ITASCA SCHOOL DISTRICT #10
ITASCA, IL 60143
BOARD OF EDUCATION
MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 10, 2004 REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
I. Call to order and roll call – The meeting was called to order by President Nolte at 6:35 p.m. with the following ROLL CALL:
PRESENT ABSENT
Mrs. Diann Dale Mr. Patrick Powers
Mrs. Nancy DiCiolla
Mr. Chuck Hervas
Mrs. Maureen McDonald
Mrs. Susan Nolte
Mrs. Rose Zelenka
Also in attendance:
Dr. Kenneth Cull, Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Catherine Seger, Recorder
II. Closed Session – A motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mrs. DiCiolla that the Board of Education enter a closed session for the purpose of discussing negotiations. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
The board entered a closed session at 6:36 p.m.
A motion was made Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mrs. DiCiolla that the Board of Education return to open session. The motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. McDonald
The Board returned to open session at 7:35 p.m. President Nolte stated that, while in closed session, the board had discussed negotiations and 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
Dr. Dawn Turner, Principal, Raymond Benson Primary School
Dr. Marcia Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Mr. Charles Kapachinski, Director of Technology
Staff and community members
III. Pledge of Allegiance - President Nolte led everyone present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
IV. Welcome to Visitors – Mrs. Nolte welcomed visitors to the meeting.
V. Communications – No communications received during the previous month.
VI. Agenda Addendum Items – Mrs. Dale added two items to the agenda. They are Activity Funds and Traffic. These were added under Òboard requested reports.Ó
VII. SuperintendentÕs Report – Dr. Cull reviewed his report, a copy of which is attached to these official minutes. He discussed the Franzen heating costs and two areas of business support. The district had received $918.00 from Starbucks as a result of their collection of bottle caps from milk bottles. The Mobil station in Itasca had applied for a grant for Franzen School. His report included a fee up-date from each of the principals. Dr. Turner reported that she had one parent that had not paid in total and that parent is on a payment plan. There is also a family at Franzen on a payment plan and one who is an out-of-district student per Dr. Medwick. Dr. Nickisch reported that one student had not paid but is from another district. All students have either paid or are on some type of payment plan. Dr. Cull discussed the potential before and after school care that he had been discussing with the Park District. This service would be housed in the District buildings. Dr. Cull reported that he and the Park District are working their way through various issues. Dr. Cull believes that there is a need for this service and he wanted to know if the board wants him to continue to work with the Park District. The board expressed concern regarding the use of the gymnasiums for day care and how that would effect court time for WIBA. Mrs. Nolte shared a concern for possibly taking business away from St. LukeÕs Christian Care. Other board members also shared this concern.
Mrs. Dale discussed Johnson Controls and the escalating utility costs. She noted the fact that the gas bill had increased 50% over budget for last year and indicated that the district should be saving on the utility bills. Dr. Cull indicated that three factors led to the 50% overage: 1) inaccurate initial budget ÒguessÓ; 2) 20% increase in gas rates; 3) bringing significantly more outside air into the building to heat. Discussion ensued. Mrs. Nolte suggested that the district monitor these costs and as long as this is a performance contract, Johnson Controls needs to be involved. Dr. Cull reiterated that with regard to the contract, Johnson Controls has been meeting savings targets as agreed to in the contract.
VII. Board Requested Reports:
A. N.D.S.E.C. – Mrs. Dale, the N.D.S.E.C. representative alternate, gave the report as she had attended the meeting for Mrs. Zelenka. She highlighted two items – one was the discussion of whether or not to hire a DuPage/West Cook director and N.D.S.E.C.Õs opposition to this. The other item discussed concerned the No Child Left Behind requirements for paraprofessionals. N.D.S.E.C. has been meeting with their support staff and trying to determine how they are going to offer training for these people. Mrs. Dale asked where the district is in training the districtÕs paraprofessional aides. The district will need to come to a conclusion regarding this issue.
B. Middle School – Dr. Nickisch reviewed his report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. His report included the student discipline report as well as the Science Fair. Dr. Nickisch discussed the plan to honor former graduates from Peacock who have served in the military. The plan is to display pictures of these graduates in uniform in the atrium. Dr. Nickisch also reported on the tutorial program that has been in existence for 8 years. This year, Peacock has the largest group of students using the tutorial. Discussion ensued regarding the value of the tutorial program. Further discussion continued regarding the discipline report and why it increased in October.
C. Curriculum – Dr. Tornatore reviewed the Curriculum Report, a copy of which is attached. She discussed specific items in her report including the TAG program. She stated that students in the Talented Portion of the program have been identified and by January, the Gifted students will be identified. She stated that it was very successful in checking the 6th grade students again. In reviewing the list of 3rd grade students entered into TAG, it was shared that most of the students qualified based on categories other than the results obtained from the Otis-Lennon IQ test. The Transitional Program is our ESL program. Our program for children whose second language is English is a TPI program. Dr. Tornatore also discussed the Illinois Textbook Loan Program and indicated that the State has given the same amount even though costs have risen.
