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ITASCA, ILLINOIS 60143-1722 Meeting of April 14, 1999 Board of Education Regular Meeting I. PRESENT Mr. Hervas Others present: Dr. Glenn Acksel, Superintendent of Schools II. III. IV. President Lynch read a letter of resignation received from board member Virginia Halac. A motion was made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mr. Torii to accept the resignation request of Mrs. Halac. Following an opportunity for questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES Mr. Pellettiere Mrs. Halac's resignation is effective immediately. V. VI. a copy of which is enclosed and made a part of these official minutes. He commended all staff and community members involved in the recent car accident in which Sean N., a Peacock Middle School 7th grader, was severely injured. He thanked them for their quick action and decision making ability. Among the people involved include Sharon Knudsen, Catherine Maney, Reinhard Nickisch, Denise Doyle, Linda Purtell, Susan West, Mindy Golden, Susan Lynch, and Rose Zelenka. Dr. Acksel thanked these people for their assistance during this time of need. Ms. Lynch also commended Dr. Nickisch, and Mrs. Catherine Maney for the manner in which they took charge of the situation. She also thanked all the agencies involved, i.e., police and fire department, for their quick assistance during this crisis. Dr. Acksel reminded board members of the budget hearing scheduled for May 12th and graduation being held on June 2. He also reminded board members of the goals' session which has been set for May 21 and May 22 as well as the town meeting planned for Wednesday, May 19. The public is invited to attend all of these meetings. He also commended staff and students at Peacock Middle for their enthusiasm, excitement, and hard work involved in the production of "Guys and Dolls" to be performed on Thursday, April 15, 1999. If board members are able to attend, it will be well worth the effort. An opportunity was given for questions and discussion. VIII. A. N.D.S.E.C. Mr. Torii, N.D.S.E.C. representative, gave a report on the most recent meeting. The briefs from these meetings were included in the board packet and also made a part of these official minutes. He reported that it is still a problem getting qualified help for teacher aides. An opportunity was given for questions and discussion. B. Middle School Report - Dr. Nickisch reported on graduation activities and also provided an up-date on the Substance Abuse Prevention Program being sponsored through Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Resource Department. This program is an effort to identify students who are at a high risk for possible substance abuse. A copy of Dr. Nickisch's report is attached and made a part of these official minutes. C. Curriculum Director's Report - Assistant Superintendent Dr. Marcia Tornatore gave the Curriculum Director's Report. She discussed the additional band staff - one full time person working five days per week and one person working two days per week. Discussion ensued regarding the procedure for band practice, etc. Mr. Loest reviewed the history of band recruitment. Mr. Hervas commented that he approved of keeping an active band program in District 10. He pledged his support to the program. Mr. Schawl reported that he would also support the additional person. Mr. Torii asked about the number of students that had gone on to Lake Park. Mr. Loest said that of the 20 band students going to Lake Park, 14 students have committed to the Lake Park band. Dr. Acksel reported that the District Band Program also services the private school band students. Discussed ensued regarding achievement tests and the up-coming annual Village Tour. An opportunity was given for further discussion and questions. A copy of Dr. Tornatore's report is attached to these official minutes. E. Character Counts - Mr. Schawel reported on the work of the Character Counts Coalition. They will be meeting on Thursday evening of this week and will formulate a plan to finance the project. Ms. Lynch thanked Mr. Schawel for his work on this committee. F. Technology Report - Mr. Kapachinski, Director of Technology reported that phase 1 of the Technology Plan has been completed. Phase 1 was setting the infrastructure. All Peacock teachers have IBM laptops and computers. Peacock has been completely migrated from Apple to IBM. He also reported on the money spent. He reported on the Year 2000 issue. District 10 is fortunate to have started late in the century. During the week of June 14, Lucent Technology will update the voice mail system. Mr. Kapachinski addressed the issue of a job description for a technology assistant. He recommended that this person be hired some time between January and June of 2000. He also reported that no expenditures had been incurred during the previous month. Discussion ensued regarding the feasibility of hiring a technology assistant. This position was a part of the original plan. Further discussion ensued regarding the propriety of the plan. Mr. Kapachinski expressed that the blueprint of the plan is quite accurate. The District will keep the plan as is with some