A regular meeting of the Glen Ridge Board of Education was held on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the LGI room at Glen Ridge High School.

 

The meeting was held in accordance with applicable NJ Statutes governing public Board of Education meetings.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence were observed.

Present:

Mr. Agnew              Ms. O’Connor

Mr. Cable                 Ms. Raskin

Ms. Eisen                 Ms. Schoenfeld

Ms. Henry                Ms. Ginsburg

Mr. Kobernick         

 

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

This is a scheduled meeting of the Glen Ridge Board of Education.  Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in that this Board notified the Glen Ridge Paper and the Star Ledger on May 2, 2007.  Said notice was published in the Glen Ridge Paper on May 10, 2007 and the Star Ledger on May 7, 2007.  The date, time, and location of this meeting were also emailed to all recipients of the annual schedule of the Board’s meetings.

 

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Peter R. Caprio, Business Administrator/Board Secretary

 

7:01-7:57 pm Executive Session - Room 108                      

                              Moved: Ms. Eisen                           Seconded:  Ms. Henry

WHEREAS, a matter to be considered by the Board of Education deals with personnel, negotiations and/or possible litigation, and

WHEREAS, public disclosure of this matter may be prejudicial to the public good,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this matter be considered in a meeting closed to the public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Minutes of this meeting be sealed until the matter is resolved.

 

Adjourn to closed session.

 

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

PUBLIC SESSION

 

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

TO

BOE

FROM

Mary Jane Roethlin

RE

Negotiations

 

Ms. Ginsburg mentioned the written communication from Mary Jane Roethlin, which was discussed in executive session as it concerned negotiations. Dr. Fishbein has also met with Mrs. Roethlin to discuss her concerns.

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Ms. Ginsburg presented a summary of the process leading to the passage of the new school funding formula.  While the final vote was still pending, Ms. Ginsburg told the audience that passage was almost assured, and explained some of the ramifications of the formula.  The Board will issue a full summary of those ramifications within the week.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Fishbein and Mr. Rota presented certificates to those high school students who participated in the ABC’s of Character and I-Mentors programs.

 

Dr. Fishbein reminded Board members to submit their comments on the “enrollment” study.  He also advised the Board that because of the revised and shortened budget calendar, it would be necessary to hold an extra Board meeting on February 11th.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS (Agenda Items)

None

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS (First meeting of the month only)

Curriculum Committee - Ms. Raskin reported on the committee’s discussion of the Glen Ridge High School National Honor Society’s admission requirements and process; the status of looping at the elementary level; Dr. Fishbein’s class size reduction report; and requirements for occupational, physical and speech therapies.

           

Personnel and Policy Committee - None

Negotiations Committee - Ms. Eisen reported that Mr. Bobinski, Ms. Kobylinski, Mr. Cable and Ms. Ginsburg met on December 27, 2007 and reached substantial agreement on many points.  Though there are still issues that must be worked out, the parties will continue to work together and are optimistic about the possibility of a timely settlement.  Given the progress made on December 27th, the parties agreed to cancel the mediation session scheduled for January 3, 2008.

 

Finance and Facilities Committee - None                                        

Ad Hoc Committee for Communication - Mr. Agnew reported that the next “Coffee and Conversation” will be held on Friday, January 18, 2008 from 8:30-10:00 am at the Glen Ridge Senior Community Center at the Train Station.  The Communications Committee has also discussed the glenridge.org website, which will now include Board of Education committee/liaison reports.

           

Ad Hoc Committee on Alternative Funding - None                         

Ad Hoc Committee for Property Tax Community Action Plan - None     

 

LIAISON REPORTS (First meeting of the month only)

Home & School Associations - None

Glen Ridge Association for Special Education (GRASE) - Ms. Raskin made an announcement about an upcoming series of public presentations by the Glen Ridge Student Services personnel.  More information about specific programs will be forthcoming.

 

Glen Ridge Educational Foundation (GREF) - Ms. Schoenfeld attended the December meeting, which included general discussion of fundraising goals and strategies.

 

Glen Ridge Athletic Association (GRAA) - None

Glen Ridge Arts Patrons Association (GRAPA) - None

Glen Ridge Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC) - Ms. O’Connor reported that the group held its year-end meeting, which was a recap of the year’s accomplishments.

