MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
MACOMB C.U.S.D. #185
SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
7:00 P.M.
Board President Ardell Thompson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Library at Macomb Jr./Sr. High School. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll was taken with the following members answering “present”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.
Dr. Reuschel acknowledged staff members in attendance and thanked them for their commitment to the District and for taking time to come to the meeting and make presentations to the Board.
Mrs. Thompson noted that the Board would meet on Wednesday, September 19th in Team Room B for a work session to revisit the District strategic plan, and to orient the new Board members and Dr. Reuschel to various District procedures.
Dr. Reuschel presented the final tentative budget, noting that lack of funding information from Springfield had delayed getting the budget into final form. She advised that the final budget does reflect new state funding, although those funds won’t be available to districts until the Budget Implementation Bill has been passed, possibly at the end of October. Dr. Reuschel thanked Dianne Hudgens, Charlotte Morrow, and other staff members who helped prepare the budget. She provided an overview of the budget process, sources of monies that make up the budget, considerations such as enrollment trends, state and federal mandates, and staffing, and plans for the future. She noted the importance of being good stewards of tax dollars as the District nurtures the community’s greatest resource, its children.
At 7:19 p.m., President Thompson opened the public hearing to receive comment on the proposed budget. Mr. James VonKannon, 1406 Maple Avenue, Macomb, Illinois, came forward to ask questions about several line items in the budget: #27 – building administrator funds; #23 – Board of Education purchased services (tort legal expenses, audit expenses, board training and associated expenses, staff retirement costs, etc.); #32 – operations & maintenance supplies and materials and utilities; #70 – operations & maintenance fund; #211 – fund for 10-year Fire & Life Safety work. Mr. VonKannon stated that his concern about the budget is rooted in seeing that the community’s children get a good education and the community stays viable. He noted that many citizens are feeling the effect of property taxes and the school district takes the largest portion of taxes collected. President Thompson thanked Mr. VonKannon for his questions and his concern for the well-being of the District and its students.
Following second and third calls for comment, and hearing none, President Thompson declared the hearing closed at 7:32 p.m. She expressed thanks to all staff for helping put the budget and supporting information together, noting that in past years, expenditures and revenues had been projected within 2% of actual outcome.
Member DeJong moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve the proposed final 2007-2008 District budget. Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Dr. Reuschel advised the Board respecting the following:
Dr. Reuschel introduced staff presentations on strategic goals for the current school year, noting that the overall goal is to work to provide the very best learning environment that we can so that each and every child can learn and make the most of the potential each child possesses. Each building will strive to have 90% of students meet or exceed State standards. Each building’s team presented a PowerPoint outlining their building’s strategies for achieving the goal of 90% in meets or exceeds. Presenters included: Susan Lafary and Susan Docherty – MacArthur Early Childhood Center; Kelly Carpenter and Lori Bilbrey – Lincoln Elementary; Stephanie Seaver, Max Kreps, Kate Hall, Diana Sharp, Shelley Glaser, and Kim Couza – Edison Elementary; Brock Bainter and Matt Jacobson –MJHS; Merikay Potter, Dave Taylor, and Joel Hildenbrand – MSHS. MJHS has set a goal of 95% since they achieved the 90% goal in math, writing and reading last year. Mr. Bainter and Mr. Jacobson credited the good foundation laid by MacArthur, Lincoln, and Edison for the success of the junior/senior high students. Member Klems, on behalf of the Board, expressed great pride in all the schools and President Thompson noted that the presentations and strategic goals are a fine example of the work staff and administrators put in to make students successful. As a specific example of that work, Maria Dunstan, Assistant Superintendent, recognized Holly Riggins and Stephanie Seaver, teachers at Edison Elementary School, for creating notebooks for each teacher at Edison to support the extended response facet of the new reading curriculum
Member DeJong noted with reference to the Activity Accounts item on the Consent Calendar, that some of the accounts should be assessed and/or closed out, in response to which Dr. Reuschel advised that that is one of her goals for October or November at the latest.
Member DeJong moved, and member Kiah seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar, which included the following: Minutes from the August 20, 2007, regular meeting; Treasurer’s Report; Investment Report; Monthly Board Report; Bills and Payroll; Financial Update on Life Safety Projects (.05 levy); Financial Update on Life Safety Projects (BI); Macomb Jr./Sr. High School Activity Accounts, and Financial Authorizations. Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member DeJong moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve and hold indefinitely the minutes from the closed meeting held during the August 20, 2007, regular Board meeting. Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member DeJong, seconded to approve the following actions respecting Certificated personnel:
Retirement:
Doris Dieckmann, Special Education Teacher, Macomb Senior High School, effective end of school year under the 2007-2011 contract.