exceptions, i.e., use televisions rather than LCD's, but for the most part, the plan will remain as is. Further discussion ensued with an opportunity for questions and more discussion. Ms. Lynch thanked Mr. Kapachinski for his report. G. NSBA Convention - President Lynch asked that convention attendees report on their experience at the conference if they would like to do so this time. Mrs. McDonald attended workshops specifically for new board members. She also attended a seminar on how to hire a new superintendent. Mr. Hervas reported that he is now an expert on Engaged Learning after attending a session on that as well at the seminar on the superintendent search. He also expressed how beneficial it was to meet with other board members at a level different than just once a month at the board table. He believed that the goals' session would be more productive as a result of the convention. Mr. Torii attended the general sessions. He reported that he enjoys meeting other school board members from around the country and hearing about some of the problems they are experiencing. The convention is a good place to meet and exchange ideas. Ms. Lynch attended several sessions including sessions on engaged learning, budget development, the superintendent's search, and talented and gifted program. She believed all sessions were very beneficial. H. Discipline and Medication Committee - Dr. Nickisch reported that the State requires every school district to investigate discipline and medication procedures annually. Members of the Discipline and Medication committee include Mrs. Genita Furgat, Mrs. Mindy Golden, Mrs. Pam Ecklund, Mrs. Liz Westin, Mrs. Catherine Maney, Mrs. Sharon Knudsen, Dr. Susan West, and Ms. Linda Kaye. At the last meetings, the committee reviewed truancy procedures, discipline procedures, and compiled a set of recommendations that are being presented this evening. An opportunity was given for questions and discussion. I. U.S. Shelter Property - Mr. Torii reviewed meetings he had It was the consensus of the board that the board is comfortable with expressing the board's concern regarding these safety issues and that Mr. Torii continue to attend the meetings concerning this issue and report back to the Board of Education. Mr. Torii agreed to continue to be involved with these meetings. J. Opportunity for community input regarding board requested reports. No comments or discussion. VIII. Motion made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Torii that the minutes of the March 10, 1999 regular meeting; the expenditures for the month of March, 1999; the employment of Jenifer Schultz as a Reading aide and the resignation of Kimberly Sullivan be approved. Dr. Acksel reviewed an error that was made last month with respect to Becky Lauer and dismissal notices. Becky Lauer was not dismissed. She will be given a position next year. Mary Kabat will be transferred to Peacock for a social studies position and Becky Lauer will take her position. Following further discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES Mr. Hervas A. Revision of the 1998-1999 School Calendar - Motion made by Mr. Torii and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that the 1998-99 school calendar be revised to show Friday, June 4, 1999 as the last day of school. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none. B. Nursing Services - Motion made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Schawel that the job description and the .5 FTE position of Support Nurse be approved. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES Mr. Schawel C. Canvass of Election - Superintendent Acksel reviewed results of the election held on April 13, 1999. These results are as follows: Patrick Powers - 564 votes; James McCann - 563 votes; Maureen McDonald - 553 votes; and Virginia Halac - 487 votes. A motion was made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mr. Pellettiere that the April 13, 1999 election results be certified showing that Patrick Powers with 564 votes, James McCann with 563 votes, and Maureen McDonald with 553 votes be elected for full terms. The motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES; NAYS none. At this time in the meeting, Mr. John Pellettiere stated that he was officially resigning from the Board of Education. Motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Hervas to accept his resignation. Following an opportunity for further discussion, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none. President Lynch thanked Mr. Pellettiere for his time devoted to the Board of Education. X. two candidates, Mr. Patrick Powers and Mr. James McCann, to ask them if they would like to be appointed to complete the terms of Mrs. Halac and Mr. Pellettiere. If in agreement, they will be officially appointed and sworn in at the May meeting. Following their appointment, they will have to take the Oath of Office. This will be repeated in November and board member Mrs. McDonald will also have to be sworn in and take the Oath of Office at that time. XII.
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President Lynch called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with the following ROLL CALL: