October 12, 2011 at 5:00 PM - Open Session Regular Meeting

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ROLL CALL

3. MOTION TO ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION

4. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA

4.1. Student disciplinary cases.

4.2. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

4.3. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

5. MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM CLOSED SESSION AND CONVENE TO PUBLIC HEARING

6. PUBLIC HEARING ON WAIVER OF LIMITATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS

6.1. Presentation by Management

6.2. Discussion by Board of Education

6.3. Audience Comments

7. MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM PUBLIC HEARING AND RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

8. ROLL CALL

9. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

10. RECOGNITIONS

10.1. West Campus:  Demetrius King
Joe Gunty would like to recognized Senior Morton West student Demetrius King who scored in the top 3% of 160,000 Black American students on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test.  As such, the National Achievement Scholarship program, established in 1964 specifically to honor academically promising Black American high school students, honors Demetrius with a certificate acknowledging his achievement.  Furthermore, Demetrius is among 3,100 outstanding participants in the National Achievement Scholarship Program being referred to about 1,500 colleges and universities.  

10.2. East Campus:  Ismael Ledezma
Frank Zarate would like to recognize Ismael Ledezma, for all the work he's done on putting the first issue of the school paper together. He’s also a Varsity quarterback (four years on football) and a four year JSM rugby player. He’s been offered a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

10.3. Alternative School:  Rudy Hernandez would like to recognize the following two students:  Pable Torres and Tavia Roach

Pablo Torres was recommended to MAS from the Freshman Center in February of 2010. At that time, he had been absent from school 37 days, had 32 referrals for cut classes, and had been tardy 38 times. Due to his lack of attendance, he had only passed one class the first semester and was failing all of his second semester classes. On his MAS referral, most of his teachers reported his grade percentage for the second semester to be 0%. After enrolling at Morton Alternative, Pablo only had 4 unexcused absences. He passed four out of five classes last semester (after entering with 0%), then participated in the MAS summer school program for credit recovery.
 
For this school year, Pablo only has 1 unexcused absence. His midterm progress report boasts two Cs, two Bs, and an A. In addition, he is an active member of the After School Intramurals League facilitated by Steve Swon.

Tavia Roach entered MAS through the expulsion process for being in possession of a weapon (mace) in March of 2010. At that time she had received 14 referrals for the following behaviors: Cutting class (161), days tardy (20), dress codes, defiance, academic dishonesty, and fighting in school (2). The referrals resulted in 21 days of out of school suspensions. By second semester of her third year, she had only earned 11.25 credits. This disqualified her for junior year status. Tavia started attending MAS around the beginning of the 4th quarter last year. She entered without any grades given by the home school. She passed all of her classes last semester, earning one D, one C, two B’s and an A.
 
For this school year, Tavia has perfect attendance. Her progress report revealed all A’s. She has only received one referral this semester (no consequences) and has been nominated to our exclusive Student Leader Team. Tavia also has plans to participate in our credit recovery program so she can graduate with the class of 2012.  

11. REPORTS

11.1. Board Reports

11.2. Superintendent's Report:  Dr. Michael Kuzniewski

11.3. Assistant Superintendent of Educational Program's Report:  Tim Truesdale

11.4. Chief Business Official's Report:  Cathy L. Johnson

11.5. Executive Director of Human Resources' Report:  John Sparlin

11.6. Principals' Reports

12. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON ACTION ITEMS ONLY

13. ACTION ITEMS - CONSENT AGENDA

13.1. Approval of Minutes

13.1.1. Closed Session

13.1.1.1. Closed Session Regular Meeting:  September 14, 2011

13.1.2. Open Session

13.1.2.1. Open Session Regular Meeting:  September 14, 2011

13.2. Approval of Payroll

13.2.1. Education:  $3,472,471.80    Building:  $451,057.62  Transportation:  $6,089.76

13.3. Approval of Bills for Payment

13.3.1. October 13, 2011:  $3,569,103.49

13.3.2. September 30, 2011:  $6,951.00

13.3.3. September 27, 2011:  $196,705.20

13.3.4. September 20, 2011:  $4,000.00

13.4. Approval of Personnel

13.5. Approval of Student Discipline

13.5.1. Expulsions

13.5.1.1. 343277

13.5.1.2. 330507

13.5.1.3. 331253

13.5.1.4. 341707

13.5.1.5. 341912

13.6. Approval of Student Travel

13.6.1. Roman Emano, Michaelina Considine, 2 Chaperones and 16 Students
Adventure Club Fall Camping Trip
Delton, Michigan
November 11-13, 2011
Funding Source:  Student Funded

