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 (arrived later in the meeting)
Mrs. Catherine Seger, Recording Secretary
II. 
Closed Session –
III. Pledge of Allegiance –
IV. Welcome to Visitors –
President Lynch welcomed all visitors to the meeting and asked for any questions or comments from the audience. No questions were asked nor comments made.
V. Communications –
Board Secretary Schawel stated that Ms. Lorraine Schiavone, a recent retiree from the District, had sent a note of thanks to the board for the retirement party given in the retirees’ honor and the special gift of a crystal apple.
Discussion ensued regarding the upcoming 3 on 3 basketball tournament. Mr. Hervas and Mr. Schawel agreed to participate and there will be an attempt to get a third person to play. "Captain" Schawel will try to organize a team by Friday evening.
VI. Agenda Addendum Items – Nothing added to the agenda.
VII. Superintendent’s Report –
Superintendent Acksel reviewed the Superintendent’s Report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. He reported that staff is gearing up for the opening of school in August. August 28th is the first day of school.
He also stated that there is a possibility that there will be a need for a first grade teacher at Benson Primary School. The budget had explained that the district could possibly get along with one less staff member this year but the same number of staff will be needed as last year.
There were no questions or comments about the report.
VIII. Board Requested Reports
A. N.D.S.E.C. – Mr. Torii, the N.D.S.E.C. representative, reported on a recent meeting of the Operational Board. A copy of the board briefs from that meeting was enclosed in the packet and included with these minutes. During the meeting a discussion took place regarding the audit procedures addressed by the state. The North Dupage Alternative School had its name changed to the Lincoln Academy. Dr. Acksel discussed the Bensenville issue in which the audit had shown some discrepancies. The state will send a new auditor. Springfield agreed that it was being done properly and the issue has been resolved.
B. Middle School Commencement/Graduation Policy and Procedure – Dr. Nickisch reported on the District’s graduation requirements. He described both the state requirements and the District's’ requirements in his report, a copy of which is attached. The Discipline/Medication committee meets annually and makes a report to the Board of Education.
An opportunity was given for questions and discussion regarding the issue of the 1.7 GPA cut-off requirement for graduation. The consensus of the board was that there is enough help allotted students at Peacock. They believed that it was a fair and justified way to maintain the policy exactly as it is. There was some discussion as to whether or not the 1.7 GPA was harsh. The consensus of the board was that the current procedure is fair. President Lynch said that if there was no further discussion, the meeting could continue.
C. Middle School – Dr. Nickisch reviewed the Middle School Report, a copy of which is attached to these official minutes. – He reminded board members of the Wall of Fame Induction scheduled for the last week in September which will coincide with the return of the teachers from Washington D.C. after receiving the National Blue Ribbon Award. He would like to publicize this event with the people being honored.
D. Assistant Superintendent - Dr. Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent reported on the new teacher orientation scheduled for this fall. It will consist of four days with two days dedicated to the instruction of reading. It is for the new teachers but will be open to any staff member that would like to attend. Discussion ensued. A copy of Dr. Tornatore’s report is attached to these minutes.
E. Technology Report – Dr. Acksel reviewed the Technology Report in the absence of Mr. Kapachinski. There have not been many expenditures up to this point. A number of computers have been delivered and Mr. Kapachinski has been helping to install these. He has been doing quite a lot of interviewing over the last few days and hopes to be ready to hire a technician in the near future. Mr. Kapachinski will be at the September board meeting..
F. Character Counts! - Mr. Schawel, Character Counts! representative, said that he had not been in attendance at the last meeting. He will be participating in the Itasca Fest as Character Counts! will have a booth. The goal of the Character Counts! Coalition is to create more of an awareness in the community. He discussed the importance of this awareness to make a change in the Itasca community.
G. Freedom of Information - No requests had been received during the previous month.
H. Opportunity for Community Input Regarding Board Requested Reports – Mrs. Diane Dale, 325 South Princeton, questioned the procedure for parental input as to whether or not a student passes into the next grade. Dr. Acksel answered that it is an individual procedure usually initiated by the classroom teacher who works with the principal. It is started early on in the process and it is the school’s responsibility to decide whether or not a child should be retained.
VIII. Consent items –
X. Action Items – For the first time, there were no action items.
XI. Board Requested Reports – None
XII. Adjournment –
President Lynch reminded everyone that there was no meeting in August. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
___________________________________
Neal Schawel, Secretary
Board of Education |
|
________________________________
Susan Lynch, President
Board of Education |
