BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Counties
Johnstown, NY 12095
Click here to download printer-friendly Oct. 27, 2021 meeting minutes
DATE
October 27, 2021
PLACE
HFM BOCES Board Room
KIND OF MEETING
Regular Meeting
MEMBERS PRESENT
Harry Brooks, Rebecca Cozzocrea, John DeValve and Jean LaPorta,
MEMBERS ABSENT
Carmen Caraco, Matt Sullivan and Kathryn Zajicek
OTHERS PRESENT
David Ziskin, District Superintendent; Aaron Bochniak, Assistant Superintendent; Jay DeTraglia, Assistant Superintendent; Kathi Lewis, School Business Official; Aaron Flynn, Human Resources Manager; Jennifer Clear, Treasurer; Carden Smith, Computer Services Coordinator; Mark Beaudette, CPA, Questar III BOCES; Braxton James, Fonda-Fultonville Participation in Government Student and Christine Eaton, Clerk
CALL TO ORDER
President Brooks called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to approve the agenda as presented and add any items introduced by unanimous vote.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
At 5:02 p.m. the Board convened the Audit Committee upon a motion made by John DeValve, seconded by Jean LaPorta and unanimously carried.
2020-21 INTERNAL AUDIT RISK ASSESSMENT AND 2020-21 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSET AUDIT
Mark Beaudette, CPA Questar III BOCES reviewed the 2020 Internal Audit Risk Assessment and the 2020-21 Information Technology Asset Audit with the Audit Committee.
2021-22 INTERNAL AUDIT FOCUS AREA
The Board agreed to make Human Resources’ hiring procedures the topic of the 2021-22 Internal Audit Focus Area.
ADJOURN AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Board adjourned the Audit Committee at 5:27 p.m. upon a motion made by Jean LaPorta, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Jean LaPorta to approve the minutes of the September 23, 2021 Special Board meeting and the September 29, 2021 Regular Board meeting. This motion was unanimously carried.
Routine Business Items
CLAIMS AUDITOR REPORTS
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Jean LaPorta, and unanimously carried to approve the Claims Auditor Reports for the periods of September 1, 2021 through September 15, 2021 and September 22, 2021 through September 29, 2021. (SY 21-22 #156, #157)
TREASURER’S REPORTS
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Jean LaPorta and unanimously carried to approve the Treasurer’s Reports for the periods of July 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021 and August 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021. (SY 21-22 #158, #159)
EXTRACLASS REPORT
John DeValve made a motion to approve the September 2021 Extraclass Report as submitted. This motion was seconded by Jean LaPorta and unanimously carried. (SY 21-22 160)
DS CREDIT CARD SUMMARY
John DeValve made a motion to approve the District Superintendent’s Credit Card Summary for the period of July 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. This motion was seconded by Jean LaPorta and unanimously carried. (SY 21-22 #161)
Business Items
2020-21 INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS
Having been received and discussed in Audit Committee, John DeValve made a motion to accept the 2020-21 Annual Risk Assessment and 2020-21 Information Technology Asset Audit submitted by Internal Auditor Mark Beaudette, CPA, Questar III BOCES, taking note of the Chief Financial Officer’s Management Letters. This motion was seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried. (SY 21-22 #162, #163)
CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by John DeValve and unanimously carried to authorize the use of the HFM BOCES credit card for Aaron Bochniak and Jay DeTraglia. As Administrators they would be authorized to take action within the boundaries of Board Policy #4313 – Credit Cards (SY 21-22 #164)
RFP EXTENDION AND REVISED RFB RECOMMENDATIONS
Pursuant to the competitive bidding process, John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to accept the RFP extension and revised RFB recommendations as noted by memoranda from the Purchasing Official in the following areas:
RFP 18-01 Independent Audit Services – West and Company, 97 North Main Street, PO Box 1219, Gloversville, NY 12078 (SY 21-11 #165)
RFB 21-06 Paper Products – Hill and Markes, Inc. is no longer able to adhere to the pricing on seven items they submitted on RFB 21-08Re Groceries, recommend the Board accept the new prices of the seven items effective October 12, 2021. (SY 21-22 #166)
RFB 21-09RE Meat and Dairy – Driscoll Foods made an error when bidding on precooked bacon. The correct item number and pricing is listed on the attached memo. New prices will begin effective September 27, 2021. (SY 21-22 #167)
New Business
Policy # 4507 Time And Effort
John DeValve made a motion to waive the first reading of policy #4507 Time and Effort and adopt it. This motion was seconded by Jean LaPorta and unanimously carried. (SY 21-22 #168)
PERSONNEL ITEMS
Upon the District Superintendent’s recommendation, the following personnel items were presented to the Board for acceptance or approval. All new appointments are contingent upon receipt of Employment Eligibility Verification form.
