Closter, New Jersey
MINUTES
COMMITTEE/REGULAR MEETING
Tenakill Middle School Library
December 18, 2008
7:30 PM
Meeting was called to order by Mr. Linn at 7:30 PM.
The following members were present:
Ms. Witko, Ms. Kopf, Mr. Jakab, Mr. Micera, Ms. Ginsberg, Mr. Linn
The following members were absent:
Ms. Forstmann, Ms. Marinaccio
Mr. Goldstein arrived at 7:49 PM.
Also present:
Ms. Newberry, Mr. Iappelli
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT:
The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advance notice of and to attend the meeting of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Secretary to the Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting by having the date, time, and place thereof, posted at each school building within the district, the Board of Education office, the Office of the Borough Clerk, and transmitted to The Record, Press Journal, and Suburbanite newspapers.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Linn led the pledge of allegiance.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Ms. Newberry thanked Ms. Jost for attending the meeting.
The Korean Parent Group raised money to send Ms. Newberry to Korea as part of a larger group. Ms. Furman, Superintendent of Northern Valley High Schools, is going on the trip. Dr. Graham, Executive County Superintendent of Schools, has also been invited.
Ms. Newberry visited the 1st grade classrooms at Hillside. Based on her visits and the sizes of the classes; she recommends hiring a teacher at Step 1 for the balance of the school year. Ms. DaGiau will develop a schedule to accommodate the new teacher.
In the 2009-10 school year budget an effort is being made to reduce supplies purchased by parents.
Administrative Team Meetings
The following items were discussed at our weekly Administrative Team Meetings held since the previous Board Report:
§ Looking at reformatting A-Team
§ NVEF Representative (Mrs. Micera) and Mini-Grants
§ Korean Culture Class
§ Hiring 1st Grade Teacher for the remainder of the school year
§ School supplies purchased by parents in 2009-2010 budget
§ January staff development scheduled on MLK Day
§ Received thank you letters from servicemen for Operation Shoebox
§ Dance Fusion performance was fantastic
§ Meeting on December 9, 2008, with Dr. Jerry Petroff, Ms. Paula Lieb and Ms. Michelle Ragunan on Special Education Inclusion.
The meeting allowed for the administration to look critically at Closter’s special education program. The goal is to bring the children in outside placements back to Closter.
Northern Valley Administrators Association/Special Education Region III
The following items were discussed at Northern Valley Administrators meetings held since the previous Board Report:
· Closter and NVHS school calendar for 09-10 school year
The high school is bringing students back before Labor Day.
Only staff will be brought in before the holiday.
· NVHS is experiencing fiscal troubles and it is looking at ways to mitigate the problem.
· Ann Ginsberg volunteered to represent Closter on the joint Valley Board looking into the costs of regionalization.
· Meetings Attended:
Conference: Understanding Due Process - Critical Issues in
Special Education, December 5, 2008
Epi-Pen Delegate Training
December 4, 2008
Regionalization Consolidation Advisory Committee
Schedule of Presentations at Board Meetings
22 January Art Teachers
26 February Media Specialists
March Public Hearing on Budget (TBD)
PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS
Mr. Baffa reported on the following:
§ VIA Program: Gifted and Talented 7th and 8th graders work with other students in the Valley.
§ CAP programs to be held in January.
§ Rutgers Science Bus will be at the school in January.
§ Boys and Girls Basketball season has started.
§ Dance Fusion: Thanked Ms. Cummings and the parent volunteers. About 150 students participated in the performance.
§ Amy Wilcox and Daniella Riecken did a fabulous job with the winter concerts.
§ Thanked Jodi Sunshine for working with the 5th graders Engineering EXPO.
§ 7th and 8th graders attended the Northern Valley High School winter concerts.
§ Thanked all of the teacher chaperones.
§ Read excerpts from Operation Shoebox thank you letters.
§ Borough of Closter thanked Tenakill staff for its donations to the Closter food pantry.
§ Read a letter from parents complimenting Mr. Arata as an exceptional teacher.
Mr. Grammerstorf reported:
§ 8th grade was selected by U.S. Department Education to participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) testing.
§ Test is administered to only select students throughout the country.
