Date: October 23, 2024
Kind of Meeting: Regular
Place: Herkimer Elementary School District Cafeteria
Members Present: Brian Crandall, Michele Gilbert, Joseph Lamanna, Robert Mihevc and Aleksander Verenich
Members Absent: Diann Fischer and Scott Petucci
Others Present: Superintendent Kathleen Carney, Chad Hess, Gina McKernan, Zachary Abbe, Renee Vogt, Michelle Ploss, Correne Holmes, Heather McCutheon and Students
President Crandall called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Public Comment:
None
Approval of the Agenda:
Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Lamanna seconded a motion to formally approve the consent agenda as submitted. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0
Board Recognition:
Thank you note from the 6th grade class of 2031. Artwork displayed from Elementary and Middle/High School.
Approval of the Minutes:
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Gilbert seconded a motion to approve the Board of Education regular meeting minutes from September 17, 2024. All voted in favor; motion carried 3:0:2
Approval of Financial Reports:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the Board approved the following financial reports:
- Treasurer’s Report – September 2024
- General Warrant – September 2024
- Internal Claims Auditors Exception Report– September 2024
- Extracurricular Summary Report – September 2024
All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/2024
Mr. Hess provided updates for the Business Office.
MOU Valley Health Services, Inc. and/or Valley Residential Services, Inc
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Lamanna 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 Valley Health Services, Inc. and/or Valley Residential Services, Inc and the Herkimer Central School District to provide advanced planning for an emergency evacuation for Valley Health Service Residents in a case where a disaster takes place and warrants an evacuation; and,
WHEREAS it isthe districts desire to enter into this agreement from September 22, 2024, through September 23, 2025; per the terms and conditions of the agreement”.
All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/24)
Donation to Middle/Senior High School
Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Verenich seconded to accept/approve the following Board resolution:
“BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District accepts the following donation of various art supplies to the Herkimer Middle/Senior High School from Walmart and the Mohawk Valley Center of the Arts.
All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/24)
Disposal of Surplus Items Resolution
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Mr. Verenich seconded to accept the following Board resolution
“WHEREAS the Herkimer CSD owns the items listed in Part C (Disposal) which are no longer useful or necessary for the school district’s purpose and are of no value to the Herkimer CSD, as indicated in Mr. McKernan’s Fixed Asset Inventory Control Forms, and;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby declares those items to be surplus as they have no further value to the school district and authorizes the Business Office to inform the appropriate personnel to dispose of those items in the best interest of the school district.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/24)
Adoption of Policies
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Mr. Verenich seconded the following Board resolution:
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 several policies recommended by the Policy Committee,
- #2008 Oath of Office
- #2009 Reimbursement of Expenses for Board Members (Conference Attendance)
- #2010 Resignation, Dismissal, Filing Vacancies
- #2100 Powers and Duties of the Board
- #2101 Annual Organizational Meeting
- #2102 Duties of the District Clerk
- #2103 Duties of the District Treasurer
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 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/24)
Fire Safety Inspection Report Resolution
Mr. Lamanna moved, and Ms. Gilbert seconded the following Board resolution:
“NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the annual inspection for the 2024-2025 school year of the Bus Maintenance Facility, Herkimer Elementary School, Herkimer High School, Press Box, Concession/Toilets/Storage buildings of the Herkimer Central School District for the fire hazards, which might endanger the lives of the students, teachers and employees therein, has been completed and the report there of is available at the office of the Herkimer Central School District at 801 W. German Street, Herkimer, NY 13350 for inspection of all interested persons.”
All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/24)
Resolution to Contract of Confidential Secretary to the Superintendent
Mr. Mihevc moved, and Ms. Gilbert 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 Gina A. McKernan dated October 23, 2024, and authorizes the Board President to execute said addendum and authorizes payment(s) in accordance therewith.
All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/24)
Resolution to the Contract of School Business Manager
Ms. Gilbert moved, and Mr. Mihevc 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 Chad Hess dated October 23, 2024, and authorizes the Board President to execute said addendum and authorizes payment(s) in accordance therewith.
All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0 (Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/24)
Superintendent Carney provided updates for the District
Administrative Reports:
The reports of the Administrators were reviewed with the BOE. Discussions followed.
