Frankfort D157-C March 18 Board of Education Recap

FRANKFORT, IL — The regular Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education meeting of March 18, 2020, was called to order by Board President Edith Lutz at 7:00 p.m. The roll call was taken, and a quorum was present. The Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board received one letter of correspondence from Illinois State Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37) regarding school construction grants. She wrote that she is working to help the District obtain grant funding that it is owed from 2003.

The Board approved the Open and Closed Session minutes of the Regular Board of Education Meeting of February 19, 2020.

No one signed up to speak during Public Forum.

Superintendent Dr. Maura Zinni presented an overview of the 2020-2024 Frankfort Community Consolidated Schools 157-C agreement between the Board of Education and the Frankfort Teachers' Association. The contract includes salary increases of 8 percent, 5 percent, 4 percent and 3 percent for the coming four school years; job-sharing language; the continued expectation of professional development; ENCORE and physical education class sizes to match core education class sizes; and stipends for additional extracurricular activities. “It was great working with the FTA,” Lutz said. “There was nice work between the two groups, and we accomplished a lot.” Frankfort Teachers’ Association President Kellie Aranowski added, “The process went really well. Both sides were great about listening to one another. There was great dialogue between everybody, and we are very grateful.”

The Board took action to approve the 2020-2024 Frankfort Community Consolidated Schools 157-C agreement between the Board of Education and the Frankfort Teachers' Association.

Administrative reports were provided in the Board packet.

Board Secretary Edie Adamski provided the Board with minutes of the January 28 Governing Board of Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843. The Governing Board also met February 25, and minutes have yet to be approved from that meeting.

During the superintendent’s report, Zinni provided a staffing update for the 2020-2021 school year. She said she expects 11 sections of kindergarten for next school year, and the District is doing its best to continue to set up appointments for registration for after the COVID-19 crisis. She recommended the dean positions in the District become administrative positions rather than certified roles to allow the deans flexibility in the number of days they work and the hours they work. Zinni also said the Regional Office of Education recommended the District have art teachers rather than art clerks. Next year, the art clerk roles at Grand Prairie and Chelsea will become certified roles. Zinni said that, overall, the District is currently expecting a 3.5 FTE increase in certified staff and a 2.5 decrease in noncertified staff, with no change in contractual staffing.

Director of Business and Operations Kate Ambrosini provided the Board with the February 2020 Treasurer's Report and Graphs. The total fund balance decreased by $2,003,507. Monthly revenue receipts totaled $280,875, primarily due to interest and evidence-based funding. Monthly expense disbursements totaled $2,284,294, primarily due to payroll and accounts payable.

There were no Freedom of Information Act requests.

The Board took action to approve the award of a Hickory Creek soffit repair contract to Rogers Construction for a total contract price of $199,400.

The Board took action to approve the award of a Hickory Creek HVAC rooftop unit insulation replacement to Amber Mechanical for a total contract price of $75,700.

The Board took action to approve a cleaning services contract with GSF USA for fiscal years 2021 through 2023.

The Board took action to approve a student transportation contract with Lincoln-Way High School District 210 for fiscal year 2021. Lutz abstained from this vote.

The Board took action to approve a resolution authorizing a notice of dismissal of non-tenure teachers other than final-year probationary teachers at the close of the 2019-2020 school year.

The Board took action to approve the employment of Kelly McGovern as a full-time School Social Worker at Grand Prairie Elementary School with a start date of August 17, 2020, 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 Lisa Roessler as a full-time Special Education Paraprofessional at Grand Prairie Elementary School with a start date of March 9, 2020, 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 transfer of Corissa Campbell as a full-time Art Clerk at Grand Prairie Elementary School with a start date of February 20, 2020, 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 rehire of Carly Bettinardi as a full-time Kindergarten Teacher at Grand Prairie Elementary School with a start date of August 17, 2020, 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 rehire of Molly O'Shea as a full-time Kindergarten Teacher at Grand Prairie Elementary School with a start date of August 17, 2020, 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 Allison Bruno as a full-time Spanish Language Teacher at Chelsea Intermediate School with a start date of August 17, 2020, 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 rehire of Elizabeth Drwiega as a full-time English Language Arts Teacher at Hickory Creek Middle School with a start date of August 17, 2020, 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 change in Diane Heimlich's FTE from 1.17 to 1.0. Heimlich is currently a social worker at Hickory Creek Middle School and also Dean of Students at Grand Prairie Elementary School. For the 2020-2021 school year, Heimlich will be at Grand Prairie as the Dean of Students.

The Board took action to approve the change in Lauren Ruffing's FTE from 1.0 to 0.8. Ruffing is a special education teacher at Hickory Creek Middle School and will be transferring to Grand Prairie Elementary School.

The Board took action to approve the change in Megan Hill's FTE from 0.5 to 1.0. Megan is a speech and language pathologist at Hickory Creek Middle School and will be transferring to Grand Prairie Elementary School.

The Board took action to approve the payment of bills for February 2020, as presented.

The Board took action to approve resolutions authorizing the prompt payment of bills, as well as employee salaries, recurring benefits and contractual obligations for the time period from March 18, 2020, through May 31, 2020, as needed.

In the consent agenda, the Board took action to approve the extension of the milk contract with Krystal Dairy for fiscal year 2021 at the same terms and conditions currently in place; the purchase of STEM materials for Hickory Creek at a cost of $45,401.90; the purchase of a new Spanish resource for Hickory Creek at a cost of $30,546.30; and the purchase of machines and peripherals needed to complete the Hickory Creek computer refresh, Grand Prairie SMART Boards, and one-to-one initiative for third- through fifth-grades for the 2020-2021 school year at a cost of approximately $323,737.

The Board adjourned the regular meeting and entered into Closed Session at 7:35 p.m. for the purposes of personnel matters, student matters, pending litigation and collective bargaining.

The Board adjourned Closed Session at 8:57 p.m. and adjourned the regular meeting at 8;58 p.m.

The next regular District 157-C Board of Education meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. at the District Office, 10482 W. Nebraska St. in Frankfort, Illinois.