Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board met Oct. 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
1. Call to Order – Executive Session (6:45 pm)
The meeting was called to order at 6:45 p.m. by Mrs. Lauri Doyle 1.1 Roll Call:
Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:
Matt Bauman, Lauri Doyle, Ruth Kroner, Brent Lightfoot, Toni Morgan, Heather Moyer, Alison Swanson
Members Absent (at roll call):
None
2. Closed Session
2.1 Enter Closed Session under statute(s): 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)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees; 5 ILCS/2(c)(6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body; 5 ILCS/2(c)(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Ms. Toni Morgan, to enter closed session under statute(s): 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)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees; 5 ILCS/2(c)(6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body; 5 ILCS/2(c)(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
The Board of Education entered closed session at 6:47 p.m.
2.2 Return to Open Session
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mr. Matt Bauman, to return to Open Session.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
The Board of Education returned to Open Session at 7:31 p.m.
3. Call to Order – Public Session (7:30 pm)
The meeting was called to order at 7:34 p.m. by Mrs. Lauri Doyle
3.1 Roll Call:
Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:
Matt Bauman, Lauri Doyle, Ruth Kroner, Brent Lightfoot, Toni Morgan, Heather Moyer, Alison Swanson
Members Absent (at roll call):
None
Administration Present:
Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Sparlin
Associate Superintendent of Educational Services Faith Dahlquist Chief Financial Officer Mrs. Christi Tyler
Others Present:
Board Attorney Maureen Lemon, Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert and DiNolfo, Ltd; as well as employees of the District and members of the community.
Recording Secretary:
Ursula Coan
3.2 Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Lauri Doyle
4. Public Comment
4.1 Opportunity for the Public to address the Board of Education
Emily Wollschlaeger – a student at Oswego East High School, commented regarding the difference between the two high schools, specifically in regards to Homecoming. Emily stated that the homecoming parade is centered around Oswego High School. Our school district however has two high schools, with OEHS being here for the last 15 years. Emily is proposing for the two high schools to have a combined homecoming parade starting with the year 2020. The two schools are connected and should share in the festivities and show the spirit of the school district since we are all one community.
5. Comments/Reports
5.1 Board Member Comments
Mrs. Doyle acknowledged Principal Appreciation Week and thanked all of our principals for their hard work on behalf of our students.
5.2 Board Advisory Committee Updates
Finance & Facilities Committee – Mrs. Kroner commented that the committee received the Levy presentation just as the Board will get this evening. The committee also discussed the site based expenditure report, which will be made available to all board members after the FTE count is added. The committee also discussed some brainstorming ideas regarding Intergovernmental Agreements.
5.3 Superintendent’s Report
Dr. Sparlin reported that he attended an educational roundtable discussion, hosted by Representative Kifowit. District 308, 204 and 131 along with a representative from ISBE were in attendance, talking about our districts and answering questions from the public.
On Saturday, Dr. Sparlin traveled to Bloomington to attend the “Those Who Excel” Banquet. It was a great evening with the following staff members being recognized:
Bridget Bois (TH), Classroom Teacher-Award of Recognition; Margaret Darnell (OE),
School Administrator-Award of Recognition; Robyn Schmidt (PT), Educational Service Personnel (Non-certificated)-Award of Meritorious; Rebecca Wood (CH), Student Support Personnel (Licensed)-Award of Recognition; and Murphy AVID Site Team
(Elizabeth Fell, Brian Falli, Kelly Waldron, Cynthia Miller, Sarah Vihnanek, Elizabeth Ramsbottom, Michael Gerl)-Award of Meritorious.
6. Presentations
6.1 Student Learning Presentation
Mrs. Dahlquist, Associate Superintendent for Educational Services, provided the Board with an update on our Academic Achievement Improvements. One of the Board Priorities for 2019-20 focuses on creating a system and annual report format to analyze assessment data to determine effectiveness of instruction and interventions.
The assessment data that has been analyzed for this presentation is:
IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness) STAR (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
IAR (New test for Illinois)
We are above the state in reading and in math
We have some disparities between groups to address
Our state report card data will be presented after the state allowable date
Mrs. Dahlquist stated that there are some gender discrepancies in our state assessment data.
Girls tend to do better in reading but it’s not because of ability where boys tend to do a little better in math, also not because of ability.
Some instructional practices are more effective for boys/girls. Teachers without professional development or analysis, tend to teach the way they learn.
