Regular Board of Education Meeting – December 14, 2020
The regular meeting of the Pavilion Central School District
Board of Education was called to order at 7:04 PM by Board President Marirose
Ethington.
An audio link for this meeting is shown below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GMRy3iWPY7v_QDuMX1y_wlrAsTpSWHmN/view?usp=sharing
Board Members present: Marirose Ethington, Jeff Finch (7:06
PM), Kevin Stefan, Margaret Gaston (7:10 PM), Becky Dziekan, Callin
Ayers-Tillotson, and Chris Jeffres
Board Members Absent:
Others Present: Sheila Eigenbrod, Jon Wilson, Charles
Martelle, Stacey Tallon, Mary Kate Hoffman, Donald Childs, and Mary Jo Pahl
Others Absent:
Nine (9) guests were present as per the list of attendees
received by GVBOCES.
Chris Jeffres led the Pledge of Allegiance
** Moved by Becky
Dziekan; seconded by Chris Jeffres to approve agenda with additions carried
unanimously (5 votes).
** Moved by Cal Ayers-Tillotson; seconded
by Chris Jeffres to approve all items in the consent grouping - Minutes:
Regular BOE minutes of 11/30/2020; CSE, Sub-CSE, CPSE and 504 minutes of 11/24/2020;
11/30/2020; 12/1/2020; 12/2/2020; 12/3/2020; 12/4/2020; 12/7/2020; 12/9/2020;
12/10/2020; and 12/11/2020; carried unanimously (5 votes).
** Jeff Finch
arrived
BUSINESS:
1.
Superintendent Update:
** Mrs. Hoffman
updated the Board regarding the talks that have been taking place regarding an
open gym for basketball that she has had with Mr. Sattora. She indicated that it is still in the
planning stage, but that they believed that they would be able to safely allow
this opportunity to the students. These
talks have stemmed from the fact that all winter state competitions have
recently been cancelled and all high risk sports have been postponed until
further notice.
** Mrs. Hoffman
also informed the Board about a pilot program that NYS has put into effect for
the current school year where school districts have the option of going to a
fully remote learning day in the event of inclement weather instead of using a
snow day. However, should the District elect
to use this option, they would still be required to transport any private
school students who may have school if their school does not close and we would
still have to provide meals to all students learning remotely. She has decided
that at this point in time, this District will take a traditional snow day in
the event of inclement weather so that our bus drivers and cafeteria staff will
not have to make the drive in unsafe conditions to fulfill the obligations that
the pilot program has laid out. However,
should we get to the point that we are close to not being able to meet the
necessary number of school days, we would reevaluate the program on days that
might better work for the District.
** Mrs. Hoffman
also spoke about the fact that the City of Batavia entered a yellow zone early
in the day, this affects all of the schools in the city, both public and
private, the BOCES. Currently our
District is not in a yellow zone.
** Mrs. Hoffman
answered questions on each of the above items as they were asked during each
update, the Board thanked her for the updates. No action required.
** Peg Gaston
arrived.
2. Admin Updates:
** Dr.
Eigenbrod addressed the Board regarding the impact that the presentation at the
November conference on the area of reading in the content areas has had on the
middle/high school building. The
District has been able to schedule seven additional one hour sessions for this
presenter to speak to twenty five different teachers to provide some continuing
education and professional development in this area.
** Dr.
Eigenbrod also spoke of how the theme of this school year is Resiliency and the
ways in which Anna Lynah, the school social worker, has been working with
students regarding resiliency and the ways in which they have been resilient
this year, some examples of the students comments were shared too.
** Dr.
Eigenbrod spoke of how the school has been helping students with their
social/emotional learning.
** Dr.
Eigenbrod shared information from the Department of Justice to educate faculty
and staff on internet predators and safety concerns.
** Dr.
Eigenbrod wanted to give recognition to the MS/HS staff and students for the
many positive activities and ideas that have been taking place recently, as
noted below:
·
Secret Santa
·
Food Drive
·
Stockings
·
Toy Drive
·
Holiday Gift Cards
·
Sr. Activity Proposals (a parade in the
elementary school with caps/gowns)
·
Interior design class doing the murals in the
school
·
Scholar Athletes/Breakfast of Champions
** Dr. Eigenbrod
answered questions on each of the above items as they were asked during each
update, the Board thanked her for the updates. No action required.
** Mr. Martelle addressed
the Board regarding how the hybrid-learning plan has been doing wonders on
bringing the number of referrals down, however it has not been so well as far
as getting students to complete their work.
