THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

of the

MERCER COUNTY SPECIAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICT

MINUTES

BUSINESS MEETING

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

5:00 pm

 

 

The monthly business meeting for the month of January 10, 2012 was held this day in the Mercer Elementary School Superintendent’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 1020 Old Trenton Road, Hamilton, NJ.

 

The Board of Education took the following actions:

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER: Board of Education President Dana Hice-DePugh called the meeting to order at 5:08 pm.

 

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT: Ms. Hice-DePugh read the following statement:

 

In accordance with the provisions New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law, the Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be posted in the Board Office and in the Mercer County Clerk’s Office and mailed to the Trenton Times.

            ROLL CALL:

 

Present:           Dana Hice-DePugh, Samuel Floyd, Russell White, Camille Rainiero, Jan Lewis and Dr. Samuel Stewart.

 

Also Present: Dr. Kimberly Schneider, Superintendent, Nancy Swirsky, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Carl Kreger, Assistant Superintendent, Christine MacDonald, Human Resource Manager, Michael Lee, Director Student Services and Michael W. Herbert, Board Attorney.

 

2.         PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Ms. Hice-DePugh led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

           

PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

Pat Sodano, Principal Mercer Elementary School, announced that Diane Glover was selected as Assistive Physical Education Teacher of the Year for the State of New Jersey in the areas of Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year award for the state of NJ 2012 from New Jersey Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD).

The Board expresses their congratulations and honor for the District to have a “State Teacher of the Year”!

 

Nancy Swirsky gave a presentation on the MCSSSD Preliminary Budget Information (handout) and discussed the revenue sources, adjustment of expenditures to align with enrollment, potential charge back credits for sending districts and answered Board member questions.

 

 

Dr. Stewart stated that he visited the new Eden facility and noted how great it was.

Carl Kreger said that staff from Eden came to visit Mercer High School before they designed their new facility.

Dr. Stewart said we are in competition with them but Mr. Kreger noted we compared well with them.

Mr. White said schools look at price.

Ms. Hice-DePugh injected that placement is an IEP (Individual Education Plan) decision and Dr. Stewart concurred.

Dr. Schneider stated it was important that our quality programs remain quality and exceed Eden’s. She explained Eden also has after age 21 group home programs and employment opportunities and said

Mr. Kreger is working with allies for adult autistic programs.

Dr. Stewart said we may need to consider an increase of tuition rates by 3% to maintain the quality.

 

Ms. Swirsky explained Mercer County is in a pilot program to prepare the Financial Disclosure Statements for Board members and administrators on line. She explained the State is planning to have all the disclosures available on line and there will no longer be paper copies. Board members and administrators should expect an email from the School Ethics Commission sometime in early February and should be completed as soon as possible.

Mr. White asked about the issue in the Policy on Nutrition for students.

Ms. Swirsky stated that the language was changed in the policy that the District expects the food service provider to follow the Federal guidelines. She explained that Sodexo has already adopted the Federal guidelines.

Pat Sodano said they serve whole wheat pasta and turkey hot dogs to the students.

Mr. White said it was good to know that.

 

 

4.         Approval of the December 6, 2011 Board Meeting Regular Minutes:

 

A Motion by Samuel Floyd and seconded by Jan Lewis to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Abstain             Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

 

 

5.         Bills To Be Approved totaling $ 3,518,079.06

 

            A Motion by Camille Rainiero and seconded by Samuel Floyd to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

 

 

 

 

6.         Treasurer’s Report for December 2011 and authorization of transfers within program areas as approved by the Superintendent

 

A Motion by Russell White and seconded by Jan Lewis to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

 

7.        Correspondence & Communications – None

 

8.         Committee Reports – None

 

9.         Superintendent’s Report - None

           

New/Special Projects:

 

Nancy Swirsky informed the Board about the Position Control Codes on the Personnel agenda items.

