Agenda for the November 25th BOE Meeting - Financial Audit, Block Scheduling, Redacted Payments, and a Communications Job Description Without Details
- Kathie Schwartz
- Nov 25, 2024
- 2 min read
The next meeting of the RIH BOE is tonight at 8pm in the Indian Hills Cafeteria.
The agenda includes two presentations, one of the Audited Financial Statements as of June 2024, and one on Block Scheduling. The agenda also includes numerous ‘6th period assignments’ for teachers, which means they will teach an extra class, likely to cover classes of teachers who have resigned, retired or taken a leave.
There is a recommendation for a new Job Description, titled "Part-time Coordinator of Content and Communications”. The Job Description is not attached to the agenda, nor is the salary mentioned. I wonder if this is to replace the Public Relations firm, whose contract I believe is up soon? In the past, Communications have been handled by the Superintendent.
There is a motion to approve "the settlement agreement and general release between Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education and Ramapo Indian Hills Education Association”. The agenda does not say why there is a settlement or what the cost to taxpayers is.
Another interesting item is the motion to abolish the job description, Confidential Secretary to the Principal/Office Manager. This new position and related salary increase was recommended by Interim Superintendent Dr. Baker, and it appears this change is being undone. The two persons affected by this have been moved to the title of Grade IV Administrative Asst. to the Principal.
There are three retirements, including Barbara Gaveglio (Guidance Admin Asst), Heather Michels (Instructional Technology Admin Asst), and Thomas Wittershein, a Social Studies teacher for 27 years.
There are motions to approve the honorarium, paid by College Board, to the 2024 AP Exam Coordinators - $1,000 to Jennifer Perry at Ramapo High School and $250 to Kathleen Robinson at Indian Hills High School. The disparity between the amounts was curious to me. I have since been informed the amounts are based on the number of AP tests given, $1,000 to schools giving 750-999 exams (Ramapo) and $250 for schools giving 150-499 exams (IHHS). Clearly there is a significant disparity in the number of AP test-taking students between the two schools. This should be another data point to look at in the analysis of Enrollment Disparity, to understand why Ramapo has so many more AP test takers than IHHS.
On the Finance agenda, the Committed Purchase Order report contains several redacted items, which is somewhat unusual, including a $75,000 payment of tuition to an unknown party and a $10,000 ‘extraordinary’ payment. Why would the recipient of a tuition payment be redacted? Why would the recipient of a $10,000 ‘extraordinary’ payment be a secret?
Last but definitely not least, there is a motion to accept the very generous donation from Jen Rosalia of Rivervale of a Boston baby grand piano, valued at $18,000, donated to Indian Hills High School Choir/Orchestra Room.
Last week's presentation on Block Scheduling: https://www.rih.org/academics/block-schedule
