RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
February
12, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Board of Education of Morrison Community Unit District
#6,
On
roll call, the following were present: Jim Prombo,
Jim Ridley, Kevin Schlueter, Steve Swanstrom, Ted Tilton and Sally Gray. Also present were Superintendent Jody Ware,
MEA President Jerry Navarra, Arnie
Vegter, Doug Pannier, 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 January 22, 2008, and the special meeting held on
January 29, 2008. Hearing none, she
asked for a motion to approve the previous minutes.
Motion:
Ridley; Second: Prombo; to approve the minutes for the
regular meeting of January 22, 2008, and the special meeting of January 29,
2008. Ayes: six; Nays: none. Motion carried.
CLOSED SESSION 4:32 P.M.
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Schlueter; to enter into a closed
session for the selection of a person to fill a public office, including a vacancy
in a public office, when the District is given power to appoint under law or
ordinance, and for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline,
performance, or dismissal of a specific employee of the District. Ayes: six; Nays: none. Motion carried.
RETURN
FROM CLOSED SESSION 6:13 P.M.
Motion:
Swanstrom; Second: Schlueter;
to conclude the closed session and return to open session. Ayes: six; Nays: none. Motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Superintendent’s
Report
Dr.
Jody Ware reported on the upcoming Multi-District Institute that will be held
on Friday, February 15, 2008. She shared
two handouts. The first was the Northside/Southside newsletter which is prepared by Anji Garza. The
second was the Northwest Division spring conference/dinner meeting information with
IASB President Mark Metzger speaking on Why We Serve. She asked which Board members could attend so
reservations can be made. She also
talked about the Alliance Legislative Report with an article on the state budget
falling short. Funding approved in BIMP
will not be paid at the rate at which it was approved. In the School
Improvement/Safety State Grant, MCUD #6 was allocated $44,000, with $21,000
received in October, and $29,000 has already been spent. However, the state is not going to be able to
fund the full remaining $23,000. It will
be prorated. Technology Coordinator Jim Winslow will be present at the next
meeting to train the Board on how to access their e-packet. Hard copies will also be sent for that meeting.
Public
Forum
Harvey
Zuidema stated that he had a problem with the way the
new Board member was being selected. In
addition to
INFORMATIONAL
REPORTS
Public
Participation Policy 2:230
Board
President Sally Gray reviewed the Board policy which defines behavior of those
in attendance at Board of Education meetings.
According to the district’s attorney, she can ask any member of the
public to leave the meeting without a motion.
Some vulgar remarks were heard by Board members and others, made by a
member of the public audience during the bond discussion at the last
meeting.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
February
12, 2008
Morrison
Athletic Boosters Concession Stand Project
Arnie Vegter, President of the Morrison
Athletic Boosters, was in attendance to speak to the Board about plans to
replace the existing football concession stand.
The current stand is in bad shape and is short on space. They would like to locate the new stand at
the north end of the bleachers and include restrooms. The Boosters hope that the
Board
will relieve them of supplementing the extra-curricular funding for next year
so they can pursue this project. Dr.
Ware assured the Board that this could be done with no increase in athletic
fees.
Class
Size Update
Dr.
Ware provided the current staffing pattern in relation to the district’s class
sizes. This information should be
reviewed quarterly according to the district’s Plan on a Page.
STI-NOW
Student Management System Software
Last summer, the district purchasedSTI-NOW,
a new student management software package. It
has not lived up to expectations, and has caused frustration for all staff
members who are using it. Dr. Ware would
like to send a letter to the company requesting a refund, and to transition
back to the previous software, STI-Legacy.
State
of
Morrison
CUD #6 has been awarded our 2007 School District Library grant in the amount of
$809.37 to use towards the purchase of new books.
Employee
Health Insurance Deductible Costs
Four
years ago, the district raised the health insurance deductible from $500 to
$1,000 to save on premium costs.
Employees are still only asked to pay up to $500 of the deductible. Amounts over $500, up to $1,000, are
reimbursed by the district. Of the 76
individuals who participate in the health insurance program, twenty one are
receiving reimbursement this year.
