At the regular Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education meeting held on February 10, the Board approved the open and closed session minutes of the regular meeting of January 13.
The Board heard a presentation from Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Janet Goggins, about the results of the Terra Nova assessment. Students from second through seventh grade complete Terra Nova assessments during the fall in the areas of Language, Mathematics and Reading. District 157-C students continually perform well above national averages. All 157-C schools use the assessment results as a means of gathering diagnostic, prescriptive and reflective information to plan for student needs.
Mrs. Goggins also presented the Board with information on Erin’s Law signed by Governor Pat Quinn in January of 2013. Two new policies have been mandated to be added to the curriculum, the Teen Dating Violence Policy and Erin’s Law. All schools in the State of Illinois are now required to provide age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education programs for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Administrators and school social workers collaborated to determine child-friendly and age-appropriate content for every grade level and to provide training for staff. District 157-C will be adding “Child Lures Prevention: Think First and Stay Safe” curriculum for the 2013-14 school year. It will focus on the 7 Cornerstones for Effective Prevention with a significant focus on the different types of child lures and how to respond. Seventh and eighth grade students will also be taught how to prevent, identify and report potential abuse, specifically in the dating relationship. Parents are being advised that they will have the option to have their child excused from the Erin’s Law lessons by contacting Mrs. Goggins via email at jgoggins@fsd157c.org by February 19, 2014.
Find out what's happening in Frankfortfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Assistant Superintendent, Curt Saindon, provided the Board with the Treasurer’s Report. Board bills for February amounted to $2,677,806.24, higher than usual because of a third payroll period, which happens twice a year. Fund balances also decreased in January related to recent bond refinancing. Mr. Saindon also reported that the custodial staff has been doing a great job with snow removal and weather-related repairs in the district. He reported that the district has seen considerable savings with the custodial staff doing the snow plowing rather than contracting out for these services.
Grand Prairie Elementary School Principal, Eileen Nelson, reported that ten iPads have arrived. Three will be available for Project BEGIN and seven will be placed on a cart for check-out. Mrs. Nelson also reported that computer hardware configurations in the building for next school year are being determined. These efforts support the district’s Strategic Plan goals for technology. Mrs. Nelson further reported that a recent math night at the school was well attended and a huge success.Chelsea Intermediate School Principal, Kristin Simpkins, reported that the Math Lab pilot has continued to evolve this year. Information was secured from teachers and students to adjust the structure of the activities for the Math Lab to better support the timelines available. She stated that the student feedback secured through the Student Ambassador meetings has been incredibly positive. Students indicated that they liked how interesting the activities were, that they had choice in how to do math and that they could work with different students and be exposed to different teaching styles. The Math Lab pilot supports the district’s Strategic Plan goals for good student outcomes. Mrs. Simpkins also complimented Assistant Principal, Dan Prorok, and the staff for their continuing efforts with the Response to Intervention (RTI) program.
Find out what's happening in Frankfortfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Hickory Creek Middle School Principal, Dr. Kevin Suchinski, reported that several school activities support the district’s Strategic Plan for good student outcomes. Some of these include the recent science fair and spelling bee, the upcoming Rebecca Caudill reading voting celebration, participation in the Scholastic Bowl Team, a student bowling club and eighth grade students participating in the high school transition program. Dr. Suchinski reported that the eighth grade volleyball won the Tiger Tournament, the sixth grade basketball team won second place at the Des Plaines Valley Conference and the seventh grade basketball team won the Regional Championship and advanced to the sectional game. Dr. Suchinski also reported that the eighth grade graduation date has been determined. It will be held on June 2 at Lincoln-Way West High School.
Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Janet Goggins, reported that the district social workers met as a team to finalize plans for the Erin’s Law required curricular implementation as well as the teen dating violence trainings. Social workers completed mandatory staff trainings for all building staff and made plans to begin delivering lessons to students in February and March. She also reported that the district physical education teachers met as a team to articulate how to further enhance the existing Physical Education program at all buildings. PE teachers that attended previous workshops shared their new learning with the rest of the group and feedback was very positive. These efforts support the district’s Strategic Plan goals for good student outcomes.Director of Technology, Jake Nelson, reported that he is working on gathering information to prepare the proposal for replacement of computers at Grand Prairie and Chelsea Schools and he is identifying ways to reduce the cost of the project. All computer use is being reviewed to eliminate machines with low utilization as well as reorganize the way they are grouped and used throughout the buildings. This effort supports the district’s Strategic Plan goals for technology.
