RIVER VALE BOARD OF EDUCATION

River Vale, New Jersey 07675

 

WORK SESSION MEETING

Holdrum School Cafeteria

Tuesday, January 15, 2002

                     

- MINUTES-

 

President Ammerman called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, the Laws of 1975, that public notice has been made at least 48 hours in advance, public notice was posted at the Board of Education, notice was sent to all officially designated newspapers, and notice was filed with the Township Clerk.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:            Mrs. Sheryl Eaton ,Mr. William Ellis, Mrs. Bettyanne McGuire, Mr. Dave Zornow, Mr. Mike Ratner and

                                                Mr. Bert Ammerman

                                                           

ALSO PRESENT:                 Dr. Frank Alvarez, Superintendent

                                                Mr. Michael Rinderknecht, Business Administrator

 

The Board and members of the public saluted the flag.

 

RESOLUTION BY_ Mr. Ammerman__SECONDED BY__ Mr. Ratner______

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE RIVER VALE BOARD OF EDUCATION that the

Board appoints Mrs. Joanne Venino, Board Member, until the April 16, 2002 Annual

School Election, replacing  Dr. Jeffrey Matfus’ unexpired term.

 

VOTE:                        Mrs. Eaton              Aye

Mr. Ellis                   Aye

Mrs. McGuire          Aye

Mr. Zornow             Aye

Mr. Ratner               Aye

Mr. Ammerman       Aye

 

Mr. Rinderknecht administers the Oath of Allegiance to Mrs.Venino.

 

ROLL CALL

OF THE BOARD:        Mrs. Sheryl Eaton, Mr. William Ellis, Mrs. Bettyanne McGuire,

                                        Mrs. Joanne Venino, Mr. Dave Zornow, Mr. Mike Ratner and  

    Mr. Bert Ammerman

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS 

 

Building Project:  

Mrs. Bettyanne McGuire, Chairperson, reported that the DCA has approved all the plans except Woodside School. Once the approval is received, then we can proceed with the bid process. Plans for a groundbreaking ceremony are scheduled for March 1st.

 

Buildings & Grounds

Mr. Mike Ratner, Chairperson, reported on ACT 1000 work orders and the accountability of the work actually being accomplished. Mrs. McGuire acknowledged that it is not only the new software program efficient, but she also complimented the Director of Buildings and Grounds for accomplishing the work. Mr. Ratner further spoke about the odor problem in room 107 at Woodside School which may be attributed to the grease trap located under the carpet in that room. Other issues discussed at the committee meeting: wiring at the schools, summer custodial help and paint crew, storage garages, and costing out projects for existing classrooms

 

Curriculum/Education:

Mrs. Sheryl Eaton, Chairperson, reported that the Physical Education and the Visual Arts curricula are in the process of being typed and should be ready for presentation sometime in April. Computer and Social Studies curricula are at the committee level.

 

Finance:  

Mrs. Bettyanne McGuire, Chairperson, reported that the Administrators are in the process of compiling information for the 2002/2003 budget. State Aid figures will be forthcoming.  Special Education reimbursement from the state can be expected a year from now and only on expenses over $40,000 per student and then only 70% of that amount.

 

Personnel

Mr. Bill Ellis, Chairperson                        -                                              No Report

 

Negotiations:

Mrs. Bettyanne McGuire, Chairperson, stated that the negotiation process has begun with the Administrators/Principals.

 

Technology

Mr. Dave Zornow, Chairperson, stated that the Holdrum Middle School basketball games schedule is now on the district’s Web site. In addition, a search engine has been added to the Web. Interviews have been completed for the Web Master position. Mr. Zornow stated that  approximately 400 people have signed up for the River Vale mail service. He thanked Dr. Alvarez  and Sheryl Eaton for reviewing the Technology Curriculum.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Dr. Alvarez gave the Board a draft copy of the calendar for the 2002/2003 school year. The  High School approved the same calendar. The other 3 sending districts did not approve this calendar yet. He hopes the calendar is approved in February.

President Ammerman asked if any Board members were planning to attend the NJSBA General Membership Meeting on January 29, 2002 at the Assembly Steak House in Englewood Cliffs. Mrs. McGuire will attend.

 

Mr. Ellis questioned Dr. Alvarez  about the loss of the River Vale seat on the Pascack Valley Regional Board. A discussion followed.

 

Mrs. McGuire commented on the sub-contracting bill.  Mrs. McGuire also commented on questions she had received about the Washington trip. Discussion followed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Mr. Ratner commented on the issue of the construction project and could the 8th grade graduation be moved to the high school. Dr. Alvarez commented that he has already begun working on that issue.

 

Mr. Ratner asked if the Reorganization Meeting date has been established. Mr. Rinderknecht answered that a tentative date is scheduled for April 30, 2002 with the Regular Session Meeting at 7:00 PM and the Reorganization Meeting at 8:00 PM.

 

Mr. Ratner suggested an idea for the town council to be approached for any information they would like to contribute to the River Vale School district’s Web Page. Mr. Zornow commented. Mrs. McGuire commented.

 

Mr. Ellis commented on the lease purchases through the state, which he believed to be 4.4% interest rate. Mr. Rinderknecht commented.

 

Mr. Zornow advised the Board that a second set of obsolete and unusable computers will be placed on the agenda for January 22, 2002 for disposal.

 

Dr. Alvarez explained the placement of a resolution on the January 22, 2002 agenda for Board approval regarding a uniform memorandum of agreement between law officials and school district officials.

 

Mr. Rinderknecht mentioned several items relating to the referendum that will be on the agenda for Board approval.

 

Mr. Ratner asked about dates scheduled in March for budget deliberations. President Ammerman asked for prepared recommendations from the administrators for the Feb. 12th meeting.

 

Meeting opened to public comments at 7:30 P.M.

 

Public comments

There were no comments from the public.

 

Meeting closed to public comments at 7:30 P.M.

 

A.            RESOLUTION BY__Mr. Ammerman_SECONDED BY__Mr. Ratner_

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b), the Board of Education of the Township of River Vale may exclude the public from that portion of a public meeting at which the Board discusses any of the matters described at N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b) (1)-(9);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education shall forthwith enter into closed session to discuss matters relating to personnel; pending or anticipated contract negotiations; pending or anticipated litigation; matters with the Board Attorney covered by the attorney-client privilege.  Said discussion may be disclosed to the public when the reasons for discussing and acting upon it in closed session no longer exist.

 

            VOTE:            Mrs. Eaton              Aye

Mr. Ellis                   Aye

Mrs. McGuire          Aye

Mrs. Venino             Aye

Mr. Zornow              Aye

Mr. Ratner                Aye

Mr. Ammerman         Aye

 

B.            MOTION BY__Mr. Ammerman__SECONDED BY___Mr. Ratner__

that the January 15, 2002 Work Session Meeting be adjourned at 7:31 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Michael Rinderknecht

Business Administrator/Board Secretary

 

MR:bb

1/31/02