Hornell City School District > Board of Education > Meeting Minutes and Agenda > June 14, 2023

June 14, 2023

President Clark opened the meeting at 5:16 PM and led the Board/Public in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT: Christopher Clark, Joseph Liberto, Meghann Khork, James Marino, Uzma Mehr, Brian May
                        
ABSENT: Kerry Davis (arrived at 5:23 PM) 
RESOLVED:  BY:  MEHR/KHORK that, the agenda be approved as presented.
CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 

REPORTS:

 SUPERINTENDENT ’S  REPORT:  

 Superintendent Palotti noted that tonight will be about celebrating, we have tenure appointments and retirees to honor.  
District Clerk Eaton administered the “Oath of Office” to newly elected Board of Education Member Brian May.

ROUTINE ITEMS

RESOLVED:  BY: MEHR/KHORK that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti to approves/accepts the following Consent Agenda items:
  • Approval of the minutes from the meeting of May 16, 2023.
  • Acceptance of the Warrant Reports of May 31, 2023.
  • The Board has no objections to the recommendations of the Committee on Special Education and approves the authorization of funds to implement the special education programs and services consistent with such recommendations for the CSE meetings of May 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 and 31, 2023 and June 1, 6, 7 and 12, 2023, the CPSE meetings of May 24, 2023 and June 1 and 12, 2023 as well as the  the 504 meetings of May 24 and 31, 2023. 
CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

OLD BUSINESS

NONE

NEW BUSINESS

POLICY/PROCEDURE

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/KHORK that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves holding the annual reorganizational meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED:   BY:  MEHR/MAY that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board accepts the generous donation of Maple City Sound in the amount of $1,500 to the High School Music program.
CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/KHORK that, agenda items VI. E. 1. c. – VI. E. 3. d. be grouped together for one action.
CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/MAY that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board:

  • approves the proposed amendments to the 2022/23 calendar as follows:
    • June 21, 2023 – PK-6 AM only for students (faculty and staff full day)
    • June 22, 2023 – Conference Day
    • June 23, 2023 – Conference Day
  • authorizes Patrick Flaitz to dispose of the following items:
    • Wrangler Floor Scrubber – Asset # 0000211
    • Old High School Safe – Asset # A00497019
    • Promethean Board – Asset # A0049805 

  FINANCE

  • approves the Rental Agreement with the E1B effective July 1, 2023 through  June 30, 2024;
  • approves the resolution to participate in the Cooperative Electric Supply Bids with the Wayne Finger-Lakes BOCES for the 2022/23 school year;
  • approves the GST BOCES Resolution and 2022/23 AS-7;
  • approve the contract with Brighton CSD to district students attending area non-public school with Health and Welfare Services for the 2022/23 school year;
  • approves renewal of the contract for School Physician services with Stony Brook 
  • Pediatrics for the 2023-24 school year at the agreed upon rate of $1 for the year (renewable through 2025);   
  • approve the agreement with the Hornell Steamers for the use of District facilities for the 2023 season;

 PERSONNEL

  • approves the following appointments for the 2023 ESY and SLA programs  (appointments made are conditional upon the needs and numbers for each program):
    • SLA: 
      • Joe Gibson – Teacher
      • Liz Willsey – Library Aide
      • Randi Fridmann – Substitute Teacher
      • Deb Logan – Substitute Teacher
      • Jennifer Class – Substitute Teacher
    • ESY:
      • Deb Logan – Substitute Teacher
      • Randi Fridmann – Substitute Teacher
      • Jennifer Class – Substitute Teacher
      • Aubre Robinson – Substitute Para
      • Lily Gaffney – Substitute Para
      • Anna Flaitz – Substitute Para
      • Kimberly Locker – Substitute Para
      • Christina Kellogg – Substitute Para
  • approves the following 2023 Summer Food Service Worker appointments to be paid on a timesheet basis:
    • Shelly DuBois          
    • Shelby Eymer
    • Christina Feenaughty
    • Kim Foster
    • Tammy Lathrop
    • Chrissy Smith
    • Terah Wilson
  • approves the appointment of Melissa Evans as Deputy Claims Auditor at an hourly rate of $22.50 effective June 5, 2023; 
  • approves Gabriella Crane as a Registered Nurse intern to work with Karen Dgien at the North Hornell School effective June 1, 2023; 
CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  MAY/KHORK that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the following Fall coaching appointments:

  • Name                 Sport             Position
    Ismail Mehr        Football         Head Coach- Varsity
    Joseph Gibson   Football         Varsity Assistant
    Collin Buisch      Football         Varsity Assistant
    James Welch     Swim      Girls Varsity
CARRIED – 5 AYES – 1 ABSTENTION (MEHR)

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/KHORK that, agenda items VI. E. 3. f. – VI. E. 3. n. be grouped together for one action.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  KHORK/MEHR that upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board:

