69

LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

SPECIAL MEETING

Monday, March 26, 2007 - 8:30 P.M.

Middle School

The Special Meeting of the Lawrence Union Free School District Board of Education was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Asher Mansdorf, President. Upon motion by David Sussman and seconded by Pamela Greenbaum, the Board immediately entered Executive Session for the purpose of Real Estate with attorney.

At 8:30 p.m. upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Murray Forman, the Board left Executive Session and immediately reconvened the Special Meeting.

Pledge Of Allegiance was led by Asher Mansdorf.

The following Board members were present: Asher Mansdorf, President, David Sussman, Vice President, Murray Forman,

Pamela Greenbaum, Michael Hatten, Uri Kaufman, Stanley Kopilow.

Also present were: Dr. John T. Fitzsimons, Superintendent, Dr. Vicki Karant, Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Mrs. Elsie Friedman, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Albert D’Agostino, School Counsel, Mrs. Alice Laino, District Clerk.

Upon motions and seconds, unless noted, the vote was unanimously accepted.

Dr. Fitzsimons gave a presentation of the changes to the budget. Mr. Forman said the budget should be presented at “0%”. The district has a surplus and reserve funds. That money can be tapped into if you need it next year. The objective is to pass a budget. Dr. Fitzsimons stated that it would not be responsible to tap the reserve funds. A 2% to 3% surplus in a budget is appropriate. There was much debate about the budget being at “0” or higher. The board would have to direct the administration to make additional cuts to the present budget. Mr. Forman asked that a meeting set up with our external auditor and the accountant to have them explain the budget. We will check to see if the Auditor can come to the April 11 meeting.

Superintendent’s Report

There was much discussion about the Pre-Kindergarten bussing for private schools. Mrs. Greenbaum stated that there is nothing in the proposition about pre-kindergarten being available for all public school children. The costs have not been established for the bussing. Mr. Fabrizio was asked to give a cost analysis of the pre-kindergarten bussing. Mr. Fabrizio stated that he can not do that without specifics. How many children, how many schools, what are the hours, where are the schools located? Will the amount of children be limited to the amount of children in our public school pre-kindergarten program? If children are under four years old they must be in car seats. Are there matrons going to be on the buses? He was asked to explain the way the buses work for the present Pre-K program at #4 School. The buses are contracted for four hours. The matrons are for special education buses. The matrons are scheduled to work for two hours in the AM and two hours in the PM. We utilize the service of those matrons and buses to fit the children on the Kindergarten buses and Special Education buses. If you are going to have private school bussing, matrons will be needed on those buses. A matron alone is $1800 a month. There is a proposition presented and that needs to be amended. Where will the money come from with a “0%” budget? A budget line must be added to appropriate the funds for the bussing and the Universal Pre-Kindergarten.

Proposition To Go On The Annual Election Ballot

Stanley Kopilow made a motion to table the proposition until a cost analysis can be performed. The motion was seconded by Pamela Greenbaum. The motion was defeated.

Yes-2 No-5 (M. Forman, M.Hatten, U.Kaufman, A.Mansdorf, D.Sussman)

Defeated Motion To Table The Proposition For Pre-Kindergarten Bussing

Whereas, the Board of Education has determined that there is a need to provide transportation to all children who reside in the district and attend either a public or non-public full day pre-kindergarten program at either the public or private school; and

Whereas, the Board has determined that such transportation should be provided up to a fifteen (15) mile distance for all children except pre-kindergarten students who shall be limited to a maximum of seven and one half (7 ½ ) miles between the student’s home and the school to which the student is transported; and

Whereas, the Board has performed a cost analysis as to the additional funds that would be required to transport public school and non-public school full day pre-kindergarten students and found that such amount is not excessive; and

Whereas, the Board of Education has determined that transportation of pre-kindergarten students is not a contingency expense and that there is a need to obtain the approval of the voters of the District with respect to such transportation; and

Whereas, the Board has determined that there is also a need to obtain the approval of the voters as to the current District practice of providing transportation to children who reside in the district and attend either a public or private school.

Now, Therefore, upon the motion of Uri Kaufman, seconded by David Sussman and duly adopted,

IT IS RESOLVED, that the following proposition shall be submitted to the voters of the District at the District Meeting to be held at the five voting locations as set forth in the legal notice on May 15, 2007 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.:

The Board of Education of the Lawrence Union Free School District of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, be and it is hereby authorized to provide for daily transportation and such weekday transportation shall be provided to all children who live within the district and attend either public or non-public schools, and whose residence is located at or beyond the distances from the public or private school at which they attend, as set forth below, subject to a fifteen (15) mile maximum for all children, except for pre-kindergarten children, which will be limited to seven and one half (7 ½) miles maximum.

Children in attendance in a Pre-Kindergarten program…… no minimum distance

between home and school

Children in attendance in a Kindergarten program no minimum distance

between home and school

Children in attendance in Grades 1 through 5 Minimum distance between

Home and school: 1/2 mile

Children in attendance in Grades 6 through 8 Minimum distance between

Home and school: 1 mile

Children in attendance in Grades 9 through 12 Minimum distance between

Home and school: 1 ¼ miles

Transportation to a non-public pre-kindergarten program shall be limited to such programs that provide services to a minimum of twenty-five (25) kindergarten and pre-kindergarten children, not less than five (5) of which are Lawrence School District residents, and children must be four (4) years of age on or before December 1 to be eligible for transportation.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the District Clerk is directed to submit the requisite Notice of District Meeting to the official District newspaper(2) for publication in accordance with the requirements of the Education Law.

Yes – 5 No – 2 (P. Greeenbaum, S. Kopilow)

Motion to add the following Proposition for Pre-Kindergarten Bussing to the Referendum May 15, 2007

WHEREAS, the Board of Education has determined that there is a need to provide the District Clerk with the option to publish the Notice of Annual District Election in two (2) newspapers having a general circulation in addition to Newsday, Nassau Herald, South Shore Record; and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that those two (2) additional newspapers shall be The New York Times and The New York Post.

NOW, THEREFORE, upon the motion of Uri Kaufman, seconded by David Sussman and duly adopted,

IT IS RESOLVED, that effective immediately, the District Clerk may publish the Notice of Annual District Election in any two (2) of the following newspapers having a general circulation: Newsday; Nassau Herald; South Shore Record; The New York Times; and The New York Post.

Vote: Yes – 5 No- 2 (P. Greenbaum, S. Kopilow)

Resolution: Additional Newspapers for Notice of Annual District Election

In the best interest of the voters of the Lawrence Union Free School District, the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent for Business, having reviewed there needs and options, strongly present to the Board of Education their recommendation to hold the Budget Hearing on May 1, 2007.

NOW, THEREFORE, upon the motion of Pamela Greenbaum, seconded by David Sussman and duly adopted,

BE IT IS RESOLVED, the Budget Hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in the

Middle School Auditorium to commence at 8:00 p.m.

Resolution: Change the Budget Hearing Date to May 1, 2007

Uri Kaufman presented a motion to present a capital reserve fund in the amount of $7,119,000 to be presented to the voters at the annual election on May 15.

Asher Mansdorf suggested that the amount be $10,000,000. Pamela Greenbaum said that the amounts are an insult. Stanley Kopilow stated that an engineering report presented by the Superintendent demonstrated there is $13,000,000 in immediate repairs necessary by engineers that spent months in the buildings. Mr. Kaufman has a person that walks through the buildings for a couple of hours and comes up with this report at the executive session. The Board has the right to hear from all parties involved. The architects and the engineers who have done the inspections should be asked to come to the next meeting. It was agreed that the the resolution will be held off until the architects and engineers have an opportunity to give their input.

Stanley Kopilow suggested that the motion on pre-kindergarten bussing be held off until both propositions could be placed on the ballot at the same time. That suggestion was not entertained.

Discussion:

Capital Reserve Fund Proposition

Upon motion by Stanley Kopilow and seconded by Uri Kaufman the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m.

Adjourn

Respectfully Submitted,

Alice Laino

District Clerk