13.6.2. Janine Delmonico, William Delmonico, Chris Hewelt, Mrs. Zajac-Clark, Mrs. Craig and 30 Students
Illinois High School Theatre Festival
Bloomington, Illinois
January 6-8, 2012
Funding Source:  Morton Theater Association and Student Funded

13.6.3. Roman Emano, Michaelina Considine, 2 Chaperones and 16 Students
Adventure Club Skiing/Snowboarding Trip
January 20-22, 2012
Delton, Michigan
Funding Source:  Student Funded

13.6.4. Matthew Russo, Joann Germanie, Onofria Perricone, Frank Tito, and 24 (approx.) Students
European Spring Break Travel
Spring Break 2012
Funding Source:  Student Funded

13.6.5. Roman Emano, Michaelina Considine, 2 Chaperones and 16 Students
Adventure Club Spring Camping Trip
May 18-20, 2012
Delton, Michigan
Funding Source:  Student Funded

13.7. Approval of Staff Travel

13.7.1. Rich Rutkowski, Kristina Cavanaugh, Gaby Martinez, Brenda Padilla, Mary Fass, Ali Mehanti, Cathy Johnson, Tim Truesdale, Tim Burns and Elvira Michalek
Skyward Users’ Group Conference
October 24-25, 2011
Peoria, Illinois
Funding Source: Departmental Funds

13.7.2. Oliver Camacho
2011 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference
Springfield, Illinois
October 24-25, 2011
Funding Source:  Department of Human Services (DHS)

13.7.3. Mary Burke
Illinois Education & Technology Conference
November 15-16, 2011
Springfield, Illinois
Funding Source:  Title I

13.8. First Reading of the New Board of Education Policy #7:305 - Concussion Management

13.9. First Reading of the New Board of Education Policy# 8:21 - Soccer Goal Safety and Education Policy

13.10. Approval to Modify Travel Reimbursement for Meals

13.11. Approval of Contracts (Pending Final Legal Review and Negotiation [if necessary])

13.11.1. UIC Pavilion

13.11.2. Wrestling Fundraiser

13.11.3. Achieve 3000

13.11.4. Skyward

13.11.5. Snowball Fundraiser

13.11.6. Morton College Dual Credit Program

13.11.7. NHS Candy Sale

13.12. Approval of Bid Results

13.13. Approval to Bid

13.14. Approval of Facility Requests

13.14.1. NEIU

13.14.2. Little Mustang Wrestling

13.14.3. MacNeal Hospital

13.14.4. Yoshitaka Karate

13.14.5. Berwyn Rec

13.14.6. Illinois Venom Baseball

13.14.7. State Representative Elizabeth Hernandez

13.15. Approval to Accept Donations

13.15.1. Approval to Accept a Check from Big Lots for Morton East Video Contest Winner and Funds Raised from Shopping at Participating Stores

13.15.2. Approval to Accept $500.00 Donation from the Morton Music Makers for the Mariachi Band

13.16. Approval to Accept/Submit the District Rising Star Plan

13.17. Approval of Waiver of Limitation of Administrative Costs

14. OLD BUSINESS

15. AUDIENCE COMMENTS

16. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

17. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

17.1. The next regular Board of Education meeting will be held at the Morton East Campus on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.

17.2. Illinois Association of School Boards Report to the Membership Request for the 2011 Delegate Assembly Meeting on November 19, 2011 in Chicago.  Volunteer delegate for Election on November 9, 2011.

17.3. April 11, 2012 Board Meeting Falls during Spring Break.  Discuss Date Change.

18. ADJOURNMENT