LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, February 27, 7:00 P.M.

Superintendent Office

 

The Regular meeting of the Lawrence Union Free School District Board of Education was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Asher Mansdorf, President. Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by David Sussman, the Board immediately entered executive session for the purpose of a personnel issue.

 

At 8:08 p.m. upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by David Sussman, the Board left executive session and immediately reconvened public session.

 

Pledge Of Allegiance was led by Asher Mansdorf, President.

 

The following Board members were present: Asher Mansdorf, President, David Sussman, Vice President, Pamela Greenbaum, Michael Hatten, Uri Kaufman and Stanley Kopilow.

 

Murray Forman was absent.

 

Also present were: Dr. John T. Fitzsimons, Superintendent, Mrs. Elsie Friedman, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Dr. Vicki Karant, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction,         Mr. Dominick Minerva, School Counsel, Mrs. Alice Laino, District Clerk, Mrs. Dyan Zeller Harris, Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Susan Kosser, Interim Director of Pupil Personnel Services.

 

Dr. Fitzsimons, Dr. Karant, and Mr. Touretz introduced the Intel Semi-Finalists Nicole Marie Benvin, Stacy Gil Feinsot, Michael Klein, Marisa Rosen, Lauren Tonetti, Erin Wagner.  Advisors Mr. Stephen Sullivan and Ms. Rebecca Isseroff were also introduced.  Each student was asked to speak briefly about their project.  Also acknowledged were several students who won other prestigious competitions Sharon Slomovich, a Coca Cola Semi-Finalist, Christopher Vacchio, a National Merit Scholarship winner, and Matthew Alpert, an Advanced Placement Scholar of Distinction award.

 

Dr. Fitzsimons also extended congratulations to Andrew Coen, reporter for the Nassau Herald, who won an award for his coverage of local news. 

 

Mr. Piccarella, Director of Technology, gave an update on information gathered thus far with regard to the cost and the equipment for the new telephone system. He gave a possible timeline for installation to take place in the summer. The Board asked several questions about the system and the equipment being looked at.

 

Several policies were presented for first and second presentation for review. 

Superintendent Report and Presentations

 

A resident asked several questions or commented on agenda items.

Community Opportunity to Remark on Action Items

 

Upon proper motions and seconds, the vote is to be considered unanimous, unless noted otherwise.

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by David Sussman, the Board of Education accepted the December 2006 Treasurer’s Report as presented on enclosure IV.A.

Treasurer’s Report

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by David Sussman, the Board of Education accepted the contract for the Tilles Center per enclosure IV.C.1.a.

   a.    Tilles Center, Graduation Ceremony June 2007

 

David Sussman questioned the cost to the district and if other companies were looked at.  He asked that more research be done.  He feels that the cost is high.  The board agreed to remove the contract. 

Contracts:

Business and Curriculum

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum  and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education accepted the contracts as presented on enclosure IV.C.2.a-i

a.Daytop Preparatory School - tutoring serv. $75/day not to exceed $10,000

        (P.O. #53461)

b.AHRC tuition, P.O. # 54983 for $ 2,8193.

c.Devereux Foundation summer tuition, P.O. #54927 for $5,427.90.

d.Woods Services tuition, P.O. # 55633 for $40,972.00.

e.All Children’s Therapy for related services, P.O. # 55666 for $3,500.00.

f.Mid Island Therapy Assoc. for related services, P.O. # 55627 for $10,000.00.

g.Home Care for Children for nursing services, P.O. # 54970 for $68,000.00.

h.Institute for Children with Autism for ABA services, P.O. # 54949 for $5,000.00

i.Pediatric Central for related services, P.O. # 55646 for $2,500.00.

Contracts:

Curriculum

 

After a brief discussion, Stanley Kopilow presented a motion to table the Kulanu Torah Academy purchase order until the Director of Pupil Personnel Services could give a definite explanation about circumstances. The motion was seconded by Pamela Greenbaum. 

The motion was defeated by a vote 2-Yes, 4-No (A. Mansdorf, M. Hatten, U. Kaufman, D. Sussman)

 

Uri Kaufman made the motion to accept the purchase order for Kulanu Torah Academy as presented on enclosure IV.D. The motion was seconded by David Sussman.  The motion carried with a vote: 4-Yes, 2-No (P. Greenbaum, S. Kopilow).

Vendor                                    Purpose                                               Amount

Kulanu Torah Academy            2006-07 tuition                         $135,000

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum  and seconded by Stanley Kopilow the purchase order presented below was accepted unanimously.

Vendor                                    Purpose                                               Amount

Maxim Health Services Nursing services                                   $77,400

Purchase Orders over $50,000

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education accepted a donation of various art materials from Mrs. Estelle Seamon to be used for various art projects.

Donation

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education authorized the disposal of various regulated items per enclosure IV.F.

Surplus

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepted the Corrective Action Plan prepared response to the June 2006 audit; and further directs the Assistant Superintendent for Business to forward this Corrective Action Plan to the government agencies as required by law. (enclosure IV.G.)

Corrective Action plan in Response to June 2006 Audit

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepted the Civil Service Resignations as presented on enclosure V.B.2.

Resignations: Civil Service Staff

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepted the recommendation of termination as presented on enclosure V.C.

Termination of Service

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepted the professional appointments as presented on enclosure V.F.1.

Appointments: Professional  Staff

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education approved the professional staff change of employment as presented on enclosure V.F.1.a.

Change of Employment:

Professional Staff

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education approved the emergency conditional professional appointment as presented on enclosure V.F.1.b.

Emergency Conditional Professional Appointment

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education approved the professional substitute teacher list as presented on enclosure V.F.1.c.

Substitute Teachers List

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education approved appointments of civil service staff per enclosure V.F.2.

Appointments: Civil Service

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education approved the extra compensation as presented per enclosure V.G.

Extra Compensation

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education of the Lawrence Union Free School District accepts the Recommendations of the Committees on Pre-School & Special Education regarding the provision of special education services as presented on enclosure VI.A.

Special Education Recommendation

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow the minutes of the February 6, 2007 meeting were accepted as presented.

Minutes

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education approved the conference request for the District Clerk on March 6th. 

Conference Request Approved

 

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, having followed district policy #2410, the Board of Education voted to adopt the following policies #1240 - Visitors to Schools, #1740  - Textbook Loan program and #4134 – Tutoring as presented on enclosure for final adoption. 

Adoption of Policies

 

The following items were offered to the Board of Education for informational purposes.

             A.      Warrant # 14

B.       Budget Summary by Function – December 2006

C.       Revenue Status Report – December 2006

Informational: Warrants

Budget Summary by Function

Revenue Status Report

 

 

The Peninsula Public Library President read a letter requesting the Board act on a resolution to put out an RFP for the Library property.  #6 PTA and parents voiced their concern with several issues involving the lunch program.  Mr. Schall invited the audience to the Staff Talent Show tomorrow evening at the High School.  This is a fundraiser for the Band to go to Disney to march in the parade.  200 students are going and the music department and the parents and organizations have donated and raised money to ensure that all the children will be able to go if they want to.  Mr. Pizzarelli spoke about the winter sport season ending and the many accomplishments the teams achieved in gymnastics, wrestling, and winter track. 

Public Comment

 

Upon motion by David Sussman and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Adjourn

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Alice Laino

District Clerk