Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

                                                      June 26, 2007 – 7:30 pm

High School Audion

­― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ― ―

 

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

 

7 pm – Executive Session for the purpose of personnel.                              

 

 

I.          Call to the Order – Mr. Ralph Puerta, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance – Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.       Announcement of Executive Sessions –

                        June 26, 2007

 

V.        Approval of Minutes

                        Minutes - May 22, 2007

                        Minutes - June 12, 2007

                                               

VI.       Recognition

                                   

VII.      Presentation

 

VIII.     Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

           

IX.       Citizens’ Comments – Agenda Items Only – Visitors should state their name

            and address.

 

X.        Presentation of Bills – David Bonenberger

            A.        General Expenditures

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures

 

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

            A.        Cash Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Condensed Board Summary Report

           

            D.        Budget Transfers

            E.        Activity Accounts: 

                        Note: Money in activity accounts is from student fundraising endeavors.

                        1.  High School Activity Report

                        2.  Middle School Activity Report

 

 

XII.     Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education Committee – Susan Baxter/Ira Hiberman

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

French Textbooks

1.         Approve the first review of the following high school textbooks:

 

            Course Title – French I

            Textbook Title – French 1 Bien dit!  (Budgeted)

            Text Replaces – On y va! (1994)

 

            Course Title – French II

            Textbook Title – French 2 Bien dit! (Budgeted – 2008-09 sy)

            Text replaces existing textbook

 

            Course Title – French III

            Textbook Title – French 3 Bien dit! (Budgeted – 2008-09 sy)

            Text replaces existing textbook

 

 

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

 

B.        Personnel Committee – Sandra Miller/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Maternity Leave Request

1.         Approve the following maternity leave request:

 

            Courtney Best – Elementary special education teacher – Mrs. Best will be working until August 31, 2007.  She will be enacting the 12 weeks of FMLA following the birth of her child.  She is not using any sick days prior to, or during her FMLA.   She plans on returning November 26, 2007.

 

Board Treasurer

2.         Approve __________to serve as Treasurer of the Saucon Valley School District for a term ending June 30, 2008.

            (Director George Torrella was approved as Treasurer to June 30, 2007 at the June 13, 2006 Board Meeting.  This item was tabled at the June 12, 2007 Board Meeting)

 

2006-2007 Per Capita Deletions and Exemptions

3.         Approve the 2006-2007 Per Capita Tax Deletions and the 2006-2007 Per Capita Tax Exemptions.

 

Tax Collector Exoneration

4.         Approve the exoneration of the Saucon Valley School District Tax Collector from collection of the 2006-2007 Per Capita Taxes and forward the uncollectible taxes to Berkheimer Associates for collection.

 

Strength and Conditioning Coach Agreement

5.         Approve Tom Koch as Strength and Conditioning Coach per the terms and conditions of the attached agreement, Unleashed Total Fitness Training, LLC, commencing July 1, 2007 and continuing through June 30, 2008.  The hourly rate of pay for this position is $34, not to exceed $7,750.

 

Conference/Travel Requests

6.         Approve the attached conferences/travel.

 

 

Retirement

7.         Approve the retirement of Diane Hepner, elementary Title I Reading Para-Professional, effective June 30, 2007

 

Professional Transfers

8.         Approve the following transfers for the 2007-08 school year.  No change in salary.

 

            Cheryl Kittle – Grade 7 Language Arts to Grade 6 Language Arts

            Claudia Powell – Grade 8 French/Spanish to Grade 7 French/Spanish

            Elizabeth Ravier – Grade 6 Language Arts to Grade 7 Language Arts

            Dana Russo – Grade 7 Special Education to Grade 8 Special Education

            Jason Stern – Grade 7 Social Studies to Grade 8 Social Studies

            Sarah Thatcher – Grade 7 French/Spanish to Grade 8 French/Spanish

            Kim Young – Grade 8 Social Studies to Grade 7 Social Studies         

                                   

Professional Appointments

9.         Approve the following professional appointment:

 

            Amber Ziemba as high school librarian effective August 23, 2007.  Ms. Ziemba’s salary will be $39,878 (B, Step 1) and she is entitled to all benefits per the current teacher contract.  Ms. Ziemba is replacing Mrs. Lanette Weller, who retired.

 

Middle School Team Leaders

10.       Approve the middle school team leaders for the 2007-08 school year at a salary of $2,000.

 

            Grade 6

            Jane Huston – Respect, Responsibility, and Citizenship Teams

 

            Grade 7

            Dan Mack – Courage Team

            Scott Roberts – Determination Team

 

            Grade 8

            Robert Kachmar – Fairness Team

            Jason Stern – Caring Team

 

            Related Arts

            Annelle Conover – Choices Team

 

Middle School Co-Curricular Advisors

11.       Approve the middle school co-curricular advisors for the 2007-08 school year:

 

            Sharon Bender – Newspaper – $1,372

            Annelle Conover – Cambiata Chorus – $1,626

            Carol Free – Jazz Band – $2,412

            Robyn Heppenheimer/Colleen Wetmore – National Junior Honor                          Society – $686 ($343 each)

            Dorothy Hoey – Student Council – $2,059

            Cheryl Kittle – Yearbook – $1,372

           

Sabbatical Request

12.       Approve the sabbatical request from Catherine Moyzan, first grade teacher, for the second semester of the 2007-08 school year for the purpose of professional development.

