February 4, 2013 - Knowlton Township Elementary School

February 4, 2013
Delaware, NJ 07833
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The meeting of the Knowlton Township Board of Education was called to order at 7:12 p.m. in
the Library.
Notice of Meeting
Mrs. Summers read the notice of meeting as follows:
The New Jersey Public Meetings Law was enacted to insure the right of the public to have
advance notice of, and to attend the meetings of, public bodies at which any business affecting
their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this Act, the
Knowlton Township Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by
having the date, time and place thereof posted with The Express-Times and The Star Ledger and
distributed to the Knowlton Township Elementary School, the Delaware Post Office and the
Knowlton Township Municipal Building.
Flag Salute
Roll Call
Present:
Absent:
Other:
Mrs. Bethany Summers (Board President), Mrs. Daniella Ferguson, Mrs. Tammy
Smith, Mr. Bill Maxwell, Mr. Randy Dolinsky, Mr. Eric Erickson, Mr. Matt
Moore, Mrs. Dawn Sullivan
Mrs. Kate McGuinness
Mrs. Jeannine DeFalco (Superintendent), Mrs. Gesumaria (Vice Principal), Ms.
Melody McBride (Board Secretary), Mrs. Kwasnik, Mrs. Cornish
Mission Statement
We are committed to provide a comprehensive education in a nurturing environment in which all
students are motivated to achieve their maximum academic potential, and to develop as
responsible citizens in an ever-changing world. (July 27, 2009)
Public Participation - None
Correspondence – Ms. McBride read her letter of resignation as the School Business
Administrator effective 4/30/13.
Superintendent’s Report – Mrs. DeFalco reported the following:
• Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program Nomination Forms were distributed to families
on Friday. These will also be available on line as well.
• PARRC-Snapshot of available technologies within the school is due this month. Lisa and
I will be reviewing the current stored data and updating as necessary. Detailed
information regarding PARRC will be released in May.
• March 6 is the expected date for additional regulations to come out regarding EE4NJ.

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• Update on curriculum – see handout NWR Cluster Report prepared by Kevin Morley.
• Safer Schools Meeting – The first meeting regarding “Safer Schools” Initiative was help
on January 16, 2013 with representatives from both Warren County Law Enforcement
Agencies and Warren County school districts. The representative for the North Warren
Cluster was Dr. Brian Fogelson. The follow up meeting will be held February 14, 2013
and I will be attending.
• School Calendar – Our school calendar has been adjusted to reflect where we are as of
today – 2-4-13. These calendars will be distributed to staff tomorrow for planning
purposes. We have tentatively scheduled graduation for June 19th. The last day of
school is tentatively scheduled for June 20th.
Vice Principal’s Report – Mrs. Gesumaria reported the following:
• We have scheduled the Spring Book Fair for the week of March 4th with two browsing
days and two buying days for the students. The Family Event will be held on Wednesday
the 6th from 3:30-6:30 in the Library. We will be participating in the All for Books
campaign where donations that are made go to purchase books for our classrooms.
• Congratulations to Emily Young who won our school spelling bee and is now advancing
to the written round on February 21st at Northampton County Community College's
Lipkin Theatre. Honorable mention goes to Melanie Cooke who is our alternate.
• The School Climate Team met for the first time this year to discuss the incidents of HIB
that have been reported so far this year as well as ways in which we can promote a
positive school climate and culture to prevent further HIB incidents from happening.
• The HIB parent information pamphlet went home to families with their youngest child’s
report card. The school website has the current referral and investigation forms, as well
as general information for the state regarding the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.
• The Kindergarten students have begun their service project, which will continue through
Friday. They are collecting pennies for the Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue.
• On Thursday the 21st at 6:30pm the staff of North Warren Regional will host a parent
night for all sixth grade families.
• Jump Rope for Heart has been organized by Debbie Lennox and will be held on February
12th.
• Our 4th & 5th graders are participating in the American Legion Coloring Contest
sponsored by Post 418 with the opportunity to advance to the county and then state finals.
Board Secretary Report – To keep the Members up to date on the food service program,
Ms. McBride provided the lunch count summary including data through January 2013. This
indicates paid sales per day have not shown an increase in sales. Overall sales are still down
compared to 11-12. She also commented the salad bar has been removed as a daily option for
teachers.

