January 10, 2022 Meeting Minutes

The regular meeting of the Queensbury School Board of Education was held on January 10, 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:   Daniel Mannix, Esq., President, Timothy Weaver (virtual), Vice President, Patricia Belden (virtual), Dawn Bleyenburg (virtual),  Francis Cabana,  Stacy Flaherty (virtual), Jamey Hardesty, Amy Molloy, Michael Shea, Ph.D., (virtual), Superintendent of Schools Kyle L. Gannon, Clerk of the Board Scott Whittemore

 Members Absent:  None

Others Present:  Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Denise Troelstra, QHS Principal Damian Switzer, QHS Assistant Principal Dan 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, CSE Chairperson Robyn Scotland, Director of Student Support Services Kristine Bennett-Barnes, Director of Instructional Technology John Luthringer, Director of SEL and School Development Raychel Marcil, and other employees and community members.

Presentations:

None

Open Forum: 

Open Forum is limited to in-person attendees only

Business Items – Assistant Superintendent for Business:

Motion by Mr. Cabana, seconded by Mr. Hardesty to accept the results of December 14, 2021 Capital Project Vote:

• Proposition #1: 2021 Capital Project Vote:    Yes – 609        No – 189

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mr. Weaver, seconded by Mrs. Belden to accept the Serial Bond Resolution dated January 10, 2022:

SERIAL BOND RESOLUTION DATED JANUARY 10, 2022

 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $19,750,000 SERIAL BONDS OF THE QUEENSBURY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WARREN COUNTY, NEW YORK FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, AND ALTERATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING, WILLIAM H. BARTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL BUILDING, INCLUDING AN EXTENSION FOR STORAGE, QUEENSBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING, QUEENSBURY HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, QUEENSBURY TRANSPORTATION BUILDING, INCLUDING AN EXTENSION FOR STORAGE, AND QUEENSBURY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ATHLETIC FIELD, INCLUDING A TURF FIELD, LIGHTING, AND STORAGE BUILDING, AND TO ENGAGE IN RELATED SITE WORK ON SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY, AND TO ACQUIRE ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS, EQUIPMENT, OR APPARATUS REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDINGS ARE INTENDED TO BE USED IN SAID SCHOOL DISTRICT.

 WHEREAS, on December 14, 2021 the qualified voters of the Queensbury Union Free School District authorized the construction, reconstruction, and alterations to the School District’s Elementary School Building, William H. Barton Intermediate School building, including an extension for storage, Queensbury Middle School building, Queensbury High School building, Queensbury Transportation building, including an extension for storage, and Queensbury Administration building, athletic field, including a turf field, lighting, and storage building, and to engage in related site work on School District property, and to acquire original furnishings, equipment, or apparatus required for the purpose for which the School District buildings are intended to be used in said School District pursuant to the Local Finance Law, and           

WHEREAS, it is the desire to provide for the financing thereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 

1. The specific object or purpose for which obligations are to be issued pursuant to this resolution is for the construction, reconstruction, and alterations to the School District’s Elementary School Building, William H. Barton Intermediate School building, including an extension for storage, Queensbury Middle School building, Queensbury High School building, Queensbury Transportation building, including an extension for storage, and Queensbury Administration building, athletic field, including a turf field, lighting, and storage building, and to engage in related site work on School District property, and to acquire original furnishings, equipment, or apparatus required for the purpose for which the School District buildings are intended to be used in said School District
2. The current maximum cost of the aforesaid specific object or purpose is $19,750,000, and the plan for the financing thereof is the issuance of $19,750,000 serial bonds of said School District, hereby authorized to be issued pursuant to the Local Finance Law. Such bonds are to be payable from amounts which shall annually be levied on all the taxable real property in said School District, and the faith and credit of said Queensbury Union Free School District, Warren County, New York, are hereby pledged for the payment of said bonds and the interest thereon.
3. It is hereby determined that the period of probable usefulness of the aforesaid specific object or purpose is thirty (30) years, pursuant to subdivision 97 of Paragraph a of Section 11.00 of the Local Finance Law.
4. Subject to the provisions of the Local Finance Law, the power to authorize the issuance of and to sell bonds or bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance and sale of the serial bonds herein authorized, including renewals of such notes, is hereby delegated to the President of the Board of Education, the chief fiscal officer, or in her absence, the Vice-President of the Board of Education, who is the substituted chief fiscal officer. Such bonds or notes shall be of such terms, form and contents, and shall be sold in such manner, as may be determined by said President or Vice-President of the Board of Education, pursuant to and  consistent with the provisions of the Local Finance Law.
5. The validity of such bonds and bond anticipation notes may be contested only if:
   1. Such obligations are authorized for an object or purpose for which said School District is not authorized to spend money; or
   2. The provisions of law which should be complied with as of the date of publication of this resolution are not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty (20) days after the date of such publication; or
   3. Such obligations are authorized in violation of the provisions of the Constitution.
6.  This resolution shall take effect immediately and shall be published in full in the Post Star which is hereby designated as the official newspaper of said School District for such purpose, together with a notice of the School District Clerk substantially in the form provided in Section 81.00 of the Local Finance Law.  

