Members Present
Dr. Archer (attended remotely)
Mrs. Austin
Mr. Babikian
Mr. Baxter
Dr. Corcoran
Mrs. DeForest
Mr. Gross
Mrs. James Murad
Mr. Zogbhy
Mr. Al-Mudamgha (Student Board Member)
Administration Present
Dr. Smith. Superintendent
Mr. Reyes, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Franz, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Bartlett, Business Administrator
Others in attendance: Lisa Goodwin, Mary Ryan, John Wheatley, John Mahar, Leah Nemi, Mary Panek, Adam VanFleet, Anna Delaney, Phoenix McBride, Denise Stillitano, Rose Palmisano, Debbie Cosbey, Vinnie Carroll, Heidi Feathers, Cindy Andreatta, Amy Spitzer, Andrew Cottet, John Barlow, Kristin Gallivan, Sarah Levesque, Brendon Schunck, Christopher Jones, Kelly Colone, Julie Morse, Nicole Christian, Kristen Hefti, Jenny Hefti, Todd Boudreau, Patricia Massa, and Kathy Fedrizzi
Mr. Gross called the meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:00 p.m. in the District Office.
Red Ram Recognition
Mr. Gross recognized the Holy Month of Ramadan which began on March 10 and will end on April 9. Mr. Gross also recognized that March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and thanked all district staff who support students with developmental and other types of disabilities including all occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, as well as our Special Education/PPS Department.
Mr. Gross also recognized and congratulated the following:
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- 7th Grade Student Council, part of the Middle School Student Government, sponsored a drive for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and collected crayons, coloring books, toys and Squishmillows.
- Poetry Out Loud Winner, Anadia St. John, who was a runner up at the Poetry Out Loud regional competition and competed in NYC finishing in the top five.
- DECA Club members Phoenix McBride and Logan Oppedisano, both placed 1st and Grayson Pitts, who placed second in the regional competition and 13 J-D students for placing in the top ten.
- National Technical Honor Society inductees Julian Albanese, Wade Almstead, Charleton Aumiller, Jona Breland, Derek Gomel, Kelly Hickey, Emma Streeter, Anthony Virag, Karla Wade, Colin Walrath, and Leyna Wirickx
Mr. Al-Mudamgha recognized both the drama club students who recently put on student-produced plays and the Model United Nations Club who attended the UNAR Conference in Rochester.
(See Supplemental Minutes)
Community Comment Time
Mr. Zoghby moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the motion to allow non-agenda topics to be discussed at the first Community Comment Time.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Adam VanFleet deferred his comment until another time.
John Mahar, Onondaga Town Supervisor commented in support of J-D District selling a piece of property to the town to provide a park for the community.
Christopher Jones commented on a bus stop safety issue, provided information on his concerns, and asked the board to consider the route be rearranged.
Julie Morse commented on the rumors of teacher eliminations and stressed the importance of not eliminating teachers, and that increasing class size will not be beneficial.
Approve Consent Agenda
Mrs. DeForest and Mrs. James Murad disclosed that they have family members on the personnel recommendations. The recommendations were removed from the consent agenda to be voted on separately.
Mrs. James Murad moved, and Dr. Corcoran seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda without the Personnel Recommendations and Substitute Appointments.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Consent Agenda
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- CPSE and CSE Recommendations
- Internal Claims Auditor Reports (See Supplemental Minutes)
- Accept Monthly Treasurer’s Report (See Supplemental Minutes)
Approve Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations and Substitute Appointments
There were no objections to Mrs. DeForest or Mrs. James Murad voting on the personnel recommendations.
