Minutes from the March 1, 2012 Regular Board Meeting

Please click here for the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on March 1, 2012

Board Brief for March 15, 2012

Recognition:

The School Board presented Ambassador for Excellence Awards to 23 students who qualified for the state and national competitions in the PTA Reflections program. Abigail Cox and Sruthi Guruder will have their work advance to nationals. Four students also received honorable mentions at the PTA Reflections state competition: Alex Collier, Sebastian Madej, Owen Puryear and Molly Ward. The Board also honored the following students who qualified for the state competition: Krislyn Cardoza, Elizabeth Einig, Abigail Garcia, Lauren Greene, Justin Hartman, Saima Iqbal, John Johnson, Mitra Mahadevan, Katherine Moran, Alyssa Moreno, Julia Morse, Ankit Patel, Dario Perkins, James Preucil, Amy Rodriguez, Sindy Sariev and Simona Stalev.

Public Comment: No one asked to speak.

Freedom of Information Act Requests:
District 54 received four requests since the last board meeting for bid documents related to asbestos abatement, for the results of the electricity request for proposals, for the current contract and rates for providers of special services and for the present teacher’s labor contract.

Consent Agenda:

• Minutes of the regular and closed-session meetings on March 1, 2012
• Resignations and leaves of personnel
• Checks dated March 9, 2012
• Monthly update of revenues and expenditures
• Treasurer’s report on cash and investments for January 2012
• A contract for asbestos abatement at nine locations
• A contract for flooring removal and replacement at 13 locations
• A contract for the annual maintenance inspection of school athletic equipment at 27 schools
• The renewal of software licensing and support for the library automation system from Follett Software Company
• The destruction of verbatim records of the closed-session School Board meeting on Sept. 2, 2012, for which approved minutes already exist
• The release of minutes from 13 closed-session School Board meetings

Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Ed Rafferty reported that District 54 was one of only 214 government agencies of 6,000 across the country whose website received a Sunny Award for transparency. He also congratulated Fox School, which was asked to participate in a training video for sheltered instruction on Friday. Rafferty thanked all staff and students for the hard work they put into the standardized state testing this month.

Report of the President of the Board of Education: President Teresa Huber reported that many local elected officials came to the intergovernmental reception in District 54 last week. She encouraged everyone to vote in the election next week.

Foundation Report: Board Member Bill Harper announced that Mardi Gras raised more than $32,000. The Foundation has 550 registered members for Create Excitement for Public Schools, a program  where you can earn money for the Foundation by purchasing Groupons and shopping online.

PTA Report: Council President Lisa Guagenti announced that tomorrow night is the PTA auction at 5:30 p.m. at the Meridian.

New Business:

• The School Board approved the 2012-13 Staffing Plan.
• The School Board approved a resolution of nonreemployment of classified personnel.
• The School Board approved a resolution authorizing notices of dismissal to educational support staff.
• The School Board approved a resolution of nonreemployment of first-, second- and third-year nontenured certificated personnel.
• The School Board approved a resolution authorizing notices of dismissal to final-year probationary teachers.

Announcements:

• Board Member Mary Kay Prusnick enjoyed reading to students at Fox School on Read Across America Day.

Adjournment: The Board adjourned at 7:36 p.m. to closed session for collective negotiating and employment/appointment matters.

Minutes from the February 16, 2012 Regular Board Meeting

Please click here for the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on February 16, 2012