Wells Central school lunch program in the red

WCS BOE July 10 2019

Wells Central school lunch program in the red

By Pete Klein

When the Wells Central School Board of Education met on July 10, the board took the following actions to rectify a deficit in the school lunch program.

The board approved the transfer of funds on report A-2 for the 2018/2019 school year. The motion was made by Ken Hoffman, seconded by William Stuart, and carried 5-0.

Resolved, the Wells Central School District’s Board of Education declared the $27,832.50 deficit in the School Lunch an ordinary contingent expense and authorized an interfund transfer from the General Fund to the Cafeteria Fund in the amount of $28,000. Such expenditure will be offset by Appropriated Fund Balance in the General Fund. The motion was made by Ken Hoffman, seconded by Rachel Lauria, and carried 5-0.

Resolved, the Wells Central School District Board of Education authorized a General Fund budget increase of $28,000 with a transfer of funds from the General Fund to offset the operating loss in the School Lunch Fund at June 30, 2019. The motion was made by Dorman Reese, seconded by Rachel Lauria, and carried 5-0.

The Board of Education reviewed the Information and Correspondence. The July enrollment report provided by Jessica Damphier listed the current enrollment at 150.

The Board reviewed the Appropriation Status and Revenue Budget Status Reports. Superintendent Thomas D. Sincavage reviewed the fund balance report.

The board approved the 2019/2020 Art Teacher Services Contract with Lake Pleasant Central School District. The motion was made by Ken Hoffman, seconded by Rachel Lauria, and carried 5-0.

Sincavage gave the Superintendent’s Report. Sincavage discussed appointing a Clerk of the Works for the Upcoming Capital Project.

Sincavage gave an update for the Harvard Proving Ground Grant. The school was one out of the 30 schools chosen from NYS to participate in the study. The school district will have to attend at least two state meetings and at least one of the national meetings that will be held.

The June 2019 Regents results are in and the scores have consistently gone up. 92.5% of Regents exams were passed and 40% of the Regents exams had a grade of 85% or better, which indicates mastery of the subject.

The board approved for a second reading the following policies:4.340 Teacher Employment Policy, 4.500 Health Insurance Benefits - Retired Employees, 4.510 and 5.730 Meals and Refreshments, 4.520 Conference Request, 4.530 and 8.930 Sex Offender Notification Policy, and 4.540 and 8.940 Concussion Management School Policy. The motion was made by Dorman Reese, seconded by Rachel Lauria, and carried 5-0.

The board approved the Self Evaluation performed on June 19, 2019. The motion was made by Dorman Reese, seconded by William Stuart, and carried 5-0.

The Board reviewed the calendar of events.

During Public Access, a guest asked how students at Wells compared to other districts regarding the regents testing. Sincavage noted that he was unable to get the statistics regarding other districts scores.

ORGANIZATION MEETING

Before the start of the regular meeting, the board held its yearly organization meeting. What follows is only a partial list of items approved. The full list may be obtained at the school offices.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Board elected Board Officers.  Ken Hoffman nominated Cathie Rust for President, seconded by Dorman Reese, and carried 4-0. Cathie Rust nominated Ken Hoffman for Vice President, seconded by Dorman Reese, and carried 4-0. The Oath of Office and Certificate of Residency was conducted.

The following Personnel Appointments were approved on a motion made Ken Hoffman, seconded by Dorman Reese, and carried 4-0.

District Clerk Resolution: To appoint the Confidential Secretary to the Superintendent, Rachelle Dwyer as Clerk for the WCS BOE for the 2019/2020 school year, with an annual stipend of $1,976 from July 1, 2019 through August 31, 2020.

Purchasing Agent Resolution: To appoint the Superintendent as Purchasing Agent for the District for 2019/2020 school year.

District Treasurer/*Deputy District Treasurer Resolution: To appoint Martha Brown as District Treasurer with a contract of $31,616 and Jessica Damphier as Deputy District Treasurer for the 2019/2020 school year.

