There was an auidience of less than ten at the June Newburgh School District Board of Education meeting. The board meeting began at 7 P.M. in the library auditorium and was preceded by a meeting about changes in the district Code of Conduct. Superintendent of Schools Saturnelli and Board Member Giudice were not present at the meeting.

The meeting began with acknowledgements and thanks to the outgoing board members, for whom this was a final regular meeting. The outgoing members were Woodhull and Bowles. There were also ackowledgements to board members DeMarco and Vesely for attneding NYSSBA training.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Forgit reported on the status of Special Education in the district. There is a set of data that is required to be reeported to the state as a sort of "Special Education Report Card". Here is a link to the Special Education Data Profile for Newburgh Schools 2008-09.. Forgit reported that there were 1,736 Students With Disabilites (SWD) out of a total population of 12,763. This averages to 13.6%, slightly above the state trend of 11%, but does not necessarily indicate anything is wrong.

There are several statistical targets established by New York State for students with disabilities. Newburgh Schools, at 42.8%, almost meets the graduation rate target of 44%, but falls far short of the dropout goal of less than 18%, with a dropout rate of 31.2%. These numbers are for the 2008/9 cohort. Forgit made the point that the population being measured is not just NFA but all high school level residents of the Newburgh School District, and includes students placed in programs outside of NFA. The Newburgh School District is nearly meeting the State target for students being taught in the "least restrictive environment". There are some targets that are newly established which the district doesn't have data for yet. A parental survey was done, which had a satisfactory response rate (high 90s). The district is not meeting a target of all IEPs being coordinated and having measurable objectives. Another point Forgit made was the SWD are taught the same curriculum as other students.

Forgit explained that next school year groups of 2 to 4 schools will be holding quarterly meetings. Assistant Principals or Principals, RTI Chairpersons, AIS teachers, School Psychologists, Guidance will all attend in order to coordinate SWD services and share information. Board Member DeMarco asked whether Forgit had any personnel needs. Forgit answered that he will know better after the summer.

At 7:35 the board went to executive session to discuss the employment history of particular individuals.

Four audience members gave up and left after an hour.

At 8:50 the public meeting resumed.

There were three additions to the Curriculum and Instruction agenda items. A consultant agreement to provide training on IEPs; consultant agreement with Marth Chester regarding AOC data teams; and a consultant agreement regarding the Progressive Academy (24 or 26K); were all approved. These were funded by the Audit of Curriculum (AOC) grant.

Edward Lastowski substituted for the absent Assistant Superintendent of Finance Pacella and presented the finance items. One of the finance items was approval of food purchase bids. Board Member Poppiti praised Andy Calvano's thorough and professional follow-up on questions raised at the Board Workshop.

Among the H.R. items was item S, presented on the public agenda as a "Resolution to Create Positions as Per the 2010-2011 Budget (Funding Source: General Fund)". The public agenda did not even say how many positions this involved. Actually, practically none of the H.R. items say how many individuals are affected or what the costs are: "Create Positions as Per the 2010-2011 Budget", "Appoint Individuals to the Math Regents Review Program", "Appoint Individuals to do Kindergarten Screening", "Appoint Eligible Individuals to the 2010 Extended School Year".

Item Y was a resolution to "Appoint Individuals to Evaluator Positions for the 2010 Extended School Year Program". There was no public discussion about this, but it almost did not pass. Bowles: No, DeMarco: No, McAfee: Yes, Poppiti: Yes, Resch: Yes, Vesely: No, Woodhull: Yes, Fucheck: Yes. [Since 5 BOE members affirmed, I believe that this passed.]

The MOA between the Newburgh School District and the NTA, NTA TA, and CSEA unions (resolutions CC, DD, and EE) were all agreed to. These contracts are just one year in duration, from July 1, 2010 to June 20, 2011. So additional negotiations will need to take place next year. [I'll provide details about the NTA raises in a future post.]

Dr. Daniel Shanahan was appointed to the position of Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction.

George Teasdale was appointed to the position of Director of Social Studies and International Languages.

Reports from the Board of Education.

Board Member Poppiti said the Orange County School Boards group had their final meeting. There was no Finance Committee meeting. At SAVE meeting code of conduct was updated (and adopted at this BOE meeting).

Board Member Woodhull reported on Building and Grounds (much summer construction) and Health and Safety (asbestos was a topic discussed, as it was five and a half years ago). Board President Fucheck thanked Woodhull for his dedicated work for the district (this was his final board meeting).

Board Member Vesely reported on Compact Central Committee meeting. There was a performance by student musicians and dancers. Schools reported on accomplishments and goals. Committee decided that next year they will meet through the month of May, and the meeting time will be changed to 6:30 P.M.

