March 16 Business Meeting Minutes

Board of Education Business Meeting
Cohoes, New York
March 16, 2022
LGI Room, CHS, 6pm

(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 by the President, Mrs. Giller at 6:03pm

ROLL CALL

Present:

  • Mrs. Carey
  • Mr. Pascale
  • Mr. Jackson
  • Mrs. Dion
  • Mr. Annely
  • Mrs. Snyder
  • Mrs. Giller

Also Present:

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

II.  DISTRICT REPORTS

  • State Budget Update – Assembly Member John T. McDonald, III
  • Capital Project Update – CS Arch
  • Budget Presentations – Special Education (Ms. Erin Hill, Ms. Karen Ronesi), Facilities, (Mr. Jim Stapleton) and Information Technology (Mr. Sylvi Joseph).

III. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS – None

IV. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS – None

V. OLD BUSINESS – None

VI. REPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

A. THAT the Board of Education accepts the Minutes of the Board of Education Meeting of March 2, 2022.

B. THAT the Board of Education accepts the Minutes of the Committee on Special Education for the following dates: 12/1/21, 12/16/21, 1/13/22, 1/18/22, 1/24/22, 1/27/22, 2/3/22, 2/7/22, 2/8/22, 2/10/22, 2/11/22, 2/15/22, 2/17/22, 2/18/22, 3/3/22, 3/8/22.

C. THAT the Board of Education approves a contract with Johnson Controls located at 1399 Crescent Vischer Ferry Road, Halfmoon, New York, 12065 in accordance with the terms and conditions outlined herein for the period of April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.

D. THAT the Board of Education approved a contract with LaSalle School at 391 Western Avenue, Albany, New York for special education services during the period of September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at a rate of $45,140 per student subject to final rate approval by NYSED.

E. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby approves the cross contract between the Cohoes City School District and the Madison-Oneida BOCES for the provision of SysCLOUD for the 2022-2023 school year and authorizes the payment of $4,560.05, herein.

F.  BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby approves the cross contract between the Cohoes City School District and the Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES for the provision of Regional Recruitment/On-line Application System for the 2022-2023 school year and authorizes the payment of $3,908 dollars herein.

G. THAT the Board of Education approves the following fully depreciated items to be removed from the fixed asset inventory for surplus:

Ultima Laminator – asset tag # 20090380

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL

INSTRUCTIONAL

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

  • Murielle Smith
  • Mitchell Stern
  • Samantha Stern
  • Nikola Tomic
  • Michael Zitolo
  • Abby Crouse
  • Ava Fasolino
  • James Goodwill-Rogers
  • Kristen Dinkels

Effective:  March 17, 2022

B.  BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby approves the appointment of Rebecca LaForest to a Teacher on Special Assignment (“TOSA”) position for the 2021-22 school year, specifically referenced as the Career Education Coordinator position, and approves the amendments to the agreement relating to the same. While in this assignment as a TOSA, Rebecca LaForest shall be in the Industrial Arts tenure area and all time spent as a full time employee in the position of Career Education Coordinator shall be credited as time in the Industrial Arts tenure area.  This resolution shall supersede any and all resolutions previously authorized appointing Ms. LaForest to this position.

C.  THAT the Board of Education appoint the following teacher as Teacher Leader to the subject area listed for the 2021-2022 school year:

Teresa Gendron – Physical Education
Effective:  March 17, 2022

D. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby accepts the recommendation of the Superintendent to appoint Katherine Flynn to a four (4) year probationary appointment as a teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages in the English to Speakers of Other Languages tenure area, commencing on April 4, 2022 and ending April 3, 2026, contingent upon compliance with the requirements of the Education Law and receipt of her initial certificate as a English to Speakers of Other Languages teacher.

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL

E. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Isabelle DeChiaro to the position of 0.5 FTE Parent Liaison, subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission on a conditional basis; such appointment is a temporary appointment.

