February 15, 2024 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

Description:  Call to Order. Secretary to the Board will take attendance.

Description: 

The Board will move to closed session for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

Description: 

The next agenda item for the Board of Education is the Hearing concerning waiver of the school code requirements concerning publication of the Annual Statement of Affairs. All persons desiring to be heard will have an opportunity to present written or oral testimony with respect to the waiver.

Currently, Rantoul City Schools #137 is required to publish the Annual Statement of Affairs, annually, in the News-Gazette. Granting this modification of the school code waiver would save Rantoul City SD 137 at least $1,800 each year or approximately $9,000 over a five-year period (keeping the cost fixed at the current rate). These funds could therefore be utilized for other items or fees essential to the education of our students. The impact of this opportunity will be assessed over the five-year period of the waiver through feedback from students, parents, teachers, and staff as well as from community members.

At this time, the Board President or designee will open the discussion. The purpose of the Hearing is to inform the public that the Board of Education intends to take action to obtain a waiver for a modification to the school code as stated previously.

Are there any comments from the members of the Board of Education?
Allow for any discussion.

We will now move on to written testimony. Is there any written testimony regarding the waiver?
If there is written testimony, the Board Secretary or designee will read it out loud to enter it into the record. 

We will move on to oral testimony or any public comments concerning the waiver. Is there anyone present who wishes to provide oral testimony or public comment?
Public comment should only be related to the waiver. There will be a second public comment period during this meeting for other topics.

At this time, all persons desiring to be heard have been given an opportunity to present oral and written testimony with respect to the waiver. Is there a motion to adjourn the hearing?

Description: 

Currently, Rantoul City Schools #137 is required to publish the Annual Statement of Affairs, annually, in the News-Gazette. Granting this modification of the school code waiver would save Rantoul City SD 137 at least $1,800 each year or approximately $9,000 over a five-year period (keeping the cost fixed at the current rate). These funds could therefore be utilized for other items or fees essential to the education of our students. The impact of this opportunity will be assessed over the five-year period of the waiver through feedback from students, parents, teachers, and staff as well as from the community members.

Description: 

Individuals wishing to speak during public comment must complete the Public Comment Form and submit it to the Board Secretary prior to the start of the meeting.

Board Policy 2:230. At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and District employees may comment to or ask questions of the School Board, subject to reasonable constraints. The individuals appearing before the Board are expected to follow these guidelines:

1. Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President.
2. Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, comments shall be limited to 5 minutes. In unusual circumstances, and when an individual has made a request in advance to speak for a longer period of time, the individual may be allowed to speak for more than 5 minutes.
3. Observe the Board President's decision to shorten public comment to conserve time and give the maximum number of individuals an opportunity to speak.
4. Observe the Board President's decision to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise covered in Board policy.
5. Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board Policy, 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property.

Members of the public may speak during this portion of the meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes. Board members will not respond to public comments or questions during "Public Comments". Should total Public Comments approach or exceed a cumulative time of 30 minutes, the Board may suspend additional Public Comments until immediately prior to the Board and Superintendent Comments portion of the agenda.

Description: 

Board Policy 2:220 The President shall designate a portion of the agenda as a consent agenda for those items that usually do not require extensive discussion before Board action. Upon the request of any Board member, an item will be withdrawn from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda for independent consideration. 

There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board Member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as the first item after approval of the Consent Agenda.

Description: 

• Regular personnel items.
• Revised job descriptions for Special Programs Administrative Assistant (Teresa Fewkes), Student Services Director (Darcy Widener), Central Office Administrative Assistant (Hana Tieman). Attached.

Description:  $30,000 from United Way / Healing Illinois. Agreement attached.

Description:  Administration recommends entering into the attached agreement which will allow the district to provide an initial $1,000 sign on bonus to newly hired certified staff. This will be paid out of the Teacher Vacancy Grant.

Description:  The Board is asked to approve compensation increases for all employees not covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) or individual contract for the 2024-2025 school year. Unless noted, employees will receive a minimum 4% increase, consistent with employees covered by a CBA. Employees who qualify for the District's retirement incentive may see a 6% increase.

Also included are increases in the rates for substitute employees. These substitute rate changes will go into effect for the 2024-2025 school year.

Description: 

1-22-2024 Illinois Retired Teachers Association, freedom@irtaonline.org, retiree directory information.
1-26-2024 UnionBids.com, bkim95437@gmail.com, bid tabulation results for 01/05/2024 Rantoul City Schools District No. 137 - Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract (Champaign County)

Description:  1/18/2024 Teacher of the Week, Jessica Lock, Pleasant Acres

Description:  The Board is provided a monthly report detailing student in-school suspension, out-of-school suspensions, and placements in CARE. Due to the student record data contained in this report, this report remains confidential. 

Description:  The FY24 Tentative Revised Budget will be posted for public review with notice in the News Gazette on February 16. A public hearing will be held at the regular March Board Meeting to consider the FY24 Revised Budget, and the Board will be asked to approve the FY24 Revised Budget

Description:  Attorney General Presentation to Community, April 17th at 5 pm