Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

January 13, 2009 – 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, negotiations, 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

 

                        January 13, 2009 – Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal

 

V.        Approval of Minutes

                        Minutes12-2-08

                        Minutes12-9-08

                                                           

VI.       Recognition

            A.        School Board Appreciation - Recognition

                       

VII.      Presentation

            A.        Facility Review – TAS (The Architectural Studio)

           

VIII.     Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

A.        Bethlehem Vo-Tech Authority Representatives

 

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

             and address.

 

X.        Presentation of BillsDavid Bonenberger

           

            A.        General Expenditures - $805,977.82

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - $53,674.02

            C.        Health Benefits - $447,357.88       

 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportEdward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

 

            A.        Cash Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Budget Transfer

            D.        Middle School Activity Report and High School Activity Report

 

XII.     Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

A.        Restructuring of League – Bob Frey

 

B.        Discussion of the 2009-2010 calendars:

 

            Draft #1 – First Day for Students – August 31, 2009

            Draft #2 – First Day for students – August 26, 2009

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

BAVTS Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation

 

1.         Approve the amendment to the articles of incorporation for Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School.

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 


 

 

Substitute Employees

                       

1.         Approve Nancy DeVogel, Rebecca Loux, and Jodie Morgan as additions to the Educational Support Staff Substitute List, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.70, no benefits.

            (Nancy DeVogel and Jodie Morgan qualify as Substitute Instructional Assistants.  Rebecca Loux qualifies as a Substitute Non-Instructional Assistant.)

 

2.         Approve Megan Hudak and Jodie Morgan as additions to the Secretarial/Clerical Substitute List, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.70, no benefits.

 

3.         Approve Oliver Purdy as an addition to the Custodial Substitute List, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $10.09, no benefits.

 

 

Food Service Coordinator Retirement

                                   

4.         Approve the retirement request for Sandra Brosious,

            Food Service Coordinator, effective June 16, 2009.

 

Conference/Travel Requests

 

5.         Approve the attached conference/travel requests.

 

 

Additions to Substitute List

 

6.         Approve the following additions to the 2008-09 substitute list:

 

            Brenda Clowser – Elementary

            Jason Markle – Health and Physical Education

            Karen Norelli – Spanish/French

            Laura Reczek – Elementary

            Robbin Shomper – Health and Physical Education

            Barbara Weikert – Elementary

 

 

Request for Time Off Without Pay

 

7.         Approve time off without pay for:

 

            Steve Hanner, Transportation Employee, on March 4, 5, and 6, 2009.  He will be using personal days on March 2 and 3.

 

            Tori Heffelfinger, Reading Specialist, on January 23, 2009. She will be using personal days on January 20, 21, and 22.

 


 

 

 Supervisor of Special Education

 

8.         Approve Shawn Rutt, as Supervisor of Special Education, at the salary of $90,000.  His start date will be upon release from current district.  Mr. Rutt is replacing Moira O’Connor who recently resigned.

 

Maternity Leave

 

9.         Approve the following maternity leaves:

           

            Olivia Andrews, high school social studies teacher, beginning the last day of the third quarter.  She intends to use 10 sick days prior to starting FMLA.  Additional number of sick days will run concurrently with FMLA.  After FMLA, she will be on an unpaid leave for the remainder of the 2008-09 school year and fall semester of the 2009-2010 school year.  Mrs. Andrews will return to her teaching duties after the fall semester.

 

            Stacy Daly, middle school science teacher, approximately beginning February 19, 2009.  She intends to use 10 sick days prior to starting FMLA. She will then use an additional 10 sick days which will run concurrently with FMLA. Ms. Daly will return to her teaching duties approximately May 28, 2009.

 

 

Tenure

 

10.       Congratulate Jason Stern, professional employee, who received tenure on January 2, 2009.

 

 

Winter Coaches

 

11.       Approve the following winter coaches:

 

            Mason Messinger – Jr. High Wrestling Coach – $3,775, which will be pro-rated. Mr. Messinger is replacing Ryan Fluck who resigned.

 

            Mary Winters – Assistant Swim Coach – Volunteer

           

 

Sabbatical Leave Withdrawal

 

12.       Approve the request to withdraw Connie Piperato’s 2009 spring sabbatical leave.

 

 

Professional Transfer

 

13.       Approve the transfer of Quinette Brucker from  Kindergarten Specialist to Elementary Music Teacher beginning February, 2009, and continue until the end of the 2008-09 school year.  Mrs. Brucker will be replacing Emily Young, who will be out on Maternity Leave during this time.  There is no change to her salary.

 


 

 

Long-Term Substitute Position

 

14.       Approve the following long-term substitute:

 

            Nancy Heintzelman as Kindergarten Specialist starting February, 2009, and continue until the end of the 2008 -2009 school year. Mrs. Heintzelman’s salary $39, 878 (Bachelors, Step 1), will be prorated.  She is replacing Quinette Brucker who will be transferring to Elementary Music Teacher during this time.

 

 

Consultant Services Agreement

 

15.       Approve the Consultant Services Agreement for Melody Weisman who will serve as an interim special education facilitator until a permanent replacement is hired.  Consultant will be compensated at the rate of $40/hour for 24 hour/week, not to exceed 90 days, retroactive as of December 15, 2008.

