AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL
Board of Education Meeting
Date: January 8, 2015
Where Held: Board Room
Kind of Meeting:
Presiding Officer:
Regular
President – Vanessa Warren
Board Members Present: Vanessa Warren, President; Henry Bostelman, Vice-President; Duane Phillips, Ted King,
Keith Ives, Sr.
Absent: No one
Administration and
Others Present
Elizabeth Briggs, Superintendent; Dave Glover, Secondary Principal; Kimberly Hromada,
Elementary Principal; Marcella Rhodes, Director of Special Education; Ken Howard, Business
Manager; Connie Beames, Secretary/Clerk
Visitors: Tim Bivens, Glen LeConte , Brian Phetteplace, Marlene Utter, Laura Grover, Deb Bestwick, Sean
Dollaway, Donna Glover
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Warren.
RECOGINITION OF VISITORS
A parent had a concern with our modified baseball program, specifically the coach. It was suggested that we appoint a
different coach other than Mr. Oakley. After expressing more concerns, Mrs. Warren informed her that the Board
would discuss it and get back to her.
MINUTES
On motion by Duane Phillips, seconded by Ted King, it was RESOLVED to approve minutes of the meeting of
December 4, 2014 as presented.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
FINANCIAL
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to approve the November 2014 Treasurer’s
Report.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
Reviewed the monthly financial statements.
On motion by Henry Bostelman, seconded by Duane Phillips, it was RESOLVED to approve the November 2014
DCMO BOCES Claims Audit Report.
Yes –5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to authorize the appropriation of
unappropriated fund balance for an amount not to exceed $45,000. $40,000 for the property purchase located at 43
Caswell Street and up to $5,000 for related property purchase expenses as per voter approval on December 8, 2014.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Duane Phillips, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to accept donation from Victoria
Gregory in the amount of $85 for a two-year subscription to Country Folks magazine.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Henry Bostelman, it was RESOLVED to accept donation from The Busfield
Foundation in the amount of $2,000.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to approve the Affordable Care Act.
Affordable Care Act Resolution
WHEREAS, the Afton Central School District maintains a group health plan for its employees (“health plan”); and
WHEREAS, the Afton Central School District is required to offer coverage under its health plan to eligible full-time
employees pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) effective in 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Afton Central School District employs persons for variable hours whose full-time status must be
determined pursuant to guidance issued under the ACA;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVE that the School District hereby is, authorized and directed to establish and
maintain procedures for the purpose of compliance with the ACA, including but not limited to the following:
1. For variable-hour employees, the School District shall establish a 12-month standard measurement period
beginning July 1, 2014 and ending the following June 30, 2015;
2. The initial measurement period for new variable-hour employees shall be the 12-month period beginning
on the date of hire and ending on the anniversary date thereof;
3. The administrative period following the standard measurement period if the period beginning July 1, 2015
and ending August 31, 2015;
4. The administrative period for new variable-hour employees shall be the 30 day period following the
anniversary date; and
5. The stability period, during which time a variable-hour employee’s status as eligible or ineligible for health
plan coverage is fixed, is the period beginning September 1, 2015 and ending August 31, 2016.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the School District is authorized and directed to take such actions as it determines
necessary or proper to give effect to this resolution.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
REPORTS
Elementary Principal’s Report – Kimberly Hromada
- Ms. Hromada explained to the board that she has asked her staff for feedback about the job she is doing and where
support is needed. One thing she is aware of is she has not been making it to team meetings. Now the teams are
having weekly meetings and she is able to get to about two per month.
- A big concern is the schedule. Currently there are 360 minutes per day and it has been determined that 390 minutes
per day are needed.
- The additional kindergarten class started on January 5. Ms. Hess is settling in very well this week. The kindergarten
teachers chose which students to move and Ms. Hromada contacted families. There is one parent concern about not
receiving the message that Ms. Hromada is handling.
- Other concerns of Ms. Hromada’s staff is that she needs to respond to emails in a timelier manner. Ms. Hromada
informed her staff that if they need a response quicker than 24 hours, they need to see her in her office. They also
feel that certain staff members dominate her time. She is working on making sure that this does not happen.
