Queensbury Union Free School District > Archive > February 14, 2022 Meeting Minutes
Posted on by sara.sandidge

February 14, 2022 Meeting Minutes

The regular meeting of the Queensbury School Board of Education was held on February 14, 2022 in the Elementary School Cafeteria.

Mr. Mannix called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

The Pledge to the Flag was led by Mr. Mannix

Members present:  Danield Mannix, Esq., President;  Timothy Weaver, Vice President;  Patricia Belden (virtual); Dawn Bleyenburg;  Francis Cabana; Stacey Flaherty (virtual); Jamey Hardesty; Amy Molloy (virtual): and Michael Shea, PhD (virtual); Superintendent of Schools Kyle Gannon; and Clerk of the Board Scott Whittemore.

Members absent:  None

Others present:  Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Denise Troelstra; QHS Principal Damian Switzer; QHS Assistant Principal Andrew Snide; QHS Assistant Principal Daniel Hamm;  QMS Principal Michael Brannigan; QMS Assistant Principal Tiffany Montgomery; WHBI Principal Gwynne Cosh; WHBI Assistant Principal Amanda Denno; QES Principal Jessica Rossetti; QES Assistant Principal Kristin Bergin; Director of SEL and School Development Raychel Marcil; Director of Student Support Services Kristine Bennett-Barnes; Assistant Director of Student Support Services Robyn Scotland; Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Richard Keys; Director of Transportation Cheri Martindale; Controller Yuliana Cummings and other employees and community members.

A moment of silence was held for Michelle Bennett and family.

Presentations:

  • Parent University Update – Raychel Marcil and Kristin Bergin
  • Seal of Biliteracy – Stephen Collins
  • School of Character – Kyle Gannon
  • Budget Presentation – Scott Whittemore

Open Forum:

Jim Ward spoke about masks

Business Items – Assistant Superintendent for Business

Motion by Mr. Weaver and seconded by Mrs. Belden to accept the resignation of Amy Molloy as a Board of Education member, with sincere appreciation and regret,  effective 6/30/22.

   9 voting in favor

Business Consent Items 

Motion by Mrs. Bleyenburg and seconded by Mr. Hardesty to approve Business Consent Items (B – W):

     9 voting in favor

Motion to approve the minutes of the January 10, 2022 Board of Education meeting.

Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of November 2021 and the month of December 2021.

Motion to approve the Internal Claims Audit Report for the month of December 2021.

Motion to approve the Clerk’s Report, the Internal Claims Audit Report,  the General Fund Revenue Report, the Federal Fund Revenue Report, and the School Lunch Fund Revenue Report for the month of January 2022.

Motion to approve the following Warrants for the month of December 2021:

General Fund December Warrant $2,192,792.22
Federal Fund December Warrant $1,753.95
School Lunch Fund December Warrant $1,066.80
MS Security Project December Warrant $10,749.82
HS Sewer Pipe Project December Warrant $      9,486.90

Motion to approve the following Warrants for the month of January 2022:

General Fund January Warrant $2,321,064.48
Federal Fund January Warrant $77,623.97
School Lunch Fund January Warrant $363,368.35
2021 Capital Project Fund January Warrant $148,659.06
MS Roof Project January Warrant $2,377.84
MS Security Project January Warrant $5,859.11
HS Sewer Pipe Project January Warrant $29,915.00
Motion to accept the budget transfers for the month of January 2022.

Motion to accept a grant of $12,200 from The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, for the music department, with sincere appreciation.

Motion to accept the gift of $75 from the Transportation Department for the repair of chromebooks with sincere appreciation.

Motion to accept the grant of $560 from the 2020 Project Lead the Way Mini Grant from the Rochester Institute of Technology, with sincere appreciation

Motion to approve the Internal Revenue Service mileage reimbursement rate of 58.5 cents per mile, effective 1/1/22.

Motion to approve the amended memorandum of understanding between Queensbury Union Free School District and Adirondack Community College (SUNY Adirondack) to provide shelter should an emergency evacuation occur, effective 12/30/21.

Motion  to approve the agreement between Queensbury Union Free School District and Vanderheyden Hall to provide educational services for a student who lives in the Queensbury school district, effective 1/3/2022 – 6/24/2022.

Motion to approve the agreement between Queensbury Union Free School District and Children’s Neuropsychological Services, PLLC to provide an independent evaluation for a Queensbury student at a cost not to exceed $2,000.

Motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Warren County Board of Elections to provide Queensbury Schools with Optical Scan Voting Machines for the School Budget Vote and elections to be held on May 17, 2022.

Motion to approve the contract with South Colonie Central Schools to provide health and welfare services to students (currently 1 student) who live in the Queensbury School District and attend schools in the South Colonie Central School District, effective for the 2021-2022 school year.

Motion to approve the Queensbury School District calendar for the 2022-2023 school year.

Motion to approve the Board of Education Meeting schedule for the 2022-2023 school year.  

Motion to approve the following probationary support staff appointment:  

  • Erin Aurelia, Teacher Aide (District, assigned to QES), $13.20 per hour, effective 1/12/22
  • Barbara Pizzigati, Teacher Aide (District, assigned to QHS), $13.20 per hour,  effective 2/7/22
  • Richard Brown, Groundskeeper, Step 4 annually (prorated), effective 2/7/22
  • Julie Darmetko, Cleaner, Step 2 annually (prorated), effective 2/7/22
  • Owen Snowball, Bus Driver, Step 1, effective 2/14/22

Motion to approve the following substitute support staff appointments:

  • Adam Orr, Substitute Bus Driver, $26 per hour, effective 1/19/22
  • Timothy Dennin, Substitute Cleaner, $15.70 per hour, effective 1/31/22

Motion to approve the following part-time support staff appointments:

  • Matthew Crossman, Bus Driver Trainee, $16 per hour, effective 1/20/22
  • Shawn Keating, Bus Driver Trainee, $16 per hour, effective 1/31/22

Motion to approve the following provisional support staff appointments:

  • William Evans, Custodian (previously cleaner), Step 20 prorated, effective 2/7/22
  • Robert Fagle, Custodian (previously cleaner), Step 3 prorated, effective 2/7/22
  • Ann Marie Winchell, Custodian (previously cleaner), Step 5 prorated, effective  2/7/22
  • Carey Breault, QHS School Secretary, Step 4 prorated, effective 2/22/22

End of Business Consent

Educational Items – Superintendent of Schools

Motion by Mr. Weaver and seconded by Mrs. Belden to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Karen Bauer, QHS Special Education Teacher, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 6/30/22.

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mr. Hardesty and seconded by Mr. Weaver to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Jacqueline Bolton, QES Teacher, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 7/1/22.

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mrs. Bleyenburg and seconded by Mr. Weaver to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Amy Brown, QMS Family & Consumer Science Teacher, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 7/1/22.

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mr. Cabana and seconded by Mr. Weaver to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Christine Backus, QES Speech Pathologist, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 7/1/24.

9 voting in favor 

Motion by Mr. Cabana and seconded by Mrs. Bleyenburg to approve the probationary appointment of:

Megan Lambert

  • Appointment: Four Year Probationary
  • Assignment: QES Special Education Teacher
  • Rate:  L1 + BS + 30 graduate credits
  • Effective: 1/18/22 – 9/6/25
  • Tenure Area:  Special Education
  • Certifications: Students with disabilities 1-6, Internship
  • Students with disabilities B-2, Pending
  • Early Childhood Education, B-2, Pending
  • Childhood Education 1-6, Pending

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mr. Hardesty and seconded by Mr. Weaver to approve the following probationary appointment of: 

Laura McKenna

  • Appointment: Four Year Probationary
  • Assignment: Teaching Assistant, District assigned to QES
  • Rate: Step 4
  • Effective: 2/9/22 – 2/8/26
  • Tenure Area: Teaching Assistant
  • Certification: Teaching Assistant, Continuing

9 voting in favor

Educational Consent Items (G – O)

Motion by Mrs. Bleyenburg and seconded by Mr. Weaver to approve the following Educational Consent Items (G – O):

9 voting in favor

Motion to approve the revised long-term substitute appointment of Paula Weeks, Elementary Teacher, effective 10/25/21 – 1/28/22  4/14/22.

