Woodland Park Board approves $1.12M in bills, personnel hires, transportation contracts and policy updates

The Woodland Park Board of Education approved routine business and several approvals at its Oct. 16, 2023 regular meeting, including the district bill list totaling $1,115,125.79, a budget calendar for the 2024–25 process, multiple personnel actions, transportation contracts and policy adoptions.

A consent motion passed by roll call (8 YES) to approve the bill list (Bill List No. #64 and #L64) totaling $1,115,125.79; the minutes record that finance committee chair Jairo Rodriguez certified the bills. The board also approved the new substitute list and the district’s school self-assessment submission for HIB grades as part of the consent agenda.

Personnel items were presented in grouped motions and passed by roll call. The minutes record accepted resignations (for example, district social worker Jamie Katzenberger; Pre-K teacher Robyn Caruso), rescinded previous appointments, and approved new hires and long-term substitutes including Maha Sayeed (district nurse), Reem Eshra (long-term substitute), Monica Piedra (Pre-K teacher) and Marley Weber (district social worker). The board approved leaves and extensions (maternity, paternity and family-leave requests) and ratified internship hours and additional hours where listed in the personnel agenda.

On finance and contracts the board approved a contract with Aveanna Healthcare to provide a one-to-one nurse for a student at $75 per hour (224-163) and approved a suite of transportation contracts for the 2023–24 school year through the Northern Regional Educational Services Commission (224-164), with routes, contractors and estimated costs listed in the minutes.

Policy items received approval: second reading and adoption of policies 1642.01 & R1643.01 (sick leave, recommended) and 2419 & R2419 (School Threat Assessment Teams, mandated) and revisions or abolishments to a set of other policies (attendance, sick leave rules, meal-service policies and related regulations). Votes on policy items were recorded as Roll Call: 8 YES.

Facilities-related work was discussed: Business Administrator Paul Murphy and the on-site contractor (identified in the minutes as Mr. Javiar) described the need for a trench to accommodate new electrical wiring at Beatrice Gilmore; the contractor proposed completing that work in early November during two days when school would be closed to minimize classroom disruption; Superintendent Pillari flagged concerns about instructional disruption.

Votes at a glance - 224-143: Approve Sept. 18, 2023 minutes — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES) - 224-144: Approve bill list totaling $1,115,125.79 — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES) - 224-146: Approve 2024–25 Budget Calendar — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES) - 224-147: Approve submission of school self-assessment for HIB grades — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES) - 224-148 through 224-162, 224-16A, 224-17A, 224-18A, 224-19A, 224-21A: Personnel actions (resignations, hires, leaves, ratifications) — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES unless otherwise noted in minutes) - 224-163: Approve contract with Aveanna Healthcare (one-to-one nurse at $75/hr) — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES) - 224-164: Approve NRESC transportation contracts (multiple routes) — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES) - 224-165/224-166/224-20A: Policy adoptions and revisions (including policy 8500) — Approved (Roll Call: 8 YES)

The meeting proceeded to executive session at 7:47 p.m. to discuss personnel and other confidential matters and returned at 8:37 p.m.; the minutes note that Mr. Rodriguez left the meeting prior to executive session. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.