Township of Union Board of Education, Worksession Meeting, Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., James Caulfield Administration Building, 2369 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey | Township of Union Public Schools

Date

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - 07:00 pm

Township of Union Board of Education, Worksession Meeting, Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the James Caulfield Administration Building, 2369 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey. Action will be taken.

UNION TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

WORKSESSION AGENDA – MARCH 8, 2016

A. Roll Call

B. Flag Salute

C. Open Public Meetings Act Statement

D. Comments from Public on Resolutions in BOLD

1. January 12, 2016 – worksession meeting

2. January 12, 2016 – executive session

3. January 19, 2016 – regular meeting

4. January 19, 2016 – executive session

F. Communication

Request from Union High School Class of 1957 Reunion to tour Burnet Middle School (former Union High School), Tuesday, June 13, 2017 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Request from Union County Department of Parks and Recreation to use Kawameeh Middle School parking lot for Union County’s 12^th Annual Bio-Blitz Event on June 10 and 11, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Request from The MAX of Springfield-Union to host a 5K which uses Board of Education property to raise money for Make-a-Wish New Jersey on May 21, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Change of return date from Antonia Peralta, Spanish teacher at Union High School, from April 5, 2016 to March 7, 2016.
Request for extension of unpaid maternity leave from Amanda Havyar, third grade teacher at Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, from March 16, 2016 to May 6, 2016.
Request for intermittent paid FMLA from Geraldine Muller, Counseling Department Secretary at Union High School, effective February 5, 2016 through June 30, 2016.
Request for maternity leave and unpaid FMLA from Cheryl Calabrese, teacher at Washington Elementary School, effective April 11, 2016 through June 30, 2016.
Request for maternity and unpaid FMLA from Nicole Schecter, district-wide school psychologist, effective April 27, 2016 through June 30, 2016.
Request for paid medical leave and unpaid FMLA from Gail Grasso, in-class resource program teacher at Union High School, from February 12, 2016 to May 19, 2016.
Letter of resignation from Nathan David, teacher’s assistant at Union High School, effective March 5, 2016.
Letter of resignation from Marissa Spies, teacher’s assistant at Union High School, effective March 11, 2016.
Letter of resignation from Kristal Phillips, art teacher at Union High School, effective April 26, 2016.
Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Diane Pilone, teacher’s assistant at Livingston Elementary School, effective June 30, 2016.
Request for extension from Nona Phillips, special education teacher at Burnet Middle School, for unpaid FMLA from February 19, 2016 with a tentative return date of April 11, 2016.
Request for paid FMLA use of paid sick days from Regina Badali, teacher at Burnet Middle School, from February 22, 2016 through April 15, 2016.
Request for paid medical leave and unpaid medical leave from Rosa Santiago, transportation department, for the period from March 2, 2016 to April 27, 2016.
Request for paid maternity leave and unpaid FMLA from Lauren Coco, teacher at Hannah Caldwell for the period from May 16, 2016 to November 15, 2016.
Request for paid maternity and unpaid FMLA from Abby Polizzi, teacher at Battle Hill, for the period from May 23, 2016 to October 14, 2016.
Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Christine Boris, science teacher at Burnet Middle School, effective July 1, 2016.
Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Joan Estis, special education teacher at Burnet Middle School, effective July 1, 2016.
Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Maria Politano, music teacher at Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, effective June 30, 2016.
Extension of unpaid family leave from Tori Kruse, bookkeeper in Central Office, with a new return date of April 7, 2016,
Extension of current unpaid maternity and FMLA leave from Lindsay Marino, teacher at Jefferson School, through June 30, 2016.
Request for paid medical and unpaid FMLA, from Victoria Menjivar, Spanish teacher at Union High School, from February 8, 2016 to May 13, 2016 and NJFLA from May 16, 2016 to June 30, 2016.
Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement from Donna Bilella, music teacher at Washington Elementary School, effective July 1, 2016.
Request for use of Battle Hill School for Pasta Night Fundraiser on April 29, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to raise money for the Jason Lopes Fund and the Chrystal Scretchen Fund.

