RIVER VALE SCHOOL DISTRICT

   River Vale, New Jersey 07675

 

                                           SPECIAL PUBLIC SESSION MEETING

                                                     Holdrum School Media Center

                                                      Thursday, February 28, 2002

                                                                       6:00 PM

    

                                                                     MINUTES

 

President Ammerman called the meeting to order at  6:00 PM in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231 and the Laws of 1975, notice was hereby given that advance public notice was forwarded to all officially designated individuals, newspapers, filed with the Township Clerk and posted at the Office of the Board of Education.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:       Mrs. Sheryl Eaton, Mr. William Ellis, Mrs. Bettyanne McGuire, Mrs. Joanne Venino, Mr. Dave Zornow,

Mr. Mike Ratner, Mr. Bert Ammerman

 

ALSO PRESENT:                 Dr. Frank Alvarez, Superintendent

                                                Mr. Michael Rinderknecht, Business Administrator

 

The Board and members of the public saluted the flag.

 

Mr. Rinderknecht briefed the Board on the status of the tentative budget and

distributed/reviewed the following documents:

 

·        Net Budget Cap Worksheet

·        Anticipated Sources of Revenue

·        Anticipated Sources of Revenue Pie Chart

·        Budget Summary & Appropriations to include both percentage increases and dollar increases for each program function.

·        Appropriation comparison bar chart reflecting the current 2001/2002 budget vs. the 2002/2003 proposed budget.

·        Master Chart of Accounts detail reflecting 2001/2002 advertised budget appropriations vs. proposed 2002/2003 appropriations.

 

Mr. Rinderknecht advised the Board that the tentative budget is approximately $95,000 under cap after taking into consideration the Spending Growth Limitation Adjustment for Enrollment in the estimated amount of $295,129.00.  He furthermore reminded the Board that due to the fact that State Aid figures are not available yet, his projected calculations were based on the assumption that the district would in fact loose 10% in State Aid and would not receive Distance Learning Network Aid funding in the amount of $52,574.00.

 

Dr. Alvarez advised the Board of the following newly budgeted positions which have been incorporated into the budget:

 

Position                                   Location                                  Budgetary Salary        Health Benefits

 

Administrative Assistant            Supt’s Office                            $10,000.00                           N/A

Teacher-5th Grade                     Woodside  (1.0 FTE)                 $43,560.00                    $12,008.00

Teacher-Basic Skills*                Roberge    (1.0 FTE)                 $38,757.00                    $         0.00    

Teacher-S.A.G.E.*                   Roberge    (.50 FTE)                 $21,815.50                    $         0.00

Teacher-S.A.G.E.*                   Woodside  (.50 FTE)                 $21,815.50                    $         0.00              

                                                                             TOTALS     $135,948.00                $12,008.00

                               

*Currently employed 2001/2002 School Year

 

Dr. Alvarez advised the Board that the following positions were not incorporated into the budget:

 

Position                                   Location          FTE                 Budgetary Salary        Health Benefits

 

Curriculum Coordinator              Supt’s Office    0.50                  $41,250.00                    $  6,003.80

Teacher-Phys.Ed./Health           Holdrum           1.00                  $43,560.00                    $12,008.00

Teacher-Librarian                     Woodside          0.50                  $         0.00                   $         0.00

Teacher-Librarian                     Roberge            0.50                  $43,560.00                    $12,008.00

 

Dr. Alvarez also advised the Board that he had Mr. Rinderknecht contact the Business Administrators in both Woodcliff Lake and Hillsdale to inquire as to whether they were budgeting for a prorated portion of the shared Curriculum Coordinator position.  Mr. Rinderknecht was advised by both Business Administrators that they received no direction from their Superintendents on this matter. 

 

The Board expressed the desire to incorporate the above positions into the budget, but felt that given current economic times, they would consider possible incorporating them into the 2003/2004 school budget.

 

Dr. Alvarez spoke to the Board about the need to provide the Woodside School with a portable classroom to accommodate the projected increase in student enrollment at the Woodside School for the 2002/2003 school year.  Dr. Alvarez passed out three options available to the Board which included:

·        Increase existing class sizes to accommodate enrollment increases.

 

·        Budget for an additional 5th grade teacher and a portable classroom to accommodate enrollment increases.

 

·        Convert the small group instruction rooms located across from the computer room to a full size classroom. It was additionally noted that upon the conclusion of the referendum, the aforementioned areas would need to be reconverted back to a small group room and faculty room.

 

After much discussion, the Board agreed to budget for an additional 5th grade teacher at

the Woodside School and additionally appropriate the following monies into the 2002/2003

budget for a portable classroom:

 

Item                                        2002/03 Budget                     

 

Electrical Hookup                                 $17,500.00                                

Annual Lease Payments                        $  6,600.00                                

Delivery/Pickup                                    $     600.00                                

Skirting                                                 $  3,350.00                                

Anchors                                               $     670.00                                

Ramp Access                                       $  4,500.00                               

                                                            Total               $31,220.00     

 

The Board requested that both Dr. Alvarez and Mr. Rinderknecht adjust the tentative budget in accord

with the Board’s request this evening, and furthermore requested that every effort be made to keep

the combined General Fund/Debt Service tax increase on the average assessed home below a

3% increase.

 

Meeting opened to public comments on agenda items at 7:14 P.M.

 

Public comments

None

 

Meeting closed to public comments on agenda items at 7:14 P.M.

 

A.                 MOTION BY  ___Mr. Ammerman_, SECONDED BY__Mr. Ratner___

that the February 28, 2002 Special Public Session Meeting of the River Vale Board of Education be adjourned at 7:15 PM.