They have been using the tracking spreadsheets created earlier in the
year as a way to keep track of the ways in which students and their families
have received contact from the teachers and a list of tiers for intervention
has been established. We have also begun
to run the after school achievement center again as a way to help students get
back or keep on track. No action
required.
** Mr. Wilson spoke
to the Board about reading and vocabulary concerns in the elementary school and
the ways in which they are going to be analyzing the data to establish a plan
to address these concerns, do additional analysis and then make adjustments as
needed to enable the students to succeed.
** Mr. Wilson
wanted to recognize Amanda Eighmey and Nicole Palmer for the project they
recently did with the elementary students where they learned about “Christmas
around the World” and how each grade level decorated a tree, which were donated
to the project by Cowie Tree Farm in Wyoming.
These trees are on display outside the elementary building.
** Mr. Wilson
also spoke about the ways in which they are trying to keep things as close to
normal as possible for the students despite the difficulties this school year
has had. He explained how the students
will still be participating in the Christmas sing-a-long, “Jingle Jam”, and
Mrs. Hoffman will be reading “The Polar Express” to the students while the
students enjoy some hot cocoa.
** Mr. Wilson
answered questions on each of the above items as they were asked during each
update, the Board thanked him for the updates. No action required.
** Dr. Eigenbrod
answered the question asked using the question and answer section of the zoom
meeting regarding graduation, indicating that they are hoping to be able to
hold one in the traditional manner, but they do have two other options they are
exploring as well if needed.
** Ms. Tallon
addressed the Board regarding the social emotional well-being of the MS/HS
students and about how the SRO has been making visits to students who are 100%
remote to check in with them and to see how they are doing and how he will also
be helping to distribute the Secret Santa supplies and treats to students too.
She also indicated that our new school psychologist, Shelby LaMond, has begun
meeting with each grade level weekly and in implementing a way in which to
track students in grades K-12 to help review their needs as they may arise and
to help maintain their social and emotional well-being. She answered questions
and the Board thanked her for the updates. No action required.
** Marirose
Ethington thanked the Superintendent and Administrators for the updates and
their willingness to give these more formal updates at each meeting instead of
the informal manner in which the updates had been provided in the past.
3. BOE
Meeting Date Calendar:
** Mrs. Hoffman
presented a calendar for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year to the
Board with each meeting date for the rest of the year highlighted on it. These dates will be: 1/11/2021; 1/25/2021;
2/8/2021; 2/22/2021; 3/8/2021; 3/22/2021; 4/12/2021; 4/26/2021; 5/11/2021;
5/18/2021; 5/24/2021; 6/14/2021; 6/28/2021.
She indicated that the two meeting dates in May that fall on Tuesday
will be for the Budget Presentation and the Budget and BOE member vote
respectively. No action required.
4. Appointments:
** Moved by Jeff
Finch, seconded by Becky Dziekan, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, to appoint Robert Mattice to the position of full time bus driver
effective 12/14/2020 at the starting contractual salary of $20,500.00, which
will be prorate based on his date of hire; carried unanimously (7 votes).
** Moved by Peg
Gaston, seconded by Kevin Stefan, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent
of Schools, to appoint Stephanie McEwan to the position of Long-term substitute
4th grade teacher to begin on or about January 19, 2021 for a period
of six to eight weeks at the daily rate of $192.50; carried unanimously (7
votes).
5. Approve
sale of Buses on Auctions International:
** Moved by Peg
Gaston, seconded by Cal Ayers-Tillotson, to grant the authority to the
Superintendent of Schools to accept or reject any or all bids received upon the
closing of the auction on December 17, 2020, with notice of bid amounts
received, and accepted/rejected to be shared with the Board upon close of the
auction; carried unanimously (7 votes).
6. Approve
Tuition Contract with Attica CSD:
** Moved by
Chris Jeffres, seconded by Kevin Stefan to approve the tuition contract with
Attica Central School District as presented; carried unanimously (7 votes).
** Marirose
Ethington indicated that she would like to have an update on the youth
recreation program presented at the January 14, 2021 BOE meeting.
INFORMATION:
1.
Monday January
11 and 25, 2021 BOE meeting dates
** Moved by Jeff
Finch, seconded by Peg Gaston to adjourn at 7:46 PM; carried unanimously (7
votes).
Mary Jo Pahl
Clerk of the Board