RIVER BEND COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT # RD STREET FULTON, IL BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MARCH BOARD MEETING

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1 RIVER BEND COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT # RD STREET FULTON, IL BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MARCH BOARD MEETING River Bend Community Unit District #2 March 21, 2011 The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of River Bend Community Unit School District #2, Whiteside County, Illinois, was held on March 21, 2011, at the River Bend District Office. President Portz called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:31 P.M. Upon Roll Call by the Secretary the following members were present: Edward Cole, Eric Fish, Jane Orman-Luker, Dan Portz, Larry St. Ores, and Mark Wade. Absent: Chris Barnett. Others present: Dr. Jane M. Bauer, Superintendent and Virginia Petersen, Recording Secretary. President Portz led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Additions to the agenda: Harlem Literacy Services for Reading Recovery. President Portz welcomed all visitors: Dr. Chuck Holliday, Elizabeth Peterson, Gary Hayenga, Suzee Hayenga, Nicole Hayenga, John Griffard, Nick Crosthwaite, and Margaret Crosthwaite. Principals: Loren Beswick, Kathleen Schipper, and Jim Spielman. RBEA Representative: Shelby Tiesman. Media Representative: None. Mr. Beswick introduced March Steamer of the Month Nicole Hayenga. One of the teachers who nominated Nicole said this, Nicole is a student that you can always count on to do the right thing. She is very conscientious in her class work and involved in school activities. School spirit is important to Nicole and she demonstrates that in her involvement at Fulton High School. Another teacher said this, Nicole has a great attitude toward school and has good school spirit. She excels in the classroom and is involved in extracurricular activities. She is also kind and considerate to her classmates. John Griffard, BLI Lighting, presented on grants and rebates available to upgrade lighting to meet Federal guidelines. The evaluation he did on the school district in 2009 projected an annual savings of $28,675. The Board directed Mr. Griffard to reevaluate. Since the project will be over $50,000, the board will have to go out for bid. Mr. Griffard informed the Board that if his company is not the successful bidder there will be a charge for the evaluation. It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Wade, to approve the consent agenda as presented including the February 22, 2011, Regular Board Meeting Minutes; as presented; March Bills recommended for payment; and February Treasurer s report subject to audit. Roll Call: Member Cole, yea Member Portz, yea Member Fish, yea Member St. Ores, yea Member Orman-Luker, yea Member Wade, yea President Portz asked if anyone would like to speak as part of public forum. There were no comments.

2 Communications included a recommendation from Gary Hayenga to have spring break earlier in March to coincide with the end of the third quarter. He also recommended making up snow days on Monday holidays so the calendar is not extended. Dr. Bauer indicated that some schools have a spring break that is not linked to Easter. River Bend has historically linked their spring break to Easter. Dr. Bauer also indicated the staff has been surveyed and on the last survey, they preferred to make up snow days at the end of the year. It was moved by Member Wade, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to enter into closed session for the purposes of discussing matters concerning the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; student disciplinary cases; setting the price for the sale or lease of property owned by the public body at 6:14 P.M. Roll Call: Member Cole, yea Member Portz, yea Member Fish, yea Member St. Ores, yea Member Orman-Luker, yea Member Wade, yea (Member Barnett entered during closed session) It was moved by Member Wade, seconded by Member St. Ores, to come out of closed session for the purposes of discussing matters concerning the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; student disciplinary cases; setting the price for the sale or lease of property owned by the public body at 8:45 P.M. Roll Call: Action following and related to closed session: It was moved by Member Fish, seconded by Member Cole, to rehire for the school year the following fourth year non tenure teachers and offer continuous contractual agreement beginning : FOURTH YEAR NON-TENURE TEACHERS Offer Tenure beginning ANTON JENNIFER K-5 Music / E ERNST ERICA 6-8 Cross Categorical / M HOESE JEFF Business / HS HOFFMAN CONNIE 6-8 Cross Categorical / M MEINSMA JACQUELINE 3 rd Grade / E PEPPER JENNIFER Science / HS SIKKEMA STACY Kindergarten / E Roll Call: It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Wade, to rehire for the school year the following teachers as presented: 2

