Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

April 28, 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

                                    April 28, 2009 – Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal

 

V.        Approval of Minutes

                                    April 14, 2009

                       

VI.       Recognition -

            A.        PA State SkillsUSA Competition Gold Medal Winners –

                                    Wayne Miller – Fire Fighting

                                    Shawn Kozak – Residential Plumbing

 

            B.        2009 District XI AA Wrestling Scholar Athlete of the Year – Brandon Palik     

 

            C.        2009 High School Mentors –

Kierstyn Bryan                         Brandon Hill                             Erin Ruhl

Tatianna Campia                     Carlie Lambert                         Courtney Rust

Hannah Chromczak                 Heather Logan             Savanna Saul

Kyle Clark                                Natalie Magan                          Gabrielle Thompson

Maggie Cressman                    Anna McAloon                         Erika Welz

Melissa Diehl                           Analiese O’Toole                     Jon Young

Lindsay Dittemore                    Bethany Raudenbush              Alicia Zagwoski

 

VII.      Presentations

            A.        2007-08 Audit Presentation

                        Alan C. France – France, Anderson, Basile, and Company, P.C.       

 

            B.        Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School Bond Issue Refunding

                        Scott Shearer, Public Financial Management, Vo-Tech Authority Financial Advisor

                        Kevin Reid, King/Spry, Vo-Tech Authority Bond Counsel

 

            C.        Classrooms for the Future Grant – Rita Chuhran and James Colbert

 

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 - $408,703.97 

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - $64,732.24

            C.        Health Benefits - $340,411.14

 

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 Transfer

           

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

HS Technology Textbook

 

1.         Approve the first review of the following high school textbook:  This textbook is tentatively in the preliminary 2009-10 budget.

 

            Course Title – Web Page Design

            Textbook Title – Adobe® Dreamweaver® CS4 – Illustrated

            Text Replaces – FrontPage – Illustrated

            Approximate Cost Per Book – $29

            Number of Books – 35

 


 

 

MS Social Studies Textbook

 

2.         Approve the first review of the following middle school textbook:  This textbook is tentatively in the preliminary 2009-10 budget.

 

            Course Title – 8th Grade Social Studies

            Textbook Title – History Alive!  The United States Through

  Industrialism

            Text Replaces – The American Nation

            Approximate Cost Per Book – $58

            Number of Books – 60

 

 

HS Business Education Textbooks

 

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

 

            Course Title – Career Explorations

            Textbook Title – Discovering Your Career

            Text Replaces – None

            Approximate Cost Per Book – $52

            Number of Books – 35

 

            Course Title – Sports & Entertainment Marketing (New Course)

            Textbook Title  Sports and Entertainment Marketing

            Text Replaces – None

            Approximate Cost Per Book – $53

            Number of Books – 35

 

            Course Title – Entrepreneurship (New Course)

            Textbook Title  Entrepreneurship: Ideas in Action

            Text Replaces – None

            Approximate Cost Per Book – $50

            Number of Books – 60

 

            Course Title – Money Management

            Textbook Title  Business Principles & Management

            Text Replaces – Intro to Business

            Approximate Cost Per Book – $65

            Number of Books – 70

 

 

2009-10 High School Handbook

 

4.         Approve the changes to the 2009-10 high school handbook.

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Support Staff – Leave Without Pay

                                               

1.         Approve the following leaves without pay:

 

            Beth Meredith, instructional assistant, on May 8, 2009 and May 11, 2009.  Ms. Meredith will be using a personal day on Thursday, May 7, 2009.

 

            Rick Meyers, transportation, on May 7, 8, & 11, 2009.  Mr. Meyers will be using personal days on May 5 & 6, 2009.

