Chambana Sun

St. Joseph-Ogden High School District #305 Board of Education met August 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

1. Call to Order

Meeting called to order at 7:07 p.m. by president James Rein

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

Present: Rein, McCormick, Reese, Taylor, Schluter, McDermott, Vogelsang

Absent:

Also Present: Brian Brooks, Superintendent; Gary Page, Principal

4. Approval of Agenda

Mr. Brooks recommended approval of the agenda as presented.

Motion: McCormick

Second: Schluter

To: approve the agenda as presented

Voting Yes: 7

Voting No: 0

Motion Carried

5. Approval of Consent Agenda

Mr. Brooks discussed the consent agenda items and recommended approval as presented.

Motion: McCormick

Second: Taylor

To: approve the consent agenda as presented

Voting Yes: McDermott, Vogelsang, Schluter, McCormick, Rein, Reese, Taylor

Voting No:

Motion Carried

* Approval of Minutes – July 24, 2017 regular and closed session meeting as presented

* Approval of Bills – approved as presented

* Application for Recognition of Schools 2017-2018 – approved as presented

* Resolution to Regulate Expense Reimbursement – approved as presented

* Extracurricular Overnight Trips – approved as presented

• Cross Country, Volleyball, FFA

* Donation of new score boards from Fan Club to be installed in main gym in September

* Teacher Tuition Reimbursement Request

• Kiel Duval – EDL 5900 at EIU

* Personnel – approved as presented

• Dalton Burks – Unpaid Activities Director Intern for the fall

6. Communication From STA

Ryan Searby was present.

7. Communication from Visitors

Nora from The Leader was present.

8. Informational Items/Dates

• September 4 – No School ~ Labor Day

• September 15 – ½ Day Teacher In-Service ~ School Dismissal at 11:40 a.m.

• September 22 – Academic Awards Assembly at 10:15 a.m.

• September 22/23 – Homecoming Activities

• September 25 – Budget Hearing at 6:50 p.m./Regular Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

9. Business

A. Unfinished Business

1. Science Classrooms/Labs Project

Mr. Brooks gave the board an update on the science classrooms/labs project. The cabinetry will not be installed until beginning September 11th. The floor and ceiling tiles have been installed and they look great.

2. Potential TIF District Update

Mr. Brooks reported that the potential TIF district situation has not changed much. We need the growth but there is also some talk of new TIF districts in new school funding discussions that could adversely affect this district.

B. New Business

1. Tentative FY 2018 Budget

Mr. Brooks discussed the tentative FY 2018 budget. He stated that the numbers will likely change a little prior to final adoption at the September meeting and went on to explain what and why that might be. The projection for the main four funds is a deficit of $61,976 that is comprised of a $232,706 Education fund deficit, a $52,775 surplus in O&M, a $20,271 surplus in Transportation, and a $97,684 surplus in Working Cash.

Motion: Taylor

Second: McDermott

To: approve the tentative budget for fiscal year 2017-2018 as presented

Voting Yes: Schluter, McCormick, Rein, Reese, Taylor, McDermott, Vogelsang

Voting No:

Motion Carried

2. Health Insurance Rates

Mr. Brooks reported that Health Alliance is recommending a rate increase of 7.95% for the January 1 health insurance renewal. That will make the single coverage rate $499 per employee. The IERMP board has already approved that rate increase and he recommended that our board also accept that increase.

Motion: Rein

Second: McCormick

To: accept the rate increase of 7.95% for the January 1, 2018 health insurance renewal

Voting Yes: McDermott, Taylor, Reese, Schluter, Rein, McCormick

Voting No:

Abstain: Vogelsang

Motion Carried

3. Working Cash Fund Loan to Capital Projects Fund

Mr. Brooks, Mr. Page, and Shane Baker have been looking at carpet pieces that are designed to protect the wood gym floors during non-athletic events. The low proposal came from Kieffer U.S.A. in the amount of $11,449.75. Mr. Brooks recommended approval.