G. Superintendent’s Report

1. Presentation by Franklin Elementary School – March 15, 2016

2. LAL Supervisor Ms Moran and Language Arts Teacher Rafael Rio, along with members of the UHS Graphic Novels Class – Presentation of Anne Frank: The Diary of a

Young Girl – March 15, 2016

3. Retiree Acknowledgements – March 15, 2016

H. Education/Student Discipline Committee Resolutions

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Education/Student Discipline Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

E-1. Affirm the Superintendent’s resolution of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) conclusions for the period February 4, 2016 to March 4, 2016, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

E-2. Approval be given to amend the list of students removed from the rolls [six (6) students exited from February 1st through February 29, 2016 or a total of thirty-eight (38) students for the 2015-2016 school year] who are not domiciled in this school district and zero (0) students who will be allowed to complete the 2015-2016 school year, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

E-3. Approve Comprehensive Equity Plan for School Years 2016-17 through 2018-19, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

E-4. Approve Battle Hill Elementary School as the location of the Extended School Year Program for July 2016.

E-5. Approve the following curriculum guide(s): (a) EN701 Curriculum Guide 2016 (Curriculum Guide Approved June 2016), (b) EN201 Sophomore English Curriculum Guide 2016 (Curriculum Guide Approved June 2016), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

E-6. Approve summer reading/film novels for Union High School - EN411 Senior English Topics – 2016-2017 school year, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

E-7. Approve middle school novel for curriculum for 2016-2017 school year, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

E-8. Approve films for Union High School for 2016-2017 school year, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

E-9. Approve one child of Employee #9461 to attend Union Township Public Schools for the 2016-2017 school year, tuition free, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

Discussion Item:

1. PBS Document UHSPAC

2. 21^st Century Grant

3. Residency

I. Fiscal and Planning Committee Resolutions

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Fiscal and Planning Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

F-1.      That the Treasurer’s Report dated February 29, 2016 be accepted.

F-2.      That the Secretary’s Report dated February 29, 2016 be accepted.

F-3.      Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(a), I certify that as of February 29, 2016 no budgetary line item account has obligations and payments (contractual orders) which in total exceed the amount appropriated by the district Board of education pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-8 and 18:22-8.1.

                        /s/   Manuel E. Vieira                                                 ____________
                        Manuel E. Vieira, Interim Board Secretary                     Dated

Pursuant to N.J.A.C.6A:23-2.2(h), we certify that as of February 29, 2016 after review of the secretary’s monthly financial report (appropriations section) and upon consultation with the appropriate district officials that to the best of our knowledge no major account or fund has been over-expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.2(d)3 and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. This certification is solely based on the information provided by the School Business Administrator and Interim Board Secretary and is assumed by the Board to be correct.

F-4.      Approve appropriation transfers in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

F-5.      Approve the attached list of contracts and/or purchase orders pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5 (bid exceptions to requirement for advertising) and 18A:18A-10(a) (purchase through State agency; procedure), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

F-6.      Approve district wide travel and related expenses pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:11-12, N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-7 and Board Policy File Code 6471 and in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

F-7.      Pre-approve districtwide student field trip destinations and purposes pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.8 in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

F-8. Approve the amended list of the 2015-2016 State Contract Vendors pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-10(a) (purchase through State agency; procedure) to facilitate schools’ purchasing, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

F-9. Approve the attached list of contracts and/or purchases pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5(21) (paid by funds raised by or collected by students), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member: (a) Peligro Sports - $1,758 – Burnet Middle School-Music Department – t-shirts for school play, (b) CMT Sound Systems – $2,875 - Kawameeh Middle School-Music Production – sound equipment for KMS Musical Production, (c) Art Xpress - $1,500 (approx) – Union High School-Athletics-Hall of Fame Alumni – estimate for frames for Class of 2015 Alumni inductees, (d) Gogashi Designs - $2,000 (approx) – Union High School-Athletics-Baseball – estimate for baseball team’s ad booklet fundraiser, (e) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Policeman’s Benevolent Association Award, (f) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Union Plaza Scholarship Fund, (g) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – UTEA-Joan Cioban Memorial Scholarship, (h) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – UTEA-Challenge Scholarship, (i) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – UTEA General Interest Scholarship #1, (j) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – UTEA-General Interest Scholarship #2, (k) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – UTEA-Member’s Child Award, (l) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Union Elks Lodge #1583-Special Children’s Committee Award, (m) Student TBD - $2,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Khalid Shahid Memorial Scholarship, (n) Student TBD - $2,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Khalid Shahid Memorial Scholarship, (o) Student TBD - $2,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Douglas M. Krueger Memorial Scholarship, (p) Student TBD - $2,500 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Wayne Russo Memorial Scholarship, (q) Student TBD - $10,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Lincoln Technical Institute Scholarship, (r) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Connect One Bank Scholarship, (s) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Union Elk’s Lodge #1583 – Special Children’s Committee Award, (t) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Junior League of Elizabeth-community Service Scholarship, (u) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Junior League of Elizabeth-Community Service Scholarship, (v) Student TBD - $1,000 - $Union High School-Senior Award – Junior League of Elizabeth-Community Service Scholarship, (w) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Connecticut Farms Church Heritage Scholarship, (x) Student TBD - $1,000 – Union High School-Senior Awards – Vogel Memorial Prize for Excellence in French, (y) Joy Inventerprises Inc. - $1,650 – Union High School-UHSPAC – Mary Poppins 2016 Aerial effects, (z) World Stage - $10,261.60 – Union High School-UHSPAC – Mary Poppins 2016-main lighting package, (aa) Audio Incorporated - $6,549.26 – Union High School-UHSPAC – Mary Poppins 2016 – main audio rental, (bb) The Goodies Factory - $1,392 – Burnet Middle School/Music Department – popcorn fundraiser.

