Cohoes City School District
Board of Education Reorganization Meeting
Cohoes, New York July 5, 2023
Library, Cohoes Middle School 6:00 PM
AGENDA
I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Evacuation procedure for emergency
C. Roll Call
II. ELECTION OF OFFICERS/OATHS OF OFFICE
A. President of the Board of Education
B. Vice-President of the Board of Education
III. APPOINTMENT OF THE DISTRICT CLERK
THAT the Board of Education appoints Mary Rumsey to the position of District Clerk/ Secretary to the School Board for the 2023-24 school year. Mrs. Rumsey shall be compensated $12,000 for the 2023-2024 school year.
– Oath of Faithful Performance in Office administered by Board President
IV. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS
V. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS
VI. ACTION ITEMS
A. APPOINTMENTS
1. THAT the Board of Education appoints Pamela Cirincione as Treasurer from July 1, 2023 through July 31, 2023.
2. THAT the Board of Education appoints Michael Cone as Deputy Treasurer from July 10, 2023 through July 31, 2023.
3. THAT the Board of Education appoints Michael Cone as Treasurer from August 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.
4. THAT the Board of Education appoints Stacy Mackey as Deputy Treasurer from August 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 at no additional compensation.
5. THAT the Board of Education appoints Pam Cirincione as Central Treasurer for Clubs and Activities from July 1, 2023 through July 31, 2023 at no additional compensation.
6. THAT the Board of Education appoints Michael Cone as Central Treasurer for Clubs and Activities from August 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 at no additional compensation.
7. THAT the Board of Education appoints Michael Cone as Tax Collector for the 2023-24 school year at a stipend of $2,500 per collection period.
8. THAT the Board of Education appoints John Doemel as Internal Claims Auditor for the 2023-24 school year at an hourly rate of $30 per hour.
9. THAT the Board of Education appoints Mary Rumsey as Records Access Officer for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
10. THAT the Board of Education appoints Mary Rumsey as Records
Management Officer for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
11. THAT the Board of Education appoints James Stapleton as School Pesticide Representative for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
12. THAT the Board of Education appoints Shelley Dame as Purchasing Agent for the 2023-24 school year.
13. THAT the Board of Education appoints Stacy Mackey as Deputy Purchasing Agent for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
14. THAT the Board of Education appoints Stacy Mackey as School Lunch Appeals Officer for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
15. THAT the Board of Education appoints the Superintendent of Schools as Record Access Appeals Officer for the 2023-24 school year for Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
16. THAT the Board of Education appoints Deanna Kelly as Medicaid Compliance Officer for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
17. THAT the Board of Education appoints Stacy Mackey and Dan Martinelli as Equal Opportunity (EO) Compliance Officers for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
18. THAT the Board of Education appoints James Stapleton as the Asbestos
(LEA) Designee for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
19. THAT the Board of Education appoints Deanna Kelly, Cliff Bird, Mark Perry and Jacqueline DeChiaro as the Dignity Act Coordinators for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
20. THAT the Board of Education appoints Stacy Mackey as Trustee to the New York State Public Schools Statewide Workers’ Compensation Trust for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
21. THAT the Board of Education appoints Peggy O’Shea as Alternate
Trustee to the New York State Public Schools Statewide Workers’; Compensation Trust for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
22. THAT the Board of Education appoints Stacy Mackey as Trustee and Peggy O’Shea as Alternate Trustee to the Capital Area Schools Health Insurance Consortium (CASHIC) for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
23. THAT the Board of Education appoints Erin Hill to the position of Section 504 Compliance Officer for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
24. THAT the Board of Education appoints Mayra Thomas as McKinney- Vento Parent Liaison for the 2023-24 school year.
25. THAT the Board of Education appoints Dan Martinelli as Data Protection Officer for the 2023-24 school year at no additional compensation.
26. THAT the Board of Education appoints Katrina Hunt as Chief Information Officer for the 2023-24 school year.
B. DESIGNATIONS
1. THAT the Board of Education designates JP Morgan Chase Bank, Key Bank and Bank of New York as the official banks of the District for the 2023-24 school year.