The complete presentation for the Student Learning Data, including the audio, can be found at the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/vpublic?open
7. Approve Consent Agenda
7.1 Approval of Minutes from previous Meetings
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mrs. Heather Moyer, to approve all items under consent, including 7.1 Minutes from the October 7, 2019 Board of Education Meeting, Open and Closed Session
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
8. Information
8.1 Financial Statements
There were no questions on the Financial Statements
8.2 Intergovernmental Agreement for Shared Services
Christi Tyler, Chief Financial Officer, shared the IGA with the Board. The public entities that serve the Oswego community, have come together to brainstorm ideas of how we can provide savings through the sharing of resources. This group has met several times in the last few months and each of the conversations has been very productive. The salt storage partnership that the District has entered with the Public Works Department is the first example of the potential that this group has in reducing costs for all taxpayers in Oswego.
This IGA allows the entities to coordinate with each other on an as needed basis, giving each entity the latitude to participate in a shared project/service at their own discretion. Each entity is presenting the IGA to their respective Boards and the document is expected to be fully executed some time in December.
Mrs. Tyler stated that the district’s saving with the salt storage barn is around $270,000 and now we are looking at putting together a copier paper bid with the different entities to capture savings there as well. Mrs. Tyler commented that there are many opportunities out there to share services, equipment etc. to save money.
8.3 2020-21 School Calendar
The Board members discussed the 2020-21 school calendar. The first day of school would be the third Wednesday of August instead of the second. Other than that, the calendar is very similar then previous years. The board was discussing having less SIP days, stating that it is not good use of instructional time for students to attend for 3.5 hours only. The Board asked for the calendar committee to meet again to see if there was a way to reduce the number of half days, perhaps have full day SIP days, since that might be easier for working parents.
Dr. Sparlin stated that the full day Teacher Institute days are used for professional development and the half day SIP days are used for schools to mostly work on their school improvement plan. There is also some faculty training time, grade level time and PLC’s, but mostly work on the school improvement plan. Mrs. Moyer asked to make sure that the opportunity is there for grade level collaboration for the teachers while ensuring that we make the most of the instructional time as well. Mr. Lightfoot stated that it is important to remember that the calendar committee makes up the calendar, after taking a survey of the teachers.
Mrs. Doyle asked that this calendar be discussed again at the committee level to make sure that it best reflects the needs of our students and the teachers.
8.4 2019 Levy Presentation
Christi Tyler, Chief Financial Officer, stated that the school district must adopt and file their tax levy by the last Tuesday in December. Part of adopting a levy is certifying compliance with the Truth in Taxation Act. In order to comply, a taxing body must estimate the tentative levy, calculate the percentage increase over the previous year’s tax extension and if in excess of five percent, conduct a public hearing prior to final adoption.
Mrs. Tyler explained that because the previous year’s extension is used to determine the current year’s extension, it is important for a school district to levy for at least the maximum allowable amount. To not request the statutory allowable amount would have a profound negative impact on the District as revenue dollars would be lost forever. With an EAV increase of 8.5%, a homeowner of a $300,000 home would pay $4,887 as the operating fund portion only. That is the amount we get in taxes to educate a student.
We are expecting to receive $2.8 M more, which I close to what was projected in the recently adopted budget.
The complete presentation for the Levy, including the audio, can be found at the following link: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/vpublic?open
9. Action Items
9.1 Approval of Bills for Payment
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mr. Matt Bauman, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of three million, two hundred fourteen thousand, thirteen dollars and sixty-three cents ($3,214,013.63) as presented
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
9.2 Oswego East High School Parking Lot Lighting
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mrs. Heather Moyer, to approve a contract with R&R Electrical Contractors for $167,015 as presented
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
9.3 Approval of destruction of the audio recordings of the Closed Session meetings from October 23, 2017 through April 9, 2018
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mr. Matt Bauman, to approve the destruction of the audio recordings of the Closed Session meetings from October 23, 2017 through April 9, 2018
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
9.4 Approval of the release of those Closed Session minutes which no longer require confidential treatment and will be made available for public inspection, and retain as confidential those Closed Session minutes for which the need for confidentiality still exists
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mr. Matt Bauman, to approve the release of the following closed session minutes which no longer require confidential treatment and will be made available for public inspection, as discussed in closed session: 11/13/2017, 9/10/2018, 2/11/2019, 4/29/2019
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
9.5 Approval of Personnel Report
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Mrs. Heather Moyer, to approve the Personnel report as presented
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
10. Adjournment
10.1 Adjourn
A motion was made by Mrs. Ruth Kroner, second by Ms. Toni Morgan, to adjourn. All were in favor unanimously to adjourn.
Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0
Aye: Mr. Matt Bauman, Mrs. Lauri Doyle, Mrs. Ruth Kroner, Mr. Brent Lightfoot, Ms. Toni Morgan, Mrs. Heather Moyer, Mrs. Alison Swanson
Meeting Adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
https://www.sd308.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=9932&dataid=57784&FileName=10.21.19%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.doc.pdf
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