MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 11, 2000 REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

I. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Vice-President Torii with the following ROLL CALL:

PRESENT Mr. James McCann Mrs. Maureen McDonald Mr. Patrick Powers Mr. Neal Schawel Mr. Dennis Torii

ABSENT Mr. Chuck Hervas Ms. Susan Lynch

Also present:

Dr. Glenn Acksel, Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Joanna Medwick, Principal, Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School
Ms. Dawn Esposito, Principal, Raymond Benson Primary School
Dr. Marcia Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent
Interested members of the staff, community and the press

II. Vice-President Torii led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. Welcome to visitors – Vice-President Torii welcomed all visitors to the meeting and asked for questions or comments from the audience. No questions were asked nor comments made.

IV. Communications – None.

V. Agenda Addendum Items – None.

VI. Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Acksel reviewed the Superintendent’s Report, a copy of which is attached to these official minutes. He reported that the District #10 FY2000 audit had been completed and a report will be made at the November meeting; that the 2000 Levy Hearing will be presented at 7:15 p.m. prior to the December Board of Education meeting; and in addition, he reviewed the important school board election dates for the April 3, 2001 election.

VIII. Board Requested Reports:

A. N.D.S.E.C. – Mr. Torii, N.D.S.E.C. representative, reported on a number of staff shortages at N.D.S.E.C. and the December 6th, 2000, annual dinner meeting to be held at the Itasca Holiday Inn.


B. Middle School – In the absence of Dr. Nickisch, Sharon Laughlin and Sara Leikin, Peacock Middle School teachers, reflected on their attendance at the Blue Ribbon Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. Both staff members were very proud of the opportunity to represented District #10 at the ceremony and thanked the Board of Education and the administration for their support in this project.

C. Assistant Superintendent - Dr. Tornatore reviewed her report and discussed the October 23rd, 2000 Institute Day. Most of the programs will be related to Technology and the Curriculum. In addition, she reviewed the new state law regarding the Teacher Certification Renewal Prospect. Dr. Tornatore and Ms. Esposito, principal of Benson Primary School, will serve as the District representatives along with 3 teachers on the Teacher Certification committee. A copy of Dr. Tornatore’s report is attached and made a part of these minutes.

D. Character Counts! – Mr. Schawel reported that the Character Counts! coalition had met in the afternoon that day prior to the Board of Education meeting. He indicated that the committee was in the process of developing a brochure describing Character Counts! activities and he is very pleased with the progress that has been occurring with other public agencies in regard to Character Counts!

E. Technology – In the absence of the Director of Technology, Mr. Kapachinski, Dr. Acksel presented the Technology Report. He reviewed a number of problems that had occurred during the past month that were either resolved or in the process of being resolved. A copy of the Technology Director’s report is attached and made a part of these minutes.

F. Testing – Dr. Tornatore reported on the testing results from the past school year. She distributed copies of the report to members of the audience and in addition, made a Power Point presentation illustrating the highlights of the report. A number of comments and questions were made by members of the Board of Education and a discussion ensued.

G. Transportation – In the absence of Transportation Director, Catherine Seger, Dr. Acksel reported on the status of the transportation system in regard to the number of riders on each bus, the number of stops on each bus, the length and time of each route, and the general location of each route. He pointed out that most of the routes were between 20 and 25 minutes with about 35-40 students per bus. Routes that exceeded this number of students and time were in areas with a high concentration of students. A discussion ensued.

H. Park District – Dr. Acksel reported that he had met with Randy Schawel, park district director, concerning a possible joint project which may evolve into a state grant. In addition, he had visited with Ms. Lynch, board president, who recommended that Patrick Powers, Maureen McDonald, and Jim McCann meet with the Park District in regard to the grant and report back to the board in November.

I. Opportunity for Community Input Regarding Board Requested Reports – Mrs. Diane Dale complimented Mrs. Catherine Seger, Director of Transportation, for her haste in resolving a bus problem that was related to the construction on Irving Park Road.

IX. Consent Items –

A motion was made by Mr. McCann and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that the minutes of the September 13th, 2000 regular meeting, the expenditures for the month of September, 2000, and the resignations of Francine Darrah and Christine Stocco be approved.

The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES NAYS

Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Powers
Mr. Schawel
Mr. McCann
Mr. Torii

X. Action Items

A. Student Teachers –

Motion made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Schawel that Rebecca Higgins, Stacey Anne Stautmeister, Jill Paugys, Kimberly Riley and Nicole Aiello be approved to student teach. An opportunity was given for further questions, discussion and community input. The motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.

B. Board of Education Policies –

A motion was made by Mr. McCann and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that Board of Education Policies #2:70 (Vacancies on the School Board – Filing Vacancies); #2:220 (Board of Education Meeting Procedure); #6:15 (School Accountability); #6:170 (Title I Programs); #7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities); #7:20 (Harassment of Students Prohibited); #8:30 (Conduct on School Property); #8:50 (Visitors to the Schools); #2:125 (Board Member Expenses); #2:200 (Types of School Board Meetings); #4:30 (Revenue and Investments); #6:100 (Experiments Upon or Dissection of Animals); #7:40 (Non-public School Students, Including Parochial and Home School Students); #7:270 (Administering Medicines to Students) be approved for first reading.. Following further discussion as well as an opportunity for community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.

XI. Board Requests for Reports – None at this time.

XII. Adjournment –

There being no further business, Vice-President Torii adjourned the meeting at 8:44 p.m.


___________________________________ Neal Schawel, Secretary Board of Education

________________________________ Dennis Torii, Vice-President Board of Education