3 THIRD YEAR NON-TENURE TEACHERS Offer Fourth Year contract beginning GRANT CHRIS Industrial Technology / HS LETCHER NICOLE English / HS PRIEGEL TYLER 6 th Grade/MS THICKSTEN ASHLEY K-5 Art/E SECOND YEAR NON-TENURE TEACHERS Offer Third Year contract beginning BYAM ELIZABETH 4 th Grade / E COIT DUSTIN Physical Ed & Health / HS GATES STACY Science / HS SCHIPPER TRACIE 1 st Grade / E SNOOK ANDREA Social Science / HS PART-TIME TEACHERS Offer First Year Full Time Full Year contract beginning CHOUINARD DAN Math/HS COX LACI Spec Ed/HS SHELDON DOROTHY Speech Language Pathologist PART-TIME TEACHERS LUKER NEAL Drama & Community Involvement 1/2/ HS SHAFF DIXIE Math 1/3/HS Roll Call: It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Wade, to employ Debbie Anderson as assistant sophomore softball coach. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Wade, seconded by Member Barnett, to approved Chuck Wiebenga as volunteer track coach. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Barnett, seconded by Member Cole, to approved Ben Kuebel as volunteer assistant boy s baseball coach. Roll Call: 3

4 It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to employ Dorothy Sheldon as a full time speech/language pathologist for school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to accept a resignation from Kelly Tenboer as speech language paraprofessional effective at the end of the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Fish, to employ Jacklynn Pessman as a one-onone teacher aide for a student per IEP. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Member Barnett, to employ Kim Abbott as River Bend Middle School secretary for the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Member Cole, to employ Mary Cobert as a special education paraprofessional for River Bend Middle School for the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Member Fish, to employ Ellen Loncar as a Fulton High School secretary for the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Wade, seconded by Member Cole, to employ Waneta Snyder as head custodian for Fulton High School effective July 1, Roll Call: 4

5 It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to approve a resolution to not reemploy Denise Vandendooren at the end of the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Fish, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to accept the resignation of Jeff Hoese as freshman football coach and sophomore class sponsor at the end of the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Member Wade, to accept with regret the retirement resignation of Carol Wiersema effective the end of the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member St. Ores, seconded by Member Cole, to accept a uniform offer to purchase the district owned tennis courts for $35,000 and direct the superintendent to finalize the sale. The Board thanks Barb Suehl-Janis and Barb Dickau for working on behalf of the district for this sale. It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Member Cole, to approve closed session minutes of February 22, 2011, regular board meeting. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Wade seconded by Member Barnett, to award the Schepler Scholarships to recommended students. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Barnett, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to employ Elizabeth Peterson as the Fulton Elementary School Principal for the school years. Roll Call: 5

6 It was moved by Member Fish, seconded by Member Wade, to combine the Athletic Director Secretary and Guidance Counselor Secretary to one full-time position for the school year. Roll Call: It was moved by Member Fish, seconded by Member St. Ores, to reduce the Fulton High School Head Custodian position from a nine (9) hour a day position to an eight (8) hour a day position effective July 1, Roll Call: It was moved Member Wade, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to reduce two part-time consumer science teachers to one full-time consumer science position for the school year. Roll Call: Principals' reports. There were no questions on the principal s report. Member Orman-Luker reported on behalf of the Foundation. The Academic Excellence Dinner was held March 8, 2011, with guest speaker, Mary Ellen Keegan, a 1972 graduate who is now an International Aeronautic Business Attorney. There were 130 attendees which was down from 178 last year. The Foundation met on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, and Martin Estate requests were approved for Ann Engeman, Deb Daehler, and Julie Geyer. Mini Grants were approved for $500 for motivational guest speaker Matt Glowacki submitted by Jeff Hoese and Michelle Rausenberger. Member Barnett reported on behalf of RACE. RACE met on February 23, 2011, and they voted to purchase a mobile lab for River Bend Middle School using D.S. Flikkema funds. Teams of teachers will attend two Common Core Standards training sponsored by the Regional Office of Education. RACE is exploring adding one more parent/teacher conference day in February and adding one more School Improvement Day in January. New members will be proposed to RACE at the next meeting in March. Dr. Bauer reported the District has received a Certificate of Financial Recognition for fiscal year 2010 from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). River Bend received a 3.9 four of the last five years and is up from a 1.85 Financial Watch in A 3.9 is the state s highest financial recognition. Dr. Bauer congratulated the Board for setting policies and making the tough financial decisions that have enabled the district to earn top finance honors despite tough financial times. Dr. Bauer reported on the budget and finances which both appear bleak in the general bleak economy in the state and nation. Dr. Bauer wrote a letter to Governor Quinn, Senator Jacobs, and Representative 6