Mr. Baxter moved, and Mr. Babikian seconded the motion to approve the Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations and Substitute Appointments.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations – March 18, 2024
INSTRUCTIONAL
Appointment
Name and position: John Lembeck, Science Teacher, four-year probationary appointment, (from August 30, 2023), replacing R. Adler
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- Location: High School
- Salary: $59,452.00, B7
- Certification: Initial Earth Science 5-9
- Effective: August 28, 2024
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Spring Coaching – 2023-2024
Name, assignment, and stipend:
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- Alexander Way, JV Baseball Head Coach, $3,843.00
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Season Pay – Winter Season – 2023-2024 School Year
Name, assignment and stipend:
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- Robert Bewley, Boys Varsity Head Swimming Coach, $2,040.00
- Joseph Corridori, Boys Varsity Assistant Indoor Track Coach, $382.00
- Scott DeForest, Girls Varsity Head Basketball Coach, $1,348.00
- Patrick Gillette, Girls Varsity Head Indoor Track Coach, $1,686.00
- Jeffrey Ike, Boys Varsity Head Basketball Coach, $1,330.00
- Alanna Jones, Varsity Head Cheerleading Coach, $345.00
- Paul LeBlanc, Varsity Head Wrestling Coach, $516.00
- Parker Noble, Boys Varsity Head Indoor Track Coach, $1,320.00
- Alexandria Payne, Girls Varsity Assistant Indoor Track Coach, $924.00
- Melanie Quinn, JV Head Cheerleading Coach, $239.00
- Nancy Raicht, Boys and Girls Varsity Assistant Indoor Track Coach, $160.00
- Emily Rowles, Boys and Girls Varsity Assistant Indoor Track Coach, $194.00
- Ryan Pietrzak, Boys Varsity Diving Coach, $807.00
Extra Duty Assignment – Intramurals – Middle School – 2023-2024 School Year
Name, assignment, and stipend:
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- Madison Eagan, Session 3 Intramural Coach Substitute, $22.00
- Brae Fuller, Session 3 Intramural Coach, $242.00
- Ken Kline, Session 3 Intramural Coach, $66.00
- Jessica Marko, Session 3 Intramural Coach, $110.00
Request for Extended Leave of Absence
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Megan McGee, Social Studies Teacher, High School, FMLA March 22, 2024, through June 14, 2024
Request for Leave of Absence
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Alexandra Bishop, K-6 Elementary Teacher, Moses DeWitt, unpaid leave of absence, August 28, 2024, through June 30, 2025
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – High School – 2023-2024
Name, assignment, and stipend:
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- Donna Oppedisano, Cafeteria Supervision, $928.69, effective January 25, 2024, through June 26, 2024
Request for Retirement
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Lisa Troubetaris, Art Teacher, High School, June 30, 2024
Resignation Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – High School – 2023-2024
Name, assignment, and effective date:
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- Megan McGee, Cafeteria Supervision, effective January 24, 2024
Resignation – Extending Teaching – Spring Coaching 2023-2024
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Dennis Schahczenski, Modified Softball Coach, March 5, 2024
NONINSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name, position, location, salary, and effective date:
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- William Knowles, Custodial Worker I, 52-week probationary appointment, Custodial Department, $18.85/hr., March 19, 2024, replacing H. Brown
Resignation
Name, assignment, location, and effective date:
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- Jo-Ann Carbacio, Food Service Helper I, Cafeteria, March 28, 2024
Approve Minutes of the March 4, 2024, Board Meeting
Mr. Zoghby moved, and Mr. Baxter seconded the approval of the Minutes of the March 4, 2024, Board Meeting.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Approve Award of High School Fitness Room Lift Contract
Mrs. Austin moved, and Mrs. James Murad seconded the motion to approve the Award of the High School Fitness Room Lift Contract to the lowest responsible bidder, J. Priore Construction Co.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Dr. Smith explained that the project will take place during the summer with the hopes of completion by fall.
Board Policy – First Readings
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- 7221: Participation in Graduation Ceremonies
- 7350: Timeout and Physical Restraints
Mrs. James Murad explained the change to Policy 7221, which allows international exchange students to participate in graduation ceremonies if the coursework has been completed. She said Policy 7350 came from the requirement of districts to establish a written policy regarding timeout and physical restraints and our district had to tailor the specific details.
These policies will come back for a second reading at the next meeting.
Potential Consideration for Future Meetings
There was none.
Budget Discussion, State Aid Update and Instructional Budget
Mr. Bartlett presented a state aid update and the instructional segment of the budget. The presentation covered a revenue update, expenditure update, presentation of and primary factors impacting the instructional budget, budget summary as of 3/18/24, propositions, and key calendar dates.
There was a lengthy board discussion surrounding the instructional budget.
