Delavan June 2010 Board Newsletter
by Matt Gordon
DELAVAN COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #703
BOARD OF EDUCATION NEWSLETTER
June 28, 2010
A regular meeting of the Delavan Board of Education was held on Monday, June 28, 2010, in the District’s library. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gresham at 7:00 p.m. Other members present were Sue Howard, Jeff Johnson, Wendy Schweigert, Shari Teal, and Mark Vannaken. Matt Shipton was absent at roll call. Also in attendance was Matt Gordon, Jr./Sr. High Principal; Staci Harper, Elementary Principal; Paul Lewis, Special Education/RTI/Curriculum Coordinator; Mary Parker, Superintendent; Lori Smith, Board Secretary; Joyce Phillips, Aramark; Clark and Mary Zumwalt, Students A and B, Larry Smith, and Jodi Berta.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.
A motion was made and carried to enter closed/executive session to discuss student disciplinary cases 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9). The Board entered closed session at 7:03.
(Board member Matt Shipton entered the meeting at 7:20 p.m.)
The Board returned to open session at 8:50 p.m.
RECEPTION OF VISITORS
Agenda
A motion was made and carried to approve Jodi Berta as High School Special Education teacher for 2010-2011 (Agenda Item 8.4). Jodi was in the audience and was welcomed and congratulated.
Larry Smith presented information on the Second Season Wood Bat League. A Certificate of Liability Insurance has been received. A motion was made and carried to approve use of school facilities for the Second Season Wood Bat League (Agenda Item 10.8).
Joyce Phillips requested contract renewal for Aramark Food Management Services at a 1.9% consumer price index increase. A motion was made and carried to approve the contract for 2010-2011 (Agenda Item 10.2).
Paul Lewis presented data information regarding Response to Intervention (RtI) progress, and test scores for students in K-6. Data analysis replaces the discrepancy model which had been used in the past. The number of students receiving RtI services for reading, language arts, and math was reviewed. All of this information will be used to determine what grades are in need of the most intervention. The three tiers of intervention, and personnel used to achieve both academic and behavioral progress, was also reviewed.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made and carried to approve the May 24, 2010 and June 9, 2010 closed session minutes; May 24, 2010 regular meeting minutes; June 2, 2010, June 9, 2010, and June 16, 2010 special meeting minutes; current bills (including imprest bills); and payrolls for May 28, 2010; June 11, 2010; and June 25, 2010.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
A Building and Grounds Committee meeting was requested for July 6, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. The use of bonds for school improvements will be discussed, as well as the heating and ventilation systems.
A Policy Committee meeting will be scheduled for September to discuss updating the Board Policy Handbook, with the assistance of an employee from the Illinois State Board of Education.
If any board member not on a committee plans to attend either of these meetings, notice should be given to Dr. Parker so a special board meeting may be posted.
PERSONNEL
A motion was made and carried to accept the letter of resignation from Travis Moore as assistant high school baseball coach.
A motion was made, but failed, to approve the posting for an assistant high school baseball coach.
A motion was made to accept the letter of resignation from Katie Smith as High School Special Education Teacher, effective immediately, with regrets.
A motion was made and carried for non-renewal of Jason Fields as the Assistant High School Softball Coach, effective immediately.
The posting for an assistant high school softball coach was tabled, pending input from Athletic Director Kramer.
OLD BUSINESS
A motion was made and carried to approve the destruction of all closed session minutes’ audio recordings, 18 months and older, that have been approved by the Delavan Board of Education. The Board Secretary will insure the tapes are destroyed.
A motion was tabled, pending additional information, to approve the continued confidential status of closed session minutes. (This semi-annual review is required by the Illinois Open Meetings Act.)
NEW BUSINESS
A motion was made and carried to approve the Student School Fee Schedule for 2010-2011, with no increases from last year.
A motion was made and carried to approve the First Student Transportation Contract Extension for 2010-2011, at an increase of 1 ½ %.
A motion was made and carried to approve the Prevailing Wage Resolution, 2010-03. (This was inadvertently already posted in the Delavan newspaper.)
A motion was made and carried to approve the Edward and Beulah Schmidt Delavan Charitable Educational Trust Conversion to Total Return Trust, Resolution 2010-04.
Sue Howard was nominated as Vice-President of the Delavan Board of Education. No other nominations were heard. A motion was made and carried to approve Sue Howard as Vice-President of the Board.
A motion was made and carried to approve Resolution 2010-05, Health/Life Safety Emergency Amendment and Certification of Need for Fire Prevention and Safety Funds, Request for Authorization – Walk-in Cooler Repair.
PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS
Elementary Principal Staci Harper offered many thanks to Mrs. Zuercher, Mrs. Eeten, Mrs. Lessen, Mrs. Minick, and Mrs. Butler for coming in the first week of June to work on WIN materials to help with students needing response to intervention.
Mrs. Nelson is switching the library over to a new scan-type checkout system.
The custodial crew has worked very hard and done a phenomenal job in improving the elementary wing this summer.
Before/After School Care will be offered for Delavan elementary students this year. The Tazewell County Health Department is interviewing candidates for this position. Breakfast from Aramark will be included in the program.
Jump Start Summer School will run the first two weeks in August. One more teacher is still needed.
A HUGE thank you goes out to the Delavan Educational Foundation for donated $693 to the elementary school to purchase a yearly subscription to the National Geographic magazine. Every student Kindergarten through 6th grade will receive a monthly copy.
Former Art teacher, Erica VanOllefen is offering Art Camp. The first session has already occurred; another session will take place in July. (This is not school sponsored.)
Funds have been allocated for RtI/Title I reading improvement for K-2nd grades and possibly third grade. More information will follow at a later date.
Jr./Sr. High Principal Matt Gordon discussed handbook changes for the upcoming year. Included in the discussion were early graduation requirements, law enforcement/student interactions, and cheerleading rosters. Several other items in the handbook will be reviewed by the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee this coming year. The handbook is slated for approval by the Board in July.
Jr./Sr. High School completed summer school. Thanks to Mrs. Hudson for instructing High School English and Mrs. Bolliger for teaching multiple junior high subjects.
Mrs. Julie Faires was recognized for her exceptional work on the Guidance Department website and the contents therein. Mrs. Faires is also working with Mr. Gordon on the possibility of incorporated social networking (such as Facebook) as part of Delavan’s website next year. Other positive uses for social networking are being explored.
Mr. Gordon, along with Mrs. Harper, attended an administrator’s academy on safe schools. Internet Safety initiatives will be provided to students and parents.
As part of the School Improvement Program, the Jr./Sr. High teachers have completed Phase I of a three-phase project related to curriculum. Curriculum guides, which name units taught for each subject, were developed and are very helpful to new teachers, and also compare and contrast between schools and within schools. Phase II will be completed this year which will state objectives of each unit. Phase III will align the curriculum to state standards and address any gaps that may exist.
The Discipline Summary Report was shared and discussed.
COMMUNICATIONS / INFORMATION
Thank you notes were read from Mary Kay Wonders and Mindy Lewis.
OTHER
The Board entered closed (executive) session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body (6 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1)) at 10:45 p.m. The Board returned to open session at 11:15 p.m., followed by adjournment.
THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED DELAVAN BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS MONDAY, JULY 12, 2010, IN THE DISTRICT’S LIBRARY.
