MCSD board meets, hears from BOCES Superintendent Schetelick

MILLBROOK - The Millbrook Central School District Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 22, included a presentation from Jason Schetelick, district superintendent of Dutchess County BOCES, as well as discussion of special educaton and the approval of various co-curricular appointments.

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by board President Perry Hartswick and began with Schetelick, who talked about new programs that have been added to the curriculum at BOCES, including partnering with Marist College, adding ambassador marketing, and preparing some students who have been studying auto mechanics to enter into Toyota and Honda dealerships upon graduation. BOCES is accelerating its welding program as well, and is getting new equipment for the program. It is hoping to add entertainment technology, and has greatly enhanced the arts program already.

There are 28 MCSD students who attend BOCES in diverse programs including culinary arts, security, nursing, and plant and animals studies, among others, and there are 12 special or alternative students enrolled.

Schetelick also gave an update on the financial aspects of the capital fund the district voted in: he reported that 95% of the funding is in possession. He expects the official grand opening of the new campus to be held in spring 2023.

Following the presentation, the consent agenda items were approved, as were the minutes from the last meeting. Several agreements were voted on and approved:The board established the health services contract rate for the 2022-23 school year to be $1,387.72 per student at a grand total of $1,501,509.53.

An agreement was approved for Cardinal Hayes School, setting forth the terms and conditions for providing special education and related services for Student No. 709612, effective Sept. 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.

A lease agreement was approved between MCSD and Quadient Inc. for a postage machine.

Kenneth Crowley was approved as mentor to Elliott Garcia in his new position as assistant superintendent for business and personnel, effective Nov. 29, 2022-March 30, 2023. Garcia was appointed to the positions of purchasing agent and Dutchess Education Health Insurance Consortium (DEHIC) trustee, and workers’ compensation consortium trustee in his position as assistant superintendent..

Paige Emerson was appointed central treasurer of extra class funds and deputy district treasurer. Co-curricular appointments for the 2022-23 school year at stipends (or half stipends for co-advisors or co-coordinators) as per the approved MTA contract were made for Aaliyah Cottman as head varsity cheerleading coach at $2,444.14; Benjamin Glassman as fall weight room supervisor at $1,096.69; Alfred Hammell as summer athletic director per MTA agreement; and Shawn Stoliker as winter weight room supervisor at $1,096.69.

Volunteer positions were taken by Jason Zmudosky as varsity girls’ basketball coach; Jonathan Crane as varsity cheerleading assistant and Mike Sinon as varsity boys’ basketball  assistant. Marc Boissey was appointed assistant and boys’ modified soccer coach at a stipend of $2,444 for the 2022-23 school year.

A second reading and adoption of the Policy Series 8000 Support Service goals and Policy 8121.1 Opioid Overdose Prevention took place.

An enrollment report was given: There are 192 students in Elm Drive School, 168 at Alden School, 200 at the middle school and 268 at the high school for a total of 628 students. Cardinal Hayes has 25 in-residence students, and there are 130 students in MCSD special education with two in related services, 15 in pre-K, two who are parent-placed, and 15 at BOCES and special school.

There were two suspensions in October: one in-house suspension for a seventh grader, and one out-of-school suspension for a sixth grader.

The next regular board meeting is on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Millbrook Middle School cafeteria and will be livestreamed on the Millbrook Media Channel, which can be accessed through the MCSD website at millbrookcsd.org.