Motion to approve the following mentoring appointments for the 2021-2022 school year:

  • Hollie Combs
    • Mentoring Period: 1/3/22 – 6/30/22
  • Michelle Sullivan
    • Mentoring Period: 1/3/22 – 6/30/22 .5 FTE
  • Cassaundra Britt
    • Mentoring Period: 1/3/22 – 6/30/22 .5FTE
  •  Laura Cunningham
    • Mentoring Period: 9/1/21 – 1/30/22 3/11/22

Motion to approve the following revised club/activity appointment for the 2021-2022 school year:

High School:

  • QHS Musical – Stage Crew
    • Nicole McDonald
      • C – $1,400
      • B – $2,000
  •  QHS Musical – Lighting Director
    • Alena Samoray
      • B – $2,000

Middle School:

  •  MS Drama Club
    • Hayley Miller
      • A – $3,075 (prorated) 12/8/21-12/23/21
        2/14/22

Intermediate School:

    • Drama Club
      • Alicia Fazio
      • Olivia Eggleston
        • C – $1,400 A – $3,075
        • C – $1,400 A – $3,075

Motion to approve the following appointments for COVID-19 Administrators with a stipend of $2,500 effective for the second semester.

  • Elementary School – Kristin Bergin
  • Intermediate School – Amanda Denno
  • Middle School – Mike Brannigan/Tiffany Montgomery (split)
  • High School – Andy Snide

Motion to approve the following Spring Coaching appointments for the 2021-2022 school year:

  • Jason Gutheil
    • Head Baseball
    • Group: I
    • Level: 6
  •  Tyler Beecher
    • Asst. Baseball
    • Group: II
    • Level: 2
  •  Roscoe Jackson
    • Freshman Baseball
    • Group: III
    • Level: 6
  • Rory Johnson
    • Mod Baseball
    • Group: IV
    • Level: 6
  •  Laura Laramie
    • Head Softball
    • Group: I
    • Level: 6
  •  TBD
    • Asst. Softball
    • Group: II
  •  Rich Zuccaro
    • Mod 9 Softball
    • Group: IV
    • Level: 6
  • TBD
    • Mod Softball
    • Group: IV
  • Matt Flint
    • Head Boys Track
    • Group: I
    • Level:6
  • Diana Karandy
    • Asst. Boys Track
    • Group: II
    • Level: 6
  • Chris Estremera
    • Asst. Boys Track
    • Group: II
    • Level: 1
  •  John Potter
    • Mod Boys Track
    • Group: IV
    • Level: 6
  • Jerry Hicks
    • Mod Boys Track
    • Group: IV
  • Matt Crossman
    • Head Girls Track
      • Group: I
      • Level: 6
  • TBD
    • Asst. Girls Track
    • Group: II
  • TBD
    • Asst. Girls Track
    • Group: II
  • Lynn Potter
    • Mod. Girls Track
      • Group: IV
      • Level: 6
  •  TBD
    • Mod Girls Track
      • Group: IV
  • Doug Fraser
    • Head Boys Tennis
      • Group: II
      • Level: 6
  • Adam Orr
    • Head Boys Lacrosse
      • Group: I
      • Level:6
  • Keith Ellement
    • Asst. Boys Lacrosse
      • Group: II
      • Level: 6
  • Frank Miller
    • Mod Boys Lacrosse
      • Group: IV
      • Level: 6
  • Matt Paszko
    • Mod Boys Lacrosse
    • Group: IV
    • Level: 6
  •  John Duffy
    • Vol. Asst. Boys Lacrosse
  • TBD
    • Vol. Asst. Boys Lacrosse
  • Dave Huth
    • Head Girls Lacrosse
    • Group: I
    • Level: 6
  • Joe Hubert
    • Asst. Girls Lacrosse
    • Group: II
    • Level: 6
  • Etta Kroner
    • Mod. Girls Lacrosse
    • Group: IV
    • Level: 2
  • Emily Metzger
    • Vol. Asst. Girls Lacrosse
  • John Martin
    • Strength and Conditioning
    • Group: III
    • Level: 6

Motion to approve the following revised unpaid leave of absences: 

Cassaundra Burrell, WHBI Grade 5 Teacher, effective 2/8/22 2/2/22 – 3/29/22.

