DRAFT: Jan. 15, 2025, minutes

Date: January 15, 2025

Kind of Meeting: Regular

Place: Herkimer Middle-High School Library

Members Present: President Brian Crandall, Matthew Collis, Diann Fischer, Robert Mihevc and Scott Petucci 

Members Absent: Vice President Joseph Lamanna, Aleksander Verenich

Others Present: Superintendent Kathleen Carney, Chad Hess, Gina McKernan, Zachary Abbe, Maria Lindsey, Nicole Crandall, Renee Vogt, Cristi Paragi, Michelle Ploss, Correne Holmes, Staff, Students and Community Members

President Crandall called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was said. 

Public Comment:

None

Approval of the Agenda:

Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Collis seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted.  All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0

Board Recognition:

Leah Bray – Cross Country Recognition for Section III NYS Championship Team             8^th Place Individual, Class D

Artwork displayed from Middle/High School

Approval of the Minutes:

Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded a motion to approve the Board of Education regular meeting minutes from December 18, 2024.   All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0

Presentation by King & King – Update on 2024 Capital Project

Approval of Financial Reports:

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Petucci, the Board approved the following financial reports:

• Treasurer’s Report – December 2024
• General Warrant – December 2024
• Internal Claims Auditors Exception Report – December 2024
• Extracurricular Summary Report – December 2024

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

Mr. Hess provided updates for the Business Office

Mary Imogene Bassett Agreement:

Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Education hereby accepts the agreement between The Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital and the Herkimer Central School District to cover provisions of medical services.

WHEREAS, it is the Districts desire to enter into this agreement from July 1, 2024 thru June 30, 2025; per terms and conditions of the agreement”.   

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

Contract for Compass Interpreter:

Mr. Mihevc moved, and Ms. Fischer seconded the following Board resolution:

“BE IT RESOLVED, that the Herkimer School District Board of Education does hereby authorize the agreement with Compass Interpreters for interpretation for language for the Herkimer Central School District, effective January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025; and, for the Superintendent of Schools to sign the contract on the Boards behalf.”

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

Policy Review Adoption:

Mr. Petucci moved, and Ms. Fischer second the following Board resolution:

WHEREAS it is customary practice of the Board of Education to have three readings of a policy prior to its adoption; and

WHEREAS the Board of Education wishes to adopt the following policies recommended by the Policy Committee, to wit, suggestions were sent to the Policy Service to accept revisions and to adopt the following policies:

• Policy 2300    Regular Board Meetings
• Policy 2301    Special Meetings of the Board of Education
• Policy 2302    Quorum of the Board
• Policy 2303    Minutes
• Policy 2304    Executive Sessions
• Policy 2305    Board of Education Committees
• Policy 2306    Public Expression at Meetings
• Policy 2400    Board Policy

THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby waives the Board of Education’s customary practice of three readings prior to the adoption of policies, and adopts the following policies, incorporated by reference in the minutes of this meeting.

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

Policy Review Deletion:

Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Collis seconded the following Board resolution:

WHEREAS it is customary practice of the Board of Education to have three readings of a policy prior to its deletion; and

WHEREAS the Board of Education wishes to delete the following policies recommended by the Policy Committee, to wit, suggestions were sent to the Policy Service to accept revisions and to delete the following policies:

• Policy 2300.1  Agenda Format
• Policy 2307     Board Self-Evaluation

THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby waives the Board of Education’s customary practice of three readings prior to the deletion of policies, and deletes the policies, incorporated by reference in the minutes of this meeting.

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

Settlement Agreement:

Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Mihevc seconded to table this settlement.  All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0

Superintendent Carney provided updates for the District

Administrative Identification Presentation (SCEP/DCIP, etc.)

CSE/CPSE Program/Placement Recommendations:

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Fischer, seconded by Mr. Petucci, the Board of Education approved the Sub-Committee on Special Education, and the Committee on Preschool Special Education program/placement recommendations as presented.

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS:

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Collis, the Board of Education approved the following personnel actions as presented. 

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

Unpaid Leave Request:

Hernandez, Caitlin                                       Middle School Spanish

Effective Date:                                               February 3, 2025 – February 28, 2025

Future Meeting:

President Crandall reminded the Board the next scheduled regular Board of Education meeting will be on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

On a motion made by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the Board of Education entered Executive Session for the purpose of legal and personnel issues. The Board may take action in public session after the Executive Session ends and the Board returns to public session. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.

Executive Session:

The Board moved into Executive Session at 7:15 p.m.

The Board exited Executive Session at 8:25 p.m.

Settlement Agreement:

Ms. Fischer moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded a motion to remove from the table the Settlement Agreement.

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0

Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded the following Board resolution:

RESOLVED, that the Settlement Agreement by and between the District and a particular employee, dated January 15, 2025, be approved.  The Superintendent of Schools is authorized to execute the Agreement on behalf of the District.

All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 01/15/2025

Adjournment:

On a motion made by Mr. Collis, seconded by Ms. Fischer, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 8:28 p.m.  All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.

                                                                                                   ______________________                                                                             
Gina McKernan                                                                                                   
District Clerk