- Students are not motivated and are refusing to work. The Student Services Team are looking at steps for when who
(counselors, etc.) gets involved to make a connection with the students. Third and Fifth grade continue to have the
most behavioral issues and dominate Ms. Hromada’s time.
- On a positive note, the 6th grade Leadership program has been a success. Aides are working out very well. Marie
Loher is a huge asset. Staff are feeling a lot better about the Common Core.
- LINKS team is struggling this year and is behind with the LINKS plan.
Secondary Principal’s Report – David Glover
- Behaviors have been good since the return from break.
- Mr. Glover has been working on Regents scheduling and the proctoring schedule.
- Met with the Math Department to go over what we can offer students next year. The block schedule for the Algebra
II Trig class has helped.
- The process for creating the schedule for next year has begun. The schedule is built based on special education
needs. It is Mr. Glover’s hope to have the schedule for next year completed by the end of May.
- We are having all day Rachel’s Challenge programs here on February 3 for 7th & 8th grade, February 4 for 9th & 10th
grade and February 5 for 11th & 12th grade. Time is 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Mr. Glover invited the Board members to
attend. Parents will also be invited. About 20 adults per day are needed to run the program.
- Mr. King asked Mr. Glover about the possibility of another Career Day being held at Afton. Mr. Glover will talk to
Mrs. Gregory about it and report back.
Superintendent’s Report – Elizabeth Briggs
- The survey for the property purchase was reviewed. Ms. Briggs explained to the board that the survey indicates that
approximately eleven feet of the village building and the village fuel tank is on the town property that we are
purchasing. Ms. Briggs is checking with our attorney for our best option to resolve this.
- Ms. Briggs is working with Mr. Howard on the school’s efficiency plan. The plan needs to show where the school
has made savings. There aren’t any guidelines yet to go by. We need to show $43,000 worth of individual or shared
savings.
- Will be starting negotiations with teachers very soon. Will be planning for three consecutive days in February as this
worked well in the past. Ms. Briggs will be attending a Labor Relations meeting next week with regard to
negotiations.
- Would like to form a committee to explore the possibilities of an extended school day for the 2015/2016 school year
and also the possibility of going to one time schedule for K-12 for the 2016/2017 school year.
- A staff development day is scheduled for January 30. Some agenda items are: John Perricone, keynote speaker;
Right to Know Training; Active Shooter Demonstration by Martin Pettit of the Afton Police Department and other
trainings arranged by administrators.
- Ms. Briggs spoke about the Girls on the Run program that Peggy Sines, Marie Loher and Danielle Umbra would like
to volunteer their time for. This program was developed to educate and prepare girls, ages eight to thirteen years old,
for a lifetime of healthy living. The program combines training for a 5K running event with self-esteem enhancing,
uplifting workouts. The goals of the program is to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and
physical development.
DISCUSSION
Electric Bid – Deb Bestwick, DCMO BOCES
Ken Howard introduced Deb Bestwick from DCMO BOCES. Mr. Howard reviewed the district’s recently published
Annual Savings Report from our participation in the DCMO BOCES Cooperative Purchasing Service. Mr. Howard
indicated that the school has saved significantly in comparison to NYS bid prices as a result of utilizing the service.
Mr. Howard then turned the discussion over to Mrs. Bestwick to discuss the most recent bid, Electricity.
Mrs. Bestwick reviewed the process that BOCES coordinated on behalf of schools, to obtain the required
competitively bids for electricity. Several meetings were held to determine the options available to schools for
purchasing, including a presentation meeting in which numerous vendors were given the opportunity to present their
perspectives in regards to their product/service. These meetings led to the decision to have BOCES bid for electricity
similar to how they successfully are bidding for fuel for schools currently. The electric bid that BOCES/Afton
accepted was less than the current electric pricing that the school pays. The Board expressed appreciation to Mrs.
Bestwick for the service she provides, ensuring that the school receives competitive pricing while meeting the NYS
required bidding requirements.
Building Conditions Survey – Tim Bivens
Mr. Bivens reviewed the proposal information that was provided to the board to complete the 2015 Building
Conditions Survey and the Capital Facilities Plan. In addition, he introduced information regarding a Capital Outlay
Project.
