I. Call to order and Roll Call – President Nolte called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following ROLL CALL:

PRESENTABSENT

Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
Mr. McCann
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. Powers
Mr. Torii

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:

Dr. Kenneth Cull, Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Catherine Seger, Recorder

II. Closed Session - . A motion was made by Mr. Torii and seconded by Mr. McCann that the Board of Education enter a closed session for the discussion of personnel. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Torii
Mr. Powers
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. McCann


The board entered a closed session at 7:02 p.m.

Motion was made by Mr. McCann and seconded by Mr. Torii that the Board of Education return to open session. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:


AYESNAYS

Mrs Nolte
Mr. Powers
Mrs. Dale
Mr. McCann
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Hervas
Mr. Torii

The board returned to open session at 7:30 p.m.

President Nolte stated that while in closed session, the board had discussed personnel and that no action was taken.

III. Pledge of Allegiance – President Nolte led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

IV. Welcome to visitors - Mrs. Nolte welcomed all visitors to the meeting. Superintendent Cull introduced Sonia Whittaker from District 54. She is in a doctoral program and needed to attend board meetings.

Additional present:

Dr. Reinhard Nickisch, Principal, F.E. Peacock Middle School
Dr. Marcia Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Various members of the staff and community

V. Communications – Secretary Mrs. McDonald read correspondence received during the previous month.

VI. Agenda addendum Items – Two items were added to the agenda and will be placed at the end of board requested reports. The first is a report regarding Keter’s air quality testing and the second is security in the schools on Election Day.

VII. Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Cull reviewed his report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. The report has been distributed to the audience. He reminded everyone that the School Board Convention held in Chicago is on November 22. As of now, Mr. Torii, Mr. Powers and Dr. Cull are registered. If any additional board members would like to attend, please contact Dr. Cull.

He also reminded all of the annual N.D.S.E.C.dinner meeting scheduled for December 4. Please let Catherine Seger know by November 19 if you are planning to attend.

Dr. Cull has volunteered to serve on Lake Park’s Strategic Planning Committee. As a superintendent as well as an alumni, he is taking the opportunity to see what will be occurring at Lake Park five years from now. Yesterday the large group met and witnessed a movie about the power of positive vision and then began talking about implementing vision. He will keep the board appraised of how the committee is functioning and will report to the board at the December meeting.

The United Way campaign had gone well. Many employees participated.

Boise is occupying their new office building in Itasca and has invited board members to participate in their ribbon cutting ceremony. Dr. Cull has spoken with them about creating some kind of a partnership.

Superintendent Cull discussed an invitation received from the law firm of Franczak, Sullivan who are having their Saturday workshop. If anyone is interested in attending, please send an e-mail to Dr. Cull and advise what sessions they would like to attend.

The ISAT scores were released today. Dr. Cull distributed a comparison of last year’s and this year’s feeder district scores.

VIII. Board Requested Reports –

A. N.D.S.E.C. – Mr. Torii, N.D.S.E.C. representative, discussed the items included in the packet, i.e., N.D.S.E.C. minutes from the 10/21 meeting. He mentioned that there has been a tuition increase. N.D.S.E.C. is working on facilitating a software program but the problem is coordinating their program with the five districts involved. Mr. Torii urged board members to attend N.D.S.E.C.’ s annual dinner meeting. Mr. McCann asked if there would be an increase in tuition for next year. We should get the cost soon before beginning the District budgeting process.

B. Middle School – Dr. Nickisch, principal of F.E. Peacock Middle School, discussed the tables included in his report. These tables describe what is occurring in the elective/encore curriculum of other middle schools in DuPage County. He has contacted 32 districts and 26 have responded. Discussion ensued. Dr. Cull stated that he believed the board wasn’t sure what was being taught in the context of curriculum/encore. More discussion ensued. Mrs. Dale did not support the dropping of sewing from the FACS course. This is a status report and administrators are not looking for action but this is the direction in which the district is going (Table 4). Mrs. Dale asked for a vote. Discussion ensued. If a vote is warranted, it will be done.

Reinhard distributed a proposal by a Peacock student to hold a play for the current school year (Guys and Dolls). Discussion ensued. Dr. Cull believed that the board clearly was trying to find a way to do this. Mr. Powers recommended that this item be placed for a vote later this evening.

Dr. Nickisch’s report is attached to these minutes.

C. Curriculum – Dr. Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, delivered her report, a copy of which is attached. She discussed the 10/28 workshop as well as the TAG program which will include student entry during the month of November. Reading Committee is continuing to review more series.

The DAC Committee is reviewing the Technology Plan regarding purchases for the 2002-2003 school year as well as Phase 3 – purchases for the 2003-2004 school year.

An information item was included regarding the ESL program.

