Meeting of March 8, 2000 regular Board of Education meeting
I. 
The meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. by board President Susan Lynch with the following roll call:
PRESENT
Ms. Lynch
Mr. McCann
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Powers
Mr. Schawel
Mr. Torii
|
ABSENT
Mr. Hervas
|
Also present:
Dr. Glenn Acksel, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Reinhard Nickisch, Principal, F.E. Peacock Middle School
Dr. Joanna Medwick, Principal, Elmer H. Franzen School
Ms. Dawn Esposito, Principal, Benson Primary School
Dr. Marcia Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent
Mr. Charles Kapachinski, Director of Technology
Mrs. Catherine Seger, Recording Secretary
Members of the staff, press, and interested citizens
II. Closed Session –
III. President Lynch led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Ms. Lynch welcomed all visitors to the meeting. She asked for questions
or comments from the general audience with no reply.
Mr. Raymond Benson, former Board of Education member, addressed the board with comments regarding the excellent status of the district. He also distributed suggestions that the Board of Education could consider for improvement. President Lynch thanked Mr. Benson for his comments and suggestions.
V. Communications - Mr. Schawel, Board secretary, reviewed correspondence
received during the previous month.
VI. Agenda Addendum Items – No addendum items added to the agenda.
VII. Superintendent’s Report -
Dr. Acksel reviewed the superintendent’s report, a copy of which is attached to these official minutes. He reminded members of the Board of Education of the Shape of Itasca town meeting scheduled for May 1st .
VIII. Board Requested Reports
A. N.D.S.E.C. - Mr. Torii, N.D.S.E.C. representative, reported on the Operational Board meeting held on February 14, 2000. A copy of the briefs from that meeting are attached to these official minutes.
B. Middle School - Dr. Nickisch updated the board on the progress of the Blue Ribbon School nomination as well as the Gina Marquez account. A copy of his report is made an official part of these minutes.
C. Assistant Superintendent – Dr. Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent, reviewed her report with members of the board. A copy of the report is attached and made a part of these official minutes.
D. Technology – Mr. Kapachinski, Director of Technology, reviewed his report, a copy of which is attached. Discussion ensued. He requested that the Board of Education consider approving an additional technician to be hired prior to summer in an effort to assist with the Benson migration and district-wide maintenance. This person would also be trained prior to the beginning of the 2000-2001 school year. Further discussion ensued.
Further discussion ensued regarding the current Technology Plan. The plan will be addressed during the Goals’ Setting Session which will be held in May.
E. Nursing Services – Mrs. Catherine Maney, District nurse, accompanied by Mrs. Marie Agosta, part-time District nurse, discussed the necessity of additional nursing services due to the increase in students with special medical needs and concerns. Discussion ensued. A motion was made by Mr. Torii and seconded by Mr. Schawel that the Board of Education approve the hiring of a .6FTE nurse assistant. Following an opportunity for further questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mr. Torii
Mr. Schawel
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. McCann
Ms. Lynch
F. Character Counts! – Mr. Neal Schawel, Character Counts! representative, reported on the work of the coalition planning committee which had held a meeting earlier this evening. The community continues to move forward with plans to make Itasca a Character Counts! community with a kick-off during the Memorial Day Parade as well as other possible events planned for later in the year.
G. Freedom of Information – Dr. Acksel reported that there had been no Freedom of Information requests made during the previous month.
H. Opportunity for Community Input – No input from members of the audience.
IX. Consent Items -
IX. Action Items –
A. Motion made by Mr. McCann and seconded by Mr. Torii that Green Associates be contracted to conduct the Ten Year Life Safety Surveys for Raymond Benson Primary School and Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School at a cost of $4,000 per building. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mr. McCann
Ms. Lynch
Mr. Torii
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Schawel
B. Motion made by Mr. Schawel and seconded by Mr. McCann that the FY2001 Tentative Budget be approved and placed on display during regular business hours at the Administrative Center, 200 North Walnut Street, Itasca, Illinois for thirty days prior to the budget hearing to be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at 7:15 p.m. in the Itasca Village Hall, 100 North Walnut Street, Itasca, Illinois. Following an opportunity for discussion, questions, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mr. Schawel
Mr. Torii
Ms. Lynch
Mr. McCann
Mrs. McDonald
C. 1999 Tax Reduction Allocation –
Motion made by Mr. Torii and seconded by Mr. Schawel that a Resolution as presented for the 1999 Tax Extension Reduction Allocation be adopted by the Board of Education. A copy of this resolution is attached to these official minutes. Following an opportunity for community input plus additional opportunity for questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.
D. Interfund Loan -
Motion made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Torii that an interfund loan of $45,000 be made from the Education Fund to the IMR Fund and repaid prior to June 30, 2000. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input:
AYES NAYS
Mr. Schawel
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. McCann
Ms. Lynch
Mr. Torii
XI. Board Requested Reports – None at this time.
XII. Adjournment – There being no further business, President Lynch adjourned the meeting at 9:43 p.m.