 

 

Support Staff – District Summer Workers

 

2.         Approve the following to be employed as District summer Workers for 2009 at an hourly rate of $10, no benefits, not to exceed 40 days of employment:

 

            Bus Cleaners – Rose Glass, Steve Hanner, Ginger Hill, Lori Kern, Karen Werner, Gale Zaino

 

            Custodians – Kelly Albertson, Carol Edinger, Betty Fenstermacher, Dale Frankenfield, Mary Seip

 

            Office Filing – Michelle Chavar, James Harhart

 

            Painting – Matt Diehl, Rick Meyers, Jonathan Pearson, Stanley Smith

 

            Weeding/Outside Painting – Jim Cressman, Dave Haynes

 

 

2009 Summer Learning Academy Elementary Teachers

 

3.         Approve the following 2009 Summer Learning Academy elementary teachers.  Salary is per the current professional contract - $35 per hour.

 

Reading – Heather Borger

Math - Achieve Standards – Andrew Romano

Math - Maintain Standards – Stephanie Laudenslager

Writing - Achieve Standards – Jamie McFadden

Writing - Maintain Standards – Stephanie Laudenslager

Sonday – Jasmine Foreman

Earobics/FastForward – Angelo Cote/Barabara Loux

Kindergarten – Amanda Gercie

Preschool (incoming K class) – Leah Mickey

 

 

Addition to the Substitute List

 

4.         Approve the following 2008-2009 substitute:

 

            Jennifer Barnes – Elementary

            Karen Carolan – Emergency

            Matthew Krempasky – Social Studies

 

 

Maternity Leave

 

5.         Approve the following maternity leave:

 

            Frances Marsilio, middle school teacher, beginning the first day of the 2009-10 school year.  She intends to use 10 sick days prior to starting FMLA.  A minimum of six weeks of sick leave and five personal days will run concurrently with FMLA.  After FMLA, Mrs. Marsilio will be on an unpaid leave until January 4, 2010, at which time Mrs. Marsilio will return to her teaching duties.

 

 

HS Instructional Assistant

 

6.         Approve the appointment of Nancy DeVogel as high school instructional assistant beginning April 29, 2009.  Salary and benefits will be per the current Educational Support Staff agreement.  Ms. DeVogel is replacing Jason Stem who recently resigned.

 

 

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of Energy Education Proposal – Attachment

B.        Naming the High School Soccer Field

 

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

 

            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 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.

 

B.        2009-10 Budget Discussion

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Auditors Report for Year Ended June 30, 2008

 

1.         Accept the Independent Auditors’ Report for the year ended June 30, 2008, as submitted by Alan C. France of France, Anderson, Basile, and Company, P.C.

 

 

2009-2010 Proposed Final Budget

 

2.         Approve the 2009-2010 Proposed final Budget in the amount of $_________.  The millage rate will be _____.

 

 

Bus Bid Award

 

3.         Approve the award of bid to Wolfington Body Company, Inc., P.O.Box 218, Exton, PA for the purchase of one International Sixty (60) Passenger Transit Type (rear engine) School Bus (diesel engine) at a cost of $82,895.00 ($1,500 trade-in).  Bus Bid Tabulation

 

 

Alternate Method of Billing and Payment

 

4.         Approve the alternate method of billing and payment to the Northampton community College for the fiscal year July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. Alternate Method of Billing Agreement

 


 

 

Surplus/Obsolete Materials

 

5.         Declare the attached list of CD ROMS that are no longer compatible with our current laptops, with no technical service available, as surplus.  Surplus CD ROMS

 

6.         Declare a 1982 Yamaha Golf Cart that is no longer functional, as surplus.  Surplus Golf Cart

 

 

Bethlehem Vocational Technical School Bond Issue

 

7.         Approve the attached parameters based Borrowing Resolution for the refinancing of the District’s lease rental debt obligation to the Bethlehem Vocational Technical School Authority (Bethlehem Area Vocational – Technical School Project)

 

            Bethlehem Vo Tech Authority Resolution                        

            Bethlehem Vo-Tech Second Supplemental Lease Agreement

 

 

Compass Energy Contract

 

8.         Approve the Proposal for Natural Gas Supply and Service with Compass Energy, 95 Highland Avenue, Bethlehem, PA, from July, 2009 to June, 2010, with an   attachment subject to approval of the mandate waiver by the State.  Compass Energy Proposal

 

                                               

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  May 13, 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 CommentsVisitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~     

                          May 12, 2009 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          May 26, 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.