RECORD OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

March 14, 2006

 

 

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Morrison Community Unit District #6, County of Whiteside, State of Illinois, was duly called and held at 6:30 P.M. at the Morrison High School Media Center in said district on March 14, 2006.

 

On roll call, the following were present: Dave Boyles, Kevin Schlueter, Joy Tegeler, Kent Forth and Sally Gray.  Also present were Superintendent Jody Ware, Katie Kuehl, Harvey Zuidema, Patti Ogden from Northern Illinois Utility Consultants, Recording Secretary Wendy Krajnovich, and one media representative.  Board members Steve Swanstrom and Ellen Smith were absent.

 

President Sally Gray called for any changes or corrections to the minutes of the last regular Board meeting.  Hearing none, she called for a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

 

Motion: Tegeler; Second: Schlueter; To approve the minutes for the regular meeting of February 28, 2006.  Ayes – 5; Nays – none; motion carried.

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS

Superintendent’s Report

A thank you was received from Emmanuel Reformed Church to thank the District for their help in allowing them to use Northside and Southside schools on Wednesday evenings.  Southside and Junior High Schools are currently doing ISAT testing.  There have been conflicts with the new publisher, with the testing materials arriving on Casmir Pulaski Day, and the pre-ID labels finally arriving today.  Over fifty preschool screenings have been done, and ten students will be returning to the program next year.  The Junior High and High School are busy scheduling students for next year.

 

Building Administration

No administrators were present.

 

Public Comments

There were no public comments

 

Board Comments

There were no comments from the Board.

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

Northern Illinois Utility Consultant – Patti Ogden

Dr. Ware introduced Patti Ogden, the District’s Northern Illinois Utility Consultant who did a Powerpoint presentation for the Board regarding the pricing, purchase, rules and regulations for natural gas and electricity.  She reported using a combination of natural gas purchased for storage, purchases at fixed rates, and purchases at market price which resulted in substantial savings for the district over the past winter.  She also recommended that she get quotes now to lock in the lowest prices for electricity usage for the coming year.  Board President Sally Gray thanked Ms.Ogden for the excellent service she has given to Morrison Schools over the years.

 

High School Preliminary Staffing Needs

Dr. Ware reported on High School staffing needs for the 06-07 school year.  The high school guidance staff has been entering preliminary student registration data, and as a result Mrs. Ward is looking at these minimal staffing needs: .67 physical education, .25 English.  The .0625 FTE and .125 FTE U.S. History positions will be reduced until firmer enrollment numbers are available.  These instructors need to be notified by March 21, 2006, to be able to release them.

 

 

 

RECORD OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

March 14, 2006

 

First Reading: Policies 2:30; 2:50; 2:210; 4:60; 4:120; 4:150; 5:90; 5:100; 5:280; 6:50; 6:100; 6:180, 6:320; 8:90

Dr. Ware went over some new and revised policies from PRESS that she and Board Member Dave Boyles have reviewed.  Covered were Board elections, term of office, and the organizational meeting, district budgets and purchases, food sales, facility design and construction, abused and neglected child reporting, staff development program, qualifications for educational support personnel, school wellness including nutrition and physical activity, using animals in the educational program, extended instructional programs (WACC), student proficiency testing, and community relations regarding parent organizations and booster clubs.

 

Bi-County Special Education Co-operative Rental Request

Dr. Ware informed the Board that the Bi-County Special Education program is looking for space to rent at our Junior High School.  Coordinator Drew Hoffman will be contacting Principal Darryl Hogue regarding available space.  Morrison has applied for a class size reduction grant, and if received will need all available classrooms at Southside.  If the grant is denied, then the District could benefit from renting the unused classrooms to the Bi-County Special Education Program.  Bi-County wants to continue to rent office space at Southside for which the District receives annual rent of $2,500.

 

Renovation of High School Weight Room

Morrison High School has acquired numerous newer pieces of weight-lifting equipment from Barat College.  Since it arrived, this area has been in almost constant use.  Dr. Ware wanted the Board’s opinion as to making some renovations to the weight room, which was formerly the ag shop.  Improvements would include painting, new floor covering, new drinking fountain, ceiling fans, wall mirrors, a phone and a defibrillator. Contributors to the Recreation Center fund will be contacted to see if they would be willing to divert some of their past monetary donations to this project.  The Board felt this would be an appropriate use of these funds, and that the area in question is in serious need of renovation.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion to Approve Routine Items

Motion: Tegeler; Second: Forth; to approve the single item on the consent agenda of disposal of the closed session tape from September 14, 2004.

 

Ayes: Schlueter, Tegeler, Boyles, Forth, Gray; Nays – none.  Motion carried.