Committee Reports
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Policy & Personnel Committee Minutes January 14, 2013
Present: Dawn Sullivan (C), Tammy Smith
Bus Policy- The bus policy recently approved at the December meeting will have to be revised
with a new policy number. Dawn will ask Melody to assign the policy a new number and it will
be reviewed at the next Board meeting.
Attendance Policy - The committee will be reviewing the Attendance Policy and work with the
Instructional Committee to make updates for the 2013-2014 school year. Melody will collect
tardy and absenteeism stats for our review at the next meeting. The committee will also review
Attendance Policy’s from other schools as a reference.
Old Business - None
New Business - Budget for Teacher Evaluations. Dawn will talk to Melody about this prior to
the next meeting.
Facilities Committee Meeting January 14, 2013
Mr. Dolinsky provided a verbal update on the Facilities Committee meeting. Phil Cacossa from
DRG attended the meeting to provide input on a potential library/computer lab reconfiguration.
The committee reviewed the server room configuration with equipment being housed in the
computer lab and custodian room. Mr. Moore discussed adding an improvement plan to the
wiring and equipment as part of the library re-configuration. The committee discussed this
project potentially being a 2014-15 project plan, while they agreed the HVAC upgrades for the
classroom was a higher priority. Phil Cacossa will be providing the specs for the HVAC project
this spring for the bid. The committee also discussed the energy audit.
Technology Committee Meeting
Mr. Moore provided an update on the recent technology committee activities, including the tech
survey, measuring Classlink usage, and PARCC requiring more technology power. He said the
committee also discussed reviewing technology donations prior to the request going to the Board
for approval to determine if donation fits within our technology plans. He also said the 3 year
Technology Plan is currently being developed.
Instructional Committee
Mrs. Summers noted the committee will be distributing more parent education information, such
as handouts on HIB, PARCC, and Common Core materials.
PTO Report
Mrs. Ferguson reported on upcomingPTO events, including the Walk-a-Thon, Valentine’s
Smencil Orders, NW Scholarship for Seniors, and a possible Knowlton Clothing Fundraiser.

MOTIONS
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PERSONNEL/POLICY
1. Health Teacher Employment Contract and Emergent Hiring
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to offer an employment contract to Melany McClary as Health Teacher for 2.5 days per week
with a prorated salary of $11,533.79 (Step B3) effective February 6, 2013 through June 30, 2013,
and her emergent hiring pending receipt of her Criminal History Review, as recommended by the
Superintendent.
On roll call, motion carried unanimously
2. Accept Resignation
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to accept the resignation of Melody McBride effective April 30, 2013 with regret.
On roll call, motion carried unanimously
3. Approve Retirement Sick Payout
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the payout of unused sick days for Sharon Harpster, totaling $3,220.00, as per the
KTEA contract.
On roll call, motion carried unanimously
4. Approve Longevity
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the longevity increase of $750.00 to Katy Jones effective 2/1/13, as per the KTEA
contract.
On roll call, motion carried unanimously
5. Relations with Vendors Policy #3327
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the revisions to Policy #3327 Relations with Vendors Policy
at first reading.
Motion carried unanimously

BUSINESS/FINANCE/OPERATIONS
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6. SEMI Waiver
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to apply to the Executive County Superintendent for a SEMI waiver for the 2013-2014 school
year based upon the fact that the district will have 8 Medicaid eligible classified students, based
on the revenue projections provided by the Department of Education.
Motion carried unanimously
7. Approve 2013 Board Attorney Retainer Agreement
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the 2013 Board Attorney Retainer Agreement with Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein, Celso
& Kessler LLC including the following hourly rates: $168 – Partners and Counsel, $163 - Senior
Associates, $158 – Junior Associates and $100 – Clerks and Paralegals and agreement will only
be used by SBA, Superintendent, or Board President or designee.
Motion carried unanimously
8. Approve 2013-14 Coordinated Transportation Contract
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve a 2013-2014 joint transportation contract with Warren County Special Services
School District with a 4% administration fee.
Motion carried unanimously
9. Approve Travel Expenditures
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the attached travel expenditures for the 2012-13 school year as required by
N.J.S.A.18A:11-12.
Motion carried unanimously
10. Approve Field Trip Contracts and Destinations
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the below field trip contracts:
Q-FT8 with B&K Dalrymple for 1 trips to Parkland High School for $175.00
Q-FT9 with B&K Dalrymple for 3 trips to Dorney/High Notes Festival, Lehigh Valley Zoo, and
Davinci Science Center totaling $803.00.
Motion carried unanimously

