July 6, 2022 Reorganization Meeting
BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Hamilton-Fulton & Montgomery Counties
Johnstown, NY 12095
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DATE
July 6, 2022
PLACE
HFM BOCES Conference Center Rooms C112A & C112B,
KIND OF MEETING
Reorganization Meeting
MEMBERS PRESENT
Harry Brooks, Carmen Caraco, Rebecca Cozzocrea, John DeValve, Jean LaPorta and Matt Sullivan
MEMBER ABSENT
Kathryn Zajicek
OTHERS PRESENT
David Ziskin, District Superintendent; Aaron Bochniak, Assistant Superintendent; Kathi Lewis, School Business Manager and Christine Eaton, Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
The reorganization meeting of HFM BOCES was called to order by Board Clerk at 5:00 p.m.
TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Harry Brooks to appoint the District Superintendent as the temporary chairperson of the reorganizational meeting. This motion carried unanimously.
OATH OF OFFICE
At this time the Clerk administered the oath of office to Board Member Harry Brooks.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF PRESIDENT
The Board Clerk then asked for nominations for the office of President. Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by John DeValve, to nominate Harry Brooks to the office of President for the 2022-2023 school year. Jean LaPorta then made a motion, seconded by John DeValve, to close the polls, temporarily suspend the rules and instruct the Clerk to cast one vote for Harry Brooks to the office of President. This motion was unanimously carried.
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Matt Sullivan, to nominate Jean LaPorta to the office of Vice President for the 2022-2023 school year. John DeValve then made a motion, seconded by Matt Sullivan to close the polls, temporarily suspend the rules and instruct the Clerk to cast one vote for Jean LaPorta to the office of Vice President. This motion carried unanimously.
OATHS OF OFFICE
Dr. Brooks was then administered the oath of office of Board President and Mrs. LaPorta was administered the oath of office of Vice President.
PRESIDENT ASSUMES LEADERSHIP
At this time, President Brooks assumed leadership of the meeting.
REORGANIZATION APPOINTMENTS
Upon the District Superintendent’s recommendation the following appointments for the 2022-2023 school year were presented for Board approval:
TITLE: PERSON/ORGANIZATION
Clerk of the Board: Christine Eaton
Treasurer: Jennifer Clear
Deputy Treasurer: Michelle Abrams
Claims Auditor ($30 per hour): Misty Dygert
Deputy Internal Claims Auditor ($30 per hour): TBD
Extracurricular Accounts Treasurer: Carene Christensen
Asst. Treas. of Extracurricular Accts.: Jennifer Clear
Extra Class Faculty Auditor: Michelle Abrams
Extra Class Faculty Counselor:
Michael Jacob(Special Ed)
Michael DiMezza (CTE)
Matthew Davis (PTECH)
Christine Carioto (ADK)
Extra Class Faculty Advisors (List appended to minutes)
Verifier of Purchase Orders: Lisa Royal
Purchasing Officer: Stephanie Dineen
Deputy Purchasing Officer: School Business Manager
Official Newspaper: The Leader Herald
Official Radio Stations:
WENT, Gloversville
WCSS, Amsterdam
School Physician: St. Mary’s Health Care
Attorneys: Girvin and Ferlazzo,P.C.
Labor Relations: Robert Zordan, Kevin Harren
Independent Auditors: West & Company CPAs, P.C.
Internal Auditors: Questar III BOCES
AHERA/SASS Designee and District Safety Officer: Health and Safety Supervisor
Data Protection Officer: Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services
Information Officer: Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services
Records Management Officer: Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services
Records Access Officer: Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services
Medicaid Compliance Officer: Michael DiMezza
Official Bank: NBT Bank
General Insurance: NYSIR – Mang Agency
Workers Compensation Insurance: PERMA – Robert J. Hoy Agency, Inc.
Health Insurance: Excellus BlueCrossBlueShield
Dental Insurance: Delta Dental
Title IX Coordinator: Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services
School Library System Council (List appended to minutes)
Board Audit Committee: Committee of the Whole
NYSSBA Convention Voting Delegate: TBD
NYSSBA Voting Alternate: TBD
NYSSBA Legislative Liaison: TBD
Tobacco Free School Policy Liaison: Health and Safety Supervisor
Dignity Act Coordinators (List appended to minutes)
Homeless Liaison/Migrant Education Coordinator: Assistant Superintendent For Educational Services
Financial Advisor: Karen Moon, Vice President of Bernard Donegan Inc.
HFM BOCES Bond Counsel: M. Corneilia Cahill, Esq. of Hiscock & Barclay LLP
Chief Emergency Officer: District Superintendent
APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS
Carmen Caraco made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea, to approve the 2022-2023 reorganization appointments as presented, making note that positions left in the to be determined status will be approved by the Board as they are filled. This motion carried unanimously.
REORGANIZATIONAL RESOLUTIONS
Upon the District Superintendent’s recommendation the following resolutions for the 2022-2023 school year were presented to the Board for approval:
Authorize the Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services to certify all payrolls
Authorize the District Superintendent to sign and file all applications and certifications for federal and state funds
Authorize the District Superintendent to employ non-instructional and instructional staff, substitutes, adult education staff, and temporary employees consistent with existing policies, for up to 45 days prior to official Board appointment.
