Hornell City School District > Board of Education > Meeting Minutes and Agenda > Meeting Minutes January 4, 2023

Meeting Minutes January 4, 2023

President Hess opened the meeting at 5:27 PM (immediately following the Audit Committee Meeting and led the Board/Public in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT: Jessica Hess, Christopher Clark, Meghann Khork, James Marino, Uzma Mehr, Joseph Liberto

ABSENT: Kerry Davis (excused)

RESOLVED: BY: CLARK/MEHR that, at 5:27 PM the Board move to Executive Session to discuss a particular personnel matter.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: CLARK/MEHR that, at 6:08 PM the Board return to Regular Session.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: CLARK/MEHR that, the agenda be amended to add the following agenda as item VI E 3 o: Education Law 913 Resolution

Resolved that, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Palotti, the Board approve the Education Law 913 resolution pertaining to employee #1536.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: DAVIS/CLARK that, the agenda be approved as amended above.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

PUBLIC COMMENT

NONE

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS PRESENTATIONS:

NONE

REPORTS:

Construction Report: Andy Billotte (Welliver) updated the Board on the current projects.

CELEBRATING SUCCESS:

  • Julie Smith, Intermediate School Principal reported:
    • Our second grade attended a performance of “Click, Clack, Moo” at the Clemens Center in December. Jen Carretto did a terrific job taking care of all the details and the kids just loved it! It is wonderful to have our students going on field trips again!
    • Our Building Leadership Team put together a school-wide assembly on our December half day. One thing we are tackling this year is attendance, and attendance is usually at its lowest on half- days, so they are easy days we are trying to target, with our message to students and parents that “Every Day Matters”.
    • At Intermediate School, we are starting a book club for all faculty and staff on the book Educator Wellness, focusing on taking care of ourselves so we are in the best shape and mindset for our students.
    • Tomorrow, the Alfred University Women’s Basketball Team is coming to introduce themselves and read some books to classes. We are really looking forward to it!
  • Morgan Allison, High School Principal reported:
    • Thank you to the maintenance, custodial, and office staff for their massive efforts in getting the main office emptied and ready for renovations
    • Thank you to Jen Bixby for her service and dedication to the High School, best of luck in her new venture
    • We had our Holiday performances by Band and Choir, thanks to the flexibility of band to adjust to inclement weather
    • Wonderful job to all classes for their amazing holiday decorations. Congratulations to the Sophomore class for winning the holiday hallway decoration contest. .
    • The DECA club competed at the regional competition at Alfred State earlier this month. Congratulations to Jasmine Jarbeck for placing 1st out of 31 competitors. Jasmine, Natalie Dodge, and Stella Carretto will move on to the state DECA competition in March.
    • Our December BOCES Students of the month are Ramsey Dean-Prince, Brennal Lovell, and Trevor Payne.
    • Congratulations to Gennaro Picco for scoring his 1,000th career basketball point on December 16th against Haverling.
    • BLT held a variety of holiday fun activities including team trivia, hot chocolate, snowflake hunt, and themed dress up days.
  • Amy Feeley, Director of Pupil Personnel reported:
    • On December 10th, the Family Resource Center and the Hornell Public Library held a “Book on Every Bed” event. Over 130 visitors attended and 246 books were given out. Mr. Gibbs dressed up like an elf read for hours. We also want to thank our District Library Team, Hornell Public Library and Tonya Tierney from the Family Resource Center for coordinating this great event.
    • The Family Resource Center has moved into their new, beautiful space at the Columbian School. Thank you to Mike Kiley and Tonya Tierney for all of their hard work to set up this great space.
    • We completed our 3rd grade meetings in December and will be working on 4th and 5th grades in January.
    • Our Parent Surveys went out this week for our State Performance Special Education Indicator #8. The PK-12 survey consists of 25 questions. Please contact Amy Feeley if you would like more information.
  • Superintendent Palotti on behalf of Sean Gaffney, North Hornell Principal reported:
    • We donated 10 boxes of food items to the Salvation Army
    • The high school jazz choir, show choir, and jazz band visited our school before break, it was a great time for everyone. Thank you to the students and Mr. van Leeuwen and Mr. Bialecki.
    • The holiday sing-along was a great time for staff and kids
    • We had 66 families that were supported by community resources including St. James, which showed up with a box truck full of presents for kids, also United Presbyterian Church, Shop with a Cop, and the Santa Hat Society. Thank you to all who helped make this happen!
    • We opened a new class and things are going well. Thank you to Mrs. Liberto, Mrs. Combs, Mrs. VanBuren, Mrs. Washburn, Mrs. Clark, and Ms. Feeley for making this a smooth transition.
  • SUPERINTENDENT ’S REPORT: Superintendent Palotti reported:
    • There was a lot of exciting things going on in the buildings in December !
    • Thank you to the community for coming out to vote and supporting our Capital Project. The transformations will be extraordinary.

