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School Board Meeting Briefs
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BOARD OF EDUCATION
Dec 20 - TAX LEVY HEARING - 6:45 PM
President Hutchinson called the meeting to order at 6:48 PM.
Present: Freebairn, Hales, Hutchinson, Kile, Smith, Young
Absent: EadsOthers Present: Interim Superintendent Morgan, Principal Hettmansberger, Terry Sullivan, Barb Board
President Hutchinson welcomed everyone to the hearing.
President Hutchinson called for public comment regarding the 2010 Tax Levy.
Hearing none, the Tax Levy Hearing adjourned at 6:55 PM.
Dec 20 - REGULAR MEETING- 7:00 PM
President Hutchinson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Present: Eads, Freebairn, Hales, Hutchinson, Kile, Smith, Young
Absent: NoneOthers Present: Interim Superintendent Morgan, Principal Hettmansberger, Nelson Starkey, Adam Milburn, Gina Starkey, Terry Sullivan, Barb Board
President Hutchinson welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Approved Consent Agenda item: Treasurer’s Report
Approved the regular meeting minutes of November 15, 2010, as corrected, and the payment of the bills.
Announced the Friend of Education Award recipient, Mr. Arnold Wilson of Wilson Signs. Mr. Wilson made all of the decals for cartoon characters for our buses and recently the window decal numbers for our classrooms. After consolidation, he did the new logo on the wall by the multi-purpose room. Mr. Wilson has done all of this work with no charge at all to the district. We’re lucky to have a link (he is Mrs. Linda Lawson’s brother) to someone creative like Mr. Wilson who is willing to help us out – even though he doesn’t even live in our District!
Received a note from Gene Barrett thanking the Jr. Beta Club for honoring area Veteran’s on November 10 and serving coffee, juice and donuts.
A letter from the Illinois Association of Student Councils was received thanking Ms. Boland and the Student Council members for hosting the IASC meeting in November.
Received a letter from the Illinois Association of School Boards providing a list of the services they have available to local school boards.
Administrative Team Reports
Principal Hettmansberger:
3-12 Christmas Program was December 8- This was a great program with great attendance. Congratulations to the students and Mrs. Niemerg. We are working on the microphone issues.
Newman STAR Student recognition for November and December was December 15. Students enjoyed a story read by Principal Hettmansberger along with milk, juice, and cookies. Each student received a certificate with the picture on it.
High School Finals were December 16 & 17. PBIS reward day moved back to Jan. 4 because of the snow day.
Elementary PBIS reward day was December 17. The highlight of the event was a snowball fight in the multi. (snowballs = rolled up white socks!)
January 3 meeting with Edgar County ESDA about doing an evacuation drill in the spring. This will probably be in the spring. All staff, students, parents, etc., will be notified well ahead of time that this is drill.
The schools in the ROE are looking at changing from Novel Stars to Apex for our credit recovery program. The benefit of Apex is that they also offer AP classes so not just the students in need of credit recovery would benefit. Upper level students could take the AP classes.
We will be looking at all sorts of changes to the high school schedule next year to accommodate for RTI. Thirty minutes of RTI daily is mandated by the State. RTI is intervention before special education services. Some schools are using the last period of the day for RTI/study hall. Young commented that this seems like another way we are taking away from the high achievers to accommodate the low achievers. Freebairn asked if the students not in need of RTI could mentor the lower grades as intervention really needs to start in the lower grades to be effective. Hutchinson questioned if teachers would be available last hour to work with students or would this time be their plan period. Principal said administration and teachers would continue reviewing this before a final recommendation is made.
January 12 principal will be attending a “Homeless” meeting. We have many students who qualify as “homeless” as defined by law. Their status as homeless entitles them to all sorts of financial aid from the government and we need to be able to determine who is homeless and make sure they get all the benefits they are entitled. Our graduation credits might have to be adjusted. Eads suggested making PE a required course for graduation.
Interim Superintendent Morgan
Has received a reply from the architect regarding the matching funds energy grant. He recommends waiting until Phase 1 of the grant is complete. The next cycle, Phase 2, will have 51 million in funds and we will know the criteria and more of what is going on.
The Superintendent Search was distributed to board members.
Nik Groothuis is retiring as the Regional Superintendent of Schools as of December 31, 2010. Kevin Van Meter will move up from the Assistant ROE Superintendent to the new ROE Superintendent. Bobbie Mattingly will be moving to the Assistant Regional Superintendent. This is because someone from the same party can only replace the political party currently in office. When Mr. Van Meter’s term expires Ms. Mattingly will step up to that position.
Mr. Jim Motley finished the audit last week and will have the final report available very soon.
Has received an electronic copy of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
All state money from last school year (2009-2010) has been received. Starting to see some money coming in for the current year.
Discussed the Tobacco Bond Settlement. State of Illinois sold Tobacco Bonds totaling $1.503 billion. Illinois is to receive approximately $300 million annually for 18 years (2028). After fees for the bonds are paid the state will use the money to pay down the $1.2 billion in backlog of FY10 bills, which is how we got our money from the last school year.
A motion was made and withdrawn to approve the Working Cash Bond Renewal.
Board approved the following:
2010 Tax Levy
Building Use Request – Zumba Classes
Overnight Field Trip Request – Spanish Club to attend Global Fest in March 2011
High School’s School Improvement Plan
First Reading of the following School Board Policies occurred:
2:20 School Board Powers and Duties of the School Board
2:70-E School Board Checklist for Filling Board Vacancies by Appointment
2:160 School Board Board Attorney
2:260-AP1 School Board Administrative Procedures – Guidelines for Investigating Complaints and Allegations of Misconduct
4:60-E Operational Services Notice to Contractors
4:110-AP1 Operational Services Administrative Procedure – School Bus Post-Accident Checklist
4:110-AP2 Operational Services Administrative Procedure – Bus Driver Communication Devices: Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspection: and Bus Driving Comments
4:140-E1 Operational Services Application for Fee Waiver
4:140 Operational Services Waiver of Student Fees
4:140-AP Operational Services Administrative Procedure – Fines, Fees, and Charges – Waiver of Student Fees
5:190 Professional Personnel Teacher Qualifications
5:280 Professional Personnel Educational Support Personnel
6:140-AP Instruction Administrative Procedure – Education of Homeless Children
7:90 Students Release During School Hours
7:150 Students Agency and Police Interviews
7:285 Students Food Allergy Management Program
7:285-AP Students Administrative Procedure – Implementing a Food Allergy Management Program
7:300 Students Extracurricular Athletics
7:325 Students Student Fund-Raising Activities
8:30-E1 Community Relations Visits to School by Child Sex Offenders
8:20-E2 Community Relations Child Sex Offender’s Request for Permission to Visit School Property
8:80 Community Relations Gifts to the District
ROE Annual Building Inspection report was reviewed. District response is due by January 14, 2011.
Principal reported that while at the Triple A Convention he learned it will cost the district $100,000 to $160,000 to replace the gym floor. It has been sanded for the last possible time and is down to the concrete in places.
Hales questioned when the football and baseball co-ops with Heritage are due. Principal said they are due this school year by July 1, 2011.
Board entered Executive Session at 8:04 and returned to Open Session at 9:31 PM.
Board tabled approval of the Executive Session minutes of November 15, 2010, and approved the following:
Release of the Executive Session minutes of January 25, 2005, and December 17, 2003
Authorized the Superintendent to destroy the audio recordings of Executive Session minutes of June 22, 2009 and prior.
Meeting adjourned.