Cohoes City School District
Board of Education Business Meeting
May 22, 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 6:02 pm
ROLL CALL
Present:
- Mrs. Giller
- Mr. Jackson
- Mrs. Snyder
- 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 – Ms. O’Shea thanked all of the voters who passed the 2024-2025 school budget, 302 to 66 (82%) and congratulated Mr. Rickson and Mrs. Snyder. She stated Mr. Jackson will begin his third full term and Mrs. Snyder will begin her second full term. Ms. O’Shea remarked that the district is so happy to have both of you for three more years.
Ms. O’Shea introduced Cohoes High School Science Teacher Leader Mr. Kloczko and Science Research students explained to the board what area their research is in. Mr. Kloczko shared that the students work with SUNY Albany and are eligible to earn 12 college credits and our students typically earn 6 – 8 credits on average. The students choose their own topic and work with a mentor over three years. Mrs. Carey remarked that this is her favorite meeting of the year when the board is so impressed by the students and their topics. She looks forward to seeing their displays at the symposium on June 6.
Ms. O’Shea introduced Cohoes High School Social Studies Teacher Leader Mrs. DeStefano and two students, Gabrielle Verchereau-Greco and Ella Gendron, presented their project for the Seal of Civic Readiness. The students were tasked with identifying a problem within our community and developing a solution. The students decided on the “Tiger Garden” which would address inequity by having healthy foods available. The crops of the garden would be distributed to students, backpack program or to the local food bank.
Business Update – Ms. Mackey took this opportunity to express her gratitude to Mary Rumsey, district clerk, for coordinating the annual budget vote and election, her work is very much appreciated.
She also thanked the facilities team and Colleen McDonald for coordinating the grounds and the signage for the election. Ms. Mackey also expressed her appreciation to our summer help who made the properties in the district look
fantastic. She also thanked the district volunteers, Karyn Gumprecht and Russ Grestini, for collecting and returning the results to district offices.
Ms. O’Shea expressed her appreciation to Stacy Mackey for the huge endeavor of the entire budget process. She thanked the principals and their teams for completing the needs assessments and Mrs. Carey and Mr. Jackson for serving on the Budget committee.
III. BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS – None
IV. COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS – None
V. OLD BUSINESS – None
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 May 8, 2024.
B. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education accepts the minutes for the Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Pre-School Special Education for the following dates; 2/12/24, 2/26/24, 3/11/24, 3/13/24, 3/14/24, 3/18/24, 3/20/24, 3/21/24, 3/25/24, 3/26/24, 3/27/24, 3/28/24, 4/8/24, 4/9/24, 4/11/24, 4/12/24, 4/16/24, 4/18/24, 4/19/24, 4/22/24, 4/24/24, 4/25/24, 4/26/24, 4/29/24, 4/30/24, 5/3/24, 5/6/24, 5/9/24, 5/13/24
C. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves change order GC- CO-01 on NYS Education Department Project # 01-05-00-01-0-006-024 for General Construction at Cohoes High School.
Contractor: Bunkoff General Contractors, 790 Watervliet Shaker Road Latham, New York 12110
Original Contract: $3,099,000.00
Net Change by previous authorized Change Orders: -$0
Contract Sum prior to this Change Order: $3,099,000.00
Contract Sum decreased by this change order: -$7,431.97
New Contract Sum: $3,091,568.03
D. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves change order GC- CO-02 on NYS Education Department Project # 01-05-00-01-0-006-024 for General Construction at Cohoes High School
Contractor: Bunkoff General Contractors, 790 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, New York 12110
Original Contract: $3,099,000.00
Net Change by previous authorized Change Orders: -$7,431.97
Contract Sum prior to this Change Order: $3,091,568.03
Contract Sum decreased by this change order: -$10,000.00
New Contract Sum: $3,081,568.03
E. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves change order EC- CO-01 on NYS Education Department Project # 01-05-00-01-0-006-024 for Electrical Construction at Cohoes High School
Contractor: Schenectady Hardware & Electric,Company, Inc., 155 Erie Boulevard, Schenectady, New York 12305
Original Contract: $1,638,423.00
Net Change by previous authorized Change Orders: -$0
Contract Sum prior to this Change Order: $1,638,423.00
Contract Sum increased by this change order: +$1,351.71
New Contract Sum: $1,639,774.71
F. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves the contract dated April 25, 2024 between the Cohoes City School District and Waterford-Halfmoon URSD, 125 Middletown Road, Waterford, NY 12188 for Health Services at a rate of $897.04 per student during the 2023-2024 school year in accordance with terms and conditions herein.
G. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves the agreement dated July 1, 2024 between the Cohoes City School District and Wildwood Programs Inc., located at 2995 Curry Road Extension, Schenectady, NY 12303 for special education services for the period of July 8, 2024-August 16, 2024 at a rate of $11,310 and September 4, 2024- June 25, 2025 at a rate of $68,237 subject to New York State Education Department final approval and in accordance with the terms and conditions herein.
H. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves an agreement dated April 8, 2024 between the Cohoes City School District and Yankee Trails located at 569 3rd Avenue Ext., Rensselaer, NY 12144 for the class of 2024 field trip to Six Flags New England on June 12, 2024 in accordance with the terms and conditions herein.
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL
Instructional
A. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education accepts the resignation of Erin Nagy from the position as Elementary Teacher (HHS).
Effective: June 30, 2024
B. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education approves the unpaid leave of absence of Michelle Cipriano from her Science Teacher position from November 7, 2024 through June 30, 2025 for the purpose of childcare (CHS).
C. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education of the Cohoes City School
District appoints the following individual as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher.
Megan Washock
Position: Long-Term Substitute Special Education Teacher (HH)
Tenure Area: Special Education
Effective Date: May 8, 2024 through June 30, 2024
Salary: $120 per day to start after 30 business days, Step 1 of the current CTA contract retroactive to start date
D. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education appoint the following teachers as Teacher Leaders (grant-funded) to the subject area listed for the 2024-2025 school year:
Cohoes High School
Carolyn Santoro – Math
Michael Kloczko – Science
Andrea Van DeCar – Social Studies
Heather Ball – English
Matthew Flannery – Special Education
Cohoes Middle School
Colleen Duff – Math
Jaclyn Penney – Science
Christopher Michael – Social Studies
Molly Flanagan – English
Brooke Hurlbut – Special Education
Kindergarten – Grade 12
Teresa Gendron – Physical Education
Non-Instructional
ADDENDA
VI. REPORT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ECUATION
I. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education accepts the following results of the May 21, 2024 Budget and Board of Education Election Vote;
| Location | Budget Results | Board Member Results | |||
| Abram Lansing | Yes | No | Jackson | Snyder | Write-Ins |
| Machine | 78 | 21 | 69 | 85 | |
| Absentee | 10 | 7 | 12 | 5 | |
| Early Voters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 88 | 28 | 81 | 90 | 5 |
| Harmony Hill | Yes | No | Jackson | Snyder | Write-Ins |
| Machine | 146 | 30 | 133 | 143 | |
| Absentee | 25 | 7 | 24 | 23 | |
| Early Voters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 171 | 37 | 157 | 166 |
| Van Schaick | Yes | No | Jackson | Snyder | Write-Ins |
| Machine | 37 | 0 | 33 | 37 | |
| Absentee | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |
| Early Voters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Subtotals | 43 | 1 | 38 | 42 | 4 |
| Totals | 302 | 66 | 276 | 298 | 18 |
VII. RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – PERSONNEL
E. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education accepts the termination of employment of Chad Hartshorn from the position as of Cleaner (ALS).
Effective: May 23, 2024
DESIGNATION OF CONSENT AGENDA: THAT the Board of Education adopts the following resolutions of the May 22, 2024 agenda;
VI (A-I), VII (A-E), IX (A) and X (A)
- Moved by: Mr. Jarosz
- Second by: Mrs. Gendron
- All voted “Aye”
- Motion carried: 7-0
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 – April 2024
- Budget Transfers- April 2024
- Budget Status Report – April 2024
- Revenue Status Report – April 2024
- Bank Reconciliation Report – April 2024
- Internal Claims Audit Report – April 2024
X. INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION
A. BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education accepts a donation in the amount of $94.05 from Shutterfly Lifetouch, LLC to be used for Cohoes Middle School PBIS activities.
XI. COMMENTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS
XII. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM AUDIENCE
XIII. BOARD POLICY REVIEW
XIV. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
June 12, 2024 – Cohoes Middle School Library at 6 PM
XV. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION to enter into Executive Session at 6:27 pm to discuss matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation and to discuss negotiations with Cohoes Principals’ Association.
MOTION: To adjourn at 7:21 pm
- Moved by:
- Mrs. Giller
- Second by: Mr. Jarosz
- All voted “Aye”
- Motion carried: 7-0