RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
January
22, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Board of Education of Morrison Community Unit District
#6,
January
22, 2008.
On
roll call, the following were present: Jim Prombo, Jim Ridley, Kevin Schlueter,
Ted Tilton and Sally Gray. Also present were Superintendent Jody Ware, High
School Principal Janet Ward, Junior High Principal Darryl Hogue, Elementary
Principal Amy Heusinkveld, Jim Winslow, Susan Ligons, Scott VanZuiden, Antony
Deter, Jan Scott, Jerry Navarra, Laura Edwards, 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 8, 2008, and the special meeting held on
January 15, 2008. One addition was noted
to the special meeting minutes. President Gray asked for a motion to approve
the previous minutes and the special meeting minutes with the addition.
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Schlueter; to approve the minutes for the regular meeting of
January 8, 2008, and the special meeting of January 15, 2008 with the one
addition. Ayes: five; Nays: none. Motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Superintendent
Report
Dr.
Jody Ware reported on the superintendent search. A letter from Sally Gray regarding the search
process and a survey are on the district website. A copy of the letter was also sent to every
family in the district. The
advertisement for the position should be in the next edition of Education Week,
an education newspaper. She asked media
representatives in attendance to publish the letter and encourage participation
in the survey, which will be available until January 31st. She stressed confidentiality for the
candidates again. Anyone serving on one
of the interview committees will be requested to sign a confidentiality
agreement. Dr. Ware informed the Board
that a student disciplinary hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 29th
at 6:30 P.M. Next, she talked about the
Board member vacancy. According to
Regional Superintendent Gary Steinert, because Morrison uses the rules for
ballot form four, Board representation cannot have more than three members from
one township. Therefore, the individual
filling the Board vacancy could live in
Board
President Sally Gray noted there is a new couple who have moved to the
community whom she felt would be beneficial to add to the committee of
community individuals who will interview the superintendent candidates. He is retired from Amboy and previously
worked with the Northwest Division of IASB, and she is a retired school
superintendent. Dr. Ware noted that male
representation is needed on that interview committee.
Building
Administration
Elementary
Principal Amy Heusinkveld reported benchmark assessments for DIBELS have either
been completed or are in process for Northside and Southside. Retention watch list conferences are starting
with parents/guardians of students who are in danger of failing. Reading teachers from Northside attended the
annual Illinois Reading Recovery Conference and reported it was one of the best
they ever attended. Northside teachers
will receive further training from a consultant from Gretchen Courtney on
January 24th. New carpet was
installed in the AV area at Northside over the winter break. Northside and
Southside students received awards for positive behavior, homework completion
and perfect attendance. Third graders
each received a dictionary from the Morrison Rotary Club.
Junior
High Principal Darryl Hogue reported that second quarter assessments have been
given. Teachers will be discussing the
data and begin writing third quarter assessments at the early release day
tomorrow. Girls’ basketball begins
Thursday. The wrestling team enrollment has
more than doubled under new coach, Tony Wright. Second quarter grades were sent home recently
and honor rolls were prepared. The
second D-Free (detention) night was held recently. A visit to the bowling alley will be the reward
for the 79 students who completed every assignment on time.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
January
22, 2008
The
next talent show will be held on Friday, March 14th. Morrison District #6 will be highlighted in
the Illinois State Health newsletter.
High
School Principal Janet Ward reported that PLAN/EXPLORE test scores are in and
the school improvement team will be planning ways to address areas of
concern. The Scholastic Bowl team placed
eighth at Winnebago and second at
Public
Comments
Harvey
Zuidema addressed the Board regarding the balance of the $1.2 million working
cash bond. He requested that the
remaining balance not be moved to the education fund, but used to repay the
bonds. He passed out copies of the
section of the Board minutes from August 9, 2005, which reported Dr. Ware
stated that “she was under the impression that the Board did not want to spend
the entire $1.2 million. “ Also on the same page was a portion of an article
published by the Whiteside Sentinel on May 17, 2005, stating “the school board
does not anticipate all the money will be needed for capital projects. Any funds left after the three year spending
time limit will be used to repay the bonds.”
INFORMATIONAL
REPORTS
Financial
Report as of December 31, 2007
The
Financial Report was reviewed.
Treasurer’s
Report as of December 31, 2007
The
Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.
Financial
Comparisons: FY06, FY07, FY08
The
Financial Comparisons report was reviewed.
Junior
High School Improvement Team
Four
junior high school teachers; Antony Deter, Sue Ligons, Jan Scott, Scott
VanZuiden, and Mr. Hogue presented their school improvement plan and focus for
improving student achievement. According
to the 2007 results, the junior high school across all ISAT categories is at
90% to meet or exceed. ISAT results are
received in June, with more information coming in August. The team reviews the data to determine
strengths and weaknesses.
NOVEL
Program
Morrison
CUD #6 has been invited to develop an on-site NOVEL Program. This program is an online classroom for
potential dropouts or truant students, which gives them the potential to make
up credits, increasing their potential to graduate. Funding is also available to allow for a
stipend for an on-site supervisor to meet with students before and after
school. High school principal Mrs. Ward
and the guidance counselor feel there are six to twelve students who could take
advantage of this opportunity.
