Community High School District #71

BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, August 17, 2015 (7:30 PM)

AGENDA

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Central Community High School was held on August 17, 2015 at 7:30PM in the boardroom.

Members present were Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter, Tina Winkeler presided. Kris Rickhoff and Mike Strieker was absent. Visitors included Kelly Ross and Kevin Wills.

The agenda was approved on a motion by Richter, second by Winkeler. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

The minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed and approved on a motion by Voss second by Richter. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

The financial report was reviewed and accepted on a motion by Winkeler, second by Meier. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT:

Mr. Meyer commended the Maintenance and Custodial staff for their work this summer in preparing our facility for the upcoming year. Joe Lampe did a great job coordinating several projects, upgrades, and general maintenance issues this summer. The entire staff did a great job in preparing everything (both inside and outside) and completing the cleaning, waxing, painting, etc. We should be very proud of our facility and grounds. It is well maintained and kept clean with the efforts of our people. Joe Lampe, Mike Thole, Jim Stroot, Clay Szczeblewski, and Rodney Lohman deserve to be commended for their efforts. As part of the self-insured Worker Compensation program in the Prairie State Insurance Cooperative, the Maintenance and Custodial staff recently took a "class" in Safety Planning Training, Hazard Awareness/Identification, and Electrical Safety from Gallagher Bassett Loss Control personnel. Also we have sent Clay Szczeblewski to classes to be our licensed asbestos representative and he is working with Farmer Environmental Services to complete this process. They will file a report that we are required to submit to the Illinois Department of Public Health by September 2^nd.

The registration format last week worked very well in getting schedules out, completing schedule changes for students, and collecting textbook and activity fees. We have improved our turnout (especially parents) the past few years. Having evening hours on two nights was very convenient for our parents. We took in over $77,000 in the first 4 days. We also are again emphasizing the completion of physicals for 9^th graders prior to attending school. This year, Mr. Hamon did an online registration process with parents of athletes and next year our goal is to implement an online registration opportunity for all aspects of the process.

We have made several upgrades to our technology program this summer. Mrs. Wiegmann and Mrs. Ringwald have worked very hard installing eleven new smartboards and completed other tasks such as the install of ten new wireless points, other various equipment, and new software upgrades to all systems. They have planned the training sessions for Chromebooks/Google Classroom and upgrades and refresher trainings on Qmlativ that are being done the first day with teachers. It's been a very busy summer for them and they have done a great job.

We have again subscribed to the Ed Leaders Network that gives us the ability to provide on-line programs to our staff and get verifiable documentation that each has viewed and completed the requirements. Each program fulfills state requirements and teachers and staff can do them during prep periods or even at home. This year, we subscribed earlier and got the system going for teachers during the summer so they could complete some of the trainings prior to the start of school. The subscription is less than $1,100 per year, but it allows us the freedom to complete mandatory staff development in a systematic way and not utilize valuable time which we can use for departmental and school improvement purposes.

Earlier this summer, we received information on this year's property tax extension. Our overall increase in extension from last year is scheduled to be less than $10,000. This is the result of a very small overall increase in EAV and a negative multiplier being applied this year. If you recall, our always inflated levy request was for $570,956. The increase in EAV fell far short of the "estimate" we did in December and the actual money received from local property tax was a pretty meager amount. This is by far the lowest increase from one year to the next in the last fifteen years. It will mean a loss in revenue for us this year if we consider the decrease in General State Aid we are expecting. The necessity of levying large to protect ourselves against inconsistent assessment was necessary. But, it is important to let our community be aware that our actual increase in property tax extension will be very low regardless of what we requested.

On Friday, August 7^th a Joint Review Board meeting was held at the Village of Aviston regarding the inception of Tax Increment Finance District #2. Mr. Meyer passed along concerns regarding the creation of another TIF and the impact it could potentially hold for schools and taxing bodies. Mr. Meyer will keep the BOE abreast of this subject.