ROUTINE ITEMS

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

    • Approval of the minutes from the meetings of December 7 and 20, 2022.
    • Acceptance of the Student Activities Report of November 30, 2022
    • Acceptance of the Appropriations Report of November 30, 2022.
    • Acceptance of the General Fund Budget Transfer Reports of November 30, 2022.
    • Acceptance of the Treasurer’s Reports of November 30, 2022.
    • Acceptance of the Revenue Report of November 30, 2022.
    • 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 December 7, 8, 15, 19, 20 and 21, 2022, the CPSE meetings of December 7, 14and 19, 2022 and the 504 meetings of December 7 and 13, 2022.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

OLD BUSINESS

NONE

NEW BUSINESS

POLICY/PROCEDURE

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

  • Broken milk cooler – Asset tag A00497449000006 7-12
  • Music on list dated August 22, 2022

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

RESOLVED: BY: CLARK/MEHR that, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board accepts the findings of the 2021 22 Internal Audit Risk Assessment and reviewed at the Audit Committee Meeting held earlier on this date.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

FINANCE

There were no finance items

PERSONNEL

RESOLVED: BY: CLARK/MEHR that, agenda items VI E 3 a-o be grouped together for one action.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

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

    • accepts the resignation of Jennifer Bixby as Senior Typist effective at the end of the day on January 13, 2023;
    • accepts the resignation of Kristen Williams as Teacher Aide effective at the end of the day on December 22, 2022;
    • accepts the resignation of Renay Shull as Teacher Aide effective at the end of the day on October 28, 2022 (last day worked). Furthermore, the Board hereby removes Renay as Deputy Claims Auditor effective January 4, 2023;
    • accepts the resignation of Vicky Miles as Cleaner effective at the end of the day on December 5, 2022;
    • accepts the resignation of September Carpenter as Teacher Aide Food Service Helper effective at the end of the day on December 15, 2022;
    • approves the probationary appointment of Candy Brundu as Teacher Aide, effective December 20, 2022 with a starting rate as designated in the HPA Contract – 10 months, 8.00 hours per day;
    • approves the probationary appointment of Samantha VanBuren as Teacher Aide, effective January 3, 2023 with a starting rate as designated in the HPA Contract – 10 month 7.50,  7.0 hours per day;
    • approves the probationary appointment of Tremaine Clemons as Teacher Aide, effective January 9 10, 2023 (anticipated) with a starting rate as designated in the HPA Contract – 10 months, 7.50 7.0 hours per day;
    • approves the probationary appointment of Evelyn Mulenex as Food Service Helper, effective January 3, 2023, with a starting rate as specified in the HESSA Contract – 10 months, 2.75 hours per day;
    • approves the probationary appointment of Christopher Spencer as Cleaner effective January 3, 2022, with a starting rate as specified in the HESSA Contract –12 months, 8.0 hours per day;
    • approves the probationary appointment of Sophia Ormsby as Regular Assigned Substitute, at the rate of $175 per day, effective January 3, 2023;
    • approves the following appointment for the Intermediate School After School Program: Joe Gibson – Substitute (effective December 12, 2022)
    • approves the following addition to the Winter Coaching assignment: Modified Cheer Coach – Bailey Smith
    • 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:September Carpenter – Laborer Kayla Flaitz – Teacher AideVincent Liberto – Typist, Teacher Aide, Laborer Victoria Miles – Cleaner (Effective 12/6/22) Tera Olix – Typist, Teacher AideKristen Williams – Teacher Aide
    • approves the Education Law 913 resolution pertaining to Employee # 1536.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

Discussion:

Informational:

The next Regular Board of Education Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 5:15 PM in the High School Library.

RESOLVED: BY: CLARK/MEHR that, at 6:26 PM the meeting be adjourned.

CARRIED – 6 AYES – ALL

Respectfully submitted,
Carol Eaton, District Clerk