The Town of Webb UFSD Board of Education held a meeting on Tuesday, November 5, at 6:30 p.m., where it took the following action. This report does not represent the board’s approved minutes.

Approved the Minutes of October 15, 2013 meeting.

Approved the Warrants and Claims.

Approved the Treasurer’s Report for September 2013.

Approved the Committee on Special Education Recommen-da-tions.

Approved the revised Board Policies:

300. – Personnel

300.01 – Instructional Personnel Ethics

302.003 – Safety of Children and Students in Contact with Conditionally or Emergency Conditionally Appointed Employees

305.01 – Evaluation of Instructional Personnel

306 –Public Officer or Employees Absent on Military Duty.

Approved the appointments of:

Substitute Teachers: Giselle Kress at the rate of $65 day; Jennifer Lamphear at the rate of $65 day; Abigail Willard at the rate of $70 day; Hugh Fox at the rate of $70/day; Catherine Thompson at the rate of $70 day

Substitute Teacher Aides: Giselle Kress at the rate of $9.75/hour; Jennifer Lamphear at the rate of $9.75/hour; Abigail Willard at the rate of $9.75/hour; Hugh Fox at the rate of $9.75/hour; Jennifer Quinn at the rate of $9.75/hour; Catherine Thompson at the rate of $9.75/hour

Substitute Cafeteria Worker: Jennifer Quinn at the rate of $9.00/hour

Substitute Cleaner: William Blandin at the rate of $9.00/hour

Substitute Nurse: Kathy DeLong at the rate of $70 day

Approved the appointment of Felicia Manor as a 2013-2014 school volunteer.

Approved the increase in work hours of Betty Rannels’ teacher aide position.

Approved the request from the Central Adirondack Association for the use of a bus and driver on Saturday, December 14, 2013 for Snodeo.

Approved the request from the Worship Committee at Niccolls Memorial Church for the use of buses and drivers on December 24, 2013.

Accepted the resignation of Matthew Phaneuf as Boys’ Modified Basketball Coach.

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Principal’s Report: 

• Luke Monroe was selected as the Utica Observer-Dispatch Halloween Story Contest Winner for 10th and 11th grade entries. Congratulations to Luke! Luke’s story was published on Sunday 10/27 in the Living section of the O-D. Thank you to Mr. Cunning-ham for continually encouraging the participation of his classes in this yearly contest.

• Our Kindergarteners have started a project with Long Lake to become Pen Pals. Students have been excited to hear about how another school functions while practicing their writing skills.

• Yesterday at our faculty meeting Pat Skelly visited to share the services that are available to us through Oneida BOCES Media Services.

• Thank you to our fall coaches as they finish up their season. Congratulations to our Modified Cross Country team on becoming division champions. Overall the team finished third in the conference.

• Our Halloween Parade took place in the gymnasium on Thursday, 10/31 for parents and families of students in grades K-5. Our students looked terrific!

• Our first marking period for the 2013-2014 school year ends on Friday, 11/8. Report cards will be mailed and made available on the Parent Portal at the end of next week.

• The Webb Way Committee would like to challenge students in grades 6-12 to improve their grades during the next two marking periods. We challenge each class to have No students on the 5 Week Failure list! 

The class with the lowest percentage of students on the failure list will receive 5 points toward their class total for Spirit Week. The other classes will receive points also.

• Our October Eskimos of the Month were announced on Friday, 11/1 and are displayed with our new Eskimo drawing on our school website.

• The National Honor Society ran our blood drive on Monday, 11/4 in school from 9am-3pm. Thank you to Adviser Kandis Griffin and NHS members.

• Our students in grades 6-8 enjoyed a Music and Musket assembly that showcased music and history from Civil War times on Tuesday, 10/29. The presenter commended our students for their knowledge of the Civil War and excellent conduct.

• On Wednesday, 10/30 Motivational Media provided two assemblies: grades K-5 “Shining Star” then grades 6-12 “Power of 3.” The assembly provided us with a link to a couple lessons they offer categorized as ‘Leader-ship in Movies.’ There is a video clip as well as a lesson plan for our teachers to go along with it: http://www.motivationalmedia.org/

• Our NHS induction ceremony took place on Tuesday 10/29 where we inducted 10 new members. Congratulations to each of them and their families for their support!

Superintendent’s Report included the topics: 

• Three BOE members traveled with me to Rochester for the annual NYSSBA convention. Many sessions were attended with a great deal of information gathered about items of current interest and where we are going with education in the future.

Thank you to these members that spent three days gaining more knowledge to best serve our students and school.

Thank you to all board members for the volunteer time they give to the Town of Webb UFSD!

• The Commissioner has scheduled 16 forums across the State to address the public regarding the current changes in education. His presentation at NYSSSBA was much more controlled as a result of his forum in Spackenkill which caused him to reevaluate the format. He is very articulate and shared the basic message that Common Core is not an if…it is how.

All of the changes are being lumped under the Common Core heading when the reality is there is a lot of great “stuff” in the Common Core but the implementation schedule left a great deal to be desired.

• As part of the APPR law parents/guardians have the ability to obtain the composite ratings of teachers their student currently has along with the Principal of the building.

There is a process that has been put in place to meet the requirements of the law that can be found on our website.

Ultimately the parent/guardian must make an appointment with the Superintendent if they desire this information.

Being the first year of this new plan might I say that when you request the information you will be educated on what the scores mean in general terms for better understanding.

On Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. the next meeting is scheduled in the Library.

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Once minutes are approved they can be found at www.towschool.org