A Heated Debate
Acting School Superintendant Dr. Bill Bassett opened the session with some remarks addressing the issue of whether or not there should have been early dismissal that day. Dismissing early means that the decision needs to be taken before the elementary school's bus runs begin, because once the drivers have brought their charges to school, they leave, and it can take upwards of an hour and a half to contact them all and get them back in the event of an early dismissal.

On top of that, with field trips and other activities, there were already six buses away for the day, so those sets of kids would have had no ride home. Therefore, Dr. Bassett concluded that early dismissal would have been impractical.

Pine Bush Teachers' Contract Finally Ratified
Dr. Bassett recommended that the board accept the long-delayed new contract with the Pine Bush Teachers' Association.

The salary schedule increase will be 3.6% in the first year of the contract and 3.7% in the second and third years.

Bassett noted that there had been a number of language changes in the agreement that had to be discussed and agreed upon, which had taken some time to accomplish.

He also noted that the district would realize considerable savings from having the teachers accept in the second and third years of the contract an 8% contribution to health insurance costs, as well as the ending of the practice of retirees from the district who are husband and wife both getting full health benefits.

Bassett also noted that, to improve teacher attendance, it was now possible for teachers to save their sick days to use in advancing the date of their retirement. Dr. Bassett recommended that the board approve the agreement with the teacher's union. A roll call was taken, and the measure was ratified.

A Search for Succession
Dr. Bassett then addressed the matter of the search for his replacement. He mentioned that 35 candidates had been chosen for an initial round of interviews being conducted by Dr. Lee Peters. The Board itself would conduct semi-finalists in July.

Community Spirit
Mrs. Grey discussed Community Spirit Week, who said that the Spirit Week organizers were still looking at October 11 because of a tie in with the Chamber of Commerce's Pumpkin Festival. Mrs. Grey discussed the idea of involving a boys' soccer game either instead of or in conjunction with the more traditional football game, "because it would be good to involve other sports beyond football." Mrs. Grey hoped that the community would pitch in to make Spirit Week a success, and Dr. Bassett commented that the format would be the same as before, with the possible exception of involving other high school sports. Bassett recommended to the board that they support the Spirit Week proposal, and the board agreed.

Cracking Up
Dr. Bassett then shifted gears to the problem of the cracks in the floor of the Pine Bush Elementary School's second floor. "We've been waiting for a proposal from the structural engineers, which I have now," he began. "This is from Ryan and Bates, the structural engineering company. What they are proposing is to review specifications and drawings of the original building, and previous repairs and rehab work, to make sure that everything was done appropriately." Their company's report will include making interior observations and taking measurements of existing conditions, which will take place during the summer break; documenting the location of cracks and the installation of crack monitors in selected locations; preparing a preliminary report on findings and recommendations which will identify problems observed and recommended solutions; developing a priority list of concept level repair; and preparing an estimate of construction costs of the identified repairs.

Bassett also said, "I want everyone to understand that the architect and the structural engineer have, in writing, certified that the building is safe for occupancy. This is two months ago.

"The board had asked for additional testing. This is what the engineer feels is a good first step right now. The price tag on this is $10,725. I would recommend that the Board approve that and proceed with the testing. It also could include additional testing. There were suggestions of scans being done on the concrete, suggestions of torque testing on bolts, and some other items.

"Out of the Ryan and Bates study, they will determine whether others tests are necessary. There are also some items that they don't think are necessary, but the language is arcane. I don't even understand it. So, anyway, I would suggest that the board approve this study."

The board approved the study. Roseanne Sullivan brought up the matter of the air quality study at Pine Bush Elementary. Bassett noted that that study had been estimated to cost $6,700, but that because of other construction work, it would not be possible to do it until close to the end of summer. That study was also approved by the Board.

Pizza Panic
Connie Squillace spoke about the resolution of the bizarre pizza case, as reported in last week's Journal, notifying the meeting that one suspect had been arrested and that another arrest was due to be made the next day [Editor's note: The suspects arrested were former school board member Joe Zankl and Frank Gaudio, owner of Villa Gaudio Pizzeria]. She asked the board to consider increasing security measures at board meetings. Dr. Bassett replied that with the recently passed Excel Program in the school budget, there would be security cameras in all the district's schools. However, Dr. Bassett thought that having security guards at BOE meetings would not be worth the cost.

Roseanne Sullivan commented that "This was the one and only time that we have had a poisoned pizza delivered to a board meeting."

Odds and Ends
The meeting moved on to the Consent Agenda. Two appointments in particular were noted, that of Sheri Primeaux to tenure as an Elementary Assistant Principal, effective July 18, 2008, and Judith Muller to tenure as the Director of Special Programs, effective July 1, 2008.

A motion regarding unusable books was next approved, followed by approval of Overnight Trip Requests.

John Anthony reminded the meeting that June 24 would be the next BOE meeting and the last one in the current school year.

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