April 10 Business Meeting Mintutes - Cohoes City School District

Cohoes City School District

Board of Education Business Meeting
April 10, 2024
Cohoes Middle School Library, 6 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. Carey at 6:06 pm

ROLL CALL

Present:

Mrs. Giller
Mr. Jackson
Mrs. Snyder ~ arrived at 6:17 pm
Mrs. Gendron
Mrs. Paradis
Mr. Jarosz
Mrs. Carey

Also Present:

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

II. DISTRICT REPORTS

Superintendent Reports – Mr. Martinelli updated the board on the New York State ELA testing which took place today in the elementary schools and the middle school. Grades 3,4 5, 7 and 8 took computer based testing and students in grade 6 took paper based tests. He reported that everything went smoothly.

Budget presentations – Ms. Mackey shared the proposed budget and reviewed the proposed revenues, tax levy and expenses and shared that there will be no capital outlay in next year’s budget. Ms. Mackey reviewed historical data for the tax levy and expects the increase to be less than $3.00 per month on a household worth $150,000.

Ms. O’Shea reminded the board that all funds from the American Rescue Plan need to be expended by September 30, 2024 and shared that as a district we were very mindful in our use of these funds. We limited staffing and began transferring certain positions into last year’s budget.

Ms. O’Shea then presented staffing and programs included in the proposed budget in comparison to items requested during the needs assessment process. She also shared additional items that could potentially be funded through grant opportunities or efficiencies (i.e. changes in scheduling). Ms. O’Shea asked the board if the three categories on the slides were easy to follow to which the board agreed. Mrs. Giller asked if the potential grants vs efficiencies grants could be indicated on future slides. Ms. O’Shea indicated that this would work well.

Ms. Mackey provided the next steps in the budget process- the Budget and Property Tax report card will be on the April 24th board meeting agenda, the Public Hearing is scheduled to take place on May 8th and the Budget Vote and Election will take place on May 21st.

Business Update – Ms. Mackey reminded the board that the Audit committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, April 16 and as soon as she receives the report from Michael Wolff, Auditor she will pass it along to the committee members. Ms. Mackey reminded the board that the budget and property tax report card would be on the next board meeting agenda. She discussed the reserve recommendations and the long range financial plan would be updated
and shared with the board in May or June.

III. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS

Mrs. Paradis inquired as to the selection process for awarding the contracts for the RFPs on tonight’s agenda. Ms. Mackey explained that there are three (3) components used to determine the awarding of the best contract; experience (school specific), staff qualifications and cost.

IV. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS – None

V. OLD BUSINESS

Mrs. Giller asked if we could canvass students to determine their interests in an attempt to increase club participation. Ms. O’Shea replied that we could survey the secondary students in the near future.

VI. REPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

A. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board accepts the Minutes of the Board of Education meeting of March 27, 2024.

B. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education adopts the following policies:
Policy 9260 – Conditional Appointment and Emergency Conditional
Appointment – Student Safety Policy.
Policy 9320 – Drug Free Workplace

C. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves Amendment # 1 of the TK Elevator for the Cohoes City School District Capital Project – Phase 2 in accordance with the terms and conditions herein.

D. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves the Agreement between the Cohoes City School District and Ambient Environmental, Inc., located at 828 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12303 for Air Monitoring Services in accordance with the terms and conditions herein for 2022 Capital Project – Phase 2 for the following buildings;

Abram Lansing School – SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-002-018
Harmony Hill School – SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-010-011
Van Schaick Grade School – SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-005-018
Cohoes Middle School – SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-001-023
Cohoes High School – SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-006-024

E. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves the Agreement between the Cohoes City School District and Appel Osborne Landscape Architecture located at 102 W. Division Street, Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13204 for Storm Water Pollution Protection Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions herein for 2022 Capital Project – Phase 2 for the following buildings;

F. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves the Agreement between the Cohoes City School District and Mechanical Testing, Inc., located at 4 Chelsea Place, Suite 102, Clifton Park, NY 12065 for Fundamental Commissioning in accordance with the terms and conditions herein for 2022 Capital Project – Phase 2 for the following buildings;

G. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves the Agreement between the Cohoes City School District and Terracon Consultants, NY, Inc., located at 30 Corporate Circle, Suite 201, Albany, NY 12203 for Special Inspection Services in accordance with the terms and conditions herein for 2022.

