DRAFT Oct. 21, 2026, minutes - Herkimer Central School District

Present:
Brian Crandall, President
Joseph Lamanna, Vice President
Matthew Collis
Robert Mihevc
Scott Petucci
Audrey Piccione
Kaitlyn Tutty, Ex Officio Student Member

Administration:
Nicole Crandall
Maria Lindsay
Correne Holmes
Danielle Moore
Cristi Paragi
Michelle Ploss
Renee Vogt

Others Present:
Kathleen Carney, Superintendent of Schools
Chad Hess, Business Manager
Michele Gilbert, District Treasurer
Gina McKernan, District Clerk
Members of the Community
Students
Teachers

Absent:
Aleksander Verenich

The Regular Board of Education Meeting was called to order by Board President Brian Crandall at 6:00 p.m. in the Middle-High School Library. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Administration of Oath of Office to Ex Officio Student Members of the Board
• Kaitlyn Tutty

Public Comment
None

Approval of Agenda:
Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded a motion to formally approve the meeting agenda as submitted.

Yeas: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, Audrey Piccone and Scott Petucci
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0

Board Recognition – Art Work

Approval of the Minutes:
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Collis seconded a motion to approve the regular Board of Education meeting minutes from Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as presented.

Yeas: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, Audrey Piccone and Scott Petucci
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Supporting material is on file in the supplemental file dated October 21, 2026

Business Reports Approval of Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mrs. Piccone, seconded by Mr. Mihevc, the Board approved the following financial reports:
• Treasurer’s Report – September 2026
• General Fund Warrant – September 2026
• Elem/MS/HS Extra-Curricular Report – September 2026
• Exception Report – September 2026

District Independent Audit Resolution
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Kathleen A. Carney and the District Audit Committee, on a motion made by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Mihevc, the Board of Education hereby accepts the district’s 2025-2026 Independent Audit Report and 2025-2026 Extra-Classroom Audit, as presented, and approves the submission of the reports to the appropriate government agencies.
Yeas: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, Audrey Piccone and Scott Petucci
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Supporting material is on file in the supplemental file dated October 21, 2026

2025-2026 Audit Corrective Action Plan5 Resolution
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Kathleen A. Carney and the District Audit Committee, on a motion made by Mr. Mihevc, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the Board hereby accepts the district’s 2025-2026 Audit Corrective Action Plan as presented and approves its submission to the appropriate government agencies.
Yeas: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, Audrey Piccone and Scott Petucci
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Supporting material is on file in the supplemental file dated October 21, 2026

Policy Review -Adoption
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mrs. Piccone 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 a policy recommended by the Policy Committee, specifically:

• Policy 7006 – Student Attendance

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby waives its customary practice of three readings prior to the adoption of a policy and adopts Policy 7006 – Student Attendance, incorporated by reference into the minutes of this meeting.

APPR Lead Evaluators Recertification Resolution
Mr. Collis moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded the following Board resolution:

WHEREAS, the Herkimer Central School District Board of Education has been provided with evidence that, in accordance with Education Law §3012-d, Nicole Crandall and Danielle Moore have completed the required New York State Education Department training as Lead Evaluators for Teachers, provided by the Assistant Superintendent of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES, and have met the requirements of the District’s Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Plan; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby recertifies/certifies Nicole Crandall and Danielle Moore as Lead Evaluators for Teachers in accordance with Education Law §3012-d and the District’s Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Plan.

Donation to the Elementary School
Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded to accept the following Board resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby accepts a donation in the amount of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) from the First Presbyterian Church to the Herkimer Elementary School Nurse.

Dolgeville School District – Combining of Sports
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mrs. Piccone seconded the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby authorizes the combination of the Herkimer Central School District and Dolgeville Central School District Girls’ Varsity Wrestling teams for the 2026-2027 school year, contingent upon approval by the Dolgeville Central School District Board of Education.”

Superintendent Updates

Ex Officio Student Report

Administrative Reports

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

Board of Education
President Crandall advised the Board that the next regular Board of Education meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., in the Middle-High School Library.

On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, seconded by Mrs. Piccone, the Board of Education entered into Executive Session for issues pertaining to the employment history of a particular individual leading to the appointment/employment of that particular individual or individuals. The Board may take action in public session after the Executive Session ends and the Board returns to public session.

Yeas: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, Audrey Piccone and Scott Petucci
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0

Executive Session:
The Board moved into Executive Session at 7:00 p.m.
The Board exited Executive Session at 8:06 p.m.

STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon recommendations of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Mihevc, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the Board of Education approved the following personnel:

LTA Resignation:

Name: Wagner, Ethan
Position: LTA
Location: Middle-High School
Effective Date: October 2, 2026

Extra-Curricular Resignation:

Name: Decker, Aaron
Position: Marching Band Director
Effective Date: September 1, 2026

Non-Instructional Appointment:

Name: McLennan, Desiree
Position: Cleaner – Full Time
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: November 9, 2026
Salary: $18.25/hour
Probationary Period: 11/09/2026-05/09/2027

Non-Instructional Substitute Appointments:

Name: Hammond, Emma
Position: Substitute RN
Location: District Wide
Effective: October 16, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute RN

Name: Jones, Jennifer
Position: Substitute Cleaner
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: October 26, 2026 – June 30, 2027 (Pending Fingerprint Clearance)
Salary: $18.25/hour

Name: Pettengill, Deborah
Position: Substitute RN
Location: District Wide
Effective: October 22, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Substitute RN

Substitute Appointments:

Name: Clarke, Adia
Position: Substitute
Location: District Wide
Effective: September 29, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Salary: Based on annual payment guidelines for substitute

Name: Gilbert, Danielle
Position: Substitute
Location: District Wide
Effective: October 22, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Salary: Based on annual payment guidelines for substitute

2026-2027 Extra-Curricular Appointments:

Name Position Salary
Baldwin, Aaron Marching Band Co-Director $1,170
Decker, Aaron Marching Band Co-Director $1,170

2026-2027 Advanced Placement Instructor:
Name Position Salary
McCutcheon, Heather AP Art $300

2026-2027 Winter Interscholastic Coaching Appointments*:

Name: Denton, Heather
Appointment: Girls Varsity Volleyball
Salary: $3,640

Name: Maass, Makaila
Appointment: Girls JV Volleyball
Salary: $2,600

Name: Nasypany, Robert
Appointment: Girls Modified Volleyball
Salary: $2,185

Name: Brown, Jamie
Appointment: Girls Modified Volleyball
Salary: $2,185

Name: Valasek, Paul
Appointment: Boys Varsity Basketball
Salary: $4,475

Name: Palmer, Jordan
Appointment: Boys JV Basketball
Salary: $2,910

Name: Alberts, John
Appointment: Boys Modified Basketball
Salary: $2,185

Name: Cleary, Cole
Appointment: Boys Modified Basketball
Salary: $2,185

Name: Scalise, Laura
Appointment: Girls Varsity Basketball
Salary: $4,475

Name: Burns, James
Appointment: Girls JV Basketball
Salary: $2,910

Name: Richard, Jason
Appointment: Boys/Girls Varsity Indoor Track
Salary: $2,390

Name: Clarke, Scott
Appointment: Boys/Girls Indoor Track Assistant
Salary: $2,345

Name: Valerio, Logan
Appointment: Boys/Girls Varsity Bowling
Salary: $3,280

Name: Appley, Daniel
Appointment: Boys Varsity Wrestling
Salary: $3,640

Name: Steele, Zachary
Appointment: Boys Varsity Wrestling Assistant
Salary: $2,500

Name: Holliday, Hunter
Appointment: Boys Modified Wrestling
Salary: $2,130

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

2026-2027 Winter Interscholastic Unpaid Coaching Appointments:

Couchman, Brett Boys/Girls Indoor Track 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

2026-2027 Spring Interscholastic Coaching Appointments*:

Name: Holliday, Hunter
Appointment: Varsity Baseball Coach
Salary: $3,800

Name: Steele, Tyler
Appointment: Modified Baseball Coach
Salary: $2,185

Name: Marosek, Cady
Appointment: Varsity Softball Coach
Salary: $3,800

Name: Richard, Jason
Appointment: Boys Varsity Track Coach
Salary: $3,640

Name: Clarke, Scott
Appointment: Girls Varsity Track Coach
Salary: $3,640

Name: Richard, Jesse
Appointment: Varsity Track Assistant Coach
Salary: $2,390

Name: Posey, Tekitha
Appointment: Varsity Track Assistant Coach
Salary: $2,390

Name: Nare, Jennette
Appointment: Modified Track Coach
Salary: $2,185

Name: Rosenburgh, Chester
Appointment: Boys Varsity Golf Coach
Salary: $2,390

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

2026-2027 Spring Interscholastic Unpaid Volunteer Coaching Appointment:
Marosek, Anna Varsity Softball Unpaid Volunteer Assistant Coach

Sick Bank

Name: Maneen, Cassidy
Effective: 2026-2027 School Year
The Board of Education authorizes the use of more than 30 days from the sick bank if necessary and allowable.

Adjournment:
On a motion made by Mr. Collis, and seconded by Mr. Petucci, the Board of Education adjourned the public meeting at 8:13 p.m.

Yeas: Matthew Collis, Brian Crandall, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, Audrey Piccone and Scott Petucci
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0

_____
Gina McKernan
School District Clerk

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