AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL
Board of Education Meeting
Date:November 30, 2015Kind of Meeting: Regular
Where Held:Board RoomPresiding Officer: President – Vanessa Warren
Board Members Present: Vanessa Warren, President;Ted King, Vice-President; Maryann Palmetier, Keith Ives, Sr.
Absent: Henry Bostelman
Administration and
Others Present Elizabeth Briggs, Superintendent; Dave Glover, Secondary Principal; Beth Carsello, Elementary Principal;Ken Howard, Business Manager; Connie Beames, Secretary/Clerk
Visitors: Kathy Moore, Donna Glover, Marlene Utter, Ethan Neumann, Melanie Mueller
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by President Warren.
RECOGINITION OF VISITORS
None
MINUTES
On motion by Maryann Palmetier, seconded byKeith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to approve minutes of the meeting of November5, 2015.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
BOCES BOARD MEMBER ELECTION
Mrs. Warren stated that there is one vacancy on the BOCES Board to be filled due to the passing of Board Member Richard Dillon. There are two candidates for the one position. The candidates are Jermaine Bagnall-Graham from Sherburne, NY and Linda Tuller from New Berlin, NY.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Maryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to cast one ballot for Linda Tuller.
Yes – 4, No – 0, Carried.
FINANCIAL
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded byMaryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to approve the October 2015 Treasurer’s Report.
Yes – 4, No – 0, Carried.
Reviewed the monthly financial statements for October 2015.
Reviewed the student activity report for October 2015.
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded by Ted King, it was RESOLVED to approve the October 2015 DCMO BOCES Claims Audit Report.
Yes –4, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Maryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to accept donation from the Afton Central School Alumni Association in the amount of $100 for the Afton FFA courtyard project.
Yes - 4, No - 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Maryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to keep the Senior Citizen Exemption Levels at the same level they are currently at.
Yes - 4, No - 0, Carried.
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded by Ted King, it was RESOLVED to approve the Audit Committee’s recommendation to accept the Annual Audit from D’Arcangelo & Co., LLP for school year ending June 30, 2015.
Yes - 4, No - 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Maryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to approve the Business Associate Agreement with Lifetime Benefit Solutions and the Three-Way Confidentiality Agreement between Lifetime Benefit Solutions, DCMO BOCES and the Afton Central School District.
Yes - 4, No - 0, Carried.
REPORTS
Elementary Principal’sReport – Beth Carsello
Ms. Carsello reviewed the items on her report:
- Staff Development: The “Two-Minute Relationship Builder”
- Family Day on November 24.
- The Ned Show will be coming to Afton December 4.
- The holiday concert will take place December 8. Arrangements have been made to bus the residents from the Afton
Edge to the concert.
- Over 70 students will be impacted by the Angel Tree Project.
- The second grade food drive was a huge success. With the help of high school students, all items were delivered to
the Afton Food Pantry.
- The Backpack Project is in its beginning stages. This project will send identified students home on the weekends
with healthy snacks and simple needs.
Secondary Principal’s Report – David Glover
Mr. Glover reviewed the items on his report:
- Winter Concert scheduled for December 8.
- The Snowball Dance will be held Friday night instead of Saturday this year and will not be a community event. It
will be for students in grades 9-12.
- The MS Student Government, under Mrs. Krause, put on a Veterans Day assembly on November 10.
- The Dollars for Scholars phone-a-thon group raised over $3,800 during the three day period of November 2, 3 & 4.
- Blood Drive on November 5, sponsored by the Jr. Honor Society.
- Students attended Area All State Chorus rehearsal at SUCO on November 20.
- MS students went on a field trip to the Farmers Museum on November 4.
- Mr. Dancesia took his Regents Chemistry class to Ithaca College on November 10.
- Afton has one student participating in the All State Choral Festival as part of the Winter NYSSMA Conference.
Superintendent’s Report – Elizabeth Briggs
- Ms. Briggs reviewed the Technology Committee meeting minutes that were in Board packets. Particularly the 1:1
Initiative Program, Safe Schools Bond Act, Students and College Credits.
