OXFORD TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

Oxford, New Jersey

 

 

Mr. Hibbett, Board President called the meeting to order at 6:03pm.

 

Mr. Hibbett led all assembled in the Flag Salute.

 

Mr. Hibbett read the following Open Public Meeting Act Statement: “This is to advise the general public and to instruct that it be recorded in the Minutes that in compliance with Chapter 231 of the Public Laws of 1975, entitled the “Open Public Meeting Act”, the Oxford Township Board of Education, on May 4, 2010 caused to be posted at the Office of the Board of Education located at 17 Kent Street, Oxford, New Jersey and faxed to the Office of the Municipal Clerk of the Township of Oxford, a meeting notice setting forth the time, date and location of this meeting.  Members of the public who wish to address the Board will be given that opportunity before the Board adjourns for the evening.”      

 

Ms. Martucci, Board Secretary called the roll:

Present:                                   Mr. Matt Hibbett, President

                                                Mr. Chuck Lauziere, Vice-President

                                                Mrs. Linda Koufodontes

                                                Mrs. Kristine McGrath

                                                Mrs. Beth Miller (left at 7:01pm & returned at 7:43pm)

                                                Mr. Al Pierro

 

Absent:                                    Mr. Scott McDonald    

 

Administrative Staff:              Mr. Robert Magnuson, Chief School Administrator

                                                Ms. Milissa Dachisen, Director of Special Services

                                                Ms. Patricia Martucci, Business Administrator

 

 

PRESENTATION:

A presentation was made in recognition of the Battle of the Minds, Warren County Champions:

            Paige Bechtle, Dan Schaffer, Ryan Henson, Taylor VanOrder, Rahul Patel, and Jenna Ischinger.

            Coaches:  Mrs. Elaina Kantz, Ms. Katie Stocker

 

A video presentation from NJ Close-Up was shown featuring the 7th Grade Class Trip highlighting the MARE program.

 

 

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES:

 

1.      Motion by Mr. Hibbett, seconded by Mrs. Koufodontes to accept the following meeting minutes:

Date

Work Session

Regular

Executive

Special

October 28, 2010

 

X

X

 

 

            Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.


 

Mr. Magnuson, CSA reported on the following items:

1.      Blue Ribbon School Nomination

2.      District Compliance Report

3.      7th/8th Grade Fundraiser

4.      PTA Vendor Fair

5.      Rotary Club – Dictionaries

6.      Grinspec Meeting 11/15/2010

7.      Regulations Update

8.      Fitness Trail

9.      Policy Update: Legal references changes

10.  Best Work Portfolio’s: 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades

                              

Ms. Dachisen, DSS reported on the following items:

  1. Vo-Tech meeting
  2. SEPAC
  3. Author Visit
  4. American Medicine Chest Challenge
  5. Bus Evacuations
  6. Fire Drills
  7. Autism 5K
  8. Character Ed – Final Report

 

Ms. Martucci, SBA/BS reported on the following items:

1.      Fiscal

·         Interest Earned (October 2010)

§  Capital Account                $137.39

§  NJ Cash Management       $ 86.65

§  Referendum 2008             $ 60.35

2.      Food Service

·        Profit/Loss

·         October 2010 Profit/Loss             $   682.62

·         Year-To-Date Profit/Loss             $2,568.29

 

ENROLLMENT – October 2010

Oxford Central School (PreK – 8)

      Home Instruction

287

1

Warren Hills Regional High School

      Regular Education

      Special Education

 

98

1

Warren County Vo-Tech

      Regular Education

      Special Education

 

28

7

Out of District

      Mountain Lakes Board of Education

      Hunterdon ESC – Tewksbury

      Stepping Stone

      Bonnie Brae

 

1

1

2

1

Ridge & Valley Charter School     

2

Non Public

      Blair Academy

      Good Shepherd Christian Academy

       Saint Mary’s

       Saint Philip & James

      Pius X (PA)

      Out Lady Mt. Carmel (PA)

 

1

5

2

5

2

1

Total District Enrollment

445

 

 

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Board Member

Committee

Comments

Mr. Pierro

Budget & Finance

 

No report.

 

Mr. McDonald

Buildings & Grounds

Absent – no report.

 

Mrs. Koufodontes

Curriculum

Technology curriculum on for approval tonight. Also looking into a Karate Unit for the Health and P/E curriculum.

Mrs. McGrath

Negotiations

 

Will discuss in Executive Session.

Mrs. Miller

Personnel

 

No report.

Mr. Hibbett

Policy

 

Many policy updates to come.

Mr. Lauziere

Transportation & Cafeteria

Maschio’s is looking to set up a Food Advisory meeting with students, administration, and maybe a few parents.

 

 

HEARING OF THE PUBLICComments are to be specific to pending motions on this agenda.

 

·         Mrs. Sheri Miller – conflict with Winter Concert and her daughter not being able to participate in the concert if she is not in school on December 15th.  Requested Board make an exception to the policy and allow her daughter to participate.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Motion by Mr. Hibbett, seconded by Mr. Lauziere to make an exception to school policy and to allow Jaelynn Miller, a second grade student at OCS, to participate in the Winter Concert on December 15, 2010 without attending school that day due to a trip to Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas Show.