F-10. Approval be given to amend the 2015-2016 out-of-district student placement list, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

F-11. Accept the following donations: (a) $163.84 – Target – for use by Livingston Elementary School, (b) $414.81 – Target – for use by Washington Elementary School, (c) $203.29 – Target – for use by Connecticut Farms Elementary School, (d) $90.89 – Target – for use by Kawameeh Middle School.

F-12. For informational purposes only – vote not required. List of legal services for the 2015-2016 school year, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

* * * *

RESOLUTIONS F-13 THROUGH F-16 CONCERN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR

F-13.    Approve the General Fund tax levy of $85,981,132 in the 2016-2017 school year.

F-14.    Removed from agenda 3/8/2016.

F-15.    Approve Travel Expenditure Maximum in the amount of $80,000 in accordance with the information in the hands of each board member.

F-16. Approve establishing a maximum dollar limit for professional services and public relations in accordance with the information in the hands of each board member.

* * * *

F-17. Approve distribution of funds to the Union High School Booster Association from the following Union High School Senior Scholarship Awards: (a) $100 – Dora D. Feins Achievement Awards Fund, (b) $82 – Dora D. Feins Achievement Awards Fund (cost of two plaques), (c) $100 – Myrtle V. Hassey Awards Fund (two awards - $50 each), (d) $1,500 – Bob O’Dell Scholarship Fund, (e) $250 – Geraldine Minieri Memorial Scholarship Fund (two awards - $125 each), (f) $2,000 – Ellen S. Rever Memorial Scholarship Fund (four awards - $500 each), (g) $500 – Jack Segale Memorial Award (two awards - $250 each), (h) $1,000 - $Anna Zofay Slobodianyk Memorial Fund (two awards - $500 each), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

J. Operations Committee Resolutions

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Operations Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

O-1. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:41-1 and P.L. 2009, Chapter 178, approve the following security drill and bus evacuation reports for the 2015-2016 school year, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

O-2. Approval be given for Burnet Parent Workshop – Hidden in Plain Sight, at no cost to the District (date to be determined), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

O-3. Approval be given to allow the Board attorney to search for and discover as-builts which coincide with the Jefferson School Project. Before beginning the search, the Board attorney will given an estimate of the possible cost of his search. The superintendent and Board President will determine whether the estimate is reasonable.

Discussion Items:

1. Request from Union High School Class of 1957 Reunion to tour Burnet Middle School (former Union High School), Tuesday, June 13, 2017 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (approximately 85-125 attendees).

2. Request from Union County Department of Parks and Recreation to use Kawameeh Middle School parking lot for Union County’s 12^th Annual Bio-Blitz Event from 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

3. Request from The MAX of Springfield-Union to host a 5K which uses Board of Education property to raise money for Make-a-Wish New Jersey on May 21, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

4. Hannah Caldwell traffic issues.

5. Request for use of Battle Hill School for Pasta Night Fundraiser on April 29, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to raise money for the Jason Lopes Fund and the chrystal Scretchen Fund, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

K. Personnel Committee Resolutions

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Personnel Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

P-1. Personnel Actions be approved in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

P-2. Amend Substitute Lists for the 2015-2016 school year in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board.