Treasurer/Deputy Treasurer for Extra Curricular Funds Resolution: To appoint Martha Brown as Central Treasurer (stipend as per teachers’ contract) and Jessica Damphier as *Deputy Central Treasurer for the Extracurricular Activities Fund for the 2019/2020 school year.

School Attorneys Resolution: To appoint the firm of Girvin and Ferlazzo as School Attorneys for the District for the 2019/2020 school year (hourly rate $170/hr. for legal services, $190/hr. for litigation; not on a retainer)

Auditing Firm Resolution: To appoint Marvin and Company as the accounting and auditing firm for the District for the 2019/2020 with a maximum stipend of $13,200.

The following Personnel Appointments were approved on a motion made Dorman Reese, seconded by Ken Hoffman, and carried 4-0. Ken Hoffman abstained from

Tax Collector/Deputy Tax Collector Resolution: To appoint Kathy Simons as Tax Collector with a stipend of $2,729 and Stephanie Hoffman as *Deputy Tax Collector for the District for the 2019/2020 school year.

School Physician Resolution: To appoint Dr. Sunkara and Nathan Littauer (Primary Care) Hospital as School Physician for the District with a per diem stipend for bus driver and student physicals as per contract, for the 2019/2020 school year.

Comptroller and Second Signature for Student Activities Account Resolution: To appoint the Superintendent of Schools as *Comptroller and the Confidential Secretary to the Superintendent as a*Second signature for the Student Activity Accounts for the 2019/2020 school year.

Attendance Officer Resolution: To appoint the Superintendent of Schools as Attendance Officer for the 2019/2020 school year.

Election Inspectors Resolution: To appoint Cherie Rene Hammer, Roselyn Simons, M. Cathy Simons, Carene Christiansen, Betty Lou Orr, Deneen Parker, Marlene Rust and Elizabeth Taylor as Election Inspectors for the 2019/2020 school year at a rate of $100.00 per vote.

Transportation Supervisor Resolution: To appoint Mindy Morrison as Transportation Supervisor for the 2019/2020 school year. The annual stipend is $10,594 for this position.

Athletic Director Resolution: To appoint Jeremy Siddon as Athletic Director for the 2019/2020 school year.

Approval of Bonding Resolution: To approve bonding in the following amounts: all employees, Faithful Performance, $100,000; Tax Collector’s Bond $1,000,000. and Treasurer’s, Deputy Treasurer’s and Claims Auditor’s Bond $1,000,000.

Cell Phone use authorization Resolution: The Superintendent of Schools is authorized to use a cell phone. In addition, the Superintendent may deem cell phone use appropriate on an “as needed” basis for other employees such as bus drivers, custodians, district employees who are attending conferences, etc.

Legal Newspapers Resolution: To designate The Hamilton County Express and The Leader Herald as the legal newspapers for the District for 2019/2020.

Mileage Reimbursement Rate Resolution: To approve the mileage reimbursement rate at the current I.R.S. rate of 58.0 cents per mile (as per contracts: rate changes when I.R.S. changes rate) for the 2019/2020 school year.

Compensation rates for Substitute Teachers/Workers Resolution: To establish the compensation rate for substitute teachers and aides at $85. per diem for non-certified teachers and $100. per diem for certified teachers, and for substitute nurses $100. per day. Resolution: To establish the compensation rate for substitute cleaners and cafeteria workers at $11.80 per hour.

Designation of Health Examiner for School Physician Resolution: The Board of Education approves Kristy Wright, School Nurse as Dr. Sunkara, School Physician’s designee to review health examinations and interval health histories.

Designation of Meal Prices for School Lunch Program Resolution: The Wells Central School Board of Education sets the meal prices for the school lunch program for the 2019/2020 school year as follows: Lunch - $1.90 2nd Lunch - $1.25 Lunch Entrée - $.75 Reduced Price - $.25 Milk $.40.

Editor’s note: This story is based upon the minutes as provided by District Clerk Rachelle Dwyer.