November 15, 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
A letter from K. Carven regarding school security.

6. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT

6.A. Referendum Update

7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
 

7.A. District Update
 

7.B. HIB

7.C. Reorganization Meeting
2024 Reorganization Meeting Date - January 4, 2024

8. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMIN/BOARD SECRETARY REPORT

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 month ending October 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 month ending October, 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 October 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:
October 20, 2023 - November 13, 2023
Check # A11697 - A11792
Check # B00228 - B00234
Total - $993,431.48

13.B. Approval of Minutes
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes:
October 19, 2023 - Regular Meeting Minutes
October 19, 2023 - Executive Session Minutes
November 2, 2023 - Work Session Meeting Minutes
November 2, 2023 - Executive Session Minutes

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

13.C.1) Leave of Absence Request
Motion to approve a Leave of Absence for Employee #ST043, starting December 4, 2023 with a tentative return date of January 16, 2024.

13.C.2) Leave Replacement Teacher
Motion to approve Diane Plytynski, as Leave Replacement Teacher from December 4, 2023 until January 12, 2024 at Step 1-BA and a prorated salary of $60,455.

13.C.3) Leave Replacement Teacher
Motion to approve Stacey Gallagher as a Long Term Substitute for Grade 3 from November 27, 2023 until December 22, 2023 at Step 1-BA and a prorated salary of $60,455.

13.C.4) Retirement
Motion to approve the retirement of Krista Hammerstone effective December 31, 2023.

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.

Kimberly Glucksman, Navigating Guidance Requirements and Best Practices for Risk and Threat Assessment Teams, November 17, 2023, Monroe, NJ, Reg $149.
Reagan Ost, New Jersey Jazz Educators Annual Conference, November 17, 2023, NJPAC, Newark, NJ, Reg $75.00, Mileage $14.00, Tolls 4.00.

13.E. Policy
 

13.F. Finance and Facilities

13.F.1) Referendum Payment Applications
Motion to approve the following Payment Applications:
DC Building Systems - Pay App #19 $141,003.58
Preferred Plumbing - Pay App #19 $5,170.85
DeSapio Construction - Pay App #8 $557,575.53

13.F.2) Change Orders
Motion to approve the following Change Orders:
De Sapio Construction, Inc. - SITE-15, $836.47 deduct parking lot striping and provide and install stone pad for 2nd shed relocation
De Sapio Construction, Inc. - SITE-16, $35,255.46 to increase the infield at the baseball field
Mastercraft Iron, Inc. - CO #S-2 $15,000
Preferred Mechanical - CO M-5 $95,718.00 remove and replace exhaust fans
 

13.F.3) Snow Removal Contract
Motion to approve the snow removal contract from Prestige as follows:
Snow Plowing will include Parking lot and walkways
0 to 1” (salt only) $415 for parking lot, $375 for walkways
2” to 4” $1100 for parking lot, $475 for walkways
4.1” to 7” $1250 for parking lot, $575 for walkways
7.1” to 10” $1575 for parking lot, $675 for walkways
10.1” to 13” $1825 for parking lot, $800 for walkways
13.1” to 17” $2250 for parking lot, $900 for walkways
17.1+ $150 per add. Inch lot, $125 for walkways 

13.F.4) Comprehensive Maintenance Plan/M1, FY24

WHEREAS, the Department of Education requires New Jersey School Districts to submit three-year maintenance plans documenting "required" maintenance activities for each of its public school facilities, and

WHEREAS,  the required maintenance activities as listed for the various school facilities of the Alexandria Township School District are consistent with these requirements, and

WHEREAS, all past and planned activities are reasonable to keep school facilities open and safe for use or in their original condition and to keep their system warranties valid,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alexandria Township School District hereby authorizes the Business Administrator to submit the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan for the Alexandria Township School District.
 

13.F.5) Approve SPIEZLE Architecture Proposal for Professional Services for the HVAC Upgrades at Alexandria Township School.
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the attached proposal from Spiezle Architecture for professional services and the design and bidding implementation of HVAC upgrades in Alexandria Township School for the fee of $700,000.

13.F.6) Maintenance Reserve Withdrawal

RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the transfer of the following amounts from Maintenance Reserve to the General Fund for required maintenance activities as reported in the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:26A-4:

$56,256.33 to 11-000-261-420-000-000 - Sonitrol for new alarm system
$127.50      to  11-000-261-420-000-000 - Spiezle for sewer lines

13.F.7) Candy Cane Lane
Motion to approve Candy Cane Lane, an ATS/PTO sponsored event being held on December 15th, 2023 in the ATS parking lot from 6pm to 8pm.

13.G. Education

13.G.1) Leveling Library Books
Motion to approve Michele Petrie, Danielle Hofmann and Lynette Stone for up to 6 hours each at the professional rate of $45/hr to organize and level small group reading books.

13.G.2) ATSD Professional Development Plan
Motion to approve the ATSD Professional Development Plan for 2023-2024.

13.G.3) Alexandria Township Education Foundation (ATEF)
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accept the following ATEF Grants:
Grant 2024-01:  Music in the Parks, T. Travis, $3,500
Grant 2024-02:  Imagine That!  Museum Field Trip - C. Salerno and C. Marsan - $640
Grant 2024-03:  Portable Planetarium & Eclipse Party - J. Romanella and N. Spayd - $1,000
Grant 2024-04:  Lehigh Valley Zoo - C. Salerno and C. Marsan - $650

13.G.4) Home Instruction
Motion to approve T. Attanasio for Home Instruction at the rate of $45/hr.

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 __________ .