Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

April 22, 2008 – 7:30 pm

High School Audion

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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 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 22, 2008 – personnel and legal issues        

                       

V.        Approval of Minutes – None

                                                           

VI.       Recognition            

            A.        Zachary Estojak – PA Middle School Association Joan Jarrett Award for Outstanding Middle Level Students

            B.        First Annual Young Artists’ Exhibit at the Heller Homestead Art Gallery – Sandra Eckert  and Brenda Stever

                       

VII.      Presentation

            A.        Wellness Presentation – Lynn Cheddar

            B.        Every 15 Minutes – Robert Frey

           

VIII.     Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

            A.        Safety Update

           

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

             and address.

 

X.        Presentation of BillsDavid Bonenberger

            A.        General Expenditures  - $247,879.88       

            B.        Health Benefit Expenditures - $347,195.32

 


 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportGeorge Torrella/David Bonenberger

            A.        Cash Investment Bond Activity Report

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Condensed Board Summary Report

            E.        Budget Transfer - $178.86

            D.        Middle School Activity Report – March, 2008

                        High School Activity Report - March, 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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

2008-09 Middle School Handbook Changes

 

1.         Approve the changes to the 2008-09 middle school handbook.  Attached is the 2008-09 Middle School  Student Handbook.

 

 

 

2008-09 Elementary Student Handbook

 

2.         Approve the changes to the 2008-09 elementary handbook.  Attached is the 2008-09 Elementary Student Handbook.

 

 

Policies

 

3.         Approve the third reading of the following policies:

 

Policy 242 – Severe Food Allergies

Policy 800 – Records Management

Policy 800-AR-1- Records Management

Policy 800-AR-2– Records Management

Policy 800-AR-3 – Records Retention Schedule

 

 

            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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Resignation

 

1.         Approve the resignation of Amy Lookenbill, third grade teacher, effective at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

 

 

Sabbatical Leave

 

2.         Approve a sabbatical leave for study for Stacey Anthony for the 2008-09 School year.

 

 

Extension of Maternity Leave

 

3.         Approve the extension of maternity leave for Amy Kozel to continue until the end of the 2007-08 school year.  Mrs. Kozel was supposed to return in May.

 

 

Maternity Leaves

 

4.         Approve the following maternity leaves:

 

            Michelle Horvath, high school social studies teacher.  Beginning August 21, 2008.  She intends to use 10 sick days prior to starting the 12 weeks of FMLA, which will include additional number of sick and personal days.  She will be on an unpaid maternity leave for the rest of the first semester.  Mrs. Horvath plans on returning to her teaching duties on January 20, 2009.

 

            Erin Ruyak, third grade teacher.  Beginning May 9, 2008 and continue until the end of the 2007-08 school year.  She intends to use 10 sick days prior to starting the 12 weeks of FMLA, which will include additional number of sick and personal days.  She will then be out the remainder of the school year, which will be unpaid leave.  Mrs. Ruyak plans on returning to her teaching duties at the start of the 2008-09 school year.

 

 

Professional Appointment

 

5.         Approve Monique Bredbenner as 6th grade science/social studies teacher effective August 21, 2008 at a salary of $57,061 (Masters+6, Step 7).  Mrs. Bredbenner is replacing Dorothy Hoey, who is retiring at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

 

 

Psychologist – Additional Days

 

6.         Approve 15 additional days at $365 per day for Colleen Bell, psychologist, for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year.  The request for additional days is for testing needs.

 

 

Spring Coaches

 

7.         Approve the following 2007-08 spring coach:

 

Softball

Assist. Coach – Tim Murphy - $3,430 (which will be pro-rated)

 

 

Additions to Substitute List

 

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

 

            Beth Bozes – Elementary, Special Education 

            James Dermody - Biology

            Sara Nace – Emergency

            Lindsay Sampson - Art           

            Kimberly Yencho - Elementary

                       

 

Leave Without Pay

 

9.         Approve time off without pay for June 9, 10, and 11, 2008 for Michael Youse, Transportation.

 

 

Future Business Leaders of America Club

 

10.       Approve the request for a Future Business Leaders of America Club.  Attached is a proposal.  Ms. Gemma Cody has volunteered to supervise the club.

 

 

Homebound Teacher

 

11.       Approve Hilary Loew as homebound teacher for the 2007-08 school year.

 

 

2008 Summer Learning Academy Teachers

 

12.       Approve the following 2008 Summer Learning Academy Teachers.  These are week-long extension courses and will be self sustaining.

 

            Elementary Extension Courses

            Joanne LeMay and Kristin Peters – Your Author Society

            Liz Weyrauch – TV Studio Production

            Emily Young – Are YOU the Next American Idol?

 

 

Retirement Notice

 

 

13.       Accept the retirement notice of Diana Blade, Accounts Payable Clerk, effective on or about August 15, 2008, based on benefit time that will be used after her last day of work on July 8, 2008.   

 

                                   

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Resurfacing Campus Parking Lots and Streets         

            Agreement Resurfacing Campus Lots and Streets

           

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 reports or recommendations.

 

            Recommendation: No recommendations.

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of 2008-09 Budget

B.        Bus/Van Discussion

 

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

April 22, 2008

Board Meeting

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Resolution on 2008-09 Budget

 

1.         Approve the Preliminary Budget for the 2008-2009             School Year in the amount of $38,853,932.00.  The

            millage rate will be 51.94.  ($51.94 per $1,000 assessed

            value)

 

 

Northampton-Monroe-Pike County Joint Purchasing

 

2        Approve the award of bid for paper/janitorial products through the Northampton-Monroe-Pike County Joint Purchasing Board in the amount of $47,439.35.  Tabulation attached.

 

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 May 14, 2008 at 7 pm at the Lower Saucon Township 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

 

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 ~    May 13, 2008 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  May 27, 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.