Itasca School District #10
Itasca, IL 60143
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
August 8, 2007
I. Call to order and roll call – The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President DiCiolla with the following ROLL CALL:
PRESENT ABSENT
Mrs. Nancy DiCiolla
Mrs. Valerie Hogan
Mr. Fred Maier
Mr. James McCann
Ms. Debbi Pawinski
Mrs. Leslie Dyra
Mrs. Kathryn Miller
Also in attendance:
Dr. Kenneth Cull, Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Debora Mitsui, Recorder
II. Closed Session – A motion was made by Ms. Pawinski and seconded by Mrs. Miller that the Board of Education enter into a closed session for the purpose of discussing negotiations. The motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.
The Board entered a closed session at 6:33 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs. DiCiolla and seconded by Mr. Maier that the board of education return to open session. The motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.
The Board returned to open session at 7:18 p.m.
President DiCiolla stated that while in closed session, the Board had discussed negotiations and that no action was taken.
Also in Attendance:
Dr. Marcia Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Mr. Charles Kapachinski, Director of Technology
Dr. Dawn Turner, Principal, Raymond Benson Primary School
Dr. Joanna Medwick, Principal, Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School
III. Budget Hearing - President DiCiolla called the budget hearing to order at 7:24 p.m.
Dr. Cull reviewed the budget process. Planning began in December 2006. The tentative budget was presented in June 2007 and has been on public display for two months. The final budget is being presented this evening. There are two changes in the budget from Tentative to Final. One change was an account renumbering. The second change was a $25,000 increase in the O&M revenue due to developer fees.
Following an opportunity for questions/comments from the audience, Mrs. DiCiolla closed the Budget Hearing at 7:28 p.m.
IV. Pledge of Allegiance – Mrs. DiCiolla led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
V. Welcome to Visitors – Mrs. DiCiolla welcome everyone present.
VI. Communications – Mr. Maier read communications received during the past month.
VII. Additional Agenda Items – Mr. Maier requested to add a discussion topic, Friends of Springbrook Nature Center, for the purpose of recommending an appointment of a second representative from Itasca School District #10.
Mr. McCann requested that approval of the retirement of Dr. Kenneth Cull be removed from the Consent Agenda and be placed on the General Agenda after the Superintendent’s report.
VIII. Superintendent’s Report – Superintendent Cull reviewed the Superintendent’s Report, a copy of which is attached to these official minutes.
IASB-IASA-IASBO Joint Conference is scheduled for November 16-18, 2007 in Chicago. Board members interested in attending should notify Deb Mitsui by September 28, 2007. Additionally, Dr. Cull provided Board members with a handout on the 6th Annual School Law Conference to be held on September 15th, 2007. Board members were asked to notify Deb Mitsui if they are interested in attending.
VIIIa. Approval of Retirement of Dr. Cull (Pulled from the Consent Agenda)
Community Input was provided by:
Mrs. Megan Sheridan, 308 Rush Street, Itasca
Mrs. Kim Boryszewski, 423 Briar Place, Itasca
Mr. Jack Boryszewski, 1091 Granville, Itasca
A motion was made by Mrs. DiCiolla and seconded by Mrs. Miller to close the discussion and approve the retirement of Dr. Kenneth Cull, Superintendent, under the conditions outlined in his letter of July 31, 2007, a copy of which is included in this packet.
Following a further opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN
Mr. McCann Ms. Pawinski
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mr. Maier
Mrs. Hogan
Mrs. Dyra
Mrs. Miller
IX. Board Requested Reports
A. N.D.S.E.C. – Ms. Pawinski, District #10 representative to N.D.S.E.C., was unable to attend the meeting on June 18, 2007. Dr. Cull reported that Jenny Kilkenny has been appointed to replace Mr. Tim Atkins, Finance Manager, for N.D.S.E.C. Mr. Atkins passed away on June 10, 2007.
B. Middle School Report – Dr. Nickisch, principal of F.E. Peacock Middle School was unable to attend this evening’s meeting. A copy of Dr. Nickisch’s report is attached to these minutes. Dr. Cull asked that questions or concerns be directed to Dr. Nickisch.
