Mohonasen

Central School District

FARNSWORTH TECHNOLOGY CENTER 2072 CURRY ROAD SCHENECTADY, NY 12303

JANUARY 9, 2017 EXECUTIVE SESSION 6:00 – 7:00 PM BOARD MEETING 7:00 PM

AGENDA BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING *Proposed Executive Session at 6:00 PM for the purpose of discussing contract negotiations

A. Call to Order

B. Pledge of Allegiance

C. Roll Call

D. Communications 1. Superintendent a. Overview of 2017-18 Budget Presentation Calendar – Chris Ruberti b. Tax Certioraris – Chris Ruberti 2. Student Representatives 3. Board of Education a. Discussion of Goals 4. Public (Privilege of the Floor)

E. Old Business

F. New Business Instructional 1. Request for Approval and Arrangement for the Committee on Special Education Recommendations and Student Placements and Committee on Pre-School Special Education 2. Request Approval for Science Students to Attend Field Trip to Six Flags New England on May 12, 2017 3. Request Approval for Mohonasen/Draper Winter Color Guard to Participate in a Color Guard Competition in Bethlehem, PA. on March 17–19, 2017 4. Request Approval for Grade 5 Field Trip to WonderWorks in Syracuse, New York on Monday, June 19, 2017 Business/Personnel 1. Request Approval of Applications for Corrected Tax Roll for the Year 2015, Pursuant to Section 550, Real Property Tax Law 2. Request for Approval of Health and Welfare Contract with Saratoga Springs City School District 3. Request Approval for Tax Refund – Trustco Bank 4. Request for Approval of Agreement with The Nurse Connection Staffing, Inc. 5. Request for Approval of Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2022

G. Other Items 1. Approval of Minutes (December 19, 2016)

Board Agenda – January 9, 2017

2. Personnel

H. Proposed Executive Session 1) Contract Negotiations I.

Adjournment

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ROTTERDAM MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. INSTRUCTION I

Date: 01/09/17

TO:

Board of Education

FROM:

Kathleen A Spring, Ph. D.., Superintendent

SUBJECT:

Request for Approval and Arrangement for the Committee on Special Education Recommendations and Student Placements and Committee on Pre-School Special Education

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Procedures and definitions pertaining to Special Education are embodied under Part 200 of Commissioners’ Regulations and Article 89 of New York Education Law. They mandate that Boards of Education provide appropriate education programs and services for pupils with handicapping conditions upon receipt of recommendations and student placements from the Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) on 10/17/16, 12/06/16, 12/14/16, 12/16/16, 12/19/16, 12/20/16, 12/21/16, 12/23/16. EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

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All students are residents of Mohonasen Central School district; all parents are in agreement with the recommendations, and all recommendations are for the least restrictive environment based on students’ educational needs. All mandated members were present at the CSE and CPSE meetings. RECOMMENDATION That the Board of Education approve and arrange for the recommendations of the Committee on Special Education and Committee on Pre-School Special Education on 10/17/16, 12/06/16, 12/14/16, 12/16/16, 12/19/16, 12/20/16, 12/21/16, 12/23/16.

KAS:CH Attachment

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. INSTRUCTION #2

TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request Approval for Science Students to Attend Field Trip to Six Flags New England on May 12, 2017

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The adopted district goals speak to the need to provide students with innovative and effective instructional opportunities, as well as a wide array of quality extra-curricular activities and programs. To that end, there has been a concerted effort by clubs and advisors to plan and organize trips that will provide students true immersion opportunities that correlate and are consistent with learning standards and curriculum content. EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

The High School Principal is requesting Board approval for the Mohonasen science students to participate in a field trip to Six Flags New England for a Science Adventure Day. Students would depart from the high school at approximately 8:00 AM on Friday, May 12, 2017 and return at approximately 7:00 PM the same day. Cost of the trip will be $66 per student and will include admission into the park and transportation. 45 students will be attending this trip, as well as faculty members and chaperones. Charter buses will be provided. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education approve the request for science students to attend a field trip to Six Flags New England on May 12, 2017. KAS/ja

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. INSTRUCTION #3 TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request Approval for Mohonasen/Draper Winter Color Guard to Participate in a Color Guard Competition in Bethlehem, PA. on March 17-19, 2017

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Participation in competition is an honor for the Mohonasen District Winter Color Guard. Students will compete and the experience gained through this opportunity will benefit our students educationally and socially. EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

The high school principal is requesting approval for the Mohonasen Winter Color Guard to participate in a WGI Regional Competition at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Friday March 17, 2017 – Sunday March 19, 2017. They will depart on March 17th at 2:00 pm and return on March 19th at 10:00 pm. There will be 16 students that will attend this trip, as well as faculty members and chaperones. The cost of the trip will be $225 per student. Charter buses will be provided for this trip. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education approve the Mohonasen Winter Color Guard participation in the competition in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on March 17 – 19, 2017.