Catherine Kerr, Special Education Teacher, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective end of the 2010-2011 school year under the 2007-2011 contract.
Janet Lindsay, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective end of the 2010-2011 school year under the 2007-2011 contract.
Jane Pittman, Art Teacher, Macomb Junior High School, effective end of the 2009-2010 school year under the 2007-2011 contract.
Diana Sharpe, School Counselor, Edison Elementary School, effective end of the 2008-2009 school year under the 2007-2011 contract.
Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member DeJong moved, and member Klems seconded, to approve the following actions respecting Co-Curricular personnel, noting that Jace Galloway is the webmaster at MJHS instead of at MacArthur Early Childhood Center:
Resignation:
Brock Bainter, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, Assistant Baseball Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective September 4, 2007.
Kent Simmons, Cheer Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective August 23, 2007.
Employment:
Lawson Barclay, Cross Country Coach, and Head Boys Track Coach, Macomb Junior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Nancy Bell, Webmaster, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Megan Butler, Interim Cheer Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective August 23, 2007. (replaces Simmons)
Rooney Dively, National Honor Society Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Angela Edmonds, Webmaster, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Jace Galloway, Webmaster, MJHS, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Neal Heerwagen, Student Council Sponsor, Newspaper Sponsor, and Spring Musical Director, Macomb Junior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Pam Heaton-Burnham, Grade 7 Girls Volleyball, and Grade 8 Girls Volleyball, Macomb Junior High School, effective 2007-2008 season.
Jason Killion, Assistant Boys Track, Macomb Junior High School, effective 2007-2008 season.
Susan Lafary, Pre-Kindergarten Parent Coordinator, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Adele Langworthy, Assistant Girls Track Coach, Macomb Junior High School, effective 2007-2008 season.
Mike McCall, Assistant Boys Track Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Jamie McCoy, Musical Director, Spring Musical Play Director, and Fall Play Director, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Jeff Moore, Head Boys Soccer Coach, Head Girls Soccer Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 season.
Amy Morris, Webmaster, Lincoln Elementary School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Emily Platt, Cross Country Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Ionel Porumbeanu, Assistant Boys Soccer Coach, and Assistant Girls Soccer Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Lorna Provine, Webmaster, Edison Elementary School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Mary Quigle, Girls Golf Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Carla Snowden, Spiderweb Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Jenny VanWinkle, Head Girls Track Coach, Macomb Junior High School, effective 2007-2008 season.
Athletic Trainer:
Jessica Laber, (contract through Western Illinois University)
Security Officers for Home Athletic Events:
Doug Butterfield Adam Cremer John Carson Steve Holt Justin Lundgren Bill McDonald Jim Percy Nick Petitgout Mike Pilat Tom Pledge John Swearingen Jim Teater
Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Kiah moved, and member Adams seconded, to approve the proposed baseball team trip to Florida, March 9-14, 2008. Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried. Member DeJong requested that Coach Kreps keep the Board abreast of fund raising progress.
Member Klems moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve proposed changes to the Professional Appraisal Plan. Assistant Superintendent Maria Dunstan advised that the plan had been approved by the State. Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Shouse moved, and member DeJong seconded, to approve the Applications for Recognition for MacArthur Early Childhood Center, Lincoln, Edison, and Macomb Jr./Sr. High School. Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Klems moved, and member DeJong seconded, to declare as surplus two vehicles, a 1999 Dodge minivan and a 1995 Ford large van. Members voting “yes”: DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
First reading was held on proposed changes to the following Board policies, administrative procedures, and exhibits:
1:10 2:140-E 3:50 4:45-AP 4:110-AP2
1:20-AP 2:230 3:70 4:50 4:130
2:60 2:240-E1 3:70-AP 4:70 4:170-AP
2:125 2:240-E2 4:40 4:80 4:170-E10
2:190 3:30 4:45 4:100 4:180
4:180-AP1 5:30-AP1 5:70 5:130 5:190
5:10 5:35-AP3 5:80 5:130-AP 5:220-E
5:10-AP 5:40-AP 5:110 5:140 5:230
5:20 5:50 5:120-AP 5:170-E 5:240-AP
5:20-AP 5:60-AP 5:120-AP2 5:180 5:270
6:40 7:60 8:95-AP
6:120-E 7:60-E3
6:170-AP1 7:90
6:170-E1 7:190-AP3
6:170-E2 7:190-AP4
Second reading with consideration of approval will be held at the October 15, 2007, regular meeting.
At 8:32 p.m., member Clark moved, and member Shouse seconded, to adjourn. Motion carried by voice vote.
_______________________________________
President
_________________________________________
Date
_______________________________________
Secretary