Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

February 10, 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 Order – Mr. Ralph Puerta, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance – Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.       Announcement of Executive Sessions –

 

            February 10, 2009 – Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal          

 

V.        Approval of Minutes – January 27, 2009

                                                           

VI.       Recognition            

           

VII.      Presentation – General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2009

            Jamie Doyle, Public Financial Management and Jens Damgaard, Rhoads & Sinon, LLP

           

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 - $403,376.92

 

XI.       Treasurer’s Report – Edward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

           

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Summer Learning Academy

 

1.         Approve July 6th – 30th as the dates for K-12 Summer Learning Academy.

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Conference/Travel Request

 

1.         Approved the attached conference/travel request.

 

 

Additions to the Substitute List

 

2.         Approve the following 2008-2009 substitutes:

 

            Katherine Blanas - Elementary

            Gail DeGruccio – Elementary

            Kimberlie Gartner - Elementary

            Kris Hovis – Elementary          

            Linda Keller – Elementary and Special Education

            Brooke Markle – Math

            Shana Snyder - Elementary

           

 

           

Superintendent Evaluation and Salary Increase

 

3.         Approve the evaluation of Dr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent, and base salary increase of 3.8% for the 2009 calendar year.

 

 

 

Middle School Intramural Swim Program

 

4.         Approve the 2009 middle school intramural swim

            program beginning March 17th and ending April 30th with             a total of 35 participants. Approve Kathleen Wagner as             Program Director at a salary of $798 and Philip Russell             as Assistant Program Director at a salary of $798.              Salaries are according to the current professional

            contract.

 

 

Sabbatical Request

 

5.         Approve the educational sabbatical request for Patti Deutsch, Elementary School Counselor, for the 2009-2010 fall semester.

 

 

Varsity Baseball Coach

 

6.         Approve Glenn Snyder as spring Head Varsity Baseball Coach at the salary of $5,148. Salary is according to the current professional contract.

 

 

Middle School Instructional Assistant

                                               

7.         Approve Karen MacCauley as a Middle School Instructional Assistant with a salary of $13.49 per hour and benefits per the terms of the Educational Support Staff Agreement.  (Ms. MacCauley is filling the open position after the resignation of Cora Sipe)

 

 

Support Staff – Time Off Without Pay

 

 

                                                           

8.         Approve the first requests for time off without pay for:

 

            Judith Korpics, Middle School Cafeteria Employee,   requests time off without pay on March 19 and 20, 2009.  (She is using personal days for March 16, 17, and 18, 2009)

 

            Claudia Gemgnani, Elementary Instructional Assistant,

            requests time off without pay on April 16 and 17, 2009.

            (She is using personal days for April 14 and 15, 2009)

 

 

Substitute Support Staff

                                                  

 

9.         Approve Cathaleen Kimmerly as an addition to the substitute listings for Non-Instructional Assistants,  Secretarial/Clerical, and Food Service employees, to be paid $9.70 per hour for the Assistant and Clerical positions, and $9.52 for the Food Service position, no benefits, effective immediately. 


 

 

Professional Appointment

 

10.       Approve the following professional appointment effective February 11, 2009.  Salary is based on the 2007-2008 contract and is subject to change following the approval of the 2008-2009 contract.

 

            Michael Sakelarides as 2nd grade elementary teacher at a salary of $39,878 (Bachelors, Step 1). Mr. Sakelarides is replacing Allison Korner who recently resigned.

 

 

Long-Term Substitute

 

11.       Approve the following long-term substitute. Salary is based on the 2007-2008 contract and is subject to change following the approval of the 2008-2009 contract.

 

            Katie Eichman as 2nd grade long-term substitute for the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year.  Ms. Eichman’s salary will be $39,878 (Bachelors, Step 1) prorated. She is replacing Stacey Anthony who is on sabbatical leave until the end of the current school year.

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Surplus District Equipment

 

1.         Declare a tennis racquet stringing machine as surplus district equipment.

 

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

 

B.        Budget Discussion

 

C.        County Appeal – Real Estate Taxes Appraisal

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

                       

 

General Obligation Bonds – Series of 2009

 

1.         Approve the attached Resolution pertaining to the school district’s proposed General Obligation Bonds Series of 2009.

.

 

Berkheimer Associates Authorization

 

2.         Approve the authorization for Berkheimer Associates to receive the appropriate earned income tax information from the Department of Revenue as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding and Section 356 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.

 

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 Comments – Visitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~     

                          February 24, 2009 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          March 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.