KAS/ja

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. INSTRUCTION #4 TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request Approval for Grade 5 Field Trip to WonderWorks in Syracuse, New York on Monday, June 19, 2017

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The adopted district goals speak to the need to provide students with innovative and effective instructional opportunities, as well as a wide array of quality extra-curricular activities and programs. To that end, there has been a concerted effort to plan and organize trips that will provide students true immersion opportunities that correlate and are consistent with learning standards and curriculum content. ANALYSIS/EVALUATION

The Pinewood School principal is requesting Board approval for a 5th grade end-of-the-year field trip to WonderWorks in Syracuse, NY on Monday, June 19, 2017. Students will experience “STEM at Play” with over 100 hands-on exhibits supported by the Common Core Standards. Buses will depart from Pinewood School at approximately 8:30 AM and return at approximately 4:30 PM. Transportation will be provided by Yankee Trails. Fifth grade students, teachers and approximately 45 chaperones will be participating in this trip. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education approve the request for a Grade 5 field trip to WonderWorks in Syracuse, New York on Monday, June 19, 2017. KAS/ja

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. BUSINESS/PERSONNEL #1 TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request Approval of Applications for Corrected Tax Roll for the Year 2015, Pursuant to Sect. 550, Real Property Tax Law

B ACKGROUND INFORMATION The District has received official notification that assessment roll corrections need to be made due to clerical errors by the assessor, pursuant to Sect. 550 of the NYS Real Property Tax Law. EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

With the mailing of school tax bills in many jurisdictions, errors are often discovered. Upon the discovery of errors and given that the property in question is entitled to receive the exemption, an Application for Corrected Tax Roll RP-556 must be completed and duly approved by the respective taxing jurisdictions – in these instances Schenectady County and the RotterdamMohonasen Central School District. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education approve the Application for Corrected Tax Roll Pursuant to below mentioned error Sec. 550(2)(b), RPTL from the following property tax owners in the stated amounts. Owner/S/B/L

Geraldine & James Kennedy, Applicants 59.14-3-1

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Amt. of Taxes Billed/Paid $499.97 Paid

Corrected Tax/Reason

Amount of Refund

$163.51 Correct Amount (Clerical error)

$336.46

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. BUSINESS/PERSONNEL #2 TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request for Approval of Health and Welfare Contract with Saratoga Springs City School District

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Section 912 of the Education Law permits a school district to enter into a contract for the purpose of providing health and welfare services for children residing in a school district and attending non-public schools located in a different school district. EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

A review of district records indicates 1 student residing in the Mohonasen Central School District is receiving health and welfare services from the Saratoga Springs City School District. The cost of these services is $543.77 per student for the 2016-2017 school year, at a total of $543.77. The district should now enter into a contract with the Saratoga Springs City School District in the total amount of $543.77. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education approve a health and welfare contract with the Saratoga Springs City School District, in the total amount of $543.77 for the 2016-2017 school year.

KAS/CJR:ja

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. BUSINESS/PERSONNEL #3

TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request Approval for Tax Refund – Trustco Bank

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The district has received a stipulation of settlement regarding property owned by Trustco Bank. EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

Trustco Bank, filed an appeal for review of their assessment for tax years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The stipulation proposes a settlement of the case that reduces the assessed value for all years. The current assessment is $825,000.00 and the stipulation is to reduce to $665,000, a total reduction of $160,000 per year. These reductions would result in a total refund of $11,010.53. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education authorize the change in assessment for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 to $665,000. KAS/CJR:ja

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. BUSINESS/PERSONNEL #4 TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request for Approval of Agreement with The Nurse Connection Staffing, Inc.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Mohonasen Central School District often contracts with The Nurse Connection Staffing, Inc. to provide nursing services to students and staff in the district. EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

The following independent organization has agreed to provide nursing services to students and district staff. The Mohonasen Central School District will compensate the independent organization at the rates listed below. This contract will be effective for the period of December 2016 through June 2017. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education approve this agreement with The Nurse Connection Staffing, Inc. to provide nursing services to the Mohonasen Central School District. Program(s) Nursing Services KAS/LMC/tv

Instructor(s) The Nurse Connection Staffing, Inc.

