October 21, 2020 Board of Education Minutes - Cohoes City School District

Board of Education Business Meeting

Cohoes, New York
October 21, 2020, 6:00 PM
Live Streamed per Governor’s Executive Order 202.67

(The Board of Education may entertain a motion to enter into an executive session subject to Board approval.)

Minutes

I. The Meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. by the Board President, Mr. Nolin.

ROLL CALL:

Present:

Mrs. Giller
Mr. Pascale
Mr. Jackson
Mrs. Dion
Mrs. Carey
Mr. Annely
Mr. Nolin

Also Present:

Ms. Peggy O’Shea, Acting Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Stacy Mackey, School Business Official

II. DISTRICT REPORTS

Board Appreciation presented by Harmony Hill Elementary School
Budget Update

III. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS

Questions were asked and answered.

IV. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS

V. OLD BUSINESS

VI.REPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

THAT the Board of Education accepts the Minutes of the Board of Education Meeting of October 14, 2020.
THAT the Board of Education approves the Independent Auditor’s Report dated June 30, 2020 as prepared by the firm of Marvin & Company, Certified Public Accountants, and the Corrective Action Plan thereto as prepared by the School Business Official.
THAT the Board of Education approves the FY2019 and FY2020 Financial Risk Assessment performed by Michael Wolff Advisory Services and the Corrective Action Plan to assist the Cohoes City School District in complying with the regulations imposed by the 2005 School Financial Oversight and Accountability Legislation.

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL

INSTRUCTIONAL

THAT the Board of Education amends Item VII (H) of the July 29, 2020 Minutes (Harmony Hill Elementary School only) to read as follows:
THAT the Board of Education appoints the following individuals to the Building Leadership Teams listed below for the 20202-21 school year:
- HARMONY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  - ~~Kim Rooney~~ Mary Beth Cepiel
  - Stacy Smith
  - Christine Guarnieri
  - Sharon Laughlin
  - ~~Raychel Marcil~~ Tracy Nash
  - Kate Lamica
  - Mark Perry
THAT the Board of Education amends Item VII (C) of the August 12, 2020 Minutes to read as follows:
THAT the Board of Education approves the following student teacher placements from the following school (unpaid):

THE COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE
September 8, 2020-~~October 23, 2020~~ October 8, 2020
Kati Abel with Amanda Dorr at Van Schaick Grade School
September 8, 2020-October 23, 2020
Sydney Wolfe with Jackie Skidmore at Abram Lansing Elementary School
Amelia Jones with Danielle Ziobrowski at Harmony Hill Elementary School
Mary Evers with Alison Craver at Abram Lansing Elementary School
Molly Biittig with Richetta Hansen at Abram Lansing Elementary School
~~Lauren Wolfe with Kira Merrills at Van Schaick Grade School (UPK)~~

October 26, 2020-December 11, 2020
Dimple Permaul with Sharon Laughlin at Harmony Hill Elementary School
Mary Evers with Brianna Houle at Harmony Hill Elementary School
THAT the Board of Education approves a salary increase due to additional teaching assignments for the following individual for the 2020-2021 school year:
Erin Abbott – 0.05 FTE as per CTA contract – Art (1.05 FTE total) VSGS
Effective: September 14, 2020 through June 30, 2021
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District appoints the following individual to the Long-Term Substitute Teacher list on an emergency conditional basis.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this appointment is made on an emergency conditional basis and subject to both a statement from the individual regarding criminal conviction(s) or pending criminal charges and the receipt of criminal background clearance from the Commissioner of Education. The individual’s continued employment is specifically contingent upon the District’s receipt of notice from the Commissioner of Education that she is fully cleared for employment:

Jessica Ruckert
Position …………………………………………………………….. Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Tenure Area ………………………………………………………………………………….. Elementary
Effective Date ………………………….. September 25, 2020 through November 27, 2020
Salary ………………………………………………………….. Step 1 of the current CTA contract
Reason… …………………………………………………………….. replaces Kayleigh Pappalardi

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL
THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation for retirement purposes of Kevin Langlais from his position of Custodian.
Effective: January 4, 2021
THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation of Melanie Dozois from her position of Cleaner.
Effective: November 3, 2020

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – BUSINESS/FINANCE

IX. FINANCIAL REPORTS (Recommended by the Superintendent)

I recommend that the following reports be accepted by the Board of Education:
- Warrants – September 2020
- Budget Transfer – June, July August & September 2020
- Budget Status Reports – June, July August & September 2020
- Bank Reconciliation Report – June, July August & September 2020
- Extracurricular Activity Report – July, August & September 2020
- Internal Claims Audit Report – N/A

BOARD ACTION ON CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the October 21, 2020 Agenda:
VI (A-C); VII (A-F) and IX (A)

Moved by: Mr. Annely
Seconded by: Mr. Pascale
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried 7-0

X. INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION

THAT the Board of Education is aware of the following donation from Hudson River Community Credit Union in the amount of $500 to be used for the Cohoes City School District Laptop Procurement Project.
THAT the Board of Education is aware of the following donation from Hannaford in the amount $549 to be used for Cohoes Middle School’s PBIS.

XI. COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

The Board expressed their gratitude on behalf of the students for the donation on tonight’s agenda.

XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE

The questions/comments that were sent to the Board were addressed.

XIII. BOARD POLICY REVIEW

XIV. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

November 4, 2020, Live Streamed at 6:00 p.m.
November 18, 2020, Live Streamed at 6:00 p.m.

MOTION: THAT the Board of Education enters into Executive Session at 6:57 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining with the CTA.

Moved by: Mrs. Carey
Seconded by: Mrs. Dion
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried 7-0

EXECUTIVE SESSION: TIME: 7:06 PM

Present:

Mrs. Giller
Mr. Pascale
Mr. Jackson
Mrs. Dion
Mrs. Carey
Mr. Annely
Mr. Nolin

Also Present:

Ms. Peggy O’Shea, Acting Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Stacy Mackey, School Business Official

DISCUSSION

XV. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: To adjourn at 8:00 p.m.

Moved by: Mr. Nolin
Seconded by: Mrs. Giller
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried 7-0