November 4, 2020 Board of Education Minutes - Cohoes City School District

Board of Education Business Meeting

Cohoes, New York
November 4, 2020, 6:00 PM
Live Streamed per Governor’s Executive Order 202.72

(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 6:03 p.m. by Board President, Mr. Nolin.

ROLL CALL

Present:

Mrs. Giller
Mr. Pascale
Mr. Jackson
Mrs. Carey
Mr. Annely
Mr. Nolin

Excused:

Mrs. Dion

Also Present:

Ms. Peggy O’Shea, Acting Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Stacy Mackey, School Business Official

II. DISTRICT REPORTS

Instruction Update by Ms. O’Shea
Budget Update by Mrs. Mackey

III. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS

Questions were asked and answered.

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 Meeting of October 21, 2020.
THAT the Board of Education waives readings two/three and adopts revisions to the following policies:
- 1120, School District Records
- 5500, Student Records
- 5710, Violent or Disruptive Incident Reporting
- 8210, Use of Surveillance Cameras on School Property
THAT the Board of Education approves an Addendum to the Achievements contract that was approved on August 26, 2020 (copy attached).
RESOLVED, BY the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District that Retention and Disposition Schedule for New York Local Government Records (LGS-1), issued pursuant to Article 57-A of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law, and containing legal minimum retention periods for local government records, is hereby adopted for use by all officers in legally disposing of valueless records listed therein.
FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT in accordance with Article 57-A:
1. only those records will be disposed of that are described in Retention and Disposition Schedule for New York Local Government Records (LGS-1) after they have met the minimum retention periods describe therein;
2. only those records will be disposed of that do not have sufficient administrative, fiscal, legal or historical value to merit retention beyond established legal minimum periods.
THAT the Board of Education approves the following items to be removed from the fixed asset inventory for surplus:
- Tornado Carpet Extractor – Tag #000774 – Fully Depreciated – 01/01/95
  Purchase $3,913.05
- Podium – Tag #01029 – Fully Depreciated – 01/01/99
  Purchase $3,101.60
- Windsor Titan Wet Vac – Tag #001585 – Fully Depreciated – 01/01/95
  Purchase $4,753.08
- Fastrak Floor Finish Applicator – Tag #000068 – Fully Depreciated – 01/01/90 Purchase $5,034.06
- Fastrak Floor Finish Applicator – Tag #000776 – Fully Depreciated – 01/01/87 Purchase $2,107.94
- Bissell Pro 12 – Tag #20093895 – Fully Depreciated
  Purchase $355.79
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN COOPERATIVE ENERGY PURHASING SERVICE (NYSMEC) FOR NATURAL GAS
WHEREAS, Article 5-G of the New York State General Municipal Law authorizes municipal corporations to enter into cooperative agreements for the performance or exercise of services, functions, powers or activities on a cooperative or contract basis among themselves or one for the other; and

WHEREAS, Section 119-n of the General Municipal Law defines the term “municipal corporation” for the purposes of Article 5-G as a county outside the city of New York, a city, a town, a village, a board of cooperative educational services, a fire district or a school district; and

WHEREAS, Cohoes City School District (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Participant”) is a “municipal corporation” as defined above; and

WHEREAS, this Board wishes for this municipal corporation to become or remain a Participant pursuant to the Municipal Cooperation Agreement For Energy Purchasing Services dated the 1st day of May, 2005 (the “Agreement”), among municipal corporations collectively identified as the New York School and Municipal Energy Consortium (“NYSMEC”) upon the terms of the Agreement and further wishes to authorize participation as an energy consumer as specified below.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board hereby determines that it is in the interests of the Cohoes City School District to participate in the NYSMEC and authorizes and directs the Board President to sign the Agreement/and or the Billing Schedule and Agreement for natural gas on its behalf; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Board authorizes the Administrative Participant (as defined in the Agreement) to prepare, advertise, disseminate and open bids pursuant to the General Municipal Law and to award, execute and deliver binding contracts on behalf of this Board for the purchase of natural gas delivered to the city gate of the local utility distribution company for the Participant’s facility or facilities, on a firm basis, for this Participant to the lowest responsible bidder as is determined by the Administrative Participant at a price for such commodity natural gas not to exceed $0.583 cents per therm for a term of at least one year and no more than three years commencing May 1, 2021, and other terms and conditions, all as may be determined by the Administrative Participant, or to reject any or all such bids; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Participant agrees to advertise said bid as may be directed by the Administrative Participant; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and employees of this Participant are authorized to execute such other confirming agreements, certificates and other documents and take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of this resolution.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN COOPERATIVE ENERGY PURCHASING SERVICE (NYSMEC) FOR ELECTRICITY
WHEREAS, Article 5-G of the New York State General Municipal Law authorizes municipal corporations to enter into cooperative agreements for the performance or exercise of services, functions, powers or activities on a cooperative or contract basis among themselves or one for the other; and

WHEREAS, Section 119-n of the General Municipal Law defines the term “municipal corporation” for the purposes of Article 5-G as a county outside the city of New York, a city, a town, a village, a board of cooperative educational services, a fire district or a school district; and

WHEREAS, Cohoes City School District (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Participant”) is a “municipal corporation” as defined above; and