C. Curriculum – Dr. Tornatore, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, reviewed her report. A copy of her report is attached to these official minutes.
D. Technology Update – Mr. Charles Kapachinski, Director of Technology, reviewed his report, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. Per a Board member’s request, Mr. Kapachinski provided several graphs outlining the help desk activities.
Mrs. DiCiolla asked for clarification of daily number of calls requesting help. Mr. Kapachinski said that the calls listed are from 2003 to present. Mr. Kapachinski stated that many calls are related to new technology.
Mr. Maier thanked Mr. Kapachinski for providing the chart and graph reports related to help desk issues.
Mrs. Hogan asked if the newly adopted social studies curriculum software would be available at the beginning of the school year. Mr. Kapachinski responded that it would not. The technology team tries to accomplish the tasks that will affect the majority of users. The social studies software will be on the “to do” list.
E. Franzen Parking – Mrs. DiCiolla gave a brief history on the St. Matthew’s parking lot and Franzen Intermediate School’s use of that parking lot. Mrs. DiCiolla has discussed the topic with Mr. Raymond Benson, who has drawn up a draft agreement that was provided to Mrs. DiCiolla at this evening’s meeting. Board members will review the draft and it will be placed on September’s agenda as a discussion item.
F. Board Committees – Mrs. DiCiolla gave a brief overview of the purpose for assigning a committee and committee member’s duties and responsibilities. Mrs. DiCiolla also reviewed the laws governing the Open Meetings Act. Mrs. DiCiolla asked that all Board members read and review the district’s policies. Dr. Cull added that several times during the year the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) sends school districts packets (with IASB’s perspective) of changes in laws that should be reviewed. The policy committee reviews these laws and sometimes we make changes and sometimes not or we may adjust them to meet our local goals.
Mrs. Miller provided a proposal for a District 10 Finance Committee. She gave a brief overview of the purpose and responsibilities for recommendation of this new committee.
Mrs. Hogan asked that the Board be given an opportunity to review the draft. Mr. Maier asked the finance committee topic be added to September’s agenda for discussion. Mrs. Miller said that she would also e-mail Board members with links for further information on finance committees. Dr. Cull will also check into neighboring district’s to inquire about finance committees.
G. Superintendent’s Goals – Mrs. DiCiolla said that the Board had been given the opportunity to review the Superintendent’s Goals and asked for additional comments or questions from the Board. There were none. The Superintendent’s Goals will be placed on September’s agenda for formal approval. Mrs. DiCiolla asked with regards to negotiations if possible, could a tentative agreement be reached before June of 2008. Mrs. DiCiolla also asked that Dr. Cull keep the Board informed of revisions or additions to the List of Possible Projects for the use of the proceeds from General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds for capital improvement.
H. Report on Training – Mrs. DiCiolla, Mrs. Hogan, & Mrs. Miller each attended workshops in June. Workshop topics discussed were the Open Meetings Act and Governance and Law. Mrs. Miller also shared that any decision the Board makes should relate to the Board’s objectives and goals and should always follow policy and procedure.
I. Release of Evaluations – Discussion among Board members ensued. Policy #5:150 does give Board members the right to request and have access to employee personnel files. Several Board members suggested that Policy #5:150 might need to be reviewed and/or revised.
A motion was made by Mrs. DiCiolla and seconded by Mrs. Miller to end the discussion on Release of Evaluations. The motion carried on the following VOICE VOTE: All AYES: NAYS none.
Friends of Springbrook Nature Center - Mr. Maier asked for the Board’s recommendation of Mr. Mark Kovach to be appointed as an additional representative from the community at large for the Friends of Springbrook Nature Center. Mrs. Dyra currently represents Itasca School District #10 Board of Education for the Friends of Springbrook Nature Center Board. Mr. Kovach would be appointed through the school Board, however he would not be representing the school Board’s interests. It was the Board’s consensus that Mr. Kovach is recommended. Mr. Maier said that the next meeting would be Wednesday, August 29th at 7:00 p.m.
