West New York Board of Education Work Session/Business Meeting Minutes May 9, 2016, 6:00 p.m. The Work Session/Business Meeting of the West New York Board of Education was held in the Auditorium of the West New York Middle School, 201 57 th Street, West New York, New Jersey. The order of business and agenda for the meeting was: I. CALL TO ORDER At 6:15 P.M. the meeting was called to order. At 6:15 pm. The auditorium was called to order and the meeting officially began with the Board President leading the flag salute and Pledge of Allegiance. II. FLAG SALUTE The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited. III. ROLL CALL Absent Also : Ms. Clara Brito Herrera, Superintendent of Schools Ms. Anastasia Olivero, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Mr. Robert Sanchez, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Mr. Sixto Cardenas, Director of Human Resources Ms. Beverly Lazzara, Director of Special Services Mr. Jorge Acosta, Administrative Supervisor of Educational Programs Mr. Dean Austin, School Business Administrator Board Secretary Mr. Lester Taylor, Esq., Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, Board Attorney Mr. Allan Roth, Esq., Administrative Assistant
2 IV. OPEN PUBLIC MEETING STATEMENT The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the Public to have advance notice of and to attend the meetings of any public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed and acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of the act, the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary has caused notice of this meeting to be sent to the following, announcing time and place thereof, agenda, etc. Roll Call to Open Public Hearing the Jersey Journal the Administration Bulletin Board the District Website Trustee Aye Absent V. SUPERINTENDENT S REPORT VI. VI. BUDGET ADOPTION RESOLUTION WHEREAS, at the Board's April 28, 2016 Public Budget Hearing Meeting, the Superintendent of Schools presented a 2016 2017 District Budget featuring a tax levy increase of $850,000 in addition to the $350,961 tax levy increase reflected in the proposed Tentative 2016 2017 Budget (initially submitted to the Hudson County Executive Superintendent of Schools Office), with the proceeds from the $850,000 tax levy increase designated for appropriation under Unemployment Benefits ($150,000) and Terminal Leave Pay-outs ($700,000), and WHEREAS, the West New York Board of Education, at its April 28, 2016 Public Budget Hearing Meeting, did not adopt the 2016 2017 Budget as presented at the Public Budget Hearing, directing the Superintendent of Schools in conjunction with the District Administration to explore budgetary feasibility for designating allocation of said proceeds (in part or in whole) in a more direct manner towards the settlement of WNYEA contracts, and WHEREAS, the District Administration explored and confirmed such feasibility, and the Superintendent of Schools has presented the following synopsis of the Final 2016 2017 WNY School District Budget:
3 SOURCES OF FUNDS 2016 2017 BUDGET Operating Budget (USD) General Fund Balance 2,187,023 Local Tax Levy 16,061,559 Other Restricted Miscellaneous Revenue - Unrestricted Miscellaneouus 100,000 Revenue from State Sources 94,465,988 Revenue from Federal Sources (SEMI) 292,781 Subtotal: Operating Budget 113,107,351 Federal and State Grants and Entitlements State Sources 16,801,265 Federal Sources 5,836,381 Transfers from Operating Budget Pre-K 930,808 Subotal: Grants and Entitlements 23,568,454 TOTAL REVENUE SOURCES 136,675,805 (Deduct) Transfers from operating Budget (930,808) TOTAL REVENUE SOURCES NET OF TRANSFER 135,744,997 USES OF FUNDS 2016 2017 BUDGET Operating Budget (USD) General Current Expenditures 48,268,776 Total Capital Outlay 685,000 Transfer of Funds to Charter Schools 53,038 General Fund Contribution to SBB 64,100,537 Subtotal: Opearting Budget 113,107,351 Federal and State Grants and Entitlements Pre-school Education 17,582,550 Other State Projects 149,523 Federal Projects 2,386,242 Grants and Entitlement Contributions to SBB 3,450,139 Subtotal: Grants and Entitlements 23,568,454 TOTAL EXPENDITURES 136,675,805 (Deduct) Transfers from operating Budget (930,808) TOTAL EXPENDITURES NET OF TRANSFER 135,744,997 WHEREAS, this Board has reviewed the Final 2016 2017 School District Budget as presented,
4 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board approves the West New York School District Final Budget for the 2016 2017 School Year incorporating provisions for a total tax levy increase of $1,200,961, consisting of the following: - $350,961 reflects the 2% tax levy increase cap of $297,211.96 and an Allowable Adjustment for Student Enrollment Growth of $53,749.04, and - $850,000 reflects an Allowable Adjustment for Increases in Health Care Costs,(in sum, representing an 8.08% increase over the 2015-16 tax levy of $14,860,598, for a total 2016-17 tax levy of $16,061,559), as well as the supporting documentation containing an itemization of certain expenditures as required under Chapter 23A Fiscal Accountability, Efficiency and Budgeting Procedures, and in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A: 23A-7.3, the Board establish the maximum travel amount for the 2016-2017 school district budget at $9,000 and the amount spent to date in the 2015-2016 school year for travel has been $7,467. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Board authorizes the Superintendent of Schools, or her designees to submit this Budget to the Hudson County Executive Superintendent of Schools and the NJ State DOE Fiscal Monitor Manager. 6A:23A-7.3 Maximum travel budget (a) Annually in the prebudget year, each board shall establish by board resolution, a maximum travel expenditure amount for the budget year, which the school district shall not exceed. The board resolution shall also include the maximum amount established for the prebudget year and the amount spent to date. 1. The maximum school district travel expenditure amount shall include all travel supported by local and State funds. 2. A board may elect to exclude travel expenditures supported by Federal funds from the maximum travel expenditure amount. If Federal funds are excluded from the established maximum amount, the board shall include in the resolution the total amount of travel supported by Federal funds from the prior year, prebudget year, and projected for the budget year. 3. Exclusion of Federal funds from the annual maximum travel budget does not exempt such travel from the requirements applicable to State and local funds. (b) A board may authorize in its travel policy an annual maximum amount per employee for regular business travel only for which board approval is not required. 1. The annual maximum shall not exceed $ 1,500 and shall be subject to the approval requirements in N.J.S.A. 18A:19-1. 2. Regular school district business travel as defined in N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-1.2 includes attendance at regularly scheduled in-state county meetings and Department sponsored or association sponsored events provided free of charge. It also includes regularly scheduled in-state professional development activities for which the registration fee does not exceed $ 150.00 per employee or board member. 3. Regular school district business travel as authorized in the board s travel policy requires approval of the superintendent prior to obligating the district to pay related expenses and prior to attendance at the travel event. i. The superintendent shall designate an alternate approval authority to approve travel requests in his or her absence when necessary to obtain timely board approval. ii. The superintendent shall establish in writing the internal levels of approval required prior to his or her approval of the travel event, as applicable.
VII. Motion and Resolutions accept the 2016-17 Budget as ed 5 Board Secretary: Motion to approve Item #5.1 removed from the agenda as presented Motion made by: SA JC MC DG DM JP LP SR AP Seconded by: SA JC MC DG DM JP LP SR AP Trustee Ayes Nays Abstain Absent VIII. BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMENTS A. Board Member Comments B. President s Comments IX. ADJOURNMENT President: Asks the Board Secretary to request a motion to adjourn Board Secretary: Motion to Adjourn the Meeting Motion made by: SA JC MC DG DM JP LP SR AP Seconded by: SA JC MC DG DM JP LP SR AP Meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m. Trustee Ayes Nays Abstain Absent Respectfully submitted, Dean Austin School Business Administrator Board Secretary