Cohoes City School District > February 15 Business Meeting Minutes

February 15 Business Meeting Minutes

Cohoes City School District
Board of Education Business Meeting
Cohoes, New York, February 15, 2023
Library, Cohoes Middle School, 6:00pm

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

MINUTES

The meeting was called to order at 5:19pm by Board Vice President Mrs. Carey.

ROLL CALL

Present:         

  • Mrs. Carey
  • Mr. Jackson
  • Mrs. Snyder
  • Mrs. Gendron
  • Mrs. Paradis
  • Mr. Nadeau – arrived at 5:25 pm
  • Mrs. Giller – excused

Also Present: 

  • Ms. O’Shea, Superintendent
  • Mr. Martinelli, Assistant Superintendent

MOTION: THAT the Board of Education enters into Executive Session at 5:20 pm to discuss a legal matter.

  • Moved by: Mrs. Gendron
  • Seconded by: Mrs. Paradis
  • All voted “Aye”
  • Motion carried: ­­­­­­5-0

EXECUTIVE SESSION: 

Present:

  • Mrs. Carey
  • Mr. Jackson
  • Mrs. Snyder
  • Mrs. Gendron
  • Mrs. Paradis
  • Mr. Nadeau
  • Mrs. Giller – excused

Also Present: 

  • Ms. O’Shea, Superintendent
  • Mr. Martinelli, Assistant Superintendent
  • Ms. Erin Morris, School District Attorney

DISCUSSION

MOTION: To adjourn Executive Session and re-enter Open Session at 6:06 pm

OPEN SESSION:  6:06pm

ROLL CALL

Present:         

  • Mrs. Carey
  • Mr. Jackson
  • Mrs. Snyder
  • Mrs. Gendron
  • Mrs. Paradis – excused
  • Mr. Nadeau
  • Mrs. Giller – excused

Also Present:

  • Ms. Peggy O’Shea, Superintendent of Schools
  • Mr. Dan Martinelli, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services
  • Mrs. Stacy Mackey, School Business Official

DISTRICT REPORTS

Assemblymember John McDonald presented Executive Budget highlights.

Budget Presentations:

Elementary principals Mrs. DeChiaro, Mr. Bird and Mr. Perry shared highlights from their buildings’ recent needs assessments, anticipated enrollment reports for the 23-24 school year and needs for next school year that could potentially have budget impact. Mr. Martinelli discussed the increase in enrollment in our students who are English Language Learners.

Property Tax Cap:

School Business Official Stacy Mackey shared the tax cap calculation and preliminary revenue summary with three different scenarios based on 0%, 1% & 1.6% Tax Levy increases.

Superintendent Update – Ms. O’Shea

Statewide Education Evaluation System – Mr. Martinelli provided an overview of our teacher evaluation system and shared that he has been meeting with the APPR Subcommittee to revise the current APPR plan. Submission of this plan is due March 1st. Ms. O’Shea thanked the committee and Mr. Martinelli for the all of the hard work that went into this process.

A. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS

Mrs. Carey on behalf of the Board thanked the Elementary Principals’ for their dedication and thoughtful presentations.

B. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS – None

C. OLD BUSINESS – None

D. REPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

A. THAT the Board of Education accepts the Minutes of the Board of Education Meeting of February 1, 2023.

B. THAT the Board of Education accept the Minutes for the Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Pre-School Special Education for the following dates: 10/3/22, 11/18/22, 11/21/22. 11/22/22, 12/6/22, 12/9/22, 12/15/22, 12/20/22, 12/21/22, 1/4/23, 1/5/23, 1/9/23, 1/11/23, 1/12/23, 1/17/23, 1/18/23, 1/20/23, 1/26/23, 1/27/23, 1/30/23, 2/3/23, 2/5/23

C. THAT Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby ratifies the appointment of Impartial Hearing Officer Randy Glasser, Esq. to hear the matter involving Student # 17478630. Impartial Hearing Officer Randy Glasser, Esq. was appointed by an authorized Board Designee on February 1, 2023 in accordance with Part 200 of the Commissioner’s Regulations.

D. THAT the Board of Education appoints the following as Election Inspectors and/or Substitutes for the May 16, 2023 School Board Election and Budget Vote to be compensated in the amount of $100.00 each.

Farrigan, Sheila                                                          Parron, Cathy

Graca, Linda                                                               Freedman, Eileen

Sponable, Carol                                                          Ryan, Virginia

Palmer, Sean                                                               Love, Kathleen

Brown, Pamela                                                           Dickson, Shaketa

Langford, Jean                                                             Frank, Gary

Flavin, Lori                                                                    Pieck-Gillson, Kristen

Hawk, Michele                                                             Frainier, Michelle

Sanders, Debra                                                           McCrea, John

Carpenter, Alice                                                         Madiadia, Marianne

Merendino, Frances

 

E.  THAT the Board of Education adopts the 2023-2024 School Calendar.

F.  THAT the Board of Education approves the contract for dental health insurance between the Cohoes City School District and Delta Dental of New York Inc., located at One Delta Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024 at the following rates:

Individual                    $ 46.85/Month
Family                           $120.93/Month

G. THAT the Board of Education approves the Corrective Action Plan for the Child Nutrition Review conducted on January 25, 2023

H. THAT the Board of Education hereby approves the abolishment of the following policy:

8530 Meal Charge Policy

I.  THAT the Board of Education approves the recently reviewed policies (without any revisions):

1420 Complaints about Curricula or Instructional Materials

8505 Charging School Meals

J. THAT the Board of Education hereby denies the appeals of two (2) Cohoes students as it relates to the discipline imposed by the Superintendent of Schools.