Interim Superintendent, Dr. Patricia Wernet, reported that the Superintendent Search firm, BWP & Associates, will present the slate of candidates to the Board in a closed session on February 17. She reported that there are currently 48 applicants for the Superintendent position and the search firm has begun interviewing. The Board will interview final candidates later this month, with the new Superintendent to start this summer. Dr. Wernet reported that summer hours will be consistent with the previous three summers, with staff working a four day week starting June 9 through August 1 and working half-day Friday’s on August 8 and 15. Dr. Wernet reported that the district has been awarded a FY 2014 School Maintenance Grant, which is a matching grant for $50,000. Dr. Wernet provided the Board with information regarding the process for holiday modification related to the school calendar. Dr. Wernet also reported that the Board is invited to attend the Lincoln-Way Area Special Education Cooperative joint meeting scheduled for February 24.
The Board heard a report from Board Vice President Patrick Usher on the Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843 Governing Board meeting of January 28. The Board also heard a report from Board member Cari Mills regarding the most recent Family School Partnership organization meeting.
There were two Freedom of Information items.
The Board of Education member of the month is Edie Adamski, who started on the Board in 2011. The administrator of the month is Hickory Creek Middle School Assistant Principal Sean Rhoads and the Frankfort Teachers’ Association Executive Board Member of the month is Hickory Creek teacher Cheryl Donovan.
In discussion, the Board reviewed the District 157-C Parent/Student Handbook for 2014-2015. Prior to being submitted to the Board for approval, the handbook was reviewed and revised by a committee comprised of administrators, teachers and parents.
The Board held the first reading of the following Board policies: 3:60 General School Administration: Responsibility of the Building Principal; 5:50 General Personnel: Drug-and Alcohol-Free Workplace; 5:90 General Personnel: Abused and Neglected Child Reporting; 5:120 General Personnel: Ethics and Conduct; 6:250 Instruction: Community Resource Persons and Volunteers; 6:235 Instruction: use of District-Provided Technology Devices and Access to Electronic Networks; 7:185 Students: Teen Dating Violence prohibited; and 8:30 Community Relations: Visitors to and Conduct on School Property.In discussion, the Board reviewed a draft of two proposed school calendars for 2014-2015. Action to adopt the final school calendar is scheduled for the regular meeting in March.
In discussion, Assistant Superintendent, Curt Saindon, updated the Board on the recommendations for hiring of summer help.In discussion, Assistant Superintendent, Curt Saindon, updated the Board on the continuing development of the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget as it relates to revenue projections.
In discussion, Assistant Superintendent, Curt Saindon, updated the Board on E-Rate vendor services recommendations.
In discussion, Assistant Superintendent, Curt Saindon, provided the Board with a review of the request to seek out bids and/or price quotes for the five capital projects of Grand Prairie playground cover replacement, Chelsea hot water updates, Chelsea Univent replacements, Chelsea sealcoating, overlay and striping, and Hickory Creek track refurbishment.
The Board took action to approve the payment of bills as presented.
The Board took action to certify ongoing compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) as required by Federal E-Rate regulations.
The Board approved the E-Rate Vendor Service as presented.
The Board authorized the administration to fill two full-time equivalent positions for clerical summer helpers for the summer of 2014.
The Board authorized the administration to fill two full-time equivalent positions for technology summer helpers for the summer of 2014.
The Board authorized the administration to fill four full-time equivalent positions for custodial/maintenance/grounds summer helpers for the summer of 2014.
The Board approved the Parent Student Handbook 2014-2015 as amended.
The Board approved the extension of the milk contract with Krystal Dairy of Homewood, IL for FY 2014-2015 at the same terms and conditions as are currently in place, with the lowest calculated cost per pint of milk to include a 1.23 cent markup from the monthly Federal CMPC Dairy Reports.
The Board approved the school fees for 2014-2015 as presented. There were no increases in the regular student fees from last year except for an increase of $15 for student transportation for pay bus students.
The Board approved the administration to move forward to obtain sealed bids or price quotes, as appropriate, for the seven capital projects identified, with the intention of moving forward to complete the work during the summer of 2014 or 2015, if deemed to be necessary and financially viable.
The Board approved the Family Medical Leave for Lindsay Lewkowski, sixth grade teacher at Hickory Creek Middle School.
The Board accepted the resignation letter of Elizabeth Ehrhart, English as a Second Language teacher, as presented.
The Board went into closed session to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discussion, performance and/or dismissal of specific employees, student discipline, student residency, student issue, reclassification of employees, potential sale or lease of land and pending litigation (open and closed.)
