District 157-C November 16, 2016 Board of Education Meeting Recap

The regular Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education meeting of November 16, 2016 was called to order by Board President Gina Briese at 7:00 p.m. The roll call was taken and a quorum was present. The Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

There was no correspondence.

The Board approved the Open and Closed Session minutes of the regular meeting of October 19, 2016.

No one signed up to speak during the Public Forum portion of the meeting.

Director of Curriculum & Instruction Janet McClarence, Director of Special Services Jen Bajda, Hickory Creek Middle School Principal Will Seidelmann, Chelsea Intermediate School Principal Dr. Sharon Paver-Nepote and Grand Prairie Elementary School Principal Eileen Nelson presented the student achievement results from the PARCC assessment administered in spring 2016 and the TerraNova assessment administered in fall 2016. (SEE SEPARATE PRESS RELEASE.)

Director of Technology Jake Nelson reported that plans have been finalized for the technology upgrades that will be completed over Thanksgiving and Winter Break at Chelsea and Grand Prairie.

Director of Building & Grounds Rodney Davis provided reports from the Business Office and Building & Grounds. He reported that he and Assistant Superintendent Curt Saindon are having quarterly building meetings with the principals to ensure that their needs are being met and planning for any large-scale projects that may be considered for next spring and/or summer. He also reported that he has started an in-house inventory and that the trucks are being prepared for snow plowing.

The Board heard a report provided by Monica Meseck, President, and Nesli Eames, Secretary, of the District’s Athletic Booster organization. They outlined numerous enhancements the group has provided for the athletic programs at all schools. Superintendent Dr. Maura Zinni stated, “This is a really small group that gives back a lot.”

The Board heard a report from Board Secretary Edie Adamski on the Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843 Advisory Committee meeting of October 17, 2016 and the Governing Board meeting of October 25, 2016.

In the Superintendent’s report, Dr. Maura Zinni recognized the Board in honor of School Board Member's Day November 16, 2016. She provided the Board with an update of the District’s observation of American Education Week November 14-18, 2016. She provided the Board with the School Calendar Parent Survey Results which resulted in about 400 responses. She also updated the Board with information on the plans for conducting this year’s Illinois 5Essentials Survey. She encourages families in the district to take the survey because the district must have at least a 20 percent response rate in order to receive result reports from the state.

Assistant Superintendent Curt Saindon provided the Board with the Treasurer's Report and Graphs. The total fund balance reserves decreased in October by about $1.74M (from $48,165,836 at the end of September to $46,427,258 at the end of October.) This decrease is normal for this time of year as the District typically has minimum revenues (under $1M) and normal expenses (over $2M.) These balances are drawn down over the remainder of the year until the early/advanced tax receipts for next year arrive from Will County in late May and June. The District collected $629.5K in revenues in October and paid out $2.37M in expenses, both within expected ranges. Normal monthly expenses are expected to be about $2.3M -$2.5M during the year. Board Bills for October are $2,117,432.94 and were presented at the November 16 Board meeting.

There were two Freedom of Information requests and they were responded to in a timely manner.

In discussion, Superintendent Dr. Maura Zinni provided the Board with information regarding the Teacher Leader pilot program and recommendations for supporting the District's staff to improve instruction and ultimately improve student outcomes.

In discussion, Assistant Superintendent Curt Saindon shared with the Board student technology fee options to support the District's 21st Century Continuous Learning Plan. The Administration is doing some comparison of fees within other districts and continuing to consider changes in the district’s fee schedule, with a recommendation coming to the Board in January, 2017.

In discussion, the Board held the first reading of the following Board of Education policies: 2:70, School Board: Vacancies on School Board - Filling Vacancies, 2:120, School Board: Board Member Development, 2:125, School Board: Board Member Compensation; Expenses, 2:200, School Board: Types of School Board Meetings, 2:220, School Board: School Board Meeting Procedures, 4:60, Operational Services: Purchases and Contracts, 4.110, Operational Services: Transportation, 4:170, Operational Services: Safety, 4:175, Operational Services: Convicted Child Sex Offender; Screening; Notifications, 5:60, General Personnel: Expenses, 5:125, General Personnel: Personal Technology and Social Media; Usage and Conduct, 5:185, General Personnel: Family Medical Leave, 5:190, Professional Personnel: Teacher Qualifications, 5:250, Professional Personnel: Leaves of Absence, 5:260, Professional Personnel: Student Teachers, 6:15, Instruction: School Accountability, 6:50, Instruction: School Wellness, 6:60, Instruction: Curriculum Content, 6:145, Instruction: Migrant Students, 6:160, Instruction: English Learners, 6:170, Instruction: Title I Programs, 6:340, Instruction: Student Testing and Assessment Program, 7:30, Students: Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer, 7:50, Students: School Admissions and Student Transfers to and from Non-District Schools, 7:60, Students: Residence, 7:70, Students: Attendance and Truancy, 7:250, Students: Student Support Services, 7:270, Students: Exemption from Physical Education, 7:305, Students: Student Athlete Concussion and Head Injuries, 7:360, Students: Directory Information, and 7:370, Students: Student Record Challenges.

