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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

September 26, 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 Unit Media Center in said district on September 26, 2006.

 

On roll call, the following were present: Steve Swanstrom, Joy Tegeler, Kevin Schlueter, Kent Forth and Sally Gray.  Board members Dave Boyles and Greg Houldson were absent.  Also present were Superintendent Jody Ware,  Recording Secretary Wendy Krajnovich, Lori Kennedy, Jim Prombo, and one media representative.

 

President Sally Gray called for any changes or corrections to the minutes of the last regular Board meeting held on August 22, 2006.  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 September 12, 2006.  Ayes: five; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Jody Ware spoke about the recent loss of High School senior Kate Zuidema.  She complimented the community and school staff for the way they immediately pulled together.  Staff and school counselors made themselves available for students.  Flowers, plants and cards were received from surrounding school districts.  She also noted the passing of High School Principal Janet Ward’s mother.  She reported the anonymous gift of team shirts for the boys’ and girls’ golf teams.

 

Building Administration

High School Principal Janet Ward reported that fall sports are underway.  Homecoming was a success.  Morrison will be hosting the Track Eight Music Festival on October 30th.  Bands and choirs will be rehearing during the day, culminating in a concert that evening.  The senior homeroom/early release is going well.  Rehearsals are in progress for the fall play, Arsenic and Old Lace.  Approximately four hundred dollars has been donated to the high school library as a memorial for former Superintendent Donald VanOrmer.  There was a nice turnout for open house.  There will be an article in the local newspaper regarding misbehavior of children at foot ball games.  No children, junior high or younger, will be admitted to football games unless accompanied by an adult.   Separate bleachers are being brought in for junior high seating at the north end of the field.  High school student seating will be at the south end.

 

Junior High Principal Darryl Hogue reported he had announced the changes for attendance at football games for junior high students.  He feels having separate bleachers for them is a very good idea.  Open house went very well with 69% of 6th grade parents, 51% of 7th grade parents, and 31% of 8th grade parents attending.  Qwizdom continues to be very popular with teachers and students.  Volleyball is almost over, and boys’ basketball is beginning.  The new juice/water machine is in the building.  One diet/caffeine free soda choice is also available.  Pepsi has been very helpful in making these changes to offer other options instead of soda.  Ten students participated in Harvest Hammer, and there was a challenge to beat their principal.  Twenty five have signed up for Dads Volunteer Day on October 27th.  Several teachers have attended ISAT workshops.  STI letters went home to parents notifying them their student’s grades are now available online.

 

Elementary Principal Steve Wroble reported that open house was very well attended.  The annual PTO hot dog roast was so well attended that more food had to be purchased.  Kindergarten teachers held parent meetings on August 30th.  Students at both schools are participating in a Penny Drive for United Way.  Grandparents day was held at Northside.  The Scholastic Book Fair is currently being held at Northside School, and is designed to get more books into the classroom.  Northside and Southside teachers are using the new grade book system for report cards this quarter.  Teachers from first, second, third and fifth grades have also been sent to ISAT workshops.

 

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

 

 

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

September 26, 2006

 

Board Member Comments

There were no Board member comments.

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

Financial Report as of August 31, 2006

The Financial Report was reviewed.

 

Treasurer’s Report as of August 31, 2006

The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.

 

Summer Reading Programs-Reading Improvement/Title I

The summer reading program for 1st and 2nd graders was funded by the federal NCLB Title I grant, and was instructed by Denise Batterton.  The second program for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders was funded through the State of Illinois Reading Improvement grant.  Reading Improvement teacher Lori Kennedy was present and gave a short presentation.  Her program was held for four weeks in June, with the objective of keeping kids reading through the summer.  Each week had a different theme.  At the end, all students showed improvement except one, who stayed the same.

 

Facilities Use

A report on the Community Use of School Facilities was provided to the Board for review. 

 

2006 Enrollment Transfers In – Out

A report was provided to the Board on student transfers prepared by each building secretary.  It showed where students transferred to, and where new students transferred from.

 

Free and Reduced Lunch/Enrollment

A report on the free and reduced lunch demographics was reviewed by the Board.

 

Preliminary Spring 2006 Assessment Results

Dr. Ware reviewed Spring 2006 student test scores from the Illinois Snapshot of Early Literacy (ISEL), Terra Nova, and Illinois Standardized Achievement Test (ISAT).  No results have been received for the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE/ACT).

 

Health Life Safety Update

Dr. Ware reported that McDermaid Roofing and the tinners should be here early next week to complete the roofing project at Morrison Junior High School.  Significant progress has been made on the high school elevator project with November 1st as the target completion date.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion: Swanstrom; Second: Tegeler; to approve the items on the consent agenda consisting of: District bills as of September 26, 2003; Financial report as of August 31, 2006; Treasurer’s report as of August 31, 2006; Disposal of closed session tape from February 22, 2005, and Personnel Recommendations.  Ayes: Tegeler, Swanstrom, Forth, Schlueter, Gray; Nays-none.  Motion carried.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Morrison Junior High Activity Accounts

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Forth; to add a Morrison Junior High special education activity account, and remove the Morrison Junior High cheerleading account, and the Brainerd fundraiser account.  Ayes: Five.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Closed Session Minutes Review

Motion: Swanstrom; Second: Tegeler; to have the reviewed closed session minutes remain closed.  Ayes: Tegeler, Schlueter, Swanstrom, Forth, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

September 26, 2006

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Policy Committee

No report.

 

Strategic Planning

No report

 

Personnel/Negotiations

No report

 

Finance Committee

Joy Tegeler reported that the Finance Committee had met earlier today.  The auditor’s exit notes were reviewed.  They plan to meet again on October 24th.  Russ Rumbold will be here to make a presentation at the Board of Education meeting that night.

 

Facilities Committee

No report

 

Citizen’s Advisory Committee

Greg Houldson has agreed to be the Board’s representative to this committee.

 

Extra-Curricular Committee

A meeting will be scheduled in the next few weeks to review a proposal.

 

Insurance Committee

No report

 

Local Wellness Committee

Dr. Ware reported the third graders are complaining about physical education – more rigor has been added to the physical activity.  There are only minor complaints about food from the students.  High school students can go back for seconds of the meal if they are still hungry, but cannot buy Little Debbie or Hostess items to fill them up.

 

Energy/Utility Committee

Steve Swanstrom said that natural gas prices are still dropping.  Otherwise, there isn’t much new to report.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Board President Sally Gray adjourned the meeting by consent at 7:38 P.M.

 

 

 

(President) ______________________________________________

 

 

 

(Secretary) ______________________________________________ Date Approved __________________________