LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

DRAFT BOARD MEETING MINUTES

 

 

Date:                          October 9, 2008

 

Time:                         7:00 p.m.

 

Type of Meeting:    Regular

 

Place:                         Cafeteria

 

Members Present:  Jules Comeau, President

                                    Kimberly Miller

                                    Hillarie Logan-Dechene

                                    Donna Clark, Vice-President

                                    Hallie Bond

 

Others Present:      Kevin Crampton-Superintendent, Victoria Snide-Clerk of the Board, James Pine, Pete Klein, Tisha White, Michael Farrell, Camille Nerney, Brynn Speer, Hannah Lamos, Alex and Margaret Smith, Prudence Dechene, Emily Waters, Grace Lamos

                                   

Call to Order:  The President called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and followed with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Mr. Comeau recognized Michelle Hamdan for her years of service to the Board.  Mrs. Hamdan was not present to receive her plaque.

 

Changes to the published agenda were reviewed.

 

Board Actions:

 

Approved:  On Motion by Donna Clark, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, Minutes of the September 11, 2008 Regular Meeting and September 25, 2008 Work Session.

 

The next regular meeting will be Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.  The Board will have a work session meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2008 from 7-9 p.m. in the cafeteria.  This will be a public forum style meeting with a set agenda.  The October 23, 2008 agenda will be:  Long Range Planning Strategies.

 

  Approved:  On Motion by Kimberly Miller, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, the establishment of an ad hoc Future of the School Committee.  This committee will be an advisory committee to the Board.  It will consist of two board members and others who would like to join, such as:  parent, business member, faculty member, student, retired person, seasonal resident, member of town government.  Prospective members will be solicited to attend the October 23, 2008 Work Session Meeting.  Hallie Bond and Kimberly Miller volunteered to be the school board members on this committee.

 

The December board meeting needs to be changed to December 4, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria due to a conflict with the holiday concert.  The April board meeting will need to be adjusted at some point also due to a conflict with April break.

 

Public Participation:  Prudence Dechene, Margaret Smith and Emily Waters read a letter to the Board requesting a longer lunch period for grades 7-12 students.  A request for five additional minutes was made, and Ms. White, Guidance Counselor will research possibilities.

 

Michael Farrell stated he feels Bernier, Carr and Associates are perhaps proposing capital projects that don’t necessarily need to be done.  He asks the Board to be more critical of their proposals.

 

Camille Nerney spoke about the limited daytime fitness center hours.  Perhaps a capital project could install a separate entrance to the fitness center.  Mrs. Nerney also asked about the status of the installed but not yet functioning security system.

 

Approved:  On Motion by Hillarie Logan-Dechene, seconded by Kimberly Miller, with all in favor, the August 2008 Treasurer’s Reports.

 

Warrant #5 was reviewed.

 

The official NYS Comptrollers Audit of Internal Controls over Information Technology has been received, and is on-line.  The Board has 90 days to prepare our corrective action plan.

 

Comprehensive Budget and Revenue Status Reports for the General, Lunch, Capital, and Federal Fund were reviewed.

 

The school has currently received approximately $1.2 million in tax collections for this school year.

 

Approved:  On Motion by Donna Clark, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, the Budget Planning Dates for the 2009-2010 school year budget.

 

Genevieve Boyd attended a NYS Department of Health Immunization Program.

 

Ms. Hallie Bond and Mr. Jim Pine spoke regarding their CFES (College for Every Student) conference.  They planned college visits with other school districts, and Mr. Pine presented their CFES plan for the 2008-2009 school year.  The plan included community service opportunities, mentoring, leadership skills and relationships with other school districts.

 

Mr. Crampton announced that our teachers will join Newcomb, Minerva, Johnsburg and Indian Lake schools for our Superintendent’s Conference Day on October 10, 2008.  Assessments, grading and data review will be the topics.

 

Mr. Jules Comeau attended a NYS School Boards Leadership Conference and was very pleased with the program.

 

Mr. Crampton attended the Superintendent’s Fall Conference in Saratoga.  He felt all presenters had the same message – be conservative due to economic times.

 

Approved:  On Motion by Hillarie Logan-Dechene, seconded by Kimberly Miller, with all in favor, a Grade 11/12 Low Impact Camping Course to be taught by David Olbert.  The Board would like information on trips when planned.

 

Approved:  On Motion by Donna Clark, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, Jacqueline Hornstein as a substitute teacher, pending fingerprint clearance.

 

Approved:  On Motion by Donna Clark, seconded by Hillarie Logan-Dechene, the senior class to plan their class trip to either Jamaica or California within the budget allowed as either location is acceptable.  The vote was 3-2, with Jules Comeau and Kimberly Miller voting no.

 

The Science Olympiad discussion was tabled until Duane Finch could be present to answer questions.

