Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

June 27, 2006 – 7:30 pm

Elementary Large Group Instruction Room

 

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Welcome to the meeting of the Saucon Valley School Board.  Our objective is to serve the students, parents, and residents of our community.  You are an important part of this meeting and we look forward to your questions and comments.

 

We are all here for the same reason.  All opinions are welcomed and equally valuable.  Our only request is that we address each other with civility and respect.  Our courtesy toward each other is the best way to show our students how much we respect them as well.

 

Agenda

 

6:30 p.m. – Executive Session for the discussion of negotiations and personnel.

 

 

I.          Call to the OrderMr. Ralph Puerta, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.       Announcement of Executive Sessions – June 20, 2006

 

V.        Recognition

           

VI.       Presentations

            A.        2006-2007 Budget Discussion  Budget Changes

                        Preliminary Budget Analysis

 

VII.      Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

 

VIII.     Citizens’ Comments – Agenda Items Only – Visitors should state their name and address.

 

IX.       Presentation of BillsDavid Bonenberger

           A.         General Expenditures ~ Attachment

            B.        Health Benefits ~  Attachment

 


 

X.        Treasurer’s Report – George Torrella/David Bonenberger

            A.        Cash, Investment and Bond Activity ~ April  and May

            B.        Revenue and Expenditure Summary ~  April and May

            C.        Expansion Project Finance Report ~ April and May

            D.        Activity Accounts:

                        1.  High School -  May

                        2.  Middle School - May

 

XI.       Items for Discussion and Possible Resolution

             

XII.      Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education Committee – Susan Baxter/Sandra Fellin

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Science Textbook

1.         Approve the second and final review of the following high school textbook: (Budgeted)

 

            Course Title – Environmental Science

            Textbook Title – Environmental and Ecology for Pennsylvania -                              Meeting the Standards

            Text Replaces – New Course

 

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Education.

 

 

B.        Personnel Committee – Eric Schenkel/Sandra Fellin

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 


 

Professional Employees

1.         Approve the following professional employees effective August 22, 2006.  They are entitled to salary and benefits per the current teachers’ contract:

 

            Theresa Andreucci – HS Spanish - $47,734 (Masters, Step 5.  Ms. Andreucci is replacing Kate Toczek who resigned.

 

            Megan McDevitt – HS English - $45,400 (Masters, Step 3).  Ms. McDevitt is replacing Danielle Swartz who resigned.

 

Long-Term Substitutes

2.         Approve the following long-term substitutes for the 2006-2007 school year.  They are entitled to salary and benefits per the current teacher’s contract.

 

            Gemma Davis – HS Business Ed – 1st semester only -  Ms. Davis will be paid ½ at the LTS rate $9,907.25 (B, Step 2) and ½ at her permanent pay rate $11,217.25 (M, Step 2).  She will return to permanent .5 HS social studies position at the beginning of the 2nd semester.  Ms. Davis is replacing Stacy Daniels who is on maternity leave.

 

            Erin Wilson - .5 HS Social Studies – 1st semester only - $9,907.25 (B, Step 2).  Ms. Wilson is replacing Gemma Davis for the 1st semester.

 

Professional Transfers

3.         Approve the following professional transfers effective the 2006-07 school year.  Salaries will remain the same except for those who are transferring from .5 to full time, in which case their salaries will reflect full-time.

 

            Elizabeth Birli – transferring from fourth grade to kindergarten

 

            Rita Ernst – transferring from second grade to fourth grade

 

            Amy Kishbaugh – transferring from first grade to fourth grade

 

            Eugenia Miller – transferring from .5 HS English to full-time HS English

 

            Jean Ruhf – transferring from kindergarten to first grade

 

Sabbatical Leave

4.         Approve the sabbatical leave request for Elizabeth Birli, kindergarten teacher, for the Spring of 2007 for the purpose of study.

 


 

Maternity Leave Requests

5.         Approve the following maternity leave requests:

 

            Jennifer Campbell - kindergarten teacher, effective August 28, 2006, and continuing until February 12, 2007.  This will be an unpaid maternity leave.

