By EAST AURORA EDITOR  (12/13/2008 11:53:37 AM)

Board of Education Meeting Digest for December 10, 2008

Following a 6:00 PM executive session, the regular Board of Education Meeting was called to order in the Middle School Library at 7:00 PM by President Daniel Brunson.

Superintendent Bodziak commented:

Congratulations go out to our Parkdale students and to our community for their support in this year's UNICEF drive. Parkdale students raised $710 this year, which is the largest amount collected in the last eleven years. Special thanks to Parkdale teacher, Mrs. Marlene Krakowiak, who coordinated this year's drive.

Our District has been notified that four of our fall sports athletes have been recognized as All-WNY Scholar Athletes: Dan Coulter, Soccer; Erin Crawford, Cross Country; Nick Robinson, Football; and Lauren Schwarzenholzer, Soccer. Congratulations to these four scholar athletes for a wonderful accomplishment!

I also want to recognize the following East Aurora High School fall sport teams for having earned scholar/athlete status:
Girls Cross Country, 97%
Boys Cross Country, 96%
Girls Soccer, 95%
Girls Swimming, 95%
Field Hockey, 94%
Boys Soccer, 94%
Girls Volleyball, 94%
Golf, 93%
Football, 93%
Boys Volleyball, 92%
Girls Tennis, 91%

Congratulations to our teams, on the field of competition and in the classroom!

Finally, my commendations to School Business Manager Paul Blowers on his recent presentation to the Erie County School Boards Association. Mr. Blowers was part of a team of three business officials who presented the NYS required "Fiscal Oversight and Responsibility Training Workshop" to school board members on November 15th at Cheektowaga High School. Paul and his colleagues received excellent reviews from the participants. Congratulations to Paul for sharing his expertise with board members throughout Erie County.

Board President/Board member comments and committee reports:

Dan Brunson reported on some meetings of the building project committees, with the focus beginning to shift to the Main Street school building. Bids for that building are expected to go out in December-January and bids. Mr. Brunson further reported that an incident of vandalism at Parkdale’s addition is being investigated by police, and he also spoke about funding issues that would affect the balance of the project work to be done at Main Street School. Finally, he said that the shell of the athletic storage/maintenance building is complete, and the District is awaiting delivery of the doors this week. When the doors are installed, the fencing can be removed and workers can begin accommodations for the installation of utilities.

Superintendent Bodziak added that a recent discussion with town and village officials could produce cooperation on the construction of a sidewalk on Girard Avenue.

Dennis Holbrook commented that early support for athletic programs yields the superior results that are reflected in the number of Scholar Athlete teams in the District.

Stephen Zagrobelny asked Mr. Bodziak about the direction for the Latin program in 2009-2010, currently under review by administrators.

Administrator comments:

Dr. Brad Gibson commented that the mathematics textbook selection committee has selected the McMillan/McGraw-Hill series to be used by fifth grade students in the 2009-2010 school year.

Reports:

School Business Manager Paul Blowers reviewed the October, 2008 Treasurer's Report and Budget Status and Revenue Reports to date;

Mrs. DiNatale and members of the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Feasibility Committee presented the findings of their study. Following the presentation, the Board members voted to approve further exploration by Mrs. DiNatale of implementation of the Universal Pre-Kindergarten program.

Mrs. DiNatale presented a report concerning the High School Academic Center which was initiated this school year;

Board Discussion:

Mr. Bodziak and Mrs. Covert led a follow-up discussion with Board members concerning the Transportation Committee's recommendation for transporting K-4 and 5-8 students for the 2009-2010 school year.

In other business, Superintendent Bodziak recommended that the Board of Education:

Approve the extension of the Long Term Substitute appointments of Speech Pathologist Anne Marie Charvat, Elementary Education Teacher Claire Zgaljardic, Business Education Teacher Tammy Roemesser, and Special Education Teacher Rachel Carlson through June 30, 2009;

Approve extension of unpaid child care leaves of absence to Amy Girard, Barbara Moore and Stacey Koch through June 30, 2009 with return date of September 1, 2009;

Approve the co-curricular/interscholastic appointment of Fitness Center Supervisor Sean Kowalski;

Approve minutes of the Board of Education Meeting of November 12, 2008;

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

Approve the contract rate of $412.83 per student to be received by the Hamburg Central School District, and $490.92 per student to be received by the West Seneca Central School District for health and welfare services for the 2008-2009 school year provided to resident students attending private schools located in those respective districts;

Approve the non-resident tuition rates for the 2008-2009 school year: half-day kindergarten, $2,218; full day grades 1-6, $8,033; full day grades 7-12, $9,444;

Next regularly scheduled Board meeting - January 14, 2009

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