Recommend Board approve the following:

PERSONNEL & ADDENDUM

 

 

BE IT RESOLVED That the Board of Education does hereby approve the following appointments, reappointments, adjustments, resignations, terminations, retirements, leaves,

transfers, suspensions, and requests for expedites, emergency certification for the School Year 2010 – 2011 as recommended by the Superintendent.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the Board of Education submit to the County Superintendent, as required, applications for emergency hiring and the applicants’ attestations that they have not been convicted of any disqualifying crime pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1 et seq, N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 et seq, or N.J.S.A. 18A:6-4.13 et seq.

 

Appointments, Re-Appointments, Resignations, Leaves, Retirements, etc., (Attachment A) and addendum.

 

A Motion by Jan Lewis and Seconded by Russell White was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Abstain             Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

MISCELLANEOUS:

 

Carl Kreger reported on the State wide 2010/2011 Testing results although the State’s numbers have not been published yet. Mr. Kreger said the District takes the testing seriously because it will be tied to the teacher’s evaluations. He asked school representatives to explain the process.

Linda DeLoretto, Supervisor Mercer High School, stated they are in the second part of testing and the teachers work together to collect the information before it is sent.

Dr. Stewart asked how many students took the Language Arts testing.

Ellen Spicer, Technology Teacher Mercer High School, stated it was about 42 students but changes on the tests affects the APA grades.

Dr. Schneider said if the students could pass the test the student would not be at MCSSSD.

Mr. White said he felt it was too stressful for our students and should not have to take the test so seriously.

Ms. Hice-DePugh explained the results are important for the sending districts for AYP and funding.

Dr. Schneider noted we have two representatives to the State on the APA issues. Mr. Kreger is the chair on the AD HOC Committee and Tina Yurcho, Supervisor Mercer Elementary School represented New Jersey at a national meeting.

Ms. Yurcho stated that she went to Missouri as the NJ representative as part of a Federal grant to adopt the APA in order to access what students know and to measure progress. She worked on the Language Arts Committee and found others had the same frustrations and there should be better tools for assessing students. She hopes that in 2013/14 there will be a new assessment.

Gail Roberts, Supervisor Regional Day School, stated that her students are mostly average to above average in IQ on Science and Math but struggling with language Arts mostly in writing so teachers are giving students writing projects every day.

Chris Sevilla, Principal Joseph Cappello School, gave the Board members a handout listing the number of students tested and noted that Maryann Moller, Supervisor Mercer Elementary School coordinated the testing, met with teachers to work collaboratively and imbed the testing strategies in their day to day teaching lessons.

Recommend Board approve the following:

Presentation of 2010-2011 Testing Results – Carl Kreger

A Motion by Jan Lewis and Seconded by Russell White was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

QSAC Statement of Assurance SY 2011-2012 (Attachment B)

A Motion by Jan Lewis and Seconded by Russell White was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

 

 

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

            Revision(s)/New Policies/Regulations – Second Reading: (Attachment C)

 

Bylaw:          

0168      Recording Board Meetings

 

Policy:          

 

                                      6424     Emergency Contracts

                                      8505     School Nutrition (M)

 

Regulations:

5331      Management of Life-Threatening Allergies in Schools (M)

5338      Diabetes Management (M)

 

A Motion by Jan Lewis and Seconded by Russell White was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

            Extended School Year Calendar - Summer 2012 (Attachment D)

A Motion by Jan Lewis and Seconded by Russell White was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

REPORTS:

            Fire and Security Drill(s) for month of December 2011 (Attachment E).

A Motion by Jan Lewis and Seconded by Russell White was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying Report for December 2011

Month	Investigations	HIB	Non-HIB	Pending
September	5	2	3	0
October	10	7	3	0
November	7	5	2	0
December	1	0	0	1

 

A Motion by Jan Lewis and Seconded by Russell White was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

1. 10.      Old Business: – None

 

 

1. 11.New Business:

 