- A list of sex offenders who are currently registered at an address within the school district was received from the
Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. This information will be inserted into a newsletter and sent home to parents.
- Working on getting teacher observations done.
- Four Superintendent Hearings are scheduled this week due to students making bad behavioral choices. Are looking
at possible placement changes for some students.
- Have been working with Deb Bestwick at BOCES on bid information for the outside digital sign.
- ACT performance will be held on December 18, 19 and 20. This year they are doing “A Christmas Carol Musical.”
- The Legislative Breakfast is Saturday, December 5, at the Silo Restaurant. We have five attending from Afton.
DISCUSSION
Update on Chenango County School Boards Association November 10, 2015 Meeting
Keith Ives, Sr. sent a synopsis via email today to board members. The CCSBA is considering offering professional development to new and veteran board members. Would like to know from board members what topics they’d like to see offered. There is a possibility that the CCSBA will be sponsoring a “Meet and Greet” in an effort to have board members from all districts have a chance to meet each other. The second half of the year, the CCSBA will be concentrating on planning for the Spring Dinner meeting.
Game Help Fee Structure Review
The current Game Help Fee Structure chart that was adopted by the Board in 2005 was reviewed. After much discussion, the Board decided to change the fee structure.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to pay a flat fee of $35.00 per home game for the following JV and Varsity game help positions: Field Hockey – Timer & Scorer; Soccer – Timer & Scorer; Basketball – Timer, Scorer, 30 Second Clock & Ticket Taker; Wrestling – Announcer, Timer & Ticket Taker; Volleyball – Timer, Scorer & Ticket Taker; Baseball – Scorer; Softball – Scorer.
Yes - 4, No - 0, Carried.
Review Resolution #174-15, “Resolution in Support of Future Farmers of America (FFA) Programs in Chenango County School Districts”.
This resolution was adopted by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors on November 9, 2015 at the recommendation of the Chenango County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board.
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded by Maryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to support the Resolution #174-15 adopted by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors in support of FFA Programs in Chenango County School Districts.
Yes -4, No - 0, Carried.
PERSONNEL
On the recommendation of the Superintendent:
Instructional
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded by Maryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to appoint Afton Adult and Continuing Education Teacher at $15.00/hour, retroactive to October 22, 2015 – Linda Barton
Yes - 4, No - 0, Carried.
Non-Instructional
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to appoint full time bus driver, effective December 1, 2015, at $13.44/hour – Anthony Corrente
Yes - 4, No - 0, Carried.
On motion by Maryann Palmetier, seconded by Ted King, it was RESOLVED to add to the list of substitute aides for the 2015/2016 school year (pending background check and clearance) – Sara Halbert
Yes -45, No - 0, Carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Kathy Moore thanked Ms. Briggs for clarifying some misinformation that was given to her at the last BOE meeting with regard to one special education teacher being used to work with one student. Kathy also asked again if something could be done, either by rearranging the tables or getting a microphone system so that the public can better hear the board members.
Marlene Utter spoke about the minimum wage going up on December 31, 2015. This will bring some newer hires hourly rates up to around the same as what non-instructional employees are making that have been here for a while. She would like to see the district consider giving a rate increase to employees that have been here a while. Mrs. Moore mentioned that longevity should account for the difference. Ms. Briggs remarked that nothing can be done right now as employees are under a contract.
DATES TO REMEMBER
December 5, 2015 – Legislative Breakfast, 9:30 a.m., Silo Restaurant
December 5, 2015 – Breakfast with Santa, 8:00 – 11:00 a.m., Afton Fire Station, sponsored by Class of 2016
December 5, 2015 – Annual Community Christmas Parade, 5:30 p.m.
December 8, 2015 – Winter Concert, 7:00 p.m., auditorium
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded by Ted King, it was RESOLVED to enter Executive Session at8:10 p.m. to discuss a personnel issue.
Yes – 4, No – 0, Carried.
REGULAR SESSION
On motion byKeith Ives, Sr., seconded by Maryann Palmetier, it was RESOLVED to re-enter Regular Session at
8:35p.m.
Yes – 4, No – 0, Carried.
ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35p.m.