 

Ayes:   Lauziere          Nays: Koufodontes, McGrath, Pierro, Hibbett          Absent: McDonald, Miller

 

Motion failed.

VII.   The following resolutions and motions have been reviewed and are recommended by the Chief School Administrator, and/or the School Business Administrator of the Oxford Township Board of Education:

 

A.        BUDGET & FINANCE  [Pierro, Lauziere, Hibbett (alternate)]

Motion by Mr. Pierro, seconded by Mrs. Koufodontes to move and to accept the Motions and/or Resolutions as outlined in Budget and Finance, Numbers 1 through 10.

 

1.      Approved the Treasurer of School Monies monthly report for October 2010 delineating account activity and account reconciliation as itemized in the attached A-149 schedule.

 

2.      Approved the report of the Board Secretary and the monthly certification that no budgetary line item account has been over-expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-1-22 for October 2010.

 

3.      Approved the Business Administrator’s monthly report of transfers for October 2010  as itemized documenting transfers in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:22-9.1.

 

4.      Approved the Food Service Bill List and Bank Reconciliation for the period ending October 2010.

 

5.      Approved the Agency Bill List & Bank Reconciliation for the period ending October 2010.

 

6.      Approved the issuance of warrants (checks) for the payment of the items on the Accounts Payable Bill list (including payroll) for November 2010 in the amount of $391,926.04.

 

7.      Approved the Payroll Bill lists dated:

                                                  i.      November 15, 2010

                                                ii.      November 30, 2010

 

8.      Approved the issuance of warrants (checks) for the payment of the items on the Referendum 2008 bill list for November 2010 in the amount of $0.00. (No warrants issued).

 

9.       WHEREAS the Oxford Township Board of Education is required pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:11-12 to adopt policy and approve travel expenditures by district employees and board members using local, State, or Federal funds to ensure that travel is educationally necessary and fiscally prudent; and

 

WHEREAS the board of education has determined that the training and/or informational programs set forth below are directly related to and within the scope of employee and board members’ duties; and

 

WHEREAS, the board of education has determined that the school district travel expenditures for the following programs are in compliance with State travel guidelines as established by the Department of the Treasury and within the guidelines established by the federal Office of Management and Budget; except as superseded by conflicting provision of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes; and

 

WHEREAS the board of education finds that a mileage reimbursement rate equal to that of the  NJ OMB circular guide reimbursement rate of .31 per mile is a reasonable rate; and

 

WHEREAS, the board of education has determined that participation in the listed training and informational programs are in compliance with the district policy on travel; therefore be it

 

RESOVED that the board of education hereby approves the attendance of the listed employees or school board members at the listed training or informational programs, and the costs of attendance including all registration fees, and statutorily authorized travel expenditures, provided that such expenditures are within the annual maximum travel expenditure amount; and be it further

 

RESOLVED that the Oxford Township Board of Education authorizes in advance, as required by statute, attendance at the following training programs and informational events:

 

Name

Event

Location/Date(s)

Expense

Estimated Cost

Esposito, Debbie

DiRenzo, Laura

Annual Reading & Writing Conference

Somerset, NJ

April 1, 2011

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$195.00 ea

$ 0.00

20-270-200-300

Gilberti, Angela

Navigating the Journey

Mountainside, NJ

Nov 9, 2010

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$0.00

$0.00

N/A

Pillus, Laurie

Vo-Tech Transition Meeting

Washington, NJ

Nov 2, 2010

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$0.00

$0.00

N/A

Saraiva, Marlene

Understanding Sex Offender – Risk Assessment

Oxford, NJ

Nov 15, 2010

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$0.00

$0.00

N/A

Saraiva, Marlene

In Class Consultation Model

Hackensack, NJ

Nov 19, 2010

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$0.00

$0.00

N/A

Pettinelli, Shannon

APA Training

Hopatcong, NJ

Dec 1, 2010

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$0.00

$0.00

N/A

Kantz, Elena

9th Annual Council of Holocaust Educations Conference

Lincroft, NJ

Dec 3, 2010

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$45.00

$0.00

20-270-200-300

Kantz, Elena

Safeguarding Diversity

Lawrenceville, NJ

Dec 7, 2010

Registration:

Mileage:

GAAP Acct:

$0.00

$0.00

N/A

 

10.       Approved an Agreement to provide Therapy Services between the Oxford Township Board of Education and J & B Therapy Services, LLC for the period October 27, 2010 through June 30, 2011, at the rate of $85.00 per hour. (Contract is on file in the Business Office).

 

Ayes: 5            Nays: 0            Absent:  McDonald, Miller                 Abstain: 0

 

 

B.      BUILDING AND GROUNDS  [McDonald, Hibbett, Lauziere (alternate)]

Motion by Mr. Hibbett, seconded by Mr. Pierro to move and to accept the Motions and/or Resolutions as outlined in Buildings and Grounds, Number 1.

