Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

January 26, 2010 – 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 Order – Mr. Lachlan Peeke, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance – Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.      Motion to Approve Agenda

 

V.        Announcement of Executive Sessions –

                        January 20, 2010 – personnel, negotiations, and legal

                        January 26, 2010 – personnel, negotiations, and legal

 

VI.       Approval of Minutes – January 12, 2010

                                                                                                           

VII.      Recognition            

 

VIII.     Presentation           

            A.        2010-2011 IU 20 General Operating Budget – Dr. Charlene Brennan

            B.        Athletic Fields - TAS

 

IX.       Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

            A.        Presentation of Keystone Awards

 

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

             and address.

 

XI.       Presentation of Bills – David Bonenberger

            A.        General Expenditures - $629,866.04

            B.        Health Benefits - $188,106.53       

 

 

XII.      Treasurer’s Report – Edward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

            A.        Cash Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Condensed Board Summary Report

            D.        Budget Transfers

 

AGENDA ITEMS

 

A.        Education

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of 2010-11 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 2009-10 mini grants sponsored by the Saucon Valley Foundation for Educational Innovations.  Descriptions are attached

 

            Small Grants

            Panther Press School Newspaper (#S10-001)

 

            Special Grants

            Middle School Green Area

            Source 4 Stage Lighting

           

 

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 Leaves

 

1.         Approve the following maternity leaves:

 

            Kerry Schultz, academic service coordinator for grades 5-8, beginning approximately May 8, 2010.  She intends to use four personal days, followed by 28 sick days up to the last teacher day, June 23, 2010.  Should Mrs. Schultz leave prior to May 8th, she will use four personal days, followed by her remaining sick days.  After 30 sick days, the remaining 12 sick days will run concurrently with FMLA.  Should all her sick days be exhausted prior to the last teacher day, she will continue to use FMLA until June 23, 2010.  Mrs. Schultz will return to her teaching duties at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year.

 

            Stacey Anthony, third grade teacher, beginning approximately March 1, 2010.  She intends to use three personal days and 17 sick days prior to taking 12 weeks of FMLA.  Mrs. Anthony will return to her teaching duties on June 14, 2010. 

 

 

Long Term Substitute Continuations

 

2.         Approve the continuation of the following long term substitutes:

 

Jeremy Kittek to continue as high school social studies teacher for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year.  Mr. Kittek’s salary will be $43,737 (Bachelors, Step 2) for the 2009-10 school year.  Mr. Kittek is in for Mrs. Olivia Andrews, who recently resigned.

 

Holli Pfautz to continue as kindergarten teacher for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year. Ms. Pfautz’s salary will be $42,425 (Bachelors, Step 1) for the 2009-10 school year.  Ms. Pfautz is in for Victoria Zuck, who extended her maternity leave to include the whole 2009-10 school year.

 

 

Long Term Substitutes

 

3.         Approve the following long-term substitutes.

 

               Emily Duh as high school English teacher beginning January 27, 2010 and continue to June 17, 2010.  Salary will be $42,425 (Bachelors, Step 1), which will be prorated for the number of days worked.  Ms. Duh is replacing Megan Kern, who will be on maternity leave during this time.

 

               Lauren Keglovitz as high school Spanish teacher beginning February 4, 2010 and continue to June 17, 2010.  Salary will be $42,425 (Bachelors, Step 1), which will be prorated for the number of days worked.  Ms. Keglovitz is replacing Kasandra Diehl, who will be on maternity leave during this time.

 

 

 

Conference/Travel Requests

 

4.         Approve the attached conference/travel requests.

 

 

Additions to the Substitute List

 

5.         Approve the following 2009-2010 substitutes:

 

            Susan Berardesca – Emergency

            Michelle Cawley – Emergency School Nurse

            Clare Donato - Emergency

            Eric Focht – Science

            Christina Smith – Biology/Earth Space Science

            Marquise Stokes – Emergency

           

 

Substitute Support Staff Employees

 

6.         Approve Lisa Peteto as an addition to the Substitute Clerical listing, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.99, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

7.         Approve Hui-Yin Sinko as a Substitute Instructional Assistant, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.99, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

 

Unpaid Leave

 

8.         Approve the following unpaid leave:

 

            Karen Werner – transportation – March 3-5, 2010 for travel.  She will use her personal days also.

