School Board Niles Township District 219, Cook County, Illinois MINUTES Regular Board Meeting Monday, September 17, 2007
The meeting was held in the Board Room of the District Office located at 7700 Gross Point Road, Skokie, Illinois. I. Call to Order and Roll Call Board President Robert Silverman called the meeting to order at 6:49 p.m. Board members present at Roll Call: Sheri Doniger, Jeffrey Greenspan, Ruth Klint, Robert Silverman, Lynda Gault Smith, Eileen Valfer. Absent: Timothy Knudsen. II. Executive Session It was moved by GAULT SMITH and seconded by DONIGER to recess into closed session to discuss matters relating to negotiations, litigation, and the employment, appointment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Silverman, Gault Smith, Valfer. Absent: Knudsen. The motion carried. The Board recessed into closed session at 6:49 p.m. At 7:48 p.m. it was moved by VALFER and seconded by DONIGER to return to open session. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Silverman, Gault Smith, Valfer. Absent: Knudsen. The motion carried. III. Recall to Order of Open Session Mr. Silverman recalled the meeting to order at 7:49 p.m. The Pledge was recited. A roll call was taken. Present: Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Silverman, Gault Smith, Valfer. Absent: Knudsen Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
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IV. Changes/Additions to the Agenda A personnel handout with a Letter of Agreement was added to the consent agenda. V. Audience to Visitors (on agenda items only) No one asked to speak. VI. Student Representative Comments Karina Mendez Keil said homecoming plans are underway. They are working with their new constitution. There is good feedback with the café study hall, which then allows students to swipe into different study environments or a resource center. Anum Amjad said North students are very happy with the changes in the study hall swipe system. They wrote a new constitution two years ago, but this is the first year they are following its guidelines. VII. Community Representative Comments No one asked to speak. VIII. Approval of Consent Agenda It was moved by DONIGER and seconded by VALFER to accept the amended consent agenda. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Silverman, Gault Smith, Valfer. Absent: Knudsen. The motion carried. Included in the consent agenda: − Monthly Bills and Payroll in the amount of $5,432,439.82. − Personnel Rescind the leave of absence for certified staff, Kristin Fabbri. Leave of Absence was approved by the Board of Education on April 9, 2007. Approve the appointment of the following certified staff effective 9/18/07:
NAME
POSITION/LOCATION
FTE
Fabbri, Kristin
Special Education – North, MA‐Step 8
1.0
Approve the employment of the following support staff: NAME
POSITION/LOCATION
Malik, Razia One‐On‐One ESL Tutor – Foreign Language, West, P1‐S1, 186 days Ernst, Sarah Clerk A Study Hall – North, S1‐Step 1, 186 days Senior, Amy Cable Television Technician – North, T2‐Step 1, 196 days
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FTE
EFFECTIVE
.7
8/28/07
1.0 1.0
9/18/07 9/18/07
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
Approve employment of following part‐time/temporary help effective 9/18/07: NAME
POSITION/LOCATION
RATE
Dimaano, Jennifer Hen, Jesse Fan Rubin, David Rodriguez, Adolfo Isho, Christina Taylor, Lindsay
Textbook Center Assistant – West Textbook Center Assistant – North Textbook Center Assistant – North Security Monitor – North Gymnastics Assistant – West Gymnastics Assistant – West
$7.50/Hr. $7.50/Hr. $7.50/Hr. $15.00/Hr. $7.50/Hr. $7.50/Hr.
Approve the retirement of Sharon Mikula, Math – West effective 6/30/11.
Change the retirement date for certified staff Alexa Forman, Special Education – West from June 2008 to 1/15/09. Original retirement was approved on 1/20/04.
