BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Counties
Johnstown, NY 12095
Click here for a printer-friendly version of the September 27, 2023 minutes.
DATE
September 27, 2023
PLACE
HFM BOCES Board Room
KIND OF MEETING
Regular Meeting
MEMBERS PRESENT
Harry Brooks, Paula Brown-Weinstock, Carmen Caraco, Rebecca Cozzocrea, Carolyn Wilcox and Kathryn Zajicek
MEMBERS ABSENT
Matt Sullivan
OTHERS PRESENT
David Ziskin, District Superintendent; Jay DeTraglia, Assistant Superintendent; Aaron Bochniak, Assistant Superintendent; Kathi Lewis, School Business Official; William Bordak, HR Director; Michael Jacob, Director of Special Education; Dan Salvagni, Matthew Popp, and Nadine Paul, Coordinators of Special Education; Alex Ruggeri, Communications Specialist and Michael Rossi, Auditor, West and Company, CPAs.
CALL TO ORDER
Harry Brooks called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to waive the 48-hour notice and approve the agenda as presented and add or remove any items introduced by unanimous vote.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
At 5:01 p.m. the Board convened the Audit Committee upon a motion made by Rebecca Cozzocrea, seconded by Carmen Caraco and unanimously carried.
INDEPENDENT AUDIT
Michael Rossi, External Auditor reviewed the 2022-23 Independent Audit as prepared by West and Company CPAs with the Audit Committee.
ADJOURN AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Board adjourned the Audit Committee at 5:20 p.m upon a motion made by Kathryn Zajicek seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock, and unanimously carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Paula Brown-Weinstock made a motion, seconded by Kathryn Zajicek to approve the minutes of the August 30, 2023 Board meeting. This motion was unanimously carried.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES REPORT
The Assistant Superintendent for Educational Service’s Partnership-Advocacy-Leadership Report included:
► Special Education Program Update
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BOCES OPERATIONS AND COMPONENT DISTRICT SERVICES REPORT
The Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services’ Partnership-Advocacy-Leadership Report included:
►Community Schools CoSer
►Recruitment and Retention
►2023-24 COVID Protocols
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
The District Superintendent’s Partnership-Advocacy-Leadership report included:
► NYSED Updates
► The Basics
PERSONNEL ITEMS
Upon the District Superintendent’s recommendation, the following personnel items were presented to the Board for acceptance or approval. All new appointments are contingent upon receipt of Employment Eligibility Verification form.
Personnel Matters Unclassified A-P
Rebecca Cozzocrea made a motion, seconded by Carmen Caraco and unanimously carried to accept the following Unclassified Personnel Matters:
| A. | Probationary Appointments: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upon the recommendation of the District Superintendent, the Board of Education hereby appoint the individual(s) listed below to a probationary appointment in the indicated tenure area contingent upon their successful completion of the probationary term and having received composite or overall APPR ratings of either “Effective” or “Highly Effective” in at least three of the four preceding years and a rating higher than ineffective. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item | Name | Tenure Area/ Position Title |
FTE | Assignment | Probationary Appointment Start Date | Probationary Appointment End Date | Certification Status | Salary | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Marshall, Kristina | Administrative Coordinator / Administrative Coordinator – CTE | 1.0 | CTE | 10/23/2023 | 10/22/2027 | School Building Leader Initial | $87,000 (prorated) | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | Csernai, Allison | School Social Worker / School Social Worker | 1.0 | Adirondack Academy | 9/25/2023 | 9/24/2026 | School Social Worker Permanent | Schedule D, Step 13 | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | Williams-Tine, Margaret Anne | School Counselor / School Counselor | 1.0 | PTECH | 10/2/2023 | 10/1/2027 | School Counselor Permanent | Schedule D, Step 13 (prorated) | |||||||||||||||
| *Original appointment 9/28/2022 amended to increase FTE from 0.6 to 1.0 effective 9/1/2023 (related to item P1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| B. | Tenure Appointments: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Upon the recommendation of the District Superintendent, the Board of Education hereby tentatively grants the following instructional employee(s) tenure in the indicated tenure area contingent upon successful completion of the probationary term. None |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. | Temporary Appointments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | FTE | Assignment | Start Date | End Date | Certification | Salary | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Seder, Bonita | Math Teacher | 0.4 | Adirondack Academy | 9/6/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Mathematics 7-12 Permanent | $73,500 (prorated) | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | Hart-DeMagistris, Rebecca** | Adult Educator / Case Manager | Up to 400 hours | ALCE | 9/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Mathematics 7-12 Permanent, Special Education Permanent | $30/hour | |||||||||||||||
