Sep 20, 2007 - Shiloh School Board Briefs

Sep 20, 2007 Budget Hearing & Regular Board Meeting

BUDGET HEARING SUMMARY

The Budget Hearing was called to order at 7:45 PM by Vice President Hutchinson.

Board members present: Brown, Hales, Hutchinson, Kile, Freebairn, Young
Absent: Means

Others Present: Superintendent Lewis, Gary Henry, Julianna Bauter, Phil Bauter, Jan Craddock, Chelsea Craddock, Stephanie Fox, Jody Ervin, Doug Ivey, Tonya Eich, Doug Hageman, Tiffany Duncan, Kate Ingram, Terry Sullivan, Barb Board

Discussion of the FY08 Final Budget occurred.
Preliminary budget showed a $520,000 deficit. After the Governor approved the State budget additional income was plugged in and we are now looking at $322,000-$329,000 in deficit. Although the Board approved a $600,000 transfer from Working Cash funds we have only had to move $88,000. Edgar County will issue ½ of the 1st installment of property taxes next week.
Principal Hettmansberger joined the meeting at 7:50 PM.
Ginger Velazquez and Taylor Horn joined the meeting at 7:56 PM.
The Budget Hearing adjourned at 7:59 PM.

REGULAR MEETING SUMMAR

The Regular Meeting was called to order at 8:00 PM by Vice President Hutchinson.

Board members present: Brown, Hales, Hutchinson, Kile, Freebairn, Young
Absent: Means

COMMUNICATIONS
Taylor Horn spoke about the Career Planning IVHS course she completed and what she had learned from the experience. Board members commended her for having the determination and dedication to complete the course work.
Ginger Velazquez commented that Taylor had learned a lot about herself thru the IVHS experience. She suggested that the District have an IVHS informational meeting so other students and parents could learn about what’s available to them thru IVHS.
Letter of thanks from was received from Linda Adams on behalf of the entire Newman Grade School staff for the new phone system.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Board entered into Executive Session at 8:11 PM to consider: the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity – 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and Student disciplinary cases. – 5ILCS 120/2 ( c) (9)
Board returned to Open Session at 9:23 PM.

AMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
Principal Hettmansberger
Letter from Shannon Smith thanking the District for sending Christina Beatty to the SMARTBoard Workshop. Mrs. Beatty was fabulous to work with and has an obvious interest in the use of technology in her classroom.

Thank you to Hume and Metcalf Christian churches for their donations to our students at the start of the school year.

Newman Grade School Fishing Trip Sept. 5th and 6th was a great success. Hutchinson gave kudos to the High School students who helped with the trip. She was very impressed with the way they interacted with the younger students.

School year off to a great start – thank you to staff, parents, and students. This year seems to have started off much smoother and calmer than last year.

Homecoming was September 14. Congratulations to the Court: Freshmen Attendants – Jessica Richardson, Kameron Fry; Sophomore Attendants – Shelby Graves, Devon Biggs; Junior Attendants – Jacilyn Campbell; Levi Cox; Queen Candidates – Lyndsey Landeck, Kayla McIntyre, Logan Lauritzen; King Candidates – Ted McGinness, Lyle Gordon, Skyler Dorsett. Congratulated Lyndsey Landeck and Ted McGinness who were selected as 2007 Homecoming King and Queen.

Shiloh will host the ROE #11 Fall Classic Teacher institute on October 5.

Principal will be attending the Technology & Leadership Conference October 17-19.

LifeTouch took student and staff pictures today. Representative complimented our students and staff on their positive and high morale.

Superintendent Lewis
We will receive about $35,000 more from the state for our extraordinary claim. Our poverty level helped us with this. This is the claim for special education students who cost more than what we would spend on a non-special education student.

.New driver education car will be coming from Royal Buick in Danville. We have a Smart Buy three year lease that allows us 12,000 miles a year with the option of buying the car at the end. The car, a Pontiac G6, will be with us the entire time saving us money in the long run as we can use the car all year.

Is still in contact with Paris 95, Paris 4, Chrisman, Oakland, and Kansas School Districts about the cooperative high school. Superintendents from Oakwood and Jamaica were at the last meeting and discussed what they have done in their cooperative effort. Area principals will meet next to discuss curriculum. There was discussion of providing virtual classes to our students.

There is an Illini Division meeting of the Illinois School Board Association at Westville High School on September 27th at 6:00 PM. Interested Board Members should let the Superintendent know so reservations can be made.

First MidState will be at the October Board meeting to walk us through how working cash bonds work. Money from the bonds will be used to upgrade technology in the Jr. High and High School classrooms.

Has been contacted by Palestine High School, a member of the Little Ilini Conference, to find out if we would be interested in forming something different.

Think Link is a new testing service which will provide localized assessment. Dibbles is a new reading assessment test to identify students at a very early age who are really struggling. These new tests will give us hard data of what educational issues need to be addressed. These tests are taken on the computer which reinforces that today’s students are visual learners.

BUSINESS
Approved the FY08 Budget.
Set 8th Grade Promotion for May 22, 2008, at 7:00 PM and High School Graduation for May 23, 2008, at 7:00 PM.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DISCUSSION
First Reading of the following School Board Policies occurred:
2:125 School Board – Board Member Expenses
2:140-E School Board – Exhibit – Guidance for Board Member Communications, Including Email Use
4:180 Operational Services – Pandemic Preparedness
5:130 General Personnel – Responsibilities Concerning Internal Information
6:40 Instruction - Curriculum Development
6:120-E Instruction – Exhibit – Notice to Parents/Guardians Regarding Section 504 Rights
6:235 Instruction – Access to Electronic Networks
6:300 Instruction – Graduation Requirements
7:60-E3 Students – Exhibit – Evidence of Non-Parent’s Custody, Control, and Responsibility of a Student
7:90 Students – Release During School Hours

IASB Convention – Expense Voucher was included in the packet.

Other – Hutchinson commented on the confusion which resulted from an early dismissal during the recent power outage. Administration is looking at a software subscription that will automatically notify parents of an early dismissal to their home, cell, or work phone if they are signed up for the program

The Shiloh CUSD #1 Board of Education meeting of September 20, 2007, adjourned at 10:10 PM.