Establish a Bus Driver Trainee Rate of Pay
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to establish the following Bus Driver Trainee hourly rate of pay:
Bus Driver Trainee – $18.01 per hour. (SY 21-22#169)
Resignations for Retirement
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to approve the following resignations for retirement purposes:
1. Lynn Buyce, Position: School Bus Attendant, Division: Regional Transportation (12/20/2010), Effective Date: 06/24/2022
2. Patricia Muselbeck, Position: Special Education Teacher, Division: Special Education (09/01/1984), Effective Date: 06/30/2022
3. Hope Case, Position: Teacher Aide, Division: Special Education (07/01/2008), Effective Date: 10/26/2021
(SY 21-22 #170, #171, #172)
Resignations
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to accept the following resignations:
1. Deborah Bramer, Position: Part-time, Hourly Food Service Helper to accept a School Bus Attendant position with HFM BOCES, School Lunch Program (09/20/2021), Effective Date: 10/27/2021
2. Rachel DeFelice, Position: School Counselor, Division: Special Education, 09/01/2016, Effective Date: 11/01/2021
3. Valerie Dutcher, Position: Part-time 0.4 FTE, temporary ENL Teacher, Division: Itinerant Services (09/07/2021), Effective Date: 10/07/2021
4. Kayla Hogabone, Position: Part-time, Hourly Teacher Aide to accept a Full-time Teacher Aide position in ALCE, Division: ALCE (07/26/2021), Effective Date: 10/27/2021
5. Joseph Papa, Position: Bus Driver, Division: Regional Transportation (02/25/2021), Effective Date: 10/15/2021
(SY 21-22 #173, #174, #175, #176, #177)
Unpaid Leave Of Absence
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to approve the following unpaid leaves of absence:
1. Michael Hilton, Position: Health and Safety Officer, Division: HSRM (04/29/2021), Effective Date: 09/26/2021-11/19/2021
2. Debra McArthur, Position: Bus Driver, Division: Regional Transportation (08/27/2013), Effective Date: 10/01/2021-12/16/2021
(SY 21-22 #178, 179)
Establish Positions
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to establish the following positions:
Position: School Safety Officer, Division: Special Education, Effective Date: 10/25/2021
Position: Registered Professional Nurse (School), Division: PTECH, Effective Date: 11/29/2021
Appointments Certified Related Services Personnel
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to appoint the following certified related services personnel:
a. Name: Andrea Figueroa, Appointment Type: Probationary, Title: School Counselor, Tenure Area: School Counselor, Salary: $43,226.00, pro-rated to $35,661.45 – pending contract negotiations, Effective Date: 10/25/2021-10/24/2025, Department: Special Education, FTE: 1.0, Certification: School Counselor – Provisional
b. Name: Caroline Korniat, Appointment Type: Probationary, Title: School Counselor, Tenure Area: School Counselor, Salary:
$43,226.00, pro-rated to $37,606.62 – pending contract negotiations, Effective Date: 10/12/2021-10/11/2025, Department: Special Education, FTE: 1.0, Certification: School Counselor – Provisional
(SY 21-22 #180, #181)
Appointments – Civil Service
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to approve the following Civil Service appointments:
a. Name: Deborah Bramer, Appointment Type: Probationary, CS Title: School Bus Attendant, Probationary Term: 10/28/2021-10/27/2022, Salary: $13.75 per hour, FTE: 1.0 Department: Regional Transportation
b. Name: Geoffrey Gray, Appointment Type: Provisional, CS Title: School Safety Officer, Effective: 10/25/2021, Salary: $45,000.00, pro-rated to $37,125.00, FTE: 1.0, Department: Special Education
c. Name: Kayla Hogabone, Appointment Type: Probationary, CS Title: Teacher Aide, Effective: 10/28/2021-10/27/2022, Salary: $18,415.00, pro-rated to $14,916.16 – pending contract negotiations, FTE: 1.0, Department: Adult Literacy and Corrections Education
d. Name: Saleena Maxson, Appointment Type: Probationary, CS Title: Registered Professional Nurse (School), Probationary Term: 12/06/2021-12/05/2022, Salary: $43,058.00, pro-rated to $29,494.73 – pending contract negotiations, FTE: 1.0, Department: PTECH
e. Name: Patricia Roten, Appointment Type: Probationary, CS Title: School Bus Attendant, Probationary Term: 10/28/2021-10/27/2022, Salary: $13.75 per hour, FTE: 1.0, Department: Regional Transportation
f. Name: Brittany White, Appointment Type: Probationary, CS Title: Registered Professional Nurse (School), Probationary Term: 10/12/2021-10/11/2022, Salary: $43,058.00, pro-rated to $37,460.46 – pending contract negotiations, FTE: 1.0, Department: Special Education
(SY 21-22 #182, #83, #184, #185, #186, #187)
All Other Appointments
Jean LaPorta made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to approve the following all other appointments:
a. Recommend the Board approve the appointments of the substitutes listed below, with effective dates as noted. Employees are not eligible for benefits (health, dental, vision, long-term disability and life insurance).
Teacher – effective 10/28/2021
Megan Eglin
Teacher Aide – effective 10/28/21
Megan Eglin
School Monitor– effective 10/28/2021
Megan Eglin
School Bus Attendants – effective 09/24/2021
Taria Kadle
Bus Driver – effective 09/27/2021
Richard Denero
(SY 21-22 #188, #189)
b. Recommend the Board approve the appointments and re-appointments of staff listed below for the 2021-22 school year, with effective dates as noted. Employees are not eligible for benefits (health, dental, vision, long term disability and life insurance).
1. Donald Hodge, Division: School Lunch, Rate: $2,500 Stipend, Term of Employment: 09/01/2021-06/30/2022, Not to Exceed: N/A, Position Category: Food Service Prep
2. Jayette Miller, Division: Business Office, Rate: $4,500, Stipend, Term of Employment: 07/01/2021-06/30/2022, Not to Exceed: N/A, Position Category: Extra Payroll Duties
3. Deanna Rizzo, Division: ELC Grant Funds, Rate: $1,500, Stipend, Term of Employment: 09/27/2021-07/31/2022, Not to Exceed: N/A, Position Category: ELC Grant Funds
4. Paul Wilder, Division: Regional Transportation, Rate: $3,500 Stipend, Term of Employment: 07/01/2021-06/30/2022, Not to Exceed: N/A, Position Category: Head Mechanic
(SY 21-22 #190, #191, #192, #193)
c. Appoint the following PTECH staff member to work up to seven additional days at her daily Teacher Aide rate from July 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021:
Adrianne Morse
(SY 21-22 #194)
d. 2021-22 Advisors
PTECH, Positivity Club, Kimberly Abel, Lisa Garguilo
PTECH, Equity and Inclusion Club, Nathanael Somerville-Braun
PTECH, Yearbook Club, Vanessa Stark, Jeanne Halloran
(SY 21-22 #195)
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BOCES OPERATIONS AND COMPONENT DISTRICT SERVICES
The Assistant Superintendent for BOCES Operations and Component District Service’s Partnership-Advocacy-Leadership report included:
► ELC Schools Grant
► Transportation
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
The District Superintendent’s Partnership-Advocacy-Leadership report included:
► Vision-Mission-Core Beliefs
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Jean LaPorta told to the Board about the NYSSBA’s 2021Live Virtual Event she attended on October 25, 2021. She said it was interesting and focused on the challenges of the pandemic.
Other Business
APPROVE MISSION-VISION-CORE BELIEFS
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried to approve the HFM BOCES Mission-Vision-Core Beliefs. (SY 21-22 #196)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 6:03 p.m. the Board entered executive session for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining negotiations pertaining to the HFM BOCES Teachers’ Association, and CSEA Regional Transportation Units and the employment history of particular individuals upon a motion made by Jean LaPorta, seconded by John DeValve and unanimously carried.
RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
At 6:36 p.m. Jean LaPorta made a motion to return to open session. This motion was seconded by John DeValve and unanimously carried.
MISCELLANEOUS PERSONNEL ITEMS
John DeValve made a motion, seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea to approve the following miscellaneous personnel items:
Memorandum of Agreement by and between Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES and CSEA Regional Transportation Unit. (SY 21-22 #197)
Board of Cooperative Educational Services Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery Counties and BOCES Teachers’ Association Agreement July 1, 2021-June 30, 2026. (SY 21-22 #198)
Settlement Agreement by and Among the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services, The Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES Teachers’ Association and Employee #02378. (SY 21-22 #199)
EVERSLEY BRADWELL CONSULTING – CANAJOHARIE CSD
John DeValve made a motion to authorize the District Superintendent to execute the agreement by and between HFM BOCES and Eversley Bradwell Consulting to provide consulting services to Canajoharie Central School District effective October 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. This motion was seconded by Rebecca Cozzocrea and unanimously carried. (SY 21-22 #200)
FUTURE MEETINGS
November 17, 2021 – HFM BOCES Regular Board Meeting, 5:00 p.m., HFM BOCES Board Room
ADJOURNMENT:
With no further business to come before the Board, John DeValve made a motion at 6:40 p.m. to adjourn the meeting. This motion was seconded by Jean LaPorta and unanimously carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Eaton
Clerk of the Board