 

ACTION ITEMS

WACC Facilities Maintenance Change

A change in the way districts are charged for their share of the facilities maintenance charge for the Whiteside Area Career Center is recommended by their Board.  Boards of all member districts are required to vote on this change. 

 

Motion to approve the Whiteside Regional Vocational System’s recommendation of Section 5.22 of the WACC Facilities Maintenance Charge formula be ½ member district’s EAV and ½ member district’s sophomore/junior class enrollment.

 

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Forth; Ayes: Forth, Schlueter; Nays: Boyles, Tegeler, Gray.  Motion does not carry.

 

Morrison Junior High Roof Bids

Seven bids were received for the Morrison Junior High School 2006 Roofing Program.

 

Motion to approve the low bid of $248,230.00 from McDermaid Roofing and Insulating of Rockford, Illinois.

 

Motion: Forth; Second: Boyles; Ayes: Forth, Schlueter, Tegeler, Boyles, Gray; Nays – none.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

RECORD OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

March 14, 2006

 

Gifts from Barat College

At the last meeting the Board was informed of the educational materials and equipment received from Barat College.  The Barat College Foundation would like to receive a donation to their foundation in appreciation for items received.  According to Russ Rumbold, the District’s CPA, this is actually a payment, not a donation, and must be authorized as such.

 

Motion to approve a payment of $3,000.00 to the Barat College Foundation for educational materials and equipment given to our organization.

 

Motion: Boyles; Second: Tegeler; Ayes: Schlueter, Tegeler, Boyles, Forth, Gray; Nays – none.  Motion carried.

 

Release of School Property

The former welding area of the high school has been cleaned out to make room for the new weight room equipment received from Barat College.  Some of this welding equipment can be released from the district inventory.  A list of the equipment has been made and recommended minimum bids.

 

Motion to release the listed school property and advertise in the Whiteside Sentinel for silent bids.

 

Motion: Tegeler; Second: Forth: Ayes: Five; Nays – none.  Motion carried.

 

Dental/Vision Insurance Renewal

The District’s dental/vision insurance renewal date is April 1st.  The dental/vision insurance is optional and offered to all current and retired employees at their expense.  After reviewing the options, the Insurance Committee recommends renewal of plans from Delta Preferred for dental and VSP for vision.

 

Motion to accept the renewal quotes from Delta Preferred/Delta Premier for our dental insurance, and VSP for our vision renewal plan.

 

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Tegeler; Ayes: Forth, Tegeler, Boyles, Schlueter, Gray; Nays – none.  Motion carried.

 

Approval of Morrison Junior High Promotion/Retention Rubric

Darryl Hogue discussed the promotion/retention rubric at the last Board meeting.  The recommendation is for the Junior High staff to use it, measure its productivity and revise it , if necessary.

 

Motion to adopt the Morrison Junior High Promotion/Retention rubric.

 

Motion: Boyles; Second: Tegeler; Ayes: Schlueter, Tegeler, Boyles, Forth, Gray; Nays – none.  Motion carried.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Policy Committee

Dave Boyles reported the new and revised policies had been reviewed and the first reading had been earlier in tonight’s meeting.

 

Strategic Planning Committee

Dr. Ware reported that the Plan on a Page was reflected in many areas of tonight’s meeting: class sizes, staffing, energy costs, home/school communications, school/business partnerships, and good fiscal management.

 

Personnel/Negotiations

Dr. Ware reported that no lump sum can be paid at this time, but they hope to build it into next year’s budget.

 

Finance Committee

Joy Tegeler reported that this committee has not met.

RECORD OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

March 14, 2006

 

Facilities Committee

Kent Forth reported on the pre-bid meeting and the bid opening for the Junior High School roof.  The bid for the general construction at Morrison High School  will be approved at a special Board meeting on April 4th.

 

Citizen’s Advisory Committee

This committee will meet next Monday.

 

Extra-curricular Committee

Dave Boyles reported this committee has not met.

 

Insurance Committee

Renewal of vision and dental insurance and the committee’s recommendation was discussed earlier in the meeting.

 

Local Wellness Committee

Dr. Ware reported this committee met for the first time last Wednesday, and their second meeting will be tomorrow.

 

Energy/Utility Committee

Committee representative Steve Swanstrom is absent, but there was an energy presentation at the beginning of tonight’s  meeting.

 

CLOSED SESSION  8:05 P.M.

Motion: Boyles; Second: Forth; To enter into closed session to approve the closed session minutes of February 28, 2006, and for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of employee.

 

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

Motion: Forth; Second: Schlueter; To return to open session.

 

ADJOURNMENT

8:55 P.M.

Board President Sally Gray adjourned the meeting by consent.

 

 

 

(President)

 

 

 

(Secretary)                                                                                              Date Approved