September 28, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

1. NOTIFICATION OF MEETING
This meeting was properly advertised according to the Open Public Meeting Act (P.L. 1975:31) in the Hunterdon Democrat on January 12, 2023 to begin at 7:00 PM to be held at the Alexandria Middle School New Gym, 557 County Road 513, Pittstown, NJ or via Zoom.
Link:  https://alexandriaschools.zoom.us/my/kevinmcpeek
or dial in by phone:  1-929-205-6099  Meeting ID # 851 804 0845
 

2. ROLL CALL
April Abelman
Caterina Dobak
Eric Joseph
Marybeth Madlinger 
Marci Nardone
William R. Prouty
Wanda Quinones
Michael Small
Doug Walker 

3. FLAG SALUTE

4. PRESENTATIONS
 

5. CORRESPONDENCE

6. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT

6.A. Referendum Update

7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
 

7.A. District Update
 

7.B. School Self Assessment for Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act - AMS and LDW 2022-2023

7.C. HIB

8. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMIN/BOARD SECRETARY REPORT

8.A. NJSBA Annual Conference - October 23 - October 26, 2023

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS

10. PUBLIC INPUT (CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONLY)
The Alexandria Township Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters. Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty minute periods for public comment each meeting.  In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comment, public participation shall be governed by the following rules:

1.  A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by announcing his/her name, place of residence, and group affiliation, if appropriate.
2.  Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to 3 minutes in duration.
3.  No participant may speak on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
4.  All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no participant may address Board members individually.

11. OLD BUSINESS

12. NEW BUSINESS

13. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Alexandria Township Board of Education approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

ROLL CALL VOTE:
Abelman____Joseph____Madlinger____Nardone_____Quinones____Small____Walker____Dobak____Prouty___

13.A. Finance

13.A.1) Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board approve the transfers for the months ending July 31 and August 31, 2023, as submitted by the Superintendent, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-8-2.

to accept the monthly financial reports of the Board Secretary and the Treasurer of School Moneys for the months ending July 31, 2023 and August 31, 2023, in compliance with N.J.A.C.6:20-2.13(3) that the Board of Education, certify that no major account or fund has been overexpended and that as of this report sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Board accept the certification of the School Business Administrator, as required by N.J.A.C.6:20-2.13(D), that no line item account has been over expended as of August 31, 2023, and that as of this date sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

13.A.2) Bill List
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Ed approve the following Bill Lists:
August 18, 2023 - September 22, 2023
Check # A11505 - # A11616
Check # B00205 - # B00217
Total - $1,383,613.87

13.B. Approval of Minutes
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes:
August 17, 2023 - Minutes
August 17, 2023 - Executive Minutes
September 6, 2023 - Work Session Minutes

13.C. Personnel
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following:

13.C.1)
Additional Work Hours - 10-Month Secretary
Motion to approve Hope Johnson for 2 additional days at her daily rate.

13.C.2) Move on the Guide
Motion to approve Sara Slack to move on the Guide to step  16-MA+15 at a salary of $90,305, retroactive to September 1, 2023.

13.C.3) Agreement with Hunterdon County ESC - Paraprofessionals
Motion to approve the Agreement between Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission and ATS to provide Paraprofessionals to the District.

13.C.4) New Hire
Motion to approve Christine Byelick, Paraprofessional for the 2023-2024 School Year at the salary of $28,479 after completion of required documents.

13.C.5) State of NJ Support Services
Motion to approve Maryann Hulick to the position of ASL Deaf Language Associate.  Services are provided by the State of NJ at no cost to the District.

13.C.6) Media Center Clerk
Motion to approve the attached job description for Media Center Clerk.

13.C.7) Volunteer Assistant Volleyball Coach
Motion to approve Julius Hendricks as Volunteer Assistant Volleyball Coach, pending criminal history background check, for the 2023-2024 school year.

13.C.8) Volunteer Assistant Soccer Coach
Motion to approve Sachan Nataraj as Volunteer Assistant Soccer Coach, pending criminal history background check, for the 2023-24 school year.

13.C.9) Schedule B - Activity
Motion to approve the following Schedule B appointments for the 2023-24 school year:
Kelsey Nemeth - Art Club
Joe Olcott - Boys Basketball

13.C.10) Family Medical Leave
Motion to approve a Family Medical Leave for Employee #ST161 from November 27, 2023 through March 28, 2024.

13.C.11) Resignation
Motion to accept a letter of resignation from Caroline Kirk, effective November 27, 2023.

13.C.12) Family Medical Leave
Motion to approve a Family Medical Leave for Employee #285 from January 4, 2024 to March 28, 2024.

13.C.13) Medica Center Clerk
Motion to approve Erika Crowl as part-time Media Center Clerk for the 2023-24 school year at a salary of $17,000.

13.C.14) Mentors
Motion to approve the removal of Tracy Pawlowski as Mentor for the 2023-2024 school year and approve Sara Mowder as the replacement Mentor for the 2023-2024 school year.
 

13.D. Travel and Related Expenses
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the following mileage reimbursement requests in accordance with the School District Accountability Act.  Only overnight stays are eligible for meal reimbursement.  Mileage, meals and lodging shall be in accordance with NJ Statues, Code, and NJ Department of Treasury Guidelines.  OMB Mileage Reimbursement Rate is $0.47.

13.D.1) K. Semanchik - Helping Youth Thrive: Teaching Sex Ed in NJ - Mileage $49.80.

