Board Minutes
July 20, 2009
by Jason Fields
August 26, 2009
DELAVAN COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #703
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
July 20, 2009
The regular meeting of the Delavan Board of Education was held on Monday, July 20, 2009, in the District’s library. The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Gresham at 7:05 p.m. Members present at roll call were Gresham, Howard, Schweigert, Shipton, and Teal. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Also in attendance was Nicole Zuercher, Delavan Faculty; Matt Gordon Jr./Sr. High Principal; Staci Harper, Elementary Principal; Mary Parker, Superintendent; Lori Smith, Board Secretary; Tammie Fornoff, Aramark; and Megan and Jed Bolliger.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited by the board and visitors.
RECEPTION OF VISITORS
Tammie Fornoff presented Aramark’s Bid Summary and contract details for the District’s cafeteria services. It is a one-year contract with an option to extend four years. Prices have increased from the previous contract due to increased costs to Aramark. (A pre-bid meeting was held July 10, 2009. Aramark was the only bid and was received on July 17, 2009.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Schweigert, second by Howard to approve the current bills (including imprest bills); and July 10, 2009 payroll. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
HEARING OF DELEGATES/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Sue Howard reported on the Finance Committee meeting which was held to discuss non-certified staff salaries, cafeteria prices, substitute pay and book fees. The committee recommended raises for non-certified staff according to Dr. Parker’s guidance, raising cafeteria prices slightly, and leaving substitute pay and book fees the same as last year.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
None.
CLOSED (EXECUTIVE) SESSION
Motion by Gresham, second by Shipton to enter closed (executive) session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried. The Board entered closed session at 7:15 p.m.
The Board reconvened in open session at 7:25 p.m. Members present at roll call were Howard, Schweigert, Shipton, Teal, and Gresham. Johnson and Vannaken were absent.
PERSONNEL
Motion by Howard, second by Teal to approve Mary Ann Day as a Volunteer Coach for Jr. High Softball. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Teal, second by Gresham to approve the contract for Jr./Sr. High Principal Matt Gordon for 2009 – 2013 at an annual rate of $74,880.00. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Schweigert, second by Howard to approve the contract for
counselor Julie Faires for 2009 – 2012 at an annual rate of
$41,600.00. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert,
yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and
Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Shipton, second by Teal to approve the contract for social worker Heather King for 2009 - 2012 at an annual rate of $42,848.00. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Howard, second by Schweigert to approve the contract for Executive Secretary/Bookkeeper Vicki Stout for 2009-2010 at a rate of $43,818.28. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Gresham, second by Schweigert to approve salary raises for non-certified staff for 2009-2010, as recommended by Superintendent Parker and the Board’s Finance Committee. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Schweigert, second by Howard to accept the resignation of Jessica Dare, effective immediately. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Schweigert, second by Teal to approve Megan Bolliger as a Special Education instructor for the 2009-2010 school year at Step A-0, $30,498.00, per DEA contract. (Megan was in the audience and was congratulated and welcomed.) By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
Motion by Shipton, second by Howard to approve Jason Fields as an Assistant High School Cross Country Coach for the 2009-2010 school year at Step 0, $1,050.00, per DEA contract. By Roll Call Vote: Howard, yea; Schweigert, yea; Shipton, yea; Teal, yea; and Gresham, yea. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried.
PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS
Principal Gordon reported on High School Golf tryouts to be held August 12-14 from 9 – 1:00 p.m. at Blue Grass Golf Course in Minier; High School Volleyball tryouts August 12-14 from 8 – 1:00 p.m. in the Poppenga Gymnasium; High School Cross Country practice to begin August 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the track behind the school; Jr. High Cross Country practice to begin August 3 at 10:00 a.m. at the school’s track (open to 5th – 8th graders); Jr. High Baseball tryouts to be held August 3 and 4 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Fifth Street Diamond (open to 6th – 8th graders); and Jr. High Softball tryouts beginning July 27 at Gardner Field for students entering 6th – 8th grades. (Physicals must be on file for students to begin practice.)
Mr. Gordon also reported on orientations for incoming 7th graders, Freshman and new High School students and their parents to be held Thursday, August 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Poppenga Gym. Junior High students will have a shortened practice classroom schedule and lock/locker practice. Letters will be sent to parents and students regarding orientation details, registration dates and 2:15 dismissals.
Principal Gordon also reported (in conjunction with Principal Harper and Special Education/Curriculum Director Paul Lewis) that a welcome-back letter will be sent to all District staff the last week of July highlighting activities for institute day, which will include First Aid/CPR/AED training, Crisis Management training, Suicide/Bullying Prevention training, ADD/ADHD training, and team meetings for school improvement, as well as work on curriculum guides.
Mr. Gordon also publicly thanked all of the District’s custodians and maintenance workers for all their efforts this summer in making our schools neat and clean.
Elementary Principal Staci Harper reported on Jump Start Summer School to be held August 3 – 18, (Mondays – Thursdays). Marge Reynolds will teach the math sessions and Holly Barksdale will teach the reading sessions. Each session will last 90 minutes and cost $25.00 per subject. Letters will be sent to those students recommended by former teachers to attend, but other students are welcome.
Mrs. Harper also reported registration packets will be sent out to all student’s parents, and a “Meet the Teacher” night will be held on August 20 at 6:00 p.m., where students will visit their classrooms. She also reported on PTO activities, including the Club’s Choice Fundraiser to be kicked off on August 25. Principal Harper has also continued work on the new teacher mentoring program.
Principal Harper commended the custodial staff on vastly improving the elementary restrooms by stripping the floor and also painting the 6th grade classrooms.
COMMUNICATIONS / INFORMATION
A Special Board Meeting will be held on August 10, 2009, to fill the positions of Nathan Webb (elementary physical education teacher) and Lisa Webb (K-12 art teacher), who recently resigned. (P.E. teaching assignments may also be restructured.)
A concern was presented about the Athletic Policy concerning tryouts for sports, specifically for 8th, 11th, and 12th graders who automatically qualify for teams. This policy will be reviewed over the next year.
Principal Gordon requested a Board member join the District Parent/Teacher Discipline Advisory Committee; Shari Teal volunteered.
CLOSED (EXECUTIVE) SESSION
Agenda Item 12 – Executive Session to discuss the placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students (5 ILCS 120/2(10)), did not occur at the meeting.
OTHER
Motion by Teal, second by Gresham to adjourn. By Voice Vote: Ayes 5; Nays 0. Johnson and Vannaken were absent. Motion carried. The board meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
(The agenda for the meeting was posted at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at the District office at 907 Locust Street, Delavan, Illinois, where the meeting was held. A copy of the agenda for the meeting is incorporated in and made a part of the minutes.)
