Highland Local School District - Regular Meeting

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the minutes for the March 13, 2024 Regular Board of Education Meeting as presented.

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the March 2024 Financial Statements as presented.

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

In order for the Board to fulfill its obligation to complete the planned agenda in an effective and efficient manner, a maximum of 30 minutes of public participation may be permitted at each meeting.
Each person addressing the Board shall give his/her name. If several people wish to speak, each person is allotted three minutes until the total time of 30 minutes has elapsed. During that period, no person may speak twice until all who desire to speak have had the opportunity. Persons desiring more time should follow procedure of the Board to be placed on the regular agenda. The period of public participation may be extended by a vote of the majority of the Board present and voting.

Resolution to approve the following letters of resignation

Scott Jones        Bus Driver        (Effective 4-5-24)

Eric  Leprotti        Aide            (Effective 3-14-2024)

Larquis Sowell    NJROTC      (Effective 8-31-2024)

Bryan Gochenourer     ES Custodian    (Effective 4-4-2024)

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to rescind the following retirement letter and void the retirement for Mr. Shipley noted in resolution number 24-01-018.  Current employment contract to remain intact.

Master Chief Aaron Shipley        NJROTC Instructor

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the following leave of absence    

Kayla Chatterton        HS Teacher

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the following classified contracts

Brittany Matthews        EA2    Pre-School      1 Year Experience    (effective upon receipt of appropriate licensure)

Amy Ciballi                   EA2    High School    4 Years Experience    (effective 4-18-2024)

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the following EA3 stipends

Brittany Matthews       Pre-School Aide

Amy Ciballi                High School Aide

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to authorize payment of $300 per teacher mentored for resident educator teacher mentors for the 2023-2024 school year.

Allison Hearlihy            3 teachers

Amy Fleming                2 teachers

Kelley Hutchins            3 teachers

Lisa Reely                    1 teacher

Mary Davis                   1 teacher

Sasha Kent                   1 teacher

Syanne Palmer              1 teacher

Tasha Terrill                    2 teachers

Tom Johnson                1 teacher

Tarren Woodruff            1 teacher

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve additional aide hours    

Amber Billings        Marching Band Aide (step 12 on the EA2 salary schedule)

Lainey Schmidt      Marching Band Aide Backup (step 1 on the EA2 salary schedule)

Tina Griffith            Marching Band Aide Backup (step 8 on the EA2 salary schedule)

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the first reading of the following board policy changes

PO2623            Student assessment and academic intervention services

PO2623.02        Revised Third Grade Reading Guarantee

PO3120.04        Employment of Substitutes

PO3140             Termination and Resignation

PO3432             Copy of Sick Leave

PO4124              Employment Contract

PO4140              Termination and Resignation

PO4432               Copy of Sick Leave

PO5310               Copy of Health Services

PO8600               Revised Transportation

PO8600.04           Revised Bus Driver Certification

PO8640                Transportation For Non-Routine Trips

PO8650                Transportation By Vehicles Other Than School Buses

PO8660                Revised Incidental Transportation Of Students By Private Vehicle

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the 2024-2025 Pre-School calendar.

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve entering into an MOU with Columbus State CC for college credit plus tuition and fees/school district book processes.
Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve a one-time reimbursement of $100.00 to the following bus drivers for electricity used to plug their buses in at home during the 2023-2024 school year.

Toni Stepp

Trina Ratliff

Christy Carson

Danielle Rehm

Jody Keller

Kendra Albanese

Brad Duncan

Sandy Beckel

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve the purchase of a 2024 IC Diesel School Bus with a wheel chair lift from Rush Truck Centers at a cost of $129,639 through META Solutions stock bus bid contract which includes warranty.
Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve a donation in the amount of $498.53 derived from a fundraiser for the purpose of donation.

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to approve Sedgwick to serve as the District's Third Party Administrator for Workers' Compensation claims and approve the Group Retro Rating Plan for the policy year beginning January 1, 2025.

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

WHEREAS, as a public board of education may hold an executive session only after a majority of a quorum of this board determines by a roll call vote to hold such a session and only at a regular or special meeting for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:

1. To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual.
2. To consider the purchase of property for public purposes or for the sale of property at competitive bidding.
3. Conferences with an attorney for the board of education concerning disputes involving the board of education that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.
4. Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.
5. Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or state statutes.
6. Specialized details of security arrangements where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing or avoiding prosecution for a violation of the law.
Therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Highland Local Board of Education, by a majority of the quorum present at this meeting, does hereby declare its intention to hold an executive session on item(s) as listed above.

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      

Resolution to adjourn this meeting and schedule the next meeting of the Highland Local School District Board of Education to be held Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school robotics room.

Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker