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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

August 14, 2007

 

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 Community Unit District Superintendent’s Office in said district on August 14, 2007.

 

On roll call, the following were present: Greg Houldson, Jim Prombo, Jim Ridley, Kevin Schlueter, Steve Swanstrom, Ted Tilton and Sally Gray.  Also present were Superintendent Jody Ware, Fiscal Management Director Katie Kuehl, Recording Secretary Wendy Krajnovich, and one media representative.

 

President Sally Gray called for any changes or corrections to the minutes of the last regular Board meeting held on July 17, 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 July 17, 2007.  Ayes: seven; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Ware passed around a Morrison High School annual from 1923 that was donated by Dr. Dick Vandermyde.  It had belonged to a family member.  She discussed possible early dismissal because of heat.  Athletic practices will be rescheduled to early morning or late evening in the event of temperatures over 97 degrees or heat index of 105 degrees.  Parents are being asked to provide their students with a bottle of water and to dress them appropriately for the weather.  The local Rotary Club has invited the new teachers to attend their lunch on August 15th.  She passed out a handout of the projected enrollment for the start of school.  She discussed the current state of the Illinois budget, and noted that interest free loans are available to school districts who need them.  We will not be applying due to our considerable fund balance.

 

Building Administration

No administrators were present.

 

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

 

Board Comments

There were no comments made by Board members.

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

Auditor’s Exit Notes

The district auditor, Russ Rumbold from Gorenz & Associates was here in July.  The audit went very well, and Dr. Ware reviewed his exit notes with the Board.  Mr. Rumbold will attend the October 23rd Board of Education meeting, which will begin at 6:00 P.M. instead of the usual time of 6:30 P.M.

 

District Theme: Building A Learning Community Through Connectivity

Dr. Ware reviewed the schedule for Friday, August 17th which is the first day the teaching staff is under contract.  The theme to start off the school year is Building A Learning Community Through Connectivity.   All Board members were invited to attend the breakfast and assembly.  Board President Sally Gray will be there to welcome the staff.

 

FY08 Tentative Budget

Dr. Ware discussed the dilemma of trying to prepare a tentative budget for FY08, due to the State of Illinois not having an approved budget.  Adjustments will be made prior to Board approval on September  25, 2007.

 

 

 

 

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

August 14, 2007

 

Articles: New Board Member Boot Camp

Several excellent articles were published in the current issue of American School Board Journal.  They offered valuable information for new Board members, and also for veteran members.  To make sure everyone got a chance to read them, each Board member was given a copy of the articles.

 

Health/Life Safety Update

A report from Dean Wallace, Director of Facilities, was passed out to apprise everyone as to the current status of the many facilities projects that were undertaken over the summer.  Many are completed, but some will need to be finished after the school year has started as contractors can get to them.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion: Tiltion; Second: Houldson; to approve the items on the consent agenda consisting of personnel recommendations and quarterly activity fund reports.  Ayes: Ridley, Schlueter, Swanstrom, Tilton, Houlfson, Prombo, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

ACTION ITEMS

Rules and Regulations for Computer Acceptable Use

Dr. Jody Ware, Technology Coordinator Jim Winslow, and MEA President Connie Royer met to develop rules and regulations for acceptable computer use for Morrison Community Unit District #6.  This supports Board Policy 6:235, to clearly address expectations for using district property, computers, software and internet access, and applies to all students and employees.

 

Motion: Prombo; Second: Schlueter; to accept the Rules and Regulations for Computer Network and Internet Safety, Access, and Use that supports Board Policy 6:235.  Ayes: Schlueter, Swanstrom, Tilton, Houldson, Prombo, Ridley, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Policy Committee

Jim Prombo stated that he and Drew Hoffman had reviewed the Acceptable Computer Use Policy.

 

Strategic Planning

No report

 

Personnel/Negotiations

No report

 

Finance Committee

The committee met today before the Board meeting.

 

Facilities Committee

No report

 

Citizen’s Advisory Committee

Dr. Ware reported that three new committee members are needed from the community.  Mr. Jim Ridley noted that Booster funds are declining each year.  They will be working on a big membership drive this year.

 

Extra-Curricular Committee

Dr. Ware reported that no extra-curricular assistance waivers have been requested so far this year.

 

Insurance Committee

No report

 

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

August 14, 2007

 

Local Wellness Committee

No report

 

Energy/Utility Committee

No report

 

CLOSED SESSION  8:15 P.M.

Motion: Ridley; Second: Houldson; to enter into closed session to review the closed session minutes of August 14, 2007, discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, and appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of an employee.  Ayes: Houldson, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Swanstrom, Tilton, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Swanstrom; to conclude the closed session and return to open session.  Ayes: Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Swanstrom, Tilton, Houldson, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION

Motion: Ridley; Second: Prombo; to approve the minutes of the closed session held on July 17, 2007.  Ayes: seven; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

President Sally Gray adjourned the meeting by consent at 8:22 P.M.

 

 

 

(President) _______________________________________

 

 

 

(Secretary) _______________________________________   Date Approved ______________________________