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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

February 26, 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 Media Center in said district on

February 26, 2008.

 

On roll call, the following were present: Doug Pannier, Jim Prombo, Jim Ridley, Kevin Schlueter, Ted Tilton and Sally Gray. Board member Steve Swanstrom was absent.  Also present were Superintendent Jody Ware, High School Principal Janet Ward, Junior High Principal Darryl Hogue, Jim Winslow, Jerry Navarra, Terry Wieneke, LuAnn Wieneke, Joy Tegeler, Karen Stralow, Arnie Vegter, Harvey Zuidema, Recording Secretary Wendy Krajnovich, and three media representatives.

 

President Sally Gray called for any changes or corrections to the minutes of the last regular Board meeting held on February 12, 2008.  President Gray asked for a motion to approve the previous minutes. 

 

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Prombo; to approve the minutes for the regular meeting of February 12, 2008.  Ayes: six; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC COMMENTS

Superintendent Report

Dr. Jody Ware reported on the new process of using e-packets for the Board members.  Dr. Ware also talked about teachers feeling the snow days in the third quarter have made the quarter too short, and would like to have it extended.  In response to their concerns, Dr. Ware said she was going to extend the end of the third quarter one week to March 14th.   This will not unduly shorten the fourth quarter as the make-up snow days will be added to the end of the fourth quarter.  She reported on the very successful Multi-District Institute that was held at Morrison High School on Friday, February 15th.  After the shooting incident at NIU, she said she became very concerned knowing so many teachers and administrators would be gathered at one location.  She contacted the Morrison Police Department to provide security, and had someone monitoring the front entrance of the high school.  A large quantity of leftover sandwiches and two bowls of salad were donated to the Victory Center in Clinton, which they were very grateful to receive. She noted a tax levy article in the current edition of the Illinois School Board Journal, and encouraged board members to read it.  She also noted a Freedom of Information request asking whether or not our district contracts out cafeteria, custodial and transportation services.  She will be appearing at the Court House on Friday as an entity is appealing their tax assessment.   A copy of the 1925 Morrisonian is going to be donated by a community member, and she will accept this gift on behalf of MCUD #6.

 

Building Administration

Junior High Principal Darryl Hogue reported that ISAT testing begins next week.  Students are encouraged to give it their best effort with daily drawing incentives and a grand prize at the end of testing.  Girls’ basketball ends this week.  MJHS hosted 300 wrestlers at the IESA Region 1 regional tournament last Saturday.  Eight from Morrison qualified.  The Whiteside County Spelling Bee will be held at MJHS on March 11th with seventh grader Greg Magana and eighth grader Marissa Carlson representing Morrison.   Thirty-three students are out for swimming and thirteen for QuizBowl.   The application has been completed to submit to the USDA to qualify Northside and Southside to be named US Healthy Schools.  The application must be reviewed by the State Board of Education first.  Morrison’s wellness efforts were highlighted in a state e-newsletter.   The talent show will be held at the high school auditorium on Friday, March 14th.

 

Janet Ward read the Northside/Southside report in the absence of Elementary Principal Amy Heusinkveld.  Teachers will begin working on third quarter assessments during the early release time on February 27th.  The Morrison Early Learning Program has completed their accountability visit from the state of Illinois.  A consultant from Gretchen Courtney will work with Northside teachers on literacy training on March 4th.  Orders for the Illinois Textbook Loan have been prepared.  Student awards have been presented to all students for positive behavior, homework competion, and perfect attendance.  Northside will host Dr. Seuss celebrations on March 4th and March 6th.  Officer Gomez will discuss the shootings at NIU with 5th graders to alleviate their fears.

 

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

February 26, 2008

 

High School Principal Janet Ward reported that boys’ basketball is over and they are conference champs.  The Scholastic Bowl team is also conference champ shared with Newman.  The Key Club blood drive is scheduled for

March 10th, and is dedicated to the NIU students who died last week.  Meet the Players and the annual faculty vs. seniors volleyball and basketball games are scheduled for March 7th.  Winter sports awards night is March 10th.   Tim Hood advanced to the state wrestling finals.  Band and choral students went on a field trip to the University of Iowa for a music clinic.  That evening they attended a Wynton Marsalis concert in Iowa City.  Auditions for the spring musical, Into The Woods, will be held soon.  Baseball, softball and track have started practicing.

 

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

Financial Report as of January 31, 2008

The Financial Report was reviewed.

 

Treasurer’s Report as of January 31, 2008

The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed.

 

Financial Comparisons: FY06, FY07, FY08

The Financial Comparisons report was reviewed.

 

Health/LifeSafety Bonds

Mr. Jamie Rachlin, our bond investor, was in attendance to discuss the issuance of the health/life safety bonds.  He said $5.5 million in bonds will be issued for the health/life safety project.  These will be tax exempt bonds and will be issued in early fall of 2008.  He will structure the new bonds with the current bonds so there will be no increase in debt service.  He noted districts with a healthy fund balance get better insurance ratings.  He met with the Finance Committee earlier in the evening.