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL

Instructional

A. THAT the Board of Education amend item VII (S) of the September 21, 2022 Agenda to read as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District appoints Kyle McFarland to a four-year three-year probationary term in the tenure area of Secondary Principal effective October 3, 2022 and expiring on October 2, 2026 October 2, 2025.  Mr. McFarland holds Professional Certification in the areas of School District Leader and School Building Leader, and Permanent Certification in the areas of Biology – General Science 7-12 and Chemistry 7-12.

 Kyle McFarland

  • Position: Principal (CMS)
  • Certification: School District Leader
  • Tenure Area: Secondary Principal
  • Effective Date: October 3, 2022
  • Tenure Date: October 2, 2026 October 2, 2025
  • Salary: $114,647

B. THAT the Board of Education amend item VII (D) of the November 2, 2022    Agenda to read as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District appoints Michelle Michaud to a four – year three-year probationary term in the tenure area of Special Education, effective December 5, 2022 and expiring on December 4, 2026 December 4, 2025.  Ms. Michaud holds Professional Certification in the areas of Childhood Education (grades 1-6) and Students With Disabilities (Grades 1-6).

Michelle Michaud

  • Position: 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher (HH)
  • Certification: Students With Disabilities (Grades 1-6)
  • Tenure Area: Special Education
  • Effective Date: December 5, 2022
  • Tenure Date: December 4, 2026 December 4, 2025
  • Salary: Step 10 of the current CTA contract (grant-funded)

C. THAT the Board of Education appoints the following individuals to the Substitute Teacher and Tutor list:

  • Dunmire, Samuel
  • Greene Matthew
  • Sepp, Sarah
  • Theadore, Rebecca

Effective:  February 16, 2023

Non-Instructional

D. THAT the Board of Education accepts the termination of probationary employment of Rochelle Pringle from her position as Teacher Aide (VS).

Effective:  February 8, 2023

E. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Michael Santiago to the position of Custodian, subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission on a conditional basis; such appointment is a provisional appointment.

Michael Santiago

  • Position: Custodian (Provisional) (CHS)
  • Effective Date: February 27, 2023
  • Salary: Per current CSEA contract

F. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Tamara Messier to the position of full time Cleaner, subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission, such appointment is a probationary appointment.

Tamara Messier

  • Position: 1.0 FTE Cleaner (AL)
  • Effective Date: February 16, 2023
  • Probation Period: August 16, 2023
  • Salary: Entry-level per current CSEA contract

G. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Jonathan Schoenfeld to the position of full time Teacher Aide, subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission, such appointment is a probationary appointment.

Jonathan Schoenfeld

  • Position: .0 FTE Teacher Aide (VS)
  • Effective Date: February 10, 2023
  • Probation Period: October 26, 2023
  • Salary: Entry-level per current CSEA contract

DESIGNATION OF CONSENT AGENDA: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the February 15, 2023 Agenda:

VI (A-J), VII (A-G) and IX (A)

  • Moved by: Mrs. Snyder
  • Second by: Mrs. Gendron
  • All voted “Aye”
  • Motion carried 5-0

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – BUSINESS/FINANCE

IX. FINANCIAL REPORTS (Recommended by the Superintendent)

A.  I recommend that the following reports be accepted by the Board of Education:

  • Warrants-January 2023
  • Budget Transfers- January 2023
  • Budget Status Report – January 2023
  • Revenue Status Report – January 2023
  • Bank Reconciliation Report- January 2023
  • Internal Claims Audit Report- N/A

X.  INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION – None

XI. COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

Ms. O’Shea congratulated the Boys Bowling Team who will compete in the State Championships in Syracuse on March 12th.

XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE -None

XIII.  BOARD POLICY REVIEW

XIV.   DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

March 1, 2023, Library, CMS at 6 PM
March 15, 2023, Library, CMS at 6 PM

XV.  ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:  To adjourn at 7:24 pm

  • Moved by: Mrs. Gendron
  • Second by: Mr. Nadeau
  • All voted “Aye”
  • Motion carried 5-0
Preparing our students for success in tomorrow’s world.

This website is maintained by the Cohoes City School District Communications Office. It is the goal of the Cohoes City School District that this website is accessible to all users. View our accessibility statement. The district is not responsible for facts or opinions contained on any linked site. Some links and features on this site require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Visit the Adobe website to download the free Acrobat Reader. This website was produced by Capital Region BOCES Engagement & Development Services, Albany, NY. Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.