SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 9 Piasa, Illinois 62079 REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES November 16, 2010 The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on November 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Middle School Commons Room in Piasa, Illinois. Marty Johnson-President asked Steve Ritzhaupt, Secretary to call roll showing those members present were: Marty Johnson-President, Steve Reed-Vice President, Steve Ritzhaupt-Recording Secretary, Mike Wegener, Jim Wickenhauser. Rodney Bailey and Tim Baker, Brad Skertich-Superintendent and Pat Milner-Recording Secretary and Rose Bagley were also present. Visitors sign-in sheet is attached. A motion was made by Rodney Bailey and seconded by Mike Wegener to approve the minutes of the regular school board meeting of October 19, 2010 as presented. A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Marty Johnson to approve the closed session minutes of October 19, 2010 as presented. A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Steve Ritzhaupt to approve the October bills and the consent agenda bills as presented. Ayes: Bailey, Wickenhausr, Baker, Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt and Johnson A motion was made by Steve Ritzhaupt and seconded by Steve Reed to approve the imprest bills and the extra pay and substitute pay as presented. Page 1
Brad Skertich, Superintendent, gave the financial report as of October 31, 2010 with fund balances in the Education Fund as $1,718,972, Operations and Maintenance Fund as $805,703, Transportation Fund as $14,818 and the Working Cash Fund as $1,300,125. Mr. Skertich reported that we have received all local taxes but stated that the State of Illinois still owes the district $436,000 from last years mandated categoricals and so far $339,089 for this years mandated categoricals. A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to approve the financial report as presented. Ayes: Baker, Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey and Wickenhauser Correspondence: Marty Johnson read a thank you from Karen Sinks thanking the Board for permitting her the opportunity to address the school board at the October meeting and also on behalf of the students and parents a thank you for implementing a full time certified teacher s aide at Brighton West. Mr. Johnson also read a thank you from the teachers at Brighton West Elementary for hearing their concerns and hiring the extra help. Mr. Skertich reported on the finance committee meeting that was held on Thursday October 28, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. At that meeting discussion was held on the sale of working cash bonds, cafeteria deficit reduction plan and the tax levy. Information on the sale of working cash bonds was discussed. Multiple options were presented for payment structure and how each will affect future tax levies. A motion was made by Rodney Bailey and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to approve the finance committee meeting minutes of October 28, 2010 as presented. Ayes: Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey, Wickenhauser and Baker Superintendent Report: Resignations: None Employment: A motion was made by Rodney Bailey and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to employ Brian Hanslow as HS Boys JV Basketball Coach. Ayes: Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey, Wickenhauser and Baker Nays: Wegener Page 2
A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Steve Ritzhaupt to employ Jeff Hall as HS Girls JV Basketball Coach and MS Girls Assistant Basketball Coach. A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Rodney Bailey to employ Haley Lyons as a 2 hour Teacher s Aide, effective Novemer 1, 2010. A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to employ Annie Radcliff for a 2 hour teacher s aide effective November 1, 2010. Ayes: Bailey, Wickenhauser, Baker, Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaup and Johnson A motion was made by Rodney Bailey and seconded by Steve Reed to employ Ramona Puskar as a 2 hour teacher s aide, effective November 1, 2010. A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Steve Ritzhaupt to recall Diane Ford as a teacher s aide, effective November 2, 2010. Ayes: Baker, Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey and Wickenhauser A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Mike Wegener to employ Lindsey Becker as a building secretary, effective October 4, 2010. Ayes: Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey, Wickenhauser and Baker Page 3
