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.

 

CALL TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

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.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

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.

 

INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

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.

 

BOARD GOVERNANCE

 

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.

 

DISTRICT OPERATIONS

 

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

 

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:

 

Approval of Extracurricular Stipend Positions - The Board approved the following

Extracurricular Stipend positions for the 2003-2004 school year at the locations and at the

amounts listed in accordance with provisions of the B.O.E./B.F.T./Teachers Agreement:

 

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 Full-time Custodian – The Board approved Azucena Pineda for a 90-day

Probationary Contract as a full-time Custodian at Branchburg Central Middle School

(3:00 – 11:30 p.m.) on Step 1 of the full-time Custodian Salary Guide ($26,264.00,

prorated) effective September 29, 2003, through December 26, 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.

 

CURRICULUM

 

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.

 

FINANCE

 

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).

 

FACILITIES

 

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.

 

LIAISON REPORTS

 

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.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

There were no comments from the public at this time.

 

 

BOARD FORUM

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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