November 15, 2001

 

Last night’s meeting began with Public Participation. During that time, High School Principal,

Dan Starr, announced that Veronica Gobeyn was the New York State Cross

­ Country Champion,

as a result of the state meet she had partic ipated in the previous weekend. During Committee

Reports, Gretchen Craft spoke of the School

­ to­ Work Steering Committee Meeting she had

attended and Laurie Verbridge handed out an outline of upcoming Bicentennial events. Trustee

Deborah Larson reported o n her attendance at a recent Safety Committee Meeting during which

the decision was made to hold an unannounced Ginna evacuation drill. Bill Herbert gave a

report of his attendance at the Town Board Meeting and progress on the Building & Grounds 5­

Year P lan. President Richard Jordan gave a public response to a letter inquiring why school was

in session on Monday, November 12

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. He explained that the calendar was set last year prior to

the events of September 11

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. Also, with the actual holiday having been on Sunday, he believed

the district followed the Veterans’ wishes to celebrate the holiday on the actual day, not as a

Monday holiday.

 

A lengthy consent agenda was approved. This included several appointments, a resignation and

the approval of the financial statement for the 2000­01 school year.

 

Under Reports to the Board, three High School students joined the Board in a discussion of the

vocational programs they attended at BOCES. The students, Mike Madalena, TJ Rogers, and

Samantha Holcomb shared their experiences and answered the Board’s questions. Twenty

­two

Committee on Special Education Case Summaries were approved, with one being tabled and

later approved after Executive Session.

 

Old Business included reading and revising Policies 4000­5400. Next, President Jordan asked

all of the Board Members to review their committee goals in light of the lengthy strategic

planning process that has begun. A lengthy discussion of a book being used as a supplemental

text at the High School ended with a request to give parents additional information about the

book in the December newsletter.

 

The first topic under New Business was the election of members to the Genesee Valley School

Board’s Executive Committee. The Board asked several questions about the School Resource

Officer that will begin working in the District the second semester. The funding for this position

came from a grant written by the NYS Police in conjunction with 12 local school districts. The

Board also held a preliminary discussion on the role of students on the Board of Education.

These students will serve in an advisory capacity. They will receive Board packets and on a

rotating basis will sit with the Board at meetings and discuss issues on the agenda. The

Superintendent will meet with these students, gather their ideas, and invite all to attend an

upcoming Board Meeting. After this initial meeting, a schedule will be established. The last

item under New Business was the appointment of Jocelyn Steurrys as a .5 COTA (Certified

Occupational Therapy Assistant).

 

After announcing an additional Board Meeting for Monday, November 19

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, the meeting was

adjourned into Executive Session.