Rate Not to exceed $12,500

ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT F. BUSINESS/PERSONNEL #5

TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent

Request for Approval of Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2022

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Board of Regents has approved new graduation requirements for students in the 2022 graduating class (current 7th graders). EVALUATION/ANALYSIS

The new, more rigorous graduation requirements will have significant implications for large numbers of students who may not be able to attain a diploma. The Board of Education believes that there should be reconsideration of the requirements and a safety net for students that will struggle with this new benchmark and proposes the following resolution. RECOMMENDATION

That the Board of Education adopt the following resolution on graduation requirements for the class of 2022:

WHEREAS, the future of our nation and our state relies on an educated citizenry that is able to successfully complete their K-12 education and receive a high school diploma that will allow them to advance to college and/or career;

WHEREAS, the Board of Regents requires that all students who first enter grade 9 in the 2018-19 school year pass Common Core Regents Exams (ELA and one exam in Math) at the aspirational college and career-readiness level 4 (which is comparable to the existing 75/80) indicating they have met Common Core course-level expectations;

WHEREAS, in 2015 only 22.9% of students achieved the passing rate of 4 or above in algebra 1, and only 24% achieved the passing rate of 4 or above in Geometry;

WHEREAS, the difficulty of achieving a level 4 in 2015 was most burdensome on Black and Latino students, whose pass rates dropped by more than 20 points; English Language Learners whose pass rates dropped by 28 points; students with disabilities whose pass rates dropped by 18 points; and economically disadvantaged students whose pass rates dropped by 16 points;

WHEREAS, New York State responded to the precipitous drop in the 2015 passing rates by conducting “scale maintenance” that artificially elevated the passing rates on 2016 Algebra Regents tests by lowering the number of raw points needed to achieve a passing score;

WHEREAS, many students try and fail the Algebra Regents exam several times, a phenomenon that has been dubbed the “algebra whirlpool”;

WHEREAS, continued lack of success can lead to failure-acceptance and may increase high school dropout rates;

WHEREAS, multiple pathways to a high school diploma is in the best interest of all students, including the 40,000 students who choose to directly enter the military or workforce.

WHEREAS, multiple pathways to a high school diploma is of utmost importance to students with disabilities, who are three times more likely to directly enter the workforce and four times more likely to pursue alternative post-secondary education; WHEREAS, the pass rates of Common Core Regents exams in 2015 and 2016 indicate that up to 50% (up to 110,000 students) of the class of 2022 is in danger of not receiving a high school diploma under the Level 4 pass rate expectation;

RESOLVED that the Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District calls on Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Elia, the State Legislature, and the Board of Regents to reassess the requirement of a Level 4 pass rate needed to receive a Regents diploma, and to develop reasonable and achievable graduation requirements that recognize multiple pathways to post-secondary success.

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ROTTERDAM-MOHONASEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT G2. PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS TO:

JANUARY 9, 2017

Board of Education

FROM: SUBJECT:

Kathleen A. Spring, Ph.D., Superintendent Personnel Recommendations

BACKGROUND INFORMATION The attached document represents personnel recommendations for the District, which have been processed through appropriate departments and brought forward by the Superintendent. RECOMMENDATION That the Board of Education approves the attached personnel recommendations: A. B.

Appointments Resignations

Personnel Recommendations – January 9, 2017

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A. Appointments Emily Carayiannis Appointment: Assignment: Date of Commencement: Expiration Date: Certification Status: Salary:

Loretta Cozza Appointment: Assignment: Date of Commencement: Expiration Date: Certification Status: Salary: Diane McIver Assignment: Effective Date: Salary:

Michael Schoppe Assignment: Effective Date: Salary: Danielle Cross Assignment: Effective Date: Salary:

Mark Hitchcock Assignment: Effective Date: Salary:

Sheila Richardson Assignment: Effective Date: Salary:

Long-Term Substitute Elementary Education January 3, 2017 Close of business April 3, 2017 Childhood Education Gr. 1-6, Initial; Early Childhood Education B-2, Initial Step 1 plus graduate credits, pro-rated Long-Term Substitute K-12 Assistant Principal December 5, 2016 (amended from the December 19, 2016 agenda) Close of business March 15, 2017 (amended from the December 19, 2016 agenda) School District Administrator, Permanent $350/day (per diem) Administrator on Special Assignment – Retired/Per Diem January 5, 2017 – June 30, 2017 $73.00/per hour up to 6 hours per day P/T Motor Vehicle Operator January 10, 2017 $10.91/hour Home Tutor October 6, 2016 $25.00/hour Substitute Teacher Aide January 4, 2017 $10.25/hour Substitute Bus Driver January 9, 2017 $15.75/hour

Personnel Recommendations – January 9, 2017

Audrey St. Denis Assignment: Effective Date: Salary:

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Substitute Food Service Helper December 20, 2016 $10.00/hour

2016-2017 Student Teachers Name Aislinn Elmore Morgan Bachus

Assignment/Bldg. Pinewood Pinewood

Dates 3/27/17-5/19/17 1/9/17-3/10/17

Pinewood After School HW/AIS 2016-17 ($34.27/hour) The following was approved on September 26, 2016 BOE as TBD: Name Assignment Elizabeth Breaznell Substitute AIS Math/ELA

2016-2017 PM School Tutoring ($34.27/hour) Name Greg Massaroni Tutor

B. Resignations

Brittany Houck Assignment: Effective Date: David Keenan Assignment: Effective Date:

P/T Teaching Assistant (6 hours) Close of business January 20, 2017 P/T Motor Equipment Operator Close of business January 5, 2017

Dates/Time 2 hours/week