13.D.2) Gretchen Savacool - AMTNJ Fall 2023 Conference - Registration $215.00, Mileage $30.00

13.D.3) Jeanne Lippincott - AMTNJ Fall 2023 Conference - Registration $215.00, Mileage $34.00

13.D.4) Nicole Spayd - NJ Science Convention - Registration $310.00.

13.D.5) Julianne Romanella - NJ Science Convention - Registration $310.00, Mileage $55.08.

13.D.6) Matthew Blazure - NJ State Bar Association Mock Trial Workshop - Mileage $27.00

13.D.7) Nicole Spayd - 2023 MRS Certified Teachers Conference on-Demand Sessions, Registration $ 399.00

13.E. Policy
 

13.F. Finance and Facilities

13.F.1) Referendum Payment Applications
Motion to approve the following Payment Applications:
DeSapio - Payment Application #6 - $471,157.34
Santorini - Payment Application #16 - $96,493.55
Santorini - Payment Application #17 - $33,165.53
DC Building Systems - Payment Application #17 - $83,386.05
Preferred Plumbing - Payment Application #17 - $17,218.75
Preferred Mechanical - Payment Application #18 - $42,987.50
Preferred Mechanical - Payment Application #19 - $13,300.00

13.F.2) Change Orders
Motion to approve the following Change Orders:
DC Building Systems E-7 - Install 12 white hand dryers. Increase in contract $31,651.84
Santorini GC-14R -Provide and install anti-climb mesh fence in lieu of guard rail at retaining wall. Increase of $16,905.00.
Santorini GC-15 - Provide and install flooring and wall base per add Alternate GC-AB-05 Corridor Flooring Replacement. Increase of $58,000.00.
DeSapio GC-12 - Additional sewer line repair resulting from sewer line survey - root intrusion and poor sewer line condition, raise the grade and elevation of the existing catch basin. Increase $58,325.67
DeSapio Site-10 - Provide material and labor for additional mill and paving. Increase of $39,953.82 - approval this will exceed 20% of the Site Contractor's base contract.
DeSapio Site-11 - Re-align and replace sanitary line. Includes patching of lawn, pavement and concrete sidewalk where disturbed by the work.  Increase of $75,885.56
DeSapio Site-13-R - Provide material and labor to provide a softball field and a baseball field and all associated equipment. Increase of $700,454.24
DeSapio Site-14 - Provide and install stone for the existing storage shed installation. Increase of $2,936.47


 

13.F.3) Wellness Grant
Motion to approve the Alexandria Wellness Grant in the amount of $6,000, for the 2023-2024 school year.

13.F.4) Accept HEPA Air Purifier donation
Motion to approve 10 HEPA Air Purifiers donated by South Brunswick School District.

13.F.5) Agreement with The Work Family Connection, Inc. - Before and After Care Services
Motion to approve the agreement with The Work Family Connection to provide before and after school programs at Alexandria Township Schools.

13.F.6) 2023/2024 Delaware Valley Regional HS Special Education Joint Transportation Agreement
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the 2023/24 Special Education Joint Transportation Agreements as indicated below:

Alexandria Township   ASE01       $ 36,812.00
Somerset Hills             ASE02          48,683.00
The Center School      2304             21,505.68
 Total                                            $107,000.68

 

13.F.7) 2023-2024 Stabilization Aid Application 
Motion to approve an application for Stabilization Aid for the 2023-2024 school year. 

13.F.8) Agreement for Discretionary Police Services
Motion to approve the Agreement for Discretionary Police Services with the NJ State Police.

13.G. Education

13.G.1) Fairview Lake Trip
Motion to approve the 7th Grade Fairview Lake Trip on October 5 - October 6, 2023.

13.G.2) CPR Training
Motion to approve Heart Saving Training - CPR for Teachers/Staff at ATS on November 2, 2023.

13.G.3)

School Self Assessment

13.G.3)a. Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the School Self-Assessment for Determining Grades under the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act , July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.

13.H. Sale of iPADS 
Motion to approve the sale of 150 5th Generation iPads to  ATS staff in the amount of $40 each.  iPads not sold will be recycled.

14. PUBLIC INPUT
The Alexandria Township Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters. Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty minute periods for public comment each meeting.  In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comment, public participation shall be governed by the following rules:

1.  A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by announcing his/her name, place of residence, and group affiliation, if appropriate.
2.  Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to 3 minutes in duration.
3.  No participant may speak on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
4.  All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no participant may address Board members individually.

15. EXECUTIVE SESSION
WHEREAS the "Open Public Meetings Act" (Chapter 231 Laws of 1975) authorizes a public body to exclude the public from that portion of a meeting at which specified topics are to be discussed under circumstances where the public consideration of such topics will clearly endanger the public or where the personal privacy or guaranteed rights of individuals whose activities or affairs are to be discussed would clearly in danger of unwarranted invasion; be it

RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Township of Alexandria now adjourns its public session to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the following:

X  Confidential Matters by Law or Court Order
X_Purchase Property
X_Personnel Matters
__Invasion of Individual Privacy Employee or Student
__Investigation into Violations of Law
__Suspension, Civil Penalty or Loss of a License or Permit
__Disclosure would Impair District's Right to Receive Funding
__School/Public Security
__Collective Bargaining
__Pending, Ongoing or Anticipated Litigation

And be if further RESOLVED that the matters discussed in Executive Session will be made public when confidentiality is no longer required. 

Motion to Enter Executive Session
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools the Alexandria Board enter Executive Session at _____ to discuss __________.

16. OPEN SESSION
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Alexandria Board return to Open Session at __________.

17. ADJOURN
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, to adjourn the meeting at __________ .