J. Freedom of Information – Dr. Cull – none received.
K. Opportunity for Community Input Regarding Board Requested Reports – There were none at this time.
IX. Action Items -
A. Consent Items – A motion was made by Mr. Maier and seconded by Mrs. DiCiolla that the Board of Education approve Action Memorandum FY08-#01; the Consent Agenda.
· Approval of Minutes:
May 29, 2007 Special Meeting (Review Draft 2 of the FY08 Tentative Budget)
May 30, 2007 Special Meeting (Use of General Obligation Bonds – Franzen Park)
June 13, Regular Meeting (Full or Abbreviated Version)
· Approval of Expenditure Reports, June and July, 2007
· Approval of rehiring of Luciana Romeo (Teacher Aide from Benson being rehired at Franzen)
· Acceptance of the resignation of Melissa DeWitt (Franzen Aide) and Judy Busato (Franzen Aide)
· Approval of the hiring of Kelly Henneberry (LA – Peacock), Patricia Nardi (SW-Benson & Franzen), Michele Bonham (Part time inclusion facilitator – Benson), Melissa Flanigan (4th grade – Franzen), and Vickie Lauermann (Custodian – Peacock).
Dr. Cull said that there were two sets of the June 13th, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes. One set was a detailed version and the second was an abbreviated version. The official requirement for Board minutes are date, time, place, members present and absent and a summary on all items that have been voted on. Board requested reports should be included. For the purpose of this Agenda’s Action Item regarding Consent Items, the detailed version minutes of the June 13th, 2007 will be entered as approved (with revisions).
Board members agreed for future minutes a shorter version would be preferred. Action items should have more details than discussion items.
Following a further opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, corrections and/or deletions/additions were made on the original minutes and the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN
Mrs. Hogan
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mr. McCann
Mrs. Miller
Mrs. Dyra
Mr. Maier
B. A motion was made by Mrs. Dyra and seconded by Mrs. Hogan that the Board of Education approve Action Memorandum FY08-#02; FY08 Final Budget.
Mrs. DiCiolla thanked Dr. Cull for all of the reports that he provided and for answering all the Board’s questions.
Following a further opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN
Mr. Maier
Mr. McCann
Mrs. Hogan
Mrs. Miller
Ms. Pawinski
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Dyra
C. A motion was made by Mr. Maier and seconded by Mrs. DiCiolla that the Board of Education approve Action Memorandum FY08-#03; Release of Closed Session Minutes and Destruction of Audio Records.
Following a further opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Hogan
Mr. McCann
Mr. Maier
Mrs. Dyra
Ms. Pawinski
Mrs. Miller
D. A motion was made by Mr. Maier and seconded by Mrs. DiCiolla that the Board of Education approve Action Memorandum FY08-#04; Permanent Transfer from Working Cash Funds II to Education Funds for $70,000.
Following a further opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN
Mrs. Hogan
Mr. Maier
Mrs. Dyra
Ms. Pawinski
Mrs. Miller
Mr. McCann
Mrs. DiCiolla
E. A motion was made by Mrs. DiCiolla and seconded by Mrs. Dyra that the Board of Education approve Action Memorandum FY08-#05; Permanent Transfer from Working Cash Funds II to Operations and Maintenance Funds in the Amount of $516,000.
Following a further opportunity for questions, discussion, and community input, the motion carried on the following ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES NAYS ABSTAIN
Mr. McCann
Mr. Maier
Ms. Pawinski
Mrs. Hogan
Mrs. Dyra
Mrs. DiCiolla
Mrs. Miller
X. Board Requested Reports – There were none requested.
XI. Adjournment – There being no further business, President DiCiolla adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Fred Maier, Secretary Nancy DiCiolla, President
Board of Education Board of Education
BOE Action Memorandum FY08 - #1
Consent Agenda
August 8, 2007
Included in the consent agenda:
May 29, 2007 Special Meeting (Review Draft 2 of FY08 Tentative Budget)
May 30, 2007 Special Meeting (Use of General Obligation Bonds – Franzen Park)
June 13, 2007 Regular Meeting (Full or Abbreviated Version)
- Approval of Expenditure Reports, June and July, 2007.