  • approves the list of Grade Level / Department chairs for the three year term beginning July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026;
  • grants tenure to Allison Will in the area of Special Education effective September 2, 2023;
  • grants tenure to Erica Potter in the area of Social Studies effective September 4, 2023;
  • grants tenure to Rachal Childs in the area of Elementary Education effective September 4, 2023;
  • approves the Juul agreement between the Superintendent of Schools and Employee # 1763, Elementary Teacher, extending their probationary period through September 2, 2024;
  • accepts the resignation of Kelcy Beckstrom as Art Teacher effective June, 30, 2023;
  • accepts the resignation of Gillian Brubaker as Science Teacher effective June, 30, 2023;
  • accepts the resignation of Andrew Newman as English Teacher effective June, 30, 2023;
  • accepts the resignation of Keelia Newman as ESOL Teacher effective June 22 30, 2023 (date corrected at employee’s request); 
                            CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/MAY accept the resignation for the purpose of retirement of Douglas Brown as Special Education Teacher effective June 30, 2023. (27 years in the district and 37 years in education).

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/KHORK that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the three year probationary appointment of Cynthia M. Oliver as Elementary Teacher in the tenure area of Elementary Education, effective September 1, 2023 at a starting salary as defined in the HEA Contract.  Cynthia is also hereby approved to work with her team on an hourly time sheet basis over the summer (after the last day of school) when requested by her building principal.   Eligibility for tenure at the end of the probationary period is dependent on the employee receiving APPR ratings of H or E in 3 of the 4 preceding years (and no I rating in the final year). (AS in Liberal Arts from Alfred State College, BA in Elementary Education and MEd in Students with Disabilities from Robert Wesleyan College.  NYS Permanent  Certification in PreK-6).

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED:  BY:  MEHR/KHOR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the four year probationary appointment of Joseph Gibson as Elementary Teacher in the tenure area of Elementary Education, effective September 1, 2023 at a starting salary as defined in the HEA Contract.  Joseph is also hereby approved to work with his team on an hourly time sheet basis over the summer (after the last day of school) when requested by his building principal.  Eligibility for tenure at the end of the probationary period is dependent on the employee receiving APPR ratings of H or E in 3 of the 4 preceding years (and no I rating in the final year). (BS in Childhood Education and Social Studies from Buffalo State (grad May 20, 2023). NYS Anticipated Initial Certification in Childhood Education 1-6 and Middle School Education with Concentration in Social Studies).

CARRIED – 6 YES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/KHORK that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approve the following changes to the substitute roster and other assignments, pending successful fingerprint clearance through the New York State Education Department and approval through DMV and or Civil Service if applicable:     

  •  Substitute Additions:
    •  Cesar Bustamante – Uncertified Teacher
    •  Kimberly Foster – Food Service Helper
    •  Cassandra Giglio – Food Service Helper, Laborer, Teacher Aide, Typist
CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

Member Davis arrived (5:23 PM)

RECOGNITION OF RETIREES:

The following retirees were honored and presented with a gift in recognition of their dedicated service to the District:
  • Mary Losecco, Teacher Aide – 21 years (retired August 6, 2022) – honored by Amy Feeley
  • Gary Kneale, School Bus Driver – 25 years (retired February 27, 2023) – honored by Patrick Flaitz, School Business Official
  • Elizabeth Cardamone, Elementary Teacher – 21 years in the district, 25 in education (retiring June 30, 2023) – honored by Sean Gaffney, North Hornell Principal
  • Sandra Hillman, Elementary Teacher – 6 years in the district, 16 in education (retired February 28, 2023) – honored by Dr. Julie Smith, Intermediate School Principal 
  • Penelope Smith, Elementary Teacher – 22 years (retiring June 30, 2023)  – honored by Dr, Julie Smith, Intermediate School Principal
  • Diane Talbot, Math Teacher – 33 years (retiring June 30, 2023)  – honored by Morgan Allison, High School Principal
  • Douglas Brown, HS Special Education Teacher – 27 years in the district 37 in education (retiring June 30, 2023) – honored by Morgan Allison
  • Jennifer Sorochin, Administrator – 15 years in the district, 29 in education  (retired February 15, 2023) – honored by Superintendent Palotti
  • Sean Gaffney, Administrator – 27 years in the district, 33 in education (retired June 30, 2022 – extended time 2022/23) – honored by Superintendent Palotti

 Discussion:

 Informational:

For those members who will be attending graduation on Friday, June 23rd:
Please meet at the gate to the stadium at the 50 yard line closest to the building at 6:45 pm. If it looks like rain, we will meet in the A gym at the same time.     
The Annual Reorganizational Meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 in the High School Library at 5:15 PM.             

RESOLVED:  BY:  MEHR/KHORKthat, at 5:43 PM the meeting pause for a reception to honor the retirees and then move to Executive Session to discuss a particular personnel matter.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY:  MEHR/DAVIS that, at 6:42 PM the meeting return to Regular Session and the meeting be adjourned.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL               
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Eaton, District Clerk