Elwood Community Consolidated School District 203 Board met March 13.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
I. Pledge, Call To Order And Roll Call
Mr. Walsh called the regular open session board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. on March 13, 2018. The following board members were present: Mr. Walsh, Mrs. Bosonetta, Mr. Hauert, Mr. Lipke, Mrs. Stipanovich and Mrs. Cotter. The following board member was absent: Mr. Freeman.
II. Awards, Presentations And Recognitions
2.1) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museums 2018 Art Contest – Mr. and Mrs. John Vollmer attended the meeting with their daughter, Amy Vollmer. Mrs. Rompala explained the opportunity of the art contest to the Board of Education and those attending the meeting. Mrs. Rompala stated Miss Vollmer was the only student from Elwood School that participated in this contest and she finished 18th out of 500 entries. Ms. Pezanoski congratulated Miss Vollmer and thanked her for representing Elwood School. Miss Vollmer was congratulated by Board members as well.
2.2) Core Science Resource Presentation – Miss Follansbee and Mrs. Ditzler (on behalf of Mrs. Rea) presented the Core Science Curriculum. Miss Follansbee explained Mrs. Rea's student driven question boards. These boards are where the students place their questions about what they are about to learn before they begin the chapter. Ms. Pezanoski informed the Board of Education if any items are missing from any of the kits the company is very good about shipping the missing pieces. Mrs. Peterson also indicated Kindergarten had missing items which needed to be ordered and shipped and Elwood School received them in a timely fashion.
III. Administration Reports
3.1) Principal's report -- Mrs. Peterson shared six (6) items with the Board of Education. The first item shared was about the summer reading skills opportunity. Mrs. Peterson stated this opportunity will be offered Monday through Friday from June 11 through June 29 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. She also stated summer school will not interfere with any other camp offering so students may participate in both.
The second item discussed was Star Awards. Mrs. Peterson informed the Board of Education of the Village of Elwood contacting her to honor our students for various accomplishments. Mrs. Peterson indicated the Village asked us to contact the student on their behalf as we have the current address. This new program began this month.
The third item discussed was the Board Scholar Dinner. Mrs. Peterson informed the Board of Education we may have to move the dinner to June 5 instead of holding it on June 12 due to the gym floor being worked on. Mrs. Peterson also suggested changing the location of the dinner to either the small gym or to Silver Dollar Restaurant. The board decided to go ahead, at this time, to plan the Board Scholar Dinner for June 12th after a 5:00 Board meeting. At the April 10th regularly, the Board will vote to move the June 12th meeting to 5:00 p.m. to begin the Board Scholar dinner at 6:30 p.m.
The fourth item discussed was digital training. Mrs. Peterson has spoken with Chief Hayes about teaching our 4th through 8th grade students about "Digital Citizenship". Mrs. Peppmuller and Mrs. Peterson would give the presentation during the 2nd Step time. Mrs. Peterson discussed the possibility of the 1:1 training taught by Mr. Grosso for incoming students as well as all new 6th grade students to also include training on the “Digital Citizenship".
The fifth item discussed was Kindergarten Roundup. Mrs. Peterson informed the Board of Education of the 12 new students who attended our first roundup held on March 7. This was a great turnout and our kindergarten teachers were excited to have information on the incoming kindergarten students. Mrs. Peterson also informed the Board of Education out of the 12 new students, 7 of them were not part of our preschool program.
The final item discussed was the fundraising for the recess/playground area. Phase I of the project was completed at the beginning of this year. We are currently in Phase Il of the project which is the replacement of the basketball hoops. As we have the poles, it should not take that long to change out the backboards and hoops. Mr. Bryant Dunne indicated his company can install the new backboards when they arrive. Mrs. Peterson indicated this would be at no cost to the District and PTO would be paying $935.98. She stated she would like to have this completed before the end of the school year so the current students can enjoy as they were part of the fundraising.
3.2) Superintendent's report – Ms. Pezanoski informed the Board of Education of an incident with the installation of the new gym floor. She stated the State amendment was not filed in a timely fashion by Legat Architect. Robin Randall from Legat Architects appeared at the meeting to apologize for the mishap. Ms. Pezanoski indicated she would work with Ms. Randall if the Board of Education wished to proceed with the gym replacement. Ms. Pezanoski stated Elwood School has 3 years to complete the life safety requirements. She also indicated our soft costs will be $20,000 for the architect. Ms. Pezanoski indicated the recommended levy has not been finalized at the Will County Clerk's office because she has been communicating with them. Elwood School should know this outcome in a few weeks. The Board of Education decided to table this discussion until the April board meeting since the information about the levy will be known by then.
Ms. Pezanoski also informed the Board of Education of the request by the Village of Elwood. Ms. Pezanoski indicated she was contacted by a representative from the Village about using our big gym to hold some meetings over the next five months. Ms. Pezanoski stated she gave the Village some dates until the first week of June and has not heard back from the Village as of yet.
IV. Scheduled Public Comments
4.1) Tricia Kruchten – Thanked the Board of Education for allowing her to address them. She then shared her concerns about a 6th grade discipline issue on Friday, March 2nd and how it was handled by administration, including consequences to various students.
Jill Berscheid - Mrs. Berscheid addressed the Board of Education and shared similar concerns about the 6th grade student discipline issue on March 2nd.
Margaret Bosonetta - Mrs. Bosonetta addressed the Board of Education as a 6th grade parent and voiced concerns about the consequences for the 6th grade discipline issue.