 

Long Term Substitutes

13.       Approve the following long term substitute teachers for the 2007-08 school year:

 

            Hilary Loew as sixth grade special education teacher for the first semester of the 2007-08 school year effective August 23, 2007.  Ms. Loew’s salary will be $39,878 (B, Step 1), which will be pro-rated.  She is entitled to all benefits per the current teacher contract.  Ms. Loew is replacing Mrs. Amy Pulli, who will be on sabbatical leave.                   

 

            Kristin Peters as second grade teacher for the 2007-08 school year effective August 23, 2007.  Ms. Peters’ salary will be $40,425 (B, Step 2).  She is entitled to all benefits per the current teacher contract.  Ms. Peters is replacing Mrs. Amy Lookenbill, who will be on maternity leave.                       

 

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

 

C.        Facilities Committee – Herb Payung/Wally Zimpfer

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

1.         Discussion of additional funding for field turf improvement.

                                       

            2007-08 Landscape Field Budget Justification Version 1

            2007-08 Landscape Field Budget Justification Version 2

            2007-08 Landscape Field Budget Version 1

            2007-08 Landscape Field Budget Version 2

 

 

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 Recommendation.

 

                Recommendation:  No recommendations.

 

 

D.        Finance Committee – George Torrella/David Bonenberger

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

2007/2008 Budget – Timeline for 2006-2007 School Year

 

 

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Last day proposed final budget printing

And available for inspection.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Last day proposed final budget public notice;

 

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Last day for school board to adopt final budget;

Resolution adopted for Installment Payments for

school property taxes must be adopted June 30, 2007 and each year thereafter;

 

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

General Fund Budget Submittal Date

(On or Before July 31, 2007)

 

   2007/2008 Budget – Saucon Valley Timeline for 2006-2007 School Year

Tuesday May 8, 2007

Board Meeting

Approval of 2007-2008 Proposed Final Budget in the

amount of $37,705,244 funded by 1.13 mill increase.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 to

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Proposed Final Budget available for public inspection in the Business Office for 20 days.

 

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Public Notice of Intent to Adopt the 2007-2008 Final Budget at the June 12, 2007 Board Meeting.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Board Meeting

 

Approval of the 2007-2008 final Budget

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

2007-2008 Budget

1.         Approve the 2007-2008 Budget in the amount of $__________.  The millage rate will be _______ which is $______per $1,000 assessed value.

 

Northampton Community College – Alternate Method of Billing

2.         Approve the alternate method of billing and payment of the District’s cost to the Northampton Community College for fiscal year July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.

 

Athletic, Custodial, General Supply Bid Awards

3.         Approve the award of bid for Athletic Supplies in the amount of $18,391.87.  Approve the award of bid for Custodial Supplies in the amount of $32,062.92.  Approve the award of bid for General Supplies in the amount of $26,942.71.

 

 

Joint Purchasing Board

4.         Approval to re-bid through the Northampton-Monroe-Pike County Joint Purchasing Board of #PT-1 C-fold towel in the amount of $7,584.50

 

Technology Lease

5.         Approve the technology lease from LaSalle Bank for $281,000 at the rate of 4.31% with five annual payments of $61,040.10.

            Lease Resolution and Payment Schedule

 

 

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

 

E.        Policy Task Force Committee – Lachlan Peeke/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

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.

______________    ______________    ______________    ______________

 

 

 

Second and Final Reading of Policies

1.         Approve the second and final reading of the following policies:

 

            Operations

            822 – Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

            825 – State Mandated Waivers

            826 – Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information

            828 – Fraud

            830 – Breach of Computerized Personal Information

 

First Reading of Policies

2.         Approve the first reading of the following policies:

 

            Community

            908 – Relations with Parents/Guardians

            909 – Municipal Government Relations

            910 – Community Engagement

            911 – News Media Relations

            912 – Relations with Educational Institutions

            913 – Relations with Special Interest Groups

            914 – Relations with Intermediate Unit

            917 – Parental/Family Involvement

            918 – Title I Parental Involvement

            919 – District/School Report Cards

 

 

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

 

F.         Community Outreach – Susan Baxter/Ed Inghrim/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

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.

 

 

Saucon Valley Partnership Meeting

1.         The next meeting of the Saucon Valley Partnership is scheduled for July 11, 2007 beginning at 7 pm at the Lower Saucon Township Hall.

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

ion.

G.        Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School – Herb Payung/Lachlan Peeke

            (Meetings are first Tuesday of every month)

 

H.        Colonial Intermediate Unit – Susan Baxter

            (Meetings are fourth Wednesday of every month)

 

I.          PSBA – Susan Baxter/Sandra Miller

 

J.         Northampton Community College – Eric Schenkel

            (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 Comments – Visitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    July 24, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  August 14, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

XVI.     Motion to Adjourn Meeting

 

 

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