Motion: Schluter

Second: Vogelsang

To: approve a loan from the Working Cash fund to the Capital Projects fund in the amount of $250,000

Voting Yes: Taylor, McCormick, McDermott, Reese, Rein, Vogelsang, Schluter

Voting No:

Motion Carried

4. Gym Floor Protective Covering

Mr. Brooks, Mr. Page, and Shane Baker have been looking at carpet pieces that are designed to protect the wood gym floors during non-athletic events. The low proposal came from Kieffer U.S.A. in the amount of $11,449.75. Mr. Brooks recommended approval.

Motion: McDermott

Second: Taylor

To: approve the purchase of carpet pieces from Kieffer U.S.A. in the amount of $11,449.75 as presented

Voting Yes: Reese, Schluter, Vogelsang, Taylor, McCormick, McDermott, Rein

Voting No:

Motion Carried

5. No Trespass Letter

Mr. Brooks and Mr. Page recommended that a no trespass letter be issued to three non-SJO individuals due to activities that took place on SJO property this summer.

Motion: Rein

Second: McCormick

To: approve issuance of three No Trespass letters as presented

Voting Yes: 7

Voting No: 0

Motion Carried

6. Driver Education Car Purchase

The current driver education car has over 150,000 miles on it. Mr. Brooks has checked at a Toyota dealer about purchasing a used Toyota Camry. We can likely get one with 20,000 to 30,000 miles for $18,000 or less. We could then use the current driver education car as a staff car and potentially save about $6,000 in mileage reimbursements. Mr. Brooks will bring this back to the board next month since they indicated interest in doing this.

7. Board Policy Updates – 1st Reading

A first reading was held of board policies 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure, 6:80 Teaching About Controversial Issues, 6:210Instructional Materials, 7:275 Orders to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment, and 8:70 Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities. Policies 2:210 Organizational School Board Meeting, 4:70 Resource Conservation, 6:330 Achievement and Awards, 7:80 Release Time for Religious Instruction/Observance, and 7:160 Student Appearance are up for 5 year reviews but no changes are recommended. The policies will be up for second reading and action in September.

8. Principal’s Report

Mr. Page reported on beginning of the year enrollment figures that sit at 469. We are down 5 from the projected number last year. He also reported that Parkland is planning to pilot an Early Transfer Academy for non-vocational students next fall. It looks a lot like ECCA. Students could earn up to 18 credit hours per year and could potentially earn an Associate degree while in high school. He believes that this is something that we might want to explore for the future.

9. Retirement Incentive Policy Request

Mr. Rein suggested that the board go into closed session before acting on this request. See action on closed session items below.

10. Closed Session

Motion: Rein

Second: McCormick

To: go into closed session at 8:32 p.m. to discuss 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. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

Voting Yes: McCormick, Vogelsang, Taylor, McDermott, Rein, Reese, Schluter

Voting No:

Motion Carried

Open session resumed at 8:54 p.m.

11. Action on Closed Session Items

Motion: McCormick

Second: Rein

To: approve an annual 6% increase for the next 4 years beginning October 1, 2017 for Suzanne Jean under the Retirement Incentive for Educational Support Personnel Policy

Voting Yes: Schluter, Rein, Vogelsang, McCormick, Reese, Taylor, McDermott

Voting No:

Motion Carried

12. Good of the Cause

Mr. Brooks showed the board a plaque given to the district by the army in appreciation for letting them use the track for physical fitness testing this summer.

Mr. Rein thanked the Fan Club and everyone involved for the scoreboards donation.

The new banners have been hung in the main gym and look nice. The old ones will be put up for auction.

13. Adjournment

Motion: Rein

Second: McCormick

To: adjourn at 8:58 p.m.

Voting Yes: 7

Voting No: 0

Motion Carried

http://www.sjo.k12.il.us/sites/sjo.k12.il.us/files/aug_28_2017_minutes.pdf