Dr. Smith stated that within the legislature, there is talk of restoring aid to schools. He said that the in best case scenario the district would receive anywhere from $140,000-150,000, which is not enough to restore positions. Mr. Bartlett stressed the importance of long-range planning.
(See Supplemental Minutes)
Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Smith
Dr. Smith provided the Board with a report on projected enrollment for the 2024-25 school year (See Supplemental Minutes). He said that we will have a reduction in K-4 sections next year due to enrollment and that a layoff will not be necessary due to a leave of absence. He shared that the projection for elementary school is to hold stable, Middle School is projected to lose approximately twenty students and HS approximately twenty students as well. He said that he is hopeful that we will see some leveling out over the next few years and that will be the new plateau. He said he will continue to update the Board on these numbers.
Dr. Smith reported that there is a conflict with the upcoming Wednesday, April 17 board meeting. A grade 7- 12 Choral Concert is taking place at 7 p.m. and to avoid this conflict the board meeting would begin at 6:00 p.m. with a streamlined agenda, so that the meeting will finish in time for anyone interested in attending the concert.
Dr. Smith followed up on an item that was discussed and approved in the fall, which allows the district to provide a coach bus for athletes traveling to state level competition. He said this winter, the indoor track team, which consisted of 8 or 9 athletes, did not take a coach bus to a competition. He reported that Section III provides a coach bus for individuals who are competing, rather than each team take a coach bus. He said the team opted to not take the coach bus from Section III, as they were competing early in the day which would have required the team to stay the entire day. Dr. Smith said that at some point, he would like to get more information to the Board about the costs associated with coach buses to be able to address this in the future as it happens again.
Lastly, Dr. Smith shared upcoming events.
Committee Reports
Mrs. DeForest reported that the Finance Committee met twice last week with discussions like those at the meeting today. The Committee discussed other possibilities to generate revenue as well as standard agenda items. She thanked the Committee for their hard work.
Board President’s Report
Mr. Gross reported that the Public Forum scheduled for April 4 conflicts with the OCM BOCES Annual Dinner and will need to be postponed. He said that the district is rescheduling the forum and that he will get the new date out soon. Mr. Gross spoke about NYSSBA Resolutions and said he sent information to the Board. He is encouraging members to review the documents as this pertains to the topic of advocacy which was discussed at the last retreat.
Mr. Gross shared that the Electric Bus Demonstration which was scheduled for Saturday has been rescheduled to April 11 and will be held at OCM BOCES in Liverpool. He said this is open to the public and he will be sharing information.
Mr. Gross reminded the Board that they will meet for a retreat on March 21 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the District Office and will be discussing the final two chapters from the book study and doing the mid-year evaluation for the Superintendent.
Lastly, Mr. Gross shared important upcoming dates for the Budget Vote and Board of Education Election. He also said that petitions for board membership are available in the District Office and are due back by 5:00 p.m. on April 22.
Student Board Member Report, Mr. Al-Mudamgha
Mr. Al-Mudamgha said it was nice to see his former teachers at the meeting. He reported that the Lunch Rescue Initiative is up and running smoothly at the Jamesville Food Pantry. He said the preparations for the charity walk-a-thon are continuing for Friday and Saturday night. He said the event will raise money for the not-for-profit organization, We Rise Above the Streets, and information on donating is forthcoming.
Community Comment Time #2
Rachel Wagner commented on the budget cuts. She said it is clear the district is not creating the budget in alignment with their stated values and Strategic Plan. She encouraged the Board to dig deeper into enrollment and said cutting Teaching Assistants is wrong.
Unfinished and Continuing Business
Dr. Smith spoke on information regarding the Southwood Property. He said that neighbors approached the district to request we sell a piece of district property to the Town of Onondaga. He said we are looking into the idea and to date we have not received any type of formal offer. He said the Facilities Committee will need to do their due diligence and make a recommendation to the Board. He said that a comparable situation where the district sold a small piece of property took over a year to complete and that this will take time to get done. He said we will continue to report back as we move through the process.
At 8:46 p.m., Mr. Zoghby moved, and Mrs. James Murad seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Respectfully submitted,
Brian Bartlett
Clerk of the Board
BOARD APPROVED: 4-1-24