Ms. DaGiau reported at Hillside on the following:
§ Her second Principal Advisory Committee session was held, however, attendance was not as great as the first time. Mr. Iappelli spoke to the parents about air conditioning costs and Hillside’s field. Ms. DaGiau presented half of her Principal MAP and will pick it up again at her meeting in February.
§ Fourth grade choir visited Valley Health and Spectrum for Living.
§ Winter concert was sophisticated, and Ms. Pidi was fantastic.
§ Representatives from United Water Co. came in to talk to the 2nd graders about the water cycle and conservation.
§ Professional Book Circles are taking place around Choice Words and Classrooms That Work.
§ Articles about Hillside School were published in the Suburbanite.
§ Ms. DaGiau commented that the new glass hallway is absolutely fantastic.
Mr. Weaver reported:
§ Rotary Club distributed dictionaries to students.
§ Thanked Ms. Scala for coordinating the Kindergarten program that familiarizes them with calling 911 in an emergency.
§ Family as Reading Partners was well attended.
§ 44 candidates took part in the Student Council elections. Real voting machines were used to cast ballots. He thanked Ms. Jost and Ms. Vallario for their efforts.
§ About 50 pizzas were mistakenly delivered before the Thanksgiving break. Mr. Weaver coordinated the donation of the pizzas to a shelter in Hackensack. He thanked Mr. Willie Arboleda for driving the pizzas to the shelter.
The following recommendations were discussed:
1) Course Approval
2) Closter Study Group
3) Closter Study Group Facilitators
4) Volunteer
The following expenditures were discussed:
1) Conferences
2) Remuneration
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from the Closter Board of Health
MINUTES
Moved by Mr. Micera, seconded by Ms. Witko to approve the following minutes. Motion was affirmed by a unanimous voice vote of the Board:
November 13, 2008, Committee Meeting; November 20, 2008, Regular Meeting
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Moved by Mr. Goldstein, seconded by Ms. Ginsberg to open the meeting to the public discussion at 9:02 PM. Motion was affirmed by a unanimous voice vote of the Board.
No member of the public wished to speak at this time.
Moved by Mr. Jakab, seconded by Ms. Kopf to resume the regular order of business at 9:02 PM. Motion was affirmed by a unanimous voice vote of the Board.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
Moved by Ms. Kopf, seconded by Mr. Micera to approve A-C. Motions were affirmed by a roll call vote of the Board as follows:
YEAS: Mr. Goldstein, Ms. Witko, Ms. Kopf, Mr. Jakab, Mr. Micera, Ms. Ginsberg,
Mr. Linn
NAYS: None
A. Motion to approve the following courses for 2008-2009 as recommended by the principal:
Name: Thomas Marshall (Grade 4)
Course No. /Title: ELMP 8982 Administrative Internship I
Institution: Seton Hall University
Credits: 3 Graduate
Name: Thomas Marshall (Grade 4)
Course No. /Title: EDST7310XMA Ethical Foundations
Institution: Seton Hall University
Credits: 3 Graduate
Name: Shannon Campbell (TMS Spanish)
Course No. /Title: EDUC602 Inquiry into Practice
Institution: College of NJ
Credits: 3 Graduate
Name: Jennifer Annese (Special Education)
Course No. /Title: EDUC6602 Multisensory Reading II
Institution: Fairleigh Dickinson
Credits: 3 Graduate
Name: Paula Cummings (Physical Education/Health)
Course No. /Title: EDPD 553 The Kinesthetic Classroom Teaching and Learning Through Movement
Institution: College of New Jersey
Credits: 3 Graduate
B. Motion to approve the Closter Study Group In-Service Course for 2008-2009, one In-Service credit, January 8, February 5, February 26, March 19, May 7, and
June 11, 2009.
C. Motion to approve Mr. Jim Klika and Ms. Arlene Shindler as Closter Study Group facilitators at a stipend of $370 each.
FINANCE AND PHYSICAL PLANT COMMITTEE
Moved by Mr. Goldstein, seconded by Mr. Micera to approve A-F. Motions were affirmed by a roll call vote of the Board as follows:
YEAS: Mr. Goldstein, Ms. Witko, Ms. Kopf, Mr. Jakab, Mr. Micera,
Ms. Ginsberg, Mr. Linn
NAYS: None
A. Motion to approve the following items as required, pursuant to NJSA 18A:17-9 and NJAC 6:20-2.13:
a. Board Secretary and School Treasurer Financial Reports for November 2008
b. Board of Education’s Monthly Certification of Budgetary Major Account /Fund
status for November 2008
c. Transfer of funds as per Appendix “Finance and Physical Plant Committee -A”
attached.
