Minutes of the Board of Education meeting held on Monday, April 16, 2007.
The meeting was called to order by the president at 7:01 p.m. The secretary called the roll. Present were: Hicks, Boehne, Charlie Foster, Cribben, Ottengheime, Curt Foster, Palombo. Absent: None
It was moved by Charlie Foster, seconded by Palombo to approve the minutes of the March 21, 20007 board meeting. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried.
There were questions on the bills. Mrs. Ottengheime pointed out a huge difference in the Village of Shabbona bills. Ms. Rockwood will check on it and will report when she has an answer. Mr. Cribben pointed out the interest rates at the Farmers and Traders State Bank and the Waterman State Bank. There was a question on the negative numbers in the concession account and general ledger. It was moved by Charlie Foster, seconded by Curt Foster to approve the bills for the month of April accounts payable checks numbers 57179-268, 10193-220, and 17976-18034 in the amount of $220,388.16; payroll checks numbers 47542-48170 in the amount of $460,468.48; treasurer’s report; imprest fund report; and community school fund report. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried.
Communications
The President asked if anyone in the audience had anything that they wished to present to the board.
Vicki Baldwin had a concern about her bus route. It was pointed out that a sign should be placed by the hill warning of a bus stop ahead.
Brenda Chester thanked the board for their assistance with the CCC auction. There was a net profit of around $20,000. She also encouraged everyone to use the webevent calendar that was purchased with a joint grant between the Indian Creek Education Foundation and the CCC.
Mr. Hammack gave the high school principal’s report. Master scheduling is taking place. PSAE tests are scheduled for April 25 and 26. Seniors are being tracked who are at-risk for graduation. The handbook committees have met. Prom is May 12 and will be at N.I.U. The FCCLA leadership conference was held in Springfield April 12-14. He also handed out PSAE 5-year scoring information.
Mr. Simpson’s report from Waterman Elementary was included in the board packet. Mr. Cribben asked about the DARE program. The officer in charge is retiring and it is unknown who the DARE officer will be for next year.
Mrs. Ottengheime complimented Mr. Simpson on the mentoring program.
Mrs. Watson’s report from Shabbona Elementary was included in the board packet. She spoke on test scores and school improvement performance assessment objectives.
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Mrs. Kennedy reported that the middle school handbook committee will add a sports schedule in the handbook. The lawn will be repaired when the weather clears up. The cost will be paid by Auburn and will be completed by graduation. The security system is up and going.
It was moved by Curt Foster, seconded by Palombo that the meeting adjourn into executive session regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students, student disciplinary case, litigation and collective bargaining. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned into executive session at 7:48 p.m.
It was moved by Boehne, seconded by Charlie Foster that the meeting reconvene into regular session. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried. The meeting reconvened into regular session at 10:39 p.m.
It was moved by Palombo, seconded by Boehne that the executive session minutes be approved as reviewed. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried.
It was moved by Boehne, seconded by Curt Foster to approve the resignation of Courtney Davis as drill team coach. Roll call vote: Hicks, yes; Boehne, yes; Charlie Foster, yes; Ottengheime, yes; Curt Foster, yes; Palombo, yes; Cribben, yes. 7 yes, 0 no. The motion carried.
It was moved by Boehne, seconded by Charlie Foster to approve the resignation of Julie Buchholz as Waterman Elementary lunchroom aide. Roll call vote: Boehne, yes; Charlie Foster, yes; Ottengheime, yes; Curt Foster, yes; Palombo, yes; Hicks, yes; Cribben, yes. 7 yes, 0 no. The motion carried.
It was moved by Curt Foster, seconded by Charlie Foster to approve the resignation of Dave Herrmann as middle school baseball coach. Roll call vote: Charlie Foster, yes; Ottengheime, yes; Curt Foster, yes; Palombo, yes; Hicks, yes; Boehne, yes; Cribben, yes. 7 yes, 0 no. The motion carried.
It was moved by Curt Foster, seconded by Palombo to approve the resignation of Deb Faivre as Shabbona Elementary cook for the 2007-2008 school year. Roll call vote: Ottengheime, yes; Curt Foster, yes; Palombo, yes; Hicks, yes; Boehne, yes; Charlie Foster, yes; Cribben, yes. 7 yes, 0 no. The motion carried.
It was moved by Curt Foster, seconded by Palombo to approve Rod Moore as middle school yearbook sponsor. Roll call vote: Curt Foster, yes; Palombo, yes; Hicks, yes; Boehne, yes; Charlie Foster, yes; Ottengheime, yes; Cribben, yes. 7 yes, 0 no. The motion carried.