Ms. Hice-DePugh called for approval for a motion to approve the following:

a.         Interlocal Services Agreement with the Township of Hamilton for Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan and Training Program effective January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012 (Attachment 11-a).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

b.         Recommend the Board accept an additional $5,000 for Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services to be expended by March 31, 2012 (Attachment 11-b).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

c.         Approve Special Services Joint Council dues for the 2011/12 school year of $2,440 (account # 11-000-230-585-01-ADV).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

d.         Approve the Mercer County Special Services School District preliminary 2012/13 Budget Planning Schedule (Attachment 11-d).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

e.         Approve the Special Child Health Services Staff meeting dates (Attachment 11-e).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

f.          Approve the Annual Fire Inspections for Mercer High School, Mercer Elementary School, Joseph Cappello School and Regional Day School and ARS by Kistler & O’Brien Fire Protection, Inc. not to exceed $25,000 Gaap account # 61-000-262-420-05-RDS and

            11-000-262-420-05-XXX

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

g.         Approve to contract with Vitetta Architectural Engineering for the Phase II HVAC upgrades at Joseph F. Cappello School and Mercer High School not to exceed $39,250 Gaap accounts 30-000-400-450-00-JFC and 30-000-400-450-MHS (Attachment 11-g).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

            h.         Approve the Submission to Bid HVAC Upgrades and Digital Control for Joseph F.                                  Cappello School and Mercer High School Phase II.

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

i.          Staff and Student Travel (Attachment 11-i).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

j.          Miscellaneous Equipment for Disposal (Attachment 11-j).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

k.         Use of Building & Grounds (Attachment 11-k).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

l.          Approval of Transportation Contract(s) (Attachment 11-l).

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Abstain             Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

m.        New Student work site: ShopRite of Ewing, 750 N Olden Avenue Ext., Ewing, NJ 08630

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

n.         Approve Hamilton Township Division of Health for staff immunizations for the period

            July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 for $1,825 Gaap accounts 11-000-291-270-00-MED $1,700, and 61-000-291-270-50-MED $125.00.

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

o.         Approve the Legal Negotiation Services of ______________________________________

            Gaap account # 11-000-230-331-00-NEG and 61-000-230-331-01-LEG (handout).

**NOT APROVED**

 

 

p.         Approve an MCSSSD Education Foundation Payroll Deduction for staff.

A Motion by Russell White and Seconded by Camille Rainiero was made to approve the aforementioned was carried by roll call vote.

 

Roll Call:        Mr. Floyd -     Yes                  Ms. Lewis - Yes

Ms. Vena -      Absent                        Mr. White - Yes

Dr. Stewart – Yes                   Ms. Rainiero - Yes

Ms. Hice-DePugh - Yes

 

 

1. 12.EXECUTIVE SESSION:   At 6:04 PM Ms. Hice-DePugh read the following:

 

 

WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-11, permits the Board of Education to meet in closed session to discussion certain matters, now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mercer County Special Services Board of Education shall recess to executive session for the purpose of discussing:

Personnel and negotiation matters and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the discussion of such subject matter in closed session will be disclosed to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists, unless such is otherwise prohibited by law.

 

 

On a Motion by Samuel Floyd and Seconded by Jan Lewis the Board unanimously voted to go into Executive Session at 6:05 PM.

On a Motion by Samuel Floyd and Seconded by Jan Lewis the Board unanimously voted to return to the open meeting at 6:10 PM.

 

1. 13.PUBLIC COMMENT #

 

            Mr. Herbert asked Ms. Swirsky to explain the status of the Legal Negotiations Services.

            Ms. Swirsky explained only two (2) firms responded to the RFP and one was not acceptable because      the firm did not represent any school districts and the other firm had to be disqualified because of the       Pay to Play regulations.

            Mr. Herbert explained that the limit was $ 400 and one stockholder had exceeded that amount.

 

 

1. 14.ADJOUJRNMENT

 

 

A Motion by Samuel Floyd and Seconded by Jan Lewis to adjourn the meeting passed by unanimous voice vote, (4) aye’s (0) nay’s.   Meeting was adjourned at 6:14 pm.

                                                                                               

 

 

Respectfully submitted by:

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                Nancy Swirsky

                                                                                                Business Administrator/Board Secretary