Approve the following stipend positions for the 2007‐2008 school year: SCHOOL
POSITION
NAME
Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles North Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West
Baseball Assistant Black Student Association Chinese Club Junior Class Sponsor Senior Class Sponsor Senior Class Sponsor Cricket Club Competitive Filipino Club Gay Straight Alliance Hellenic Club International Club Japanese Club Korean Club Korean Club Other Play 2 Assistant Pom Pon Assistant Recycling Club S.A.D.D. Club Student Association WHO Club Boys Basketball Assistant Girls Basketball Assistant Girls Indoor/Outdoor Track Accolades Production Amnesty International Chess Team Assistant Gay Straight Alliance Film Club German Club
*Allison, David *Pope, Jerry Keating, Sandra Adams, Nicole (.5) Fahy, Mary (.5) Kasprzak, Kathleen (.5) Bauman, Evan Acuesta, Kathleen (.5) *Keel, Allysa Asaro, Joseph Holman, Betsy *Tomanek, Colleen Camel, Christine (.5) Koh, Kristen (.5) *Magid, Brandon *Govert, Christina Boll, Michael (.5) Platt, Allison Montgomery, Daniel (.5) Haberl, James English, Larry Zera, Thomas *King, Jennifer Lietz, Martha (.25) DesJardins, Dana Choi, Jane Reynolds, Nicole Jeter, Andrew Bartl, Natalie (.5)
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
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Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West Niles West
Hip‐Hop Club Indo‐Pak International Relations Council Ping Pong Along Reading Hour Club Snow Board Student Union Assistant Vocal Jazz Assistant
Coleman, Phyllis Contractor, Satyam Choi, Jane (.5) Loughran, Vachee Gross, Rachel Grunst, Marie (.5) Conklin, Patricia *Nowak, Leah
* Indicates not a District 219 Employee
Approve Ann Kruckmeyer and Carmen Vantilburg as clerical substitutes for the 2007‐2008 school year.
Approve the following teacher substitutes for the 2007‐2008 school year: Ander, Perry Maybruck, Brian Singer, David Curtis, Janice McKenzie, William Siwecki, Ashley Franz, Helen Oberschelp, Deborah Walsh, Kathleen Gray, Stephanie Ofsaiof, Rosemary Witherell, MacKenzie Hillier, Leanne Paliza, Bryan Wong, George Hodapp, Douglas Ponzetti, Patricia Zacharia, Daniel
Letter of Agreement between the Niles Township Support Staff Union and the Niles Township High Schools District 219. As a result of this Agreement, approve the upgrade of the Health Clerk LPN II staff, Lygia Knight and Victoria Murphy, at Niles North from P2‐P3.
− Minutes of 8/14 and 8/27/07 meetings, open and closed sessions. − Student Trips o For 18 West Wild Wolves Outdoor Club members to attend a fall camping trip at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois on October 19‐21, 2007 at no cost to the District. o For 32 North Drama members to attend the Illinois High School Theatre Festival in Bloomington, Illinois on January 10‐12, 2008 at a cost to the District of $8,317. o For 10 North and West French students to attend a Montreal and Quebec, Canada trip on March 26‐29, 2008 at no cost to the District. o For 21 North Advanced Theatre Studio students to attend the Humana Festival in Louisville, Kentucky on March 28‐30, 2008 at no cost to the District. − To engage the firm of Hauser, Izzo, DeTella and Petrarca, LLC for legal representation in all property tax issues. − Textbook Adoptions for the 07‐08 school year at an anticipated total cost of $3,125.
