Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

February 26, 2008 – 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

6:30 pm – Executive Session for the purpose of personnel and legal.

 

 

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 –

                        January 29, 2008 – negotiations and personnel

                        February 19, 2008 – negotiations, legal issues, and personnel

                        February 26, 2008               

                       

V.        Approval of Minutes

                        January 8, 2008

                        January 22, 2008

                                                           

VI.       Recognition

            A.        2008 SkillsUSA Champion Award Winners and Farm Show Horticulture Competition Winners –

 

                        Sonia Mirza – First Place – Basic Health Care Skills

                        Brandy Hill – First Place – Esthetics

                        Wayne Miller – First Place – Fire Fighting

                        Shawn Kozak – First Place – Residential Plumbing

                        Kayla Heil – Fifth Place – Dish Garden

                        Kendra Borelli – Third Place – Terrarium Trop Foliage Plants

                        Tiffany Rohs – First  Place – Topiary Using Live Plants

                        Kayla Heil – Fifth Place – Topiary Using Live Plants

                        Kendra Borelli – Third Place – Silk Bud Vase in triadic color scheme

                        Tiffany Rohs – First Place – Best Foliage and/or Flowering Entry

 

            B.        Invisible Children – Jenna Collins

                                               


 

VII.      Presentation

            A.        Student Advisory Program – Pam Bernardo

            B.        CIU 20 - 2008-09 Budget Presentation

           

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

            A.        Update on Lacrosse – John Vivian

            B.        Discussion on Review of Current Legislation

           

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

             and address.

 

X.        Presentation of Bills – David Bonenberger

            A.        General Expenditures – 1/18/08 to 2/7/08 - $365,480.64

                       General Expenditures 2 - 2/8/08 to 2/21/08 - $298,222.54         

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - $79,647.56

            C.        Health Benefits - $313,638.46

 

           

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

            A.        Cash, Investment and Bond Activity Reports – November, December, 2007

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Reports – November, December, 2007

            C.        Condensed Board Summary Reports – November, December, 2007

            D.        Budget Transfers $3,414.69

 

 

XII.     Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

2008-09 School Calendar

 

1.         Approve the 2008-09 School Calendar:

           

            Start School Before the Labor Day Holiday

            Start School After the Labor Day Holiday

 

 

Board Member Representative Trustee to Saucon Valley Foundation for Educational Innovations, Inc.

 

2.         Appoint __________________ as a board member representative trustee to the Saucon Valley Foundation for Educational Innovations, Inc.

 

Geography Textbook

 

3.         Approve the first review of the following middle school textbook:

 

            Course Title – Social Studies, 7th Grade

            Textbook Title – Geography Alive! - Regions and People                                              (Budgeted)

            Text Replaces – World Studies, Prentice Hall

 

 

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

 

B.        Personnel

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Retirement

 

1.         Approve the request of Elizabeth Birli to waive the June 30th retirement date due to her medical disability.  She is requesting that her retirement date of June 30, 2008 be changed to a disability retirement effective February 22, 2008, with a Memorandum of Understanding of the waiver between the Association and the District.

 

 

Leave Without Pay

 

2.         Approve a request from Noreen Resetar, bus driver, for

            time off without pay on April 15, 16, and 17, 2008.  (Ms. Resetar used personal days for time off on April 11 and 14, 2008)

 

 

Instructional Aide

 

3.         Approve Roger N. Tinti as a middle school instructional aide to be paid $12.94 per hour effective February 13, 2008, with benefits per the current Building Aides Employment Agreement.  Mr. Tinti is replacing Jacqueline Peeke, who recently resigned.

 


 

 

Mentors

 

4.         Approve the following mentors for the second semester of the 2007-08 school year.  Their salary will be $250.

 

            Linda Castner as mentor for Elizabeth D’Angelis

            Wendy Costanzo as mentor for Lisa Curry

 

 

Job Descriptions

 

5.         Approve the final reading of the following job descriptions:

 

Aides

Instructional Aide – New   No old one

Non-Instructional Aide – New   No old one

 

ADA Compliant Tasks for the aide group

 

 

Spring Coaches

 

6.         Approve the following 2007-08 spring coaches:

 

Baseball

Head Coach – Bill Rogers – $5,148.00

Assist. Coach – Glenn Snyder – $3,340.00

Assist. Coach – Robert Frey – $2,745.00

Assist. Coach – Robert Ruhe – Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Robert Zerfass – Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Eddie Sarmiento – Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Michael Orban Sr. - Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Dave Rasich – Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Ronald Wentz Sr. – Volunteer

 

Softball

Head Coach – John Seneca – $5,148.00

Assist. Coach –  Lou Rodriguez – $3,430.00

Assist. Coach – Cheryl Griffith – $2,745.00

Assist. Coach – Kelly Fifer – Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Mike Cawley – Volunteer

 

Girls Soccer:

Head Coach – Stevie Ochse – $4,805.00

Assist. Coach – Andrea Travisano – $3,088.00

 

Boys Tennis

Head Coach – Thomas Vicario – $3,775.00

Assist. Coach – Michael Krentz – Volunteer

 

Track and Field

Head Coach – Ed Kolosky – $4,805.00

Assist. Coach – Todd Lipp – $3,430.00

Assist. Coach – John Bromfield – $3,430.00

Assist. Coach – Angel Figeroa – $3,430.00

Assist. Coach – Tom Philippi – Volunteer            

Assist. Coach – Martin Lewis – Volunteer

 


 

 

Additions to Substitute List

 

7.         Approve the following additions to the 2007-2008 substitute list:

 

            Rachel Bakun – Art

            Kelly Bauer - Elementary

            Laurie Berkheimer – Emergency

            Lisa Chemidlin – Elementary

            Jennifer Murray – Elementary

                       

 

High School SADD Advisor

 

8.         Approve Lisa Allen as volunteer high school SADD advisor for the 2007-08 school year. 

 

 

Conference/Travel Requests

 

9.         Approve the attached conference/travel requests.

 

 

Middle School Girls’ Softball Club

 

10.       Approve the request for a middle school girls’ softball club.  The club will run from early March through mid May.  Mr. Douglas Peffer has volunteered to supervise the club. Proposal attached.