- Approval of the rehiring of Luciana Romeo (Teacher Aide from Benson being rehired at Franzen)
- Acceptance of the resignation of Melissa DeWitt (Franzen Aide) and Judy Busato (Franzen Aide)
- Approval of the hiring of Kelly Henneberry (LA - Peacock), Patricia Nardi (SW – Benson & Franzen), Michele Bonham (Part time inclusion facilitator – Benson), Melissa Flanigan (4th grade – Franzen), and Vickie Lauermann (Custodian Peacock).
- Approval of the retirement of Dr. Kenneth Cull, Superintendent, under the conditions outlined in his letter of July 31, 2007 (enclosed in this packet).
The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the consent agenda.
BOE Action Memorandum FY08 - #2
Final FY2008 Budget
August 8, 2007
This is the final step in the budgeting process for Itasca School District 10. The Board of Education approved the Tentative FY08 budget at the June meeting. It has been posted for public view since that time. The Budget Hearing that occurred earlier this evening provided an opportunity for public comment. Upon Board approval, the Final FY2008 Budget will be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education.
The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the Final FY2008 Budget (provided under separate cover in your Board materials).
BOE Action Memorandum FY08 - #3
Release of Closed Session Minutes and the Destruction of Audio Recordings
August 8, 2007
Board policy calls for review of closed session minutes each July and December to determine if they can be made public. This is a routine activity that the Board has done for years as is required by law.
The new wrinkle that started a year or so ago involves the destruction of the audio recordings of these meetings. The law requiring the taping of meetings came into effect in 2004. The law allows us to destroy audiotapes of closed sessions after 18 months have passed. Applying the 18-month window to our remaining recordings means that we can, and should, destroy the tapes of five closed sessions.
The Superintendent recommends that the written minutes of the closed session of April 4, 2007, be released and that the audiotapes of closed sessions dated June 8, September 14, November 11, and December 5 all in 2005 and January 11, 2006, be destroyed.
BOE Action Memorandum FY08 - #4
Approval of the Permanent Transfer of $70,000 in Principal from
Working Cash II Fund to the Education Fund
August 8, 2007
Work Cash II is the fund that was established by the sale of bonds this past winter. Both the intent and the requirement of this fund are to spend it down to zero in order to finance projects to improve the learning environment in our schools. An accounting of the current status of the Work Cash II Fund appears earlier in this packet following the Superintendent’s Report. The projects to be funded by this transfer are in the Final FY08 Budget booklet.
This specific transfer is to cover the cost of the new phone systems at Benson and Franzen. Those expenses appear in the Education Fund.
The Superintendent recommends that Board of Education approve the permanent transfer of $70,000 of principal from the Working Cash II Fund to the Education Fund to fund bond-related projects.
BOE Action Memorandum FY08 - #5
Approval of the Permanent Transfer of $516,000 in Principal from
Working Cash II Fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund
August 8, 2007
Work Cash II is the fund that was established by the sale of bonds this past winter. Both the intent and the requirement of this fund are to spend it down to zero in order to finance projects to improve the learning environment in our schools. An accounting of the current status of the Work Cash II Fund appears earlier in this packet following the Superintendent’s Report. The projects to be funded by this transfer are in the Final FY08 Budget booklet.
The Superintendent recommends that Board of Education approve the permanent transfer of $516,000 of principal from the Working Cash II Fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund to fund bond-related projects.
BOE Action Memorandum FY08 - #6
Establishment of a Superintendent Search Committee
Special Meeting
August 27, 2007
Four Superintendent search firms have been contacted to assist District 10 in the process of seeking my replacement effective July 1, 2008. The Board of Education needs to develop a process by which these firms can be screened down to one firm that will assist the Board. Boards typically do this with a committee. The committee can be a group of three members. Those members would interview the firms and make a recommendation to the full Board for action. The Board could also establish a committee of the whole to do the interviews prior to the selection.
It is recommended that the Board of Education establish a Superintendent Search Committee for the purpose of selecting a search firm.
