BOARD OF EDUCATION

LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAWRENCE, NY

WORK SESSION

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

8:15 PM, Number Two School Auditorium

 

The Work Session of the Lawrence Union Free School District, Board of Education was called                                                                                                                              to order at 8:15 p.m. by Murray Forman, President.

 

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Murray Forman.

 

Board members present:

 

Mr. Murray Forman, President

Dr. David Sussman, Vice President

Dr. Solomon Blisko

Mr. Michael Hatten

Mr. Uri Kaufman

Mr. Stanley Kopilow

Rabbi Nahum Marcus

 

Also present were:

 

Dr. John T. Fitzsimons, Superintendent

Dr. Vicki Karant, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Mrs. Elsie Friedman, Assistant Superintendent for Business

Mr. Dominick Minerva, School Counsel

Ms. Mohinder Bharaj, District Clerk

 

Ms. Cindy Lee, Principal of Number Two School conducted the building walk through of the Number Two School. Water damage from the roof and in several of the classrooms was noted Ms. Lee explained that repairs were needed in the boy’s and girl’s bathrooms. Ms. Lee felt that the  fire escape needed attention and the floor of the hallways should be repaired as well. The Board members admired students art displays.

Board of Education Walk Through

 

Principals and Administration Discussion on District Goals 1, 2 and 3: Presented by Dr. Vicki Karant together with Mr. George Akst, Middle School Principal, Mrs. Rina Beach, Curriculum Director of English and Social Studies, Mrs. Melissa Krieger, Number Five School Principal, Mrs. Karen Lazar, Curriculum Director of Math and Science, Mrs. Ann Pederson, Number Four School Principal, Mr. Geoffrey Touretz, High School Principal, Mr.Gary Schall, Director of Music and Mrs. Ann Young, Director of Art. Dr. Karant discussed the mission statement noted below.

 

Mission Statement: To ensure that all learners reach their highest individual potential through an academically rigorous educational system that inspires life-long learning and enables all students to possess the confidence and ability to meet life’s challenges.

 

 Dr. Karant then enunciated 3 of the 8 goals and the 2007-2008 implementation plans. The implementation plans include an expanded after school learning center in each elementary school to provide more Academic Intervention Services (AIS). In addition, the after school child care program was relocated to each elementary school to prevent children from missing Learning Center opportunities.  The summer reading program was reintroduced. The introduction of data driven instruction based on a program from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) is being implemented at the Middle School for math and ELA improvement. Greater involvement of students in High School activities was discussed as well. Mr. Touretz stated that there were increased “after school” activities last year and that more will be introduced this year. The SASI program has been replaced by a new database, e-School, to facilitate data collection for Academic Intervention Services (AIS). A literacy consultant from the University of Kansas has been training teachers employing the University of Kansas literacy model and will assist in evaluation of “at risk” students.  NWEA will guide instruction for Middle School students and the High School has developed the Success In Ninth Grade (SIGN) program for non-classified but challenged students. Nineteen students are currently in the program with a minimum of two teachers accompanying the students for 5 periods a day.  Using the NWEA data, there will be an increase in differentiated instruction efforts. Gary Schall and Ann Young discussed the “school within a school” concept and outlined plans for the development of the Lawrence Academy of the Fine Arts.

 

A lengthy discussion followed regarding Dr. Karant’s goals presentation. She outlined steps that the district will take to improve student performance at all levels.  

 

 

Reports and Presentations: Principals and Administration Discussion on District Goals 1, 2, 3.

 

Upon a motion by Murray Forman and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board entered regular session.

Motion to Enter Regular Session

 

Upon motion by Murray Forman and seconded by  Solomon Blisko, the Board of  Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools and subject to the execution of the annexed agreement, hereby appoints Martin Malone as Interim Elementary School Principal of the Number Six School of the Lawrence Union Free School District in accordance with the terms and provisions of the proposed agreement, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the prior execution of the annexed agreement by Martin Malone and an authorized representative of the Association of Lawrence Administrators (ALA), the Superintendent of Schools is thereupon authorized to execute said agreement.

 

Upon a motion by Murray Forman which was seconded by Uri Kaufman, the Board of Education moved to approve the retention of counsel in Albany per the resolution noted below:

           

            WHEREAS, the Board of Education previously, by resolution adopted September 18, 2007, authorized and directed board counsel to appeal the recent decision of the Commissioner of Education in the Appeal of Garvin McColgan et al., Decision Number 15650 (August 31, 2007); an

 

            WHEREAS, pursuant to such authorization and directive the district commenced an Article 78 proceeding, to wit, Board of Education of the Lawrence Union Free School District Number 15, Town of Hempstead v. Garvin McColgan et al. (Nassau County Index Number 07-015881) ; and

 

            WHEREAS, such Article 68 proceeding has been transferred to Albany County.

           

            NOW, THEREFORE, upon motion by Murray Forman, and seconded by Uri Kaufman, it is hereby RESOLVED that the Board of Education hereby retains the law firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo Esqs., with offices at 20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany, under the direction of the Board Counsel; and it is FURTHER RESOLVED that such retention shall be retroactive to September 21, 2007.

 

Resolution to Appoint the Interim Principal for the Number 6 School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution to Retain Albany Counsel

 

YES (6) NO (1) (Stanley Kopilow) 

 

 

Upon motion by David Sussman and seconded by Uri Kaufman, the meeting was adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

Adjourn

 

 

Mohinder Bharaj

District Clerk