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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

January 8, 2008

 

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 Library in said district on January 8, 2008.

 

On roll call, the following were present: Jim Prombo, Jim Ridley, Kevin Schlueter, Ted Tilton and Sally Gray.  Greg Houldson and Steve Swanstrom were absent. Also present were Superintendent Jody Ware, Director of Technology Jim Winslow, MEA President Jerry Navarra, Harvey Zuidema, Recording Secretary Wendy Krajnovich, and two media representatives.

 

President Sally Gray called for any changes or corrections to the minutes of the last regular Board meeting held on December 18, 2007.  Hearing none, she asked for a motion to approve the previous minutes. 

 

Motion: Ridley; Second: Schlueter; to approve the minutes for the regular meeting of December 18, 2007.  Ayes: five; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Jody Ware informed the Board of the invitation to the annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner/Meeting to be held on Monday, January 28th.  Board members were asked to let her know if they would be attending as soon as possible so reservations could be made.  She also corrected information she gave at the last meeting of the Board where she stated that Ted Tilton was the representative for the insurance committee.  After researching the minutes from the meeting when the appointments were made, she found that Jim Ridley is the insurance committee representative.

 

Building Administration

No administrators were present.

 

Public Forum

There were no public comments.

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

High School Scheduling

High School Principal Janet Ward and High School Counselor Jennifer Robinson have spent a lot of time discussing

8-Block scheduling between themselves, with other districts, and attended a master scheduling conference.  To allow for more flexibility, they would like to try a semester master schedule instead of one year-long master schedule.  The high school staff is open to trying this method.  This will allow the classes to have a different mix of students and hopefully allow students to take classes that they really want.

 

E-Packet Board Meetings

Last week Dr. Jody Ware, Director of Technology Jim Winslow, and Superintendent’s Secretary Wendy Krajnovich attended a webinar on Electronic Board Packets.  Wendy had also attended a session for Board Secretaries on e-packets at the recent School Board Convention in Chicago, and brought back information on the procedure for preparing these packets.   Mr. Winslow did a presentation on E-Board packets.  Dr. Ware noted that there would be considerable savings in paper, postage, and preparation time.  Board members and the public would access the Board packet information online.  Board members could print anything they wanted to reference at their meeting.  It was decided to pilot this new procedure for the meeting in March.

 

Assessment: Music Education

District teachers have been working on developing quarterly assessments this year using their instructional objectives. Dr. Ware shared with the Board the way Band Director David Bean uses technology to assess his students’ performance.  Students record themselves playing their instrument either at home or in a quiet area of the band room.  Mr. Winslow has set up modifications for Mr. Bean so that he can record his comments over the student’s performance to provide them with feedback.  This is another way district employees are using technology to improve student performance.

 

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

January 8, 2008

 

2008-2009 Board Calendar

Dr. Ware has prepared the schedule of all the regular meetings of the Board for the 2008-2009 school year.  Action will be taken at the next regular meeting to adopt this Board calendar. 

 

First Reading: Board Policies-Policy 2:220 E-4; 2:260; 4:10; 4:60; 4:110; 5:10; 5:100; 5:290; 5:330; 6:20; 6:60; 6:320; 7:20; 7:70; 7:180; 7:220; 7:340; 8:20; 2:20E; 4:60-AP2; 4:160-AP; 7:220-AP

Policy Committee members Dr. Ware, Drew Hoffman, and Jim Prombo met recently to review the latest packet of policy changes.  Mr. Prombo walked the rest of the Board members through the changes.  Most of the reviewed policies had only small language changes.  New were a policy titled Preventing Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment, and an Administrative Procedure – Third Party Non-Instructrional Contracts. These policies will be approved after the second reading at the January 22, 2008 meeting.

   

Morrison Rotary Dictionary Project

One of the goals of Rotary International and the Morrison Rotary Club is to promote literacy.   On Wednesday, January 9th, the Morrison Rotary Club will present an individual dictionary to each third grade student at Southside Elementary School.  Anji Garza, Coordinator of Elementary Programs and Services, will be planning some daily “Words for Wisdom” activities to help the students enhance their skill and use of the dictionary.