2. THAT the Board of Education designates the following dates for the regular monthly meetings of the Board of Education for the 2023-24 school year at 6:00 PM in the Cohoes Middle School Library
- July 5, 2023
- August 9 & 30, 2023
- September 13 & 27, 2023
- October 11 & 25, 2023
- November 8 & 29, 2023
- December 13, 2023
- January 10 & 31, 2024
- February 14 & 28, 2024
- March 13 & 27, 2024
- April 10 & 24, 2024
- May 1 & 15, 2024
- June 12, 2024
3. THAT the Board of Education designates the Times Union as the official newspaper of the District for the 2023-24 school year.
4. THAT the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to certify all payrolls in conformance with Section 170.2(b) of the Commissioner & Regulations for the 2023-24 school year.
5. THAT the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent of Schools, in conformance with Section 170.2(l) of the Commissioner’s Regulations to make transfers between and within functional unit appropriations for teacher’s salaries and ordinary contingent expenses for the 2023-24 school year.
6. THAT the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to approve conference requests as per the appropriations in the annual budget, in conformance with Section 77(B) of the General Municipal Law for the 2023-24 school year.
7. THAT the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to apply for all State and Federal Grants in Aid for the 2023-24 school year.
8. THAT the Board of Education authorizes the establishment of one (1) petty cash fund for the 2023-24 school year as follows:
Location Amount Responsible Party
District Office $100 School District Treasurer
9. THAT the Board of Education authorizes the use of the magnetic media
signature of the Treasurer on District checks for the 2023-24 school year
as per Education Law 2523. In the event of the Treasurer & absence or
inability, the Board authorizes the use of the magnetic media signature of
the Deputy Treasurer on District checks for the 2023-24 school year.
10. THAT the Board of Education designates R.G. Timbs Advisory Group
with offices at 24 Sherman Oaks Drive, New Hartford, New York for
long-range financial planning services and capital project planning for the
2023-24 school year.
11. THAT the Board of Education designates the law firm of Hiscock Barclay,
LLP with offices at 50 Beaver St., Albany, NY 12207 as bond counsel to
the School District for the 2023-24 school year.
12. THAT the Board of Education designates the law firm of Girvin &
Ferlazzo, PC as legal and labor relations counsel for the School District
for the 2023-24 school year in accordance to the terms and conditions
outlined in the Agreement.
13. THAT the Board of Education designates the firm of Marvin & Company
CPA, PC to perform the 2023-24 external audit.
14. THAT the Board of Education designates the Utica National as the
property & casualty insurance carrier for Cohoes City School District for
the 2023-24 school year.
15. THAT the Board of Education designates Capital Area Schools Health
Insurance Consortium (CASHIC) as the health and prescription drug
insurances provider for Cohoes City School District for the 2023-24
school year.
16. THAT the Board of Education designates New York State Insurance Fund
(NYSIF) as the disability carrier for Cohoes City School District for the
2023-24 school year.
17. THAT the Board of Education designates Axis as the student accident
insurance carrier for Cohoes City School District for the 2023-24 school
year.
18. THAT the Board of Education designates New York State Public Schools
Statewide Workers’ Compensation Trust as the workers’ compensation
administrator for Cohoes City School District for the 2023-24 school year.
19. THAT the Board of Education designates New York Benefits for
Education and Students Trust (OMNI) as the 403(b) Administrator for
Cohoes City School District for the 2023-24 school year.
C. OTHER ITEMS
1. THAT the Board of Education re-adopts all existing policies and the Code
of Ethics (Policy 2160) in effect during the previous year for the 2023-24
school year.
2. BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Cohoes City
School District hereby authorizes and directs the Superintendent or their
designee, in the event a special education impartial hearing is requested, to
make a selection from the approved list of Impartial Hearing Officers
(IHOs) on a rotational basis beginning with the first name appearing after
the IHO who last served. The Superintendent or their designee shall
inform the prospective IHO of District policy on compensation and
reimbursement of expenses for hearing-related activities. Should the IHO decline appointment, or if no affirmative commitment to serve is
forthcoming after at least two attempts to contact said IHO have been
documented within a twenty-four-hour period, the Superintendent of their
designee shall proceed through said list offering appointment to each
successive hearing officer whose name next appears on the list until such
appointment, pursuant to the terms of the District’s compensation and
expense reimbursement policy attendant thereto, is accepted. The
appointment of the specific individual who agrees to serve as IHO shall be
ratified by the Board of Education, by public resolution, at the next public
meeting prior to the date of the hearing.
