Minutes from the November 4, 2010 Meeting

Please click here to view the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on November 4, 2010

Board Brief for November 18, 2010

Call to Order: The Board of Education meeting was called to order at 7 p.m.

Recognition:

The School Board presented an Above and Beyond Award to Claudia Bellinger, a community member who helps organize and shop for the Food for Families program at Blackwell School.

The Board presented Ambassador for Excellence Awards to six students who were named All American Scholars in the Pop Warner Program; and to 20 students who scored in the top 2 percent in the nation in the 2010 Math Olympiads contest.

The Board presented Outstanding Alumni Awards to Justin Harper, who was named Kane County’s Police Officer of the Year; and to Christine Maxwell, who has had numerous accomplishments, including serving as a Special Olympics Global Messenger.

Public Comment: No one asked to speak.

Freedom of Information Act Requests: There was one request since the last meeting for copies of payroll records for pavement resurfacing.

Consent Agenda:

• Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on November 4, 2010
• Minutes of the closed-session meetings on Nov. 4, 2010
• Checks dated Nov. 5, 2010
• Monthly update of revenues and expenditures
• Treasurer’s report on cash and investments
• Resignations, leaves and employment of personnel
• The destruction of the verbatim records of a closed-session school board meeting
• Naming Mohsin Dada and his designees as representatives of the board secretary for the purpose of fulfilling duties associated with the April 5, 2011 election
• The school improvement plans for Lakeview Elementary School and for Helen Keller Junior High School
• The purchase of a pickup truck
• Renewal of the AlertNow rapid communication service contract for one year
• Dental and vision insurance rates
• Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO medical insurance rates
• Blue Cross Blue Shield self-funded medical insurance rates
• Workplace Solutions as the provider of the district’s employee assistance program and managed care services
• A resolution electing exemption from certain provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Mental Health Parity Act of 2008

Reports:

• Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Ed Rafferty thanked the staff, partners and School Board as we celebrate the 89^th anniversary of American Education Week.
• Report of President of Board of Education: President Karen Strykowski announced that of the 16 National Blue Ribbon Award nominees in Illinois two are from District 54 – MacArthur and Frost.
• District Citizens’ Advisory Committee Report: Board Member Barbara Hengels reported that DCAC reviewed the two social studies textbook series being considered in District 54.
• PTA Report: Mary Kay Prusnick announced that all District 54 Reflections projects will be on display at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at Keller.

New Business:

• The Board appointed another representative to serve on the District Citizens’ Advisory Committee for the 2010-11 school year.

Announcements:

• Board members have been visiting schools to honor teachers who have at least 1,000 books in their classroom libraries.
• Board Member Teresa Huber said the Veterans Day assembly at Stevenson was very moving and encouraged the district to continue hosting educational Veterans Day activities.
• Board President Karen Strykowski praised the District 54 Jazz Band for their performance at the Partnership Breakfast this week. She also expressed pride in the schools that had at least 90 percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards on 2010 Illinois assessments in reading and math.

Adjournment: The Board adjourned at 7:46 p.m.

Minutes from the October 21, 2010 Meeting

Please cleck here to view the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on October 21, 2010

Board Brief for November 4, 2010

Call to Order:  The Board of Education meeting was called to order at 7 p.m.

Discussion of Cultural Assessment:

In April 2010, the School Board approved a contract with HUMANeX Ventures to use a cultural assessment tool for a period of three years. The objective of the tool was to drive continued excellence in District 54 by assessing our organizational culture and how it can be improved to increase student learning. On Sept. 15, every District 54 employee was asked to complete the 88-question, anonymous, online survey.

District and school leadership teams worked with the assessment data to develop plans for celebrating strengths and addressing areas for improvement. For District 54 as a whole, the results showed that 81.01 percent of employees are fully engaged and satisfied in their work. However, the data has also pointed to areas for growth. The district leadership team (which includes administrators and union leaders) have committed to improving relationships and communication in the district by visiting all schools to recognize their accomplishments, discuss their current work and plan for continuous improvement.

Public Comment: No one asked to speak.

Freedom of Information Act Requests: There was one request since the last meeting for copies of documents with specific information about school-based staff.

Consent Agenda: The School Board approved the following items on the Consent Agenda:

• Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on October 21, 2010
• Minutes of the Closed-session Board Meeting on October 21, 2010
• Checks dated Oct. 22, 2010
• Resignations and employment of personnel
• Re-employment of two employees who received dismissal notices
• A proclamation in recognition of American Education Week Nov. 14-20, 2010

New Business:

• The School Board approved a resolution estimating the 2010 tax levy will be $152,650,020, exclusive of debt service. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 2, 2010, at the District Office.
• The School Board approved the 2011-12 and 2012-13 Holidays for 12-Month Employees
• The School Board approved revisions to the following board policies:
  • Equal Opportunity Employment – GBA
  • Employment of Employee’s Relatives – GBCA
  • Employees with Chronic Infectious Disease – GBE
  • Entrance Age – JEB

Announcements:

• Board Member Teresa Huber visited Hoover this week and said the greenhouse and science labs were impressive and the transition to becoming a math and science academy will be seamless.
• Board President Karen Strykowski said the School Board is looking forward to visiting schools to recognize the teachers who have achieved the milestone of having 1,000 books in their classrooms and to celebrate American Education Week.

Adjournment:  The Board adjourned at 7:37 p.m. to closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body.