WHEREAS, this Board wishes for this municipal corporation to become or remain a Participant pursuant to the Municipal Cooperation Agreement For Energy Purchasing Services dated the 1st day of May 2005 (the “Agreement”), among municipal corporations collectively identified as the New York School and Municipal Energy Consortium (“NYSMEC”) upon the terms of the Agreement and further wishes to authorize participation as an energy consumer as specified below.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board hereby determines that it is in the interests of the Cohoes City School District to participate in the NYSMEC, and authorizes and directs the Board President to sign the Agreement/and or the Billing Schedule and Agreement for electricity on its behalf; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Board authorizes the Administrative Participant (as defined in the Agreement) to prepare, advertise, disseminate and open bids pursuant to the General Municipal Law and to award, execute and deliver binding contracts on behalf of this Board for the purchase of electricity delivered to the delivery point of the local utility distribution company for the Participant’s facility or facilities, on a firm basis, for this Participant to the lowest responsible bidder as is determined by the Administrative Participant at a price for such commodity electricity not to exceed $0.0736 cents per kWh for a term of at least one year and no more than three years commencing May 1, 2021, and other terms and conditions, all as may be determined by the Administrative Participant, or to reject any or all such bids; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Participant agrees to advertise said bid as may be directed by the Administrative Participant; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers and employees of this Participant are authorized to execute such other confirming agreements, certificates and other documents and take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of this resolution.

This Resolution shall take effect immediately.

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL

INSTRUCTIONAL

THAT the Board of Education amends Item VII (I) of the September 9, 2020 Minutes to read as follows:
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.

Rachel Abbatiello
Position …………………………………………………………….. Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Tenure Area ………………………………………………………………………….Special Education
Effective Date ….. September 3, 2020 through ~~January 31, 2021~~ November 13, 2020
Salary ………………………………………………………….. Step 1 of the current CTA contract
Reason ………………………………………………………………………… Replaces Amber Gavitt
THAT the Board of Education eliminates the following instructional positions:
- 1.0 FTE Reading
- 2.0 FTE Special Education
- 1.0 FTE Guidance Counselor
- 1.0 FTE Social Studies
- 0.6 FTE Mathematics
- 0.6 FTE English
- 0.5 FTE Science
- 0.3 FTE Library Media Specialist
- 0.8 FTE Music
- 2.0 FTE Teacher Assistant
  Effective: November 13, 2020
THAT the Board of Education creates the following positions:
Two (2) – 0.2 FTE Social Studies (CHS)
Effective: November 16, 2020
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby reinstates Jessica Hoffman from the seniority/recall list, pursuant to Education Law §3013, to a position in the Special Education tenure area, effective November 16, 2020 through January 31, 2021.
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:

Gina Martini
Position …………………………………………………………….. Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Tenure Area ………………………………………………………………………………….. Elementary
Effective Date ………………………………………September 3, 2020 through April 1, 2020
Salary ………………………………………………………….. Step 1 of the current CTA contract
Reason… ……………………………………………………………………. Replaces Joann Walters

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL
THAT the Board of Education amends Item VII (D) of the September 23, 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
  - 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
THAT the Board of Education eliminates the following non-instructional positions:
- 0.4 FTE School District Registrar
  Effective: November 13, 2020
- 1.0 FTE Ten-Month Senior Typist
  Effective: November 28, 2020
THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation for retirement purposes of Daniel Roylance from his position of Cleaner.
Effective: December 31, 2020
THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation of Robert Booker from his position of Custodian.
Effective: November 6, 2020
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School District hereby appoints the following individual to the Cleaner Substitute list, subject to the rules of the Cohoes Civil Service Commission on an emergency conditional basis, in accordance with the Civil Service Rules, such appointments are a temporary appointment.
Sonya Babineau
Effective: October 30, 2020

VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – BUSINESS/FINANCE

IX. FINANCIAL REPORTS (Recommended by the Superintendent)

BOARD ACTION ON CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the November 4, 2020 Agenda:
VI (A-G) and VII (A-J)

Moved by: Mrs. Carey
Seconded by: Mr. Pascale
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried 6-0

X. INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION

THAT the Board of Education be aware of the Leave of Absence of Kimberly Cestaro (September 16, 2020 through December 8, 2020), 12 weeks of which are pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), six (6) of which will be unpaid.
THAT the Board of Education be aware of the Leave of Absence of Sheri Frueh (September 3, 2020 through November 11, 2020), two (2) weeks of which are subject to the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and 10 weeks of which are pursuant to the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA).
THAT the Board of Education be aware of the Leave of Absence of Amber Gavitt (September 3, 2020 through January 31, 2021), 12 weeks of which are pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). December 2, 2020 through January 31, 2021 will be an unpaid Leave of Absence.
THAT the Board of Education be aware of the Leave of Absence of Lisa Gendron (September 3, 2020 through December 31, 2020), two (2) weeks of which are subject to the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and 12 weeks of which are pursuant to Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
THAT the Board of Education be aware of the Leave of Absence of Amanda Kerbein (September 3, 2020 through June 30, 2021), two (2) weeks of which are subject to the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and 12 weeks of which are pursuant to the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA). December 4, 2020 through June 30, 2021 is and an unpaid Leave of Absence.
THAT the Board of Education be aware of the unpaid Leave of Absence of Alicia Ozols (September 3, 2020 through November 12, 2020), all of which is pursuant to Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
THAT the Board of Education be aware of the Leave of Absence of JoAnn Walters (September 3, 2020 through April 1, 2021), 12 weeks of which are pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

XI. COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS

The Board expressed their gratitude to Daniel Roylance for his service to the district and congratulated him on his retirement.

XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE

XIII. BOARD POLICY REVIEW

XIV. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

November 18, 2020, Live Streamed at 6:00 p.m.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: To adjourn at 6:50 p.m.

Moved by: Mr. Annely
Seconded by: Mrs. Giller
All voted “Aye”
Motion carried 6-0