LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Budget Hearing & Regular Meeting

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 - 8:00 P.M.

Middle School

Pledge Of Allegiance was led by Asher Mansdorf.

The Budget Hearing was opened by Asher Mansdorf.

Board Members Present at the Hearing:

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

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. Albert D’Agostino, School Counsel, Mrs. Alice Laino, District Clerk.

Dr. Fitzsimons and Mrs. Friedman gave an overview of the budget and the different scenarios and the pros and the cons of each scenario.

The community was given the opportunity to ask questions about various items in the budget. Prekindergarten bussing, capital improvement as a budget line. There were questions about the two architect/engineering firms and the extreme cost discrepancy, Attorney’s RFP’s were questions presented.

At 9:00 p.m. the Board of Education adjourned the Budget Hearing. Dr. Asher Mansdorf called the Special Meeting of the Board of Education to order.

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman the Board of Education entered public session.

The same Board members and administration and attorney were present.

Mr. Pizzarelli, Athletic Director, acknowledged Dr. Forman, Principal of #2 School, and who is on the agenda for retirement. He worked well with the students and parents and faculty at the #2 School. He is loved and will be missed terribly. We wish him congratulations and best wishes. The #2 School PTA stated that they too will miss Dr. Forman. They thanked him for his years of service and for always respecting the parents and children. Dr. Forman has always been available and accessible. Children felt welcome and safe at #2 School because of Dr. Forman and the parents felt the same. Dr. Mansdorf stated that he is sorry to have to accept his resignation. He always smiles and that means the children are taken care of and happy. When asked about the capital reserve fund and the repair fund not being established, Mr. Kopilow asked that the board adopt a resolution setting aside money to have each architect/engineering firm Wiedersum and WCG look at the estimates of the other firm and come back with an explanation of the large disparity in the numbers. After much discussion the board agreed to have the attorney write a resolution to the effect setting aside $10,000 maximum for the two firms and then have them come to the meeting to present their responses.

First Opportunity for Community to Speak

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

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Treasurer’s Report for February 2007 was accepted as presented on enclosure IV.A.

Treasurer’s Report

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the following transfers were approved as presented on enclosure IV.B. Transportation Department, transfers totaling $75,000.00 to cover the cost of bus matrons Facilities Department, transfer $33,584.15 to cover the cost of utilities in the H.S. Business Office, transfer $608,299.17 to adjust payroll allocations. Pupil Personnel Services, transfer $130,000.00 to provide OT & PT to public non-public students.

Budget Transfers over $25,000

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the following contracts were approved as presented on enclosure IV. C.1. a-f and C.2.a-f. C.1. Business –Health & Welfare for Non-Public Schools (enclosures) a. East Ramapo Central School District, 2005-2006 b. East Rockaway Union Free School District, 2006–2007 c. Garden City Union Free School District, 2006-2007 d. Great Neck Union Free School District, 2006-2007 e. Hempstead Union Free School District, 2006-2007 f. Lynbrook Union Free School District, 2006-2007 C.2. Consultants/Related Services a. Great Neck Public Schools b. Susan Berman, OT services c. Hewlett-Woodmere U.F.S.D. d. C. I. S. e. Candice Sanders, Interpreter for a hearing impaired student f. Fortune Consulting (upon contract review and approval of counsel)

Contracts

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepted purchase orders over $50,000 per enclosure IV.D. Parents of Student ID# 350262123 Stipulation of agreement $60,000.

Purchase orders Over $50,000

Upon motion by Uri Kaufman and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education accepted the following bids over $50,000 as presented on enclosure IV.E. Bid# Vendor Purpose Amount Recommend 10 ACL Time and Materials $56.85/hr(mechanic) Approve Construction Small General Construction $42.25/hr(apprentice) 11 Gra-Der Concrete and Blacktop Curbing($28/lin.ft) Approve Contracting Sidewalk(49.50/sq.yd.) Blacktop(12.60/sq.yd) 12 Various Athletic Supplies $53,822.58 Approve

Bids

Upon motion by Uri Kaufman and seconded by Pamela Greenbaum, the Board of Education accepts the Retirements of professional staff as presented on enclosure V.A.1.