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It was moved by Boehne, seconded by Curt Foster to approve Shannon Rissman as regular bus route driver. Roll call vote: Palombo, yes; Hicks, yes; Boehne, yes; Charlie Foster, yes; Ottengheime, yes; Curt Foster, yes; Cribben, yes. 7 yes, 0 no. The motion carried.
It was moved by Boehne, seconded by Curt Foster to approve the retirement of Claudia Hicks as of June 30, 2007. Roll call vote: Hicks, yes; Boehne, yes; Charlie Foster, yes; Ottengheime, yes; Curt Foster, yes; Palombo, yes; Cribben, yes. 7 yes, 0 no. The motion carried.
It was moved by Charlie Foster, seconded by Ottengheime to approve the 2006-2007 calendar amendment. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried.
There was a first reading of board policies 5:330 and 6:330.
There was a first reading of board policy sections 7 and 8 with the exception of 7:240-AP1 the “guilt by association” policy. This will be reviewed.
There was a second reading of policy sections 5 and 6. It was moved by Curt Foster, seconded by Palombo to approve policy sections 5 and 6 including a policy on the rights of students. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried.
It was moved by Curt Foster, seconded by Hicks, to approve the IHSA membership renewal. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The motion carried.
Ms. Rockwood explained the use of the NWEA assessment system versus the Stanford tests and explained the differences in costs between the two. Over 100 Illinois schools now use this as their academic progress assessment measures. Technical support at schools currently using NWEA found that the system can run off a server or work station, however feedback received stated that it doesn’t work as well off a work station. A dedicated server is recommended. The high school could share one with Shabbona Elementary, there would be one at the middle school, and one at Waterman Elementary. This should also take care of the student management programs situation. The existing tape back-up would be used for “MAP”. The cost would be $3,526 per server with an onsite engineer cost of $1,200 for a total of $11,778. This could be installed in the summer. The money for servers has been budgeted for this year. This will be placed on the agenda for the May meeting.
Ms. Rockwood gave the superintendent’s report. A time and place for a retirement dinner for Curt Foster will be set at the May meeting. The April 19 community coffee will be at the high
school cafeteria with the same format. The roof leaks have been repaired. Illinois Southern Co-op was contacted for custodial supplies. There would be a savings of $6,700 and free custodial training. The district received a financial excellence certificate. TRS training was held for the district office. Budgeting projections are being worked on, supply requests are done, and a 5-7
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year capital projects plan is being built. Textbooks, purchases, and equipment are being worked on. Ms. Rockwood will meet with Gary Dunn on buses. At the second May meeting student fees will be discussed. There will be upcoming education and finance committees meetings. Ms. Rockwood enjoyed attending the NHS Banquet. Ms. Rockwood talked about the IASB resolutions. Andy Caudle will be contacted to mow the two acres donated to the district from Kennedy Homes in Waterman. In the future, board members will be receiving a written report on the conference that she recently attended.
Mr. Cribben gave the IVVC report. There was a new idea shared at that meeting. As there is growth in the IVVC district to the east and a decline in ag programs, IVVC is considering placing ag programs in their curriculum. However, an FFA program is needed in conjunction with these classes and could be in competition with our district’s program. He also asked for board consideration regarding the length of the ag instructor’s contract.
Curt Foster gave the DCSEA report. The district will receive $7,434 as their share for former transportation funds. This will go in the general fund. Staffing patterns were discussed. N.I.A. and Hillman were given contracts. Budget numbers were presented. At the June meeting the budget will be voted on. Some districts did not feel the formula used to figure the costs was fair. IDEA funds were discussed. A cost of $116,816 to offset Hillman and NIA will be used next year.
Mrs. Ottengheime reported on the YMCA event for middle schoolers hosted by DCP/SAFE. There were between 180-190 people there. The pool couldn’t be used. There are normally 300 people there. It was felt that the bigger schools need to be better informed about this event. They felt the attendance was down since high school students weren’t allowed to go to the middle schools in other districts and the pool couldn’t be used. Our high school students were allowed to present this event to our middle schoolers.
Ms. Rockwood reminded everyone about the community coffee on April 19.
Curt Foster publicly thanked Gail Loes for her efforts in working with the policy committee.
It was moved by Ottengheime, seconded by Curt Foster that the meeting be adjourned. On a voice vote, all members voted yes. The meeting was adjourned at 11:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Ottengheime, Secretary Daniel Cribben, President