March 19, 2020 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Description:  Minutes of regular meeting held February 20, 2020
March Bills Payable
February Treasurer's Report

Description:  Connor Rada was selected as the March Student of the Month.  He is unable to join us this month as he will be competing in the IHSA State Debate Tournament.  We look forward to being able to recognize Connor at the April meeting.  

Description:  Erin Notriano will be in attendance to recognize her receipt of the 3rd quarter Excellence in Education Award.

Description:  Athletic Director Tom Ross will be in attendance to share highlights of the winter athletic season.

Description:  As we finish up year four in the Northern Lake County Conference, I think the eight member high schools have much to be proud of.  The conference was founded on “student-centered principles and shared core values including excellence, integrity, and respect” with the goal to provide student opportunities in both athletics and co-curricular activities.  We have achieved that and more.  The month of February was full of activities for students and staff alike: 
·        February 2           NLCC Dean Meeting 
·        February 5           NLCC Athletic Director Meeting 
·        February 6           NLCC Assistant Principal Meeting 
·        February 8           NLCC Honors Band Concert 
·        February 12         NLCC Principal Meeting
·        February 18         NLCC Choir Festival
·        February 19         NLCC Curriculum Director Meeting
·        February 19         NLCC Superintendent Meeting
·        February 20         NLCC African American Male Leadership Summit 
·        February 26         NLCC AP Economics / AP Psychology Roundtables
I’d like to take a few minutes to share highlight from these events at the meeting. 

Description:  We have identified several professional development opportunities for non-certified staff that they will have access to at any time, including in the event of an e-learning day.  One of those options, Ed Leaders Network, is a free online professional development resource offered through the Illinois Principals Association.  However, that lacked content for all non-certified departments.  We are recommending purchase of a subscription to The Master Teacher for support staff and specialists to utilize.  The cost for year one will be $1,078. 

Description:  The College of Lake County (CLC) recently provided us with the Fall 2019 High School Feedback Report and Annual High School Feedback Report.  This data is helpful to analyze how well we have prepared students to be college-ready and also helps to focus conversations between Grant and CLC on how we can collectively increase college-going rates, first semester success rates, and degree completion.  I am pleased to report our students displayed readiness well above the Lake County average in both reading & writing and mathematics.  I will briefly review highlights of the report.  I have also included a correspondence from CLC providing background on math readiness changes and the potential impact those changes have had on reporting. 

Description:  The Computer Science Club completed a successful pilot this school year and we are recommending to establish this as an official club for 2020/21.  The sponsor of the club will be compensated at 5% of the “Coaches and Extracurricular Salary Schedule” rate and meet established guidelines for minimum student participation and minimum number of student meetings/events.  Recommend approval of the Computer Science Club as presented.
 
Additionally, we will be piloting the following clubs for the 2020/21 school year: 
- American Sign Language 
- Anime
- Canine Connections
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Description:  Recommend that the Board approve membership in the Illinois High School Association for the 2020/21 school term.  In renewing our membership, we are certifying that we are recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education, we will adopt and abide by the Constitution, By-laws, Terms and Conditions, and Administrative Procedures, Guidelines, and Policies of the Association. 

Description:  Cheerleading is requesting to attend the National Cheerleaders Association Ultimate Speed Camp at Carthage College from July 14-16, 2020.  The focus for the camp will be on the learning of new techniques, safety of techniques, and team building.  Approximately 48 athletes and 3 coaches will attend.  The camp fee is paid by student-athletes with the exception of one meal paid with cheerleading activity funds.         

The dance team is requesting to attend the Universal Dance Association camp this summer.  They are still finalizing their selection of dates, but it will either be June 9-12 at Wheaton College or June 11-14 at Northern Illinois University.  The camp focuses on building technical skills, as well as team building.  Approximately 35 athletes and 2 coaches will attend.  The camp is paid for by student- athletes supplemented with fundraising, if needed. 

Recommend approval of the overnight travel requests as presented.   

Description:  Recommend approval of the Resolution Authorizing Non-Reemployment of Part-Time Non-Tenured Teachers as presented.

Description:  Recommend approval of the Resolution for the Honorable Reduction of Certain Teachers as presented.

Description:  Recommend the employment of the following individuals:
·        Vicki Shifley, Full-time Instructional Coach, beginning 2020/21 
·        Teacher Leaders:
-   Beth Thomas, Social Studies
-   Chris Carlson, Fine Arts, Business, Tech., Foreign Language, FCS
-   Bryan Talbot, Mathematics
-   Lori Lev, Science
·        Leonard Grodoski, ELA Interventionist, beginning 2020/21
·        Rebecca Doud, Math Interventionist, beginning 2020/21
·        Kurt Rous, Assistant Football Coach
·        Carl Uphoff, Assistant Football Coach
·        Lenny Grodoski, Assistant Football Coach
·        Austin Spohr, Assistant Lacrosse Coach
·        Emily Troemel, Assistant Track Coach
·        Kimberly Nelson, Food Service, $10/hr., starting March 2, 2020

Recommend accepting the resignation letters from: 
·        Audrey Hutchings, English Teacher, effective end of 2019/20 school year 
·        Karen Durlak, Attendance Secretary, effective end of 2019/20 school year
·        Robyn Schenning, School Nurse, effective end of 2019/20 school year
·        Nicole DeMaggio, Assistant Cheerleading Coach, end of 2019/20 season
·        Kevin Geist, Girls’ Basketball Coach, effective end of 2019/20 season
·        Meghan Crowley, JV Dance Coach, effective end of 2019/20 season
·        Tiffany Beaudry, Food Service, effective 3/26/20

Description:  Mr. Schmidt will give his monthly Principal’s Report.

Description:  For the fifth year, as members of the Intergovernmental Utilities Purchasing Cooperative (IUPC), the District participated in a demand response program. This past August, we had to curtail electricity as part of the program.  We were able to curtail a significant amount of energy, and went over the maximum amount that they wanted us to hit.  We have received a total of $25,256.54 with an anticipated $8,898 still to be paid.  We are using this money towards the refinishing of the East Gym floor and the West Gym bleachers.  

Description:  Attached is the 2019/20 tentative amended budget for your review.  Changes have been made to accommodate increases in grants, changes in transfers between funds, increase in costs on special education tuition, salary changes as a result of the contract settlement, and increase in state funding revenue tied to the evidence-based funding.  Per statute, the amended budget must be on display for the statutory 30 days.  It will be on the May agenda for hearing and approval. Recommend placing the tentative amended 2019/20 budget on display for the statutory 30 days. 

Description:  Cannon Design has begun meeting with Jeremy Schmidt, Tom Ross, and myself to begin talking about design for the concession building adjacent to the football field.  As we have done previously, they have agreed to work on preliminary drawings based on their per hour fee basis.  Once those are complete, we will present to the Site and Facility Committee for approval and then, recommendation to the Board.  At that point, we will also know the full scope of the project, and Cannon will propose a fixed fee which the per hour fee total will be subtracted from.  Recommend approval of the Letter of Authorization with Cannon Design for the GCHS Concession Building.