COHOES CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board of Education Business Meeting
Cohoes, New York
March 1, 2023
Library, Cohoes Middle School, 6:00 PM
(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 by the President, Mrs. Giller at 6:01p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present:
- Mrs. Carey
- Mr. Jackson
- Mrs. Snyder
- Mrs. Gendron
- Mrs. Paradis
- Mr. Nadeau
- Mrs. Giller
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
Budget Presentations
Secondary principals’ Mrs. Tarlo and Mr. McFarland shared positive highlights from their buildings’ recent needs assessments, enrollment projections and needs for 2023-2024 school year that could have budget impact. The athletic director, Mr. Huneau, shared current sport participation numbers, highlighted accomplishments including improvements to the weight room and branding. He also shared new classifications for the 2023-2024 school year.
Business Update – Ms. Mackey discussed the paving bid which will be on the next board meeting agenda. The work at Harmony Hill School will be done over April break. She also discussed the Children Nutrition Corrective Action plan and the Cafeteria Fund balance which has a deadline of March 9, 2023 to include equipment for Abram Lansing and Cohoes Middle School.
Ms. Mackey made the board aware that the meal modification statement would not need to be a policy and will be accepted as a procedure. She also discussed the final line item budget, which she is double checking and will share with the board next week.
Ms. Mackey also discussed the SMART Schools Bond Act. The district has been still waiting for a payment since last March. Once received we have a pending claim to submit. We will have to amend the plan for Public Announcement (P.A.) upgrades
A. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS
Ms. O’Shea congratulated Sheryl Motto on her upcoming retirement and thanked her for her many years of service. Ms. Mackey thanked Pam Cirincione for dedication to the district as Treasurer and wish her well in her retirement, saying, “Pam is a tremendous asset and will be truly missed.”
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 15, 2023.
B. THAT the Board of Education approves the Agreement dated February 14, 2023 between the Cohoes City School District and Gipper Media, Inc., 728 20th Street, Santa Monica, CA for the use and access to the Gipper Graphics Platform (pro bundle) in accordance with the terms and conditions herein (grant funded).
C. THAT the Board of Education approve the Agreement between the Cohoes City School District and Cogito Speech Therapy, PLLC, 33 Betwood Street, Albany NY 12209 for speech services from March 1, 2023 through June 23, 2023 in accordance with terms and conditions herein.
D. THAT the Board of Education approves an Agreement with St. Anne Institute at 160 N. Main Avenue, Albany, New York 12206 for special education services during the 2022-2023 school year at a tuition rate per student of $52,045 for the 10-month SY (September –June) and $8,674 for the 2-month ESY (July 2023 – August 2023) pending final NYSED rate setting.
E. THAT the Board of Education approves the 2022-2023 Cooperative Agreement with Hudson Valley Community College aimed at providing high school students with access to higher education in accordance to the terms and conditions herein
ADDENDA
F. THAT the Board of Education approves the Boys Bowling team overnight trip to participate in State Championships in Syracuse, NY on March 11, 2023 through March 12, 2023.
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL
INSTRUCTIONAL
A. THAT the Board of Education appoints the following individuals to the Substitute Teacher and Tutor list:
- Lester, Katrina
- Norton, Sophie
- Allocco, Lindsey
- Beattie, Kayleigh
- Fitzgerald, Madeline
- Hoffman, Andrew
- Karpowitz, Timothy
Effective: March 2, 2023
B. THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation for retirement purposes of Sheryl Motto from her position of Special Education Teacher (CHS)
Effective: September 29, 2023
C. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District appoints the following individual as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher.
Kelly Burtnick
- Position: Long-Term Substitute Elementary Teacher
- Tenure Area: Elementary
- Effective Date: May 4, 2023 through June 23, 2023
- Salary: Step 1 of the current CTA contract
D. THAT the Board of Education appoints the following individuals to the coaching positions listed below for the 2022-2023 school year, as per the CTA contract. Position is contingent upon acceptable program enrollment:
Co-Curricular Activity Name FTE
Track – Indoor, Girls Ashley Dolan 1.0
Track – Girls Varsity Ashley Dolan 1.0
Track – Boys Varsity Assistant Randy Jefferson 1.0
Baseball – Modified Mark Strock 1.0
Non-Instructional
E. THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation for retirement purposes of Pam Cirincione from her position of School District Treasurer
Effective: July 31, 2023
F. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Stefani Paquin to the position of full time Teacher Aide, subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission, such appointment is a probationary appointment.
Stefani Paquin
- Position: 1.0 FTE Teacher Aide (VS)
- Effective Date: March 1, 2023
- Probation Period: November 14, 2023
- Salary: Entry-level per current CSEA contract
DESIGNATION OF CONSENT AGENDA: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the March 1, 2023 Agenda:
VI (A-F), VII (A-E), IX (A) and X (A and B)
- Moved by: Mrs. Carey
- Second by: Mrs. Gendron
- All voted “Aye”
- Motion carried 7-0
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-N/A
- Budget Transfers-N/A
- Budget Status Report – N/A
- Revenue Status Report – N/A
- Bank Reconciliation Report- N/A
- Internal Claims Audit Report- January 2023
X. INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION
A. THAT the Board of Education accepts a donation in the amount of $16.00 from Reading for Education to be used for Cohoes Middle School PBIS.
B. THAT the Board of Education approves the following item to be removed from the fixed asset inventory for surplus:
Metal cabinet – inventory tag # 00064 – fully depreciated.
XI. COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS
Mrs. Giller commented on her recent attendance at a Neighborhood Watch meeting. Members of the Cohoes Police department were also in attendance and a discussion regarding the legalization of marijuana took place. Mrs. Giller inquired as to how the school district could assist the police department. Ms. O’Shea replied that we will be updating language in our Code of Conduct and will be meeting with principals and will share in the future.
Mrs. Giller inquired about grants in cooperation with the Cohoes Police department to which Ms. O’Shea replied, we are working with the BOCES grant writer and they should be releasing them shortly.
XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE – None
XIII. BOARD POLICY REVIEW -None
XIV. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
March 15, 2023, Cohoes Middle School Library
April 5, 2023 2023, Cohoes Middle School Library
XV. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: To enter into Executive Session at 7:28 p.m.
To discuss matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation; and to discuss CTA and CSEA negotiations and to discuss the evaluation of Superintendent O’Shea.
- Moved by: Mrs. Gendron
- Second by: Mr. Nadeau
- All voted “Aye”
- Motion carried 7-0
ROLL CALL
- Mrs. Carey
- Mr. Jackson
- Mrs. Snyder
- Mrs. Gendron
- Mrs. Paradis
- Mr. Nadeau
- Mrs. Giller
MOTION: To adjourn at 8:45 pm
- Moved by: Mrs. Carey
- Second by: Mrs. Gendron
- All voted “Aye”
- Motion carried 7-0