Roll Call:

Patricia Belden                      Yes
Dawn Bleyenburg                 Yes
Francis Cabana                      Yes
Stacy Flaherty                        Yes
Jamey Hardesty                    Yes
Daniel Mannix                        Yes
Amy Molloy                             Yes
Michael Shea                          Yes
Timothy Weaver                   Yes

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mrs. Molloy, seconded by Mr. Hardesty to approve the following resolution:

 RESOLUTION DATED JANUARY 10, 2022

WHEREAS, the school district’s independent auditor West & Company CPA’s PC  has issued an annual external audit report on the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 and

 WHEREAS, it is required pursuant to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education that the District file a Board-approved corrective action plan within 90 days of receipt of that report, it is therefore

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the Corrective Action Plan, as attached, to be submitted to the State Education Department.

 9 voting in favor

Business Items

Motion by Mrs. Bleyenburg, seconded by Mr. Weaver to approve the following Business Consent Items

9 voting in favor 

Motion to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2021 Board of Education meeting. 

Motion to approve the Clerk’s Report, the General Fund Revenue Report, the Federal Fund Revenue Report, and the School Lunch Fund Revenue Report for the month of December 2021.

Motion to accept the budget transfers for the month of December 2021.

 Motion to approve the transfer of $10,000 from the General Fund in January 2022 to the ECAF Fund for expenses related to the High School Musical.

Motion to accept the gift of $1,100 from the Tri-County United Way, Inc. for the Snack pack program, with sincere appreciation and thanks.           

Motion to enter into a contract with the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition, Inc. pending review of the school district attorney, for use of the Civic Center for Queensbury High School Class of 2022 rehearsal and graduation ceremony on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Motion to approve the agreement between Queensbury Union Free School District and Chelsea Place Psychological Services to provide services to Queensbury student’s at the rate of $160 per hour for up to 5 hours for the 2021-2022 school year.

Motion to approve an agreement between Queensbury Union Free School District and the Julia Dyckman Andrus Memorial, Inc. d/b/a Andrus Children Center, to provide educational and residential services for students who reside in the Queensbury School District, effective for the 2021-2022 school year.

Motion to authorize the payment of $1,000 to each of the full-time nurses who are exempt from wage and hour laws, for their additional weekend duties and responsibilities for the 2021-22 school year.   

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

• Adam Orr, Bus Driver Trainee, $16 per hour, effective 10/29/21
• Owen Snowball, Bus Driver Trainee, $16 per hour, effective 12/16/21
• Kimm Vydareny, Bus Driver Trainee, $16 per hour, effective 12/17/21

Motion to approve the following probationary support staff appointments:

• Alexander Warrington, Driver Aide, Step 1, effective 12/20/21
• Lisa Knizek, Custodian, Step 5 (previously provisional), effective 1/4/22

Motion to approve the severance from employment of Kyle Hoffer, Groundskeeper, effective 12/21/21. 

Motion to approve the following unpaid support staff leave of absences:

• Pennie Bennett, Driver Aide, effective 12/1/22 – 2/16/22
• Lisa Knizek, Custodian, effective 12/21/21 – 1/3/22

End Business Consent

Educational Items:

Motion by Mr. Cabana, seconded by Mr. Weaver to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Damian Switzer, High School Principal, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 7/1/22. 

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mr. Cabana, seconded by Mr. Hardesty to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Anastasia Daley, Elementary Teacher, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 6/30/22.

9 voting in favor 

Motion by Mrs. Belden, seconded by Mr. Weaver to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of Mary Meachem, Kindergarten Teacher, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 6/30/22.

9 voting in favor

Motion by Mr. Weaver, seconded by Mrs. Belden to accept the resignation for retirement purposes of

Kevin Sullivan, High School Counselor, with sincere thanks and regret, effective 7/1/22.