Capital Project – Phase 2 for the following buildings;

Abram Lansing School SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-002-018
Harmony Hill School SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-010-011
Van Schaick Grade School SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-005-018
Cohoes Middle School SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-001-023
Cohoes High School SED Control No 01-05-00-01-0-006-024

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL

Instructional

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

Cahill, Margaret
Chou, Lee-Hua
Connelly, Carol
Dworkin, Jonah
Eson Roe, Lena
Wang, Wayne
Warner, Michael

Effective: April 11, 2024

B. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approve the following Social Work intern placements from the following school:

State University of New York at Albany
2024-2025 academic year

Sophia Nicastro with Angela Tommasini at Cohoes High School
Jalyn Cox-Cooper with Elaine Flatow at Cohoes Middle School

C. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District appoint Kaitlyn Kidder to a four – year probationary term in the tenure area of Mathematics, effective September 1, 2024 and expiring on August 31, 2028. Ms. Kidder holds Initial Certification in the area Mathematics 7-12.

Kaitlyn Kidder

Position: 1.0 FTE Mathematics Teacher (CHS)
Certification: Mathematics 7-12
Tenure Area: Mathematics
Effective Date: September 1, 2024
Tenure Date: August 31, 2028
Salary: Step 1 of the current CTA contract

Non-Instructional

ADDENDA

VI. REPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

H. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education hereby approves a Memorandum of Agreement between the Cohoes City School District and the CSEA, Local 1000 AFSCE, AFL-CIO dated April 10, 2024 in accordance with the terms and conditions herein.

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL

D. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby creates a part-time (.5 FTE), 10-month Parent Liaison position effective immediately at a salary of $18,773 (prorated for the 2023-2024 school year); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board recognizes the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, for the City of Cohoes School District Unit of the Albany County Local 801 as the exclusive representative for the part-time Parent Liaison position.

Brittney Moore

Position: 0.5 FTE 10-month Parent Liaison
Effective Date: April 8, 2024
Salary: $18,773 (prorated) (grant-funded)

MOTION TO REMOVE ITEMS VI (D-G) FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA:

Moved by: Mr. Jarosz
Second by: Mrs. Gendron
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried: 7-0

DESIGNATION OF CONSENT AGENDA: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the March 27, 2024 agenda;

VI (A-C and H), VII (A-D) and X (A)

Moved by: Mrs. Snyder
Second by: Mrs. Giller
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried: 7-0

MOTION TO APPROVES ITEM VI (D-G):

Moved by: Mrs. Snyder
Second by: Mrs. Gendron
Voted “Aye”
Mrs. Giller
Mr. Jackson
Mrs. Snyder
Mrs. Gendron
Mr. Jarosz
Mrs. Carey
Abstain: Mrs. Paradis
Motion carried 6-0

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 –N/A

X. INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION

A. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education accepts the donations from the Stewarts Holiday Match program for the following;

$924.00 to Abram Lansing School to be used for a field trip to Cohoes Bowling Alley
$800.00 to Harmony Hill School to be used for Geodes Decodable books
$850.00 to Van Schaick Grade School to be used for headphones
$800.00 to Cohoes Middle School to be used for Mosa Mack Jr., Science software
$800.00 to Cohoes High School to be used for Advanced Placement (AP)
financial aid

XI. COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

Mrs. Carey on behalf of the board expressed gratitude for the generous donations from Stewarts Holiday Match program. Mrs. Giller asked if materials and supplies we have saved for use in the field areas could be moved out of sight so our audience can see clearly into the fields. Mrs. Paradis asked about the trucks and flatbeds near the fields.

Ms. O’Shea responded that the truck and rock salt had been relocated as of today and she would discuss the other items including the flatbed with Mr. Stapleton, Director of Facilities.

Mrs. Giller reminded everyone that anyone interested in running for the school board should pick up petitions from the district clerk and petitions are due by 5 pm on May 1, 2024.

XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE – None

XIII. BOARD POLICY REVIEW

Second Reading
9260 – Conditional Appointment and Emergency Conditional Appointment – Student Safety Policy
9320 – Drug-Free Workplace

XIV. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

April 16, 2024 – Audit Committee Meeting – Page Avenue at 5:30 PM
April 27, 2024 – Cohoes Middle School Library at 6 PM
May 8, 2024 – Cohoes Middle School Library at 6 PM

XV. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: To adjourn at 7:10 pm

Moved by: Mr. Jarosz
Second by: Mrs. Gendron
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried: 7-0