The Summer 2015 Electrical and Lighting project was completed with final installation of equipment on August 5^th. The walk-through with contractor was done on Tuesday and a very limited punch list of items was developed. Final paperwork and substantial completion will be developed over the next few weeks. Overall, this was a very good project with limited problems and issues. Those that did develop were rectified in a positive manner with the contractor. We do have one change order still being finalized (gymnasium lighting) and the final application for payment will be on its way.

After taking action at the June meeting to employ First Midstate Inc. as our underwriter along with Chapman and Cutler as legal counsel, and the matter we discussed last month, we can now move forward to adopt a resolution to refund current bonds. Mr. Kevin Wills presented to the BOE the revised bond and interest numbers after Germantown Trust and Savings purchased the bonds. The rate changed to 3.3641%. This will give us an overall savings of $27,426.25 net. This process will allow us to issue new bonds by the November call timeframe on existing bonds. The reduced interest rate should result in a savings to our district's taxpayers over the next three final years of payments. Tina Winkeler read the following statement "Since I am an employee of Germantown Trust and Savings Bank, and said bank has enetered into a contract with the District for purchase of the District's General Obligation Refunding School Bonds, Series 2015, as well as an agreement for financial services by acting as bond registrar and paying agent for said bonds... I have not participated in the negotiation of said contract as a representative of Germantown Trust and Savings Bank, nor will I participate in the Board of Education's deliberations regarding said contract or the Resolution presently before the Board." A motion to adopts a Resolution providing for the issue of $845,000 General Obligation Refunding School Bonds, Series 2015, of the District, for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding bonds of said School District, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds, and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof was made by Voss, second by Richter. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Abstain - Tina Winkeler Nay - None

Becky Boeschen and Mr. Meyer presented the Preliminary FY 16 Budget figures. Instability in state funding continues to create difficulty in preparing an effective budget. Our revenue stream in state aid and reimbursement payments is inconsistent at best and knowing what to calculate for a fiscal year is often a guess. General State Aid calculations will likely reduce consistent to the past few years. Local sources of revenue are the easiest to predict. However, as we mention earlier in this packet, there is almost no increase in funds coming this year. Just like last year, we will almost certainly have a net reduction in revenue this year. As always, we will plan for revenue streams that are low and deal with them accordingly. It is in expenditures where we hope to have a much more "settled" situation than last year. Although we will have additional salary and benefit expenses due to raises and costs of operation. As we always do, efforts will continue to be on efficiency and to control expenditures in all areas. We may have to look at budgeting some areas more closely than in the past and there might be some recommendations on programs during the year. A motion to approve budget and set budget hearing date of September 21 at 7:15PM was made by Winkeler, second by Voss. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to approve 2015-16 School Improvement Plan was made by Richter, second by Meier. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to employ Kelly Dempsey as teacher aide was made by Voss, second by Winkeler. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to accept resignation of teacher aide Lynn Robben was made by Richter, second by Meier. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to employ Carrie Tingley as teacher aide, pending all necessary requirements was made by Richter, second by Winkeler. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to authorize and seek applicants for dance instructor, pending sufficient numbers for performing was made by Voss, second by Winkeler. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to accept resignation of Zach Huels as assistant boys soccer coach was made by Winkeler, second by Meier. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to re-employ and prorate Zach Huels' coaching stipend based on time attended was made by Voss, second by Meier. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to employ Jon Dierkes as assistant football coach was made by Winkeler, second by Richter. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to employ Calvin O'Rear as volunteer assistant football coach was made by Richter, second by Voss. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

A motion to employ Dean Anderson and Nancy Lilley as volunteer Percussion Coordinator and Color Guard assistant, respectively was made by Winkeler, second by Voss. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT:

Mr. Jones was absent due to Freshman Orientation.

The board entered into executive session at 9:31 PM on a motion by Richter, second by Meier to discuss technology and special education placement. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

The board entered into open meeting at 9:45 PM on a motion by Voss, second by Meier. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None

The board adjourned at 9:46 PM on a motion by Richter, second by Tim. Roll call vote: Aye -Mike Nettemeier, Dennis Meier, Tina Winkeler, Mary Lou Voss, Tim Richter. Nay - None