When the DAC committee presents the Tech report for review, Mr. McCann asked for some written comments from the Superintendent.

D. Technology – Dr. Cull gave the report, a copy of which is attached. The policy manual is transferred to the electronic web-site that is available to the community and board members. There is real value in this as changes can be made accurately and quickly. Mr. Kapachinski will report to the board as to lease options for computers.

E Character Counts! – Mrs. McDonald, the Board’s Character Counts! representative, reported that the coordinator is working on a survey sponsored by Healthy DuPage. Itasca will be part of this survey. The Event committee is working on next year’s Memorial Day Parade and also looking into getting some banners for the downtown area. They are looking for some sponsorship from some of the businesses in town.

F. Open Meetings Act – Mrs. Nolte discussed board members’ e-mails as they might pertain to the possibility of an Open Meetings Act violation. Discussion continued. The consensus was to address this issue with the attorney and the IASB. Dr. Cull will contact Barry Moss and the IASB regarding the issue and ask for a legal opinion.

G. Auditor’s Report – Auditor Mike Celer distributed a graphic presentation of the audit. He first reviewed the audit report itself that is a standard cash basis audit report for Illinois School Districts.

In addition, he reviewed the graphs distributed. Discussion ensued. It was suggested that the building project be pulled out of the audit report to give a better picture. Mr. Celer will work with Dr. Cull on preparing this report. He then reviewed the Management Letter included in the audit. More discussion ensued. President Nolte thanked Mr. Celer for attending the meeting and making the presentation.

H. Freedom of Information – Dr. Cull reported that no requests had been made during the previous month.

Keter Project – Mrs. Dale reported that she had spoken to Keter and had sent an e-mail to everyone on the board. Mrs. Dale asked whether or not we wanted to do further air quality testing. Discussion ensued. Mr. Powers suggested that perhaps Johnson Controls have this done. Discussion ensued. Dr. Cull suggested that if it was going to be done, the District should pay for it. It was determined to wait until April or May to do further testing.

Election Day – Mrs. Dale reported that some parents have expressed a concern to have children in the buildings on election day as they felt there were too many strangers in the buildings. Discussion ensued. The consensus of the board was to direct Dr. Cull to have each of the principals review his/her security plan for election days.

I. Opportunity for Community Input Regarding Board Requested Reports – Mrs. Rose Zelenka, 608 East Irving Park Road in Itasca, addressed the board regarding the Encore program at Peacock. She stated that mothers are upset that sewing and woodworking will be eliminated from Encore program. Mrs. Nolte thanked her for her input

IX. Consent Items

Minutes, expenditures and personnel –

Motion made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. McCann that the minutes of the October 9, 2002 regular meeting, the expenditures for the month of September, 2002, and the employment of Lea Smith be approved. Following an opportunity for questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Mr. McCann
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
Mr. Torii
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. Powers

Dr. Nickisch introduced Ms. Smith to members of the board and the audience.

X. Action Items –

A. Board of Education Policies – A motion was made by Mr. McCann and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that Board of Education Policies #2:50 School Board Terms; #2:125 Board Member Reimbursements; #2:210 Organizational Meeting; #2:260 Uniform grievance Procedure; #4:410 Transportation; #5:190 Certification; #5:280 Duties and Qualifications; #6:40 Curriculum Development; #6:140 Education of Homeless Children; #6:160 Limited English Proficient Students; #6:170 Title I Programs; #7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities; #7:15 Student and Family Privacy Rights; #7:50 School Admission; #7:60 Residence; #7:100 Health Examinations, etc., and #7:340 Student Records be approved for second reading. Following an opportunity for community input, further discussion and questions, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none

President Nolte reminded everyone that on November 19, 2002, Mrs. Rosemary Traeger, former board member, would be honored in a tree planting memorial service. Board members are invited to attend.

B. FY2002 Audit – Motion made by Mr. Powers and seconded by Mr. Hervas that the FY 2002 audit be approved. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Mr. Torii
Mr. Powers
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. McCann
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Dale

C. (Added) Peacock’s Play for the 2002-2003 School Year – A motion was made by Mr. Powers and seconded by Mr. McCann that the Board of Education finance up to $7,500 funds in this current fiscal year’s budget to be able to put on the 2003 play, Guys and Dolls. An opportunity was given for questions, discussion and community input. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:



AYESNAYS

Mr. Powers
Mr. McCann
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
Mrs McDonald
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. Torii

Dr. Cull stated that we would re-authorize this motion at the next Board of Education meeting.

XI. Board Requests for Reports – No board requests for reports were made.

XII. Adjournment – There being no further business, President Nolte adjourned the meeting at 10:08 p.m.

__________________________ Maureen McDonald, Secretary Board of Education

__________________________ Susan Nolte, President Board of Education