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West Central School District #235 May Meeting
May 18, 2005 Board Meeting-Ralph Grimm, Superintendent
1. At the May 18th regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting of West Central School District #235 President Lonnie Brent called the Board to order at approximately 6:00 pm. All Board Members were present for roll call.
2. President Brent led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Under good news items, West Central Jr. High Principal reported that the Southern & Union Junior High tracks sent 22 individuals to the recently held IESA state track meet.
Mr. Nichols reported that 11 of those 22 returned with medals. One returned as a State Champion. Board member Clifton complimented the Southern Elementary staff on the recently held music program. Board member Brent complimented the Union kindergarten staff on their recently held Kindergarten program as well.
4. Superintendent Grimm requested that a proposal for transportation services be added to the agenda as item discussion item XIII (F).
5. No members of the audience asked to address the Board on any agenda items under Recognition of Audience Requests for Presentation.
6. Board member Mark Torrance requested that Consent Agenda Item XI (D) Consider Approval of District Sporting Event Locations be pulled from the consent agenda. The following items were approved under the consent agenda:
Minutes of the May 4, 2005 Regular & Executive Session Board meetings.
- Joining the Alliance Library System
-Purchase of Resource Sharing Software and Circulation Plus
-District Auditor - Cavanaugh, Davies, Blackman & Cramblet
-District Logo
7. The Board considered the approval of the district sporting locations. Board member Torrance raised the question as to the location of practice and meets for the junior high track. It was clarified that West Central Junior High track will practice at Media facility and hold their home meets at the North Campus. Following that discussion the board approved the sporting locations as presented:
-All High School sporting events except baseball and softball will be held at the North campus. Baseball and Softball will be held at the South Campus.
-All Junior High sporting events except track will be held at the South Campus. Track will be held at the North Campus.
8. The board approved the intergovernmental agreement with Carl Sandburg College regarding participation of District #235 in the wireless wide area network, Edunet. This is a project the college is moving forward with.
9. The board approved the change of date of the next District #235 board meeting from June 1, 2005 to June 8, 2005. This meeting will be held on the South campus in the high school gym.
10. The Board heard a report regarding the Southern School Board as well as the Union School Board. The Southern board has not met since the last District #235 meeting. The Union board met the previous night. Mr. Allaman gave a brief report on that meeting.
11. The board heard reports from the three building principals.
12. District #235 Special Education Coordinator, Teresa Adair, gave the board an overview of District 235's special education program that will exist in District #235 for the 2005-06 school year. Ms. Adair reported on number of students, number of programs, both in district and out-of-district that our students will be participating in as well as what staffing needs will be needed for the upcoming school year.
13. Superintendent Grimm gave a report on the current after school program held at Union. A meeting was held with the PreK and Head Start staff in May. The question as to whether District #235 would hold such a program was raised. The Supt. reported that he would be seeking additional information on this topic and making a recommendation to the board at the June 8th meeting.
14. Superintendent Grimm reported he had recently met with Becky Hart and Jeanne Dunn concerning the formation of a District #235 Advisory Council. A draft constitution of the advisory council was presented to the board. After a few questions, it was the consensus of the board to move forward with the formation of a District #235 Advisory Council. The Superintendent informed the Board that the proposed constitution will be brought back to the board for approval at the June 8th meeting.
15. The board briefly discussed whether they would like to have a board meeting on July 1, 2005, the first day of official existence for District #235. It was the consensus of the board to hold a meeting that evening at 6pm. Several board members agreed to plan and organize a celebration of some sort to take place following the meeting including a fireworks display.
16. The Board heard from the Superintendent his thoughts on what to do with the trophies and banners that currently exist in each district. First, it was pointed out that the trophies and banners are the property of each of the respective districts until July 1st. Until July 1, 2005, District #235 has no issue with the trophies and banners. However, it was pointed out that if the current districts do not chose to discard of these items, it was the Superintendent's recommendation to allow the trophies to remain in their respective trophy cases until such time as they can be sorted and put in the appropriate trophy cases as well as the banners being allowed to hang in the appropriate gymnasium of the new district. The board thought this would be an effective way to deal with the trophies and banners. The Superintendent indicated he would be working on this through the summer to see that these items are properly cared for and located in the appropriate place.
