Board of Education Meeting Digest for March 24, 2010

(3.25.10)

Following an Executive Session at 6:00 PM to discuss items related to specific personnel matters related to tenure, litigation and collective bargaining, President Daniel Brunson called the meeting to order in public session at 7:00 PM in the Middle School library.

Superintendent Bodziak commented:

"We have received word that a former member of our school family passed away on March 1st. Mr. Bernie Petrusky taught science here at the Middle School for 28 years. He was buried in Pennsylvania. A memorial service for Mr. Petrusky will be held on April 17th at 10:00 AM in St. George's Church in West Falls. Our collective condolences go out to Bernie's family and relatives.

We have with us this evening East Aurora High School Senior Mr. Colin Palmer, the New York State Public School Wrestling Champion in the Division II, 186 pound category. George Patten, Jr. once said, "Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory." Colin certainly accepted all the challenges on the road to becoming a State champion and now he is experiencing the exhilaration of victory. This evening, we share his exhilaration and honor him for his achievement. I would like Colin's coach, Mr. Paul Rakoski and East Aurora Athletic Director, Mr. Fred Thornley to come up to the front of the room, with Colin so that we may make a presentation.

Colin accepted a certificate noting his achievement from Mr. Brunson, Mr. Bodziak, Coach Rakoski and Mr. Thornley.

Dr. Hoagland has received notice from the editor of Buffalo Business First that two of our seniors have been chosen for their 2010 All Western New York Academic Team. I would like Dr. Hoagland to announce the names of our students and give you a short description of the process used by Buffalo Business First to select students for recognition."

Dr. Hoagland announced that two EAHS seniors, James Sundquist and Jordan Bischof, have been chosen for Buffalo Business First 's 2010 All-Western New York Academic Team. Business First annually identifies 100 outstanding high-school seniors across Western New York. The Academic Team program is designed to spotlight students who pursue excellence both in and out of the classroom, and the nine-member selection committee selects the winners based on their records of academic achievement, school leadership and community involvement. The top 25 were named to the First Team, 25 runners-up to the Second Team and another 50 to the Special Mention list. James was named to the First Team and Jordan was named to the Special Mention team.

James and Jordan represent the top 1/2 of one percent of the seniors in Western New York High Schools (public and private) this year.

Board President's and Board Member's Comments & Committee Reports

Daniel Brunson commented on the passing of Mr. Petrusky, and related some memories of the former science teacher. Mr. Brunson also announced that the Board would meet on March 31 to adopt the budget.

James Whitcomb, MaryBeth Covert and Stephen Zagrobelny added their recollections of Mr. Petrusky.

Administrator Comments

Dr. Hoagland noted that of the 38 districts in Erie County, EAHS was tied for second place for graduation rates.

Visitor Comments

Lynn Engle, a District parent, expressed concern about cuts in the music program. Mrs. Engle's daughters echoed her comments in support of the music department.

Kevin Kot, curriculum coordinator for Career Development and Occupational Studies, commented on the proposed cuts in that department, gave a description of the curriculum by grade level, and proposed alternatives to the plan for a staff cut in that department.

Kristine Klein spoke to the Board regarding hiring procedure for a substitute position in elementary Speech/Language.

Becky Bailey, vice-president for the District's civil service union, spoke about the proposed cuts in teacher aide staffing, and announced that her union had voted positively on a measure to preserve jobs while cutting expenses.

Reports

Mr. Bodziak and Mr. Blowers presented the 2010-2011 Preliminary Budget.

Items for Board Discussion

Members of the Board of Education and District Administrators discussed the 2010-2011 Preliminary School District Budget.

Members of the Board discussed the New York State Supreme Court's Stipulation and Settlement Order.

In business matters, the Board of Education voted to approve Superintendent Bodziak's recommendations to:

Grant unpaid childcare leave of absence for Mary Kate Dvorak, effective March 15, 2010 through June 30, 2010;

Appoint Nicole Santoro as 0.6 F.T.E. High School Foreign Language Long Term Substitute Teacher and Jessica Herraez as 0.4 F.T.E. High School Foreign Language Long Term Substitute Teachers (replacing Mary Kate Dvorak), effective January 6, 2010 through June 30, 2010;

Approve the probationary appointment of Paul Zywiczynski as a Cleaner at Parkdale Elementary, 2nd shift;

Approve the appointments of Sally Davis, Patricia Petrie, Margaret Reidy, Justina Semenza, Norma Weber, Paul Weber, Mary Cope, Harriett Woodworth, Margaret Zagrobelny and Catherine O'Brien as Election Clerks for the May 18, 2010 Budget Vote and Election of School Board Members;

Approve minutes of the regular Board of Education meeting of March 10, 2010;

Approve recommendations of the Committees on Special Education of and Preschool Special Education;

Nominate R. Thomas Hawk, 3495 Stone Quarry Road, Fredonia, NY 14063 to be included on the Ballot as a Board Member Candidate to serve on the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Second Supervisory District of Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties in an Election to be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2010. There are five three-year terms to expire June 30, 2013.

