Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board met April 10.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by President Matt Bauman
1.1 Roll Call:
Upon Roll Call the following members answered present: Brad Banks, Matt Bauman, Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Danielle Paul, Jared Ploger (by phone)
Members Absent (at roll call): Greg O’Neil
Administration Present: Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Sparlin Associate Superintendent Dr. Judith Minor Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Mr. Ali Mehanti
Others Present: Board Attorney Maureen Lemon, Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert and DiNolfo, Ltd; Director of Communications Brian Graves, employees of the District and members of the community.
Recording Secretary: Ursula Coan
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Matt Bauman.
2. Recognitions
2.1 SD308 State/National Student Recognition
The Board of Education recognized Lia Lauck, a junior at Oswego High School. Lia won 1st place in this year’s poster contest, out of over 500 entries. Lia Lauck was recently recognized at an Illinois State Board Meeting.
2.2 PRIDE March Award Recipients
President Bauman and members of the Board of Education recognized the March PRIDE winners. A complete audio recording can be found at the link below: http://www.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public
Teacher of the Month: Tammy Maddox - Teacher of the Month - The Wheatlands Chris Werve - Teacher of the Month - Plank Junior High School Employee of the Month: Paul Southwell - Employee of the Month - Boulder Hill Elementary Sue Tiedt - Employee of the Month - Fox Chase Elementary Volunteer of the Month: Marilyn Lichtenstein - Volunteer of the Month - Boulder Hill Elementary Melissa Yackley - Volunteeer of the Month - Boulder Hill Elementary
3. Public Comment
3.1 Each Person will be provided five (5) minutes to speak before the Board of Education
Valerie Anderson and Alec Ludacka, addressed the board with some information about the Oswego East High School Theater Program. Both of them are participants in the theater program and wanted to raise public awareness of the impact of theatre education and draw attention to the need for more access to quality programs for all students.
4. Comments/Reports
4.1 Board Member Updates
Mr. Banks updated the board on the Vietnam Wall Fundraising effort. Over $40,000 were raised for the event that is planned from June 29 through July 3, 2017. Mrs. Doyle commented that the planning for the 50th anniversary celebration of Long Beach Elementary school has begun. The celebration will be commemorated with numerous events over the course of the 2017-18 school year. Mr. Ploger attempted to make a comment but the phone connection was very poor. Dr. Sparlin attended the Kishwaukee Regional Meeting with Jared and therefore commented on it in his place. Dr. Sparlin informed the board that over 65% of the school districts in the region are currently operating in the red. If school funding does not come through, that number will increase as the school year comes to a close.
4.2 Board Committee Report
Finance and Operations Committee - Danielle Paul commented on the deficit predicted for next year as well as on the Evidence Based Funding Model and the new calculations. If the district would be lucky, we could receive $11 million that is owed to us by the State, but it is more likely that we will receive half of that. Mr. Mehanti reiterated that the public needs to contact the Legislators and encourage them to pass HB2808 that provides for an evidence-based funding formula. PMA also provided the committee with a presentation on debt restructuring.
Policy Development Committee – Brad Banks commented that the committee discussed the policies on tonight’s agenda for a First Reading. The food allergy policy was also reviewed to allow building personnel to have pizza parties etc. It was decided that there are too many allergies, therefore that policy will stay as is.
Teaching and Learning Committee – Dr. McDowell commented that the meeting revolved mostly around updates from the Gifted Education and Special Education. Theresa Ulrich informed the committee that the district was 100% in compliance with the State on the EL Program. The committee was also updated on the on-line course selections for summer school and the coming school year. The number of students registering for the Seal of Biliteracy test was also discussed.
5. Approve Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to approve all items under consent, including 5.1 Minutes from March 13, 2017 Regular Board Meeting Open and Closed Sessions
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
6. Information Only
6.1 Financial Statements
The board had no questions on the Financial Statements.
6.2 Student Trip outside the Continental United States
The board had no question on the Student Trip to Scottland and England from June 6 through June 14, 2017.
6.3 Board Policy First Reading
Section 5: General Personnel (5:125) Section 6: Instruction (6:250, 6:290) Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities Section
The board had no questions on any Policies presented for First Reading.
6.4 Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding Playground Replacement and Maintenance with Oswegoland Park District
Mr. Mehanti explained that the Park District and the School District share replacement and maintenance costs for playgrounds at our buildings. Mr. Barr stated that the Park District inspects and repairs as needed 15 of the districts playgrounds. The cost is shared 1/3 Park District and 2/3 School District. There has been a verbal agreement to this effect in place since 1996.