Christine Lipke - Mrs. Lipke thanked Mrs. Peterson for being receptive to all of the phone calls that must have come in over this incident. Mrs. Lipke also shared her concerns about the 6th grade discipline issue on March 2nd. She also stated she hoped an incident like this would not occur again.
V. Consent Agenda
5.1) Approval of minutes:
• January 9, 2018 Regular Open Session Meeting Minutes
• February 6, 2018 Facilities Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
• February 8, 2018 Finance Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
5.2) Monthly Financial Reports:
• Approval of Change in Fund Balances and Financial Report
• Approval of Accounts Payable, Interim Checks and Payroll
Approval of Summary of Activity Account
Ms. Pezanoski addressed the Board of Education with regards to the $691,111 payment for Impact Aid by the Federal Department of Education. She shared this payment is currently showing on the financial report as part of the Operations and Maintenance Fund but will be moved to the Education Fund as the 2017/18 budget states. She stated the State overpaid Elwood School for the first quarter transportation reimbursement. She informed the Board of Education we are to receive $180,000 for the entire year and not the $229,000 we received from the State. Mr. Grosso is working with the State to get this payment corrected.
VI. Action Considerations
6.1) Mr. Walsh asked if there were any items from the Consent Agenda that a board member may request further discussion on or to be voted on separately. Hearing none, Mr. Walsh asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
6.2) Motion made by Mr. Lipke and seconded by Mrs. Bosonetta for the approval of the Consent Agenda as submitted by administration.
Roll Call (Ayes): Mr. Lipke, Mrs. Bosonetta, Mrs. Walsh, Mr. Hauert Mrs. Stipanovich, and Mrs. Cotter
Nays: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Mr. Freeman
6.3) Motion made by Mr. Hauert and seconded by Mr. Lipke to approve an updated maternity leave for Dani Novack.
Roll Call (Ayes): Mr. Hauert, Mr. Lipke, Mr. Walsh, Mrs. Bosonetta Mrs. Stipanovich, and Mrs. Cotter
Nays: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Mr. Freeman
6.4) Motion made by Mrs. Bosonetta and seconded by Mrs. Stipanovich to approve the FY 19 Elwood CCSD #203 Calendar as submitted by administration.
Roll Call (Ayes): Mrs. Bosonetta, Mrs. Stipanovich, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Hauert Mr. Lipke, and Mrs. Cotter
Nays: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Mr. Freeman
6.5) Motion made by Mr. Hauert and seconded by Mr. Lipke to approve hosting a public hearing on April 10th to seek public input regarding the permanent transfer of $75,000 from the working cash fund to the transportation fund.
Roll Call (Ayes): Mr. Hauert, Mr. Lipke, Mr. Walsh, Mrs. Bosonetta, Mrs. Stipanovich and Mrs. Cotter
Nays: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Mr. Freeman
VII. Unfinished Business
7.1 Valedictorian / Salutatorian Parent / Student Survey Results - Ms. Pezanoski discussed the results of the survey which parents and students could reply to. It was decided Elwood School will continue to honor a valedictorian and salutatorian at graduation.
VIII. New Business
8.1) Extension of Transportation Services Agreement – Ms. Pezanoski presented the Board of Education with a new transportation agreement with First Student as well as School Code regarding extending a transportation contract. Ms. Pezanoski informed the Board of Education with the length of time Elwood School has used First Student and with no other company asking for the school to go to bid, there is no reason not to sign. Mr. Lipke asked about the increase in rate as well as a discount. Ms. Pezanoski informed the Board of Education with only a 4.5% increase in the rate calculations, it is better to stay with a company who knows our students and routes and we have had a good working relationship with for several years.
IX. Public Comments On Board Actions
9.1) There was no public comments made.
X. Notices/Reports/Discussions
10.1) 2017/18 Elwood School Enrollment – There were no questions asked by the Board.
10.2) 2017/18 Preschool Enrollment – There were no questions asked by the Board.
10.3) Newspaper Articles – There were no comments on the articles.
10.4) Curriculum / Technology Board Subcommittee Report – Ms. Pezanoski informed the Board of Education connectivity has been tabled until the May 10th meeting. Ms. Pezanoski stated our 5th grade standard based report card has been drafted and will be implemented during the 2018/19 school year. Mr. Lipke spoke about the science curriculum and wants to purchase the curriculum. Ms. Pezanoski indicated we have to display it for 30 days before we can adopt it. Mr. Lipke indicated he wants to draft a band curriculum. He stated that after the band presentation last month he wants to look into charging the students for participating in the competition band as it is IESA and we charge all of our athletes.
XI. Closed Session
Per ILCS 120/2C.1 to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline performance or dismissal or specific employees.
Motion made by Mrs. Bosonetta and seconded by Mrs. Stipanovich to move the regular open session meeting at 7:12 p.m. to go into closed session.
Roll Call (Ayes): Mrs. Bosonetta, Mrs. Stipanovich, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Hauert Mr. Lipke, and Mrs. Cotter
Nays: None
Abstained: None
Absent: Mr. Freeman
XII. Action On Closed Session
12.1) No action will be taken.
Adjournment:
Motion made by Mr. Lipke and seconded by Mrs. Stipanovich to adjourn the regular open session meeting at 8:42 p.m.
Voice Votes: Ayes: 6
Nays: 0
Abstained: 0
Absent: 1
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