Hornell City School District > Board of Education > Meeting Minutes and Agenda > Meeting Minutes December 1, 2021

Meeting Minutes December 1, 2021

President Davis opened the meeting at 5:15 PM and led the Board/Public in the Pledge of Allegiance (the meeting was held in the High School Auditorium).

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT: Kerry Davis, Jessica Hess, James Marino, Meghann Khork, Christopher Clark, Joseph Liberto

ABSENT: Uzma Mehr (arrived at 5:27 PM),

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that the agenda be approved as presented:

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

PRESENTATIONS:

The Hornell Intermediate School Select Choir conducted by Sydney Schierer and the Hornell High School Jazz and Show Choirs conducted by Christopher vanLeeuwen performed a few holiday numbers for the Board and public.

REPORTS:

Construction Report: None

Celebrating Success:

Sean Gaffney, North Hornell Principal reported

  • Finishing first marking period, getting ready for Parent Teacher conferences next week
  • Welcoming many new staff members, teacher and paras

Julie Smith, Intermediate School Acting Principal reported:

  • We just finished our first marking period. We had a work day on Monday morning with reading interventionists to review and analyze our reading assessment data and growth from September to November. The data is definitely not where we want it to be, but we did find some areas of growth to really celebrate and to share with teachers. In one marking period, we typically want to see students move up one grade level. During this marking period, 21% of our students moved up 2 or more levels and 6% of our students moved up 3 or more levels, some moving up 6 and 7 levels. We know that having students back in school consistently is helping, along with the support of interventionists and pushing for all grade levels to deliver reading instruction everyday in the classroom. It’s been a very good job by the teachers, interventionists and students! We look forward to even more growth once we add the two reading interventionists through the literacy grant.

Scott Carroll, High School Principal reported:

  • It is our pleasure to announce the October and November 2021 Wildwood Student of the Month. The following student(s) I would like to recognize.
    • Kaylynn Hancock – Cosmetology
    • Olivia Evans – New Visions Education/Human Resources Abigale Cornish – New Visions Health
    • Adrianna White – Cosmetology
    • Caylin Young – New Visions Education/Human Resources Josh Griffith – Welding & Metal Fabrication
  • We have 325 students who received an honor pass for the second marking period. This means they have over an 85 average, no referrals, and no tardies to class. 265 First Honor Roll (High Honor 90+) 103 Second Honor Roll (Honor 85-90) Therefore, over half of our student population received an honor pass-51 percent!
  • Also, we are not only showcasing this talent in our classrooms, but also on our sporting fields and gyms. John-correct me if I’m wrong, but all fall teams were scholar athlete teams, with a combined average of 95/96 percent
  • Starting the season’s festivities. classes have started hall decorating for our deck the halls, and we have a candy cane hunt Friday.
  • Seniors are adopting other Seniors in the community.
  • Shout outs:
    • Teachers-for their continued and unwavering support for our students during this difficult time
    • Nurses-Testing daily and keeping us afloat
    • Boys Varsity Soccer Team-Sectional Title
    • Girls Varsity Soccer Team – Sectional Finals
    • Our Attendance and Main Office secretary who has been pulling double duty for almost a month now
    • Subs-For those that do come in, thank you! We need you!
    • Seniors for volunteer hours helped tremendously for the winter opening

John Cardamone, Athletic Director reported:

  • Tutors-Who are working with students out on quarantine or medicals
  • At the end of each sports season, the NYSPHSAA honors those teams and individuals that excel in the classroom. Those student-athletes, teams, and schools work very hard throughout the year and deserve to be recognized for their academic success. To receive Scholar-Athlete team recognition with a certificate, the team’s average GPA for 75% of the roster must be greater than or equal to 90.00. This means you take 75% of your roster and then average their GPAs. I am pleased to announce that all our Hornell High School Fall 2021 teams have achieved Scholar Athlete status:
    • Team Team Average
      • Boys Cross Country – 94%
      • Girls Cross Country – 98.9%
      • Girls Soccer – 98.28%
      • Boys Soccer – 96.35%
      • Football – 92.18%
      • Volleyball – 99.09%
      • Girls Swimming – 95.92%
    • I would also like to recognize our Girls Soccer and Volleyball team for their total team averages, the average of everyone on their rosters:
        • Girls Soccer – 95.96% Total average 24 student athletes, 20 of them have an average over 90%
        • Volleyball – 96.64 Total average 13 student athletes, 11 of them have an average over 90%
    • Thanks Coaches and Teachers for all your hard work.
  • Congratulations-
    • Girls Volleyball – 1st Sectional win
    • Girls Soccer Making the Sectional Finals for the second year in a row.
    • Boys Soccer – Class B1 Sectional Champions

Ted Illi, Director of Secondary Curriculum reported:

  • Very excited to be having professional development with the Teacher’s College next week!

