Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Place: Hilltop Board Room

Members Present: Bryan Burrell, President

Claudette Clarke, Vice President

Amy Applebaum, Secretary

Vic Czajkowski, Trustee

Michael Lagana, Trustee

Michael Mark, Trustee

Fletcher Johnson, M.D.

Brittany Blum, Student Representative

Members Absent: none

Others Present: Valencia F. Douglas, Ed.D. Superintendent

Carleen Millsaps, Ass’t Supt. For Business

Walter Woodhouse, Ass’t Supt. For Instruction

Winsome Gregory, Ass’t Supt for Pupil Personnel

Services/ Professional Personnel

Gloria Menoutis, Acting Clerk

Staff Members

Community Members

President Burrell called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. It began with the Pledge of Allegiance

President’s Report

Bryan Burrell reported on Board of Education visibility to the PTAs and community groups. He attended the Liberty Ice Cream Social with the Superintendent.

Town of Clarkstown Project Graduation funding has been reduced by half. He will speak with other Board Presidents, Supervisor Alex Gromack and the PTAs.

Student Rep Report

Brittany Blum reported on Back to School Night, student elections and upcoming Spirit Week, Homecoming and Pep Rally.

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Douglas reported:

She thanked all staff who had contributed artwork for the Hilltop Art Gallery Opening this evening prior to the Board Meeting.

She and Carleen Millsaps met with Alex Gromack regarding improvement work to be conducted by the town at/near Valley Cottage Elementary during school hours to ensure safe conditions and that police be present.

She met with Tom Devine, Principals and Asst. Principals regarding recent tragedies in schools around the country. Lockdown drills have been planned for 10/6/06, 10/25/06 (Superintendent’s Conference Day) and an unannounced drill.

Board of Education Reports

Board members all spoke about programs and meetings they have attended in recent days.

Citizens Proposals, Questions & Concerns

John Shields, Nyack Mayor, spoke about Art Show in Village Hall on 12/7/06, the STEPS Program and school lunch choices.

Lisa Retallack, Family Resource Center coordinator for Nyack Middle School, thanked the Board and Administration for their support.

Judy Martin, Director of the Nyack Housing Authority spoke in support of the Tallman Towers Pilot program consideration.

Kevin Graham, Valley Cottage PTA President spoke about VC PTA programs.

Kim Cross, Executive Director of Nyack Center extended an invitation to Board to the Biannual Family Reading Night on 10/19/06.

Workshop

PILOT Tallman Towers: Mark Soja from Marathon Development presented the Board his proposal for the renovation of the Tallman Towers property, asking for the consideration of the Board to enter into a PILOT program for a reduced school tax liability.

Mayor Shields, Dennis Lynch (attorney for Marathon Development) and Anita Leonard (President of Tallman Towers Association) spoke in support of the PILOT.

Each Board member had questions regarding the program, such as calculation of the PILOT agreement, rental amounts, effect on residents during renovation period, and profitability for Marathon. Additional information such as Marathon’s financial statements were requested.

President Burrell encouraged questions from the Board Members. He said the Town has to make the final decision and the District will give the Town our feedback.

Project Connect: Dr. Valencia Douglas and Kim Cross, Executive Director of Nyack Center, gave a presentation on the out- of- school- suspension program partnership the District has with the Nyack Center. The program offers tutoring and counseling to students on suspension from school. Ahunna Akoma, Director of Technology, has also worked with Nyack Center to upgrade the computer lab for the program. The Nyack Center is receiving a $32,500 technology grant.

Dr. Douglas, Kim Cross and the Board of Education all expressed how pleased they were with the program and how closely all have worked together.

Suzanne Bozhkov was introduced to the Board by Kim Cross as a Nyack Center Board Member.

OCR Update

Dr. Douglas presented the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) update. In response to our agreement with OCR, the District must present a formal report to the Board of Education. A

Power Point presentation was shown addressing each issue, our goals and strategies with supporting statistics and data on each.

The Board of Education and Walter Woodhouse spoke about open enrollment, data comparison and numbers used in the report.

President Burrell stated he would like the Board to revisit this issue on a January agenda.

Action

Trustee Johnson moved and Trustee Clarke seconded to take items 15-23 in one motion.

