CLINTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING 

Secondary Media Center
August 17, 2021
5:30pm

Agenda Annotation by Dr. Steve Grimm - in maroon text

 Please note that our agendas are available only online - there will no longer be paper copies available at the meeting. 

Board of Education Principles of Governance

General Expectations of the Board of Education 

What does the School Board Do?

New York State School Boards Association Fact Sheet to find out why our strategic school board members are an essential part of our community 

 Note that we are now in person for our meetings and we will be in the High School/Middle School Media Center located at the end of the hallway in the Administrative Office entrance.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. READING OF THE MISSION STATEMENT

Clinton Central School proudly educates and empowers all students to realize their potential in becoming thoughtful, empathetic and contributing members of a global society.

4. PUBLIC TO BE HEARD

The Board encourages public participation on school related matters at Board meetings.  To allow for this, a period of not more than 30 minutes shall be set aside at each Board meeting.  Speakers shall limit their comments to no more than 5 minutes.  The Board will not permit, in public session, discussion involving District personnel or students.  All speakers are to conduct themselves in a civil manner.  Questions and comments from the public concerning matters which are not on the agenda will be taken under consideration and referred to the Superintendent for appropriate action.  If the Board considers a topic extraordinary and requires a discussion taking longer than 30 minutes, the Board will consider designating a separate forum dedicated to that topic.

The Board Meeting is a meeting held in public, not a public meeting.  While this is an opportunity to speak directly to the Board of Education, please do not expect reciprocal dialogue with the board members or superintendent at the meeting.  If you would like such dialogue, please contact the superintendent. 

5. INFORMATION-REPORTS-PROPOSAL/SUPERINTENDENT & STAFF

A. Bright Spots

There will be a few bright spots that I will mention.  There will not be administrator building level bright spots at this meeting.

B. Superintendent’s Report

- Opening of School

I will give an update on the process and plans for reopening school this year consistent with the messages I have already sent to Clinton School Families which can be found near the bottom of our front page of the website.

- September 11 Memorial

I have been working with the September 11th Memorial Committee to plan activities for Saturday, September 11th to commemorate the 20th anniversay of September 11, 2001.

- DCIP and SCEP Update

These acronyms stand for District Comprehensive Improvement Plan and School Comprehensive Education Plan, which are part of the Targeted School for Improvement (TSI) process that the middle school is going through.  The SCEP needs to be approved by the Board later in this meeting in order to submit it to the state.  The DCIP does not need to be approved by the board, but it needs to be submitted to the state by the end of the month.  Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mrs. VanSlyke and I will be discussing the process and the recommended plan.  Here is a link to a snapshot of the plan as of 8.12.21 - SCEP 8.12.21     SCEP 8.17.21

6. STANDING RESOLUTIONS (CONSENT AGENDA)

The items in this section consist mostly of financial items and special education matters that are received on a regular basis, and can be acted upon in a single motion.

Approval of the following items:

A. Agenda and Any Additions to the Agenda for August 17, 2021                     

B. Minutes from the Reorganizational and Regular Meeting held on July 6 , 2021   Draft Minutes for 07/06/21

C. Summary Treasurer’s Report for June 2021  Summary Treasurer's Report

D. Treasurer’s Report for June 2021   Treasurer's Report

E. Extra-classroom Treasurer’s Report for June 2021  Extra-classroom Treasurer's Report for June 2021

F. Extra-classroom Treasurer’s report for July 2021  Extra-classroom Treasurer's Report for July 2021

G. Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee on Special Education (CSE) Report:  (Exhibit #6)

H. Updated List of Substitute and Supervisory Personnel   (Exhibit #7)

7. NEW BUSINESS

A. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approve the following tax collection resolution:

RESOLUTION

To the collectors of the Clinton Central School District, Towns of Kirkland, Paris, Westmoreland, Marshall, Whitestown, New Hartford, Vernon, County of Oneida, New York State:

You are hereby commanded:

1. To give notice and start collection on September 1, 2021, in accordance with the provision of Section 1322 of the Real Property Tax Law.

2. To give notice that tax collection will end on September 30, 2021 without penalty and October 31, 2021 with penalty.

3. To collect taxes in the total sum of $15,997,529 in the same manner that collectors are authorized to collect town and county taxes in accordance with the provisions of Section 1318 of the Real Property Tax Law.

4. To make no changes or alterations in the tax warrant or the attached tax rolls but shall return the same to the Board of Education.  The Board may recall its warrant and tax roll for correction of errors or omission in accordance with the provision of Section 1316 of the Real Property Tax Law.

5. To forward by mail to each owner of real property listed on the tax rolls within ten days after the start of collection statement of taxes due on property on tax bill forms provided by the School District in accordance with the provisions of Section 922 of the Real Property Tax Law.  To forward by mail, without interest penalties, to the office of the county treasurer a detailed tax bill of all state land parcels liable for taxes on the school tax rolls in accordance with provisions of Section 540 and 544 of the Real Property Tax Law.