3. THAT all District employees not covered by contract for authorized car
travel be reimbursed at the IRS recommended mileage rate for school year
2023-24.
4. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education shall appoint a
Committee on Special Education for the 2023-24 school year in
accordance with the provisions of Education Law, section 4402.
The membership of the committee shall include, but not to be limited to:
(1) parents/guardian of the student;
(2) one general education teacher;
(3) special education teacher or provider;
(4) LEA representative (special education administrator, school
psychologist/building principal);
(5) school psychologist;
(6) school physician, if specifically requested in writing by the
parent or a school member;
(7) additional parent member of a student with a disability, if
specifically requested in writing by the parent, the student
or a member of the CSE; and
(8) student if appropriate.
5. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education upon the
recommendation of the Committee on Special Education shall appoint a
Subcommittee on Special Education for the 2023-24 school year in
accordance with the provisions of Education Law, section 4402, to ensure
timely evaluation and placement of students with disabilities.
The membership of the subcommittee shall include, but not to be limited
to:
(1) parents/guardian of the student;
(2) one general education teacher;
(3) special education teacher or provider;
(4) LEA representative (special education administrator, school
psychologist/building principal); and
(5) student if appropriate.
A psychologist will be a member whenever a new psychological
evaluation is received or a change to a more intensive program is
recommended.
6. BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education shall appoint a
Committee on Preschool Special Education for the 2023-24 school year in
accordance with the provisions of Education Law, Section 4402.
The membership of the committee shall include, but not to be limited to:
(1) parents/guardian of the student;
(2) LEA representative (chairperson);
(3) county representative;
(4) service provider(s);
(5) evaluator(s); and
(6) school physician, if specifically requested in writing by the
parent or a school member.
7. THAT the Board of Education adopts the Free and Reduced Price Meal
Policy Statement and Family Income Eligibility Criteria as required by
State and Federal Regulations for participation in the School Breakfast and
Lunch Program for the 2023-24 school year.
PERSONNEL
8. THAT the Board of Education hereby establishes the following as
standard work days for elected and appointed officials and will report the
following days worked to the New York State Local Employees’
Retirement System based on the timekeeping system records or the record
of activities maintained and submitted by these officials to the Clerk of
this body for the 2023-24 school year.
| Title | Name | Work Day |
| Director of Facilities | Jim Stapleton | 7 |
| Treasurer (7/1-7/31/23) | Pamela Cirincione | 6.5 |
| Treasurer | Michael Cone | 6.5 |
| Purchasing Agent | Shelley Dame | 6.5 |
| Secretary to Superintendent & District Clerk | Mary Rumsey | 6.5 |
| Personnel Secretary | Tara Garceau | 6.5 |
| Network Administrator | Peter Mahoney | 6.5 |
9. THAT the Board of Education approves the 2023-24 salaries for the
following positions:
- Director of Facilities III: $89,478
- Treasurer (Pam Cirincione) (pro-rated): $76,283
- Network Administrator: $80,850
- Secretary to the Superintendent: $47,627*
- Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent: $45,937*
- Personnel Secretary $58,895** Includes confidentiality stipend, per 9206 policy.
10. THAT the Board of Education establishes the following rates of pay for
the following positions for the 2023-24 school year:
Substitute Teacher – Retired from the District per diem @ $125
Substitute Teacher – Four-year degree or teacher certification
per diem @ $120 or, upon completion of 30 consecutive days service for the same individual, teacher compensation to be established at Step 1 of the CTA
contract, per diem, retroactive to the first day of continuous service. For
service beginning on or after May 15, compensation to be established at
Step 1, per diem, at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.
Substitute Teacher – Two-year degree or a matriculating college Junior
or Senior per diem @ $100
Substitute Maintenance Mechanic per hour $19.50
Substitute Cleaner per hour $16.00
Part-Time Teacher Aides
Years of service = 1 through 3 per hour $14.20
Years of service = 4 through 6 per hour $15.00
Years of service = 7 through 11 per hour $15.25
Years of service = 12 through 16 per hour $15.50
Years of service = 17 plus per hour $16.00
Part-Time Safety Officers
Years of service = 1 through 5 per hour $21.00
Years of service = 6 plus $24.00
VII. OFFICIAL UNDERTAKINGS (BONDS)
A. THAT the Board of Education bonds employees through the use of a Faithful
Performance Blanket Bond per Commissioner & Regulation 170.2.