Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

July 15, 2008 – 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

7 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

                        July 15, 2008 - Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal                                

                       

V.        Approval of Minutes –

                        June 10, 2008

                        June 24, 2008          

                       

VI.       Recognition            

            A.    SVMS Team Service Projects completed during the 2007-08 school year:

 

Grade 6 - Respect, Citizenship, and Responsibility Teams - collected non perishable foods for the local food bank - over 25 paper boxes of food was delivered throughout the school year. Under the direction of Mrs. Sharon Bender, 6th grade teacher

 

Grade 7 - Courage and Determination Teams - Pennies for Patients Drive.  Over $4,000 collected and presented to the Lymphoma Society. Under the direction of Mr. Dan Mack, 7th grade teacher

 

Grade 8 - Fairness and Caring Teams - School wide Recycling, items collected daily, plastic recycling started in the MS cafeteria, $250 awarded to MS from Abitibi Recycling.  Under the direction of Mr. Robert Kachmar, 8th grade teacher

 

Student Council - grades 6, 7, 8 Collected $550 for American Cancer Society Relay for Life through the Computer Fun project.  Under the direction of Mrs. Dorothy Hoey, Student Council Advisor

 

Invisible Children - grades 6, 7, 8 - Monetary donation of $400 through the sale of        t-shirts, all student organized. Under the direction of Mrs. Fran Marsilio, Ms. Meredith Lesney, and Ms. Felicia DeLosReyes, Related Arts teachers

 


 

VII.      Presentation

 

VIII.     Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

            A.        District Goals:   Community Review of Class Size

                                                   Graduation Rates and Drop Outs               

                                                   District Comparisons of Variables to Student Performance  

 

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

             and address.

 

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Case Settlement

 

1.         Approve the payment of $7,000 for settlement of student case number 101501.

 

 

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

ion.


 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Professional Appointments

 

1.         Approve the following professional appointments effective August 21, 2008.  Salaries are based on the 2007-08 contract and are subject to change following approval of the 2008-09 contract.

 

            Kelly Boushell as fourth grade teacher at a salary of $40,425 (Bachelors, Step 2).  Mrs. Boushell is replacing Nadine Snyder who transferred to first grade.

 

            Bryan Damiano as high school chemistry teacher at a salary of $45,771 (Masters, Step 2).  Mr. Damiano is replacing Joseph Balum, who retired.

 

            Sarah Denzel as high school learning support teacher at a salary of $43,741 (B+15, Step 4).  This is a new position.

 

            Matthew Evancho as high school mathematics teacher at a salary of $57,061 (M+6, Step 7).  This is a new position.

 

            Jilanna Humphrey as middle school Spanish teacher at a salary of $56,371(M+30, Step 4).  Mrs. Humphrey is replacing Claudia Powell, who resigned.

­

            Maya Kowalcyk as high school English teacher at a salary of $40,425 (Bachelors, Step 2).  Ms. Kowalcyk is replacing Patricia Monahan, who retired.

 

            Stephanie Laudenslager as third grade teacher at a salary of $62,908 (M+6, Step 10).  (Mrs. Laudenslager was previously hired at M+6, Step 6.)             

 

            Linda Raitt as middle school 7th grade language arts teacher at a salary of $54,250 (M+12, Step 5).  Ms. Raitt is replacing Jennifer Fliszar, who resigned.

 

            Lauren Speicher as speech and language therapist at a salary of $45,771 (Masters, Step 2).  Ms. Speicher is replacing Barbara Pate, who left the district.

 

            Megan Tiernan as high school English teacher at a salary of $39,878 (Bachelors, Step 1).  Ms. Tiernan is replacing Candace Ploskina, who resigned.

 


 

 

Professional Resignation

 

2.         Approve the resignation of Jennifer Palmieri, middle school special education teacher, effective August 15, 2008.

 

 

Sabbatical Request

 

3.         Approve the sabbatical request from Connie Piperato, elementary reading specialist, for the Spring of 2009.

 

 

Act 93 Administrative Salaries for 2008-2009 School Year

 

4.         Approve the salaries for the Act 93 administrators for the 2008-2009 school year:

 

            Assistant Business Manager – $61,808

            Assistant Superintendent – $110,510

            Athletic Director – $57,200

            Business Manager – $104,040

            Elementary Principal – $109,069

            Elementary Assistant Principal – $87,216

            High School Principal – $101,671

            High School Assistant Principal – $86,528

            K-12 Supervisor of Assessment/Instruction – $75,920

            Middle School Principal – $100,711

            Middle School Assistant Principal – $81,120

            Supervisor of Campus Operations – $77,960

            Supervisor of Special Education – $86,528

            Supervisor of Technology Systems – $82,205

                       

 

Conference/Travel Requests

 

5.         Approve the attached conference/travel request.

 

 

Professional Transfer

 

6.         Approve the following professional transfer effective the 2008-09 school year:

 

Nadine Snyder from kindergarten to first grade

 

 

Elementary Co-Curricular

 

7.         Approve the following elementary co-curricular advisors for the 2008-09 school year.  Salaries will be per the professional contract.

 

Student Council – Joanne Lemay and Liz Weyrauch

 

 

Home School Visitor

 

8.         Approve Glenn Brown as our district Home School Visitor at a salary of $25 per hour for a maximum of 100 hours per the 2008-09 school year.

 


 

 

Educational Support Staff Employment Agreement

 

9.         Approve the attached  Educational Support Staff Agreement between the Board of School Directors and the Educational Support Staff effective July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2013.

 

 

Fine Arts Consultant Service Agreements

 

10.       Approve the attached Fine Arts Consultant Service          Agreements for the 2008-2009 school year.

 

 

2008 Summer Learning Academy Aide

 

11.       Approve Barbara Loux as summer school aide for three hours per day for the 2008 Summer Learning Academy.

 

 

2008 Fall Head Coaches

 

12.       Approve the following 2008 Fall head coaches.  Middle school and assistant coaches for the Fall will be approved at the next meeting.  Salaries are based on the 2007-08 contract and are subject to change following approval of the 2008-09 contract.

 

Football - Matt Evancho - $7,894

Soccer - Mel Moyer - $4,805

Golf - Scott Roberts - $3,430

Girls’ Tennis - Joann Ochse - $3,775

Cross Country - Ed Kolosky - $3,430

Cheerleading - Nancy Harte - $2,745

Volleyball - Brianne Barona - $4,118

Sarah Denzel - Field Hockey - $4,805

            Stu Speicher - Boys’ Lacrosse (Spring) - Salary to be determined

            Caitlin Carney - Girls’ Lacrosse (Spring) - Salary to be determined

 

                                   

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

1.         Transportation Study

2.         Facilities Master Plan Project        

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Federal Standard Business Mileage Rate

 

1.         Approve the federal standard business mileage rate from 50.5 cents per mile to 58.5 cents per mile beginning July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 in accordance with the Saucon Valley Education Association Professional Contract and the Administrative Employment Agreement.

 

 

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

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        $28,000 Reduction to Final Budget – Attachment

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Technology Lease

 

1.         Approve the technology lease from Capital One Public Funding, LLC, 265 Broadhollow Road, Melville, New York, in the amount of $295,000 with five payments of $59,000 at the rate of 4.05%.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

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 for August 13, 2008 at 7 pm at the Lower Saucon Township Hall.

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

ion.

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 – George Torrella

 

K.        New Business

 

 

XIII.     Solicitor’s Report

                                                                                                                    

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

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    August 12, 2008 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  August 26, 2008 – 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.