| 3 | Mancini-Nethaway, Maria* | Adult Educator/Case Manager | 1.0 | ALCE | 9/14/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) Emergency COVID-19 | Schedule C, Step 3 (prorated) | |||||||||||||||
| 4 | Sacco, Wendy | Special Education Teacher | 0.6 | CTE | 9/28/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Special Education Permanent | $38,220 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Deming, Deborah | Art Teacher | 1.0 | Special Education | 10/2/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Art Permanent Certificate | $66,150 | ||||||||||||
| *Original appointment 8/30/2023 amended to reflect new start date | ||||||||||||||||||||
| **Original appointment 8/30/2023 amended to correct end date | ||||||||||||||||||||
| D. | Leave Replacements | |||||||||||||||||||
| None | ||||||||||||||||||||
| E. | Substitutes (Certified) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | FTE | Assignment | Start Date | End Date | Certification | Salary | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Smith, John C. B. | Substitute Teacher (Certified) | Pro Re Nata | Any BOCES location, as needed | 9/28/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Social Studies 7-12 Permanent | Per diem* | ||||||||||||
| *Hourly or per diem substitute rate as established by the Board of Education | ||||||||||||||||||||
| F. | Substitutes (Uncertified) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | FTE | Assignment | Start Date | End Date | Salary | |||||||||||||
| 1 | Douglass, Debra | Substitute Teacher (Uncertified) | Pro Re Nata | Any BOCES location, as needed | 9/28/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Per diem* | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Eagan, Michaela | Uncertified Substitute Teacher – Long Term | 1 | Adirondack Academy | 9/1/2023 | 1/13/2024 | Per diem* | |||||||||||||
| *Hourly or per diem substitute rate as established by the Board of Education | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G. | Leaves (Unpaid) | |||||||||||||||||||
| None | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves (FMLA)* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| None | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *Time off constitutes use of employee’s leave accruals and, once exhausted, unpaid leave time | ||||||||||||||||||||
| H. | Resignations | |||||||||||||||||||
| Item | Name | Position | Assignment | Effective Date | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Dunn, Catherine | Teacher (0.60 FTE) | CTE | 9/2/2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Rulison, Molly | School Social Worker | Special Education | 10/13/2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| I. | Layoffs | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| J. | Recalls | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| K. | Terminations | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| L. | Retirements | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| M. | Summer (Temporary) Appointments | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Service Area | Effort | Assignment | Start Date | End Date | Salary/Rate | |||
| 1 | Hart-DeMagistris, Rebecca | Adult Educator | Up to 50 hours | ALCE | 7/1/2023 | 8/31/2023 | $30.00/hour | |||
| N. | Rescind Appointments – Instructional Personnel | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position | Assignment | Effective Date | Previous Appointment Date | |||||
| 1 | Hogenboom, Jennifer | Library Media Specialist | School Library System/ Instructional Resource Center | 9/1/2023 | 8/2/2023 | |||||
| O. | Change of Assignment – Instructional Personnel – Informational Only | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| P. | Change FTE/Hours/Salary | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Effort From | Effort To | Effective Date | |||||
| 1 | Halloran, Jeanne* | General Special Education Teacher | 0.40 | 0.00 | 8/31/2023 | |||||
| 2 | Halloran, Jeanne** | Administrative Coordinator – PTECH | 0.60 | 1.00 | 9/1/2023 | |||||
| *Involuntary reduction. Employee retains tenure and seniority as a General Special Education Teacher. | ||||||||||
| **Employee will continue in probationary appointment as Administrative Coordinator at a 1.0 FTE (Orig. BOE appointment 9/28/2022) | ||||||||||
Personnel Matters Classified A-M
Rebecca Cozzocrea made a motion, seconded by Carmen Caraco and unanimously carried to accept the following Classified Personnel Matters:
| A. | Non-Instructional Appointments: Permanent Status Serving Probation | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | FTE | Assignment | Probationary Appointment Start Date | Probationary Appointment End Date | Salary | |||
| 1 | Gutowski, Tracy | Administrative Aide | 1.0 | Central Administration | 8/23/2023 | 8/22/2024 | No change | |||
| 2 | Cutter, Rachael | Occupational Therapist (School District) | 1.0 | Special Education | 9/1/2023 | 8/31/2024 | $61,000 (prorated) | |||
