BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Questar III

BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 

SOLE SUPERVISORY DISTRICT 

RENSSELAER-COLUMBIA-GREENE COUNTIES 

QUESTAR III MEETING MINUTES 

MEETING Date: February 13, 2013 

Location: Questar III – Board Room 

Presiding: Robert Gibson, President 

Members Present 

Robert Gibson, President 

Christopher Foster, Member 

Joseph Garland, Member 

Donald Kline, Vice President 

Marilyn Noonan, Member 

Carol Orvis, Member 

Paul Puccio, Member 

Also Present 

James N. Baldwin, District Superintendent 

Gladys Cruz, Deputy Superintendent 

Andrew DeFeo, Assistant Superintendent 

Harry Hadjioannou, Assistant Superintendent 

Susan DiDonato, School Attorney 

Michael Buono, Human Resource Manager 

Robin Emanatian, Board Clerk 

CALL TO ORDER 

President Robert Gibson called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. 

APPROVAL OF 1 – Mr. Garland 2 – Mr. Kline Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

MINUTES 

The Board of Cooperative Education Services approved the Minutes from the Regular 

Meeting of the Board of Cooperative Educational Services held on January 10, 2013. 

TREASURER’S 1 – Mr. Puccio 2 – Mr. Garland Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

REPORT 

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services accepted the Treasurer’s Report dated 

December 2012. 

AUDIT COMMITTEE 

REPORT(S) 

NONE 

INTERNAL CLAIM 1 – Mr. Garland 2 – Mrs. Noonan Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

AUDITING REPORT The Board of Cooperative Educational Services accepted the Internal Claim Auditing 

Report dated December 28, 2012 through January 18, 2013.

February 13, 2013 Regular Meeting Minutes 

Board of Cooperative Educational Services Page 2 of 10 

EXTRA CLASS- 

ROOM ACTIVITY 1 – Mr. Puccio 2 – Mr. Foster Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

FUND REPORTS The Board of Cooperative Educational Services accepted the Central Treasurer’s 

Reports for the Extra Classroom Activity Fund dated December 31, 2012. 

RECOGNITION 

OF VISITORS 

Kathy Balfoort, Melony Merriman - R-C-G BOCES Special Support Services Federation 

President, Miriam Giller – Teachers’ Association, Marc Daigle – Teachers’ Association 

COMMUNICATIONS 

• Robin Emanatian informed the members that two nominations were received for the G. 

Lucius Carey Award given at the Annual Dinner in recognition of outstanding 

contributions through volunteer service which reflects the values and beliefs of Questar 

III. She turned the floor over to Board President, Robert Gibson to elaborate on the 

details of those nominees. 

• President Gibson explained that the two nominees for the G. Lucius Carey award were 

our own Donald Kline for his 35+ years of service on the Questar III Board, as well as 

his service on the Germantown CSD Board of Education. The other nominee is a 

gentleman from Schodack recommended by Member Puccio. Member Puccio gave a 

brief background for the individual he nominated. The board was then given the task of 

coming to the March 14 th meeting with their choice. 

PERSONNEL 

------------------------------------ BY CONSENT------------------------------------- 

1 – Mr. Garland 2 – Mrs. Noonan Motions Carried (7 – Yes) 

RESIGNATION(S) 

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services, upon the recommendation of the 

Executive Officer, accepted the resignation of the following individual(s) as noted: 

Certified Staff 

Name: 

Kate Magnetto 

Position: 

Teaching Assistant 

Date Began: 09/01/08 

Effective: 01/25/13 

Name: 

Tara Martin 

Position: 




Name: 

Michael Los 

Position: 

State Aid Planning Associate 


Effective: 02/22/13



PERSONNEL (cont’d) 

RESIGNATION(S) 


TABLED ITEM Name: Thomas Rasmuson 

Position: 




Classified Staff 

Name: 

Holly Taft 

Position: 

Internal Audit Manager 



Name: 

Beverly Hofstetter* 

Position: 

Teacher Aide 



*(The board requested that Ms. Hofstetter’s letter include that her 

resignation was accepted with regret.) 

TENURE 

RECOMMENDATION(S) 

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services, upon the recommendation of 

the Executive Officer, granted tenure to the following individual(s) as noted: 

Name: Jennifer Merritt 

Tenure Area: School Social Worker 

Effective: March 1, 2013 

CHANGE IN FTE / 

TITLE / SALARY / 

STATUS 

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene Counties 

gives approval to the recommendation of the Executive Officer to the following changes 

in FTE and/or title, salary or status as noted below: 


Name: Ruth Nova de Los Santos – CHANGE IN SALARY 

Position: 1.0 FTE RBERN Support Specialist 

Status: Probationary Period (currently being served) 

Effective: 02/14/13 – 06/30/13 

Salary: $50,000.00 prorated 

Name: Yesenia Valle – CHANGE IN SALARY 

Position: 1.0 FTE RBERN Resource Specialist 

Status: Probationary Period (currently being served) 

Effective: 02/14/13 – 06/30/13 

Salary: $72,000.00 prorated



PERSONNEL (cont’d) 

APPOINTMENTS 


Executive Officer, approved the appointment of the following individual(s) as noted. 