P-3. Accept letters of resignation/retirement from the following staff:

Resignations

Name	Position	Location	Effective Date	Reason	Notes/ Corrections
Davis, Nathan	Teacher’s Assistant	UHS	3/5/16	Resignation
Spies, Marissa	Teacher’s Assistant	UHS	3/11/16	Resignation
Phillips, Kristal	Teacher-Art	UHS	4/26/16	Resignation

Retirements

Name	Position	Location	Effective Date: (Noted on letter)	Reason	Years of Service as of Effective Date. Not including leave of absences.
Pilone, Diane	Teacher’s Assistant	Liv	6/30/16	Retirement	27 years 9 Months (Including years in another assignment)
Boris, Christine	Teacher-Science	BMS	7/1/2016	Retirement	24 Years 9 Months
Estis, Joan	Teacher-Special Services	BMS	7/1/2016	Retirement	37 Years 9 Months
Politano, Maria	Teacher-Music	HC	6/30/2016	Retirement	26 Years 5 Months
Bilella, Donna	Teacher-Elementary	Wash	7/1/2016	Retirement	27 Years 10 Months

P-4. Approve leaves for the following staff:

Leave of Absences

Name	Position	Location	Leave Dates	Leave Type Regarding updated info only.	Notes/ Corrections
Havyar, Amanda	Teacher- Third Grade	Hannah Caldwell	Extension through: 5/6/16 Org. Leave: 10/19/15-3/16/16	Unpaid Maternity Leave	Extension
Muller, Geraldine	12 month Secretary	UHS	2/5/16-6/30/16 Intermittent Basis Not to exceed 12 weeks.	Paid FMLA leave
Calabrese, Cheryl	Teacher	Washington	4/11/16-6/30/16	Paid Maternity Leave and Unpaid FMLA
Schecter, Nicole	District School Psychologist	District Wide	4/27/16-6/30/16	Paid Maternity Leave and Unpaid FMLA
Grasso, Gail	Teacher-Resource In Class	UHS	2/12/16-5/19/16	Paid Medical and unpaid FMLA
Badali, Regina	Teacher-Math	BMS	2/22/16-4/15/16	Paid FMLA

Santiago, Rosa	Service Worker-Transportation	Transportation	3/2/16-4/2716	Paid and unpaid Medical leave.	Tentative end date. Letter indicates 6 to 8 weeks from 3/2/16. Tentative 4/27/16
Coco, Lauren	Teacher- First Grade	Hannah Caldwell	5/16/16-11/15/16	Paid Maternity and Unpaid FMLA
Polizzi, Abby	Teacher-Elementary	Battle Hill	5/23/16-10/14/2016	Paid Maternity and Unpaid FMLA
Peralta, Antonia	Teacher- of Spanish	UHS	Request to return early on 3/7/16.	Return early	Org. return 4/1/16. Request to return 3/7/16.
Phillips, Nona	Teacher- Resource in Class	BMS	2/19/16-4/11/16	Unpaid FMLA	Extension
Marino, Lindsay	Teacher-Elementary	Jeff	Extension through: 6/30/16 Org. Leave: 10/26/15-4/13/16	Unpaid FMLA and unpaid Maternity	Extension
Kruse, Tori	bookkeeper	Central Office	Extension through: 4/7/16 Original Leave: 1/7/16-3/15/16	Unpaid FMLA	Extension
Menjivar, Victoria	Teacher-of Spanish	UHS	2/8/16-6/30/16	Paid Medical and Unpaid FMLA and unpaid NJFLA

P-5. Approve the following Curriculum Writing Teams at a rate of $20/hr. per person (with a not to exceed maximum per guide of $300 per person): (a) 7^th and 8^th Grade Health – Jill Fischman, Charlie Titus and Gabe Pagano.

P-6. Approve Monica Rodriguez-Nativo from Rodriguez Nativo LLC, 114 Cornell Avenue, Rahway, New Jersey, to provide sign language interpreting for parent conferences and school activities at a rate of $175 for every two hours (not to exceed $2,750) for the 2015-2016 school year.

P-7. Approve Summit Speech School to provide Audiological Evaluations at the rate of $285 per evaluation (CPT code 92557 and CPT code 92567) and an extensive evaluation of aided benefit at the rate of $400 (CPT code 92626) not to exceed $2,000 for the 2015-2016 school year (Acct. #11-000-219-320-02-19), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

P-8. Approve Summit Behavioral Health, 2780 Morris Avenue, Suite 2-D, Union, New Jersey, to provide bio-psycho social assessment and 15 panel urine drug screening at a rate of $150 per assessment, in accordance with the informatin in the hands of each Board member.

Discussion Item:

1. SRO – Union High School

L. Policy

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Policy Committee presents the following policy for the Board’s consideration:

POL-1. Approve Policy 4319.21 – Employment Relationships (Conflict of Interest), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member. (First Reading)

M. Approval of Bills

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board concur with the bills listed in the permanent bound register appended to these minutes and be ordered for payment.