Feb. 14, 2024 minutes

Date: February 14, 2024

Kind of Meeting: Regular

Place: Herkimer Middle-High School District Library

Members Present: Brian Crandall, Michele Gilbert, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc, Scott Petucci, Aleksander Verenich

Members Absent: Diann Fischer

Others Present: Superintendent Carney, Chad Hess, Gina McKernan, Zachary Abbe, Maria Lindsay, Nicole Crandall, Renee Vogt, Cristi Paragi, Michelle Ploss, Correne Holmes, various staff

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

President Crandall stated: “The Board of Education welcomes public comments and community input at our meetings. However, we caution speakers that we are not authorized to engage in conversations pertaining to individual students, faculty, staff, or administrators. Topics of this nature may only be discussed during the Executive Session and must be coordinated with the Superintendent prior to a Board meeting. We ask that the public comments are no more than five minutes.”

Public Comment:

None

Approval of the Agenda:

Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Gilbert seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0

Board Recognition:

Herkimer High School students had artwork on display at the board meeting.

Approval of the Minutes:

Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Petucci seconded a motion to formally approve the Board of Education regular meeting minutes from Wednesday, January 17, 2024. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

Presentation – MITS:

John-Henry Lane and Justin Mitchell from Managed IT Services gave a presentation on how the transition has been going and what their future plans are for the district.

Approval of Financial Reports:

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

Motion carried 6-0.

• Treasurer’s Report – January 2024
• General Warrant – January 2024
• Internal Claims Auditors Exception Report– January 2024
• Extracurricular Summary Report – January 2024
• Budget Transfer under $5,000
• Budget Transfer over $5,000

(Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

Business Office Update:

Mr. Hess stated that he has created a drive for financial information on the district that he has shared with the Board Members. This includes a file on the 2024-2025 budget. He has met with Mrs. Carney and the Administration to discuss the budget for the new school year.

Herkimer County Board of Elections User Agreement:

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

“BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby accepts the User Agreement between the Herkimer CSD and the Herkimer County Board of Elections regarding the use of two (2) optical scan voting machines and four (4) privacy booths for the annual budget vote and election of board members, and for the Superintendent to sign on the Board’s behalf.”

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

BERNARD P. DONEGAN

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

BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AS FOLLOWS:

1. The firm of Bernard P. Donegan, Inc., is hereby designated Municipal Advisor to the Herkimer Central School District.
2. Said firm shall be compensated for its services to be rendered in accordance with its letter of services dated January 30, 2024.
3. Chad S. Hess, School Business Manager is hereby authorized to execute and deliver said letter of services.
4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. The motion having been duly offered and seconded; the following votes were cast:

• Brian Crandall voting YES
• Michele Gilbert voting YES
• Joseph Lamanna voting YES
• Robert Mihevc voting YES
• Scott Petucci voting YES
• Aleksander Verenich voting YES

ABSENT: Diann Fischer

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

BOND RESOLUTION:

At a regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District, Herkimer County, New York, held on the 14th day of February 2024, the following were:

PRESENT:

• Brian Crandall
• Michele Gilbert
• Joseph Lamanna
• Robert Mihevc
• Scott Petucci
• Aleksander Verenich

ABSENT: Diann Fischer

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Petucci, who moved its adoption, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, to wit:

BE IT RESOLVED BY THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AS FOLLOWS:

1. The firm of Bernard P. Donegan, Inc., is hereby designated Municipal Advisor to the Herkimer Central School District.
2. Said firm shall be compensated for its services to be rendered in accordance with its letter of services dated January 30, 2024.
3. The School District Herkimer Central is hereby authorized to execute and deliver said letter of services.
4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

The motion having been duly offered and seconded; the following votes were cast:

• Brian Crandall voting YES
• Michele Gilbert voting YES
• Joseph Lamanna voting YES
• Robert Mihevc voting YES
• Scott Petucci voting YES
• Aleksander Verenich voting YES

AMENDMENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT:

Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Verenich seconded the following Board resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby amends the employment agreement between the District and Kathleen A. Carney dated February 14, 2024, and authorizes the Board President to execute said addendum and authorizes payment(s) in accordance therewith.