| 3 | Rowland, Jeremy | Teacher Aide | 1.0 | CTE | 9/1/2023 | 8/31/2024 | $22,993.33 | |||
| 4 | Veit, Jennifer | Teacher Aide | 1.0 | Adirondack Academy | 9/5/2023 | 9/4/2024 | $22,155.09 (prorated) | |||
| B. | Non-Instructional Appointments: Contingent Permanent | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| C. | Provisional Appointments: Starting | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| Provisional Appointments: Ending | ||||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | FTE | Assignment | Provisional Appointment End Date | |||||
| 1 | Gutowski, Tracy | Administrative Aide | 1.0 | Central Administration | 8/22/2023 | |||||
| D. | Substitute Appointments | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | FTE | Assignment | Start Date | End Date | Salary | |||
| 1 | Horton, Amanda | Substitute Teacher Aide/School Monitor | Pro Re Nata | Any BOCES location, as needed | 9/28/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 2 | Reese, Sarah | Substitute Teacher Aide/School Monitor | Pro Re Nata | Any BOCES location, as needed | 9/28/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 3 | Austin, Gary | Substitute School Bus Attendant | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 4 | Kenyon, Adrianna | Substitute School Bus Attendant | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 9/18/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 5 | Marotta, Ralph | Substitute School Bus Attendant | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 9/18/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 6 | Zemken, Peter | Substitute School Bus Attendant | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 9/8/2023 | 9/13/2023 | Hourly* | |||
| 7 | Buyce, Lynn | Substitute School Bus Attendant (Retired) | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 8 | Dunham, Renee | Substitute School Bus Attendant (Retired) | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 9 | Beach, Parris | Substitute School Bus Driver | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 10 | Maloney, James | Substitute School Bus Driver | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 11 | Walters, Andrew | Substitute School Bus Driver | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 12 | Brown, Michael | Substitute School Bus Driver (Retired) | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 9/5/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 13 | Dunham, Renee | Substitute School Bus Driver (Retired) | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| 14 | MacVean, Allen | Substitute School Bus Driver (Retired) | Pro Re Nata | Regional Transportation | 7/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Hourly* | |||
| *Hourly or per diem substitute rate as established by the Board of Education | ||||||||||
| E. | Leaves (Unpaid) | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Assignment | Effective Date(s) | ||||||
| Leaves (FMLA)* | ||||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Assignment | Effective Date(s) | ||||||
| 1 | Bazan, Heather | Registered Professional Nurse (School) | Special Education | 9/12/2023 – 1/16/2024 (intermittent) | ||||||
| 2 | Carpenter, Michael | Custodial Worker | Operations & Maintenance | 9/25/2023 – 11/30/2023 (intermittent) | ||||||
| 3 | Wheeler, Monique** | School Bus Attendant | Regional Transportation | 7/28/2023 – 9/19/2023 | ||||||
| *Time off constitutes use of employee’s leave accruals and, once exhausted, unpaid leave time | ||||||||||
| **Original resolution 8/30/2023 amended to extend end date of leave | ||||||||||
| F. | Retirements | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Assignment | Effective Date | ||||||
| 1 | Frees, Linda* | Occupational Therapist (School District) | Special Education | 6/30/2024 | ||||||
| 2 | Gonzales Sr., Jose | Bus Driver | Regional Transportation | 6/30/2024 | ||||||
| *Original resolution 4/26/2023 amended to reflect new effective date | ||||||||||
| G. | Terminations | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| H. | Resignations | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Assignment | Effective Date | ||||||
| 1 | Guzman Martinez, Juan | School Bus Driver | Regional Transportation | 10/4/2023 | ||||||
| 2 | Vogel, Kayla | School Bus Attendant | Regional Transportation | 8/29/2023 | ||||||
| 3 | White, Bobbi | Teacher Aide | Adirondack Academy | 9/18/2023 | ||||||
| 4 | Zemken, Peter | Substitute School Bus Attendant | Regional Transportation | 9/13/2023 | ||||||
| 5 | Rowland, Jeremy | School Monitor | Adirondack Academy | 8/31/2023 | ||||||
| I. | Layoffs | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| Reductions | ||||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| J. | Recalls | |||||||||
| None | ||||||||||
| K. | Change of Assignment/FTE/Hours | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Change Assignment From | Change Assignment To | Salary | Effective Date | ||||
| 1 | DePasquale, Richard | School Safety Officer | 0.4 | 0.6 | $62,500 (prorated) | 10/1/2023 | ||||
| L. | Temporary Appointments | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Effort | Assignment | Start Date | End Date | Salary/Rate | |||
| 1 | Hogabone, Kayla** | Teacher Aide | Up to 350 hours | ALCE | 9/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Based on hourly rate* | |||