Motion Approved (7-0)

Trustee Mark moved and Trustee Czajkowski seconded to approve the following:

Business

Family Resource Center Services

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Nyack Union Free School District awards the bid for Family Resource Center Services to Rockland 21C in the amount of $54,965 for the period Sept. 18, 2006 through Dec. 31, 2006, with an option to extend services through June 30, 2007, and payments to be made in two equal installments, the first payment within five days of bid award and the second payment on November 1, 2006.

School Resource Officer Town of Clarkstown 2005-06

School Resource Officer Town of Clarkstown 2006-07

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Nyack Union Free School District retroactively approves the contract with the Town of Clarkstown for our School Resource Officer in the amount of $28,811 for the period September 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Nyack Union Free School District approves the contract with the Town of Clarkstown for our School Resource Officer in the amount of $30,776 for the period September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.

Contract with Rockland Department of Social Services

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Nyack Union Free School District approves the contract with Rockland County Department of Social Services for a School Preventive Services Caseworker. The contract period is Sept. 1, 2006 through Aug. 31, 2007 at a contract price of $40,000, of which $15,000 will be paid in 4 equal installments, and the other $25,000 will be paid through “in-kind” fiscal support. Further, the President of the Board of Education is authorized to fully execute the contract.

Non-Affiliated Benefits Statement

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Nyack Union Free School District approves the attached benefits statement for our Student Assistance Counselor.

Claudette Jimerson Music Scholarship

The Resolution is attached.

Lease Technology Equipment

BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Education of the Nyack Union Free School District approves the lease financing agreement for the lease purchase of technology equipment in the amount of $244,275 and authorizes the Board President to execute the lease financing agreement.

Instruction

Appoint Member to Committee on Special Education

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education, and on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, appoint CASSANDRA COLETTI as a Parent Member to the Committee on Special Education, effective October 3, 2006.

Approved the Recommendations of Committee on Special Education

Motions Approved (7-0)

Personnel

Trustee Mark moved and Trustee Czajkowski seconded to take items 24-26 as one motion.

Motion Approved (7-0)

Trustee Mark moved and Trustee Czajkowski seconded to approve the following:

Staff Appointments

BE IT RESOLVED, on the recommendation of the Superintendent Schools that JOHN G. CARLSON be appointed to the position of Earth Science Teacher on a probationary basis, effective October 3, 2006 through October 3, 2008,

Step 13, Scale 8 – $86,533, pro rated 10/3/06 - $77,878. Appointee subject

to being cleared by the NYS Education Department.

BE IT RESOLVED, that TRACEY CUMMINGS be appointed to the position of Assistant Director, Nyack Teachers Center, effective September 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 at a salary of $6000

BE IT RESOLVED, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that ANNE MARIE GATTI be appointed to the position of Teaching Assistant on a probationary basis, effective October 3, 2006 through October 3, 2009 - Step 1- $13,531 – pro-rated 10/3/06 - $12,141. Appointee subject to being cleared by the NYS Education Department.

RESOLUTION: BE IT RESOLVED, that on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that MILDRED GONZALEZ be appointed to the position of Security Aide effective October 4, 2006, pending Civil Service approval of employment application.

BE IT RESOLVED, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools THAT ERIC F. OSTROWSKY be appointed to the position of Teaching Assistant on a part-time basis, effective October 3, 2006 through June 30, 2007, Scale 1 - $13,531 pro-rated 10/3/06 - $12,141. Appointee subject to being cleared by the NYS Education Department.

Staff Resignations

BE IT RESOLVED, that the resignation OF SAMANTHA CORREA, Teaching Assistant at Upper Nyack Elementary School be accepted, effective September 29, 2006.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the resignation of CAROL A. CURTO, Science Teacher

at Nyack High School be accepted, effective September 22, 2006.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the resignation of ERIN JOHANSEN, Biology Teacher

at Nyack Middle School be accepted, effective October 25, 2006.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the resignation of ALEXIS KOOISTRA, Teaching

Assistant at Upper Nyack Elementary School be accepted, effective June 30, 2006.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the resignation of ANDREA LANZETTA, Teaching Assistant at Upper Nyack Elementary School be accepted, effective September 29, 2006.

BE IT RESOLVED, on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the individuals named above (Middle School and High School Co-Curricular Advisorships) be appointed to the terms set forth in the attached.

Trustee Applebaum moved and by Trustee Clarke seconded to adjourn to Executive Session at 11:00 PM.

Motion Approved (7-0)

Trustee Clarke moved and Trustee Mark seconded to return to Public Session and adjourn at 11:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Menoutis

Acting District Clerk