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School Board Meeting Briefs
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BOARD OF EDUCATION
Dec 21 - Regular Board Meeting
President Means called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Present: Eads, Freebairn, Hales, Hutchinson, Means
Absent: Kile, Young
Others Present: Superintendent Hall, Principal Hettmansberger, Gary Henry, Jacob Roskovensky, Terry Sullivan, Lesliea Palmer, Nelson Starkey, Wendy Erickson, Barb Board
President Means welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Board approved the following Consent Agenda items: Treasurer’s Report, Activity Report.
Board approved: Tax Levy Hearing Minutes of November 16, 2009, Regular Meeting minutes of November 16, 2009, and Executive Session minutes of November 16, 2009.
Curriculum Presentation: Lesliea Palmer presented a slideshow of ‘A Day in the Life of a 5th Grader’ and explained a recent field trip when students used hand-held GPS units to find specific locations in the district.
<<Kile joined the meeting at 7:14 PM.>>
Mrs. Palmer and Ms. Kincaid will be presenting ‘Global Positioning Systems in the Classroom’ at the Florida Education Technology Conference in Florida in January, 2010.
Board approved the payment of bills.
Communications: Letter received from Urbana Fraternal Order of Police thanking the EC baseball team and Coach Taylor for helping with Shop with a Cop.
Thank you card was received from Patsy Barnett for flowers received after a recent surgery.
Principal’s Report – Mr. Hettmansberger:
Saxon Math representative was here December 4th and provided a question and answer session for staff not familiar with Saxon Math.
Jr. Beta induction ceremony was December 9th. A very nice ceremony. This is an active organization for Junior High students. They do some very nice things in the district.
Grades 3-12 Christmas program was December 15th. This was one of the largest turn-outs yet. Congratulations to Mrs. Niemerg and Mrs. Riddell.
Financial Aid Night for Seniors was December 15th. EIU and Lake Land College representatives provided a lot of good financial information for the seniors.
Discipline: There were 50 K-12 suspensions last year at this time compared to only 15 to date this year. Credited this to consistent discipline procedures. Students know the consequences of misbehavior. Feels he and Mr. Findley have worked well together on discipline issues over the last four years.
Gave a big thank you to Wal-Mart in Paris for a $500 donation. This was very generous and greatly appreciated, especially when our financial situation is so tight right now.
Kim McGee provided a Civil War presentation for sixth grade students earlier this week. This was a great hands-on history lesson. When students have the opportunity to touch history it comes alive for them.Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Hall:
State funding is slow coming in. State is way behind on transportation and special education funding. Recently spoke with Representative Eddy who said not to expect the last two state aid payments this year and things will be even worse next year.
Because of the reduction in transportation funding will look at cutting back on field trips.
Board approved the following:
Employment of Lahn Neil-Henn as JH Volleyball Coach
Elizabeth Hunt as a volunteer JH Volleyball Assistant Coach and Greg Hunt as a Volunteer Softball Assistant Coach
Replacement of football field fence
Playing Junior High baseball games at the Newman field until the Shiloh field is ready for use.
Scheduling the Public Hearing for Waiver or Modification of State Board Rules and/or School Code Mandates Section 105 ILCS 5/10-20.12a Tuition for Non-Resident Pupils during the regular board meeting on January 19, 2010, at 7:00 PM
FY10 Amended Public School Calendar
Appointment of Principal Hettmansberger as the Open Meetings Act Officer
Appointment of Principal Hettmansberger and Barb Board as Freedom of Information Act Officers
Resolution in Support of the Illinois School Reform Through Technology Initiative
FFA field trip to National Farm and Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, February 11, 2010
Discussion of the following occurred:
Principal Hettmansberger reported the teachers were mostly neutral regarding combining the 8th Grade Promotion and the JH Awards Program. He had no strong recommendation either way other then not to include athletic awards in the program. Consensus of the board was to continue with two separate programs.
While at the school board convention Hutchinson spoke with a food service representative regarding a combined school food service program. Representative said if we could pull schools together and get at least 1,000 students served he would put something together for us. This would be an alternative to using Aramark, our current food service vendor.
Board directed the Superintendent to contact area schools to determine interest.
Will be able to use Life Safety funds for upgrading the electrical wiring in the district school buildings. Has received a bid from Express Electric in Kansas of $3500 for Newman Grade School and $20,000 for Shiloh Elementary/High School. Board directed the Superintendent to get the work done.
Eads suggested the Board consider changing the current drug testing policy. He feels coaches and school staff should be drug tested along with students. Would also like to see nicotine testing in the Junior High in order to counsel and educate students and help them stop using. Discussion of a pre-employment drug test for all staff, coaches, and volunteers. Board directed Principal Hettmansberger to get teacher input on this as it would involve an SEA/NEA contract change. This discussion item will be added to the January agenda.
Board set time and date of Strategic Planning Meeting of January 9, 2010, at 12:30 PM in the Library.
President Means asked Eads to schedule a Grounds Committee meeting to determine what’s needed to get the baseball field ready for use. They will then get with Kile about the volunteers and financial donations pledged to him for the work. The Grounds Committee will meet December 28th at 2:00 PM.
Board went into Executive Session at 8:40 PM.
Board returned to Open Session and adjourned at 9:12 PM.