6.To receive from each of the taxable corporations and natural persons, the sum listed on the attached tax rolls without interest penalties when such sums are paid before the end of the first month of the tax collection period.  To add two percent interest penalties (5 percent for Whitestown and New Hartford) to all taxes collected during the second month of the tax collection.

7. To promptly return the warrant at its expiration and if any taxes on the attached tax rolls shall be unpaid at that time, deliver an accounting thereof on forms showing by town the total tax levy, the total amounts collected and total amounts remaining uncollected as required by Section 1330 of the Real Property Tax Law.

The warrant is issued pursuant to Sections 910, 912 and 914 of the Real Property Tax Law and is delivered in accordance with Sections 1306 and 1318 of this law.  It is effective immediately after it is properly signed by a majority of the members of the Board of Education.  The warrant shall expire on the date stated unless a renewal or extension has been endorsed on the face of this warrant in writing in accordance with Section 308, subdivision 2 of the Real Property Tax Law.

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has been authorized by the voters at the Budget Referendum of May18, 2021, to raise for the current budget of 2021-2022 a sum not to exceed $29,147,253.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education fixes the equalized tax rates by towns and confirm the extension of the taxes as they appear on the attached described tax roll.

AND BE IT HEREBY DIRECTED, that the tax warrant of this Board of Education, duly signed, shall be affixed to the attached described tax rolls authorizing the collection of said taxes to begin September 1, 2021 and end October 31, 2021, giving the tax warrant an effective period of 60 days for the Towns of Kirkland, Westmoreland, Paris, Marshall, Vernon, New Hartford and Whitestown, at the expiration of which time the tax collectors shall make an accounting in writing to the Board of Education.

AND IT IS FURTHER DIRECTED, that the delinquent tax penalties shall be fixed as follows:

First month free period, Second month interest of 2 percent added (5 percent for Whitestown and New Hartford).  Tax Levy                                                                               

(Roll call vote, signatures)    

This is where we actually set the tax levy.  The number we projected during the budget vote are now solidified in this resolution officially.

B. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that, in accordance with Policy #5152 (Admission of Non-Resident Students) and Part 174 of the Commissioner’s Regulations, tuition rates for the 2021-2022 school year be set as follows:  Tuition Rate                                                                                                                   

Grades 7-12: $9,536       

While we do not allow tuition students (one left from being grandfathered nearly ten years ago when policy changed); however, this number is used sometimes when working with other school districts.
                                                                                      

C. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, in accordance with Board Policy #6150, the attached 2020-2021 line item budget transfers, be approved.   Budget Transfers

These transfers allow us to balance the books appropriately.

D.  BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the agreement between Upstate Cerebral Palsy and the Clinton Central School District to provide educational services for district students enrolled in the Tradewinds Education Center for the 2021-2022 school year, be approved.   Tradewinds Agreement

The contract that articulates our agreement.

E. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the agreement between the Clinton Youth Foundation and the Clinton Central School District regarding the operation of the Jack Boynton Pool, effective August 17, 2021 through December 31, 2026, be approved.    Clinton Youth Foundation Agreement

I presented this at the meeting last month and this is on the agenda for approval.  The agreement articulates more specifically the relationship between the district and the Clinton Youth Foundation.

F.  BE IT RESOLVED, that the following tax bill revisions be approved:  Tax Revision                                                                                                            
Resident, tax map #337.014-3-14 RF, a decrease of $731.28. 

From time to time, taxpayer bills are revised due to a variety of reasons.

8. OTHER

A. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the 2021-2022 School Comprehensive Education Plan required to be submitted to the NYS Department of Education, as related to the Targeted School for Improvement process for the Middle School, be approved.   Proposed SCEP  8.17.21 Official Proposed SCEP

There is a presentation on this plan earlier in this meeting.

9. PUBLIC TO BE HEARD

The Board Meeting is a meeting held in public, not a public meeting.  While this is an opportunity to speak directly to the Board of Education, please do not expect reciprocal dialogue with the board members or superintendent at the meeting.  If you would like such dialogue, please contact the superintendent. 

10. PERSONNEL        

Due to the large number of items in this agenda item and the need to spend sufficient time on our workshop agenda, I recommend that you condense the items below into an single approval for all items.  If you have questions on any of these, board members can ask questions using our normal board member questions process.  If written answers are not sufficient, the board can hold an executive session for futher discussion before action, or items could be removed as well.

A. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Amanda Wirene to the four year probationary tenure track position of elementary teacher at Step 10MA, in accordance with the current CTA agreement, effective September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2025,  except to the extent required by the applicable provisions of Education Law § 3014, in order to be granted tenure, the appointee must receive composite of overall annual professional performance review ratings pursuant to Education Law § 3012-c or § 3012-d of either effective or highly effective in at least three of the four preceding years, and if the appointee receives an ineffective composite or overall rating in the final year of the probationary period she shall not be eligible for tenure at that time, be approved.  (Exhibit #15)     

We found an outstanding candidate to join our elementary school after we created an addition section to reduce grade 2 class size after analysis of academic needs due to the pandemic.  One of our grade 5 teachers transfered to the grade 2 so Ms. Wirene will be assigned to the 5th grade.

B. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the resignation of Tina Bolos from the position of aide for the Clinton Central School District, contingent upon her appointment to the position of teacher assistant, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, effective August 31, 2021, be accepted.   (Exhibit #16)

See the next item.

C. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Tina Bolos to the four year probationary tenure track position of Teacher Assistant at (.45) Step 1BA, in accordance with the current CTA agreement, effective September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2025,  except to the extent required by the applicable provisions of Education Law § 3014, in order to be granted tenure, the appointee must receive composite of overall annual professional performance review ratings pursuant to Education Law § 3012-c or § 3012-d of either effective or highly effective in at least three of the four preceding years, and if the appointee receives an ineffective composite or overall rating in the final year of the probationary period she shall not be eligible for tenure at that time, be approved.  (Exhibit #17)

She is taking the place of a teaching assistant who resigned at the end of last school year.

D. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the resignation of Sarah Lomanto from the position of aide for the Clinton Central School District, contingent upon her appointment to the position of teacher assistant, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, effective August 31, 2021, be accepted.  (Exhibit #18)

See the next item.

E. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Sarah Lomanto to the four year probationary tenure track position of Teacher Assistant at (.55) Step 1BA, in accordance with the current CTA agreement, effective September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2025,  except to the extent required by the applicable provisions of Education Law § 3014, in order to be granted tenure, the appointee must receive composite of overall annual professional performance review ratings pursuant to Education Law § 3012-c or § 3012-d of either effective or highly effective in at least three of the four preceding years, and if the appointee receives an ineffective composite or overall rating in the final year of the probationary period she shall not be eligible for tenure at that time, be approved.  (Exhibit #19)

She will be assigned to the new special education self contained class that was created at the end of the school year in anticipation of the higher number of self contained students entering our school system in kindergarten.  We are also in the process of hiring the corresponding teacher.

F. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the resignation of Alicia Lusby from the position of aide for the Clinton Central School District, contingent upon her appointment to the position of teacher assistant, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, effective August 31, 2021, be accepted.  (Exhibit #20)

See below, but also note that we are not refilling this aide position.

G. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Alicia Lusby to the four year probationary tenure track position of Teacher Assistant at (.45) Step 1BA, in accordance with the current CTA agreement, effective September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2025,  except to the extent required by the applicable provisions of Education Law § 3014, in order to be granted tenure, the appointee must receive composite of overall annual professional performance review ratings pursuant to Education Law § 3012-c or § 3012-d of either effective or highly effective in at least three of the four preceding years, and if the appointee receives an ineffective composite or overall rating in the final year of the probationary period she shall not be eligible for tenure at that time, be approved.  (Exhibit #21)

We are assigning her to a new position that will assist students in the middle school related to reading primarily.

H. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Michelle Covel to the part time civil service position of school monitor, to be compensated at Step 2, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, beginning September 1, 2021, with a probationary period of 8 to 26 weeks, be approved.  (Exhibit #22)

We need more monitors to supervise lunch and recreation in the elementary school.

I. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Dolores Bach to the part time civil service position of school monitor, to be compensated at Step 1, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, beginning September 1, 2021 through June 24, 2022, with a probationary period of 8 to 26 weeks, be approved.   (Exhibit #23)

We need more monitors to supervise lunch and recreation in the elementary school.

J. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Christine Sheldrick to the part time civil service position of school monitor, to be compensated at Step 1, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, beginning September 1, 2021 through June 24, 2022, with a probationary period of 8 to 26 weeks, be approved.  (Exhibit #24)

We need more monitors to supervise lunch and recreation in the elementary school.

K. BE IT RESOLVED that the resignation of James Longo from the position of Groundskeeper/cleaner, contingent upon his appointment to the position of Cleaner/bus driver, effective August 17, 2021, be accepted.  (Exhibit #25)

See below.

L. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of James Longo to the position of Cleaner/bus driver, to be compensated at an annual salary of $37,402.83, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, with a probationary period of 8 to 26 weeks, effective August 18, 2021, be approved.  (Exhibit #26)                         

We know he will continue to an excellent job for us in this new position.

M. BE IT RESOLVED that the resignation of Eric Mosher from the position of Custodian, contingent upon his appointment to the position of Groundskeeper/cleaner, effective August 17, 2021, be accepted.  (Exhibit #27)

See below.

N. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Eric Mosher to the position of Groundskeeper/cleaner, to be compensated at an annual salary of $40,000, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, with  probationary period of 8 to 26 weeks, effective August 18, 2021, be approved.  (Exhibit #28)                                                                    

He will be moving his dedication to our schools and community to cover both the outside and inside.

O. BE IT RESOLVED that the unpaid family care leave of absence for Tayler Clark, secondary science teacher, beginning on or about November 19, 2021 through June 30, 2022, in accordance with the current CTA agreement, be approved.  (Exhibit #29)

We are in the process of finding a long term substitute and otherwise building a system of support for students.

P. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the resignation with intent to retire of Susan Karam, special education teacher, in accordance with the current CTA agreement and the attached Memorandum of Agreement, after 29 years of service at CCS, effective August 31, 2021, be accepted with regret.  (Exhibit #30)

We will miss her and her dedication to our students and school.

Q. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the resignation of Alisa Capponi from the position of aide, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, effective July 30, 2021, be accepted with regret. (Exhibit #31) 

We will miss her and her dedication to our students and school.

R. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the following coaching appointments for the 2021-2022 school year, pending team formation, to be compensated in accordance with Article 14 of the CTA contract or other agreements/understandings between the District and CTA, be approved.   (Exhibit #32)

S. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the adjusted FTE for the following Instructional Leaders for the 2021-2022 school year be approved:

The 8th grade has decided to share the position at a different ratio.   

T. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Jennifer M. Ryan to the full time civil service position of cleaner, to be compensated at Step 2, in accordance with the current CSEA agreement, with a probationary period of 8 to 26 weeks, effective August 18, 2021, pending fingerprint clearance, be approved.  (Exhibit #33)

Filling a vacant position.

U. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the appointment of Jill Huggins to the position of long-term substitute teacher in the special education tenure area, at Step 1MA, beginning on or about September 1, 2021 through November 30, 2021, be approved.  (Exhibit #34)

Ms. Huggins has withdrawn her application for personal reasons.

V. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, five summer work days for Michael King, to perform additional duties as Coordinator of Athletics and Communication, to be compensated at a daily rate of $297.50, be approved.  

Part of the contract of the athletic director includes 100 hours of work during the summer for this 10 month position.  After analyzing the needs related to this position, I have determined that it is necessary to compensate him for an additional 5 days beyond the 100 hours in order to be prepared for the fall sports season which starts on August 23rd.      

W. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby appoints Denise Wolanin to serve in a limited term, non-probationary or tenure appointment as licensed teaching assistant for the 2021-2022 school year, to be compensated at (.55) Step 5BA in accordance with the current CTA agreement, beginning September 1, 2021 and ending no later than June 24, 2022 and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the terms of the signed waiver agreement by and between Denise Wolanin, the District and the Clinton Teachers Association, stipulating and confirming that such individuals are not being appointed to probationary positions as a licensed teaching assistant.    (Exhibit #35)

This is an additional one year temporary position funded by federal stimulus money that will assist students in the elementary school for academic intervention services (WINN).  We make this recommendation after studying the assessment data at the elementary school which identified the number of students below grade level at each grade level.         

X. BE IT RESOLVED that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the following Instructional Leader be appointed for the 2021-2022 school year with a stipend in the amount of $2000:

Amy Randall     K-5 ELA Building Level Instructional Leader
     
We found someone for K-5 ELA.                                 

11. BOARD OF EDUCATION WORKSHOP

A. Discussion of District Goals for 2021-2022  

The Board of Education will discuss district goals.  Supporting materials can be found in this link - Workshop Folder 8.17.21

12. QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

13. EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ADJOURNMENT

We may be returning for a potential action item and the workshop after the executive session.

Information Regarding Executive Sessions

The Board of Education may hold executive sessions at which only the members of the Board or persons invited by the Board shall be present. However, the executive session is only available for the purpose of discussion, and except as the law allows, formal action must be taken in an open session.

Executive sessions can be requested by any member of the Board or the Superintendent of Schools.

A Board member must make a motion during an open meeting to convene in executive session.  Upon a majority vote of its members, the Board may convene in executive session at a place which the Board President or said members may designate within the District to discuss the subjects enumerated below. 

Matters which may be considered in executive session are:

-matters which will imperil the public safety if disclosed;
-any matter which may disclose the identity of a law enforcement agent or informer;
-information relating to current or future investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense which would imperil effective law enforcement if disclosed;
-discussions regarding proposed, pending or current litigation;
-collective negotiations pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law(the Taylor Law);
-the medical, financial, credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation;
-the preparation, grading or administration of examinations; and
-the proposed acquisition, sale, or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition of securities, or sale or exchange of securities, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value thereof