REGULAR MEETING
September 25, 2003
Branchburg Municipal Building
The Board of Education of the Township of Branchburg, County of Somerset, New Jersey, convened for a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2003, in the Conference Room at the Branchburg Municipal Building.
The meeting was called to order by President Jerry Feldman, who stated that the meeting was convened in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, the Sunshine Law; notices were sent to the Courier News and the Somerset Messenger Gazette, filed with the Township Clerk and posted in the Branchburg Township Schools.
The following members of the Board of Education were present: Zoltan Ambrus, Patricia E. Bowers, Marie Annucci Caprio, Jerry Feldman, Robert J. Fulton, Jr. (6:50 p.m.), Karen M. Lambert (7:00 p.m.) and Lisa Romancheck.
The following members of the Board of Education were absent: William J. Rouse and Gregory M. Scott.
Also present were: Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Hrevnack; and Business Administrator/Board Secretary Nancy Lee Hunter; and Board Attorney David Rubin.
On a motion by Mrs. Romancheck, seconded by Mr. Ambrus, and carried unanimously, the Board agreed to convene in Executive Session this evening from 6:40 p.m. to approximately 8:00 p.m. to discuss either negotiations, personnel matters, legal issues, matters involving attorney/client privilege and all other matters as detailed in Board bylaw 0166.
The regular portion of the meeting resumed at 8:00 p.m.
At this time also present were: District administrator Dr. Kathleen Monks and several residents.
The assembly saluted the flag.
The Secretary called the Roll.
Former Board member Benjamin Lambert wished a happy birthday to Mrs. Lambert.
Branchburg Education Foundation Representative Ed Chelel presented checks for mini-
grants to the Board of Education. He also stated that the Branchburg Education
Foundation Dinner will be held on November 14, 2003.
Mrs. Feldman commented on the dedication of Branchburg Central Middle School. She
thanked Board members for their participation in the Dedication Ceremony, Country Fair
and Back-to-School Nights.
It was noted that Former Board Member Bill Sandvig’s name was left off the plaque that
was presented at the dedication.
Mrs. Feldman read a letter of apology to staff members who were inadvertently not
invited to the dedication ceremony.
Condolences were expressed to Dr. Leary on the death of her mother and Mr. Scott on
the death of his father.
There was a discussion among Board members regarding discussing the contract with
Somerville in private session.
Dr. Hrevnack gave the Central Office Administration report and the Building Level
Administration report.
It was announced that Superintendent Surveys have been sent out.
Motion by Mrs. Bowers, seconded by Mr. Fulton, that Items A.1 through A.2 be moved
upon the recommendation of the Interim Superintendent.
On call of the vote, the following was approved unanimously by Roll Call vote, with the
exception that Mrs. Romancheck abstained on the approval of all minutes of August 21:
Approval of Minutes - The Minutes of the Regular meeting of
August 21, 2003; and the
Executive Session Minutes of August 21, 2003,
were approved as distributed.
Approval
of Policy and Regulation 7422 on First Reading - The Board approved the
following mandated policy and regulation, attached as Reference A.2, on First
Reading:
Policy/Regulation Number |
Title |
Policy No. 7422 |
School Integrated Pest Management Plan |
Regulation No. 7422 |
School Integrated Pest Management Plan |
Motion by Mrs. Bowers, seconded by Mrs. Lambert, that Item A.3 be moved upon the
recommendation of the Interim Superintendent.
On call of the vote, the following resolution was approved unanimously by Roll Call
vote:
BE IT RESOLVED that an Administrative/Board Retreat be called on October 2, 2003,
from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and a Board Retreat for the purpose of discussing the
Branchburg/Somerville relationship be called from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m., in the Faculty
Cafeteria at Branchburg Central Middle School. An Executive Session may be called and
no action will be taken.
At this time, Dr. Monks presented three curriculum guides for Technological Literacy,
Mathematics, and Consumer Science.
It is planned that the Board will get all questions to Dr. Monks quickly and pass the
curriculum guides on October 9.