These appointments were declared as emergency conditional vacancies and contingent 

upon clearance for employment based on fingerprinting requirements of the SAVE 

legislation. 


Name: Anne Leffler 

Position: 1.0 FTE Teaching Assistant 

Tenure Area: Teaching Assistant 

Status: 3 Year Probationary Period 

Certification: Teaching Assistant 



Name: Jaime Churchill 




Certification: School Counselor 



Name: Meghan Blair 




Certification: ChEd 1-6, SWD 1-6 



Name: Kristina Bennett 




Certification: SWD 1-6, ChEd 1-6, Literacy B-6 



Name: Catherine McLaughlin 


Tenure Area: N/A 

Status: Regular Substitute 

Certification: School Counselor 

Effective: 01/28/13 – 06/30/13 

Salary: $17,732.00 prorated



PERSONNEL 

Certified Appointments (cont’d) 

Name: David Iovinella 

Position: .50 FTE School Social Worker 

Tenure Area: N/A – Part-time 

Status: Regular Substitute 

Certification: School Social Worker 

Effective: 01/28/13 – 05/06/13 


Name: Katryna Patterson 

Position: .90 FTE Special Education Teacher 

Tenure Area: N/A 

Status: Part-Time 

Certification: SWD 7-12, Math 7-12 

Effective: 01/16/13 – 06/30/13 


Name: George Amann 

Position: 1.0 FTE Green Technology Teacher 

Tenure Area: Technology Education 


Certification: Technology Education 



Name: Edward DiMartino 

Position: 1.0 FTE Introduction to Foods Teacher 

Tenure Area: Food & Nutrition 


Certification: Home Economics-Occ/Food & Nutrition 



PERMANENT 

CIVIL SERVICE 

APPOINTMENT 


recognized the completion of the one (1) year probationary period of the following 

employee(s) and approved permanent status for their appointment effective on the date 

indicated: 

Name: Zachary Woodard 

Position: Internal Auditor (Accountant) 

Status: Permanent 

Effective: 02/29/13



OTHER STAFF 

CERTIFICATION OF 

LEAD EVALUATORS 

OF TEACHERS AND 

PRINCIPALS 


upon the recommendation of the Executive Officer approved the certification of the 

following individuals as Lead Evaluators of Teachers and Principals: 

Lead Evaluators of Teachers 

James Baldwin 

Gladys Cruz 

Andrew DeFeo 

Anthony DeFazio 

Heather Lansing 

Karla McDowell 

Andrew Pemrick 

Tracy Racicot 

Robin Sobol 

Lead Evaluators of Principals 

James Baldwin 

Gladys Cruz 

Andrew DeFeo 

Robin Sobol 

------------------------------------END OF CONSENT -------------------------------------- 

BUSINESS / FINANCE 

------------------------------------ BY CONSENT------------------------------------- 

1 – Mr. Puccio 2 – Mr. Kline Motions Carried (7 – Yes) 

INSTALLMENT 

PURCHASE 

AGREEMENT – 

COXSACKIE- 

ATHENS CSD 


Executive Officer, approved to enter a contract for procuring lease/purchase financing for 

computer/technology equipment per the attached schedules A & B on behalf of the 

Coxsackie-Athens Central School District dated February 26, 2013.



BUSINESS / FINANCE (cont’d) 

INTERMUNICIPAL 

AGREEMENT(S) 

FOR INTERNAL 

AUDIT SERVICES 

FOR 2012-13 

SCHOOL YEAR 


authorized the Executive Officer to enter into intermunicipal agreements with each of the 

following school districts to provide internal audit services in accordance with laws noted 

above, such intermunicipal agreement being hereby approved in accordance with Article 

5-G of the General Municipal Law. 

New York Mills UFSD 

Chenango Valley CSD 

------------------------------------END OF CONSENT -------------------------------------- 

APPROVAL TO 

SUBMIT, ACCEPT 

AND EXPEND 1 – Mrs. Noonan 2 – Mr. Garland Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

GRANT 

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene 

Counties, upon recommendation of the Executive Officer, gave approval to 

submit the following Federal/State Project, and authorized the acceptance and 

expenditure of such project: 

Workforce Investment Act, Title II (Rensselaer County) 

July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 

$277,718.00 

Workforce Investment Act, Title II (Columbia and Greene Counties) 

July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 

$89,984.00 

Workforce Investment Act, Title II (Rensselaer County) 

July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 

$196,342.00 

School Library System (Operating Aid and Supplemental Aid) 

July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 

$129,160.00 

School Library System (Automation Aid) 

July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 

$11,006.00



BUSINESS / FINANCE (cont’d) 

QUESTAR III BOCES 

2013 CAPITAL 

IMPROVEMENTS- 1 – Mr. Puccio 2 – Mrs. Orvis Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

LEAD AGENCY The Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene Counties 

(“Questar III”) upon recommendation of the Executive Officer declares the Questar III 

BOCES as the Lead Agency for purposes of the State Environmental Quality Review Act 

and regulations (SEQRA), associated with the Questar III BOCES 2013 Capital 

Improvements Project to include its Columbia Greene and Rensselaer Educational 

Centers. 

