Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

October 24, 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 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 –

                        October 24, 2006 – for the purpose of personnel

 

V.        Recognition

           

VI.       Presentations

            A.        Lower Saucon Land Preservation

            B.        Tax Commission

            C.        Pool

 

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

 

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

 

IX.       Presentation of Bills – David Bonenberger

           A.         General Expenditures

            B.        Cafeteria Check Summary 

            C.        Health Benefits

           


 

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

            A.        Cash Investment Bond Activity

            B         Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Budget Transfers October 24, 2006

            D.        Activity Accounts:

                        1.  High School Activity Report

                        2.  Middle School Activity Account

 

 

XII.      Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education Committee – Susan Baxter/Ira Hiberman

 

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 Textbooks

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

 

            Course Title – Biology College Prep

            Textbook Title – Biology (Copyright Date 2006)

            Text Replaces – Biology Principles & Explorations

                                       (Copyright Date 1996)

 

            Course Title –  Chemistry College Prep

            Textbook Title – Chemistry (Copyright Date 2005)

            Text Replaces – Chemistry – Connections to Our Changing World

                                       (Copyright Date 1996)

 

Speech/Psychologist Agreement

2.         Approve the speech/psychologist agreement between the Saucon Valley Board of Directors and the Saucon Valley Education Association.

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Maternity Leave Requests

1.         Approve the following maternity leave requests:

Amy Lookenbill effective approximately January 18, 2007.  Mrs. Lookenbill will be taking 10 sick days prior to enacting the 12 weeks of FMLA with which she will be using her remaining sick days and 5 personal days.  After FMLA, Mrs. Lookenbill will be on an unpaid maternity leave for the rest of the 2006-07 school year. She will return at the beginning of the 2007-07 school year. 

 

            Dana Russo effective approximately February 18, 2007.  Mrs. Russo will be enacting the 12 weeks of FMLA immediately following the birth of her child.  Mrs. Russo plans on returning May 14, 2007.  If her 12 weeks end prior to May 14th, she is requesting an unpaid leave.  Should her 12 weeks extend beyond May 14th, she will return immediately following the FMLA.

 

Substitute Teachers

2.         Approve the following substitute teachers:

 

            Alfonsas Bernotas - Emergency

            Jane Hoff – School Nurse

David Jones – Health/Phys. Ed, Science, Mathematics

Terese Payung – School Nurse

Lori Ziegler – Elementary/Special Education

 

Resignation of LTS

3.         Approve the resignation of Constance Kirsch, 6th grade language arts long term substitute, effective October 17, 2006.

 

Long Term Substitute

4.         Approve Cora Sipe as 6th grade language arts long term substitute effective October 16, 2006 and continue until December 31, 2006.  Her salary will be $39,092 (B, Step 1), which will be prorated.  Mrs. Sipe is replacing Beth Ravier, who is out on maternity leave during this time.

 

 

Transfer of Sick Days

5.         Approve the transfer of 13.5 sick days from Wilson Area School District to Saucon Valley School District for Moira O’Connor, Supervisor of Special Education.

 

2006-07 Winter Coaches

6.         Approve the following 2006-07 winter coaches:

 

            Girls’ Basketball

            Craig Mogel – head varsity coach - $6,601

            Mike Ruvolis – assistant varsity coach - $4,620

            Dustin Webb – JV coach - $3,298

            Abbe Cox – freshman coach - $2,639

            Ron Jones- 8th grade coach - $2,644

            Martin Lewis – 7th grade coach - $2,319

            Dave Eden – volunteer

            Chelsea Trump – volunteer

            Billy Katz – volunteer

            Shannon Holubowski – volunteer

            Jessica Ruvolis - volunteer

 

Substitute Food Service Employees

7.         Approve Janice Edwards, Shannon Stelle, and Marilyn Frank as Substitute Food Service Workers, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis and paid an hourly rate of $8.97, no benefits, effective October 16, 2006.

 

Medical Leave Without Pay

8.         Approve time off without pay due to illness for Judith Korpics,             Food Service employee, through October 25, 2006.

 

Instructional Aide

9.         Approve Lori Marie Ziegler as an Instructional Aide in the Middle             School to be paid an hourly rate of $12.63 per the terms and

            conditions of the Building Aides Employment Agreement.  (Ms.

            Ziegler will fill the temporary vacancy created by the transfer of Cora

            Sipe to fill the temporary teaching position due the maternity leave of

            Elizabeth Ravier.)

 

Retirement

10.       Approve the retirement of Lanette Weller, high school librarian, effective at the end of the 2006-07 school year. 

 

Homebound Teacher

11.       Approve Manuela Ruiz as a homebound teacher for the 2006-07 school year.

 

 

Collective Bargaining Agreement – Support Staff

12.       Approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement outlined in the Contract between the Board of School Directors and the Saucon Valley Education Support Professionals, ESP/PSEA/NEA effective July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2010, with the exception of Attachments A, B, C, and D Seniority Lists, (pages 15, 16, 17, and 18) which will be included in the Contract for distribution after all department and district seniority dates are updated and verified.

            Collective Bargaining Agreement

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    _______________

 

 

Change Order

1.         Approve Change Order G2 for the Elementary/Middle School Additions to Contractor, CC Inc., with revised language stating “Upon receipt of an approved Certificate for Payment for the Architect the Owner will release $25,000 from retainage to the Contractor”.

 

Use of District Facilities

2.         The Facilities Calendars for the months of October 2006 and   

           November 2006 and the Use of Facilities Fee Schedule are attached for board information.    

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Actuarial Services – GASB 45

1.         Approve Conrad Siegel, 501 Corporate Circle, Harrisburg, PA, to provide actuarial services for the collection of data and preparation of the GASB 45 valuation report that will be in compliance with all government requirements.

            Actuarial Services GASB 45

 

Tax Commission

2.         Update/Report from the Tax Commission Committee.

 

 

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

 

E.        Policy Task Force Committee – Lachlan 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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Second Reading of Policies

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

 

Section – Administrative Employees

311 – Suspension and Furloughs

            313 – Evaluation of Administrative Employees

314 – Physical Examination

314.1 – HIV Infection

316 – Non-tenured Employees

317 – Conduct/Disciplinary Procedures

317.1 – Weapons

319 – Outside Activities

320 – Freedom of Speech in Non-school Settings

321 – Political Activities

322 – Gifts

323 – Tobacco Use

 

Section – Professional Employees

411 – Suspension and Furloughs

            412 – Evaluation of Professional Employees

            413 – Evaluation of Temporary Professional Employees

414 – Physical Examination

414.1 – HIV Infection

416 – Non-tenured Staff Members

417 – Conduct/Disciplinary Procedures

417.1 – Weapons

418 – Penalties for Tardiness

419 – Outside Activities

420 – Freedom of Speech in Non-instructional Settings

421 – Political Activities

422 – Gifts

423 – Tobacco Use

 

Section – Classified Employees

            514 – Physical Examination

514.1 – HIV Infection

517 – Conduct/Disciplinary Procedures

517.1 – Weapons

518 – Penalties for Tardiness

519 – Outside Activities

            523 – Tobacco Use

                       

 

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

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Feasibility Study for Regional Policing

1.         Approve the feasibility study for regional police force.

 

Saucon Valley Partnership Meeting

2.         The next meeting of the Saucon Valley Partnership is scheduled for November 8, 2006 beginning at 7 pm at the Lower Saucon Township Hall.

 

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

 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 Comments – Visitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    November 14, 2006 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          Elementary Large Group Instruction Room

 

                          November 28, 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