Board Member McAfee reported on Teachers Center Policy Board meeting May 17: approved in service courses for coming year and professional development plan. They met again June 21 and added a course and approved 2010-11 Teachers Center budget. Curriculum committee met on May 4 and discussed: update on elementary mathematics program materials--committee tabled topic for further information; proposal for elementary reading books--also tabled until Burpee could be present; ELA textbook adoption--also tabled; conversion course adoptions discussed but textbook purchasing tabled; no recomendations were made for a German textbook at this time; committee requested Forgit to check availability of Dr. Spielhagen to present research on single gender classroom. Curriculum committee met again on June 1: textbooks were adopted to complete conversion program; grammar textbooks were adopted to support ELA curriculum; elementary math teacher resource textbooks for grades K-2 were approved; consumable resource books were approved; manipulative kits for grades 3-5 were approved; Horizons on the Hudson faculty and staff made a presentation on the IB program and is working toward certification as an IB School. Library Committee met on May 3: discussed ramifications of CSEA layoffs; Newburgh Library collaboration was discussed. Library Facilitator Espaillat reported on her activies related to school libraries curriculum and professional development. The library curriculum has moved on from skills to accountability. Library committee met on June 7. It was decided to instruct RCLS to exclude Newburgh residents from a solicitation for donations. Library was invited to attend the June 21 Educational Facilities and Planning Committee to present information about studies and surveys related to future of library. Ms Espaillat introduced a draft School Library Curriculum and Handbook for School Librarians and Reading Specialists. Implementation and evaluation is being planned. Friends of the Library book sale was very successful, raised $5,923. McAfee thanked the ROTC students who helped a lot with arranging the sale.

Board Member Bowles reported that Personnel Committee met June 8 and reviewed job description for Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction; reviewed positions required as a result of the budget; committee was updated on status of certification of reading teachers in the district; received updates on several disciplinary matters; updated on tenure eligibilitees. Policy committee: at request of Scott Prokosch reviewed current procedure of loaning calculators to students; committee is seeking more information about the new student information systems in order to review student attendence policy; dress code--student and staff, Poppiti suggested piloting a dress code at a school in the distict. Diversity committee: Mr. Jensen made a presentation about attendance at NFA; Ms Peterson gave presentation on Women Inspring Women and Children, a group in Newburgh; Forgit updated on district's purchase of Plato software, it was favorably reviewed by students at the Twilight program. Plato will be used at Twilight program and the Progressive Academy. Leimer presented evalution of diversity program presented at Teachers Center. Fucheck thanked Bowles for her dedicated work for the district (this was her final board meeting).

Reports from Staff.

Mr Forgit: New Executive Director is coming on board. Special Ed presentation earlier this evening will inform work in the future. Working with NYU to analyze needs of students in the district. There is an opportunity to apply for a grant toward the end of July to build on this work.

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Leimer: spent a good deal of time working on staff moves, involved about 90 people, most were happy. NYS Department of Labor met with staff being laid off. Under the leadership of David Shaw, our chief negotiator, we were able to settle the labor contracts which were approved this evening. In process of purchasing three new modules for the WinCap software: WinCap self-serve (for employee paystub and leave time accrual info); professional development module (for registering for in-service courses and conference requests); position control module (to track staff positions and vacancies). At request of Mrs. McAfee, Mr. Jensen and Ms Leimer attended meeting at which Library curriculum was rolled out to school librarians, to emphasize that data about student achievement was something that needed to be produced and that they would support and help the librarians to implement this new initiative.

Assistant Superintendent for Student Intervention and Support Services Noriega summarized extended school year plans. Programs start July 6. Twelve month IEP program students are at Vails Gate. Regents exams are August 17-19. There are about 800 students at elementary and 500 at secondary level. Around 70 participating in week-long STEM program at SUNY Albay.

Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance Velez: summer construction and NFA Main/NFA North work.

Executive Director of Human Resources McLymore: have been working with home teachers to accurately report their hours. Hours can't be verified by principal. There have been some discrepancies discovered between multiple versions of forms; working to improve process.

Executive Director of Instructional Technology Jensen: looking at computer technology rollouts for next year. Have virtualization project to consolidate servers. In area of registration: completed the sixth and seventh grade lottery; also completed the kindergarten lottery with letters going out this week. Commented on some postiive reaction by staff to the library curriculum.

Director of Newburgh Free Library Verdibella: complimented the successful Friends of the Libraries book sale. Commented on a job information program last Saturday (run by Chuck Thomas in conjunction with Congressman Hinchey's office) the Deleware County Job Corp gave a presentation. The program trains young people for jobs. 35 young people between ages of 14 and 26 came in and applied to the program. Job Corp was pleased with the response and will schedule another program in Fall. Ms Verdibella or Mr. Thomas can be contacted for details.

Mr. Lastowski reported on finance. Busy with change of Fiscal years; closing down last year; opening new. First pay period of the new year is first week of July. State comptroller's office is visiting for the next couple of months.

Deputy Superintendent of Schools Pizzo reported on wellness committee meeting May 27. Considering grants for energy use. Met with Frank DiServo who had asked how the wellness policy addressed emotional wellness. Mr. DiServo volunteered to serve as a resource person.

There was no public comment on non-agenda items.

The Board recessed to executive session to discuss the employment history of particular indivudals.

[I did not wait for the end of this meeting. I believe it ran well past 11 P.M.]