11. Approve Field Trip Destinations
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A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve a field trip destinations below:
NWR with school van for middle school exploration (4 students)
Walking Tour of Delaware (Gr. 3)
Chess Consortium Event (Allamuchy, NJ)
Motion carried unanimously
12. Opposition to the Approval Process for Non-SHBP Health Insurance Plans
As Proposed By N.J.A.C.5:30-18.1 through18.4andN.J.A.C. 6A:23A
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
Whereas, The New Jersey Local Finance Board and the New Jersey Department of
Education have proposed rules requiring that all labor contracts providing for health insurance
outside the State Health Benefits Program need to be approved by the State and requiring that
local entities and school boards perform a static comparison of health insurance costs to State
Health Benefit Program costs; and
Whereas, These rules are in conflict with Section 42.c of Chapter.78, which is
ostensibly used as authority for the regulation, but is actually meant only to apply to
public entities wishing to enter in to contract that included a contribution schedule from
employees that substitutes for that as laid out in the statute; and
Whereas, The regulations, as proposed, extends this authority to require all
public entities electing not to provide health benefits through the State
Health Benefits Plan(SHBP)and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program(SEHBP) to
submit to the process established under the proposed regulation; and
Whereas, This interpretation that is contrary to the regulation in is supported by:
• The plain reading of the statute;
• The explanation contained in Local Finance Notice (LFN) 2011-20R, Section
VI.Alternate Employee Health Care Contribution; and
• The following language from the “Statement” found at page121, line35 of the Bill
(underlining added)::
The bill allows boards of education and units of local government, that do not participate in the
SHBP or SEHBP ,to enter into contracts for healthcare benefits coverage, as maybe required to
implement a collective negotiations agreement, and agree to different employee contribution rates
if certain cost savings in the aggregate over the period of the agreement can be demonstrated. The
savings must be certified to the Department of Education or the Department of Community Affairs,
as appropriate.; and

Whereas, the proposed regulation is cumbersome and places a significant burden on
any public body intending to utilize the employee contribution schedule contained within the
law, but wishing obtain health benefits outside the SHBP or SEHBP; and
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Whereas, the de facto effect of this regulation, if adopted, will be to drive public bodies
into the SHBP or SEHPB and stifle competition; and
Whereas, New Jersey already has one of the nation’s most uncompetitive health
insurance markets according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation(October2011):
• In the individual market, one carrier, Horizon BCBS, controls 73% of the market
with only two carriers having 5% or more of the market.
• The same carrier controls over 75% of the governmental market, largely by virtue
of its relationship with the SHBP and SEHBP.
• Finally, Horizon controls 43% of the small group market; and
Whereas, If the regulation causes a significant number of local entities to move to the
SHBP and SEHBP, a negative result will be to increase market concentration and further reduce
carrier competition in the State; and
Whereas, This will result in an increase in fully insured costs for other persons,
governmental entities, not for profits, and business in the State; and
Whereas, The regulations’ definition of “net employer cost” is not inclusive of all
relevant items and should be modified:
• For instance, members of JIFs own a proportionate share of fund surplus that
should be included in a valid comparison.
• Likewise, JIF members receive dividends that reduce net employer cost.
• Finally, JIF rates could include supplemental assessments that represent a
liability to the member regardless of whether it stays in the joint insurance fund
or moves to the SHBP.; and
Whereas, Most local entity labor contracts cover multiple year periods:
• A comparison using the most current year is misleading and invalid because the
comparison can change in subsequent years.
• In addition, school districts that belong to health JIFs renew on July 1 of each
year.
• The differences in renewal cycles between the health JIF, the SEHBP, and the
commercial market will further complicate comparisons; and
Whereas, The regulations do not address differences in plan design between an employer
plan and the plan or plans offered by the SHBP and the SEHBP and such differences are critical
to any valid comparison of plan economics; and
Whereas, The regulations do not address legal restraints on local entities considering
their obligations to retirees, and obligations to employee groups that are not a part of the contract
in question; and