Amy Feeley, Director of Pupil Personnel reported:

  • Meetings with K-1 families are underway
  • Shannon Davis, Director of Facilities and Grounds reported:
  • Have successfully made the change from cooling to heating.
  • Had our first snow with the new equipment – went well
  • Working on the second bathroom renovation at the Baseball stadium – stop by and take a peek!

Superintendent’s Report Superintendent Palotti reported:

  • Troy Williams from LaBella is here to present the work that has been done for our Building Condition Survey (BCS) – the BCS is a requirement of State Ed every five years. He will discuss findings from each building made through visual inspections, information from Welliver and teacher focus groups from each building. This work parallels that of our Districtwide Facilities Committee and suggests upgrades, ideas and concepts. He will walk us through some of these. Keep in mind, this is not exactly what is planned, it is preliminary discussion at this time.
  • Superintendent Palotti turned the floor over to Troy who reviewed the findings and suggestions with the Board with the aid of a video presentation.

ROUTINE ITEMS

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, at 6:17 PM the Board move to Executive Session to discuss particular contractual matters.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, at 6:27 PM the Board return to Regular Session.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti to approves/accepts the following Consent Agenda items:

  • Approves of the minutes for the meetings of November 17, 2021.
  • Acceptance of Claims Auditor/Warrant Reports for the period ending October 31, 2021.
  • Acceptance of the Student Activities Report of October 31, 2021.
  • Acceptance of General Fund Budget Transfer Report of October 31, 2021.
  • Acceptance of Revenue Report of October 31, 2021.
  • Acceptance of Treasurer’s Reports of July 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021.
  • Acceptance of Appropriations Report of October 31, 2021.
  • 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 meeting of November 22 2021. The CPSE meeting of November 18, 2021 and the 504 meetings of November 18, 2021.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

POLICY/PROCEDURE

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board authorizes Patrick Flaitz to dispose of the following books:

  • Outdated HS Classroom Books List dated December 1, 2021
  • HS Library Books List dated June 15, 2021.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the updated District Safety Plan.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

The Board held the first reading of the updated Wellness Policy #5661.

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board waives the second reading of the updated Wellness Policy and approves same as presented.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the agreement with the Hornell Area YMCA for the use of District facilities for the 2021/22 school year.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

FINANCE

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board accepts the generous donation of Stony Brook Pediatrics in the amount of $10,000.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

PERSONNEL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board accepts the resignation of Debra Hardy as Cleaner effective at the end of the day on November 30, 2021.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board accepts the resignation of Penny Smith as Co-Director of the Intermediate School Musical.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the probationary appointment of Danielle Glover as Food Service Helper, effective November 22, 2021, 10 months, 7 hours per day at the starting rate specified in the HESSA Contract. CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the probationary appointment of Angela Kirtz as Teacher Aide, effective December 2, 2021, 10 months, 6.5 hours per day at the starting rate stated in the HPA Contract.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the probationary appointment of Bridgett Ray as Teacher Aide, effective December 13, 2021, 10 months, 6.5 hours per day at the starting rate stated in the HPA Contract.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the probationary appointment of Christina Kellogg as Teacher Aide, effective December 2, 2021, 10 months, 6.5 hours per day at the starting rate stated in the HPA Contract.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approves the following with HPDG:

  • MOU – Vacation Rollover
  • HPDG contract dated July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2027

CARRIED – 6 AYES – 1 ABSTENTION (CLARK)

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

  • Maisy Booth – Teacher Aide
  • Joseph Gibson – Teacher Aide
  • Alexandrea Kendall – Teacher Aide

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

INFORMATIONAL:

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 5:15 PM in the High School Library located at 134 Seneca Street, Hornell, NY.

RESOLVED: BY: HESS/MEHR that, at 6:32 PM the meeting be adjourned.

CARRIED – 7 AYES – ALL

Respectfully submitted,
Carol Eaton, District Clerk