Approve the following resolutions:

ï¿½ The Board of Education of the East Aurora Union Free School District, pursuant to a Stipulation of Settlement and Order of the Supreme Court of Erie County, which Order settled the eminent domain litigation between the East Aurora Union free School District and Fisher Price involving the acquisition of land to permit the Parkdale expansion, hereby directs the payment to Fisher Price of the amount of One Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars ($110,000.00) from the District's Liability Reserve Account, in full and final satisfaction of any and all claims arising out of the eminent domain litigation.

ï¿½ NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Education of the East Aurora Union Free School District to approve the propositions to be put before the voters, as given in the following legal notice,

GIVEN, that it has been determined that the date of the Annual Vote shall be on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 in the Main Street School, and

GIVEN, that a Public Hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 7:15 PM in the Main Street School, and

GIVEN, that voting on the 2010-2011 Budget and authorizing a levy of taxes shall be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 in the Main Street Cafeteria from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM and,

GIVEN, that election of Board of Education members shall also be conducted on May 18, 2010 at the same time and place as the above and

BE IT RESOLVED, that the District Clerk is hereby directed to publish a copy of the following notice in the East Aurora Advertiser and East Aurora BEE on April 1, 2010, April 15, 2010, April 22, 2010 and May 4, 2010, said newspapers having general circulation in this District:

Annual Vote and Election

East Aurora Union Free School District

Towns of Aurora, Elma, Colden and Wales

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Vote of the inhabitants of the East Aurora Union Free School District, Towns of Aurora, Elma, Colden, and Wales, Erie County, New York, qualified to vote in said District, will be held in the Main Street School, 430 Main Street, East Aurora, New York, on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the Education Law.

And notice is also given that the vote on the Annual School Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 and ending on June 30, 2011 and the Election of Members of the Board of Education will take place on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. D.S.T. in the cafeteria of the Main Street School, 430 Main Street, East Aurora, New York.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that voting machines and absentee ballots will be used to record the vote on the budget and on the election of members of the Board of Education.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, a list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the School District Clerk on each of the five business days prior to the election and that such list will also be posted at the polling place.

TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that voting on the budget shall consist of voting on the following propositions:

PROPOSITION NO. 1

BUDGET

Shall the following be adopted to wit:

RESOLVED, that the budget for the East Aurora Union Free School District for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2011 as presented by the Board of Education, is hereby approved and adopted, and the required funds are hereby appropriated, and the necessary real property taxes required shall be levied on the taxable property in said District to be collected as required by law?

ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

Petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education must be filed with the School District Clerk, 430 Main Street, East Aurora, New York, not later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 19, 2010.

The following vacancies on the Board of Education are to be filled:

Term 3 years to 6/30/2013 - Last incumbent ï¿½ Kathyann Lorka

Term 3 years to 6/30/2013 ï¿½ Last incumbent ï¿½ Eric Sweet

Each nominating petition must be directed to the District Clerk and must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) residents of the District, and must state the name and residence of each candidate. Nominating petitions may be obtained in the District Clerk's office, 430 Main Street, East Aurora, New York.

NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the proposed budget may be obtained by any taxpayer in the District Business Office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on each day, other than Saturday, Sunday or holidays beginning April 27, 2010.

NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that absentee ballots shall be made available in accordance with the provisions of Section 2018-a of the Education Law and that applications for such absentee ballots may be applied for at the office of the School District Clerk. Any such applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the date of the aforesaid Annual District Meeting if the ballot is to be mailed to the applicant, or the day before such Annual District Meeting, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the applicant.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the aforesaid Proposition No. 1 will appear on the ballot to be used at such Annual District Meeting in the following forms:

PROPOSITION NO. 1

BUDGET

Shall the following be adopted to wit:

Shall the budget for the East Aurora Union Free School District for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2011, as presented by the Board of Education, in the amount of $___________ be hereby approved and adopted, and the required funds be hereby appropriated, and the required real property taxes be levied on the taxable property in said District to be collected as required by law?

This resolution shall take effect immediately.

Dated: East Aurora, New York, March 24, 2009