MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
MACOMB C.U.S.D. #185
DECEMBER 19, 2007

Board President Ardell Thompson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Macomb Jr./Sr. High School Library.  Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll was taken with the following members answering “present”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse. 

The Board of Education recognized students and staff as follows:

• Melanie (Lanie) Mason for being selected Senior of the Month for the month of December. 
• Dave Taylor for being selected Teacher of the Month for the month of September.
• Diana Cremer, Susan Docherty, Ed Fulkerson, Amy Morris, Shelley Kreps, Marsha Davey, Lori Bilbrey, Cheryn Ramos, and Lisa Ruebush, Matt Jacobson, Suellyn Rieckelman, and David Benson, for obtaining Macomb Education Foundation grant funds (total of $6,200.25) to enhance their student’s learning experiences. 

Members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Reuschel gave brief overviews of their experiences at the Illinois Association of School Boards Joint Annual Conference in November.  Members attended sessions on many different topics, including duties of the board president, the Illinois Math and Science Academy, collective bargaining, Tax Increment Financing, and enhancement of communication through technology.

Superintendent Reuschel presented the following for the Board’s information:

• FOIA request for former employee’s termination agreement was addressed and the information sent to the requesting party in compliance with FOIA.
• Monthly Student Resource Officer Report
• Update on baseball trip fund raising
• Update on Bands of America trip fund raising

Member Adams moved, and member Klems seconded, to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented, which included the following:  Minutes from the November 19, 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 0708); Food Service Monthly Report; 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 Adams moved, and member Klems seconded, to approve and hold indefinitely the minutes from the closed meeting held during the November 19, 2007, regular meeting.  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 approve the following actions regarding Educational Support Personnel:
Change in Assignment:
Cathy Ebbert, Hot Lunch Cook, MSHS, from 7 hours per day to 51/2 hours per day, effective January 3, 2008. 
Resignation:

Amy Howe, Individual Assistant, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective December 21, 2007.
Employment:
Rachel Woodruff,  Individual Assistant, replacement, Macomb Junior High School, 6 hours 15 minutes per day, effective November 26, 2007. (replaces Sarah Lambert).
Members voting “yes”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.  Members voting “no”:  none.  Motion carried.

Member Klems moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve the following actions respecting Co-Curricular personnel:
Resignation:
Amanda Duffield, Co-cheer coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective November 29, 2007;
Kristina Pedroni, Co-cheer coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective November 29, 2007.
Employment:
Luke Ladd, Freshman Class Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, effective 2007-2008 school year.
Volunteer:
Tyler VanVleet, Volunteer Boy's Basketball Coach, Macomb Senior High School, effective November 14, 2007.
Members voting “yes”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.  Members voting “no”:  none.  Motion carried.

Heather Overstreet, District Technology Director, and Merikay Potter, Business/Consumer Ed Teacher at MSHS, presented the newest addition to Skyward’s Family Access program.  As well as giving families access to student lunch account balances, registration information, and attendance records, parents/guardians will now be able to access the gradebook for each class their student is enrolled in.  This new module will be available on January 10, 2008.  Ms. Potter thanked the Board for purchasing the module and explained the benefits:  no more paper gradebooks, integration with Skyward allows automatic loading of rosters, attendance-taking, eligibility reports, automatic calculation for report cards, mass grading, assignment cloning, and the capability to enter codes and comments.  Ms. Potter acknowledged that there would be a learning curve for some, that some reports are not as comprehensive as teachers might like, and that it would likely take some time for parents to realize that test/assignment results would not be available instantly.  President Thompson expressed thanks to the teaching staff for being open to this change and, in response to member Clark’s question, Mrs. Overstreet responded that the technology department plans to work toward the goal of eventually having all grade information, as well as newsletters, etc., on-line. 

Mrs. Overstreet and Tim Suter, Network Specialist/Lead Technician, next presented their proposal for a new website where Board members and the Leadership Team would have access to Board agendas and superintendent communications.  The proposed site would take the place of the current service provided by il.schoolboard.net at substantial savings on the cost of the schoolboard.net subscription.  Initial costs would include purchase of a server dedicated to the site.  Mrs. Overstreet explained that the site would be secure, similar to the level afforded online banking.  Members of the Board and the Leadership Team would each have a login and user password and the site would afford

different levels of access for different groups.  Additional benefits would include on-site tech help, system security, and simpler navigation.  Mrs. Overstreet advised that the Board would be able to try the site in January prior to making a decision about whether to switch services.

Member Clark moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve the Illinois State University Theater Fest trip January 10-12, 2008.  Members voting “yes”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.  Members voting “no”:  none.  Motion carried.

Member Klems moved, and member Adams seconded, to approve the IMEA All State Band and Choir Festival trip, January 30 – February 2, 2008.  Members voting “yes”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.  Members voting “no”:  none.  Motion carried.

Member DeJong moved, and member Clark seconded, to approve changing the January regular meeting from Tuesday, January 22 to Wednesday, January 23 and the February regular meeting from Tuesday, February 19 to Wednesday, February 20.  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 appoint Leyona Wiley, Director of Special Education and Special Services/Principal, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, as the official homeless liaison for the school district.  Members voting “yes”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.  Members voting “no”:  none.  Motion carried.

Member Klems moved, and member Shouse seconded, to approve a drivers education waiver request for student 0708:3.  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 approve contract renewal with Jostens for yearbook production, effective 2008-09 through 2010-2011 school years at a base price of $15,969.  Members voting “yes”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.  Members voting “no”:  none.  Motion carried.

First reading was conducted on proposed changes to the following Board policies, administrative procedures and exhibits:
            2:20-E              4:60-AP2                     5:10                 6:20                 7:180
            2:260               4:110                           5:100               6:60                 7:220
            4:10                 4:110-AP2                   5:290               6:320               8:20
            4:60                 4:160-AP                     5:330               7:70
Second reading is scheduled for the January meeting.

At 7:53, member Adams moved, and member Shouse seconded, to hold a closed meeting for the purpose of discussing the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), to discuss student discipline, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9), and to discuss litigation, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11).  Members voting “yes”:  DeJong, Kiah, Klems, Adams, Thompson, Clark, and Shouse.  Members voting “no”:  none.  Motion carried.

The closed meeting ended at 9:52 p.m.

At 9:53 p.m., member DeJong moved, and member Shouse seconded, to adjourn.  Motion carried by voice vote.

                                                                        _____________________________________________
                                                                                                            President

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                           Date

                                                                        _____________________________________________
                                                                                                            Secretary