| 2 | Kamp, Laurie | Casual Employee | Up to 500 hours | Special Education | 1/1/2024 | 6/30/2024 | $30/hour | |||
| 3 | Maxson, Saleena | Registered Professional Nurse (School) | Student Supervision: not to exceed 250 hours | PTECH | 9/1/2023 | 6/30/2024 | Based on hourly rate* | |||
| *Salary/Rate for this period is based upon each employee’s hourly or per diem rate per their collective bargaining agreement. | ||||||||||
| **Original appointment 8/30/2023 amended to reflect correct end date | ||||||||||
| M. | Summer (Temporary Appointments) | |||||||||
| Item | Name | Position Title | Effort | Assignment | Start Date | End Date | Salary/Rate | |||
| 1 | Beedon, John | School Monitor | 2 additional summer days to provide coverage | Central Administration | 7/1/2023 | 8/31/2023 | $111.83/day | |||
| 2 | Hart-DeMagistris, Rebecca | Teacher Aide | Up to 50 hours | ALCE | 7/1/2023 | 8/31/2023 | $17.04/hour | |||
| *Salary/Rate for this period is based upon each employee’s hourly or per diem rate per their collective bargaining agreement. | ||||||||||
CLAIMS AUDITOR REPORT
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to approve the Claims Auditor Report for the period of August 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023. (SY 23-24 #44)
TREASURER’S REPORT
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to approve the Treasurer’s report for the period of July 1, 2023 through July 31, 2023. (SY 23-24 #45)
EXTRACLASS REPORTS
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to approve the July and August 2023 Extraclass reports as submitted. (SY 23-24 #46, #47)
ITEMS TO BE DECLARED SALVAGE
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion to approve the items for salvage as listed on the Chief Financial Officer’s memorandum dated September 12, 2023. This motion was seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried. (SY 23-24 #48)
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SERVICES AGREEMENT – PFEIFFER
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to authorize the District Superintendent to execute the Independent Contractor Services Agreement by and between HFM BOCES and J’aime Pfeiffer to serve as a School Libraries Mentor Program Consultant effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. (SY 23-24 #49)
BUDGET TRANSFERS AND ADJUSTMENTS
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to approve the Budget Adjustments and Budget Transfers through June 2023 as submitted by the Chief Financial Officer. (SY 23-24 #50, #51)
CTE – FMRCC CONTRACTS
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to authorize the District Superintendent to execute the two Contracts for Administration of Career and Technical Education – Business Education Partnership by and between HFM BOCES and the Fulton-Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce effective September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024. (SY 23-24 #52, #53)
GOLD SERVICE AGREEMENT – TK ELEVATOR CORP
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to authorize the District Superintendent to execute the Gold Service Agreement by and between HFM BOCES and TK Elevator Corporation to maintain the elevator equipment in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement for a 60-month period. (SY 23-24 #54)
ASSETWORKS AGREEMENT
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to authorize the District Superintendent to execute the quotation from AssetWorks USA Inc. to provide HFM BOCES with an inventory management system. (SY 23-24 #55)
RESERVE FUND REPORT THROUGH JUNE 2023
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion, seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried to accept the Reserve Fund Report for the year ending June 30, 2023 as submitted by the Chief Financial Officer. (SY 23-24 #56)
2022-2023 ANNNUAL INVESTMENT REPORT – Information Only
The Board was given the 2022-2023 Annual Investment Report for information only.
2022-23 INDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT
Having been received by the Audit Committee, Rebecca Cozzocrea made a motion, seconded by Carmen Caraco and unanimously carried to accept the fiscal 2022-23 Independent Audit as prepared by West and Company, CPAs. (SY 23-24 #57)
NYSSBA VOTING DELEGATE
Kathryn Zajicek made a motion to nominate Carolyn Wilcox to be the 2023 HFM BOCES NYSSBA Voting Delegate. This motion was seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried.
BOARDDOCS LT TO PRO UPGRADE CONTRACT
Carmen Caraco made a motion authorize the District Superintendent to execute the New York State School Boards Association BoardDocs LT to Pro Upgrade contract effective October 1, 2023. This motion was seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried. (SY 23-24 #58)
FUTURE MEETINGS
September 5, 2023 – Opening Day 8:15am, HFM BOCES Conference Center
October 25, 2023 – HFM BOCES Regular Board Meeting – 9? am, HFM BOCES Board Room
ADJOURNMENT:
With no further business to come before the Board, Kathryn Zajicek made a motion at 6:47 p.m.to adjourn the meeting. This motion was seconded by Paula Brown-Weinstock and unanimously carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Eaton
Clerk of the Board