 

 

Professional Appointment – M.S. Health/Physical Education

 

16.       Approve the following professional appointment. Salary is based on the 2007-08 contract and are subject to change following approval of the 2008-09 contract.

 

            Philip Russell as middle school health and physical education teacher effective January 29, 2009, at a salary of $39,878 (Bachelors, Step 1) which will be prorated.  Mr. Russell is replacing Sandra Lance.

 

 

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of School Zone Signage on Walnut Street             and Polk Valley Road

 

B.        Discuss possible purchase of a used 1996 F350 4-wheel drive aerial truck with 45,500 miles from Lower Saucon Township.  Also included is a 8’6” Western Proplow snowplow at the price of $9,999.00.

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

Development of Bid Specifications – Capital Improvement

Projects

 

1.         Approval of the development of bid specifications through the bid process for item(s):

 

            Projected Capital Item Cost Projections:

I.    Security at Administrative offices  - projected $50,000            construction cost          

II.    Field House Modifications  - projected $2,000,000 construction cost                           

III.   High School Additional Classrooms – projected $1,250,000 construction cost

IV.  High School Office Renovations - projected $2,500,000 construction cost                       

V.   High School Locker Replacement  - projected $100,000 construction cost                      

VI.  High School Vestibule at Gym  - projected $1,250,000 construction cost   

 

The following fees from TAS to prepare bid documents:

I.    Security at Administrative offices (based on $50,000 construction cost):                $  6,400   

II.    Field House Modifications (based on $2,000,000  construction cost):                                     $ 128,000     

III.   High School Additional Classrooms (based on $1,250,000 construction cost):                $ 75,000  

IV.  High School Office Renovations (based on $2,500,000 construction cost):                $ 150,000   

V.   High School Locker Replacement (based on $100,000 construction cost):                $ 12,800                           

VI.  High School Vestibule at Gym (based on $1,250,000 construction cost):                $ 75,000

 

 

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

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

A.        2009-2010 Budget Timeline for 2008-2009 School Year

 

2009-2010 Budget Timeline for 2008-2009 School Year

January 29, 2009

(110 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to have 2009-2010 Proposed Preliminary Budget available for public inspection; or adopt a Resolution not to raise the rate of any tax by more than its index.

February 3, 2009

(5 days after Resolution adoption)

District Deadline to submit adopted Resolution and proposed tax rate increases to the Department of Education.

February 8, 2009

(10 days prior to Preliminary Budget adoption deadline)

District Deadline to give public notice of intent to adopt the 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget unless a Resolution was adopted indicating that it will not raise the rate of any tax by more than its index.


 

February 13, 2009

(10 days after receipt of Resolution)

Department of Education Deadline to notify districts that adopted a Resolution whether the 2009-2010 proposed tax rates are equal to or less than their index.

February 18, 2009

(90 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to adopt the 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget unless a Resolution was adopted.


February 23, 2009

(85 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to submit 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget containing proposed tax rate increases to  the Department of Education.

February 26, 2009

(1 week prior to filing of request for referendum exception)

District Deadline to publish notice in newspaper of intent to file petition with the Court of Common Pleas or to request approval from the Department of Education for a referendum exception.

March 5, 2009

(75 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to seek approval from Court of Common Pleas or the Department of Education for referendum exceptions requiring their approval.

March 20, 2009

(60 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to submit referendum question seeking voter approval of tax rate increase in excess of index to the County Board of Elections, unless request for referendum exception has been submitted to the Court of Common Pleas or the Department of Education. If the school district’s proposed tax rate increase would exceed their Index even if all of its referendum exception requests were approved, and if it intends to submit a referendum question for that part of the tax rate increase, it must do so by this date.

March 25, 2009

(55 days prior to primary election)

Deadline for Court of Common Pleas or Department of Education to issue ruling on school district’s petition for referendum exception.

March 30, 2009

(50 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline, if the Court of Common Pleas or Department of Education denies all or part of the school district’s request for referendum exception, to submit to the County Board of Elections a referendum question seeking voter approval of tax rate increase in excess of index for the portion of the referendum exception request denied.

                                                                                                                                    

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

                                                                                                                                                   

 

District Surplus Items

 

                                               

1.         Approval to declare High School AV items as surplus.

 

            VCRs and DVD Players: Samsung 6RAW913278N

            Panasonic E5KG01155, FOMA 10580, L5MA26464,

            L1`LCP0597, C9ID96452, E5KG02232, B7KN00493;

            Sony 0495808

            Overhead Projectors:   3M 402259;  Travel Graph J43297

            Slide Projector: Kodak A561151

            (All items are not repairable or the cost to fix them is more

            than the cost to repair.)


 

 

Northampton Community College Budget

 

2.         Approve the Northampton Community College General

            Operating Budget for 2009-10 in the total amount of

            $5,494,768.  Saucon Valley’s portion is $265,048, which

            represents a 2.68% increase from 2008-2009 in the

            amount of $6,914.     

 

 

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  January 14, 2009 at 7 pm at Hellertown Borough Hall.

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

 

F.         Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech SchoolLachlan 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 – Michael Karabin

 

K.        New

Business

 

XIII.     Solicitor’s Report

                                                                                                                    

XIV.     Citizen’s Inquiries and CommentsVisitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~     

                                                  January 27, 2009 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          February 10, 2009 – 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.