Isabelle DeChiaro

  • Position: 0.5 FTE Parent Liaison (Temporary)
  • Effective Date: March 14, 2022 through June 30, 2022
  • Salary: entry level per current CSEA contract

F. THAT the Board of Education amend item VII (G) of the March 2, 2022 Minutes to read as follows:

THAT the Board of Education establishes the following rates of pay for the following positions for the 2021-22 school year: effective March 3, 2022 through June 30, 2022

Part-Time Safety Officers

Years of service = 1 through 5: per hour $20.00
Years of service = 6 plus: $23.00

G. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Samuel Wessels to the position of Building Maintenance Mechanic, subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission on a conditional basis; such appointment is a provisional appointment.

Samuel Wessels

  • Position: Building Maintenance Mechanic (Provisional)
  • Effective Date: .March 21, 2022
  • Salary: entry level per current CSEA contract

H. THAT the Board of Education appoint the following individuals as advisors to the clubs and activities listed for the 2021-2022 school year, contingent upon acceptable program enrollment:

Clubs and Activities

UNIFIED SPORTS (ADVISOR) (CHS) – Meg Brownell,  FTE 1.0
UNIFIED SPORTS (COACH) (CHS) – Morgan Blizinski, FTE 1.0

I. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, hereby appoints Sondra Rondeau to a four (4) year probationary appointment to the positions of t teacher of Health and Physical Education in the Health and Physical Education tenure areas, respectively, effective April 25, 2022 through April 24, 2026. Provided she continues as a full time employee, working at least 40% of her time in both the Health and Physical Education tenure areas, she will accrue seniority in both areas and will be eligible for tenure in both areas effective April 24, 2026. However, time in both areas is not guaranteed and Ms. Rondeau’s annual assignment can be in one or both tenure areas, at the sole discretion of the District.

Sondra Rondeau

  • Position: (50 FTE Health Teacher/.50 FTE) Physical Education Teacher
  • Certifications: Health &Physical Education
  • Tenure Areas: Health & Physical Education
  • Effective Date: April 25, 2022
  • Tenure Date: April 24, 2026
  • Salary: Step 10 of the current CTA contract

J. THAT the Board of Education amend Item VII (D) of the March 2, 2022 Minutes to read as follows:

Aaron Boudreau

  • Position: 0.2 FTE Physical Education
  • Certification: Physical Education
  • Effective Date: February 10, 2022 through March 31, 2022 April 14, 2022
  • Salary: Step 5 of the current CTA contract

K. THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation of Cynthia Peltier from her position as Teacher Aide (HH).

Effective: March 25, 2022

DESIGNATION OF CONSENT AGENDA: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the March 16, 2022 Business Agenda:

VI (A-G) AND VII (A-K) and IX (A)

  • Moved by:  Mr. Pascale
  • Second by: Mr. Annely
  • 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 – February 2022
  • Budget Transfers – February 2022
  • Budget Status Report – February 2022
  • Revenue Status Report – February 2022
  • Bank Reconciliation Report – February 2022
  • Internal Claims Audit Report – January 2022

X.  INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION – None

XI.  COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

On behalf of the Board, Mrs. Giller expressed her gratitude and excitement to see the return of Unified Sports.

XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE – None

VIII. BOARD POLICY REVIEW

XIV. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

Special Meeting – March 23, 2022, LGI Room, CHS & Livestreamed at 6pm

April 13, 2022, LGI Room, CHS & Livestreamed at 6pm
April 27, 2022, LGI Room, CHS & Livestreamed at 6pm

MOTION: To enter into Executive Session at 8:19pm to discuss the evaluation of Superintendent O’Shea.

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

XV.  ADJOURNMENT

MOTION:  To adjourn at 8:50pm

  • Moved by: Mrs. Carey
  • Second by: Mr. Annely
  • All voted “Aye”
  • Motion carried 7-0
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.