September 23, 2020 Board of Education Minutes

Board of Education Business Meeting

Cohoes, New York
September 23, 2020, 6:00 PM
Live Streamed per Governor’s Executive Order 202.60

(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 at 6:05 p.m. by Board President, Mr. Nolin.

ROLL CALL

Present:

Mrs. Giller
Mr. Pascale (arrived at 6:13 p.m.)
Mr. Jackson
Mrs. Dion
Mrs. Carey
Mr. Annely
Mr. Nolin

Also Present:

Dr. Jennifer Spring, Superintendent
Ms. Peggy O’Shea, Assistant Superintendent for Education Services
Mrs. Stacy Mackey, School Business Official

II. DISTRICT REPORTS

Reopening & Budget Updates

III. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS

A question was asked regarding Item VI (C) and was answered by Dr. Spring/Mrs. Mackey.

IV. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS

V. OLD BUSINESS

VI. REPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

THAT the Board of Education accepts the Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings of September 9, 2020 and September 16, 2020.
THAT the Board of Education accepts the Minutes of the Committee on Special Education for the following meeting dates: 5/29/20, 7/29/20, 8/28/20, 9/1/20, 9/7/20, 9/9/20, 9/10/20, 9/14/20, 9/16/20 and 9/17/20.
THAT the Cohoes City School District Board of Education authorizes the following resolution to participate in the Erie 1 BOCES Agreement with Google G Suite for Education:
This Education Law 2-d Opt-In (“Opt-In”) is executed and entered into as of the date of execution specified below (“Effective Date”) by the school district identified below (“District”). The existing agreement with Erie 1 BOCES and Google will expire on June 30, 2023.
WHEREAS, Google LLC (“Vendor”), a corporation having its principal offices at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, provides certain services to the District pursuant to certain contractual arrangements and Vendor Terms of Service (“TOS”) entered into between District and Vendor; and
WHEREAS, the State of New York has enacted New York Education Law 2-d; and
WHEREAS, Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services (“Erie 1 BOCES”), a municipal corporation organized and existing under the Education Law of the State of New York having its principal offices at 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, NY 14224, has entered into an EDUCATION LAW 2-d Agreement (“Agreement”) in order to address and give binding effect to the terms of New York Education Law 2-d and Section 1.8 of which Agreement provides that school districts can become party to the Agreement by executing a written Opt-In to do so; and
WHEREAS, District wishes to become party to the Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, District attests and agrees as follows:
1. District has evaluated its needs with respect to New York Education Law 2-d and wishes to become subject to the terms of the Agreement.
2. District hereby formally notifies Erie 1 BOCES and confirms that it is opting into the Agreement in accordance with Section 1.8 thereof.
3. By executing this Opt-In, District agrees to be bound by and to comply with the terms of the Agreement.

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL

INSTRUCTIONAL

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District appoints the following individual to the Long-Term Substitute Teacher list on an emergency conditional basis.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this appointment is made on an emergency conditional basis and subject to both a statement from the individual regarding criminal conviction(s) or pending criminal charges and the receipt of criminal background clearance from the Commissioner of Education. The individual’s continued employment is specifically contingent upon the District’s receipt of notice, from the Commissioner of Education, that she is fully cleared for employment.

Suzette Santana
Position …………………………………………………………….. Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Tenure Area ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Spanish
Effective Date ………………………….. September 28, 2020 through November 17, 2020
Salary ………………………………………………………….. Step 1 of the current CTA contract
Reason ………………………………………………………………………….. Replaces Alicia Ozols