In discussion, Assistant Superintendent Curt Saindon presented the Board with the tentative property tax levy for 2016 and discussed potential abatement scenarios. The Administration made the recommendation that the Board approve the Tentative Certificate of Tax, Levy, Truth in Taxation Resolution and the Certification for the 2016 tentative tax levy, reflecting total anticipated levy needs of $28,040,000 levy for operating/capped funds and a $4,138,880 levy for non-operating/non-capped (debt service) funds. It was also recommended that the Board consider and approve incorporating a debt service abatement from existing fund balance reserves to be reviewed, finalized and approved in December that would allow the overall levy to grow by about 1 – 3 percent based on current estimates. Furthermore, that the Board call/order a Public Hearing on the Tax Levy to be held on December 21, 2016, at approximately 7:10 p.m. in the Grand Prairie Elementary School Board Room and direct the Administration to publish notice of said public hearing and take any other actions as required by the Truth in Taxation Act and relevant State laws and acknowledge that District 157-C is not technically required to comply with said Act this year, due to the fact that its tax capped levy request for 2016 will not be increasing over last year's 2015 capped levy extension by more than 5 percent. The Board directed the Administration to prepare a $ 1 million property tax abatement to reduce the levy and have it ready for presentation in December when the levy is finalized.

In discussion, Assistant Superintendent Curt Saindon provided the Board with the update on the tax appeals and the Frankfort Area Taxing Body Coalition.

In discussion, Assistant Superintendent Curt Saindon recommended items recommended to be declared surplus.

The Board took action to approve the employment of Joshua Napier as a Stipend Wrestling Coach at Hickory Creek Middle School with a start date of November 28, 2016 and will tentatively end on March 10, 2017 at a salary amount of $4,318.00 for the 2016-2017 school year, contingent upon the receipt and evaluation of employment documentation required by District 157-C and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Board took action to approve the employment of Kenneth Meracle as a Stipend Assistant Wrestling Coach at Hickory Creek Middle School with a start date of November 28, 2016 and will tentatively end on March 10, 2017 at a salary amount of $2,391.00 for the 2016-2017 school year, contingent upon the receipt and evaluation of employment documentation required by District 157-C and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Board took action to approve the increase of Leslie Walton, from .25 Full-Time equivalent to .50 Full-Time equivalent as a Chorus and Art Teacher at Hickory Creek Middle School for the 2016-2017 school year, contingent upon the receipt and evaluation of employment documentation required by District 157-C and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Board took action to approve the employment of Thomas Rogers as a Full-Time Maintenance with a start date of November 14, 2016 at an hourly rate of $25.00 for the 2016-2017 school year, contingent upon the receipt and evaluation of employment documentation required by District 157-C and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Board took action to approve the employment of Michelle Velky as a Part-Time Paraprofessional at Grand Prairie Elementary School with a start date of November 14, 2016 at an hourly rate of $12.95 for the 2016-2017 school year, contingent upon the receipt and evaluation of employment documentation required by District 157-C and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Board took action to approve the employment of Gloria Salgado as a Full-Time Paraprofessional at Grand Prairie Elementary School with a start date of November 14, 2016 at an hourly rate of $12.95 for the 2016-2017 school year, contingent upon the receipt and evaluation of employment documentation required by District 157-C and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Board took action to accept the amended Aramark contract.

The Board took action to approve the resolution as presented for the tentative 2016 tax levy and set the date, time and place for the levy hearing as December 21, 2016, 7:10 p.m. in the Board Room and directed the Administration to post a notice for this public hearing.

The Board approved the October payment of bills as presented.

The Board approved the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, Executive Secretary to the Superintendent and the Board of Education to attend the Triple I Conference November 18, 19 and 20th in Chicago.

In the Consent Agenda, the Board approved the Resolution for the Disposal of Surplus Property including miscellaneous furniture and students desks from Hickory Creek, small cabinets from Chelsea and old curriculum materials from Grand Prairie, as surplus and unneeded for school district operations. The Board directed the Assistant Superintendent and District Office to sell or trade in these surplus items, as appropriate, for their fair market value in accordance with established State statutes and Illinois School Code provisions.

The Board went into Closed Session at 9:22 p.m. to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance and/or dismissal of specific employees; student discipline; student residency; student issue; reclassification of employees; and pending litigation. Closed Session began at 9:26 p.m.

The Board adjourned the Closed Session meeting and returned to Open Session meeting at 9:33 p.m.

Following Closed Session, the Board took action to approve the eight unpaid days and resignation effective November 18, 2016 of said employee as presented.

The Board adjourned the Regular meeting at 9:34 p.m.

The next regular District 157-C Board of Education meeting will be held on December 21, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at Grand Prairie Elementary School, 10480 West Nebraska Street, in Frankfort, Illinois.