Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

January 27, 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 27, 2009 – Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal

 

V.        Approval of Minutes January 13, 2009

                                                           

VI.       Recognition            

           

VII.      Presentation  

           

VIII.     Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

A.        Introduction of Shawn Rutt, Supervisor of Special Education

 

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

             and address.

 

X.        Presentation of BillsDavid Bonenberger

            A.        General Expenditures - $252,842.33

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - $33,145.57

            C.        Health Benefits - $134,587.91


 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportEdward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

            A.        Cash Investment Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Policies 800 and 801

 

1.         Approve the first reading of the following policies:

 

            800 – Records Management

            800 Records Management – New Policy

            800-AR Records Management – New

            800-AR-1 Records Retention Schedule – New

            800-AR-2 Litigation Hold – New

 

            800 Records Management – 0ld Policy

            800-AR-1Records Management – Old

            800-AR-2Records Management – Old

            800-AR-3Records Retention Schedule– Old

 

            801 – Public Records

            801 Public Records – New Policy

            801-AR Exempted Records – New

            801-AR-1 Disclosure/Production of Certain Records – New

            801-AR-2 Fees for Public Records Requests – New

 

            801- Old Policy

 

 

2009-10 School Calendar

 

2.         Approve the 2009-10 school calendar (Draft #1).

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Resignations

 

1.         Approve the following resignations:

 

             Allison Korner, Second Grade Teacher, effective January 30, 2009.

 

            Cora Sipe, Middle School Instructional Assistant, effective February 2, 2009.

 

 

Conference/Travel Request

           

2.         Approved the attached conference/travel request.

 

 

Additions to the Substitute List

 

3.         Approve the following 2008-2009 substitute(s):

 

            Robert Andreucci - Emergency

            Robert Aptaker – Emergency

            Chelsea Reiter – Elementary

            Emily Sheehan – Elementary

 

 

Team Leader

 

4.         Approve the half year appointment of Joanna Lemay as

            elementary specialist chairperson, at the pro-rated salary of $1,000.  She will be replacing Emily Young who is on maternity leave.

 

 

Educational Support Staff Substitute

 

5.         Approve Jennifer Roseman as an addition to the

            Educational Support Staff and Secretarial/Clerical             Substitute List, to be employed on a “call as needed”             basis at an hourly rate of $9.70, no benefits.  (Ms.

            Roseman qualifies as a Non-Instructional Assistant)

 


 

 

Substitute Food Service Employees

 

6.         Approve Elizabeth Von Rohr and Cynthia Kichline as Substitute Food Service Employees, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.52, no benefits.

 

 

Bethlehem Vo-Tech School Authority Representative

 

7.         Approve Wally Zimpfer to serve as a District Representative for the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School Authority.  (Wally, the District Supervisor of Operations, will serve with Joseph Chernaskey, who was approved at the January 13, 2009 Board Meeting)

 

 

Long-Term Substitute

 

8.         Approve the following long-term substitute. Salary based on the 2007-08 contract and is subject to change following approval of the 2008-09 contract.

 

               Chelsea Reiter as 8th grade science teacher beginning approximately February 19th and continue for 14 weeks.  Ms. Reiters’s salary will be $39,878 (Bachelors, Step 1), which will be prorated for the number of days worked.  She is replacing Stacy Daly, who will be on maternity leave during this time.

 

 

Mentor

 

9.         Approve the following mentor beginning February, 2009. The $500 salary will be pro-rated for the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year.

 

            Mentor                         Inductee

            Robert Kachmar          Chelsea Reiter

 

 

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion:  Furnishing and Installation of CCTV Cameras by CSI:

 

            High School Student Parking Lot = $3,770.00

            High School Teachers Lot = $16,140.00

            Pond Lobby parking Lot & School Entrance = $16,140.00

            Middle School Entrance = $6,850.00

            Elementary School Entrance = $4,800.00

                        Total - $47,700.00

 

 

 

B.                    Discuss the development of bid specifications by

            The Architectural Studio for capital project items 2, 3,             and 5: (capital project item 1 was approved at the board meeting on January 13, 2009)

 

 

Capital Project

Item Description

Projected

Construction Cost

TAS Fee for  Preparation of Bid Documents

 

Board Action

(1) Administrative Offices       Security

 

$50,000

 

$6,400  (12.8%)

Board Approved January 13, 2009

(2) Field House

      Modifications

 

$2,000,000

 

$128,000 (6%)

 

(3) High School

     Additional Classrooms

 

$1,250,000

 

$75,000 (6%)

 

(4) High School

     Office Renovations

 

$2,500,000

 

$150,000 (6%)

 

(5) High School

     Locker Replacement

 

$100,000

 

$12,800 (12.8%)

 

(6) High School

     Vestibule at Gym

 

$1,250,000

 

$75,000 (6%)

 

 

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.        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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Adoption of Preliminary Budget  -OR-  Resolution 2009-01

 

1.         Approve the Preliminary Budget for the 2009-2010 School Year in the amount of $__________.  The millage rate will be ______.  ($______ per $1,000 assessed value)

 

 

1.         Approve Resolution 2009-01 which states that the Saucon Valley School District will not increase any school district tax for the 2009-2010 school year at a rate that exceeds the Index of 4.1% as calculated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

            Act 1 Resolution 2009-01

 

 

Public Financial Management

 

2.         Approve an authorization for Administration to work with Public Financial Management as Financial Advisor, and Rhoads & Sinon, LLP as Bond Counsel, in conjunction with the issuance of General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2009, for the purpose of refinancing the School District’s General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2002, and a portion of the General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2003, at a minimum net savings of $______via a competitive sale.

 

3.         Approve a Five-Year Forecast Model as proposed by Public Financial Management at a cost of $7,500 for one year, or $6,000 per year for a three-year commitment.

 

 

Demand Response Program Base Agreement

 

4.         Approve the Demand Response Program Base Agreement between Hess Corporation, One Hess Plaza, Woodbridge, NJ and the District, as outlined in the attached document, for a period of 36 months following the effective date of June 1, 2009.

            Hess Corporation Agreement

 

 

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  February 11, 2009 at 7 pm at Lower Saucon Township Hall.

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

 

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 – 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 ~     

                                                  February 10, 2009 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          February 24, 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.