By EAST AURORA EDITOR  (7/22/2009 11:05:56 PM)

Board of Education Meeting Digest for July 8, 2009

District Clerk Jacquelyn Wopperer opened the meeting and administered the oath of office to newly elected Board Member MaryBeth Covert.  S. Dennis Holbrook was administered the oath of office later in the meeting. Ms. Wopperer also conducted elections for the positions of President and Vice-President of the Board of Education, and administered the oath of office to the newly elected President Daniel Brunson and Vice-President Kathyann Lorka.

At the conclusion of the Board Election, the Board of Education appointed the District Clerk and Treasurer. At 6:10 PM, the Board of Education meeting was called to order by President Daniel Brunson.

Superintendent Bodziak's comments:

“Our school district was made aware that former Southside Kindergarten teacher, Jayne Dayer, passed away on June 26^th. Our entire school community family extends its sympathies to Jayne's family.

The June edition of Newsweek magazine completed a list of the top 1,500 public high schools in America. This would be the top 6% of public high schools. Schools are ranked according to a ratio of Advanced Placement tests or International Baccalaureate tests taken by all students at a school in 2008, divided by the number of graduating seniors. East Aurora High School ranked 857^th. Ten other WNY high schools also made the top 1,500. We were 5^th in the ranking of WNY schools.

This past June, Main Street Elementary fourth graders held a carnival with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish. I am pleased to announce that the fourth grade raised $1,800. Congratulations to all of these students, their teachers, and to Mr. Ryan Sturm who was the event organizer.

A number of months ago, our school district applied to the State for ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) discretionary funding for the purpose of using such money to help with the construction of the athletic storage/maintenance building, as well as the construction of a concession stand/band shelter at the high school athletic field. Our grant proposals were sent to Governor Patterson's Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet which then referred it to the State Education Department. Unfortunately, we received notification that our grant proposals were rejected because ARRA discretionary funding was not allocated to SED for such projects.”

Board President's and Board members' comments:

Mr. Brunson commented on his attendance at the High School graduation ceremony and commended the graduates and staff for their fine work in organizing an outstanding commencement. He also reported on a recent District Construction Committee meeting and the ECASB annual meeting that he attended with Mr. Bodziak and Mrs. Lorka, congratulating Mrs. Lorka on her appointment to the ECASB Executive Board. He also noted a very favorable interest rate on the recent District borrowing and noted the extremely low interest rate is a direct result of the excellent fiscal condition of the District.

Mr. Brunson also asked members to review the District Committee Assignment list for their selections, to be finalized at the August 19th Board of Education meeting, and noted that a committee has been convened to plan the formal dedication of the new Parkdale Building in the fall.

Mr. Zagrobelny commented on his recent attendance at a District Communications and Information Technology Advisory Committee Meeting with Mr. Russ and Mr. Clements. He provided an update on several Technology Department initiatives included continued training of staff for web page design, outfitting teachers with laptops, and PowerSchool, and thanked Mr. Russ and Mr. Clements for their dedicated work to continue to move the District forward in this area.

Reports and discussion:

• Mr. Blowers reviewed the May, 2009 Treasurer's Report and the Budget Status Report to date.

• Mr. Bodziak, Mr. Andres, and Mr. Watkins updated the Board about Capital Facilities Project progress as it pertains to Parkdale, Main Street and the Athletic Storage and Maintenance Building.

• Board members discussed the 2009-2010 Board of Education Self-Evaluation document and next steps in the process, and Mr. Bodziak and Board members discussed matters relating to a proposed Board of Education/Administrative Fall Retreat.

In other business, Superintendent Bodziak recommended that the Board of Education:

• Approve the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, by virtue of increasing enrollment, create an additional 0.5 F.T.E. Kindergarten Teacher Position, for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Approve the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, by virtue of restructuring, declares that 0.4 F.T.E. High School English Teacher Position shall be reduced to 0.2 F.T.E. position, effective July 1, 2009;

• Accept the resignation of Elementary Music Teacher Meaghen C. Garbay, effective June 30, 2009;

• Approve unpaid child care leaves of absence for Amie L. Marcklinger and Barbara Moore (September 1, 2009 through February 1, 2010) and for Amy M. Rogers (September 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010);

• Appoint Christine K. Stanley to the position of 1.0 F.T.E. Probationary English 7-12 Teacher at the High School (replacing Rosemary Roemer);

• Appoint Carrie A. Jenner to the position of 0.5 F.T.E. Probationary Kindergarten Teacher at the Parkdale School (new position);

