RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
September
25, 2007
The
regular meeting of the Board of Education of Morrison Community Unit District
#6,
On
roll call, the following were present: Greg Houldson, Jim Prombo, Jim Ridley,
Steve Swanstrom, Ted Tilton and Sally Gray. Board member Kevin Schlueter was
absent. Also present were Superintendent
Jody Ware, Karla Green, Christine Schlegel, Bonnie Stralow, Martina Maxfield, Melisa
Gonzales, Doug Houzenga, Harvey Zuidema, Dave Zuidema, Joy Tegeler, Jill Vegter, Liz Hamilton, Karla Norman, Libby Goodman, Dan
Goodman, Jackie Noble, Angela Sheddan, Fiscal Management Director Katie Kuehl, Attorney Mike Loizzi, Recording Secretary
Wendy Krajnovich, and three media representatives.
President
Sally Gray called for any changes or corrections to the minutes of the last
regular Board meeting held on September 11, 2007. Ted Tilton requested that one word be
changed. She asked for a motion to
approve the previous minutes with the correction.
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Houldson; to approve the minutes for the regular meeting of
September 11, 2007 as corrected. Ayes:
six; Nays: none. Motion carried.
PUBLIC
HEARING CONCERNING THE AMENDED BUDGET
President
Sally Gray declared the hearing open at 6:34 P.M. Dr. Ware reviewed the adjustments that were
made to the amended budget. There were
no public comments. President Gray
declared the hearing closed at 6:40 P.M.
COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Superintendent’s
Report
Dr.
Ware reported that the last of the FY06 taxes have been received except for
some small amounts that may trickle in later.
She talked about the upgrade to the student management computer
program. Parents will be getting a
letter in the mail with an identification number to use that will access all of
their children’s grades online.
Building
Administration
High
School Principal Janet Ward stated that next week is Homecoming with a theme of
Elementary
Principal Amy Heusinkveld reported that both the Northside and Southside open
houses were well attended. The Clubs
Choice food sales representatives for the PTO fundraiser were there offering
samples. The
Junior
High Principal Darryl Hogue reported that two hundred eighty-nine adults
visited the recent open house. Teachers
used the afternoon of the early release day to analyze their ISAT data, and
they will be developing goals to address weaknesses. They are having a school fundraiser. Sales have been down the last two years, so
this year they are adding candy bars in addition to the food brochure items. The profits will go into their student reward
fund which pays for field trips, scholarships, and student rewards. This year they are adding a D-Free Night for
students and parents to come to school for a night of fun for those students who
have not gotten a detention over the last quarter. They will enjoy things such as ping pong and
movies as a way to reward good behavior.
Junior High will also have a Magic of Science assembly.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
September
25, 2007
Public
Forum
Joy
Tegeler requested that during meetings, Board members speak up and talk
clearly. With the windows open and the
fans on, it is hard for those in the audience to hear what is being said.
INFORMATIONAL
REPORTS
Financial
Report as of August 31, 2007
The
financial report was reviewed.
Treasurer’s
Report as of August 31, 2007
The
Treasurer’s report was reviewed.
Guide
for Successful Board Meetings
Dr.
Ware distributed a book titled Coming to Order: A Guide to Successful Board
Meetings to each Board member. She
said she had purchased a copy at the Board convention several years ago, and
found it very helpful. She encouraged
the Board members to read it and use it for a reference for board meeting
procedures.
Special
Education Funding Report
Dr.
Ware stated that she has made it a goal to better educate the Board about
school funding. Tonight she reported on
special education funding, using an updated special ed funding survey that she
received last year to show the data. She
wanted everyone to know that special education is not fully funded, and that
only 33% of the special education costs were reimbursed last year by the State.
Class
Size K-12
Dr.
Ware provided information on class sizes K-12 as of the beginning of the week
of September 18, 2007.
School
Report Card
The
Illinois School Report Card was provided for Board members for testing done in
March and April. Students in third
through eighth grade took the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), and
students in eleventh grade took the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE). The
School Report Card also provides Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
information. It was noted that the PSAE
is given the day after the ACT test.
Students are tired after taking the ACT and there is no incentive for
them to do well on the PSAE, so the scores are disappointing. The School Report Card will be posted on the
district website after October 1st.
Consolidation
Report Discussion
Dr.
Ware passed out the list of questions gathered from the public at the
consolidation report meeting. Board members made comments about the
consolidation report prepared by Drs. Larry Copes and Ron Yates. Steve
Swanstrom said he was disappointed in the report and that the two
superintendents did most of the work.
Jim Ridley said the major thrust of the consultants was the financial
aspect, and if money is not the reason, then what is? Ted Tilton noted that more advanced courses
could be available. Sally Gray wondered
what would be done when the extra funding for consolidation runs out. Jim Prombo noted that Morrison has better
scores. Ted Tilton said consolidation at
this time is inappropriate unless student populations decline; then keep an
open mind about it. He questioned
transportation costs. Jim Prombo wondered about the cost of sports
transportation. Sally Gray asked if consolidation
should be an action item on the next Board agenda, and several Board members
agreed it should be. Then the Board’s
decision can be forwarded to River Bend.