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL
THAT the Board of Education approves the Memorandum of Agreement by and between the Cohoes City School District and the Cohoes Principals’ Association for the purpose of “Teacher on Special Assignment,” dated September 23, 2020.
BE IT RESOLVED that Jeffrey Huneau shall be assigned, as a Teacher on Special Assignment (“TOSA”), to the part-time (.4 FTE) Dean of Students for the 2020-2021 school year, and shall additionally be assigned as a part-time (.6 FTE) Athletic Director for the Cohoes City School District for the 2020-2021 school year. While in this assignment as a TOSA, Mr. Huneau shall remain the Elementary tenure area and all time spent as a full time employee, in the positions of Dean of Students and Athletic Director, shall be credited as time in the Elementary tenure area.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the part-time (.6 FTE) Athletic Director stipended position shall be a twelve (12) month position and Mr. Huneau shall be paid a stipend of $12,000 for the 2020-2021 school year.
THAT the Board of Education amends Item VII (K) of the August 26, 2020 Minutes to read as follows:
THAT the Board of Education appoints the following individuals as Part-Time Teacher Aides for the 2020-21 school year.
- VAN SCHAICK GRADE SCHOOL
  - Stacy Clement
  - Caitlin Bellenoit
  - Maureen Finnen
  - ~~Evelyn Wagner~~
  - Isabelle DeChiaro (substitute)
- ABRAM LANSING ELEMENTARY
  - Kathy Baez
  - Meri Baez
  - Lisa Buck
  - Kayla Donovan
  - Sheila Farrigan
  - Bernadette Glynn
  - Crystal Kelly
  - Rebecca Perry
  - Pat Spain
  - Kaeli Waldron
- HARMONY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  - Gail Friedman
  - Erica Brown
  - Riane Flanigan-Clairmont
  - MaryBeth Galarneau
  - Lori LaMere
  - Carol Gaudette
  - Cathy Rogowski
  - Kathy Valente
  - Meriam VanSleet
  - Brigid Waddell
  - Brian Wallingford
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby provisionally appoints Kevin Clas to the position of Part-Time School Safety Officer subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission on an emergency conditional basis, in accordance with the Civil Service Rules, such appointment is a temporary appointment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this appointment is made on an emergency conditional basis and subject to both a statement from Mr. Clas regarding criminal conviction(s) or pending criminal charges and the receipt of criminal background clearance from the Commissioner of Education. His continued employment is specifically contingent upon the District’s receipt of notice from the Commissioner of Education that he is fully cleared for employment.

Kevin Clas
Position ………………………………………..Part-Time School Safety Officer (Provisional)
Effective Date ………………………………………… October 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021
Salary …………………………………………………………………………………………. $17 per hour
Reason ……………………………………………………………………………… BOE newly created
William Smith
Position ……………………………………………………………………… Part-Time Teacher Aide
Effective Date ………………………………….. September 24, 2020 through June 30, 2021
Salary …………………………………………………………………………………….. $12.50 per hour
Reason ……………………………………………………………………………………… Open position
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Kaysha Baez to the position of Part-Time Teacher Aide subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission on an emergency conditional basis, in accordance with the Civil Service Rules, such appointment is a temporary appointment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this appointment is made on an emergency conditional basis and subject to both a statement from Ms. Baez regarding criminal conviction(s) or pending criminal charges and the receipt of criminal background clearance from the Commissioner of Education. Her continued employment is specifically contingent upon the District’s receipt of notice from the Commissioner of Education that she is fully cleared for employment.

Kaysha Baez
Position ………………………………………………………………………. Part-Time Teacher Aide
Effective Date …………………………………… September 24, 2020 through June 30, 2021
Salary …………………………………………………………………………………….. $12.50 per hour
Reason ……………………………………………………………………………………… Open Position
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints Tamia Scott-Daniels to the position of Part-Time Teacher Aide subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission on an emergency conditional basis, in accordance with the Civil Service Rules, such appointment is a temporary appointment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this appointment is made on an emergency conditional basis and subject to both a statement from Ms. Scott-Daniels regarding criminal conviction(s) or pending criminal charges and the receipt of criminal background clearance from the Commissioner of Education. Her continued employment is specifically contingent upon the District’s receipt of notice from the Commissioner of Education that she is fully cleared for employment.

Tamia Scott-Daniels
Position ………………………………………………………………………. Part-Time Teacher Aide
Effective Date …………………………………… September 24, 2020 through June 30, 2021
Salary …………………………………………………………………………………….. $12.50 per hour
Reason ……………………………………………………………………… Replaces Evelyn Wagner

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – BUSINESS/FINANCE

IX. FINANCIAL REPORTS (Recommended by the Superintendent)

I recommend that the following reports be accepted by the Board of Education:
- Warrants – August 2020
- Budget Transfer – N/A
- Budget Status Reports – N/A
- Bank Reconciliation Report – N/A
- Extracurricular Activity Report – N/A
- Internal Claims Audit Report – N/A

BOARD ACTION ON CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the September 23, 2020 Agenda:
VI (A-C); VII (A-H) and IX (A)

Moved by: Mrs. Dion
Seconded by: Mr. Pascale
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried 7

X. INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION

THAT the Board of Education is aware of a donation in the amount of $717 from BSN Sports to be used to purchase a sports NFHS Pixellot Camera System.

XI. COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

The Board expressed their gratitude on behalf of the students for the donation on tonight’s agenda.

XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE

The questions/comments that were sent to the Board were addressed.

XIII. BOARD POLICY REVIEW

XIV. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

October 7, 2020, Live Streamed at 6:00 p.m.
October 21, 2020, Live Streamed at 6:00 p.m.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: To adjourn at 7:01 p.m.

Moved by: Mr. Annely
Seconded by: Mrs. Dion
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried 7-0