Members Present
Dr. Archer (attended remotely)
Mrs. Austin
Mrs. DeForest
Mr. Gross
Ms. McKenney
Mrs. James Murad
Mrs. Souser
Mr. Leach
Mr. Zoghby
Ms. Ajerari (Student Board Member)
Administration Present
Dr. Smith. Superintendent
Mr. Reyes, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Franz, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Mahunik, Interim Business Administrator
Others in attendance: Andrew Cottet
Mrs. DeForest called the Board Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the District Office and via Zoom.
Mrs. DeForest asked for a Motion to Amend the Agenda. Mrs. Souser moved and Mr. Gross seconded the motion to amend the Agenda to remove the Student Board Member Report and to add the Assistant Superintendent’s report.
Motion carried. (9-0-0).
Red Ram Recognition
Mrs. DeForest recognized Middle School teacher, Laura Dietz for working with the Town of DeWitt to offer free literacy tutoring during the summer for J-D students. She also recognized the J-D Faculty Association for their contributions to the community including, donations to the United Way, Operation Graduation, and the scholarship fund. Mrs. DeForest thanked both Lee Steppe and Laird Updyke from LeChase Construction for taking the time to provide a tour of both the Middle School and High School construction to Board members during their recent retreat. Mrs. DeForest shared information on J-D’s new District Facebook page and recognized Nancy Cole, BOCES Public Information Specialist, for launching and maintaining the page. Lastly, Mrs. DeForest recognized and thanked the following for working through Labor Day Weekend to get things ready for the first day of school: Jason Crawford and all facilities and custodial staff, Leo Falter and the JDHS custodial staff, John Crump and the JDMS custodial staff and Phil Luckette and the technology staff.
Community Comment Time #1
There were no community comments.
Approve Consent Agenda
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- Approve Superintendent’s Personnel recommendations, Substitute Re-Appointments for the 22-23 School Year and new Substitute Appointments
- Accept CPSE and CSE Recommendations
- Approve Overnight Field Trip Request
Mrs. James Murad moved and Ms. McKenney seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Motion carried (9-0-0).
Superintendent’s Personnel Recommendations – September 12, 2022
INSTRUCTIONAL
Resignations
Name, position, location and effective date:
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- Maria DeJesus, World Languages Department Chair, August 22, 2022
- Jared Nies, Teaching Assistant, Middle School, August 8, 2022
- Jennifer Ogata, Teaching Assistant, Jamesville Elementary, September 9, 2022
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – High School – 2022-2023 School Year
Name, assignment and stipend:
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- Xiomara Santos, World Languages Department Chair, $5,076.00
Extra Duty Assignment – Extended Teaching – Middle School – 2022-2023 School Year
Name, assignment and stipend:
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- Anastasia Arriaga, Lunch Supervision, 6th grade, $1,768.00
- Justin Bird, Good Time Singers, $1,616.00
- Justin Bird, 7/8 Musical, Production Director, $4,040.00
- Keith Bryant, MS Light and Sound, $1,523.00
- Laurie Fabian, Bus Supervision, PM, $1,237.00
- Laurie Fabian, Lunch Supervision, 7th grade, $1, 768.00
- Anthony Greene, Jazz Ensemble, $1,945.00
- Anthony Greene, 7/8 Musical, Music Director, $2,836.00
- Jessica Murray, Lunch Supervision, 7th grade, $1,768.00
- Andy Starowicz, Lunch Supervision, 6th grade, $1,768.00
NONINSTRUCTIONAL
Appointments
Name, position, location, salary and effective date:
-
- Emma Shute, Teacher Aide, 52-week probationary appointment, Jamesville Elementary, $14.14/hr, September 13, 2022, replacing J. Evarts
- Tracy Vogt, Custodial Worker I, 52-week probationary appointment, Custodial Department, $18.30/hr., September 13, 2022, replacing J. Kondovski
Resignations
Name, position, location, and effective date:
-
- Theresa Flint, Typist II, High School, September 9, 2022
- Amaree Granan, Food Service Helper I, Food Service Department, September 7, 2022
(For Substitute Reappointments and New Substitutes see Supplemental Minutes)
Approve Minutes of the August 22, 2022 Board Meeting
Mrs. Austin moved and Mr. Zoghby seconded the approval of the Minutes of the August 22, 2022 Board meeting.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
Approve Minutes of the August 29, 2022 Board Meeting
Mr. Gross moved and Mrs. James Murad seconded the approval of the Minutes of the August 29, 2022 Board meeting.
Motion carried. (5-0-4) Mrs. Austin, Mrs. Souser, Dr. Archer and Ms. McKenney abstained.
Accept the Internal Auditor’s Report
Mr. Gross, Chairperson of the Audit Committee reviewed the information presented by the Internal Auditor, Dermody, Brown and Burke, at the previous committee meeting. He shared the findings and said the action items have been corrected and the Audit Committee is satisfied. Mr. Mahunik explained that procedures have been put in place for checks and balances.
Ms. McKenney moved and Mrs. Souser seconded the motion to accept the Internal Auditor’s Report. (See Supplemental Minutes).
Motion carried. (9-0-0).
Approve SEQRA Resolution for Door Replacement at the High School
WHEREAS, the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District is considering undertaking a capital improvement project consisting of Door Replacement at the High School, including, site improvements, original furnishings, fixtures and equipment (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, the District, as a local agency pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), ECL Section 8-0 IO1, et seq., and implementing regulations, 6 NYCRR Part 617 (the “Regulations”), having reviewed the impact of the Project upon the environment, intends hereby to determine that the Project constitutes a “Type II Action” under 6 NYCRR § 617.5(c)(25) of the Regulations and is not subject to review under SEQRA.