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Whereas, In situations where a local health plan has negotiated benefits that are richer
than, or even different than, those provided by the SHBP and SEHBP, the local unit will be
subject to sanctions for failing to honor its labor agreements; and
Whereas, The comparison is burdensome to local units and of limited use given that the
requested details do not allow for a valid comparison of net cost and benefits; and
Whereas, SEHBP rates are reduced by the amount of the A4 retiree surcharge paid by
entities not in the state plan and the rates for local school districts not in the SEHBP are
increased by the surcharge further limiting the fairness and utility of the comparison; and
Whereas, SEHBP and SHBP rates in the past have been impacted by one time sources of
revenue such as the Tobacco settlement and the use of one time sources of revenue that are not
available to local units does not permit for a fair and valid comparison; and
Whereas, The regulations favor the SEHBP and SHBP to the exclusion of health joint
insurance funds (JIFs) that have faithfully served New Jersey local government, under enabling
statutes, for over 20 years:
• Health JIFs are a valid alternative for entities with unique plan designs, good loss
experience, and a willingness to participate in JIF governance.
• Health JIFs are the largest “shared services” effort in the State for local
government from a revenue standpoint.
• To the extent that the regulations operate to the disadvantage of health JIFs, the
regulations are in opposition to, and indeed are hostile to, statutes that authorize
JIF creation and operation.
• By extension, the regulations foster a “big government” mentality and are hostile
to both “shared services” and “homerule” concepts.
• If the regulation seeks to encourage “due diligence”, then members of the SEHBP
and SHBP should also be required to compare their claims and cost to the health
JIF and commercially insured alternatives.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, That, for the foregoing reasons, we respectfully beseech
that the Departments modify and reissue the proposed regulations to:
• Apply only when a local unit proposes an employee contribution schedule different
from that contained in the statute;
• Require any comparison to take into consideration differences in plan design and
eligibility;
• Require the evaluation criteria to consider dividends received from a health JIF and
shares of surplus retained by the health JIF;
• Promote, rather than undermine, healthy competition among the various options
available to local units shopping for health insurance;
Be It Further Resolved that certified copies of this resolution be forwarded to Governor
Christie, the NJ Local Finance Board, the NJ Department of Education, and to local legislative
representatives.

Discussion: Ms. McBride asked the members to review the resolution the HIF has asked us to
consider passing. Ms. Smith clarified the potential change in legislation and impact to group
plans outside of SHBP.
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Motion carried unanimously
13. Approve Equipment Donation
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve an equipment donation of a balance beam and pommel horse to Freedom Gymnastics.
Motion carried 7:0:1 (Mr. Erickson abstention)
14. Approve Budget Line-Item Transfers
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the attached 2012-13 budget line-item transfers from December 17, 2012 to January
28, 2013 totaling $2,223.85 for Fund 10.
Motion carried unanimously
15. Approve Bills
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the bills for payment as follows from 12/18/12 through 1/28/13 General Fund bill list
of $405,655.46 and Cafeteria bill list $4,322.44 and from 1/29/13 through 2/4/13 General Fund
bill list of $57,274.24.
Motion carried unanimously
Monthly Certification
Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(c)3, I certify that no budgetary line item account has been
overexpended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(a) as of December 31, 2012 (Policy 6820).
__________________________________
Board Secretary
______________________________
Date
16. Accept Report of the Secretary and Report of the Treasurer
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to accept the monthly A-148 Secretary’s Reports for the month ended December 31, 2012 and
the A-149 Treasurer of School Monies Report for the month ended December 31, 2012 in
compliance with the N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(c)4. The Board of Education, after review of the
Secretary’s monthly financial report (appropriations section) and upon consultation with the
appropriate district officials, certifies that no major account or fund has been overexpended in
violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:23-2.11(b).
Motion carried unanimously

17. Approve Minutes – November 2012
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A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the Regular and Executive Session Minutes of November 26, 2012.
Motion carried 6:0:2 (Moore, Ferguson abstention)
18. Approve Minutes – December 2012
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the Regular and Executive Session Minutes of December 17, 2012.
Motion carried 6:0:2 (Moore, Sullivan abstention)
19. Approve Minutes – January 3, 2013
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the Reorganization Minutes of January 3, 2013.
Motion carried unanimously
20. Approve Revised 2012-2013 School Calendar
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell
to approve the revised 2012-13 school calendar.
Motion carried unanimously
Old Business - None
New Business
• Reminder – Mandatory Board Member Training
Upcoming Meetings
February 11, 2013 Committee Meetings, 6pm
March 4, 2013 Board Meeting, 7pm
Executive Session
Be it hereby resolved by, a motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill
Maxwell at 8:30 p.m. pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 and 10:4-13 that said public body hold an
executive session regarding: Media Specialist and SBA/Board Secretary positions
It is expected that discussion undertaken in executive session will be made public at the time
action is taken.
Motion carried unanimously
The meeting was reopened to the public at 9:50 p.m.

Adjournment
A motion was made by Mrs. Dawn Sullivan seconded by Mr. Bill Maxwell to adjourn the
meeting at 9:50 p.m.
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Motion carried unanimously
Respectfully,
Melody McBride
Board Secretary