Meeting of July 14, 1999 regular Board of Education meeting
I. 
President Susan Lynch called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the
following ROLL CALL:
PRESENTABSENT
Mr. Chuck Hervas
Ms. Susan Lynch
Mr. James McCann
Mrs. Maureen McDonald
Mr. Patrick Powers
Mr. Neal Schawel
Mr. Dennis Torii
Also present:
Dr. Glenn Acksel, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Reinhard Nickisch, Principal, F.E. Peacock Middle School
Dr. Joanna Medwick, Principal, Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School
Ms. Dawn Esposito, Principal, Raymond Benson Primary School
Dr. Marcia Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent
Mrs. Catherine Seger, Recording Secretary
Interested staff, community residents, and press
II. The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
III. President Lynch welcomed all visitors to the meeting.
IV. Mr. Schawel, Board Secretary, reviewed correspondence received during the previous month.
V. Agenda Addendum Items: Items added to the agenda included discussion as to
who would participate in the 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament scheduled for
the upcoming weekend. Mr. Hervas would be available. Anyone else
available to participate needs to advise Ms. Lynch.
Also added to the agenda were three items that will surface in the fall. 1) appoint a committee to investigate options for conducting a superintendent search; 2) per Mr. Hervas’s suggestion, a financial reporting committee be formed; 3) budgeting – the possibility of having budgeting sessions for people interested in learning more about the budgeting process. Both board members and interested community members would be included. Ms. Lynch asked that board members give these ideas some consideration during the next month.
VI. Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Acksel reviewed meetings that are
being planned for teachers. He also reminded board members of the IASB
conference scheduled for November. Beginning in fall, 1999, the Family
Living course will be taught by representatives from Robert Crown Center.
Dr. Acksel asked Dr. Tornatore to give a description of the Robert Crown
Center. Discussion ensued.
Dr. Acksel reported that the auditor has been in the district to begin preliminary work on the district audit.
VI. Board Requested Reports
A. N.D.S.E.C. - Mr. Torii, N.D.S.E.C. representative, reported on the July N.D.S.E.C. meeting, a copy of which is attached to these official minutes. Negotiations for teachers’ contract have been completed. A five-year contract was approved. Mr. Torii commended Dr. Acksel for his efforts to get the contract negotiated so quickly.
There is also a shortage of space for classrooms. While it has been resolved for the upcoming school year, there may be some space problems in the future with the amount of students entering the district. The district may be asked to provide space.
B. Middle School - Dr. Nickisch reviewed the Middle School Report that included a discussion of the sports’ physicals and the student mentor programs. A copy of the report is attached and made a part of these official minutes.
C. Assistant Superintendent’s - Dr. Tornatore reviewed the Assistant Superintendent’s Report, a copy of which is included with these official minutes. Included in her review was the work of the Math adoption committee and the new teacher induction meeting.
D. Character Counts! – Board representative, Neal Schawel reminded the school board of the upcoming meeting in Bloomingdale with Michael Josephson, founder of Character Counts! As the guest speaker. The meeting is at 7:00 p.m. on July 26. He recommended that the board attend. A good response from District 10 educators and staff had been received for the training scheduled for August 3, 4, and 5. Training will be provided for 35 people.
E. Technology – Dr. Acksel made the report in the absence of Mr. Kapachinski. The bulk of expenditures during the previous month were for the Teacher Tech Program and new computers at Franzen School. Most of Mr. Kapachinski’s time has been spent in teacher training and preparing for the implementation of the new grade book program and student management program. He is planning to make a presentation in September with respect to a Technology Assistant. The money spent was provided for in the budget. Discussion ensued.
F. U.S. Shelter Property – Mr. Torii explained the events of the previous planning commission meeting. He is planning to attend the meeting on July 15 and will report at the next board meeting. He reiterated that the district’s involvement concerns the children that are currently in the school as well as future students.
Dr. Acksel stated that he had omitted the discussion of the school signs in the packet. He gave two quotes: $14,960.00 and $13,000. These costs were a total of everything including the electrical work. Further discussion ensued regarding the breakdown of costs.
G. Traffic Safety Report – Superintendent Acksel reviewed the plans to be implemented at Benson and Peacock Schools. He has discussed these plans with the different organizations involved. The Village is pleased with the recommendations and will need to determine the position of the police department. Mr. Torri suggested that parents be notified of the traffic changes and encourage students to walk to school. Some discussion ensued. Dr. Acksel will keep board members informed.
H. New Legislation and Public School Funding – Superintendent Acksel explained some new legislation – ADA (average daily attendance) has a formula and District #10 gets very little money in State Aide. Dr. Acksel explained the mandated categorical grants. The law states that they have to be funded 100% but there is never enough money so the funds are prorated. Itasca provides a lot of money on special education while the downstate schools do not. For Itasca, it’s about $40,000. Double whammy full funding contains a little more money in state aide. Dr. Acksel stated that this was one of the best legislative sessions in many years.
I. Supreme Court Decision on Budgeting and Levy Process – Dr. Acksel explained that the 1999-2000 Budget had been approved in November after raising every line item, levy was done in December, and in January, the budget was fine-tuned and presented as an amended budget.
J. Opportunity for community input – No questions or comments were received from members of the audience.
VII. Consent Items
VIII. Action Items
A. Gift Ban Policy #5:130 – Motion was made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mr. Schawel that the Gift Ban Board of Education Policy #5:130 be approved for second reading. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.
XI. Board Requested Reports – Mr. McCann requested a suggested time line for
the superintendent’s search.
XII. Adjournment
There being no further business, President Lynch adjourned the meeting at 8:48 P.M.
