Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

April 8, 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 OrderMr. Ralph Puerta, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.       Announcement of Executive Sessions

                        April 8, 2008

                       

V.        Approval Of Minutes –

                        Minutes – March 11, 2008

                        Minutes -  March 25, 2008

                                                           

VI.       Recognition

                                               

VII.      Presentation

 

VIII.     Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

           

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

             and address.

 

X.        Presentation of BillsDavid Bonenberger

            A.        General Expenditures

 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportGeorge Torrella/David Bonenberger

            A.        Budget Transfers

 

 

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 Graduation Date

 

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

 

 

Policies

 

2.         Approve the second reading of the following policies:

 

Policy 113.2 – Behavior Management Program

Policy 113.2-AR-1 – Behavior Management Program

Policy 216 – Student Records

Policy 216-AR-1 – Student Records

Policy 216-AR-2 – Confidentiality of Information

Policy 242 – Severe Food Allergies

Policy 252– Education Records/Exceptional Students

Policy 252-AR-1– Education Records/Exceptional Students

Policy 800 – Records Management

Policy 800-AR-1- Records Management

Policy 800-AR-2– Records Management

Policy 800-AR-3 – Records Retention Schedule

 

 

Physics Textbook

 

3.         Approve the second and final 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.

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

2008 Summer Learning Academy Teachers

 

1.         Approve the following 2008 Summer Learning Academy Teachers:

 

            Middle School

            Alex Kreutzer – Language Arts

            Kristin Richmond – Science

 

            Elementary

            Judy Grella – Learning Support

            Nancy Bean – Learning Support Aide

 

 

Additions to Substitute List

 

2.         Approve the following additions to the 2007-2008 substitute list.

 

            John Bromfield - Emergency

            Hilary Loew – Elementary, Special Education, and Mid – Level Math

            Robert Pasternak - Elementary

            Roger Tinti - Elementary            

 

 

Substitute Support Staff

 

3.         Approve Susan Adams as a Substitute Food Service

            Worker, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at

            an hourly rate of $9.24, no benefits, effective

            immediately.             

 

 

Job Descriptions

 

4.         Approve the final 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

 


 

 

Maternity Leave

 

5.         Approve the maternity leave request from Jessica Sloan, high school special education teacher.  Mrs. Sloan plans on using 20 sick days at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year.  After the first 10 days, she will start FMLA which will run concurrently with the remaining 10 sick days.  She will be on an unpaid maternity leave for the rest of the first semester.  Mrs. Sloan will return to her teaching duties on January 20, 2009.

 

 

Professional Resignation

 

6.         Approve the resignation of Jessica George, elementary special education teacher, at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

 

 

Time Off Without Pay

 

7.         Approve a request for time off without pay from April 22 through April 25, 2008 for April Wister, Food Service Worker.  Mrs. Wister is taking her personal day on April 21st.

 

 

Volunteer JV Softball Coach

 

8.         Approve Don VanBuren as volunteer JV softball Coach for the 2008 Spring season.

 

                                   

            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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

No report or recommendations.

 

            Recommendation: No recommendations.

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of 2008-09 Budget

 

 

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

 

 

B.        Discussion – Bus/Van Bid Awards

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Fund Balance

 

1.         Approval to designate $1,400,000 of the 2006-2007

            ending fund balance for employee benefits and health

            care costs.

 

Northampton Community College Alternate Method of Payment

 

2.         Approve the alternate method of billing and payment to

            the Northampton Community College for the fiscal year

            July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.

 

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

 


 

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 Hall.

 

 

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

            1.         Current Legislation

 

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 CommentsVisitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    April 22, 2008 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  May 13, 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.