 

 

Substitute Aide

 

11.       Approve Sherilyn Bartholomew and Kacy Friend as  Substitute Building Aides, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.42, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

 

Substitute Bus Driver

 

12.       Approve Linda Himmelberger as a Substitute Bus Driver, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $10 for riding and $14.59 for driving, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

 

Middle School Cafeteria Aide

 

13.       Approve Geraldine Pietrzak as a Non-Instructional Aide in the Middle School Cafeteria to be paid an hourly salary of $13.38, with benefits per the terms of the Building Aides Employment Agreement, effective February 27, 2008.  Ms. Pietrzak is replacing Amanda Heffelfinger, who recently resigned.

 

 

Middle School Art Club

 

14.       Approve the request for a middle school art club.  Ms. Felicia DeLosReyes has volunteered to supervise the club.  Proposal Attached.

 

 

Retirement Request

 

15.       Approve the retirement request from Mr. Ira Hiberman, assistant superintendent, effective August 1, 2008.

 

                                   

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Lawn Care

 

1.         Approve Cypres, 148 Church Road, Milford, New Jersey, to provide lawn care services for the District at a cost of $1,350 per cut for 2008 and $1,400 per cut for 2009.  Additional cuts for individual athletic fields will be $100 for 2008 and 2009. This reflects a 4% increase from last year.

 

 

Sanitation Services

 

2.         Approve Raritan Valley Disposal – Republic Services of NJ, LLC, 9 Frontage Road, Clinton, NJ to provide sanitation services for the District from June 1, 2008 through May 31, 2009 at a cost of $1,755.78 per month.  This reflects a 3% increase from last year.

 

 

Unleaded Gasoline

           

3.         Approve the award of a re-bid for unleaded gasoline through the Pennsylvania Education Joint Purchasing Council to Farm and Home Oil Company, P.O. Box 60, Milton, PA at a fluctuating cost of $2.5606 per gallon plus $0.005 per gallon performance bond for the 2007-2008 school year. 

 

 

Athletic, Custodial, General Supply Bids

 

4.         Approve the authorization to bid for Athletic, Custodial, and General Supplies for the 2008-2009 school year.

 

 

District Tennis Courts – Fee Schedule

 

5.         Approve the addition of the rental of District Tennis Courts to the Fee Schedule for the Use of District Buildings, Facilities, and Equipment. 

            The fees will be as follows:  Group I = Free;

            Group II= $100 or $22/hour;Group III= $150 or $22/hour; Group IV=$175 or $45/hour; Group V= $225 or $45/hour;

            Fee Schedule

 

 

Extension Fencing Along Service Road

 

5.         Approve the extension of the fencing along the service road.  All these would have a 10 foot opening for access, which would be chained.

 

Pine trees to stop sign  -  $3,825  -  250 ft

 

Pine trees to steps  -  $6,273 -  410 ft

 

Pine trees to existing  -  $9,490  -  620 ft

 

 

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

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 


 

2008/2009 Budget Timeline for 2007-2008 School Year

December 4, 2007

Business Meeting

Approval of Resolution 2008-01 whereby the District will not raise taxes more than the 4.4% Index

_____________

 

Preliminary Budget Adoption – requires ten days prior notice for public advertising 

No later than

March 1, 2008

Deadline for homeowners to file a Homestead Application with County Assessor

 

April 15, 2008

Certification of total amount of revenue in the

Property Tax Relief Fund available for distribution

 

April 20, 2008

Notification of Department of Education regarding property tax allocations under Section 505

 

 May 1, 2008

PDE notification deadline to school districts of their property tax reduction allocation

Assessor Report for approved Homestead/Farmstead

 

May 31, 2008

Deadline to adopt 2008-2009 Proposed Final Budget;

Mail Certification of Use of PDE-2028 to the  Department of Education

June 10, 2008

20 days prior

to final budget adoption

Deadline to make 2008-2009 Proposed Final Budget available for public inspection on PDE-2028

June 20, 2008

10 days prior

to final budget adoption

Deadline to offer public notice of intent to adopt

2008-2009 Final Budget

June 30, 2008

Last day for school board to adopt Final Budget

July 15, 2008

annual deadline

Deadline to submit 2008-2009 Final Budget to the Department of Education on Form PDE-2028

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Northampton Community College Budget for 2008-09

 

1.         Approve the Northampton Community College General Operating Budget for 2008-2009 in the total amount of $48,825,614.  Saucon Valley’s portion is $258,134 which represents a 2.57% increase from 2007-2008 in the amount of $6,471.

 

 

Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Budget for 2008-09

 

2.         Approve the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 General Operating Budget for 2008-2009 in the total amount of $2,822,580.  Saucon Valley’s portion is $21,168.22  which represents a 2.6% increase from 2007-2008 in the amount of $542.63.

 

 

 

Recommendation:  No recommendations.