Motion by Mrs. Bowers, seconded by Mr. Ambrus, that Items A.1 through A.7 be moved
upon the recommendation of the Interim Superintendent.
On call of the vote, the following was approved unanimously by Roll Call vote:
Name/Location |
Position |
Stipend |
Mary Salussolia Branchburg Central Middle School |
Team Leader |
$1,712.00 |
Kenneth Forsyth Branchburg Central Middle School |
Team Leader |
$1,712.00 |
Debra Jacobsen Branchburg Central Middle School |
Technical Support Person |
$1,141.00 |
Approval Extracurricular Athletic Positions - The Board approved the following 2003-
2004 Extracurricular Athletic Positions in the locations and at the amounts listed in
accordance with provisions of the
B.O.E./B.F.T./Teachers Agreement:
Position/Location |
Name |
Stipend |
Third Grade Intramurals Old York School |
Glenn Gottshalk Luann Hellwig Caryl Swerdloff |
$811.00 each |
Fourth/Fifth Grade Intramurals Old York School |
David Brown Cindee Straube Laurel Ball |
$811.00 each |
Third Grade Intramurals Stony Brook School |
Shirley Carty Jennifer Felix John Gottshalk |
$811.00 each |
Fourth/Fifth Grade Intramurals Stony Brook School |
Shirley Carty James Landry Rocco Fornaro |
$811.00 each |
Approval of Permanent Substitute Teacher - The Board approved Erikka Rockell as a
Permanent Substitute Teacher at Whiton
Elementary School at the per diem rate of
$100.00 effective October 1, 2003, through
June 30, 2004.
Approval of Substitute Custodian - The Board approved Brett Emmons as a Substitute
Custodian for the remainder of the 2003-2004 school year.
Approval
of Custodian Transfer - The Board approved the transfer of Gary Martin from
the position of full-time Evening Custodian
at Branchburg Central Middle School to full-
time Day/Evening Custodian (11:00 a.m. - 7:30
p.m.) at Branchburg Central Middle
School effective September 29, 2003.
Approval
of Part-time Custodian – The Board approved Joseph Roehrich for a 90-day
Probationary Contract as a part-time
Custodian at Branchburg Central Middle School for
2.5 hours per day on Step 1 of the part-time
Custodian Salary Guide ($10.74 per hour)
effective September 29, 2003, through
December 26, 2003.
Motion by Mr. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Ambrus, that Items B.1 through B.3 be moved
upon the recommendation of the Interim Superintendent.
On call of the vote, the following was approved unanimously by Voice vote:
Approval of Additional Out-of-District Special Education Placements - The Board
approved Student Nos. 2037 and 2047 for placement in the Inclusive Preschool Program
at Temple Beth El effective September 10, 2003, through June 30, 2004, for a total
tuition of $6,600.00.
Approval
of Independent Study for Student at Branchburg Central Middle School - The
Board approved the course of Independent
Study for the 2003-2004 school year for
Student No. 6820 at Branchburg Central Middle
School (attached as Reference B.2).
Approval of Additional Field Trips - The Board approved the listing of additional field
trips for the 2003-2004 school year attached as Reference B.3.
Motion by Mr. Fulton, seconded by Mr. Ambrus, that Items C.1 through C.6 be moved
upon the recommendation of the Interim Superintendent.
On call of the vote, the following was approved unanimously by Roll Call vote:
Bill List - The List
of Bills for the month of September 2003, totaling $3,125,958.71, were approved
for payment.
Secretary’s Report - The Report of the Secretary for August 2003, has been submitted for Board review. As required by N.J.A.C. 6:20-2.13(d), I, Nancy Lee Hunter, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, certify that no line item account has been over expended and that sufficient funds are available to meet the District’s financial obligations this fiscal year.
The Secretary’s Report for August 2003 was accepted and ordered filed, and the Board
of Education hereby certifies that no major account has been over expended in violation
of N.J.A.C. 6:20-2.13(b) and that sufficient funds are available to meet the District’s
financial obligations for the remainder of the 2003-04 fiscal year.
