.	SHILOH COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.1 BOARD OF EDUCATION
	SPECIAL MEETING Summary Mar 17 - 7:00 pm Meeting was called to order by President Hutchinson at 7:04 PM. Present: Eads, Freebairn, Hales, Hutchinson, Kile, Smith, Young Others Present: Interim Superintendent Morgan, Sarah Schmidt, Lesliea Palmer, Sandy Minott, Terry Sullivan, Jacob Roskovensky, Wade Hales, Amy Kincaid, Jody Martin Discussion of cutting the Industrial Tech program. Savings would be $58,000 in salary. This does not include any equipment sales that might occur. Eads brought up the possibility of getting in contact with area professionals/businesses for enhancing the work-study program. Eads is against cutting the IT program. Hutchinson summarized by saying Board seems to be in favor of keeping the program and potentially expanding it to include other schools. Hales has spent some time in the IT classroom and saw that the classes were busy and approx 35 students participate in the program. He emphasizes that it is an applied art that brings together math, English and even biology. Smith feels the IT students could even participate in some work and/or repairs around the school within all legal guidelines. Other cuts considered are at the elementary level. Mrs. Harbaugh, Pre-K teacher, has reported that the Pre-K grant requirements have changed. Right now, we have two Pre-K classes. Numbers for next yr’s classes are: K-25; 1st-37; 2nd-25; 3rd--21; 4th-29; 5th-28; 6th-30 Mrs. Palmer gave a presentation about a combined 4th/5th class. She recommends 8 4th and 8 5th students. The combination students would be the highest achieving students in those grades. There would also be a regular 4th grade class and a regular 5th grade class as well. This would take 5th grade to 20, 4th grade to 21 and the combined class would have 16. Hutchinson sees this as an opportunity to try this, since we have staff willing to do this. Mrs. Palmer says that the teacher taking this on needs to know by May so she has the summer to prepare. She further states that there needs to be considerable parent education that the students selected are based on data (educational and behavioral). Current plan is to RIF 3 elementary teachers and 2 aides for next year. President Hutchinson appreciates Mrs. Palmer’s innovation. Kile asks about delaying RIFing some aides until closer to the deadline. He asks the teachers present if it is easier emotionally on the reduced personnel to find out now rather than 30 days prior to school starting. Board went into Executive Session at 7:52 PM Board returned to Open Session at 8:39 PM. Meeting adjourned at 8:39 PM.