• Appoint Anthony J. Ambrose to the position of 0.6 F.T.E. Part-Time Social Studies Teacher at the Middle School (replacing Joan Beverly);

• Appoint Tanya M. Flynt to the position of 0.6 F.T.E. Part-Time English 7-12 Teacher at the Middle School (replacing Jean Ricci);

• Appoint Jean Ricci to the position of 0.2 F.T.E. Part-Time 7-12 English Teacher at the High School;

• Appoint lindsay B. Messore to the position of 0.6 F.T.E. Part-Time Speech Pathologist at the High School. This appointee has an initial certification in Speech and Language Disabilities effective September 1, 2006;

• Appoint Jessica A. Herraez to the position of 0.6 F.T.E. Part-Time Foreign Language Teacher (Spanish) at the High School;

• Appoint Catherine K. Reimers as 0.6 F.T.E. Part-Time Foreign Language Teacher (German) at the High School;

• Appoint Kimberly E. Tuzzolino to the position of 0.4 F.T.E. Part-Time 7-12 Science Teacher at the High School;

• Appoint Katherine A. Kubiak to the position of 0.4 F.T.E. Part-Time 7-12 Social Studies Teacher at the High School;

• Appoint Jennifer Desiderio to the position of 0.8 F.T.E. Part-Time Business Education Teacher at the Middle School;

• Appoint Tammy L. Furman-Schwab to the position of 0.6 F.T.E. Part-Time 7-12 Science Teacher at the Middle School;

• Appoint Kimberly S. Hanavan to the position of 0.6 F.T.E. Part-Time 7-12 Math Teacher at the Middle School;

• Appoint Katherine R. Bell as 1.0 F.T.E. Long-Term Substitute Elementary Education Teacher (replacing Carol Hayes);

• Appoint Ryan M. Sturm as 1.0 F.T.E. Long-Term Substitute Elementary Education Teacher (replacing Amy Rogers);

• Appoint Amanda C. Buscemi as 1.0 F.T.E. Long-Term Substitute K-12 High School Art Teacher (replacing Thomas Kegler);

• Appoint Tammy R. Romesser to the position of 0.8 F.T.E. Part-Time Long-Term Substitute Business Education Teacher at the High School (replacing Barbara Moore);

• Approve interscholastic appointments for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Appoint Melissa Piasecki as Fencing Club Advisor effective January 30, 2009;

• Approve minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting of June 9, 2009 and the Special Meeting of June 22, 2009;

• Approve recommendations of the Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Preschool Special Education;

• Designate M & T Bank as the District's lead bank and the following banks: J. P. Morgan Chase, Citizens Bank, Bank of America, Key Bank and HSBC as depositories for District monies;

• Authorize a petty cash fund maintained in the District Office in the amount of $100.00 in the name of the District Clerk and in each school building office in the amount of $100.00 in the name of each principal for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Authorize the Treasurer to close out the Main Street Elementary Petty Cash Fund and return the cash to the General Operating Fund;

• Established the rate paid for mileage to employees who use their own vehicles for travel on school business at the Internal Revenue Service approved rate of $.55 per mile as may be changed from time to time, effective July 1, 2009, for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Authorize the bonding of the School Business Manager in the amount of $800,000, District Treasurer in the amount of $5,000,000 and the Tax Collector in the amount of $3,000,000.

• Authorize the Superintendent to apply for Grants in Aid (State and Federal);

• Approve the following resolution:

WHEREAS, It is the plan of a number of public school districts in Erie #2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus County BOCES, New York, and other governmental entities to bid jointly the following: Classroom/General Office Supplies, Audiovisual Equipment, Custodial Supplies, Calculators, Computer Supplies, Paper Supplies, Athletic Supplies, Hazardous Waste Removal/Disposal (Partial listing, Additional Bids May be Added),

WHEREAS, The East Aurora Union Free School District is desirous of participating with other school districts in Erie #2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES and any other state approved governmental entity in the joint bidding of the commodities mentioned above as authorized by General Municipal Law, and,

WHEREAS, The East Aurora Union Free School District wishes to appoint a committee to assume the responsibility for drafting of specifications, advertising for bids, accepting and opening bids, tabulating bids, reporting the results to the boards of education and making recommendations thereon; therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the East Aurora Union Free School District hereby appoints the Business Manager at BOCES #2 and a committee chosen by him to represent it in all matters related to the above, and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the East Aurora Union Free School District Board of Education authorizes the above-mentioned committee to represent it in all matters leading up to the entering into a contract for the purchase of the above-mentioned commodities, and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the East Aurora Union Free School District Board of Education agrees to assume its equitable share of the costs of the cooperative bidding, and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the East Aurora Union Free School District Board of Education agrees (1) to abide by majority decisions of the participating districts on quality standards; (2) that unless all bids are rejected, it will award contracts according to the recommendations of the committee; (3) that after award of contract(s) it will conduct all negotiations directly with the successful bidder(s).