A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Marty Johnson to employ Rose Bagley as Accounts Payable/District Office Administrative Secretary, effective November 1, 2010. Ayes: Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey, Wickenhauser, Baker and Wegener Leave of Absence: A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to approve a leave of absence request for Charlotte Erwin from November 1 through November 30, 2010 as requested. Substitute List: A motion was made by Steve Ritzhaupt and seconded by Tim Baker to approve substitute list #4 as presented and attached. Ayes: Bailey, Wickenhauser, Baker, Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt and Johnson Enrollment A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to approve the district enrollment report as presented by Brad Skertich and attached. To date district enrollment is at 1,719 and total suspensions for the district stand at 24. District Highlights: Mr. Skertich announced that Parent Teacher Conferences went very well this year and were very well attended. District Christmas Programs will be at the high school this year with Grades K-3 to be held on December 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. and Grades 4-6 to be held on December 6, 2010 at 7:00. Non-denominational Thanksgiving Services will be held in the Middle School Commons on November 24, 2010 at 7:30. Toys for Tots will be collecting toys in each building starting November 22 nd. Mr. Skertich announced that the band boosters have asked to fund the jazz band for the 2010-2011 school year as an extra-curricular. Page 4
Gwen Barcum Special Education School social workers Laura Messinger and Jennifer Huelsman have completed bullying presentations in all schools. They will revisit this issue when necessary. Christy Willman Brighton West and Brighton North Mrs. Willman thanked Rhonda Wooldridge, Michelle Ernst and Mary White for their help with Red Ribbon Week in teaching our students to make healthy choices. She also thanked the Jerseyville Rotary Club for presenting each 3 rd grade student at Brighton North with a dictionary. Mrs. Willman recognized the maintenance department for building a wall to separate the 2 nd grade classrooms. Schools are excited to be celebrating American Education Week. Public Comment: Dana Emmons was recognized representing parents of Southwestern Middle School concerned with the current block schedule used in the middle school. Mrs. Emmons stated that students need consistency in their learning and students need exposure to their core subjects daily which does not happen with a block schedule. Mrs. Emmons asked the Board and administration to please look at the current block schedule and get back to the Jr. High schedule to get core subjects back in the curriculum each and every day. Joe Pence was unable to attend but had asked that Mr. Skertich announce that the High School Booster club has met their goal to raise $40,000 to help fund sports for the 2010-2011 school year. Mr. Pence also wanted to thank the Board for the family passes. Old Business: None New Business: A motion was made by Steve Ritzhaupt and seconded by Rodney Bailey to approve the 2010 tax levy (collected in 2011) as presented. Ayes: Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey, Wickenhauser, Baker and Wegener A motion was made by Steve Ritzhaupt and seconded by Steve Reed to support the Macoupin, Jersey and Greene County Truancy Ordinance #0-2010.04. This ordinance would allow for parents to be fined $25, $50 and $100 if students are absent 10% of last 180 days without a valid reason. Page 5
Mark Bearley asked Brian Borkowski to explain the SAS (Support for Academic Success) program recently implemented in the high school. Students are given a SAS pass to meet with their SAS advisor for individual instruction during SAS period. Mr. Borkowski explained that their goal is to better meet the needs of students at all levels. Peer tutoring is also proving to be very successful. Grades are checked each Friday to insure student success. The 2011 High School Improvement Plan is being adopted because the high school has been placed on the academic watch list due to the high school not meeting AYP requirements. A motion was made by Jim Wickenhauser and seconded by Steve Ritzhaupt to approve the 2011 High School Improvement Plan as presented. A motion was made by Steve Ritzhaupt and seconded by Steve Reed to approve to seek bids for the Brighton North Door project and to be funded by Health Life Safety Money. Ayes: Bailey, Wickenhauser, Baker, Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt and Johnson The Vacation Plan for the Piasa Office Staff, Director of Maintenance, Assistant Director of Maintenance and Transportation Director was tabled to be discussed in executive session. At 7:45 p.m. a motion was made to go into executive session for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. At 8:30 p.m. a motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to open the meeting to regular session. Ayes: Reed, Ritzhaupt, Johnson, Bailey, Wickenhauser, Baker and Wegener Page 6
A motion was made by Jim Wickenhauser and seconded by Rodney Bailey to table the proposed vacation plan for the Piasa Office Staff, Director of Maintenance, Assistant Director of Maintenance and Transportation Director to revisit at a later meeting. Ayes: Bailey, Wickenhauser, Baker, Wegener, Reed, Ritzhaupt and Johnson A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Jim Wickenhauser to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m. Pat Milner Recording Secretary Board President Board Secretary Page 7