NOW THEREFOR, BE IT RESOLVED by this Board of Education as follows:
Section 1. The Project constitutes a “Type II Action” under 6 NYCRR § 617.5(c)(25) of the Regulations and is not subject to review under SEQRA. The regulatory bases for this determination are Section 617.5(c)( 1): “maintenance or repair involving no substantial changes in an existing structure or facility”; Section 617.5(c)(2): “replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure or facility, in kind, on the same site ….” and 617.5(c)(8): “routine activities of educational institutions, including expansion of existing facilities by less than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area….”
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
The motion having been duly moved, the resolution was acted upon by the Board of Education and there were nine votes in favor of the resolution and zero votes against the resolution.
The resolution was thereafter declared adopted.
(See Supplemental Minutes for signed Resolution).
Mr. Zoghby moved and Mrs. Souser seconded the motion to approve the SEQRA Resolution for Door Replacement at the High School.
Motion carried. (9-0-0)
2022-2023 Board Goals
Mrs. DeForest shared the Board Goals, which have been rolled over from last year. She said that many of the goals align with the Strategic Plan, which follows a multi-year process. She asked for any discussion, recommendation and/or changes. Mrs. DeForest will bring the revised goals back to the next meeting for approval.
Potential Consideration for Future Meetings
Mr. Gross reported that he met with Mrs. Austin and Mrs. DeForest to go through the current list and reorganize it. He explained how the board worked through the list and said he will email it to the rest of the board.
Fund Balance Update, Mr. Mahunik
Mr. Mahunik reported on the fund balance and the fiscal status of the district at the end of the 21-22 fiscal year. He reported that as a result of additional monies received via ARP funds, the district has approximately $1.2 million to be added to the fund balance. He recommended that the fund balance be supplemented to protect the district in the event of an economic downturn. He said the Finance Committee will bring recommendations to the next meeting for the Board to approve.
(See Supplemental Minutes).
Assistant Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Franz
Mr. Franz updated the board on the Bystander Behavior and Accountability Training which occurred on the most recent Superintendent’s Conference Days. He said all instructional staff participated in the first of two, two-hour training sessions. This training is in response to the racial zoom attack as well as provides staff with skillset necessary to intervene in real time when issues of bias or harassment occur. Mr. Franz reviewed the objectives of the session and said that Vera House will be providing the district with a pre-session and post-session evaluation to inform additional work. Lastly, Mr. Franz shared the next steps including sharing training materials with staff, debriefing with administrators and facilitators and preparing for session two, which is planned for the November Superintendent’s Conference Day. (See Supplemental Minutes for Presentation).
Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Smith
Dr. Smith also recognized the custodians and the technology team for their work in getting the school prepared for opening day and he also recognized the teachers for taking time out of their summer and Labor Day weekend to come in and get their classrooms ready. He said he appreciates this professionalism. He noted that there is a different level of energy than in the past couple of years and that people are upbeat and excited to be back to school.
Dr. Smith said that the start of school was generally smooth across all buildings. He said that there were typical challenges of opening school, including transportation bugs that need to be worked out. Some of these challenges occurred as result of the implementation of a new software system that will eventually make things much smoother for the transportation department. He also explained that the district print server, which is housed at BOCES is down and that this is affecting everyone across the district. The server is being rebuilt and is expected to be completed soon. Dr. Smith also explained some technology problems that the district has experienced in creating student and teacher accounts. He reassured the Board that the technology team is working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible while maintaining accuracy and security.
Dr. Smith noted that Mr. Gross and Mrs. DeForest accompanied him on a tour of the facilities and is happy to report that there have been significant improvements since the last tour. He said the district is prioritizing safety over beauty and that we are making sure that teachers have what they need. He said teachers have been incredibly patient and flexible. He said he has a meeting with the architects and managers later this week and he will continue to update the board on the progress.
Dr. Smith presented the 2022-2023 District Goals, asked for feedback and said they will be brought back to the next meeting for approval. He said all goals are based on the Strategic Plan. Goals include to address inequities in the district; data-based decision making; hiring plan (recruiting and retaining staff of color); and family and community engagement. In addition, Dr. Smith reviewed the 2021-22 school year accomplishments. (See Supplemental Minutes).
Committee Reports
Mr. Gross reported that community member, Ginny Murphy has once again agreed to be on the Audit Committee.
Mr. Mahunik provided his update on the Finance Committee as part of the Business Manager’s Report. Mrs. DeForest said the Committee spoke about setting parameters for negotiations.
Board President’s Report, Mrs. DeForest
Mrs. DeForest highlighted the Board retreat and thanked all for attending and traveling to the middle and high school to see the construction progress. She thanked administration for setting up and allowing the board the time to do this. Mrs. DeForest reported on Opening Day and said if you have the opportunity to attend this in the future, it is very inspirational to see the energy. She said she her opening day speech focused on gratitude as well as quotes from J-D graduates expressing thanks for teachers and staff for all they do to support students.
Lastly, Mrs. DeForest reminded the board of the upcoming NYSSBA Annual Conference and shared information about the Keynote Speaker, Marlee Matlin. Dr. Smith, Mr. Gross, Mrs. James Murad and Ms. DeForest all plan to attend. If any Board member is still interested in attending, please let Tish know.
Community Comment Time #2
There were no comments.
Unfinished and Continuing Business
There were none.
Dr. Smith reminded the Board that the next meeting is October 3rd, at the Middle School.
At 8:15 p.m., Mrs. Souser moved and Mr. Zoghby seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried (9-0-0).
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Mahunik
Interim Clerk of the Board