 

1.      Approved the following requests for Use of School Facilities pursuant to Policy #1330R:

Organization

Event/Purpose

Date(s)

Time

Insurance

Scouts (Moorehead)

Rehearsal

11/18/2010

7:00-9:00pm

On File

OCS Student Council

Fundraising Dance

12/3/2010

6:00-9:00pm

On File

OYA (Nyland)

Basketball Practice

11/20/2010

8:00–12:00pm

On File

OYA (Pierro)

Pizza Party

Santa Day

11/17/2010

12/5/2010

5:00pm-8:00pm

10:00am-4:00pm

On File

 

 

Ayes: 5            Nays: 0            Absent:  McDonald, Miller                 Abstain: 0

 

 

C.      CURRICULUM  [Koufodontes, McGrath, Miller (alternate)]

Motion by Mrs. Koufodontes, seconded by Mr. Lauziere to move and to accept the Motions and/or Resolutions as outlined in Curriculum, Number 1 and 2.

 

1.       Approvde the following School Related Activities:

Grade(s)

Destination

When

Est. Cost/Transportation

3rd-6th

Blairstown Evangelical Free Church

February 2011

TBD

6th

State House / Planetarium

April 2011

PTO Mini Grant

5th

DARE – Iron Pigs

April 2011

DARE Program

           

2.         Approved the Warren Hills Cluster PreK-8 Technology Curriculum.

 

Ayes: 5            Nays: 0            Absent:  McDonald, Miller                 Abstain: 0

 

 

D.      NEGOTIATIONS [McGrath, Pierro, Koufodontes (alternate)]

Chairperson’s Statement: I recommend and move to accept the Motions and/or Resolutions as outlined in Negotiations, Numbers 1 through __. – NO MOTIONS AT THIS TIME.

 

 

          E.      PERSONNEL   [Miller, Koufodontes, McGrath (alternate)]

Motion by Mr. Hibbett, seconded by Mrs. Koufodontes to move and to accept the Motions and/or Resolutions as outlined in Personnel, Number 1 through 5.

 

1.                  Approved the appointment of the following individuals for substitute positions for the 2010-2011 school year (rate as per CBA):

Name

Position

Certificate Expiration/Type

Samantha Davey

Teacher/Aide

1/2/2016 

 

 

2.                  Approved Mrs. Angela Gilberti, as an after school tutor, for the 2010-2011 school year, rate as per CBA.

 

3.                  Acknowledged the receipt of tenure, effective September 1, 2010 by the following staff members:

                        Jessica DeWitt

 

4.                  Approved the appointment of Mrs. Renee Sturm, as a part-time preschool aide, for the period November 15, 2010 through April 15, 2011 at an hourly rate of $12.30. (11-215-100-106)

 

5.                  Approved Ellen Doyle as a part-time aide for 1D for the period November 15, 2010 through April 15, 2010 at an hourly rate of $12.30.

                       

 

Ayes: 5            Nays: 0            Absent:  McDonald, Miller                 Abstain: 0


 

F.      POLICY  [Hibbett, Miller, McDonald (alternate)]

Chairperson’s Statement:  I recommend and move to accept the Motions and/or Resolutions as outlined in Policy, Numbers 1 through ___.  NO MOTIONS AT THIS TIME.

 

G.      TRANSPORTATION & CAFETERIA [Lauziere, McDonald, Pierro (alternate)]

Chairperson’s Statement:  I recommend and move to accept the Motions and/or Resolutions as outlined in Transportation & Cafeteria, Number 1 through __.  NO MOTIONS AT THIS TIME.

 

 

HEARING OF THE PUBLICComments and/or questions on any topic.

There were no comments from the public at this time.

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION                                            

 

The next topics on the agenda,

___      Confidential by Federal Law, State Statue or Rule of Court

___      Impairment of the right to receive US Government funds

___      Unwarranted invasion of individual privacy

_X_     Negotiations

___      Purchase of property or investment of public funds

___      Tactics/Techniques of protecting safety and property of the public

___      Attorney-Client Privilege or anticipated and pending litigation

___      Personnel matters

___      Quasi-Judicial deliberation of a public body

 

falls within an exception of our open meetings policy and permits the Board to have a private discussion, since it deals with negotiations as contained in N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 and 10:4-13.

 

Motion by Mr. Hibbett, seconded by Mrs. Koufodontes to enter Executive Session at 7:15pm.

Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.

 

It is hereby resolved that the Board will now go into private session to discuss negotiations.  Any discussion held by the Board which need not remain confidential will be made public as soon as practicable.  Minutes of the private session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists.  The Board will reconvene in public session at the conclusion of the closed session.    

 

  RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION                                  

 

  Motion by Mr. Hibbett, seconded by Mrs. Koufodontes to reconvene to Public Session at 7:40pm.

  Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.


 

 

OLD BUSINESS

Teacher Blogs – not being kept updated.

Need for additional security cameras outside the building.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

            Letter being sent home regarding pictures taken in the classrooms during the Halloween Parties.  Some of the pictures showed up on Facebook etc.

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion by Mr. Hibbett, seconded by Mr. Lauziere to adjourn the meeting of the Oxford Township Board of Education at 7:55pm.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Patricia A. Martucci, RSBA

Business Administrator/Board Secretary