 

Approved:  On Motion by Hallie Bond, seconded by Donna Clark, with all in favor, the overnight field trip from November 20-23, 2008 in Lake Placid for the Northeast Instrumental Music Festival.

 

The Board discussed the possibility of contracting with CVES BOCES for Negotiation Services for instructional and non-instructional personnel.  The Board will consider the contract.

 

 Mr. Crampton asked the Board if they were interested in him pursuing health insurance quotes from insurance broker Rowlands & Barranca Agency, Inc.  The Board felt if the company wanted to issue some real numbers, they would look at them.

 

Ms. Tisha White is working with the PTSA in the planning of a Career Fair.

 

There has been a request to increase Fitness Center hours to the public in the morning.  Mr. Crampton will see if there are conflicts with Dave Olbert, Physical Education teacher, and see if staffing coverage can be found.

 

Mr. Crampton noted the reason the security system is not working yet is due to a problem installing the automatic buzz-in feature on such an old door.  He will contact the vendor for resolution.

 

Visitors to the school must sign in, receive a visitor pass and sign out when leaving.  Kimberly Miller asked about a policy regarding visiting graduated students.  The visiting students must not interfere with the educational program.  Mr. Crampton will formulate a procedure for visiting students.

 

Our computer servers will begin to be installed Friday, October 17, 2008 by NERIC.  With the new servers, and new e-mail accounts, the Board was asked if they would like Long Lake Central School e-mail accounts.  The Board felt it was best to have a Board Clerk e-mail account.  It could be checked regularly by the Board Clerk, with a reply that the information would be shared with the Board at their next meeting.

 

A thank you letter was received from Gregg Wallace regarding the use of our bus and bus driver for the recent open house held at the Schiffman property.

A thank you letter was also received from Alex Smith for the funds given to him to attend the St. Lawrence University Young Writers Conference.

 

There will be a NYS School Board Association meeting at Crickets in Peru on November 6, 2008.  Kevin Crampton and Jules Comeau will attend.

 

There will be a Franklin-Essex-Hamilton School Boards Association meeting at Paul Smith’s College on October 21, 2008.  Jules Comeau is attending at our BOCES expense.  Hillarie Logan-Dechene will attend on behalf of the school.

 

Approved:  On Motion by Donna Clark, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor, to support Newcomb Central School District on the following NYSSBA resolution proposal:

 

            Resolved, that the New York State School Boards Association support the right of public school districts to have the same access to F-1 visa, tuition paying students that currently only private schools have, authorizing districts that so choose to allow such students to stay in the district for their entire secondary school experience.

 

Mr. Crampton tabled the Senior Trip policy reading until next month.

 

The second reading of Policy #4110-#4420, and #6110-6551 was held.  Policy #4310j should read – He/she shall be responsible for recommendations:  to hire, to evaluate, to promote, and to dismiss all professional and non-professional staff personnel.

 

The first reading of Policy #8110-8470 was held. 

Policy #8110 under Curriculum Resources should read – There are many resources for curriculum development that exist in our School District and beyond….

Policy #8120 – Mr. Crampton will check to see if instead of A New Compact for Learning, the policy should read No Child Left Behind Act.  

Policy #8211, 2nd paragraph – Do we have a representative community advisory group?  Is this group mandated?  Take out the word “most appropriate.  Mr. Crampton will speak to Erie 1 BOCES regarding these wording changes.

#8240 Adult Education – Remove first two sentences regarding minimum numbers.

 

Public Participation:  Camille Nerney stated she has some good information on chaperone training from other schools and will e-mail it to board members.  She believes it should be in our policy manual.  She also stated that the operation of the new security system appears to be very difficult with our setup and appropriate staff should be consulted in operation of it. 

 

James Pine stated he remembers our security system salesman stating that our older entrance door would be no problem for the operation of the security system.  Mr. Pine believes we should become an invested member in the True North group of school districts so that we can help develop professional opportunities.  He stated he was proud of the 8th grade class for their independent proposal regarding the short lunch periods and hopes the Board acknowledges them in writing.

 

Mr. Crampton noted the School of Distinction award and trophy received last week.

 

Mr. Crampton received a request from a home school parent to use a classroom for certain lessons to teach the children.  Our policy does not allow this.

 

The Board is agreeable to the request from PTSA to research Donkey Basketball as a fundraiser.

 

Motion to go into Executive session by Jules Comeau, seconded by Hallie Bond, with all in favor at 9:33 p.m.  Items to be discussed: Negotiations.

 

Motion to come out of Executive session by Hillarie Logan-Dechene, seconded by Donna Clark, with all in favor at 9:44 p.m. 

 

Adjournment:  On Motion by Hillarie Logan-Dechene, seconded by Donna Clark,  with all in favor, the Board adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

 

                                                            Clerk of the Board

 

 

 

                                                            Victoria J. Snide