Meeting of September 8, 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.Communications - Mr. Schawel reported that no communications
had been received during the previous month.

V. Agenda Addendum Items – Mr. McCann requested that safety and
security issues be placed on the agenda for discussion. This was
placed following the traffic safety report under "Board Requested
Reports."

VI.Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Acksel reviewed the
Superintendent’s Report, a copy of which is attached to these
official minutes. He stated that the District auditor had completed
work in the District and will make a formal presentation at the
November board meeting.

An opportunity was given for questions and discussion regarding the Superintendent’s report.

VII.Board Requested Reports

A.N.D.S.E.C. – Mr. Torii, N.D.S.E.C. representative reported that there had been no meeting in August. He advised the board to continue to consider accommodating space in the future for a N.D.S.E.C. class. Discussion ensued.

B.Middle School Report – Dr. Nickisch, principal of F.E. Peacock Middle School presented results of the latest Peacock Parent Perception Survey done last spring. He reviewed these results with members of the Board of Education and the audience. A copy of his report is attached and made a part of these minutes.

Considerable discussion ensued regarding the field trips for the Middle, namely, Springfield, Illinois and Washington D.C. the opinion of the administrators is that the Springfield trip should continue but the Superintendent expressed his opinion that the Washington, D.C. trip should be discontinued. His rational was that typically, only 20 to 30 percent of the students attend so it is difficult to incorporate the trip into the curriculum. Also, there is a risk for discipline problems and the district liability is greater since the trip is out-of-state. Discussion ensued.

This issue will be revisited in a couple of months. Dr. Acksel felt that the administration would be remiss in their responsibility if they didn’t advise the board of the problems that could occur during a trip such as this.

Members of the audience expressed some concerns. Mrs. Vicky Surges, 416 North Rush Street, requested that the situation be resolved as quickly as possible since she was planning to attend the trip with her child and there would be a considerable cost involved. She stated a cost of approximately $1,200. Families planning to attend would need to have an opportunity to plan for this event. Dr. Nickisch suggested that a survey be conducted to see how many parents would be willing to attend as chaperones.

Mrs. Diane Dale, 325 South Princeton, expressed a concern that a mixed message would be sent by having a community initiate a program such as Character Counts! and then having the Middle removed a trip such as the one to Washington, D.C. trip.

Further discussion ensued with other members of the audience expressing a desire to have the trip continue. This item will be discussed at a future meeting.

C.Assistant Superintendent – Dr. Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent, reviewed her report which is attached to these official minutes. She reviewed last spring’s test scores. Discussion ensued. These scores will be discussed with parents during parent/teacher conferences.

Dr. Tornatore also reviewed the work of the teacher committees – namely the DAC Committee, Math Committee and Science Committee. Math is the area scheduled for assessment this year. She also discussed computer software. Franzen will be the area of emphasis this year.

Questions and comments were made during her report on the Talented and Gifted Program. Currently, there are almost 60 students participating in the program.

D.Character Counts! – Mr. Schawel, Character Counts! chairperson, briefly reported on the training which had taken place on August 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Dr. Acksel introduced Mrs. Laura Lindsay and Mr. Doug Anderson, two teachers from District #10 who have received Character Counts! training. Mrs. Lindsay and Mr. Anderson made presentations to the Board of Education and the audience showing how the pillars of Character Counts! are being used with their students. President Lynch thanked the teachers for their excellent presentations and their work with Character Counts!

E.Technology – In the absence of Mr. Kapachinski, Director of Technology, Dr. Acksel reviewed his report, a copy of which is attached and made a part of these official minutes. Mr. Kapachinski will make a report in either October or November in support of the hiring of a technical assistant.

F.U.S. Shelter property – Mr. Torii, representative to the planning commission meetings for the U.S. Shelter property, reviewed recent changes in the final recommendation. Rather than multiple family dwellings, there are now numerous single-family residences planned for the area. It is believed that the Planning Commission as well as the Village Board will approve this plan. Discussion ensued. It was suggested that the Board of Education send a representative to the Village Board meeting on Tuesday, September 14th, since this project will be included on the agenda. Mr. Torii will attend the meeting and bring a copy of the resolution adopted by the District #10 Board expressing the need for maintenance of a safe environment for the Franzen students. Mr. Tom Reynolds, a Village board member, discussed the possibility of making Bryn Mawr and Catalpa a 4-way stop.

