LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

Tuesday, August 7, 2007- 8:00 P.M.

Middle School-Cafeteria

The Regular meeting of the Lawrence Union Free School District Board of Education was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Murray Forman, President. Upon motion by Murray Forman and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board immediately entered into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing special education and personnel.

At 8:07 p.m. upon motion by Murray Forman and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board left Executive Session and immediately reconvened the Regular Session.

Murray Forman, President, called the Regular meeting of the Lawrence Union Free School District Board of Education to order at 8:10 p.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Murray Forman.

The following Board members were present: Mr. Murray Forman, President, Mr. Stanley Kopilow, Mr. Michael Hatten, Dr. Solomon Blisko, and Rabbi Nahum Marcus.

Dr. David Sussman and Mr. Uri Kaufman were absent.

Also present were: Dr. John T. Fitzsimmons, Superintendent, Mrs. Elsie Friedman, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Dr. Vicki Karant, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Mr. Dominick Minerva, School Counsel.

Upon motion by Murray Forman and seconded by Michael Hatten the Board of Education appointed Mohinder Bharaj as District Clerk.

Vote: 4- Yes 1-No (S. Kopilow)

District Clerk Appointment

At 8:34 Dr. John Fitzsimons called a recess to move the venue to the auditorium to better accommodate the public. The meeting was called back to order in room #249 due to the heat in the auditorium.

Recess

Mr. Dominick Minerva presented a report on the library referendum.

Report on Library Referendum

Second review of policy and regulation 5140 for initial entrance and placement in Pre-Kindergarten in The Lawrence Public School.

Mrs. Susan Kosser presented a report on N.Y.S. Satisfaction Survey on Special Education.

Review of Policy and Regulation 5140

N.Y.S. Satisfaction Survey on Special Education

PowerPoint presentation: Pathways to Improved Conditions for Teaching and Learning. Dr. John Fitzsimons presented a proposal to explore ways in which to improve the teaching and learning conditions and address the capital needs of the district.

Superintendent’s Proposal

Upon the proper motions and seconds, the Board voted unanimously to approve the action unless noted to that effect.

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board of Education accepted the Treasurer’s Report for the month of June 2006 per item III.A.

Treasurer’s Report

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education accepted contracts per enclosure III.C. 1 and III.C.2

1. Five Towns Community Center, 2007-2008, $117,500.00
2. Personnel/Special Education-
a. Sheri Zimmerman-OT services for summer 2007
b. Michele Seelenfreund-OT services for summer 2007
c. Gloria Malmud- OT services for summer 2007
d. Michele Lieberstein- OT services for summer 2007
e. Katherine Gunderson- OT services for summer 2007
f. Ira Ehrenberg-Speech/Language Therapy Services for summer 2007
g. Lisa Dunn- OT services for summer 2007
h. Martin Brull- PT services for summer 2007
i. Fern Boyarsky -contract for OT services for summer 2007
j. All Children’s Therapy-Speech/Language and Counseling Services for summer 2007
k. Paws for Peds-PT services for 2006-2007 school year

Contracts-Enclosures

Upon motion by Solomon Blisko and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education accepted purchase orders over $50,000 per enclosure III.D.

Vendor Purpose Amount

Dell Marketing Desktop Computers District wide $86,060.00

Keyspan Utility Service 2007-2008 $129,394.00

LIPA Utility Service 2007-2008 $800,678.00

Empire State Fuel Fuel Service 2007-2008 $542,197.00

Xerox Corp. Lease renewal of Print Shop machines $115,752.60

Independent Coach Bus transportation district wide $8,521,723.00

JLM Computer Student information Consultant $76,050.00

Triad Brokerage Excess Workers Compensation &

Employers Liability Insurance $51.098.00

NYSIR Liability Insurance $465,080.00

Purchase Orders

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board of Education approved the resolution that all purchase orders over $50,000.00 be presented to the Board of Education for approval per item III.F.

In order to accommodate the large crowd the Fire Marshall directed the

attendees to the cafeteria at 9:11 p.m. The meeting was called back to order

in the cafeteria at 9:20 p.m.

Resolution

Recess

The Board of Education is required to set the tax levy of 2007-2008 and to notify the Nassau County Legislature and Board of Assessors of the tax levy set by the Board of Education by August 15, 2007. Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten the following resolution was presented.