 9 voting in favor

 Motion by Mr. Cabana, seconded by Mr. Weaver to approve the Tenure appointment of:

 Kayla Tatko – Math – effective 2/1/22

 9 voting in favor

Educational Consent Items:

Motion by Mr. Hardesty, seconded by Mrs. Belden to approve Educational Consent Items:

9 voting in favor

Motion to approve the revised probationary appointment of Caitlin Reeves, WHBI Art Teacher, effective 1/31/22.

Motion to approve the revised long-term substitute appointment of Jeff Fisher, QMS PE Teacher LTS, effective 11/4/21 – 2/18/22 6/30/22.

Motion to approve the following revised winter coaching appointments:

• Chris Frielinghaus
  • Modified Nordic Skiing (previously Vol. Asst. Nordic Skiing) 
  • Group IV
  • Level 6

Motion to approve the additions and revisions of the mentoring appointments:

• Christine Herrman
  • Mentoring period: 1/3/22 – 6/30/22
• Jennifer Spath
  • Mentoring period: 1/31/22 – 6/30/22 (.5 FTE)
•  Kelli Moore
  • Mentoring period: 1/31/22 – 6/30/22 (.5 FTE)
• Lauren Latter
  • Mentoring period: 9/1/21 – 6/30/22 12/21/21
• Tammy Cherry
  • Mentoring period: 1/3/22 – 6/24/22 
• Rory Johnson
  • Mentoring: 11/11/21 – 2/18/22 6/30/22

Motion to approve the additional club/activities appointments for the 2021-2022 school year:

High School:

• QHS Musical – Costume Designer
  • Meghan Maynard
    • C – $1,400
•  QHS Musical – Stage Crew
  • Nicole McDonald
    • C- $1,400

Middle School:

• MS Drama Club (12/8/21-1/14/22)
  • Hayley Miller
    • A – $3,075

Motion to approve the following unpaid leave of absences:

• Emily Ryan, QES Physical Education Teacher, effective 1/3/22 – 1/28/22
• Sarah Madigan, QMS Special Education Teacher, effective 9/24/21 – 1/31/22 3/11/22
• Cassaundra Burrell, WHBI Grade 5 Teacher, effective 2/8/22 – 3/29/22
• Jennifer Pike, QMS Physical Education Teacher, effective 3/22/22 (½ day) – 6/30/22

Motion to approve the following policies as revised:           

• 0101- Gender Neutral Single Occupancy Bathrooms
• 1230 – Public Comment at Board Meetings
• 2342 – Agenda Preparation and Dissemination

Motion to approve the minutes of the 2021-2022 (12/6, 12/9, 12/13, 12/15, 12/21, 1/4/22) Committee on Special Education meetings and the 2021-2022 (12/10, 12/17) Committee on Preschool Special Education meetings for the month of December 2021.

Board Committee Reports:   

• Policy – meeting went well
• Facilities – Mr. Weaver – Capital Project update and pavilion update

Board Member Comments:

• Mannix commented on:
  • SUNY Adirondack BOCES tour
  • Upcoming Art Pilot program pathway
  • Complimented administration on rapid test distribution
  • Three new Global Scholars.
  • Article in the paper on the coding club
•   Molloy complimented upcoming Parent Universities

Open Forum: 

None 

Informational Items:

• Tuesday, January 11 – (Virtual) Parent University: “Early Literacy: How to Support Your Child’s Literacy Development at Home” – 6:30 pm
• Friday, January 15 – QES Shared Decision Meeting – 8:00 am
  • Location:  Elementary School Media Center
•   Monday, January 17 – Martin Luther King Day – No School
• Tuesday, January 18 – WHBI PTA Meeting Virtual – 6:00 pm
• Wednesday, January 19 – Parent University (Virtual): “When Stars and Stickers Don’t Work – Motivate Your Child from Within” – 7:00 pm
• Thursday, January 20 – Friday, January 22 – NYSSMA Area All-State
  • Location: Saratoga Springs HS – 1:00 pm
•  Monday, January 24 – WHBI Shared Decision Mtg. – 3:00 pm
  • Location:  Intermediate School Media Center
• Monday, January 24 – QMS Shared Decision Mtg. – 3:00 pm
  • Location:  Middle School Media Center
•  Monday, January 24 – Board of Education Workshop – 7:00 pm
• Wednesday, January 26 – Parent U (Virtual): “Social Media Safety/Cyber Bullying/ CyberSafety” – 6:30 pm

Executive Session:

None

Adjournment:

Motion by Mr. Mannix, seconded by Mr. Weaver, to adjourn the meeting at 7:21 p.m.

 9 voting in favor