QUESTAR III BOCES 

2013 CAPITAL 

IMPROVEMENTS 

PROJECT – STATE 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

QUALITY REVIEW 1 – Mrs. Orvis 2 – Mr. Garland Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

(SEQRA) 


(“Questar III”) upon recommendation of the Executive Officer has received and reviewed 

the State Environmental Quality Review Act Process Record Sheet included in the 

agenda in connection with the proposed Questar III BOCES Capital Improvements 

Project as described in the State Environmental Quality Review Act Process Record 

Sheet, and upon considering the Project description and the effect such Project would 

have upon the environment as provided in the State Environmental Quality Review Act, 

the Questar III BOCES Board of Education, acting as Lead Agency for purposes of the 

State Environmental Quality Review Act and regulations (SEQRA), hereby determines 

that the Project constitutes upgrades to existing facilities and is a Type II action which 

will not have a significant impact on the environment and is not subject to review under 

SEQRA. 

CAPITAL FUND 

APPROPRIATION– 

QUESTAR III CAPITAL 

IMPROVEMENTS 1 – Mr. Foster 2 – Mr. Kline Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

PROJECT 


(“Questar III”) upon recommendation of the Executive Officer authorized that $1,767,000 

of the capital fund be appropriated to the Questar III Capital Improvement Project as 

described in the 2013 Capital Improvement Phase 1 & 2 Bearsch Compeau Knudson 

Architects & Engineers, PC (BCK) IBI Group project #33153 included in the agenda.



OTHER 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

CAPITAL / RENT 1 – Mrs. Noonan 2 – Mr. Garland Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

BUDGET 


Counties, gives approval for the 2013-14 Administrative and Capital/Rent 

Budget. 

TUITION/ 1 – Mr. Puccio 2 – Mr. Garland Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

SERVICES RATES The Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Rensselaer-Columbia-Greene 

Counties, gives approval to the recommendation of the Executive Officer for 

the projected 2013-14 tuition/service rates. 

POLICY 

Revised Accounting 

Policy #6-100 1 – Mrs. Orvis 2 – Mr. Puccio Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

FIRST READING 


Counties, upon the recommendation of the Executive Officer, approved the first 

reading of the revised Accounting policy #6-100. 

BOARD REPORTS / 

DISCUSSION 

President Gibson told the board members that he distributed to each of them a 

synopsis of the Federal Relations Network Team conference in Washington D.C. 

held in January. Unfortunately, due to the impending storm on February 8 th , his 

meeting with Congressman Chris Gibson had to be rescheduled and member, 

Paul Puccio will attend that meeting, as President Gibson will be out of town. 

He went on to say what a wonderful event the Tech Valley High School (TVHS) 

announcement today was, announcing the move of TVHS from the UAlbany East 

Campus to the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE). 

President Baldwin and other members of the board expressed their gratitude to 

Dr. Baldwin for his leadership role in this move and requested that Board Clerk, 

Robin Emanatian, get them copies of his remarks made at the announcement as 

well as those made by Dr. Charles Dedrick, District Superintendent at Capital 

Region BOCES. Member Puccio commented that it was a stellar presentation. 

EXECUTIVE 

OFFICER’S 

REPORT 

None 

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

None



EXECUTIVE 1 – Mr. Kline 2 – Mrs. Orvis Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

SESSION 

The board entered into Executive Session at 8:26 p.m. for the purpose of discussing 

individual employment history and contract negotiations. 

RETURN TO 

REGULAR 1 – Mrs. Noonan 2 – Mrs. Orvis Motion Carried (7 - Yes) 

SESSION 

The Board re-entered Public Session at 9:30 pm. 

RESIGNATION(S) 1 – Mr. Puccio 2 – Mr. Garland Motion Carried (7 - Yes) 


Executive Officer, accepted the resignation of the following individual(s) as noted: 


Name: 

Thomas Rasmuson 

Position: 




MOTION TO 

ADJOURN 1 - Mr. Puccio 2 – Mr. Foster Motion Carried (7 – Yes) 

The Board adjourned at 9:32 pm. 

Respectfully Submitted By: 

________________________________________ 

Robin Emanatian, Board Clerk

BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Questar III

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