7 Morthland asking them to fund education in Illinois. Mark Anderson, ISBE finance came to the district last month and conducted a study of the audit and budget to make projections. From his findings he stated the District should be able to maintain decent fund balances through 2014as long as they continue their current fiscal practices. A bar graph depicting revenue/expenditures/fund balances accompanied the report. Dr. Bauer reported enrollment is down one student from last month. The high school is now below 300 students. Dr. Bauer presented the ISBE Special Education Profile which provides a comparison of identified students. River Bend has more students in the specific learning disability category than the cooperative, other unit districts, and the state. River Bend is under in other categories. Dr. Bauer informed the Board she spoke to Winnie Tuthill from ISBE regarding the inquiry to file for a physical education waiver before entering into the last waiver filed. Ms. Tuthill indicated there is no precedence for this and it would raise questions. Dr. Bauer informed the Board the Secretary of State, Jesse White, has announced that River Bend received a per capita grant of $ for the School Library Program. Dr. Bauer informed the Board that the Fulton High School Response to Intervention (RtI) Team is recommending the trial of Study Island at a cost of $700. This is a Tier 2 and Tier 3 RtI intervention and state test preparation. The system is progressive, for example, the better a student performs, the more difficult the curriculum becomes. Dr. Bauer reported that she has been in contact with Don Damhoff, local flood board member and David Reynold, US Army Core of Engineers regarding possible flooding this spring. At this point, the data indicates there is a 98% chance we will have flooding and a 70% chance that the water will reach feet, the 1993 flood stage. Any response from the district would be based on the Local Emergency Manager s request. Dr. Bauer informed the Board the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer met with the district regarding E-pay, which is a credit card service provided by the state. The cost would be $299 per terminal for each building and approximately 2% charge from each credit card company for each charge card transaction. The district can use the state for free so there is no bank cost. Dr. Bauer indicated that this is a discussion item at this time and she will check with other districts that use this service to see the percentage of transactions that are processed using a credit card. The Board would also have to consider increasing all fees by 2% to cover the cost of charge cards as the district could not fiscally absorb the 2% of each charge card transaction. Personnel was reserved for closed session. It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Wade, to approve the second reading of select policy updates and approve as Board policy: 2:150, 2:220, 2:230, 2:260, 4:10, 4:150, 4:170, 5:10, 5:30, 5:90, 5:120, 5:185, 5:220, 5:260, 6:110, 6:210, 6:300, 7:50, 7:60, 7:100, 7:270, 7:290, and 7:310; and 2:60, 2:70, 2:110, 2:125, 4:80, 4:180, 6:140, 7:10, and 7:70. Roll Call: 7

