The meeting started early, at 6 p.m., in order for there to be a one hour executive sesion. The public part of the meeting resumed at aobut 7:13 p.m. with recognition of perfect attendance by a number of teachers for the 2008-2009 school year. NTA President Van Duser presented gift cards to the commended teachers. The Board of Education was also recognized by the Administration for their service.

There were no public comments on agenda items.

An item was added to the agenda to reject certain bids for mechanical work at Temple Hill and Meadow Hill due to errors and/or discrepencies in the bid contracts.

The Achieve 3000 proposal passed. [ed. This may have been a $25k software license.]

An item was added (and passed) to allow participation of the girls tennis team at a NY State meet November 6 and 7.

The H.R. items included a termination of an employee, Jonathan Stein. Board Member DeMarco asked about the forwarding of additional info to H.R. and whether the employee had option to return. Assistant Superintendent of Humen Resources Leimer answered that the information had been received, and that the option to return existed if the employee provided proof of fitness for duty.

There were six additions to the H.R. items on the published agenda. These all passed:

Q. Roberto Cruz was granted leave of absence from NFA and was appointed Acting Principal of Temple Hill (at $130k) effective October 19.

R. Winter athletic coaching appointments.

S. Creation of after school clubs and approval of club appointments.

T. Adopt findings of a hearing and terminate the employment of a typist effective Ocboer 28.

U. Approve appointments to the HOPE program. This is a program for homeless students.

V. Suspend an employee without pay pending the outcome of Education Law Section 30-20A proceedings.

During the committee reports from Board Members, Poppiti and Woodhull both commented that the state may actually follow through with threatened mid-year education aid cuts.

During the Library Commiittee report, Board Member McAfee said that questions had been raised about the use of the auditorium. The questions have to do with whether there may be a conflict between Library and Administration policies. She said Assistant Superintendent of Finance Pacella and Library Director Verdibello agreed to meet and clarify these issues.

In the Personnel Committee report, Board Member Bowles said that North Junior (which is only ninth grade this year) actually has more students than it did last year. Principal Jackson at North requested additional clerical and security support staff. This has been deferred to next year. [ed. Next year, the grade composition of North High will change again.]

During the administrative reports, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Leimer said that health coverage would now be included for dependendents up to age 29. [ed. It was unclear which categories of employees are eligible for this coverage. It was also unclear whether the coverage had to be paid for.]

Assistant Superintendent (etc.) Noriega said that 48 students were in the HOPE program, which is a program for the homeless. He said the size of the program had doubled.

There were no public comments on non-agenda items. The Board retired to executive session to discuss the employment history of an individual and of a corporation.