Phase III Update – Tim Bivens
Mr. Bivens reviewed with the board the Construction Cost Summary for the EXCEL Capital Project – Phase III. A
chart of the Phase III timeline was also discussed.
Review of Suggested Policy Changes
# 1000
Community Relations Goals (revised)
# 2121
Board Member Qualifications (revised)
# 5405
Student Wellness (revised – previously called Policies on Physical Activity and
Nutrition)
# 5500
Student Records (revised)
# 5500-R
Student Records Regulation (revised)
# 5500-E.1
Sample Notification – FERPA (revised)
# 5500-E.2
Sample Form – Notification of Directory Information Designations (revised)
# 5500-E.4
Sample Form – Parents’ Bill of Rights for Student Data Privacy and Security (new)
# 6700
Purchasing (revised)
# 6700-R
Purchasing Regulation (revised)
Ms. Briggs discussed the revisions of current policies and introduced new policies. The first reading will be held at the
next board meeting.
PERSONNEL
On the recommendation of the Superintendent:
Instructional
On motion by Henry Bostelman, seconded Duane Phillips, it was RESOLVED to appoint elementary teacher at
$37,500/year, retroactive to January 5, 2015 – Kristen Hess
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Duane Phillips, seconded by Henry Bostelman., it was RESOLVED to appoint mentor for Valerie
Krause for the second semester of the 2014/2015 school year – Justin Smith
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded by Ted King., it was RESOLVED to appoint mentor for Kristen Hess for the
second semester of the 2014/2015 school year – Robin Palmer
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Duane Phillips, seconded Ted King, it was RESOLVED to add to the list of substitute teachers for
2014/2015 school year (pending background check and clearance) – Nathan Cutting, Lauren Smith, Ronald Creighton,
Jay Hanson
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to appoint alternate CSE, CPSE and 504
Chairperson – James Lucenti
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
Non-Instructional
On motion by Duane Phillips, seconded Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to appoint full time cleaner at $9.01/hour,
start date pending background check and clearance – Kim Knapp-Moravcik
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to add to the list of substitute aides for
2014/2015 school year (pending background check and clearance) – Amanda Conklin
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
On motion by Keith Ives, Sr., seconded Duane Phillips, it was RESOLVED to add to the list of substitute registered
nurses for the 2014/2015 school year, retroactive to December 19, 2014 – Danielle Noyes
Yes – 4, No – 0, Carried. (Henry Bostelman abstained.)
On motion by Ted King, seconded Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to add to the list of substitute cleaners for the
2014/2015 school year pending background check and clearance) – Cody Rowe, Ethan Colley
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to enter Executive Session at 9:35 p.m. to
hear the Committee on Special Education (CSE), the 504 Transdisciplinary Team Committee, the Committee on PreSchool Education (CPSE) Reports and to discuss a personnel matter.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
REGULAR SESSION
On motion by Duane Phillips, seconded by Henry Bostelman, it was RESOLVED to re-enter Regular Session at 9:55
p.m.
Yes – 5, No- 0, Carried.
On motion by Ted King, seconded by Keith Ives, Sr., it was RESOLVED to arrange for the placement of students #
710601001, 710073215, 710600533, 710073200, 710600758, 710600446, 710601248, 710600639, 710601341,
71061151, 710600586, 710601336, 710600388, 710600672, 710600904, 710073240, 710073037, 710601351, and
710600995 as developed by the CSE in its meetings of October 2, 2014, October 16, 2014, November 13, 2014,
November 20, 2014, December 4, 2014, and December 16, 2014; RESOLVED to arrange for the placement of students
# 710073215, 710600259, 710073230, 710600216, 710601094, 710600265, 710600878, 710601262, 710600634,
710600388, and 710600995 as developed by the 504 Transdisciplinary Team in its meetings of October 16, 2014,
November 6, 2014, November 13, 2014, November 20, 2014, December 4, 2014 and December 16,2014; RESOLVED
to arrange for the placement of students # 710600893, 710601308, 710601324, and 710601354 as developed by the
CPSE in its meetings of October 16, 2014 and December 16, 2014.
Yes – 5, No – 0, Carried.
ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.