Retirements: Certificated Staff

Upon motion by Uri Kaufman and seconded by Pamela Greenbaum, the Board of Education accepts the Retirements of civil service staff as presented on enclosure V.A.2

Retirement: Civil Service Staff

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education accepts the resignations of professional staff as presented on enclosure V.B.1.

Resignations: Certificated Staff

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education accepts the resignations of civil service staff as presented on enclosure V.B.2.

Resignations: Civil Service Staff

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education approves the leaves of absences as presented on enclosure V.D.

Leaves of Absences

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepts the tenure recommendations presented for the professional staff as presented on enclosure V.E.

Tenure

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

Professional Emergency Conditional Appointments

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

Substitute Teachers

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepts the appointment of civil service employees as presentedV.F.2.

Appointments: Civil Service

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepts emergency conditional appointments as presented on enclosure V.f.2.b.

Civil Service Emergency Conditional Appointments

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepts the list of Civil Service Substitutes as presented on enclosure V.F.2.c.

Civil Service Substitutes

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepts Extra compensation as presented on 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 Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education accepts the minutes of meetings March 15, 2007, March 20, 2007, March 26, 2007 and April 11, 2007 as presented on enclosure VII.A.

Minutes

Upon motion by Pamela Greenbaum and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education having followed district policy #2410, the Board of Education voted to adopt the following policies as indicated. 1505 Community Use of School Mailing Facilities 4321 Equal Opportunity to Participate in District Programs 4321.2 Participation in Preschool Programs Children with Disabilities 4321.3 Special Education Personnel 4321.4 Participation in the General Education Curriculum 4321.5 Parental Consent for Evaluation of a Preschool Student Suspected of Having a Disability 4321.6 Confidentiality of Student Records 4321.7 School-Wide Approaches and Pre-Referral Interventions 4321.8 Declassification of Students with Disabilities 4321.9 Selection and Appointment of Impartial Hearing Officers 4321.10 Instructional Materials – Availability of Alternative Formats for Students with Disabilities 4321.11 Provision of IEP’s to Teachers and Service Providers 4321.12 Highly Qualified Personnel 4321.13 Guideline for Participation of Students with Disabilities in State & District-Wide Assessments 4321.14 The Use of Universal Design Principles in District Assessments 4321.15 Independent Educational Evaluations at Public Expense 6900 Disposal of District Property 8134 Emergency Closings

Adoption of Policies

Upon motion by Stanley Kopilow and seconded by Pamela Greenbaum, the Board of Education adopted the following resolution. The Board of Education authorizes the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $10,000.( each to maximum 25 hours/200 per hour)total for the purpose of entering into agreements and/or retaining the further services of WGC and Wiedersum Associates. (a) to review the proposed district’s list of priority capital projects; and (b) to report to the Board of Education in writing and in person in an effort to reconcile their respective estimates for the cost of repairs or replacement of the items comprising that list. The board vote was: 6-Yes, 1 Abstain (M. Forman)

Resolution: Setting Aside Money for Wiedersum Associates and WGC to review costs submitted by the other company

Information presented to the board as required, no action taken. A. Budget Summary by Function – February 2007 B. Revenue Status Report – February 2007 C. Warrants: 1. Warrant # 17 2. Warrant # 9MR 3. Warrant # 18 D.Extra Classroom Activity Funds - Middle School-February 2007

Informational: Budget Summary by Function Revenue Status Report Warrants M.S. Extra Classroom Activity Funds

After much discussion about an RFP for an attorney, Pamela Greenbaum offered a resolution to put out an RFP for attorneys. Stanley Kopilow seconded it. The motion was defeated 2-Yes 5-No (M.Forman, U.Kaufman, D.Sussman, M. Hatten, A. Mansdorf)

Resolution defeated: RFP for Attorney

Upon motion by Stanley Kopilow and seconded by Uri Kaufman the meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Adjourn

Respectfully Submitted,

Alice Laino

District Clerk