Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

October 21, 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

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

                       

V.        Approval of Minutes

                        September 23, 2008

                                   

VI.       Recognition            

           

VII.      Presentation

 

            A.        Long Range Financial Planning Model – Jason Brockman from PFM, Inc.

            B.        Curriculum Cycle – Carl Atkinson

 

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 - $1,282,695.81

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - $393,164.49

            C.        Health Benefits (8/23-9/29) - $323,486.67

                        Health Benefits (9/30-10/22) - $209,231.73

 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportEdward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

 

            A.        Cash, Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance

            C.        Budget Transfers - $24,835.52

            D         Middle School Activity Report

            E.        High School Activity Report

 

XII.     Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of Cambiata Trip

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Modified 2008-09 School Calendar

 

1.         Approve the modified 2008-09 school calendar.  These changes were due to the strike.

 

 

Strike Free Education Act (HB 1369)

 

2.         Approve resolution on Strike Free Education Act (HB1369).

 

 

BAVTS Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation

 

3.         Approve the amendment to the articles of incorporation for Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School.

 

 

Saucon Valley Music Connection Competition Trip

 

4.         Approve the Saucon Valley Music Connection competition trip to Toronto Ontario, Canada from May 7-10, 2009.  There is no cost to the district except costs incurred for substitutes for the directors.  All trip costs will be incurred by the students and fundraising.

 

            This trip and cost replaces the August 26th Board approved trip/cruise to Florida and Bahamas on April 23-27, 2009, at no cost to the district. 

 

 

Student Assistance Program Policy #236

 

5.         Approve the first reading of the Student Assistance Program Policy

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Maternity Leave Request

 

1.         Approve the following maternity leave:

 

            Emily Young, elementary music teacher, beginning February, 2009.  She intends to use 10 sick days prior to starting FMLA.  Additional number of sick days will run concurrently with FMLA.  After FMLA ,she will take an unpaid leave for the remainder of the school year.  Ms. Young plans on returning to her teaching duties at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.

 

 

Unpaid Leave

 

2.         Approve the unpaid leave for Kristen Weikert, middle school instructional assistant, for Oct. 24th-Nov. 4th.  Ms. Weikert will be using a personal day on Oct 23rd.

 

 

Conference/Travel Requests

 

3.         Approve the attached conference/travel requests.

 

 

Additions to Substitute List

 

4.         Approve the following additions to the 2008-2009 substitute list:

 

            Warren Achey – Emergency

            Katherine Armitage – Emergency

            Alfonsas Bernotas, Jr – Emergency

            Olwen Bougher - Emergency

            Richard Cariss – Emergency

            Christine Charles – Business/Technology K - 12

            Deborah DeLillo-DeCanto – Emergency

            Katherine Eichman - Elementary

            George Fairchild – Emergency

            Ryan Fluck – Elementary

            Carrie Gofberg – Emergency

            Lisa Hamerstone – Elementary

            Alexander Knoll – Emergency

            Ivelisse Lopez – Emergency

            Kelly Malone – Emergency

            Aubrey Porterfield - Emergency

            Michael Raymond – Emergency

            Amanda Reiman – Emergency

            Janice Swiatek – Emergency

            Dameria Tobing – Emergency

            Alisa Vandever – Emergency

 

 

Homebound Teachers for the 2008-09 School Year

 

5.         Approve the following as homebound teachers for the 2008-09 school year.

 

            Lisa Allen

            Sharon Bender

Jon Bortz

Gemma Cody

Jessica Friday

Cheryl Kittle         

Todd Lipp

Kathleen Rolek

Timothy Murphy

Chad Shirk

Linda Sutton

Roger Tinti

Deb Welch

 

 

Middle School Ski Club

 

6.         Approve the following volunteer middle school ski club advisors for the 2008-09 school year:

 

            Robert Boyer

            Howard Heffelfinger

            Robert Kachmar

            Felicia Parish

            Ruben Rivero

 

 

Primary Math Tutor for the 2008-09 School Year

 

7.         Approve Lorraine Torella as primary math tutor for 200 hours at an hourly rate of $35 as determined by the Accountability Grant for the 2008-09 school year.  Mrs. Torella will be paid the contracted rate for instructional assistants.

 

 

Classrooms For the Future Coach for 2008-09 School Year

 

8.         Approve Rita Churan as .5 Classrooms for the Future coach for the 2008-09 school year to be funded from the Classroom for the Future (CFF) grant.  This position is year to year and depends solely on receiving monies from the state.  This is not part of the teacher bargaining unit.

 

 

Instructional Assistant Resignation

 

9.         Approve the resignation of Sara Brooks, middle school instructional assistant effective September 20, 2008.

 

 

Special Education Department Chairs for 2008-09

 

10.       Approve the following special Education Department Chairs for the 2008-09 school year. This is a contracted position.  Salary is $2,000 each.

 

            Maureen Henderson – Elementary

            Rachel Alderfer – Middle School

            Jessica Schmidt – High School

 

 

Substitute Support Staff

                       

11.       Approve Carl Michael as a Substitute Custodian, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at the hourly rate of $10.09, no benefits, effective immediately.

            (Mr. Michael is a Substitute Bus Driver)

 

12.       Approve Katherine M. Jackson and Kevin Palenchar as additions to the Substitute Assistant list, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at the hourly rate of $9.70, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

 

Elementary Chorus Director

 

13.       Approve Karen Carolan as elementary choral director for the 2008-09 school year.  This is a contracted position and her salary will be $2,059.

 

 

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of Pool Drains and New Mandates

B.        Discussion of TAS meeting

 

 

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

 

 

 

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.

 

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 November 12, 2008 at 7 pm at the 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 – 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 ~    October 28, 2008 – Cancelled

 

                                                  November 11, 2008 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  November 25, 2008 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          December 2, 2008 – 6 pm – Reorganization Meeting

 

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.