6.5 Five Year Bus Trust Lease Agreement with Midwest Transit Equipment Inc. and Santander Leasing LLC
Mr. Berlin informed the board that 20 vehicles are at the end of their lease term, with 7 of them being wheelchair buses on a five year lease and 13 were renewed in 2015 for an additional 2 year term. Mr. Berlin is recommending the acquisition of the following vehicles:
• Five (5) 77 passenger conventional buses.
• Eight (8) 24+4 passenger conventional lift buses with integrated seating.
• One (1) 30 passengers conventional bus with integrated seating.
• Three (3) 9+2 passenger Collins Class A lift buses with integrated seating.
The yearly lease payments amount to $206,823.00 due upon delivery with four additional annual payments of the same. Mrs. Doyle stated that there was a potential legislation that would require seatbelts on all school buses and asked if the new buses would be compliant. The vehicles we currently lease from Midwest Transit are designed for the backs to be interchangeable. If we were required by law, the backs could be exchanged with a three point back seat. Mr. Berlin clarified that this new law would be applied to new vehicles only. If this law would become effective, the cost would be an extra $60,000 to $80,000 in lease cost for our entire fleet per year. If the board chose to retrofit all buses, that could be decided, but it would most likely not be mandated.
6.6 One Year Lease Extension with the Heritage YMCA Group and Oswego Senior Center
The board had not questions regarding the one year lease extensions presented. Mr. Bauman stated how appreciative the Senior Center is for the lower lease payment that was granted a couple years ago.
6.7 Resolution to Waive the Limitation of Administrative Cost for FY17
Mr. Mehanti explained to the board members, that if a school district’s budgeted administrative expenditures increase by more than 5% over their prior year actual administrative expenditures, a waiver of the rule must be approved by at least 2/3 of the members of the Board of Education per Section 17-1.5 of the School Code. Due to the absorption of the Kendall County Special Education Cooperative (KCSEC), the district’s budgeted administrative cost in FY17 will exceed 5% more than the actual costs compared to FY16. For this reason, the same costs for the special education coordinators that were being incurred in FY16 are now being coded to the administrative cost section. In prior years, they were coded to “purchased services” as part of the contractual agreement with KCSEC. The district has not incurred more or additional administrative costs; this is just a reclassification of existing costs due to the withdrawal from KCSEC. If we were still paying the COOP through purchased services category, our administrative cost would decrease by.19% due to a salary freeze for the administrative staff and elimination of the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum position for the 2016-17 school year. This is not due to an increase in salaries, strictly the acquisition of the COOP. Administration will take another salary freeze for 2017-18 as well.
7. Action Items
7.1 Approval of Bills for Payment
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Mr. Brad Banks, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of two million, two hundred ten thousand, five hundred ten dollars and seventy cents ($ 2,210,510.70)
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
7.2 Approval of Naming the Oswego High School Auditorium
The board president thanked Mr. and Mrs. Barnes for their 33 years of service to the Theater Program at Oswego High School.
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to approve naming the Oswego High School Auditorium the Barnes Performing Arts Center
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
7.3 Approval of K-5 PE/Health Curriculum Adoption Recommendations for 2017-18
Melissa McDowell stated that the SPARK program was piloted during the last two school years. It will be much more of a fitness based curriculum rather than sport based. It also includes the components of health that we are mandated to provide to our students. Currently, we do not have a Health Curriculum. There is a one time cost for six years of $87,400.00 that includes teacher resources and equipment.
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to approve the Elementary Physical Education and Health Curriculum for the 2017-18 school year as presented at the February 27, 2017 Board of Education meeting
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
7.4 Approval of Resolution to Regulate Expense Reimbursements of Employees and Board Members
The board had no questions regarding the approval of the Resolution to Regulate Expense Reimbursements of Employees and Board Members.
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to approve the Resolution to Regulate Expenses of Employees and Board Members
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
8. Closed Session
8.1 Closed Session under statutes 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1): The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11): Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to enter Closed Session under statutes 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1): The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11): Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
The Board of Education entered closed session at 7:52 p.m. following a short recess.
8.2 Return to Open Session
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to return to Open Session.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
The Board of Education returned to Open Session at 8:29 p.m.
9. Action after Closed Session
9.1 Approval of Personnel Report
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to approve the personnel report.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
10. Adjournment
10.1 Adjourn
A motion was made by Mrs. Lauri Doyle, second by Dr. Mike McDowell, to adjourn.
All were in favor unanimously to adjourn.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 6-0
Aye: Mr. Brad Banks, Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Dr. Mike McDowell, Mrs. Danielle Paul, Mr. Jared Ploger
Meeting Adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
https://www.sd308.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=9932&dataid=38722&FileName=4.10.17%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf
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