Correction: change “will” to “could”.

Morrison High School – School Improvement Plan

Due to the day’s early dismissal because of weather conditions, this presentation was postponed to a future meeting.

 

E-Packet Training

District Technology Director Jim Winslow was present to review the use of electronic board packets.  They will be available for the first time for the March 18th meeting.  He distributed passwords to the Board members and showed them how to access the packet with a link to the district website.

 

Superintendent Search Dates

President Gray had information on the superintendent search, so it was added as an information item.  She reported there were twenty-nine applicants for the position, which the search firm had currently narrowed to eleven.  Seven had previous experience as superintendents, and four had none.  The Board will meet in closed session on Monday, March 3rd to meet with the search consultants to review the applications.  Sally Gray will contact the search consultants to set up dates for the candidate interviews.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Prombo; to approve the items on the Consent Agenda consisting of District Bills as of February 26, 2008; Financial Report as of January 31, 2008; Treasurer’s Report as of January 31, 2008; Financial Comparisons: FY06, FY07, FY08; Quarterly Activity Fund Reports, and Personnel Recommendations.  Ayes: Schlueter, Tilton, Pannier, Prombo, Gray.  Abstain: Ridley. Nays:none. Motion carried.

 

ACTION ITEMS

2008-2009 School Calendar

Motion: Tilton; Second: Pannier; to approve the 2008-2009 school calendar.  Ayes: six; Nays: none.  Motion carried.

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

February 26, 2008

 

Illinois Textbook Loan

Motion: Ridley; Second: Prombo; to use the Illinois Textbook Loan program for the purchase of: Harcourt School Publishers K-2 Social Studies Kits; 3rd Grade Saxon Math Textbooks; 3-5 Harcourt Health & Fitness 2006/2007; and replacement 2nd grade reading textbooks.  Ayes: Tilton, Pannier, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Custodial Staffing

Custodial staffing in the buildings has been reduced over the past five years for fiscal reasons.  Three years ago the Board approved the hiring of a seasonal worker to assist with grounds management during the summer and fall months.  As more help is still needed, Director of Buildings & Grounds, Dean Wallace, would like to add a full time building and grounds maintenance position at the high school, and a half-time evening position at Southside School.

 

Motion: Tilton; Second: Schlueter; to add a full-time Building and Grounds Maintenance high school position, and a .5 FTE custodian for Southside School.  Ayes: Tilton, Pannier, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

Life/AD & D Insurance

The lowest proposal for Life and AD&D insurance this year was from Fort Dearborn Life.  By changing companies, the district will save $1,584.00 per year on life insurance premiums.  This proposal is guaranteed for 24 months. 

 

Motion: Ridley; Second: Pannier; to approve the proposal for Life Insurance/AD&D from Fort Dearborn Life.  Ayes: Pannier, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Tilton, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

  

Morrison High School Football Concession Stand

Motion: Ridley; Second: Schlueter; to approve the efforts of the Morrison Athletic Boosters to fund and construct a high school concession stand for the 2008-2009 school year, and to relieve them of a financial obligation to the extracurricular program for 2008-2009.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Policy Committee

No report.

 

Strategic Planning

No report.

 

Personnel/Negotiations

No report

 

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met with Jamie Rachlin before tonight’s meeting.

 

Facilities Committee

Today’s meeting was cancelled and is rescheduled for March 4th.

 

Citizen’s Advisory Committee

Doug Pannier reported that the committee had met yesterday and discussed grading scales.

 

Extra-Curricular Committee

The committee will meet tomorrow.

 

Insurance Committee

This committee will not meet again until next year.

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

MORRISON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6

February 26, 2008

 

Local Wellness Committee

Dr. Ware complimented Darryl Hogue on his leadership in preparing the healthy schools application.  Mr. Hogue noted the efforts of Food Service Director Sheila Richmond in compiling the data.

 

Energy/Utility Committee

No report as Steve Swanstrom was absent.  Sally Gray noted the cost of transportation fuel has increased.

 

CLOSED SESSION 8:19 P.M.

Motion: Schlueter; Second: Prombo; to enter into a closed session for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of a specific employee of the District; and to discuss collective negotiating matters between the District and its employees or their representatives.  Ayes: Pannier, Prombo, Ridley, Schlueter, Tilton, Gray.  Nays: none.  Motion carried. 

 

CONCLUDE CLOSED SESSION 9:54 P.M.

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

 

ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION

Motion: Ridley; Second Prombo;  to approve the minutes of the two closed sessions held on February 12, 2008.  Ayes: six.  Nays: none.  Motion carried.

 

President Sally Gray adjourned the meeting by consent at 9:56 P.M.

 

 

 

 

(President) ___________________________________________

 

 

 

(Secretary) ___________________________________________   Date Approved _________________________