MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
MACOMB C.U.S.D. #185
SEPTEMBER 19, 2006
7:00 P.M.
Board President Dr. William DeJong called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Macomb Jr./Sr. High School Library. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll was taken with the following members answering “present”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse.
Mr. Ladd Pircon, parent of an MSHS student, addressed the Board regarding the policy governing physical education waivers. He requested that the Board reconsider its earlier decision to limit P.E. waivers to 11th and 12th grade students, extending the option to 9th and 10th grade students, as allowed by School Code. President DeJong advised that the Board would refer the matter to appropriate administrators and faculty and would take action on the matter based on a recommendation from that group of people.
Member Thompson thanked all who participated in the superintendent search forum. She noted that the comments received would help the Board to know what the community is looking for in a new superintendent. Dr. DeJong advised that the qualities from the survey administered by the search firm are listed on the flyer that will be sent to prospective candidates. He went on to thank Dianne Hudgens, Budget Coordinator, and Charlotte Morrow, District Treasurer, for their work on the 2006-2007 budget, and Lisa Mooney for her work on budget presentation and the promotional materials for the superintendent search. He also acknowledged receipt of the report on the District media centers and thanked Paula Blythe and Nancy Bell, District Librarians, for their work on the reports.
Superintendent Karanovich advised the Board that a Freedom of Information Act Request had been made by Andrea Jenkins for employment policies.
Superintendent Karanovich gave a PowerPoint presentation on the 2006-2007 District Budget, explaining balances, expenditures, and revenues and how the District plans to cover shortfalls in the Education, Transportation, and Fire Prevention & Safety Funds. She stressed that the budget could be balanced, but only by making cuts in personnel expenditures and services to students, thereby compromising the “educational program of robust academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular offerings delivered by an experientially rich, well-trained quality staff with high expectations”. She commended Dianne Hudgens and Charlotte Morrow for their slim margin of error in projecting revenues and expenditures and thanked all those who had contributed to putting together the presentation.
Member Thompson moved, and member Adams seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar, which included the following: Minutes from the August 21, 2006, regular meeting; Minutes from the September 12, 2006, special Board meeting; Treasurer’s Report; Investment Report; Monthly Board Report; Bills and Payroll; Financial Update on Life Safety Projects (.05 levy); Financial Update on Modular/Bleacher Lease Purchase; Payment due from Fire Prevention & Safety Fund (.05 levy); Macomb Jr./Sr. High School Activity Accounts; and, Financial Authorizations. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member Sullivan seconded, to approve and hold indefinitely the minutes from the closed meeting held during the August 21, 2006, regular meeting. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Workman moved, and member Thompson seconded, to approve the following action respecting Certificated personnel:
Employment:
Heidi Elbe, Speech Language Pathologist (replacement), MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective September 25, 2006, (replaces Worthington).
Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve the following actions respecting Educational Support Personnel:
Resignation:
Susan Schoonover, Program Assistant, Edison Elementary School, effective September 22, 2006.
Employment:
Kimberly Baraks, Technician (new), Technology Department, Macomb Community Unit School District #185, part-time 12 month position, effective August 21, 2006;
Julianna Daniels, Program Assistant (new), Lincoln Elementary School, 158 days, 6 hours per day, effective September 11, 2006. (Kindergarten);
Melonie Icenogle, Individual Assistant (new), MacArthur Early Childhood Center, 162 days, 3 hours per day, effective September 5, 2006 (new student).
Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Thompson moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve the following actions respecting Co-Curricular personnel, Volunteers, and Athletic Trainers:
Employment:
Marcia Brown, Spanish Club Sponsor, level 10, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Julia Burns, Math Sponsor, level 12 (20% stipend), Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Melanie Butcher, Madrigal Sponsor, level 8, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Jennifer Clark, New Teacher Mentor, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective September 25, 2006 (Elbe);
Nancy Crossman, Fall Play Set Director, and Spring Play Set Director, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Rooney Dively, National Honor Society Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Cara Guenther, Junior Class Sponsor, (50% stipend), Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Neal Heerwagen, SADD Coordinator, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Jim Heuer, Student Council Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Thomas Johnson, Science Club Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Marshal Jordan, Junior Class Sponsor, (50% stipend), and Speech Team Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Steve Larimer, Art Club, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Shelli Mann, Math Sponsor, (40% stipend), Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Cathy Palm-Gessner, Ecology Club Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Emily Platt, Senior Class Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Suellyn Rieckelman, Scholastic Bowl Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Cathy Sheagren, Thespian Sponsor, Fall Play Director, and Spring Play Director, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Beth Shryock, Math Sponsor, (20% stipend), Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Carla Snowden, Spiderweb Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Kris Thrapp, Math Sponsor, (20% stipend), Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Dave Wetmore, Marching Band Sponsor and Jazz Band Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Ken Zahnle, Assistant Marching Band Sponsor, level 6, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year.
Volunteers:
Randy Ames, Volunteer Cross Country Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year.
Athletic Trainers:
Larry Ayers, Athletic Trainer, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Sarah Futhey, Athletic Trainer, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year;
Patty Wayland, Athletic Trainer, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2006-2007 school year.
Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Thompson moved, and member Shouse seconded, to authorize the destruction of audio tapes from closed meetings held on March 15 and May 17, 2004, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2.06. Members voting “yes”: Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Member Workman abstained. Motion carried.
Member Sullivan and Shouse gave an overview of the Facilities Committee meeting held on September 12, 2006. Mr. Sullivan discussed proposed changes to Policy 8:20, governing community
use of facilities. He advised that the committee had agreed changes should be made to the administrative procedure for the policy with regard to who may use District facilities without paying a rental fee. The proposed changes are before the Board for first reading. Member Shouse advised that Fire & Life Safety funds had been approved for air conditioning the old wing at Lincoln.
First reading was held on suggested revisions to the following Board policies, administrative procedures, and exhibits:
2:90 2:250-AP 5:150 5:170-AP2
2:120 2:260 5:160 5:180-AP3
2:120-E 4:90 5:170 6:30
2:250 5:40 5:170-AP1 8:20-AP
In response to member Thompson’s question about inclusion of notification of grievance procedures in personnel policies, Superintendent Karanovich advised that the contract would supersede policy unless the provisions of one or the other are illegal. The Board will hold second reading on the proposed changes at its October 16, 2006, regular meeting and consider approval of those changes.
Member Adams presented a resolution in support of legislation to improve the No Child Left Behind Act. Members of the Board agreed that references to public officials in the last three paragraphs should be deleted. Member Adams moved, and member Klems seconded, to approve the resolution as amended. Motion carried by voice vote.
Member Adams moved, and member Thompson seconded, to approve the MacArthur Early Childhood Center Student Handbook. The Board thanked Ms. Angela Edmonds, teacher at MacArthur, for her efforts in drafting and putting the handbook together. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Klems moved, and member Thompson seconded, to approve a resolution regarding the need for emergency Health Life Safety work to be done at MacArthur Early Childhood Center (replacement of a fire alarm panel). Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Thompson moved, and member Shouse seconded, to award the bid for lighting upgrade work to be done at Edison Elementary and Macomb Junior High School to the lowest responsible bidder, BLI, in the amount of $44,302.88. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member Workman seconded, to approve May 19, 2007, as the date of graduation for the class of 2007, with graduation ceremonies to be held at WIU. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member Thompson seconded, to waive the driver’s education graduation requirement for student 06-07:1. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Klems moved, and member Thompson seconded, to approve the job description for Administrative Office/Accounting Clerk. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Klems moved, and member Sullivan seconded, to approve the Applications for Recognition for MacArthur, Lincoln, Edison, and Macomb Jr./Sr. High Schools. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
At 7:58 p.m., member Thompson moved, and member Adams seconded, to hold a closed meeting for the purpose of discussing litigation, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11), and to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
At 8:52 p.m., member Shouse moved, and member Adams seconded, to return to open session. Members voting “yes”: Workman, Sullivan, Klems, Adams, DeJong, Thompson, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member Shouse seconded, to adjourn at 8:53 p.m. Motion carried by voice vote.
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President
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Date
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Secretary