• Appoint the School Business Manager as the Title IX Compliance Officer for the 2009-2010 school year, the individual authorized to certify payrolls for the 2009-2010 school year, and Purchasing Agent for the 2009-2010 school year, authorizing him to sign all purchasing agreements not required to be signed by the Superintendent of Schools;

• Appoint the Town of Aurora, Town of Colden and Town of Elma Tax Collectors as School Tax Collector for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Approve of the Board of Education entering into an agreement with P & A Administrative Services, Inc. for the installation and administration of the District's 125 and 105h plans;

• Appoint Jacquelyn E. Wopperer as the Records Access Officer for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Appoint Barbra Mann as the Records Retention and Disposition Officer for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Appoint the following individuals to the Committee on Special Education for the 2009-2010 school year: Psychologists Catherine Warda-Bender, James Coleman, Marcia Nagle-Ahern; Speech Pathologists Diane Hourihan, Jill Sengbush, Amy Bilson and lindsay Messore; Teachers Nancy Bauchat, Melissa Goulet, Jackie Hanavan, Frank D'Avanzato, Brad Hornung, Clare Cavanaugh, Cheryl DiSarno, Sherry Macauley, Brian Hill, Cynthia Marinaccio, Kathryn Gaughan, Stacey Koch, Kristen Teeft, Kelly Eckler; Social Worker Julie Duffett; Principals Colleen Klimchuck, Mark Mambretti, James Hoagland, William Roberts (Assistant); Sub-Committee Chairperson Julie Duffett, Cathy Warda-Bender, Marcia Nagle-Ahern, James Coleman; District Chairperson Susan DiNatale; Parent Representatives Maura Sauer, Cheryl Walsh, Lynn Kerr, Kimberly Clapp & Dawn McGee and Colleen Seiner;

• Appoint the following individuals to the Committee on Preschool Special Education for the 2009-2010 school year: Erie County Representative, Preschool Agency Representative, Parents Dawn McGee, Cheryl Walsh, and lisa Smith, Jolene Jeffe; District Representatives Susan DiNatale, Chairperson; Psychologists Catherine Warda-Bender, James Coleman; Marcia Nagle-Ahern and Teachers Diane Hourihan, Jill Sengbusch and Amy Bilson;

• Adopt the following list of Impartial Hearing Officers available for Erie County for the 2009-2010 school year as published by the State Education Department: Gayle T. Murphy, Craig Tessler, Aaron Turetsky, James Walsh, Mindy G. Wolman, Joan Alexander, Stuart Bauchner, Robert Briglio, Paul Bumbalo, Rivona Ehrenreich, Steven Goldsmith, James Hendra, Craig Hill, Martin Kehoe, Dora Lassinger, Michael Lazan, Nancy Lederman, and James McKeever;

• Appoint Maura Sauer as Surrogate Parent for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Appoint Business Manager as District representative to the Workers Compensation Consortium Board of Directors for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Appoint Business Manager as District representative to the School and Municipal Energy Cooperative Board of Directors for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Adopt a schedule of Board of Education dates and times for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Delegate authority to the Superintendent, or other District administrator authorized by the Superintendent, to approve all field trips for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Authorize the Superintendent to employ part-time and temporary help within budget allocations for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Designate the East Aurora Advertiser and/or the East Aurora BEE and/or the Buffalo News as official district newspapers for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Authorize the Superintendent, or other District administrator as authorized by the Superintendent, to approve all necessary conference attendance and school business trips and related expenses by employees and members of the Board of Education of the District for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Set Date and Time for the Annual Budget Hearing as Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 7:00 PM in the Main Street School library.;

• Set Date and Time for the Annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election as Tuesday, May 18, 2010 in the Main Street School cafeteria with voting hours from 7:00 AM until 9:00 PM;

• Set date for the Organizational Meeting of the Board of Education for the 2009-2010 school year as 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 7, 2010;

• Authorize the following School/Community Committees for the 2009-2010 school year: Budget Committee, Community Education Coordinating Committee, Audit Committee, Instructional Technology Committee, Safety Committee & District Security Sub-Committee, Visitation Committee, Athletic Advisory Committee, District Parent Council, Board Policy Committee, Curriculum/Textbook Review Committee, Staff Recognition Committee, Aurora Youth Service Board, Pre-Kindergarten Feasibility Committee, and Full Day Kindergarten and be authorized to create any additional School/Community Committees as the Superintendent deems necessary in order to achieve the District Goals for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Authorize the Superintendent to sign contracts;