Resolved the Board of Education of the Lawrence UFSD does hereby set the tax levy for 2007-2008 at $76,138,096.00 and hereby authorizes the District Clerk to notify the Nassau County Legislature and the Board of Assessors of the tax levy set per enclosure IV.H.

Resolution: Setting of Tax Levy 2007-2008

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education accepted the Retirements of Civil Service Staff as presented on enclosure IV.A.

Retirements: Professional Staff

Upon motion by Michael Hatten and seconded by Nahum Marcus, the Board of Education accepted the Resignations of the professional staff as presented on enclosure IV.B.2.

Resignations: Civil Service Staff

Upon motion by Stanley Kopilow and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education approved the discontinuance of employment per enclosure IV.C.1.a; IV.C.1b; IV.C.2

Discontinuance of Employment

Upon motion by Michael Hatten and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board of Education approved the termination of professional staff by reason of abolition of the position per enclosure V.C.2.

Resolution: Termination of Professional Staff by Reason of Abolition of Position

Upon motion by Solomon Blisko and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education approved the Leaves of Absences as presented per enclosure IV.D.

Leaves of Absences

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education approves the Professional staff appointments as presented on enclosure IV.F.1.

Appointments: Professional Staff

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education approved the change of employment status as presented on enclosure IV.F.1.a.

Change of Employment Status

Vote: Yes- 4 No- 1 (S. Kopilow)

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board of Education approved substitute teachers as presented on enclosure IV.F.1c.

Approved Substitute Teachers

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education approved the Civil Service Staff Appointments as presented on enclosure IV.F.2.

Appointments: Civil Service Staff

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Stanley Kopilow, the Board of Education approved the change of employment status as presented on enclosure IV.F.2a.

Change of Employment Status

Upon motion by Nachum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education approved the Substitutes as per enclosureIV.F.2.c.

Approved Substitutes

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education accepted extra compensation schedule as per enclosure IV. G.

Extra Compensation

Upon motion by Nahum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education approved the Adult Learning Center Staff Rates as per enclosure IV.H.

Adult Learning Center Staff Rates

Upon motion by Stanley Kopilow and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education accepted the salary adjustments for non-affiliated personnel as per enclosure IV.I.

Approved Salary Adjustments

Upon motion by Michael Hatten and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board of Education of the Lawrence Union Free School District is presented with the Recommendations of the Committees on Pre-School & Special Education regarding the provision of special education services as per enclosure V.A.

Vote: Yes- 4 No- 1 (N. Marcus)

Committee On Special Education Recommendations

Upon motion by Michael Hatten and seconded by Nahum Marcus the Board of Education of the Lawrence union Free School District adopted the new Regents sequence as per enclosure V.B.

Math Textbook Adoption

Murray Forman moved to table and Michael Hatten seconded the Resolution for Referendum to be held on Library Property per enclosure VI.B.

Table of Resolution of Referendum

Upon motion by Michael Hatten and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the Board of Education accepted the minutes as presented for the following meetings: June 19, 2007, July 10, 2007 as per enclosure VI.A.

Minutes

Upon motion by Nachum Marcus and seconded by Michael Hatten, the Board of Education accepted the proposal of the superintendent; Pathways to Improved Conditions for Teaching and Learning as presented earlier as per enclosure VI.C.

Vote: Yes- 4 No- 1 (S. Kopilow)

Resolution to Accept Proposal of Superintendent

VII.A. Warrant Reports:

1. #24
2. #1

B. Budget Summary by Function:

1. Period 12
2. Period 13

C. Revenue Status Report-June 2007

3. Period 12

4. Period 13

D. Extra Classroom Activity Funds-Middle School-May Report

Informational: Warrants

Budget Summary by Function

Conference and Travel

Extra Classroom Activity Funds
Murray Forman established three committees to focus on the strategic plan proposed by Dr. John Fitzsimons; Pathways to Improved Conditions for Teaching and Learning.
1- Facilities Committee to be headed by Murray Forman

2- Educational Excellence Committee to be headed by Dr. David Sussman

Revenue Status Report

3- Special Education Committee to be headed by Nahum Marcus

Committees Established

Upon motion by Murray Forman and seconded by Solomon Blisko, the meeting adjourned at 11:03 p.m.

Adjourn

Mohinder Bharaj

District Clerk