HLERK
Attorney Rate Structure
Notice
has been received from the district’s attorney Hodges, Loizzi,
Eisenhammer, Rodick
& Kohn that they will be making adjustments in their attorney rate
structure. Associate rates will begin at
$155.00 per hour, and partner rates will be between $255.00 and $265.00 per
hour.
The
state of
ACTION
ITEMS
Freshmen/JV
Basketball Official Pay
To
continue to be able to obtain top quality officials, Athletic Director Gus Linke is recommending an increase in official pay for
Freshmen/JV basketball officials from $45.00 to $55.00.
Motion:
Ridley; Second: Prombo; to approve the rate increase for
Freshmen/JV Basketball officials to $55.00 per game. Ayes: Swanstrom,
Tilton, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter,
Gray. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Employee
Health Insurance
The
district is facing an increase of 29% in health insurance costs with the
current plan. Dr. Ware recommended an increase in the deductible from $1,000 to
$2,500, which would be an increase in costs of 5%. The district would continue to pay the second
$500 of any deductible cost up to $1,000.
Any deductible cost over $1,001 up to $2,500 will be at the expense of
the employee.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
February
12, 2008
Motion:
Swanstrom; Second: Ridley; to adopt the proposed
employee health insurance plan raising the deductible from $1,000 to
$2,500. Ayes: Tilton, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Swanstrom, Gray.
Nays: none. Motion carried.
USDA
Computer Donation
We
have received an offer of retired Dell computers from the Rock Falls USDA
office. We are able to accept 21 Dell
Precision Workstation 330 computers for the Junior High Lab.
Motion:
Ridley; Second: Schlueter; to accept the donation of
computers from the Illinois USDA. Ayes:
six. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Resolution
to Authorize Superintendent to Prepare Budget
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Schlueter; to authorize Dr. Jody L.
Ware to prepare the FY09 budget. Ayes:
six. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Personnel
Matters
Motion:
Swanstrom; Second: Schlueter;
to accept the resignation of Larry Geerts,
Southside/Morrison High School Custodian effective February 29, 2008 at
approximately 10:30 P.M. Ayes: Ridley, Schlueter, Swanstrom, Tilton, Prombo, Gray. Nays:
none. Motion carried.
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Schlueter; to employ Eric Nelson as
substitute part time custodian at
Board
Member Appointment
Motion:
Ridley; Second: Schlueter; to appoint Doug Pannier to
the Board vacancy. Ayes: six. Nays: none.
Motion carried.
Board
President Sally Gray administered the oath of office and Mr. Pannier was seated
at the Board Table.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
Policy
Committee
No
report
Strategic
Planning
No
report
Personnel/Negotiations
Kevin
Schlueter and Steve Swanstrom
are the Board’s representatives.
Negotiations are in process.
Finance
Committee
Jim
Ridley reported that they will meet in two weeks with Jamie Rachlin.
Facilities
Committee
Ted
Tilton reported they will meet on February 26th.
Citizen’s
Advisory Committee
This
committee will meet on February 25th. Doug Pannier will be the Board representative
for this committee.
Extra-Curricular
Committee
Kevin
Schlueter reported this committee met last week.
Insurance
Committee
No
report.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
February
12, 2008
Local
Wellness Committee
Doug
Pannier will be the Board representative for this committee.
Energy/Utility
Committee
Steve
Swanstrom reported that the price of natural gas is
increasing. We currently have 30,000 therms in storage purchased at 62 cents per therm. Current
savings is $1,622 which was negotiatiated by Patti
Ogden.
CLOSED SESSION 7:42 P.M.
Motion:
Schlueter; Second: Prombo;
to enter into a closed session for collective negotiating matters between the
District and its employees or their representatives. Ayes: Prombo,
Ridley, Schlueter, Swanstrom,
Tilton, Pannier, Gray. Nays: none. Motion carried.
RETURN
FROM CLOSED SESSION
Motion:
Schlueter; Second: Swanstrom;
to conclude the closed session and return to open session. Ayes: seven.
Nays: none. Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Board
President Sally Gray adjourned the meeting by consent at 8:32 P.M.
(President)
___________________________________________
(Secretary)
___________________________________________
Date Approved _________________________