D. Technology - Mr. Kapachinski reported on Technology. A copy of his report is attached to these minutes. He stated that during the last few months, there has been a growth in Malware. Peacock has gotten a new phone system. December 2nd will be the day that it is put in place. Laptops have been purchased for Benson. Mr. Kapachinski will be meeting with Benson staff next week. There has been an increase in the number of maintenance and Help Desk calls. District staff has been working on converged billing which will consolidate all SBC bills into one master bill. Mr. Kapachinski is going to view 3 Student Management Systems. Mrs. DiCiolla commended Mr. Kapachinski for his efforts in saving the district money on the new phone system.
E. Character Counts! – Mrs. McDonald, representing the Board on the Coalition, had not been in attendance at the meeting held earlier this evening. Dr. Cull reported on the meeting. The focus was on the video that parents will have to view in order for their children to participate in any sportsÕ activity in Itasca. Every parent will have to go through the training. Though the video was scheduled to be shown at this meeting, there was a problem with the monitor and it will be viewed at the December meeting.
In addition, she reported that the coalition is trying to formulate an event for next year that will involve all participating organizations.
F. AuditorÕs Report – Mr. Mike Celer, District auditor, reviewed the auditorÕs report and distributed the graphic review that is included with the audit. An opportunity was given for questions and discussion. Mrs. DiCiolla asked about fixed assets and how they are coded. She also asked about the budget for Òon behalfÓ payments. Mr. Celer reviewed the graphs he had distributed. Dr. Cull stated that Mr. Celer has been a very helpful resource for both himself and Mrs. Kuta, the bookkeeper. The board thanked Mr. Celer for his report.
G. Capital Outlay – Mrs. Zelenka thanked Dr. Cull for the work done on the report. Mrs. Zelenka had some questions and discussion ensued. She also asked about the amount budgeted for Johnson Controls as they billed in July for work that was done in May and June. Dr. Cull reminded everyone that the bonds that were sold will be spent down.
H. Activity Fund – Mrs. Dale stated that the Activity Fund listed in the monthly financial summary remains the same. She believes that she has approved these accounts but does not know what was spent. She suggested that the district might not be following the Illinois School Code. Dr. Cull stated that these funds are audited including checkbook accounts for each school. Mrs. Dale would like to review what has been spent over the past few years. Dr. Cull asked for clarification on what Mrs. Dale would like to review. The two policies on Student Activity will be on the agenda next month.
- Traffic Report –Mr. Latoria, Mr. Putzell, Mrs. Leahy, Dr. Cull, Dr. Turner, Chief Heher, and Mrs. Dale have recently met. Mrs. Dale reported on their meeting. The Police Chief is going to talk with board members as well as meet with crossing guards. The Village is also going to do some striping. The general consensus was that the intersection of Rush and Washington is not something that could be easily settled. Discussion ensued.
J. Freedom of Information - Superintendent Cull reported that no requests had been made during the past month.
K. Opportunity for Community Input Regarding Board Requested Reports – Mrs. Deb Thude, crossing guard on the corner of Rush and Washington, stated that she would need some additional help for this corner and that the children needed to be educated on crossing this street. Mrs. McDonald stated that parents should be educated.
IX. Consent Items – Motion made by Mrs. DiCiolla and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that the minutes of the October 13, 2004 closed session and regular meeting, the expenditure reports for the month of October, 2004, and Dawn CimagliaÕs request for leave be approved. Following an opportunity for questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Dale
Mrs. Nolte
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. McDonald
XI. Action Items
A. FY2004 Audit – A motion was made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that the FY 2004 audit be approved. Following an opportunity for community input, questions and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mr. Hervas
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Dale
Mrs. Zelenka
B. Inter-fund Loan – A motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mrs. Zelenka that the Board of Education approve an inter-fund loan from the Working Cash Fund to the IMR Fund, in the amount of $150,000 to be repaid by October 31, 2005. Following an opportunity for questions and discussion, as well as community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
C. Estimated Levy – A motion was made by Mrs. McDonald and seconded by Mr. Hervas that the Board of Education approve an estimated 2004 Levy of $8,514,044 plus $708,560 for debt service for a total estimated 2004 levy of $9,222,604. Following an opportunity for community input, questions, and discussion, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. McDonald
Mrs. Nolte
Mrs. Zelenka
Mrs. Dale
Mr. Hervas
D. Student Teacher – A motion was made by Mr. Hervas and seconded by Mrs. McDonald that the Board of Education approve Bridget Willis to student teach in District #10 from March 7 through May 20, 2005. Mrs. Zelenka asked if the district monitors the student teachers. Dr. Cull assured her that these teachers are monitored. Following a further opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.
