MINUTES OF MEETING
Meeting was called to order at 8:00 pm.
All were welcomed including Judi Bosworth, Vice President of the Board of Education, Edwin Groshans, Deputy Superintendent and Mary Bonner, Assistant Superintendent.
President, Pam Fogel, made the following announcements:
The Board of Education announcements included that we started the new school year with 40 new teachers and 31 additional students and that the opening of the school year went smoothly.
There were several new policy proposals that are being given first readings:
All Policies are read three times at the Board of Education Meetings before they are approved.
Copies of these new Policies are available at this UPTC meeting.
Copies of All Policies currently in effect are available with PTA Presidents and at each school.
The UPTC Treasurer’s Report was given as follows: The Fleet Checking
Account Opening Balance as of 6/19/30 was $3940.54 and the Closing Balance as of 9/24/03 was $4320.10. This was the result of transferring the Fleet CD Balance of $3940.54 to the checking account.
The Superintendent’s Report was given by Judi Bosworth for Dr. Shine who was away. The status of the search for a new school district superintendent was the first issue. The search continues. This is after the school district and a promising candidate had agreed to terms for the position and later decided that he would remain in his current post as a superintendent in another school district. It was acknowledged that most superintendents who are happy in their school districts do not want to take a chance on a new job in another school district. The Board will be looking at a new pool of candidates. In the past only sitting superintendents had been considered, but now assistant superintendents and school principals will be interviewed. It is hoped that there will be good candidates for a school district where there have been only three superintendents in the last sixty years, where there is a stable Board of Education and extensive parental involvement. Dr. Shine will remain the superintendent until his successor is found. The contract for a superintendent is generally for three to five years. Judi Bosworth is confident that the Board will find the right candidate for the job.
Next, there was a report by Mr. Groshans concerning the van owned by Veteran’s Transportation that caught fire on September 9, 2003. He explained that the driver of the van had noticed smoke and was able to transfer the 11 children in the van to another bus before the van burst into flames. There were no injuries resulting from this fire. The fire was probably due to an electrical problem. We were also told how all of the school buses are inspected every six months. In addition, every day before leaves the garage, the driver does a written pre-trip inspection.
There was a discussion on why the school’s were closed on September 19, 2003, the day after Hurricane Isabel. To summarize the decision was made under difficult conditions. There were live wires on the roadway by Phipps and communications were cut off. It was expected that weather conditions would deteriorate further. As a result, it was decided to close school for the next day before communications worsened, i.e. while most people in the school district could still be reached by radio and television.
Due to some communication glitches with the closing of school, the issue of phone chains was brought up. The conclusion on the telephone chains was that the PTAs would continue to work on this issue.
BUDGET- Marcy Braun reported that meetings have been set up. This year the Budget vote will take place at the Baker Hill School where security and handicap access are better than at the North Middle School.
CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURAL ARTS-No report this early in the school year.
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY- Uri Krotinsky invited anyone with ideas to come to the committee meeting.
GIFTED& TALENTED-Karen Lewkowitz said that her committee is trying to start teaching foreign languages earlier than the sixth grade as is done in other school districts on Long Island. They are also trying to balance the number of honors classed between North & South High Schools.
HEALTH EDUCATION-Jack Levine said that the two major concerns are mental health and lice.
LEGISLATIVE-Marjorie Hoffman said that there were no legislative issues right now, but she would like more people to become involved with the UPTC Committees.
SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION-Amy Levinson said that small buses are called in if there is over crowding on the late buses as South. However, the problems concern both north and south. It was suggested that schedules for Late Buses be sent home to Middle School parents.
RECREATION-Listed in calendar.
TOTAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT-The committee met during the summer and the problem is that there is a lack of volunteers.
SHARED DECISION MAKING-The training session will be held at the Merchant Marine Academy on October 30, 2003 from 4:30pm to 8:30 pm. Each PTA was requested to pay $5.00 for each person attending.
There was no New Business or Old Business.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Smith