17. The board briefly reviewed a proposed library selection policy prepared by District Librarian, Linda Michaels. Follow some questions, it was agreed that the Superintendent will work with Mrs. Michaels to clarify a point in the proposed policy. The proposed policy will then be brought back to the board for approval on June 8th.
18. The board received a proposal from Southern Transportation regarding their providing transportation services for District #235 for the 2005-06 school year. That proposal included a cost for daily routes and shuttles of $203,000.
The cost for extra curricular activities of $1.00 per mile with a minimum charge of $50 per trip was included.
A charge of $50 per day for a shuttle bus for sporting practices was also included in this proposal. In addition, the proposal calls for the new district to continue purchasing fuel and providing it to Southern Transportation. The proposal also calls for the district to provide the new district names for the sides of the buses.
After some questions directed towards John Livermore and Steve Wisslead, the board agreed that this item will be presented to them at the June 8th meeting for approval.
19. The board briefly discussed future agenda items. It was suggested by Board President Brent that board policies should be presented at the next meeting so that the board policy manual can be completed by July 1, 2005.
20. The Board entered closed session to discuss matters pertaining to personnel and collective bargaining. The board recessed their executive session at 8:55 pm and returned to open session. During the open session the following items were approved:
A. District Banking Services - The board heard a report from the Superintendent on the recently completed request for proposal for securing banking services for District #235. Superintendent Grimm reported he had received five proposals and that he and the four central office secretaries had narrowed the selection of proposals down to two. One being from Security Savings and the other from Midwest Bank of Western Illinois. The Superintendent reviewed the items in the proposal and recommended the board accept the proposal from Midwest Bank of Western Illinois. The board approved that recommendation.
B. The board employed Darrell Gittings as District #235's high school ag instructor. Mr. Gittings was hired on a 10-_ month contract.
C. Superintendent Grimm made an announcement regarding staffing levels for support staff for District #235 for 2005-06. Those comments were as follows:
-In the Secretary classification - no reductions are anticipated
In the Bus Driver classification - all current Union bus drivers will be re-employed. Substitute bus drivers will be employed on an "as needed" basis.
-In the Associates classification - It is anticipated that there will be a reduction of 8 positions. Those reductions will be based on seniority.
- In the Custodian classification - All current custodial staff will be employed until August 31, 2005. It is anticipated at that time a reduction in number of positions in this classification will occur.
-In the Cafeteria classification - No recommendation can be made at this time. It is hoped that decisions regarding this classification can be made at the June 8th meeting. It is anticipated that reductions will be made.
D. The Superintendent made a statement concerning those employees paid by grant funds. They will be re-employed for 2005-06. To clarify this statement, the following people and positions will be employed by District #235: Angie Torrance, Pre K parent trainer, Christine Lozier, District Nurse, Barry Cisna, computer technician, Tammy Hill, Even Start coordinator and Alta Mae Brokaw, 21st Century grant and STEP grant coordinator.
E. The board took action on the following extra curricular positions for 2005-06:
WCHS Head Football Coach - Will Bavery
WCHS Head Volleyball Coach - Kris Peterson
WCHS Head Girls Basketball Coach - Jim Cole
WCHS Head Boys Basketball Coach - Steve Kemp
WCHS Pom Pon/Dance Coach - Cindy Smith
WCJH Head Football Coach - Jerud VanDyke
WCJH Head Baseball Coach -Jeremy Burrell
21. The Board reconvened to executive session at approximately 9:14 pm.
22. The Board returned to open session at approximately 10:50 pm. The board adjourned their meeting at 10:54 pm.
23. The next meeting of the West Central Community Unit School District #235 Board of Education is June 8th at 6pm at the South campus gymnasium.