School board covers personnel, finance

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains Central School Board of Education (BOE) met on Wednesday, Jan. 7, for a regular business meeting.

Superintendent’s report

Superintendent Martin Handler reported that High School Principal Tara Grieb is considering raising the amount of courses students may sign up for from five to six in the 2015-16 school year. 

New business

The board accepted minutes from its last meeting, Dec. 17. 

New business: business and finance

The board approved reports and cash disbursements from its claims auditor, as well as budget and revenue status reports for October 2014.

The BOE acknowledged a budget transfer in the amount of $12,872 “to cover shortage accounts,” according to the transfer schedule.

Recommendations of the Committee on Special Education and the 2014-15 Tax Assessment Change Log were both approved unanimously.

The board approved a contract addendum from NPRT, PLLC “to provide after school physical therapy services for the 2014-15 school year at an estimated cost of $2,400,” as stated on the agenda.

All members except BOE Vice President Karen Orton voted in favor of a supplemental memorandum of agreement with the Pine Plains Administrators Association.

The item involves the “redistribution of certain administrative responsibilities,” and the agreement stipulates that $2,500 will be added to the base salary of the high, middle and elementary school principals, director of special education and director of physical education, health and athletics, effective July 1, 2014.

“This additional salary is paid in recognition of an administrative reorganization and the distribution of significant work load increases upon the persons in the positions stated above,” the agreement reads.

The district cut an assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction & pupil personnel services position last February.

The board declared an upright piano as obsolete, excess equipment.

New Business: Personnel

The BOE changed the employment status of District Treasurer Ann Sandford from probationary to permanent and approved an extended sick leave for Bus Driver JoAnne Harrison.

The board accepted Dale Boyles’ and Kelli Millius’ resignations from part-time school monitor positions and appointed them to part-time teacher aide positions.

The board also accepted Lester Funk’s resignation from an assistant modified baseball coach position and appointed him as head varsity softball coach. 

Before closing public session, the board appointed new personnel Halley Stevens and Sasha Pearl as substitute teacher and substitute bus driver, respectively.