Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

November 24, 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

 

V.        Approval of MinutesNovember 10, 2009

                                                                                   

VI.       Recognition            

           

VII.      Presentation

            A.        Saucon Valley Foundation for Educational Innovations – Joe Savage

            B.        Northampton Community College 2010 Budget Presentation -

                        Dr. Arthur Scott

            C.        Discussion of Exterior Cameras

 

VIII.     Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

A.        Introduction of Mr. Eric Kahler – New High School Principal

 

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

             and address.

 

X.        Presentation of BillsDavid Bonenberger

            A.        General Expenditures

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures

            C.        Health Benefits         

 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportEdward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

            A.        Cash Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Middle School Activities Fund Report and High School Activities Fund                                    Report 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

First Reading of Policies

 

1.         Approve the first reading of the following policies:

 

            Policy 140 – Charter Schools

 

            Administrative Employees

            Policy 335 – Family and Medical Leave

            Policy 335-AR – Family and Medical Leaves

            Policy 335-AR-1 – Your Rights

            Policy 335-AR-2 – Request/Response for FMLA Leave

            Policy 335-AR-3 – Certification of Health Care Provider

 

            Professional Employees

            Policy 435 – Family and Medical Leave

            Policy 435-AR – Family and Medical Leaves

            Policy 435-AR-1 – Your Rights

            Policy 435-AR-2 – Request/Response for FMLA Leave

            Policy 435-AR-3 – Certification of Health Care Provider

           

            Classified Employees

            Policy 535 – Family and Medical Leave

            Policy 535-AR – Family and Medical Leaves

            Policy 535-AR-1 – Your Rights

            Policy 535-AR-2 – Request/Response for FMLA Leave

            Policy 535-AR-3 – Certification of Health Care Provider

 

            Policy 801 – Public Records

            Policy 801-AR – Exempted Records

            Policy 801-AR-1 – Disclosure/Production of Certain Records

            Policy 801-AR-2 – Fees for Public Records Requests

            Policy 810.1 – Drug/Alcohol Testing – Covered Drivers

 

 

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

 

1.         Approve the following maternity leave:

 

             Melissa Janis, speech therapist, beginning approximately March 15, 2010.  She intends to use 7 sick days prior to starting 12 weeks of FMLA.  Should FMLA end prior to the last teacher day, Mrs. Janis requests an unpaid maternity leave for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year.  Mrs. Janis will return to her teaching duties at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year.

 

 

Professional Resignation

 

2.         Approve the resignation of Olivia Andrews, high school social studies teacher, effective February 1, 2010.

 

 

Conference/Travel Requests

 

3.         Approve the attached conference/travel requests.

 

 

Additions to the Substitute List

 

4.         Approve the following 2009-2010 substitutes:

 

            Robert Glase – Social Studies

            Joseph Harvey – Music

            Melinda McCubrey – Emergency

            Elle Molinari - Elementary

 

 

Leaves without Pay

 

5.         Approve the following requests for the day(s) without pay:  All personal time has been used prior.

 

            Dennis Schuyler, bus driver, December 1, 2009.

 

            Steve Hanner, bus driver, February 10, 11, 12, 2009

 

 

Substitute Support Staff

           

6.         Approve Bryon Wieder as a Substitute Custodian, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $10.39, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

 

Instructional Assistant

 

7.         Approve Sandra Laubach as an Instructional Assistant in the Middle School with salary and benefits per the terms of the Educational Support Staff Agreement.  Ms. Laubach is replacing Jason Clifford who recently resigned.

 

 

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

 

C.        Facilities

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Surplus Items

 

1.         Approve obsolete items, textbooks and floor scrubber, noted on the attached listing, as District Surplus Materials.  Surplus Materials

 

 

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

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

Designation of Fund Balance

 

1.         Approve the designation of $6,364,132 by the Board of Directors from the fund balance of the General Fund of which $418,163 is for anticipated increase in PSERS, post-retirement costs per GASB 45 in the amount of $4,545,969 and $1,400,000 reserve for health care benefits, retroactive to June 30, 2009.

 

 

\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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Amendments to Saucon Valley Partnership Agreement

 

1.         Approve the amendments to the SVP Agreement allowing for a new Associate Non-Voting category of membership and also approving Northampton County as a Saucon Valley Partnership member under this category.

 

 

Saucon Valley Partnership Meeting

1.         The next meeting of the Saucon Valley Partnership is scheduled for December 9, 2009 at 7 pm at Saucon Valley School District.

 

 

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

 

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 ~     

                          December 8, 2009 – 7:30 pm – Reorganization Meeting

                          Business Meeting will immediately follow Reorganization 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.