 

            Courtney Best - elementary learning support teacher, effective September 4, 2006, and continuing until November 3, 2006.  She will use 10 sick days, then 15 sick days which will run concurrent with the provisions outlined in the Family Medical Leave Act.

 

Academic Core Aide

6.         Approve the transfer of Nancy Bean from instructional aide to Academic Core aid at the elementary school.  She is replacing Cindy Fulmer who retired.  Ms. Bean is entitled to salary and benefits according to current aide contract.

 

Professional Resignations

7.         Approve the following resignations:

 

            Dan Burkholder - Special Education Supervisor, as of August 19, 2006, or upon release by the district.

 

            Jennifer Pratt - HS math teacher, effective September 1, 2006.

 

            Mark Bushek - HS emotional support teacher, effective August 22, 2006.

 

Solicitor

8.         Approve Brian Monahan as District Solicitor for a term ending June 30, 2007.  Solicitor Compensation and Service Arrangement

 

Food Service Personnel Agreement

9.         Approve the 2006-2010 Food Service Personnel Agreement.

             Attachment

 

Food Service Personnel Incentive

10.       Approve the food service employees’ 2005-2006 cash incentive payment of 1.5%.

 

           

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Personnel.

 


 

C.        Facilities Committee – Herb Payung/Wally Zimpfer

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    _______________

 

 

Surplus Bus

1.         Approve declaration of school bus as surplus valueless property and donate same to SeWyCo Fire Company for drill purposes.

 

Lower Saucon Township Work

2.         Approve legal work by Lower Saucon Township to investigate

            easement viability for the Polk Valley Park Trail connector.  Fee

            not to exceed $3,000.   Attachment

 

Land Development Improvement Extension

3.         Approve the land development improvement extension

            agreement for the Saucon Valley School District – Elementary/

            Middle School additions to June 4, 2007.   Attachment

 

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Facilities.

 

D.        Finance Committee – George Torrella/David Bonenberger

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

Lease Approval

1.         Approve a Lease Agreement for a five-year term between LaSalle Bank National Association, 51 North Third Street, Neward, OH, and the District in the amount of $600,000 with a 4.5% interest rate.  Annual payments will be $130,789.46.

            Payment Schedule and Resolution documents.   

           

Adoption of Budget

2.         Adopt the 2006 – 2007 budget in the amount of $   _________,

            which will be funded by a ________ mill increase.  The millage rate will be ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________. ($ ________ per $1,000 assessed value).

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Finance.

 

E.        Policy Task Force CommitteeLachlan Peeke/Sandra Fellin

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

No Report or Recommendations.

 

Recommendation:  No recommendations.

 

F.         Community Outreach – Susan Baxter/Herb Payung/Sandra Fellin

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Environmental Planning and Design Firm

1.         Approve the Saucon Valley Partnership recommendation to hire the firm of Environmental Planning and Design for the multi municipal comprehensive plan.

 

Saucon Valley Partnership Meeting

2.       The next meeting of the Saucon Valley Partnership is scheduled for July 12, 2006 beginning at 7 pm at the Hellertown Borough Hall.

 

Recommendation: To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Community Outreach.

 as listed above in Education.

G.        Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School – Edward Inghrim/Lachlan Peeke

            (Meetings are first Tuesday of every month)

 

H.        Colonial Intermediate Unit – Susan Baxter

            (Meetings are fourth Wednesday of every month)

 

I.          PSBA – Sandra Miller/Herb Payung

 

J.         Northampton Community College – Charles Bartolet

            (Meetings are first Thursday of every month)

 

K.        Hellertown/Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce – George Torrella

 

L.         New Business

 

XIII.     Solicitor’s Report

 

XIV.     Citizen’s Inquiries and CommentsVisitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    July 11, 2006 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          Elementary Large Group Instruction Room

 

                          July 25, 2006 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          Elementary Large Group Instruction Room

 

XV.      Motion to Adjourn Meeting

 

 

The Saucon Valley School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or handicap