Jody Ware reviewed the process of surveying the community when this was
originally proposed.
CONSENT
AGENDA
Motion:
Swanstrom; Second: Houldson; to approve the items on the consent agenda
consisting of: District bills as of September 25, 2007; Financial Report as of
August 31, 2007; Treasurer’s Report as of August 31, 2007; and disposal of the closed
session tape of March 14, 2006. Ayes:
six. Nays: none. Motion carried.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
September
25, 2007
ACTION
ITEMS
Fifth
Grade Class Size
Due
to concerns over the size of the fifth grade class this year, Dr. Ware is
recommending the hiring of an additional fifth grade teacher. This new teacher will serve students who
scored “high meets” in reading and math on the fourth grade ISAT, and team
teach writing with the classroom teachers in the afternoon. All students would remain assigned to their
original classroom teacher. A fourth
class will not be created.
Motion:
Prombo; Second: Tilton; to hire an additional, highly qualified fifth grade
teacher. Ayes: Swanstrom, Tilton,
Houldson, Prombo, Ridley, Gray. Nays:
none. Motion carried.
Junior
High Sports Official Pay
Motion:
Swanstrom; Second: Ridley; to increase junior high official pay from $40.00 to
$50.00 for two events. Ayes: Tilton,
Houldson, Prombo, Ridley, Swanstrom, Gray.
Nays: none. Motion carried.
Second
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Prombo; to adopt Policies 2:125; 2:140E; 4:180; 5:130; 5:180;
6:40; 6:235; 7:90; 1:20AP; 4:180AP1; 4:180AP2; 5:10AP; 5:35AP3; 5:130AP;
6:120E; 7:60E3; 7:190AP3; 7:190AP4 as revised.
Ayes: Houldson, Prombo, Ridley, Swanstrom, Tilton, Gray. Nays: none.
Motion carried.
2007-2008
Application for Recognition of Schools
Motion:
Houldson; Second: Ridley; to approve the Applications for Recognition of
Schools for Northside Elementary, Southside Elementary, Morrison Junior High
and Morrison High School. Ayes:
six. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Adoption
of 2007-2008 Budget
Motion:
Ridley; Second: Swanstrom; to approve the adoption of the 2007-2008 budget with
changes as presented by Dr. Ware during the public hearing. Ayes: Houldson, Prombo, Ridley, Swanstrom,
Tilton, Gray. Nays: none. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
Policy
Committee
No
report.
Strategic
Planning
No
report.
Personnel/Negotiations
No
report.
Finance
Committee
The
committee will meet on October 3rd.
Facilities
Committee
Ted
Tilton said the committee met on September 17th. The discussion centered around the swimming
pool. There is $377,000.00 of work
needed, and the pool depth needs to be increased by six inches in order to be
sanctioned for events. The next meeting
will be next Tuesday, October 2nd, and the topic of discussion will
be needed major repairs to the high school.
They will be conferring with the Finance Committee for funding
recommendations. Most items are listed
on the Health/Life Safety Report.
Citizen’s
Advisory Committee
Jody
Ware reported that she had advertised for three new members from the
community. She had already received two
calls from interested individuals.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
September
25, 2007
Extra-Curricular
Committee
Jim
Ridley reported that the committee had not met, but he had gone to the Athletic
Booster meeting. They plan on moving
forward with the purchase of a new wrestling mat by adding to the $3,000.00
check from the Morrison Youth Wrestling Club that was presented at the
September 11th Board of Education meeting.
Insurance
Committee
No
report.
Local
Wellness Committee
Greg
Houldson reported that the committee will be meeting on October 4th.
Darryl Hogue will be reporting on
information from the wellness grant that was received last year.
Energy/Utility
Committee
Steve
Swanstrom said there is nothing new. The
natural gas market it currently flat.
CLOSED
SESSION 7:32 P.M.
Motion:
Swanstrom; Second: Houldson; to enter into a closed session for the purpose of
reviewing the closed session minutes of September 11, 2007, and the
appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of
an employee. Ayes: Houldson, Prombo, Ridley,
Swanstrom, Tilton, Gray. Nays:
none. Motion carried.
RETURN
FROM CLOSED SESSION 8:39 P.M.
Motion:
Ridley; Second: Houldson; to conclude the closed session and return to open
session. Ayes: six; Nays: none. Motion carried.
ACTION
FROM CLOSED SESSION
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Prombo; to approve the closed session minutes of September 11,
2007. Ayes: six; Nays: none. Motion carried.
INFORMATIONAL REPORT
Open
Meetings Act
Mike
Loizzi from Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick and Kohn, the district’s legal
firm, was present to review the open meetings act and answer any questions
Board members had concerning proper procedures.
Mr. Loizzi encouraged Board members to keep their handbook available for
reference at all meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
President
Sally Gray adjourned the meeting by consent at 9:06 P.M.
(President)
__________________________________________
(Secretary)
__________________________________________
Date Approved ____________________________