Treasurer’s Report - The Treasurer’s Report for the month of August 2003 was accepted
and ordered filed.
Line Item Transfers - The Board accepted the list of Line Item Transfers for the month of
August 2003.
Approval of Custodial Supply Bid - The Board approved the following custodial supply
bid received on August 19, 2003:
Camden Bag $3,395.15
Custodial Support Network 664.76
Paper Plus 3,802.30
Central Poly 597.00
Interboro Packaging 2,439.00
All Clean 19,486.12
TOTAL $30,384.33
Depository of Funds – The Board approved the recommendation that Commerce Bank be designated as the official depository of school funds effective October 1, 2003.
Motion by Mr. Fulton, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that Item C.7 be moved upon the
recommendation of the Interim Superintendent.
On call of the vote, the following was approved by the following votes:
Ayes Nays
Mrs. Bowers Mr. Ambrus
Mrs. Caprio
Mr. Fulton
Mrs. Lambert
Mrs. Feldman
Approval of Carrier for Long-term Disability Insurance - The Board approved the
attached
Resolution naming UNUM Provident as the carrier for Long-term Disability
Insurance
(Reference C.7).
Motion
by Mr. Fulton, seconded by Mrs. Bowers, that Item D.1 be moved upon the
recommendation
of the Interim Superintendent.
On
call of the vote, the following was approved unanimously by Voice vote:
Rescission of Approval of Sale of Board of
Education Office - The Board
rescinded the
approval of the sale of 3461 U. S. Highway
22, Branchburg, New Jersey 08876, to Dr.
Dana Webb for $440,000.00 that was passed by
the Board of Education on August 21,
2003.
Somerville Board of Education Report – Mrs. Caprio reported that Somerville High
School held their Back-to-School Night last evening.
Branchburg Education Foundation Report – Dr. Hrevnack reported that the
Foundation’s annual dinner will be held on November 14, and grants were
approved.
Emergency Management Planning Committee – There was no report.
Child Care Committee – There was no report.
Community Education Council – There was no report.
N.J.S.B.A./S.C.S.B.A. – Mrs. Feldman distributed information on No
Child Left Behind. She also announced
that a Somerset County School Board Association’s Roundtable is being held on
October 8, 2003, at McAteers.
Reservations must be made by Oct 2nd if anyone is interested
in attending.
Somerset County Educational Services
Commission – Mr. Fulton
reported that the next meeting is at the end of October.
Youth Services Commission/Municipal Alliance – There was no report.
P.T.O. – Mrs. Bowers
reported that Dr. Monks will be the guest speaker at the next PTO meeting. She also thanked the P.T.O. for Fun Day.
There were no comments from the public at this time.
Mr. Ambrus expressed his thanks to Dr. Hrevnack, Mrs. Feldman, Mrs.
Lambert, and Mr. Scott for all their work with the dedication ceremony and
Board table at the Country Fair.
Mr. Ambrus also requested that Board Attorney David Rubin give his legal
opinion on whether the Somerville representative could really be excluded from
an Executive Session.
Mrs. Feldman responded that the representative could be excluded in the
event there is litigation that involves Somerville and Branchburg.
Mrs. Caprio stated that she did ask the field representative about being
excluded. She also expressed her
condolences to Mr. Scott and his family.
Mr. Fulton congratulated Donna Sandvig on a job well done.
Mrs. Feldman stated that agenda items for the next meeting are due by
September 30. She also stated that the
Community Planning Day is October 16, 2003, and asked that it be posted on the
website. She also stated that the
Board’s initiative on putting together a meeting for all sending districts
statewide is receiving positive feedback.
On a motion by Mr.
Fulton, seconded by Mr. Ambrus, and carried unanimously, the meeting adjourned
at 10:10 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Nancy Lee Hunter
Business
Administrator/Board Secretary