Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

November 11, 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

 

                        November 11, 2008 – Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal

 

V.        Approval of Minutes – October 21, 2008

                                                           

VI.       Recognition            

           

VII.      Presentation

            A.        Northampton Community College 2009 Budget Presentation -

                        Dr. Arthur Scott

            B.        Discussion of LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance)

                        Kathy Vossough, Deputy Director Economic Development, City of Bethlehem

            C.        Mathematics Review UpdateCarl 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 – $1,359,684.61

 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportEdward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

           

XII.     Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

A.        Review of Draft 2009-2010 School Calendar

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Awarding of Mini Grants

 

1.         Approve the following 2008-09 mini grants sponsored by the Saucon Valley Foundation for Educational Innovations.  Descriptions are attached.

 

            Small Grants

            Stock Market Game

            Creative Writing Club

            Day Out

            Landscaping

            Blackboard

            Art Club

            Mock Trial

            Study of Bones

            Instrumental Clinics            

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Professional Retirement

 

1.         Approve the following retirement effective at the end of the 2008-09 school year:

 

            Karen Swartz – Reading Coordinator K-8

 

Maternity Leave

 

2.         Approve the following maternity leave:

 

            Jennifer Sakelarides, fifth grade teacher, beginning December 2, 2008.  She intends to use 10 sick days prior to starting FMLA.  An additional 20.5 sick days will run concurrently with FMLA.  Mrs. Sakelarides plans on returning to her teaching duties at the end of her FMLA.

 

 

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.

 

            Patricia Barry - Emergency

            Kiersten Dalonzo – Emergency

            James Gill - Emergency

            Teresa Judd – Elementary

            Olivia Vellios – Emergency

 

 

Primary Math Tutor for the 2008-09 School Year

 

5.         Approve Lorraine Torella as primary math tutor for 500 hours at an hourly rate of $13.49 as determined by the Accountability Grant for the 2008-09 school year.  Mrs. Torella will be paid the contracted rate for instructional assistants.

 

 

Homebound Instructor

 

6.         Approve the following as homebound teacher for the 2008-09 school year:

 

            Erin Ruyak

 

 

Leave without Pay

 

7.         Approve the following leaves without pay:

 

            Sheri Herman, middle school instructional assistant, for the week of January 12-16, 2009.  Mrs. Herman will be using January 12-14 as personal days.

 

            Diane Smith, food service department, for the week of June 15-18, 2009.  Mrs. Smith will be using June 15-16 as personal days.

 

 

Mentor

 

8.         Approve the following mentor beginning December 19, 2008.  The $500 salary will be pro-rated for the remainder of the year.

 

            Mentor                         Inductee

            Melissa Janis               Colleen Whitehead

 

Support Staff Substitutes

 

9.         Approve Julie Anne Sands as a Substitute Custodian, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $10.09, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

10.       Approve Tara Reccek as a Substitute Cafeteria Worker, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.52, no benefits, effective November 12, 2008.

 

 

Consultant for Occupational Therapy Services

 

11.       Approve Heather Stauffer as a consultant for occupational therapy (OT) services for the 2008-09 school year.  Consultant agreement and costs are attached.

 

 

Winter Coaches

 

12.       Approve the following 2008-09 winter coaches.  Salaries are based on the 2007-08 contract.

 

Boys’ Basketball:

Head Varsity Coach – Matt Brown - $6,865.00

Head JV Coach – Sean Thomson - $4,805.00

Assist. Coach – Don Benner - $3,430.00

Head Middle School Coach – Rick Haas - $2,750.00

Assist. JV/Varsity Coach – Todd Lipp - $2,745.00

Assist. Middle School Coach – Tim Murphy - $2412.00

Assist. JV/Varsity Coach – Glenn Brown – Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Angel Figueroa – Volunteer

 

Girls’ Basketball:

Head Varsity Coach – Craig Mogel - $6,865.00

Assist. Varsity Coach – Dustin Webb - $4,805.00

Assist. JV Coach – Amber Ziemba - $3,430.00

Assistant Coach – Abbe Cox - $2,745.00

Head Middle School Coach – Ron Jones - $2,750.00

Assist. Middle School Coach – Martin Lewis - $2,412.00

 

Wrestling:

Head Varsity Coach – Chad Shirk - $6,865.00

Assist. Varsity Coach – Andrew Koch - $4,805.00

Head Middle School Coach – Ryan Fluck - $3,775.00

Assist. Middle School Coach – Mason Messinger - $3,088.00

Assist. Coach – Chris Fluck – Volunteer

Assist. Coach – Bobby Bisson – Volunteer

 

 

Swimming:

Head Varsity Coach– Ed Kolosky - $4,805.00

Assist. Varsity Coach – Lachlan Peeke – Volunteer

 

            Cheerleading:

Head Varsity Coach – Nancy Harte - $2,745.00

JV Coach – Janelle Chunko - $1,829.00

Co Middle School Coach – Lindsay Muzyka - $1,029.50

Co Middle School Coach – Lisa Magaragal - $1,029.50

 

 

Elementary Instructional Assistant

 

13.       Approve Kristie Pinczok as elementary instructional assistant effective November 12, 2008.  Mrs. Pinczok is entitled to salary and benefits per the current instructional assistant contract.  Mrs. Pinczok is replacing Kristen Pazzaglia, who 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 Facilities Plan

B.        Discussion of District/PASBO Transportation Study

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Saucon Valley Basketball

 

1.         Approve a Waiver of Fee for the use of District buildings, facilities and equipment by Saucon Valley Youth Basketball, Inc. (formerly part of Saucon Valley Youth Sports)

 

 

 

Surplus Items

 

2.         Declare 24 warped wooden scooters as surplus.

 

 

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

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

A.        LERTA Resolution – Resolution No.2 of 2007

B.        2009-2010 Budget Timeline for 2008-2009 School Year

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

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  November 12, 2008 at 7 pm at Lower Saucon Township Hall.

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

 

F.         Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School – Lachlan Peeke/Sharon Stack

            (Meetings are first Tuesday of every month)

 

1.        On Saturday, Nov 8th, the Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech auctioned the student built home.

 

 

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 ~     

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

                          High School Audion

 

                          December 2, 2008 – 6 pm – Reorganization Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          December 9 or 16,  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.