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Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
IX. Superintendent’s Report Neil Codell announced that ACT scores are up from last year and the Kennedy Center Award gala celebration will take place on October 13. On October 1 there will be a town hall planning meeting with parents and representatives from each of the feeder schools in which they will discuss networking, inventory of programs and develop some understanding of where to go in the future. He said this group can generate networking and programs for the students in K‐12. The ILP program will be presented at the NSBA T&L Conference on October 17. Mr. Codell apologized to students, staff and parents regarding routes not being covered with the new bus company. He said District 219 was not happy with the previous bus company, went out to bid and awarded the contract to Positive Connections. Mr. Codell said as of yet, Positive Connections has not met its obligations in a satisfactory manner. Mike Strauss from Positive Connections addressed the Board. He said at no time did they or are they taking the bus problems lightly. They have been working weekends to resolve the problems with the buses. He said when school began there were 60 drivers. In addition they transferred 15 drivers from another location. On the first day of school they had 43 drivers because of no shows. They have been recruiting drivers daily. Today they have 70 drivers and need 13 more to deliver adequate service. Mr. Strauss said he has spoken to many parents who are upset with the current service. The Board questioned Mr. Strauss on various topics. When asked for a reason why some drivers have not shown up he said that it is a competitive marketplace and also the previous bus company and lawsuit may be why drivers are not showing up to work. When asked about overcrowding Mr. Strauss said they do not allow students to stand. He said overcrowding stems from problems in the beginning where a bus may not have shown up on a particular route and students walk to a different route, causing that route to be overloaded. He was also asked how someone would apply to be a bus driver. Robert Silverman stated that the poor bus service has been an embarrassment to the District and to each individual board member. It is the topic first mentioned when encountering any parent in the district. Neil Codell said that the Board and administration want to create a positive climate within the high schools and the current bus problems are affecting that. He said this puts a damper on all the good the District has done. Positive Connections was directed to fix the bus problems and to be open and honest with parents to regain confidence so that parents will send their children to the bus stops. The Board members said they are looking for improved performance. Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
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− Principals’ Report Bob Freeman said school is off to a wonderful start and making AYP has had a very positive effect. Emily Morrissey won a $5,000 scholarship from Wachovia and because of this Niles North received a $5,000 matching grant to support educational programs. Kaine Osburn said study hall revisions are very successful. Documentary filmmakers came to West and met with Muslim students and their parents about doing a presentation piece. They will interview candidates and do filming in students’ homes along with some school taping. X. Board Members’ Comments Jeffrey Greenspan said the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts is looking forward to the Kennedy Center Award Gala on October 13. Mr. Greenspan said he is very happy about the study hall revisions and the new Mondo field, which is only one of two nationwide. He wants to make sure that this new field is used by all PE classes. With regard to student trips, Mr. Greenspan expressed concern when the cost per student exceeds $1,500. He said it may be a burden on some students to be able to pay this sum of money. Mr. Silverman asked if players and coaches have been surveyed about the new field. Mr. Freeman said that that is ongoing. The Mondo contractors have been on site many times making adjustments. XI. Business 2007‐08 Budget Mr. Silverman noted that this process started in May, the tentative budget was presented in July, and a finance meeting was held. If Board members had any changes they should have requested so at any of those meetings. Mr. Silverman also congratulated the Business Office for earning the IASBO award. He said it is a testament to the hard work of the entire staff. It was moved by DONIGER and seconded by GREENSPAN to adopt the annual budget resolution. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Silverman, Gault Smith, Valfer. Absent: Knudsen. The motion carried.
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Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
Restructuring of Long Term Debt Gerry Yeggy said the Business Office analyzed long term debt and through some restructuring, with no tax rate increase, learned that $9 million can be created for capital improvements use at North and West. He said the list of these capital improvements will be finalized in the next few months. Procedures needed for this restructuring of debt encompasses all debt certificates and performance contracts transformed into bonds. Mr. Yeggy said the next step will be to develop a list of $9 million of capital improvements. It was noted that the state allows more options with debt certificates. Board members questioned if there would be any tax rate increase from this restructuring and were advised that it would be less than 1¢ in the total tax rate of over $2.00. At 9:15 p.m. a break was taken. The meeting resumed at 9:29 p.m. ACT Trend Data for the Graduating Classes of 2003‐2007 Dale Vogler said the report shows ACT scores have increased, most notably in English. It is believed that interventions put in place over the last few years have helped increase these scores. The Board asked if discussions took place encouraging students to take the ACT more than once. It was noted that the PSAT/PLAN test is given to sophomores and results show them how they did in test and areas they need to focus on. It was asked that a query be given students when taking the ACT if they took a prep program, and if so, was it self taught or structured. Appointment of LICA Board of Control Representative Lynda Gault Smith and Ruth Klint offered to share this position. XII. Old Business There was no old business. XIII. New Business There was no new business. XIV. Audience to Visitors No one asked to speak. XV. Correspondence and FOIA Requests There was a request from Bob Huck.
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
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XVI. Information Items − August 2007 Financial Report − Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award XVII. Adjournment It was moved by DONIGER and seconded by VALFER to adjourn the meeting. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Silverman, Gault Smith, Valfer. Absent: Knudsen. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. _________________________________
______________________________
President
Secretary
Minutes approved October 15, 2007.
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Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of September 17, 2007