All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

Waiving Readings for Adoption:

Mr. Petucci moved, and Mr. Verenich seconded the following Board resolution with the exception of policy # 0018 DEI which was tabled, and a second reading will be done by the BOE:

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

WHEREAS, the BOE 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: #0017 Student Registration and Pre-Registration to Vote, #1002 Authorized use of School-Owned Materials and Equipment, #1100 Records Management, #1200 Parental and Family Engagement in Title I Programs, #5200 School Wellness; and

WHEREAS, the BOE also wishes to delete the following policies recommended by the Policy Service: #1006 Use of Buses by Community Groups, # 1100.1 Public Access to Records, #1101 Relations with the Municipal Government; and,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the BOE hereby waives the BOE’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 6:0. (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

Superintendent Updates:

• John Rando plaque was present from his niece
• Many things going on in and outside the classroom in a very positive way
• Capital project meeting next week with King and King
• In discussions with Bryon Ackerman regarding website design
• Attended Grant announcement by the Governor at Herkimer College
• In discussion in regard to the 2023-2024 school calendar if no snow days are used
• Option 1 for give back days: April 8, May 23, 24, 28
• Option 2 for give back days: April 8, May 3, May 24, 28
• 2024-2025 school year calendar in progress. Due to Lunar New Year school year will start the end of August

CSE/CPSE Program/Placement Recommendations:

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Mr. Petucci, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the BOE 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 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

STAFFING RECOMMENDATIONS:

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the BOE approved the following personnel actions as presented. All voted in favor; motion carried 6:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 2-14-24)

Teaching Resignation:

Name: Schneider, Joseph
Position: Physical Education Teacher
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: February 23, 2024

Teaching Retirement:

Name: Schoff, Richard
Position: Classroom Teacher
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: December 20, 2024

LTA Appointment:

Name: Grainer, Shannon
Position: LTA
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: February 27, 2024
Salary: $25,500 (prorated)
Probationary Period February 27, 2024 – February 26, 2028

Name: Maass, MaKaila
Position: LTA
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: February 15, 2024
Salary: $25,500 (prorated)
Probationary Period February 15, 2024 – February 14, 2028

Short Term Substitute:

Name: Daskiewich, Bryce
Position: Chemistry
Location: Jr/Sr High School
Effective Date: On/About April 15, 2024 – On/About May 31, 2024
Salary: Annual Payment Guidelines for Certified Short Term Substitutes

2023-2024 Co-Curricular:

Name: Baker, Talia
Appointment: Spring Theatrical Assistant Director
Salary: $1,770

Name: Schneider, Joshua
Appointment: Sr. eSports Advisor
Salary: $1,520 (prorated)

Name: Steele, Zachary
Appointment: Varsity Baseball
Salary: $3,650

Name: Steele, Tyler
Appointment: Modified Baseball
Salary: $2,100

Name: Marosek, Cady
Appointment: Varsity Softball
Salary: $3,650
(Pending SED Certification)

Name: Maldonado, Marissa
Appointment: Modified Softball
Salary: $2,100

Name: Richard, Jason
Appointment: Boys Varsity Track
Salary: $3,500

Name: Clarke, Scott
Appointment: Girls Varsity Track
Salary: $3,500

Name: Krutz, Darryl
Appointment: Varsity Track Assistant Coach
Salary: $2,300

Name: Posey, Tekitha
Appointment: Varsity Track Assistant Coach
Salary: $2,300

Name: Beardsley, Sarah
Appointment: Modified Track
Salary: $2,100

Name: Nare, Jennette
Appointment: Modified Track
Salary: $2,100

Name: Steele, Alan
Appointment: Boys Varsity Golf
Salary: $2,300

*Conditioned upon a sufficient number of schools participating to merit a season with sufficient student participation to field a team

2023-2024 Spring Interscholastic Unpaid Coaching Appointments:

Gurtowski, Patrick – Baseball Assistant Coach (Pending SED Certification)
Richard, Jesse – Varsity Track Assistant Coach
Wright, Lindsey – Varsity Track Assistant Coach (Pending SED Certification)

Future Meeting Updates:

President Crandall remarked about all the positive things on social media.

On a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Ms. Lamanna, the BOE 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 6:0.

Executive Session:

The Board moved into Executive Session at 7:51 p.m.
The Board exited Executive Session at 8:30 p.m.

Adjournment:

On a motion made by Mr. Lamanna, and seconded by Mr. Petucci, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 8:31 p.m. All voted in favor 6:0.

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Gina A. McKernan
District Clerk