 

PERSONNEL

P-1       Appointments

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Ms. Henry

            Approve the appointment of the following staff for the 2007-2008 school year and the application for emergent hiring, if applicable:

 

                           Staff                                    Assignment/Location              Effective Date/Salary*

Caroline Manguiat (leave replacement for Vivian Petrosino)

Guidance Counselor

Middle School Program

2/11/08 until Ms. Petrosino’s return

MA Step 1 $49,468 (pro-rated) upon completion of 20 consecutive days at substitute rate

Elizabeth Morrissey (new position)

Part-time Instructional Aide

Forest Avenue School

1/11/08 through 6/30/08

Aides Step 1

$13.63 per hour

Melissa Roden (leave replacement for Jody Hackmeyer)

English Teacher

Glen Ridge High School

1/15/08 until Ms. Hackmeyer’s return

BA Step 1 $44,477 (pro-rated) upon completion of 20 consecutive days at substitute rate and pending receipt of certification

Nicole Simone (new position)

Part-time Instructional Aide

Linden Avenue School

1/8/08 through 6/30/08

Aides Step 3

$14.06 per hour

Christine Sullo (leave replacement for Lisa Petruzzi)

1st Grade Teacher

Forest Avenue School

3/10/08 through 6/30/08

MA Step 6

$53,194 (pro-rated)

            *Salary adjustments will be made upon completion of negotiations.

 

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

P-2       Mentor     

 

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Ms. Henry

 

            Approve Paul Perna as a new teacher mentor for the 2007-2008 school year.

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

P-3       Revise Co-Curricular Stipend                       

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Ms. Henry

            Revise the co-curricular stipend for Caitlin Price as Freshman Class Advisor to .5 in the amount of $854.50*. (Stipend adjustment will be made upon completion of negotiations.)

 

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

P-4       Leave of Absence

 

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Ms. Henry

            Approve an unpaid childcare leave of absence to Lisa Petruzzi, 1st Grade Teacher at Forest Avenue School, for the 2008-2009 school year.  Ms. Petruzzi’s anticipated return is September 2009.

 

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

 

P-5       Substitutes

 

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Ms. Henry

 

Approve the addition of Vanessa Brown, Karen Cubera, Kerri Fuller, Miguel Ramos and Veronica Williams to the substitute list for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year and the application for emergent hiring, if applicable.

 

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

 

P-6       Home Instruction

 

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Ms. Henry

 

Approve Eric Wormer to provide home instruction services at a rate of $40 per hour for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

 

BUSINESS

B-1      Financial Reports

 

                              Moved:  Mr. Agnew                        Seconded:  Ms. Raskin

Approve the following financial report as recommended by the Finance Committee:

      

a.       Bills list through December 31, 2007 in the amount of $1,995,043.18

 

 

Agnew

 Cable

Eisen

Henry

Kobernick

O’Connor

Raskin

Schoenfeld

Ginsburg

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

B-2      Workshops/Conferences Approval

 

                              Moved:  Mr. Agnew                        Seconded:  Ms. Raskin

 

Approve the workshops/conferences and travel expenses for the following staff and/or Board members:

               

a.       Ann Banegas to attend the 2008 Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages being held at the Marriott Marquis in New York City from March 28-29, 2008 for a total cost of $173.40 ($150 registration plus $23.40 round trip bus travel).

 

b.       Donna Doria to attend the NJSSNA State Nursing Conference being held in Eatontown, NJ from March 14-15, 2008 for a total travel cost of $57.93.

 

c.       Duke Mendez to attend the 2008 NJAHPERD Annual Convention “Light the Way” being held at the East Brunswick Hilton in East Brunswick, NJ on February 26, 2008 for a total cost of $129.43 ($100 registration plus $29.43 travel).  

 

d.   Steve Reitberger to attend the 2008 NJAHPERD Annual Convention “Light the Way” being held at the East Brunswick Hilton in East Brunswick, NJ on February 25, 2008 for a total cost of $129.43 ($100 registration plus $29.43 travel).

 

e.   Alice Terry to attend the 40th Annual Conference on Reading and Writing being held at The Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, NJ on April 4, 2008 for a total cost of $226.67 ($195 registration plus $31.67 travel).

 

f.    Kim Waldron to attend the FEA Advisor Workshop being held at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ on January 30, 2008 for a total travel cost of $63.58.

 

g.   Erin Murphy to attend the NJSIAA/NJSCA Girls’ Lacrosse Coaches Clinic being held at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ on February 15, 2008 for a total cost of $85.52 ($70 registration plus $15.52 travel).

 

h.   Vivian Petrosino to attend a workshop entitled “Anxiety Disorders: Research, Diagnosis and Treatment” being held at the Holiday Inn in Saddle Brook, NJ on January 22, 2008 for a total cost of $170.50 ($159 registration plus $11.50 travel).

 

i.    Vivian Petrosino to attend a BER workshop entitled “Motivating the Unmotivated (Grades K-12)” being held at the Holiday Inn in Parsippany, NJ on January 15, 2008 for a total cost of $209.15 ($195 registration plus $14.15 travel).

 

j.    Cecelia Lynch to attend the AP History Conference being held at Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta, NJ on March 1, 2008 for a total cost of $187.49 ($150 registration plus $37.49 travel).

 

Agnew

 Cable