 

 

HS Newspaper Advisor

 

9.         Approve Mario Marcozzi as high school newspaper advisor effective immediately.  Salary will be prorated. 

 

 

Tenure of Professional Employee

 

10.       Congratulate Mario Marcozzi, high school social studies/English teacher, who received tenure on January 24, 2010.

 

 

Mentors

 

11.       Approve the following mentors for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year.  Salary will be prorated.

 

             Mentor                            Inductee

             Maya Kowalcyk               Emily Duh

             Theresa Andreucci         Lauren Keglovitz

 

 

 

Superintendent Evaluation and Salary Increase

 

12.       Approve the evaluation of Dr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent, and base salary increase of 3.6% for the 2010 calendar year (January 1-December 31).

 

 

HS Department Chairperson

 

13.       Approve Manuela Ruiz as World Language department chairperson beginning February 5th and continue until the end of the 2009-10 school year.  Salary will be prorated.  Ms. Ruiz is replacing Kasandra Diehl, who will be on maternity leave during this time.

 

 

Retirement – Food Service Employee

 

14.       Approve the request for retirement from Judith M. Korpics, Assistant Cook, Food Service Department, effective June 18, 2010.

 

 

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of Focus Group to Study Green Energy

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Lawn Care Services

 

1.         Request for authorization to bid for District Lawn Care Services.

 

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

 

D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Discussion of 2010-11 Budget

B.        2010-11 Budget Timeline for 2009-2010 School Year

 

2010-2011 Budget Timeline for 2009-2010 School Year

January 28, 2010

(110 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to have 2010-2011 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 2, 2010

(5 days after Resolution adoption)

District Deadline to submit adopted Resolution and proposed tax rate increases to the Department of Education.

February 7, 2010

(10 days prior to Preliminary Budget adoption deadline)

District Deadline to give public notice of intent to adopt the 2010-2011 Preliminary Budget unless a Resolution was adopted indicating that it will not raise the rate of any tax by more than its index.

February 12, 2010

(10 days after receipt of Resolution)

Department of Education Deadline to notify districts that adopted a Resolution whether the 2010-2011 proposed tax rates are equal to or less than their index.

February 17, 2010

(90 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to adopt the 2010-2011 Preliminary Budget unless a Resolution was adopted.

February 22, 2010

(85 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to submit 2010-2011 Preliminary Budget containing proposed tax rate increases to  the Department of Education.

February 25, 2010

(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 4, 2010

(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 19, 2010

(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 24, 2010

(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 29, 2010

(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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Adoption of Preliminary Budget 2010-2011 – or –

Approval of Resolution 2010-11

 

 

 

1.         Approve the Preliminary Budget for the 2010-2011 School Year in the amount of $_________.  The millage rate will be _______.  ($_______per $1,000 assessed value)                          OR

 

1.         Approve Resolution 2010-11 which states that the Saucon Valley School District will not increase any school district tax for the 2010-2011 school year at a rate that exceeds the Index of 2.9% as calculated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

            Resolution 2010-11

 

 

 

 

Colonial Intermediate Unit #20 General Operating Budget

 

 

 

2.         Approve the Colonial Intermediate Unit #20 General Operating Budget for 2010-2011 in the total amount of $2,958,420.  Saucon Valley’s portion is $21,329.62, which is $346.32 increase from 2009-2010.

 

 

 

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

 

E.        Community Outreach

            Saucon Valley Partnership (COG) – Edward Inghrim and Lanita Lum

 

 

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 February 10, 2010 at 7 pm at Lower Saucon Town 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 – Sandra Miller

            (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 Comments – Visitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~     

                          February 9, 2010 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          February 23, 2010 – 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.