• Appoint the Director of Pupil Services as the Section 504 Coordinator for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Appoint the Superintendent of Schools as the Section 504 Compliance Officer for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Approve the renewal of participation in the National School Lunch, Breakfast and Special Milk Program for the 2009-2010 School Year;

• Appoint Barbra Mann as Assistant District Treasurer for the 2009-2010 school year;

• Approve of Chairperson Pro-Tem list for 2009-2010;

• Approve of Director of Pupil Services as the Designated Education Official in accordance with Chapter 181 of the Laws of 2000 (“Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act”);

• Appoint Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds as the District Asbestos (LEA) Designee;

• Approve the following Classified Substitute hourly pay rates for the 2009-2010 school year: Teacher's Aide $10.12, Clerk-Typist $12.10, Senior Clerk Typist $12.68;

• Appoint Robert W. Daigler, Jr. as Internal Auditor for the 2009-2010 school year at an hourly rate of $50;

• Approve Summer Trimester 2009-2010 Continuing/Community Education Schedule and Proposed Instructors and Salary Schedule;

• Approve the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the East Aurora Union Free School District is authorized by Education Law 1709 to adopt by-laws and policies as necessary for the effective and orderly operations of the schools; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has reviewed its policies and made certain revisions and changes thereto; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby adopts this Policy Manual for the District in its entirety; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the policies contained in this Manual shall supersede all previous policies adopted by the Board of Education which are hereby revoked and rendered null and void; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the right to amend or revoke these current policies at any time is reserved to the Board of Education; and

BE IT RESOLVED that in the event any policy, part of a policy or section of the by-laws is judged to be inconsistent with law, inoperative by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is invalidated by policy or contract duly adopted by this Board, the remaining by-laws, policies, and parts of policies shall remain in full effect.

• The Superintendent recommends that the Board of Education appoint Anthony DiFilippo III, Esq. as School Attorney for the 2009-2010 school year on retainer in the amount of $26,006;

• Appoint Lumsden and McCormick, Certified Public Accountant, P. C. as the District's External Auditor for the 2009-2010 school year at a stipend of $19,100 effective July 1, 2009;

• Appoint Dr. Gerald Lauria as School Physician for the 2009-2010 school year at a salary of $17,426 effective July 1, 2009;

• Appoint Sharon Ellis as Claims Auditor for the 2009-2010 school year, at an hourly rate of $14.41 effective July 1, 2009;

• Approve the following resolution:

Resolved that the Board of Education hereby designates the Board President as the Board Member that shall have the authority to appoint an Impartial Hearing Officer on behalf of the Board of Education pursuant to Board Policy #7670 and Administrative Regulation #7670R.

• Appoint the firm of Ward Robbins Associates to handle matters relating to the District's Public Relations and Continuing/Community Education needs effective July 1, 2009;

• Approve salary/benefits for the Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds James Andres, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel Dr. Brad Gibson, Business Manager Paul Blowers, and Coordinator of Network Administration Richard Clements;

• Approve of the following resolution:

Be it resolved, that the Board of Education hereby approve an Amended Employment Agreement with James C. Bodziak, employing James C. Bodziak as Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of the East Aurora Union Free School District. The President of the Board of Education is hereby authorized to execute the same on behalf of the East Aurora Union Free School District; [District Clerk Wopperer administered the Oath of Office to Superintendent Bodziak];

• Accept a donation valued at over $75 from Jean Torke, East Aurora, NY, of seventy-seven paperback copies of Second Bend in the River by Ann Rinaldi and seventy-five paperback copies of Dear America by Winning Entries of the Contest Sponsored by Scholastic's Arrow Book Club to be used in the Middle School classroom library;

• Approve the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the East Aurora Union Free School District Board of Education does hereby nominate linda Hoffman as candidate for the upcoming NYSSBA Area 1 Director vacancy and hereby directs the Clerk of the Board of Education to notify NYSSBA.

• Approve the interscholastic appointment of Girls Volunteer Soccer Coach Eric Sweet for the 2009-2010 school year.

• Approve transfer from the General Fund to the Debt Service Reserve Fund an amount not to exceed $500,000.

• Acknowledge receipt of the Keller Estate Proceeds in the amount of $3,373,667.38 and authorize the Superintendent to Execute the Release on behalf of the School District.
  

Next scheduled Board meeting – Wednesday, August 19, 2009.

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