Jennifer Pike, QMS Physical Education/Health Teacher, effective 3/22/22 3/23/22 (½ day) – 6/30/22

Motion to approve the following unpaid leave of absences: 

  • Fredrick Foster, QMS Teaching Assistant, effective 1/13/22 – 1/14/22 and half   days on 1/18 -1/21/22
  • Tina Bureau, LTS- Elementary Teacher, effective 2/15/22 – 2/18/22 
  • Alexandra Sapienza, QMS Social Studies Teacher, effective 2/19/22 – 6/30/22
  • Amanda Breheny, QMS Spanish Teacher, effective 3/7/22 – 3/9/22
  • Barbara Vanderwarker, QES Reading Teacher, effective 3/16/22 – 3/17/22

Motion to approve the following policies as reviewed:

7100 – Facilities Planning
7200 – Facilities Renovations
7365 – Construction Safety
7365 -E – Construction Safety Exhibit – Notification of Construction
7500 – Naming Facilities:  Acceptance of Memorials and Other Public Recognition

Motion to approve the minutes of the 2021-2022 (12/15/21, 1/5/2022, 1/6/2022, 1/11, 1/13, 1/14, 1/19, 1/20, 1/24, 1/25, 1/26, 1/27, 1/28, 2/1, 2/2, 2/8) Committee on Special Education meetings and the 2021-2022 (1/14/2022, 1/28, 2/3) Committee on Preschool Special Education meetings for the month of January 2021.

Board Committee Reports:

  • Facilities – Mr. Weaver – turf field update
  • Finance – Mr. Weaver and Mr. Mannix – Capital Reserve

Board Comments:

None

Open Forum:

  • Sarah Lance commented on the masks
  • Kristina Tucker commented on the masks
  • Jim Ward commented on the masks

Informational Items:

  • Tues., Feb 15 – WHBI PTA Virtual Meeting – 6:00 pm
  • Wed. Feb. 16 – Parent U (Virtual): Athletic Skill Development: How to Stay in Shape in the Off-Season – 6:30 pm
  • Thurs. Feb. 17 – AASBA Dinner Meeting – NYS Budget and Advocacy – 6:15 pm – Location:  Queensbury Hotel
  • Thurs., Feb. 17 – Parent U (Virtual):  “Build the Cognitive Skills Your Child Needs to Succeed in School and Life” – 7:00 pm
  • Mon., Feb. 21 – Friday February 25 – Mid-Winter Recess
  • Mon., Feb. 28 – Friday, March 4 – WHBI PTA Book Fair
  • Mon., Feb. 28 – QMS Shared Decision Meeting – 3:00 pm
  • Mon., Feb. 28 – BOE Special Meeting – 7:00 pm
  • Tues., Mar. 1 – QES Virtual PTSA Meeting – 6:00 pm
  • Fri., Mar. 4 – NYSSMA Solo Festival – 4:00 pm
  • Sat., Mar. 5 – NYSSMA Solo Festival – 9:00 am
  • Tues., Mar. 8 – Gr. 6 Band/Gr. 7 Band/Gr. 8 Band/QMS Jazz Ensemble-7:00 pm
  • Wed., March 9 – Parent U (Virtual):  “Building School-Family Partnerships”  – 6:30 pm
  • Thurs., Mar. 10 – QHS Senior Citizen Nite Out – 5:00 pm
  • Fri., Mar. 11 – School Related Services Recognition Day
  • Fri. Mar. 11 – QES Shared Decision Meeting – 8:00 am
  • Fri., Mar. 11 – NYSSMA Piano Festival at SUNY Schenectady School of Music – 4:00 – 9:00 pm.
  • Fri., Mar. 11 – QHS Musical – 7:00 pm
  • Sat., Mar. 12 – NYSSMA Piano Festival at SUNY Schenectady School of Music – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Sun., Mar. 13 – QHS Musical Matinee – 2:00 pm
  • Mon., Mar. 14 – One hour late arrival
  • Mon., Mar. 14 – QMS Virtual PTA Meeting – 6:00 pm
  • Mon., Mar. 14 – Board of Education Meeting – 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday, March 15 – WHBI PTA Meeting (Virtual) – 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday, March 16 – QHS Symphonic Band/QHS Concert Band/QHS Mixed Chorus Concert – 7:00 pm
  • Friday, March 18 – WHBI Spelling Bee
  • Friday, March 18 – WHBI Family Fun Night – 6:30 pm

    Executive Session:

    Motion by Mr. Weaver and seconded by Mrs. Bleyenburg to enter executive session at 8:17 p.m.

    9 voting in favor

    Motion by Mr. Hardesty and seconded by Mrs. Belden to exit executive session at 9:28 p.m.

    9 voting in favor

    Adjournment:

    Motion by Mr. Weaver and seconded by Mr. Cabana to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 pm

    9 voting in favor