November 19, 2014 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  To recognize the efforts of nearly 6,000 school board members in the state, November 15, 2014, is designated School Board Members' Day in Illinois. Pleasantdale Board members will be recognized at the beginning of the November 19 Board meeting.

Description:  Recommendation:
That the Board of Education approves the consent agenda as presented.

Description:  The minutes are included for Board review.

Description:  Board Secretary Kim Barker is in possession of the closed session minutes.

Description:  The minutes are included for Board review.

Description:  The warrant lists are attached for Board review.  Mark Mirabile and Catherine Chang reviewed the bills.

Description:  The District applies for the library grant each year. The application requires Board approval.

Description:   The policies are attached with changes in red.

Description:  Attached is the Personnel Report for your review. It includes the resignation of lunchroom aide Linda Balla; hiring of Katie Wojtowicz as two hour a day lunchroom aide; and an increase in Lori McCarter's employment from part-time to full-time.

Description:  Betsy Allen and Susan Jones from the firm of Miller, Cooper and Co. LTD., will present the fiscal audit. This will be the first year the firm of Miller, Cooper and Co. Ltd., conducted our fiscal audit.

Description:  Recommendation:
That the Board of Education approve acceptance of the FY14 audit report as presented by Betsy Allen  and Susan Jones of Miller, Cooper and Co. Ltd.

 

Description:  The technology recommendations initially presented at the October meeting are being advanced for Board approval. The total cost of the recommended purchase is approximately $143,567.38. I am requesting all purchases be approved.

At the October meeting, there was a Board request to receive a draft plan listing technology skills and utilization by grade level. This information is attached. I welcome additional Board informational requests regarding technology utilization.  

Description:  Recommendation:
That the Board of Education approve the technology purchases as presented in the amount of $143,567.38.

Description:  The fall 2014 testing report reflects several transitions from past reports. Specifically, there is no information regarding the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). The ITBS was replaced by the Renaissance STAR Assessment system this school year. Therefore, the STAR results serve as a baseline because the first administration of STAR occurred in late September 2014. The STAR will again be administered in winter and spring.

Another transition concerns the mandated ISAT in grades 3-8. The ISAT is being discontinued and will be replaced by the PARCC assessment in Spring 2015. The fall testing report will not include ISAT results in subsequent years.

Description:  There are three supporting documents for this discussion item as follows:

1. A staffing request from John Glimco for a grade 5 instructional aide to provide additional support in math and science.
2. A response written by Principal John Glimco to class size concerns expressed to the Board by a parent.
3. A response written by Principal John Glimco to a Board request from the October meeting regarding the impact of class size on student achievement.
    

Description:  Recommendation:
That the Board of Education approve a grade 5 instructional aide position.

Description:  School Exec Connect representatives will be in attendance to conduct initial planning with the Board to establish the scope and timeline of services. It may be helpful for Board members to have their calendars at the meeting for this discussion. Also attached is the signed contract with School Exec Connect.

Description:  Last school year, there was a legal review of the cleaning contract with GCN and the food service contract with FSP. The fiscal audit contract was created new in 2013-14 as a result of the bid process.

The transportation contract was reviewed by Hodges, Loizzi in FY09. There have been extensions, but no changes. The extensions limit any increase to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). I am not recommending that District resources be committed to a legal review of the transportation contract at this time.

Description:  Board President Mark Mirabile requested a consultant contract template be created. The contract is attached. Terry Hodges, Hodges, Loizzi, assisted with the template. There is a corresponding action item to approve the template.

Description:  Recommendation:
That the Board of Education approve the consultant contract template as presented.

Description:  I will provide a brief verbal update on radon activities at the elementary school. The time required for a thorough analysis of sub slab soil diagnostics pushed back the timeline for developing a recommendation for a sub slab mitigation system. I am hopeful our experts will be ready with a recommendation by the December Board meeting.

Description:  This is a standing Board agenda item that allows the Board to discuss and verify information requests to the Superintendent.

Description:  Recommendation:
That the Board of Education approve the information request consisting of______________________.

Description:  Recommendation:
That the board of Education moves into closed session at ______ p.m. to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, dismissal of personnel.