G.Traffic Safety – Dr. Acksel reviewed the traffic safety report submitted last spring by the Northwestern University Traffic Institute. The Village is planning to conduct meetings for community input. At the September 21st Village Board meeting, discussion of the proposed traffic flow changes will be included on the agenda. Following the approved changes by the Village, parents and community members will be notified. These changes could possibly begin at the beginning of November. The major changes will be at Peacock School with a few minor changes at Benson.

Dr Acksel reported that the Village had done additional striping at Benson Schools.

Mr. Hervas asked that parents and community members be kept informed as to the proposed safety measures as they are being implemented.

Further discussion ensued regarding safety issues. Mrs. Dale discussed the possibility of acquiring a safety contact person.

Mr. Tom Reynolds initiated a discussion of different ways to inform parents/residents of the proposed changes and also to encourage people to attend the September 21st Village board meeting. It was determined that a mailing should go to Benson and Peacock families.

Mr. McCann discussed various ways of communicating building security measures taken by the district. Discussion ensued.

The Traffic Safety Study will be reviewed by the Board of Education and parents will be invited to attend the meeting. The main avenue of information should be through the schools and the PTO’s.

H.Summer Maintenance Update – Dr. Medwick, Director of Buildings and Grounds, reported on projects that had been completed during the summer in all District #10 buildings. A copy of her report is made a part of these official minutes. Dr. Medwick publicly thanked the Village for the re-striping and the Itasca Park District for their assistance in painting the blacktop.

I.Opportunity for Community Input Regarding Board Requested Reports – No comments at this time.

VIII.Consent Items

Motion made by Mr. McCann and seconded by Mr. Torii that the minutes of the July 14, 1999 regular meeting; the expenditures for the month of August, 1999; the employment of Nancy Krefetz, Robert Wis (.4 FTE), Marisol Legis-Portincaso, (.4 FTE), and Jodie Reiger as teachers, and Christina Homes, Julie Boksa and Jill Zielinski as teaching assistants (TA’s), and the resignation of Mike Sibell be approved. Following an opportunity for further questions and discussion, Dr. Nickisch introduced Nancy Krefetz and Marisol Legis-Portincaso. Mr. Wis is retired from the Roselle band position. Dr. Medwick introduced Jodie Reiger. All new staff members were welcomed.
The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Ms. Lynch
Mr. Torii
Mr. McCann
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Schawel
Mr. Powers
Mr. Hervas

IX. Action Items

A.Software Management Board of Education Policy #4:70 – Motion made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. McCann that the Software Management Board of Education Policy #4:70 be approved for first reading. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.

B.Internal Revenue Code Section 125 Plan for IMRF Earnings – Motion made by Mr. McCann and seconded by Mr. Hervas that the Board of Education pass a resolution to include compensation paid under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 Plan as IMRF earnings. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion and community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.

C.Application for Recognition – Motion made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that the Application for Recognition for the 1999-2000 school year be approved. Following an opportunity for questions and discussion as well as community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.

XBoard Requested Reports

President Lynch directed Dr. Acksel to begin meetings with the teachers’ representative to begin negotiations as this is the final year of the Professional Negotiated Agreement. She also stated that she will be appointing a Superintendent Search Process Committee at the October board meeting. This committee will be directed to research different options available in a search for a new superintendent. If anyone would like to be on the committee, she asked that they contact her. Mr. McCann said that he has made a number of contacts with districts that have recently hired new superintendents and that he would like to be on the committee to share this information.

Recently some board members had expressed a desire to learn more about the budgeting process. Mr. Torii suggested that the superintendent have a special session to inform board members how the process is completed. For example, how monthly reports are done and so on. Discussion ensued. Dr. Acksel will attempt to plan a session for all board members. This item will be placed on the agenda for October. Members of the Board should direct their requests as to what they would like to see included in the financial information packet each month.

Dr. Acksel announced that all board members would be receiving copies of all district handbooks in the ensuing weeks.

X.Adjournment

There being no further business, President Lynch adjourned the meeting at 10:10 p.m.