CSE/CPSE Program/Placement Recommendations:
Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carney, on a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, 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 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/2024
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 5:0; Material filed in the supplemental file dated 10/23/2024
Abandonment of Position:
Name: Chilelli, Cristina
Position: Account Clerk
Location: District Office
Effective Date: October 4, 2024
LTA Appointments:
Name: Korce, Erin
Position: LTA
Location: Elementary School
Effective Date: November 12, 2024
Salary: $26,000 – Per LTA MOA agreement
(Probationary Period from November 12, 2024 – November 11, 2028)
Non-Instructional Appointment:
Name: Mettler, Karen
Position: Acting Account Clerk
Location: District Office
Effective Date: September 25, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Salary: $55/hour
Non-Instructional Substitute Appointment
Name: Riesel, Danielle
Position: Substitute LPN
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: October 24, 2024 – June 30, 2025 (pending fingerprint clearance)
Salary: $16.00/hour
Name: Scalise, Elena
Position: Lunch Aide
Location: District Wide (pending fingerprint clearance)
Effective Date: October 24, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Salary: $15.25/hour
Substitute Appointment:
Name: Macri, Gianna
Position: Substitute Teacher
Location: District Wide
Effective Date: October 18, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Salary: Based on annual payment guidelines for substitutes
Short Term Substitute Appointments:
Name: Lowell, Sylvia
Position: Short Term Substitute Teacher
Location: Middle School
Effective Date: October 1, 2024 – November 1, 2024
Salary: Based on annual payment guidelines for substitutes
Name: Stubley, Morgan
Position: Short Term Substitute Teacher
Location: High School
Effective Date: On/about October 28, 2024 – On/about December 6, 2024
Salary: Based on annual payment guidelines for substitutes
2024-2025 Extra-Curricular Appointments:
Name: Peyton, Leah
Position: Sr. High Art Club Advisor
Salary: $1,520 (prorated)
2024-2025 Winter Interscholastic Coaching Appointments*:
Name: Blask, Mark
Appointment: Boys Varsity Basketball
Salary: $4,300
Name: Palmer, Jordan
Appointment: Boys JV Basketball
Salary: $2,800
Name: Alberts, John
Appointment: Boys Modified Basketball
Salary: $2,100
Name: Shepardson, Kelli
Appointment: Girls Varsity Basketball
Salary: $4,300
Name: Scalise, Laura
Appointment: Girls JV Basketball
Salary: $2,800
Name: Maldonado, Marissa
Appointment: Girls Modified Basketball
Salary: $2,100
Name: Buckley, Lynnsey
Appointment: Girls Varsity Volleyball
Salary: $3,500
Name: Denton, Heather
Appointment: Girls JV Volleyball
Salary: $2,500
Name: Judd, Ryan
Appointment: Girls Modified Volleyball
Salary: $2,100
Name: Richard, Jason
Appointment: Boys/Girls Varsity Indoor Track
Salary: $2,300
Name: Couchman, Brett
Appointment: Indoor Track Assistant
Salary: $1,000
Name: Steele, Alan
Appointment: Boys/Girls Varsity Bowling
Salary: $3,150
2024-2025 Winter Interscholastic Coaching Appointments*:(continued)
Name: Appley, Daniel
Appointment: Boys Varsity Wrestling
Salary: $3,500
Name: Steele, Zachary
Appointment: Boys Varsity Wrestling Assistant
Salary: $2,400
Name: Holliday, Hunter
Appointment: Boys Modified Wrestling
Salary: $2,050
*Conditioned upon a sufficient number of schools participating to merit a season with sufficient student participation to field a team
2024-2025 Winter Interscholastic Unpaid Coaching Appointments:
Carney, Michael Boys/Girls Basketball Unpaid Volunteer Assistant
Clarke, Scott Boys/Girls Indoor Track Unpaid Volunteer Assistant
Richard, Jesse Boys/Girls Indoor Track Unpaid Volunteer Assistant
Richard, Ross Modified/Varsity Wrestling Unpaid Volunteer Assistant
2024-2025 Student Teaching Placement:
Student Teacher: Conte, Jordyn
Certification Area: Health and Physical Education
Cooperating Teacher: Rich, Kristen
Location: Herkimer Middle/High School
Effective: October 28, 2024 – December 20, 2024
Future Meeting:
President Crandall discussed the 2024 NYSSBA Proposed Resolutions. He reminded the Board the next scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Herkimer Middle/Senior High School.
On a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Mihevc, 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 5:0.
Executive Session:
The Board moved into Executive Session at 6:39 p.m.
The Board exited Executive Session at 7:55 p.m.
Adjournment:
On a motion made by Ms. Gilbert, seconded by Mr. Lamanna, the BOE adjourned the public meeting at 7:57 p.m. All voted in favor; motion carried 5:0.
______________________
Gina McKernan
District Clerk
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