 

Board Member Vacancy

Board Member Greg Houldson has resigned his board position effective today, due to a change of job location.  According to Board policy, the Regional Office of Education must be notified of the vacancy within five days.  Notice of the vacancy will be advertised in the January 15th edition of the local newspapers.  Interested individuals must reside in Mt. Pleasant Township, and will be asked to send a letter by February 5th explaining why they feel they should be considered a Board candidate.  The Board will interview the candidates in executive session on February 12th with a prepared set of questions.  A selection will be made at that time. The new member will take the oath of office at the regular meeting that night.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Tilton; to approve the consent agenda consisting of a Personnel Recommendation and an Addendum to Personnel Recommendation.  Ayes: Ridley, Schlueter, Tilton, Prombo, Gray;  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

ACTION ITEMS

IRS Standard Mileage Rate

Motion: Prombo; Second: Schlueter; to adopt the January 2008 IRS Standard Mileage Rate of $.505 per mile.  Ayes: Schlueter, Tilton, Prombo, Ridley, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Gorenz & Associates: Regulatory Basis Engagement

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Prombo; to appoint Gorenz & Associates to conduct our FY2008 audit and prepare our annual financial report.  Ayes: Tilton, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Acceptance of Donations – Atalanta Foundation

Motion: Prombo; Second: Schlueter; to accept the donations from the Atalanta Foundation for the musical theatre activity account, art education account, and Mrs. Blunt’s curriculum account.  Ayes: five; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

New Elective for High School

Adding the elective course Drama in Literature, was discussed at the December 18, 2007 meeting of the Board of Education to enhance the offerings of the English department.

 

Motion: Tilton; Second: Schlueter; to approve the addition of Drama in Literature to the high school course catalog as an elective for next year.  Ayes: five; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

January 8, 2008

 

HVAC Planning: High School Gymnasium

At the last meeting of the Board of Education, members were asked to consider whether or not to include air conditioning for the high school gymnasium in the HVAC design plan.

 

Motion: Prombo; Second: Schlueter; to include air conditioning for the high school gymnasium in the HVAC plan as an alternate bid.  Ayes: Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Tilton, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Superintendent Search Firm

At the last Board meeting, Dr. Ware was directed by the Board to contact two superintendent search firms to obtain proposals.  Both proposals were carefully reviewed by the Board.  Board President Sally Gray recommended that the Board choose School Exec Connect as their superintendent search firm.

 

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Ridley; to choose School Exec Connect as the superintendent search firm.   Ayes: Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Tilton, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

High School Activity Accounts

Motion: Tilton; Second: Schlueter; to add Mustang Baseball and Fillies Track activity accounts.  Ayes: five; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

2007-2008 School Improvement Plans

By state law, each school is required to develop, monitor, and maintain a school improvement plan.  Board members were provided with a copy of each building’s school improvement plan.  The School Improvement Teams will present their plans at a future meeting.

 

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Prombo; to approve the school improvement plans as written.  Ayes: five.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Policy Committee

Jim Prombo reviewed the newest policy changes earlier in the meeting.

 

Strategic Planning

No report.

 

Personnel/Negotiations

Kevin Schlueter reported that a meeting will be held next week.

 

Finance Committee

Kevin Schlueter reported that the committee will meet next Tuesday at 4:00 P.M.

 

Facilities Committee

No report.

 

Citizen’s Advisory Committee

No report.

 

Extra-Curricular Committee

The next meeting will be held on January 30th.

 

Insurance Committee

They are waiting for proposals from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

 

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

January 8, 2008

 

Local Wellness Committee

No report.

 

Energy/Utility Committee

No report.

 

CLOSED SESSION  6:32 P.M.

Motion: Prombo; Second: Tilton; to enter into a closed session for the purpose of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of an employee.  Ayes: Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Tilton, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried. 

 

CONCLUDE CLOSED SESSION AND RETURN TO OPEN SESSION  6:38 P.M.

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Prombo; to conclude the closed session and return to open session.  Ayes: five; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Prombo; to approve the closed session minutes of December 18, 2007.  Ayes: five; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Board President Sally Gray adjourned the meeting by consent at 8:29 P.M.

 

 

 

(President) ___________________________________________

 

 

 

(Secretary) ___________________________________________   Date Approved _________________________