Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

March 25, 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 –

                        March 25, 2008                    

                       

V.        Approval of Minutes  - None

                                                           

VI.       Recognition

            A.        Victoria Kohn, Third Grader – Winner of the Bethlehem Public Library Book Writing Contest

 

            B.        PIAA District XI AA Team Champions (SV’s first wrestling district champions since 1972) and State Champion –

 

Chad Shirk – 2008 District XI AA Wrestling Coach of the Year

Brandon Palik – 2008 District XI AA Champion 189 lbs.

Reuben Herrera – 2008 District XI AA Champion 145 lbs.

Ian Gimbar – 2008 District XI AA Runner-Up 152 lbs.

Adam Phillippi – 2008 District XI AA Bronze Medalist 112 lbs.

Jarid Solosky – 2008 District XI AA Bronze Medalist 125 lbs.

Eric Gimbar  - 2008 District XI AA Bronze Medalist 215 lbs.

Kyle Steckert – 2008 District XI AA 4th Place 171 lbs. 

Reuben Herrera – 4th Place Finish at the PIAA State Wrestling Tournament

 

            C.        PIAA State Championship Swimmers –

 

Kevin Shoemaker – PIAA State Champion – 1st Place – 100 yard Butterfly

Kevin Shoemaker –  7th Place – 200 freestyle

Heather Miller – 3rd Place – 200 yard IM

                        Heather Miller –4th Place –- 100 Backstroke

 

                        400 Free Style Relay Team (Alex Wolf, Chris Weiss, Zack Oatis, Kevin Shoemaker, with alternate Kevin Boyd) – 16th Place

                        200 Free Style Relay Team (Alex Wolf, Chris Weiss, Zack Oatis, Kevin Shoemaker, with alternate Kevin Boyd) – 27th  Place

                        Boys Team – 18th Place

 

            D.        Sal Ritz – Update on Play Camelot

 

VII.      Presentation

            A.        Progress on the Facilities Plan – The Architectural Studio         

           

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 – $345,770.21

            B.        Health Benefit Expenditures – $174,654.18

 

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

            A.        Cash Investment Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Condensed Board Summary

            D.        Budget Transfer - $70,000

            E.        Activity Reports –

                        High School Activity Report - February 2008

                        Middle School Activity Report - February 2008

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Graduation Date

 

1.         Approve June 6, 2008 as the 2008 Graduation Date for Seniors.

 

 

 

 

Wall Street West Gap Initiative

 

2.         Approve the attached Wall Street West Gap Initiative proposal. This is a project with Northampton Community College.

 

 

Physics Textbook

 

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

 

            Course Title –  Physics First

            Textbook Title – Foundations of Physical Science with Earth

and Space Science   (Budgeted 2008-09)

            Text Replaces – None; This is a new course

 

 

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

ion.

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Change in Retirement Dates

 

1.         Approve the following change in retirement dates:

 

            Nancy Ihle, Food Service Manager, from June 30, 2008 to June 10, 2008. Her retirement was previously approved.    

 

            Thomas Vicario, high school teacher, from June 30, 2008 to June 12, 2008.  His retirement was previously approved.

 

 

Food Service Employee

 

2.         Approve Paula Miller as a permanent part-time employee in the Food Service Department.  Her hourly rate of pay is $12.48 after working as a long-term substitute in the High School Cafeteria.  She is replacing Carol Torres who was terminated from the Food Service Department.

 


 

 

Additions to Substitute List

 

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

           

            Robert Aptaker – Emergency Certified

            Grace Behe – Emergency Certified

            Nicole Dysart - English

            Adam Ousley - Elementary     

 

 

Job Descriptions

 

4.         Approve the first reading of the following job descriptions:

 

Professional

ESL Teacher – New   No old one

Grade Level, Team Leaders, Dept Chairs – New  No old one

Mental Health Specialist – K-12 – New   No old one

Psychologist – New  No old one

Reading Specialist – New   No old one

School Nurse – New   No old one

Speech-Language Pathologist – New   No old one

Teacher – New   No old one

 

Counselor Job Descriptions

School Counselor – New   No old one

Special Education Guidance Counselor – New  No old one

 

 

ADA Compliant Tasks for the professional/counselor group

 

 

2008 Summer Learning Academy Teachers

 

5.         Approve the following 2008 Summer Learning Academy Teachers:

 

            Elementary

            Jamie McFadden - Writing

            Leah Mickey – Pre-school

            Cathy Moyzan – Kindergarten

            Andrew Romano – Math

            Carol Tavormina – Reading

 

 

Rescind Retirement Request

 

6.         Approve to rescind the request of Annelle Conover to retire after the 2007-08 school year .

 

 

Chief Negotiator for Board with SVEA Negotiations

 

7.         Approve to hire Ellis Katz as the chief negotiator for the Saucon Valley School Board during the negotiations process with the Saucon Valley Education Association at a standard hourly rate for chargeable time of $130 and $175 per hour for non-routine matters.

 

 

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

ion.

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

No report or recommendations.

 

Recommendation:  No recommendations.

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

No report or recommendations.

 

Recommendation:  No recommendations.

 

E.        Community Outreach

 

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 April 9, 2008 beginning at 7 pm at the Hellertown Borough.

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

ion.

F.         Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School – Lachlan Peeke/Sharon Stack

            (Meetings are first Tuesday of every month)

 

G.        Colonial Intermediate Unit – Susan Baxter

            (Meetings are fourth Wednesday of every month)

 

H.        PSBA – Susan Baxter/Sandra Miller

 

I.          Northampton Community College – Charles Bartolet

            (Meetings are first Thursday of every month)

 

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

 

K.        New Business

 

XIII.      Solicitor’s Report

                                                                                                                    

XIV.     Citizen’s Inquiries and Comments – Visitors should state their name and address.


 

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~      April 8, 2008 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  April 22, 2008 – 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.