The Peekskill Board of Education has awarded four contracts for the high school cafeteria and kitchen and other projects covered by the $3.16 million bond issue approved by voters in May 2011. The bonded projects also include retaining wall repair at Oakside Elementary School and security upgrades at all district buildings.
Contracts were awarded during the June 19 board meeting to Fourmen Construction, general construction, $2,087,000; heating, ventilating and air conditioning, Airtone, $243,000; Filingini Electrical, $249,500; and Frank & Lindy Plumbing, $163,300.
The cafeteria work is expected to be completed before school reopens in September.
In other action June 19:
- Thanks to cost savings from recent retirements, the board restored the following positions, effective July 1: 0.4 full-time equivalent (FTE) library media specialist; 0.4 FTE music teacher; 0.4 FTE secondary assistant principal; 0.6 FTE school counselor. The board had abolished instructional and non-instructional positions in conjunction with the district’s efforts to balance its budget for the 2012-13 school year.
- Athletic Director Louis Panzanaro reported that the Wellness Committee has changed lunch menus and portions in an effort to eliminate higher calorie foods and offer healthier choices. The committee is considering ways to scale back or consolidate student birthday parties and hopes to offer a revised policy to the board in September.
- The board approved the establishment of the Alternative Education/21st Century Learning Center at Peekskill High School beginning Jan. 1, 2013.
- The board approved a Comprehensive Education Plan in response to the Joint Intervention Team report, effective June 19.
- The district received donations of several scholarships. To view the list please click here, then on June 19, then on Item F3.
- Board members, led by President Joseph Urbanowicz, continued their criticism of contracts for student health and other services that were not in place at the beginning of the school year but were received after the services were rendered. Peekskill must, by law, continue securing services even if providers do not submit their contracts promptly. The district will continue to push providers for timely provision of paperwork.
- The board received the first reading of updated versions of these policies: student records, agenda preparation and dissemination, eligibility for cocurricular and extracurricular activities, and interscholastic athletics.
- The board approved a variety of personnel actions, including summer school appointments, student teacher appointments, retirements, a resignation, a leave of absence and Dignity for All Students Act coordinators. Please click here to view the list.
- The board accepted $10,000 for Peekskill Middle School instructional projects and special programs from the City University of New York Center for Human Environments.
- The board accepted a $26,140 donation, the remainder of a trust created by Mary L. Cooke in 1944, to the Peekskill High School Scholarship Fund.
- The board, with Tuesday McDonald voting no, adopted a memorandum of support for state legislation to continue the availability of the local diploma for students entering the ninth grade before the 2013-14 school year.
- The board approved extension of the food service management contract with Whitsons for the 2012-13 school year.
- The board nominated Urbanowicz for the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service, to be awarded by the New York State School Boards Association.
