:1 in favor; Motion Carried.

Non-Instructional Resignation:

Name: Culver, Melinda
Position: Nurse
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: November 7, 2025

Non-Instructional Appointments:

Name: Lawrence, Brianna
Position: Office Assistant I
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: October 6, 2025
Salary: $20.75/hour
Probationary Period: 10/6/2025-04/05/2026

Name: Riesel, Brenda
Position: Office Assistant II
Location: CSE Office
Effective Date: November 3, 2025
Salary: $22.25/hour
Probationary Period: 11/3/2025-05/04/2026

Name: Wakefield, John
Position: Cleaner – Full Time
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: October 20, 2025 – Pending Fingerprint Clearance
Salary: $17.75/hour
Probationary Period: 10/20/2025-04/19/2026

Substitute Teacher Appointment:

Name: Crane, Natalie
Position: Substitute Teacher
Location: District Wide
Effective: October 15, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute

2025-2026 Extra-Curricular Appointments:

Name Position Salary
Lanahan, Vanessa Athletic Leadership Council Advisor $1,550
Rich, Kristen Athletic Leadership Council Advisor $1,550

2025-2026 Winter Interscholastic Coaching Appointments*:

Name: Blask, Mark
Appointment: Boys Varsity Basketball
Salary: $4,385

Name: Palmer, Jordan
Appointment: Boys JV Basketball
Salary: $2,855

Name: Alberts, John
Appointment: Boys Modified Basketball
Salary: $2,140

Name: Steele, Tyler
Appointment: Boys Modified Basketball
Salary: $2,140

Name: Scalise, Laura
Appointment: Girls Varsity Basketball
Salary: $4,385

Name: Dygert, Charity
Appointment: Girls JV Basketball (Pending fingerprint clearance and SED Certification)
Salary: $2,855

Name: Maldonado, Marissa
Appointment: Girls Modified Basketball
Salary: $2,140

Name: Judd, Ryan
Appointment: Boys Varsity Volleyball
Salary: $3,570

Name: Denton, Heather
Appointment: Girls Varsity Volleyball
Salary: $3,570

Name: Maass, Makaila
Appointment: Girls JV Volleyball
Salary: $2,550

Name: Nasypany, Robert
Appointment: Girls Modified Volleyball
Salary: $2,140

Name: Richard, Jason
Appointment: Boys/Girls Varsity Indoor Track
Salary: $2,345

Name: Couchman, Brett
Appointment: Boys/Girls Indoor Track Assistant
Salary: $2,300

Name: Steele, Alan
Appointment: Boys/Girls Varsity Bowling
Salary: $3,215

Name: Appley, Daniel
Appointment: Boys Varsity Wrestling
Salary: $3,570

Name: Steele, Zachary
Appointment: Boys Varsity Wrestling Assistant
Salary: $2,450

Name: Holliday, Hunter
Appointment: Modified Wrestling
Salary: $2,090

*Conditioned upon a sufficient number of schools participating to merit a season with sufficient student participation to field a team

2025-2026 Winter Interscholastic Unpaid Coaching Appointments:

Carney, Michael Girls Basketball Unpaid Volunteer Assistant Coach
Clarke, Scott Boys/Girls Indoor Track Unpaid Volunteer Assistant Coach
Cooper, Kelli Girls Basketball Unpaid Volunteer Assistant Coach
Posey, Tekitha Boys/Girls Indoor Track Unpaid Volunteer Assistant Coach
Richard, Jesse Boys/Girls Indoor Track Unpaid Volunteer Assistant Coach
Richard, Ross Modified/Varsity Wrestling Unpaid Volunteer Assistant Coach

Adjournment:
On a motion made by Mr. Mihevc, and seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 8:10 p.m. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0.

______________________
Gina McKernan
School District Clerk