Health/Life
Safety Podcast
A
few months ago, Dr. Ware and Jim Winslow attended podcast training. They have worked together to produce a
podcast featuring the huge health/life safety project that will take place in
Spring 2009. Technology Director, Jim
Winslow was on hand to show the podcast to those in attendance. In the near future, it will be posted on the
district webpage for community viewing.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
January
22, 2008
2008-2009
School Calendar & School Improvement Days
A
draft of the 2008-2009 school calendar and school improvement days was reviewed
As usual, a goal between districts is
to have a similar calendar for students attending Bi-County Special Education
programs and the
2007-2008
Student
Resource Officer
A
School Resource Officer is being provided to Morrison Schools through the
Morrison City Council. Officer Gabe
Gomez is assigned to the position and has an office at the high school. He will patrol Southside, Junior High and
High School before and after school for traffic issues and student safety. He will spend most mornings at the junior
high and afternoons at the high school.
An intergovernmental agreement will be created with the City of
CONSENT
AGENDA
Motion:
Schlueter; Second: Tilton; to approve the items on the consent agenda
consisting of District Bills as of January 22, 2008; Financial Report as of
December 31, 2007; Treasurer’s Report as of December 31, 2007; Financial
Comparisons: FY06, FY07, FY08, and Personnel Recommendations. Ayes: Ridley, Schlueter,Tilton, Prombo,
Gray. Nays: none. Motion carried.
ACTION
ITEMS
Contract
with Financial Institution
Motion:
Schlueter; Second: Ridley; to continue to use THE National Bank as the district
financial institution. Ayes: Tilton,
Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Gray. Nays:
none. Motion carried.
Resolution:
Authorizing and Directing an Abatement of Working Cash to Ed Fund
Motion:
Schlueter; Second: Ridley; to adopt the resolution to partially abate the
working cash bonds as a permanent transfer of $113,126.46 to the Education
Fund. Ayes: Schlueter, Gray. Nays: Tilton, Prombo, Ridley. Motion fails.
Resolution:
Partial Abatement of Working Cash to Building Fund
Motion:
Prombo; Second: Schlueter; to adopt the resolution to partially abate the
working cash bonds as a permanent transfer of $281,430.42 to the Building
Fund. Ayes: Ridley, Schlueter,
Gray. Nays: Prombo, Tilton. Motion carried.
Certified
Staff Seniority List
Motion:
Schlueter; Second: Tilton; to adopt the certified staff seniority list. Ayes: five.
Nays: none. Motion carried.
Educational
Support Staff Seniority List
Motion:
Prombo; Second: Schlueter; to accept the 2008 Educational Support Staff
Seniority List. Ayes: five; Nays:
none. Motion carried.
Adoption
of 2008-2009 Board Meeting Dates
Motion:
Prombo; Second: Schlueter; to adopt the 2008-2009 Board of Education
calendar. Ayes: five; Nays: none. Morion carried.
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
January
22, 2008
Title
I E-Plan
All
districts requesting Title I federal funding must have an approved Title I
District Plan. This Title I E-Plan is
required to be submitted by February 1st by the No Child Left Behind Act.
Motion:
Tilton; Second: Prombo; to adopt the Title I E-Plan. Ayes: five; Nays: none. Motion carried.
Second 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
Motion: Prombo; Second:
Tilton; to adopt the policies as presented at the January 8, 2008 board
meeting. Ayes: five; Nays: none. Motion carried.
Extension of Principal
Contracts
Motion: Schlueter; Seond:
Prombo; to approve the extension of the contract for one year for Amy
Heusinkveld, and multi-year contracts, 2008-2011 for Janet Ward and Darryl
Hogue. Ayes: Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter,
Tilton, Gray. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Approval of Junior High
School Science Textbook Adoption
Motion: Prombo; Second: Schlueter;
to adopt Holt Science & Technology Human Body Systems and Health Book D
for the Junior High School. Ayes:
Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Tilton, Gray.
Nays: none. Motion carried.
Approval of Closed Session
Minutes
Motion: Prombo; Second:
Tilton; to approve the closed session minutes of January 8, 2008. Ayes: five; Nays: none. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Policy Committee
No report.
Strategic Planning
No report.
Personnel/Negotiations
Kevin Schlueter reported
they had met last week.
Finance Committee
Kevin Schlueter reported
they met last week to discuss comparisons of banking institutions.
Facilities Committee
No report.
Citizen’s Advisory Committee
This committee will meet
next week.
Extra-Curricular Committee
The next meeting is
scheduled for January 30th.
Insurance Committee
This committee will meet
prior to the extracurricular meeting.
Local Wellness Committee
No report
RECORD
OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MORRISON
COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6
January
22, 2008
Energy/Utility Committee
No report.
President Sally Gray
adjourned the meeting by consent at 9:09 P.M.
(President)
___________________________________________
(Secretary)
___________________________________________
Date Approved _________________________