Authorize District Superintendent and Treasurer to borrow up to $500,000.00 in anticipation of revenues
Authorize the District Superintendent to execute section 211 applications
Authorize School Business Manager, to transfer budgetary appropriations up to $10,000
Authorize the capitalizing threshold at $5,000
Authorize Treasurer, with approval of District Superintendent, to invest funds within legal limitations
Authorize the School Business Official to certify prevailing wage
Authorize the transfer of up to $2,000,000.00 (two million dollars) from funds with available balances to the General Fund to cover cash flow needs, with repayment to be made within one year, as permitted when borrowing between funds. In discussion with our local auditors, it is recommended that in order to avoid legal costs and interest associated with the issuance of RANs, BOCES use the internal transfer option to cover cash flow needs
Authorize the Treasurer of the BOCES, Jennifer Clear to use an electronic check signature to authenticate checks issued on the BOCES accounts and to process transfers as required.
Authorize Kathi Lewis and Michelle Abrams to use an electronic check signature to authenticate payroll checks in the absence of the Treasurer.
Authorize the Kathi Lewis and Michelle Abrams to use an electronic check signature to authenticate accounts payable checks in the absence of the Treasurer.
Authorize Kathi Lewis and Michelle Abrams to process transfers in the absence of the Treasurer
Authorize the following employees with single signature authority: Jennifer Clear and Kathi Lewis
Authorize Kathi Lewis and Stephanie Dineen to use electronic purchasing account
Authorize the District Superintendent and School Business Manager, or their designee to approve staff mileage, conference attendance, and payment/reimbursement within budgetary appropriations
Authorize director-principals and principals to suspend students for up to five days
Authorize BOCES to participate in cooperative bidding of supplies, services, equipment, and janitorial products with public school districts and municipalities of Fulton, Montgomery, and Hamilton Counties as well as DCMO BOCES, Capital Region BOCES and Erie I BOCES
Re-adopt the Audit Committee Charter, effective July 1, 2022
Re-Adopt the Board Policy Manual, all sections and policies therein, effective July 1, 2022
Re-Adopt the Constitutionally Protected Prayer in the Schools Certification
Adopt the last Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. as BOCES board meeting date and time, except as otherwise indicated on the annual board meeting dates calendar
Adopt the HFM BOCES mileage chart effective July 1, 2022, and authorize the School Business Manager to amend the chart as required during the
course of the school year
Authorize the Board President and/or District Superintendent to sign contracts on behalf of the Board of Education
Confirm HFM credit card limits as follows:
District Superintendent – $25,000
School Business Manager & Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Services – $36,400
(combined)
Authorize three separate petty cash funds as follows:
- Business Office (Michelle Abrams) $50
- Career & Technical Education (Billie Hladik ) $50
- Special Education (Holly Anker) $50
Establish the following substitute staff pay rates for the school year 2022-2023:
Substitute Automotive Mechanic Helpers: $18.00 Per Hour
Substitute Bus Drivers: $20.00 Per hour
Substitute Bus Drivers – Retired: $24.50 Per hour
Substitute Clinical Nurse (RN): $160.00 Per diem
Substitute Clinical Nurses (LPN): $150.00 Per diem
Substitute Couriers: $14.25 Per hour
Substitute Custodial Workers: $13.85 Per hour
Substitute Interpreters: $15.00 Per hour
Substitute School Bus Attendants: $13.25 Per hour
Substitute School Bus Attendants – Retired: $16.00 Per hour
Substitute School Monitor (Inclusive of summer): $13.70 Per hour
Substitute School Nurses (LPN): $95.00 Per diem
Substitute School Nurses (RN): $125.00 Per diem
Substitute School Nurses (RN): Regional Summer School/Enrichment $19.23 Per hour
Substitute Teacher Aides: $13.70 Per hour
Substitute Teacher Aides Long-term: $95.00 Per diem
Substitute Teacher Aides required to travel from the student’s home: $13.70 Per hour
Substitute Teacher Aides/Monitors – Retired: $16.60 Per hour
Substitute Teachers Certified – Retired: $150.00 Per diem
Substitute Teachers Certified: $105.00 Per diem
Substitute Teachers Uncertified: $95.00: Per diem
Substitute Teachers – Long-Term – Certified: $130.00 Per diem
Substitute Teachers Long-Term – Uncertified: $110.00 Per diem
Substitute Teachers Regional Summer School/Enrichment Certified: $16.15 Per Hour
Substitute Teachers Regional Summer/Enrichment School Uncertified: $14.62 Per Hour
Substitute Typists (inclusive of summer): $14.50 Per hour
Authorize board member and administrative attendance at approved conferences and meetings including the authority to expend funds associated with these activities