8 Dr. Bauer reported the architect has approved the specs as presented by Track Surface Company for $38,000. Midwest Tennis and Track, Denison, IA submitted a bid of $55,250. The District does not have to go out for bid because the lowest estimate is under $50,000. Dr. Bauer has contacted First MidState to begin the paperwork for a $50,000 Working Cash Bond. Dr. Bauer reported on bleacher replacement and repair. J & D Enterprises has submitted a proposal dated December 15, 2010, to replace the student bleachers for $16,990 and to replace the visitor side bleachers at a cost of $32,000. Dr. Bauer will talk to the architect and get other companies to bid. A $50,000 Health Life Safety bond could be obtained to pay for this work. Dr. Bauer informed the Board that they must establish a date for an organizational meeting to be held after the election authority canvasses the vote and within twenty-eight days after the consolidated election. It was moved by Member Fish, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to establish the board organizational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on April 11, 2011, with the regular board meeting to follow immediately after the organizational meeting. Voice vote, all yea, motion carried. Dr. Bauer recommended the approval of the lease agreement between Bi-County Special Education Cooperative and River Bend for the Bi-County Preschool portion of the Fulton Blended Preschool in the amount of $6,250 annually. Past rates are as follows: at Albany in their own room was $8,750 and from 2005 to present the rate has been $6,250 for a shared space. Any increase in the lease amount would have to be approved by the Bi-County Board. It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Member Fish, to approve a lease agreement with Bi-County Board of Control for the use of one classroom for Early Childhood at the annual rate of $6,250 and direct the superintendent to sign the lease agreement. Roll Call: Motion Carried. Dr. Bauer informed the Board Spring Green proposes to provide six applications to the football field. They will provide four at a cost of $ and two at no cost. The total cost for the application of the football field is $985. They also propose to spray all schools for broadleaf with two applications at $600 each for a total of $1,200 and two sprayings at $190 each or $380 total for broadleaf on the practice field. Pro-Tech Lawn proposes three applications to the football field for $225 each for a total of $675. They also propose to spray all the schools for broadleaf with two applications at $750 each for a total of $1,500. The difference in the football field is $ a spray with Pro-Tech low. The difference in the buildings is $300 with Spring Green low. It was moved by Member St. Ores, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to approve four paid sprayings by Spring Green and accept two free sprayings by Spring Green for the Fulton High School football field at a cost of $985, two sprayings at all the schools for $1,200, and two sprayings on the practice field for $380. Roll Call: Member Cole, nay Member Portz, nay Motion Carried. 8

9 Dr. Bauer informed the Board that the River Bend Middle School Student Store Activity Fund is inactive and should be closed with the balance moved to the fund closest related to the fund. It was moved by Member Wade, seconded by Member Orman-Luker, to abolish the River Bend Middle School Student Store Activity Fund and transfer the balance of $ to the Middle School Student Council. Roll Call: Motion Carried. Dr. Bauer informed the Board that the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) and the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) propose a joint resolution to strongly oppose any legislative proposals for mandatory school district consolidation. It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Fish, to approve the IASA/IASB joint resolution to strongly oppose any legislative proposals for mandatory school district consolidation and support the belief that reorganization of school districts should be an indication of the community s interest and values rather than decreed indiscriminately from the Legislature. Roll Call: Motion Carried. Dr. Bauer indicated that it is time to renew the Illinois High School Association Membership (IHSA) for IHSA membership will not require payment of membership dues or state series entry fees per action of the IHSA Board of Directors. It was moved by Member Orman-Luker, seconded by Member Fish, to adopt and abide by the Constitution, By-laws, Terms and Conditions, and Administrative Procedures, guidelines, and Policies of the Association for the school term. Voice vote, all yea, motion carried. Dr. Bauer informed the Board that it is time to go out for bids for property and casualty insurance to go into affect July, 1, It was moved by Member Cole, seconded by Member Wade, to direct the superintendent to seek bids for board Property and Casualty Insurance and Legal Liability Insurance. Voice vote, all yea, motion carried. It was moved by Member Wade, seconded by Member Barnett, to approve Harlem Literacy Services for Continuing Contact Professional Development services for the school year Reading Recovery at a cost of $675 per teacher. Roll Call: Motion Carried. 9

10 It was moved by Member St. Ores, seconded by Member Wade to change the meeting time of the Board Organization Meeting on Monday, April 11, 2011, to 5:30 P.M., with the regular meeting to follow. Roll Call: A Special Organizational Board Meeting will be held Monday, April 11, 2011, at 5:30 P.M. at the River Bend District Office with the Regular Board Meeting to follow. It was moved by Member St. Ores, seconded by Member Wade, to adjourn the meeting at 9:48 P.M. Voice vote, all yea, motion carried. Dan Portz, President Eric Fish, Secretary Board of Education Board of Education River Bend Unit District #2 River Bend Unit District #2 Whiteside County Whiteside County 10