B. Motion to approve second half of payroll for November 2008 in the amount of:
General Fund $508,716.89
C. Motion to approve payment of bills for December 2008 in the amount of:
General Fund (11 & 12) $969,537.12
Special Revenue (20) $ 330.67
Enterprise (60) $ 1,567.10
D. Motion to approve remuneration to the following staff members:
Staff Member: Jodi Belnick
Course: ENY801 Reading & Writing in The Content Areas
Remuneration: $645
Staff Member: Paula Cummings
Course: EDPD 555 Skills & Strategies for Inclusion & Disability
Awareness
Remuneration: $250
Staff Member: Shannon Campbell
Course: EDPD 549 Teaching & Learning Through Multiple Intelligences
Remuneration: $1,000
E. Motion to approve the following staff conferences:
Staff Member: Catherine Adamo
Date: December 18, 2008
Conference: Reading & Writing with Free Text to Speech Software
Location: Bergen County ETTC, Rochelle Park, NJ
Cost to the Board: Substitute $ 85.00
Registration 60.00
Total $145.00
Staff Member: Carl Quillen
Date: January 16, 2009
Conference: Jed Baker No More Meltdowns
Location: Leonia, NJ
Cost to the Board: Substitute $ 85.00
Staff Member: Jill Kossoff & Amy Kenny-Whritenour
Date: February 3, 2009
Conference: Peer to Peer Training
Location: Allamuchy, NJ
Cost to the Board: Substitute $ 85.00
Transportation 40.80
Total $125.80
Staff Member: Michael Wowkun
Date: November 26, 2008
Location: Tenafly, NJ
Cost to the Board: Substitute $ 42.50
Staff Member: Sheila Devine
Date: December 11, 2008
Conference: Bergen County Consortium Teachers of Gifted
Location: Westwood, NJ
Cost to the Board: Substitute $ 42.50
Staff Member: Dara Cattani
Date: December 17, 2008
Conference: Northern Valley Counselors' Meeting
Location: Norwood, NJ
Cost to the Board: -0-
Staff Member: Eileen Kennedy
Date: December 18, 2008
Conference: Observe Kindergarten
Location: Hillside Elementary School
Cost to the Board: Substitute $42.50
F. Motion to approve the following 2008-2009 Special Education placement for
Closter student:
# Pupils Placement Tuition/Pupil
1 Valley Program $45,029. (prorated)
PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Moved by Ms. Witko, seconded by Mr. Goldstein to approve A-G. Motions were
affirmed by a roll call vote of the Board as follows:
YEAS: Mr. Goldstein, Ms. Witko, Ms. Kopf, Mr. Jakab, Mr. Micera,
Ms. Ginsberg, Mr. Linn
NAYS: None
A. Motion to approve the following volunteer for 2008-2009 school year:
Leslie Stella Sender
B. Motion to approve the following substitute teachers for the 2008-2009 school year:
Name Certification Degree
Wendy Bajakian NJ Certification BA
Cari Kleinman NJ Substitute Certificate BA
Nancy Redisch NJ Substitute Certificate BFA
C. Motion to approve the following substitute paraprofessional:
Barbara DiPersia
D. Motion to approve the Five Year State Mandated Pre-School Program Plan.
E. Motion to approve Ms. Stephanie Quinn, Long Term Substitute for Ms. Daniella Riecken, Music Teacher, Tenakill Middle School.
F. Motion to approve the second reading of the following policies:
Special Education policy 6171.4
Graduation Requirements Policy 6146
Conduct/Discipline policy 5131
G. Motion to approve the following revised regulations:
Series 1000, Series 3000, Series 4000, Series 5000,
Series 6000 and Series 9000
OLD\NEW BUSINESS
§ Discussed the Hillside Field reconstruction proposal
§ New Jersey School Boards, General Meeting: Current Educational Issues
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Ms. Ginsberg, seconded by Ms. Witko to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 PM Motion was affirmed by a unanimous voice vote of the Board.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter C. Iappelli
Business Administrator/
Board Secretary
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