DATE:

Wednesday, June 11, 2003

LOCATION:

ITASCA VILLAGE HALL 100 North Walnut Street Itasca, Illinois 60143

I. Call to order and roll call – The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Nolte with the following ROLL CALL:

Also in attendance:

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

II. Pledge to the Flag – President Nolte led all present in the Pledge to the Flag.

III. Closed Session – A motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Powers that the Board of Education enter a closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel and negotiations. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Mrs. Dale
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Powers

The board entered a closed session at 6:35 p.m.

A motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Powers that the Board of Education return to open session. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:


AYESNAYS

Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Powers
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. Nolte

The board returned to open session at 7:37 p.m.

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

Also in attendance:

Dr. Reinhard Nickisch, Principal, F.E. Peacock Middle School
Dr. Joanna Medwick, Principal, Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School
Mrs. Dawn Turner, Principal, Raymond Benson Primary School
Dr. Marcia Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction

IV. Welcome to visitors – Mrs Nolte welcomed all visitors to the meeting.

V. Communications – Mrs. McDonald, Secretary, read two communications received during the previous month.

VI. Agenda Addendum Items – Superintendent Cull added an additional action item - an interest transfer of funds from the Bond and Interest fund to the Education fund.

VII. Superintendent. Report –

Dr. Cull reviewed his report highlighting a few additional issues. The State Board of Education is devising a new financial rating system that is 4 tiered. District #10 is rated at the 2nd tier. One of the reasons the district was rated 2nd rather than 1st is that the system does not take into account the fact that an entity has money in reserve to pay for projects. Plans are to try and recognize this fact and make necessary changes to the system.

Dr. Cull received information regarding the November conference in Chicago. He wanted to determine if anyone is interested in attending. Beginning this year, housing deposits are no longer refundable. Therefore, if anyone wishes to stay overnight, they must let the Superintendent’s Office know as soon as possible but no later than early next week. If board members wish to attend the conference but not stay downtown, they may decide at a later time and register for the conference only. Discussion ensued.

The superintendent then turned the floor over to Dr. Medwick. She explained that in 2001, the 4th grade teachers at Franzen did an American quilt project that was beautifully sewn by board member, Rose Zelenka. The quilt was shown to the board and members of the audience. Everyone thanked the participants for the exceptional work involved in putting this quilt together.

Dr. Cull discussed the current board pamphlet that can be restructured and used for communicating to the general public. Mrs. McDonald suggested that this pamphlet be sent home with the students at the beginning of the school year.

VIII. Board Requested Reports:

A. N.D.S.E.C. – In the absence of representative Dennis Torii, Dr. Cull reviewed the last meeting. Items discussed included a location for the hearing impaired program. An interested school district has been located. DuPage/West Cook will support this program by an assessment based on the number of students participating. It will be self-funded. All districts would participate in the assessment. When a district has to participate, they will reimburse the districts that do not have students placed.

B. Middle School – Dr. Nickisch reported on the recent graduation of 117 students. All but 9 students participated as they did not meet academic requirements and all but 2 students completed the community service hours’ requirements.

Annual parent and student surveys will be reported on at the September meeting. A Parent Advisory Committee will run concurrent with the Principal’s coffee and will give the parents an opportunity to advise the principal. Twelve people will serve on that board. A sign up sheet will be available at curriculum night in the fall. Discipline information will be provided at the next Board meeting. A copy of the Middle School report is attached and made a part of these official minutes.

C. Curriculum – Dr. Tornatore reported that each year, parents have the opportunity to assess their students for kindergarten. This allows district children born in the month of September to be assessed by the district to see if they are ready for kindergarten. There were no requests made this year. Regarding the Talented and gifted program (TAG), schools are finalizing a letter to go home to parents in the fall.

Summer school curriculum committee is taking place at Benson School. Two teachers who are trained in leveling books are working on $3,600 worth of books. The same system will be starting at Franzen next year.

Physical education curriculum committee has developed an entire year of curriculum. All has been re-written and lesson plans are being revised including supportive data.
Dr. Tornatore announced that the District has seven people at Franzen that are endorsed in gifted education. They are at each grade level. Mrs. Dale stated that she had received a very positive phone call from a parent at Benson School.

A copy of Dr. Tornatore’s report is attached to these minutes.

D. Technology – In the absence of Mr. Kapachinski, Director of Technology, Superintendent Cull reviewed the technology report, a copy of which is attached. An updated release of the new payroll program has been installed and the district has done a practice run sending information to the banks for direct deposit. Dr. Cull also reported to the board that the technician who had been released this year has obtained another job and that Mr. Kapachinski had done a good job facilitating this.

Some discussion ensued.

E. Character Counts! – Mrs. McDonald, representative, reported on the meeting held earlier today. It had been a wrap-up of the years’ work. The IEPTO will be sponsoring a family night in September. The Itasca Police Department is planning to sponsor a National Night Out some time in August. If this occurs, Character Counts! would be represented. Character Counts! cling-on’s are being distributed throughout the Village. Mrs. McDonald expressed her thanks to Benson School for the nice program honoring local heroes that had been held at the end of the school year. It was very well orchestrated by Miss Mitchell, 2nd grade teacher.

F. Freedom of Information - None

G. Opportunity for community input regarding board requested reports – No comments or questions at this time.

VIII. Consent Items –

A motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Hervas that the minutes of the May 14, 2003 regular meeting and closed session, the May 15, 2003 special meeting, the expenditures for the month of May, 2003, the request for leave of absence from Keli Georgas and Vicki LiGreci, the resignation of Michele Davanon, and the re-employment of Amanda Kaluso be approved. Following an opportunity for questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:


AYESNAYS

Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. McDonald
Mr. Powers
Mrs. Zelenka
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Dale

X. Action Items –

A. Mission Statement & Goals for 2004-05 – Motion made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mrs. Dale that the Mission Statement & Goals for 2004-2005 be approved. Following an opportunity for community input, questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Mr. Powers
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Dale
Mrs. Zelenka

B. Hazardous Bus Routes – A motion was made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mrs. Dale that the routes previously determined to be hazardous routes continue to be approved as hazardous. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion passed on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.

C. Prevailing Wage Resolution – Motion made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mrs. Dale that the Board of Education adopt the Joint Prevailing Wage Resolution included in the board packet. Following an opportunity for discussion, questions, and community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.

D. Administrative/Educational Support Salaries – A motion was made by Mr. Powers and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that the Board of Education approve an increase of $11,277 for administrative base salaries for FY04. Following an opportunity for community input, questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Mr. Powers
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. McDonald

A motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Powers that the Board of Education approve an increase of $30,904 for Educational Support staff base salaries for FY04. Following an opportunity for discussion, questions, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYESNAYS

Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. Powers
Mrs. Dale
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Zelenka

Addendum Item - A motion was made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mr. Powers to transfer $68,602 in interest from the Bond and Interest fund to the Education fund. Following an opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE:

AYES	NAYS
Mr. Powers	Mrs. Dale
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Maureen McDonald
Mrs. Zelenka
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Nolte

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

XII. Adjournment

There being no further business, President Nolte adjourned the meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

__________________________ Maureen McDonald, Secretary Board of Education

__________________________ Susan Nolte, President Board of Education