Authorize membership in Mohawk-Sacandaga School Boards Association, Capital Area School Development Association, New York State School Boards Association, Rural Schools Association, Fulton-Montgomery County Regional Chamber of Commerce, American Association of Educational Service Agencies, Statewide BOCES P/R – Erie I, BOCES the Energy Pricing Consortium, BOCES Education Consortium and the Fulton County CRG
Authorize the District Superintendent and School Business Manager to approve business related travel reimbursement at the latest available published IRS rate
Authorize bonding of all HFM BOCES employees up to $100,000 plus an additional $900,000 coverage per loss
Establish April 5, 2023, as the date for the next BOCES Annual Meeting
Establish April 26, 2023, as the date on which each component school board shall conduct a public meeting for the purpose of voting on the BOCES administrative budget and candidates to fill vacancies on the BOCES Board of Education, pursuant to Section 1950 of Education Law
Establish the following Adult Services Tuitions for school year 2022-2023:
- Career/Technical Program (½ day) $2,999.00
- Career/Technical Program (full day) 5,998.00
Establish the following ancillary pay rates for school year 2022-2023:
- Retiree Scorers $100/per diem
- Regional Scoring Assistants 15/hour
- Lifeguard 13.70/hour
- Adult Educators 30/hour
- Bus Driver Trainers 25/hour
- Curriculum Writing 25/hour
- Chaperones 25/hour
- Summer Professional Development
- Participants 25/hour
- Regional Summer School Teacher 30/hour
- Regional Summer School Teaching Assistant 15/hour
- TASC/HSE Coordinator 30.00/hour
- TASC/HSE Examiner 25.00/hour
- TASC/HSE Proctor 15.00/hour
Reaffirm that the Hamilton-Fulton & Montgomery BOCES is a non-discriminatory employer
Reaffirm that alternative communications will be used to assist the handicapped
Reaffirm that BOCES meetings will be held in locations most accessible to the handicapped
Reaffirm BOCES commitment to comply with The Freedom of Information Act and The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Reaffirm BOCES commitment to comply with the Open Meeting Law
Reaffirm BOCES commitment to comply with Title IX
Reaffirm BOCES commitment to comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA)
Reaffirm BOCES commitment to comply with the Annual School Integrated Pest Management notification requirements
Reaffirm charge for transcripts for adult students $5.00 per transcript
Reaffirm a photocopy fee of $0.25 per face sheet
Reaffirm that secretarial fees associated with the retrieval of information shall be at the actual pay rates for the person(s) performing the retrieval tasks
APPROVAL OF REORGANIZATION RESOLUTIONS
A motion was made by John DeValve and seconded by Matt Sullivan, to approve the reorganization resolutions for the 2022-2023 school year as presented. This motion was unanimously carried.
ADJOURNMENT
At 5:11 p.m. a motion was made by John DeValve to adjourn the reorganization meeting and prepare to enter a special board meeting. This motion was seconded by Matt Sullivan and unanimously carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Eaton
Clerk of the Board
Extraclassroom Activity Fund 2022-202.
EXTRACLASSROOM ACTIVITY FUNDS
07/01/2022-06/30/23
(A/C#, Fund Name, Faculty Advisor)
100, Auto Body, John Ackermann
102, Auto A, Thomas Davis
106, Conservation, Adam Cancio
109, Cosmetology A, Julie Mead
110, Cosmetology B, Valerie Charpentier
115, Digital Multimedia, Karen Garrison/ Dayna Peck
133, Foundations of Food, Rebecca Skretkowicz
140, PTECH Student Government, TBD
PTECH Academic Club, TBD
PTECH Art Club, TBD
PTECH Blacksmith Club, TBD
PTECH Drama and Glee Club, TBD
PTECH Future Business Leaders of America, TBD
PTECH Rock and Jazz Club, TBD
PTECH Student Judicial Council, TBD
PTECH Underwater Robotics Club, TBD
PTECH Yearbook Club, TBD
141, FFA, TBD
142, Veterinary & Animal Science, Meredith Tuppen
Construction Technology Program, Steven Derwin
HFM BOCES SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEM COUNCIL
Laura Campagna, Amsterdam, 07/01/20 – 6/30/23
Amber Smith, Fonda-Fultonville, 7/1/19 – 6/30/22
Karen Johnson, OESJ, 07/1/21 06/30/24
Carla Bengle-Mackey (Chair), Gloversville, 7/1/20 6/30/23
Crystal Keck, Johnstown, 07/1/21 – 6/30/24
Terri Brown, Northville, 071/20 – 6/30/23
TBD, St. Mary’s Institute, 7/1/22 – 6/30/25
Christine Suhr, Wells, 7/1/22 6/30/25
Susan D’Entremont, CDLC, 07/1/21 – 6/30/24
Dan Towne, FMCC, 7/1/20 – 6/30/23
Eric Trahan, Public Libraries Representative, Mohawk Valley Library System, 7/1/20 6/30/23
Kristi Beedon, HFM BOCES, SLS Director
DIGNITY ACT COORDINATORS
Charis Kakavelos, CTE
Michael DiMezza, CTE
Riley O’Malley, CTE
Matthew Popp, Special Education
Daniel Salvagni, Special Education
Tammy Dingman, Special Education
Elizabeth Wild, Special Education
Christine Carioto, Adirondack Academy
Brian Garrity, Adirondack Academy
Julie Blanchard, Adirondack Academy
Matthew Davis, PTECH
Celeste Keane, PTECH
