Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

March 24, 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

                                    March 17, 2009 – Negotiations

                                    March 24, 2009 – Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal   

 

V.        Approval of Minutes – None

                                                           

VI.       Recognition

            A.        District XI AA Swimmers

            B.        PIAA AA Swimmers

            C.        Nadine Snyder – Walmart’s Teacher of the Year

            D.        Fourth grade student, Xin Qiao Zhang - Won the Bethlehem Area Public Library annual "Write and Illustrate Your Own Book Contest" for her story "Corissa Cat of Cat's Cove."

            E.        Parents and community members, Carol Schneider, and her entire family for organizing, facilitating, and staffing with volunteers the annual Book Fair at the elementary school 

 

VII.      Presentation         

            A.        Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 2009-2010 Budget – Charlene Brennan

            B.        Compass Natural Gas – Ted Fritz and Andy Montero

            C.        Dual Sport Participation – Robert Frey

 

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 - $388,763.25

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - $42,104.83

            C.        Health Benefits - $299,533.21

 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportEdward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

            A.        Cash Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Condensed Board Summary Report

            D.        Budget Transfers

            E.        Activity Report - High School

            F.         Activity Report - Middle School

           

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Spanish Textbooks

 

1.         Approve the second and final review of the following high school textbooks:  All three textbooks are tentatively in the preliminary 2009-10 budget.

 

            Course Title – Spanish 1 & Part of 2

            Textbook Title – Realidades

            Text Replaces – Ya Veras

 

            Course Title – Spanish 2 & 3

            Textbook Title – Realidades Level 2

            Text Replaces – Ya Veras

 

            Course Title – Spanish 3, 4, & 5

            Textbook Title –  Realidades Level 3

            Text Replaces – Ya Veras 3

 

 

2009-10 Elementary Handbook

 

2.         Approve the changes to the 2009-10 elementary handbook.

 

 

Settlement

 

3.         Approve settlement agreement for file number – 129.0036

 

 

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 – Support Staff

 

 

 

 

 

1.         Accept the following support staff resignations:

 

            Stacey Siran, high school non-instructional assistant, effective March 19, 2009.

 

            Jason Stem, high school instructional assistant, effective April 10, 2009.

 

            Michael Youse, bus driver, effective March 24, 2009.

           

 

Permanent Part-time Bus Driver

 

2.         Approve Louis Kulscher as a permanent part-time bus driver effective March 25, 2009.  Mr. Kulscher is replacing Mr. Youse.

 

 

Substitute - Operator of Sound/Lighting Systems

 

3.         Approve James Cressman as a substitute to assist with the operation of the sound and lighting systems for all assigned functions held in the High School Auditorium at an hourly salary of $11.00. 

 

 

Non-Instructional Assistant Substitutes

 

4.         Approve the following non-instructional assistant substitutes to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.70, no benefits:

 

            Judith Davco

            Deborah Peffer

            Vicki Stelzer

 


 

 

Clerical Substitute

 

5.         Approve the following clerical substitute to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.70, no benefits:

 

            Deborah Peffer

 

 

Additions to Professional Substitute List

 

6.         Approve the following 2008-2009 professional substitutes:

 

            Karen Ashman – Emergency

            Michael Escott – Emergency

            Catherine Hontz – Elementary/Special Education

            John Rodwell – Emergency

            Tara Wenner - Emergency

 

 

Conference/Travel Requests

 

7.         Approve the attached conference/travel requests.

 

 

Business Manager Contract Extension

 

8.         Approve the contract extension for Business Manager David Bonenberger from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2014.

 

 

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

A.        Discussion of Facilities Capital Improvement Projects With                  Actual Expenditures     

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Transportation Department – Purchase of Vans

 

1.         Approve the authorization to bid for the purchase of vans for the 2009-2010 year.

 

 

            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 27, 2009

Board Meeting

 

Adoption of 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget in the amount of $39,583,938;  Millage Rate 52.04

Note: The deadline to adopt the preliminary budget was February 18, 2009

 

April 28, 2009

Board Meeting

 

Adoption of 2009-2010 Proposed Final Budget

Note:  The deadline to adopt the proposed final budget and mail certification of use of PDE-2028 to the Department of Education is no later than May 31, 2009

 

 

May 19, 2009

 

Deadline to make 2009-2010 Proposed Final Budget available for public inspection on PDE-2028.

Note:  The deadline to make the Proposed Final Budget available for public inspection is 20 days prior to the final budget adoption.

 

 

May 29, 2009

 

Deadline to offer public notice of intent to adopt the 2009-2010 Final Budget

Note: The deadline to offer public notice of intent to adopt the final budget is 10 days prior to final budget adoption

 

June 9, 2009

Board Meeting

Adoption of the 2009-2010 Final Budget

Note: The deadline to adopt the final budget is June 30, 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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

           

 

Compass Energy Contract and Addendum

 

1.         Approve the contract and addendum with Compass Energy to purchase   natural gas and/or natural gas services for the District

 

            Compass Energy Contract      

            Compass Energy Contract Addendum

 

 

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 April 8, 2009 at 7 pm at Hellertown Borough.

 

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 ~     

                          April 14, 2009 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          April 28, 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.