McLean County Unified School District No. 5 Board of Education met Jan. 18.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
A McLean County Unit District No. 5 Board of Education meeting was held Wednesday, January 18, 2023, beginning at - 6:30pm (Sign up for public comments will be open from 5:15pm - 6:15pm) at the Normal West High School, 501 N Parkside Rd, Normal, IL 61761.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Members present: Kentrica Coleman, Kelly Pyle, Jeremy DeHaai, Stan Gozur, Barry Hitchins, Amy Roser. Members absent: Alan Kalitzky
2. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION (5:30p.m.)
At 5:32 p.m. Roser moved, De Haai seconded to adjourn to closed session to discuss the following matter according to the exceptions provided in the Open Meetings Act and specified as follows:
•2(c)(1) 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 and
•2(c)(2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees and
•2(c)(9) Student disciplinary case and
•2(c)(11) 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.
Alan Kalitzy entered at 5:35 pm.
3. RECESS
At 6:24 p.m. the Board recessed to return to public session.
4.. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
At 6:30 p.m. Gozur moved and Kalitzy seconded to return to public session. Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, DeHaai, Gozur, Kalitzky, Pyle, Roser, Hitchins. Nays: None. Motion carried. Also present: Superintendent Dr. Kristen Weikle, Chief Financial Officer Martin Hickman, Attorney for the District M. Curt Richardson, Director of Human Resources Roger Baldwin, Executive Director of Operations Joe Adelman, Assistant Superintendent Michelle Lamboly, Director of Communications and Community Relations Dayna Brown, and Principal Parkside Junior High Karrah Jensen. 5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6. FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND GOOD NEWS REPORTS
Good News - PJHS Student Gabe Pabst was recognized by Parkside Junior High Principal, Karrah Jensen, for being selected for the All-Illinois Junior Honor Band.
7. SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS
Dr. Weikle welcomed everyone back after winter break. She has been observing in Unit 5 classrooms. She recently spoke with students in the Intro to Education class, which provides students an opportunity to learn about all of the different positions needed in a school system, as well as having the opportunity to observe and assist in classrooms throughout the district. Our Intro to Education Program is now an approved pathway by the Illinois State Board of Education.
She also noted that Unit 5 is still looking to fill some critical jobs. The HR department has held another walk-in job fair in an attempt to fill some of these positions. While the fair had a great turnout, the district is still looking for individuals who are interested in working as a paraeducator or teaching assistant, in food service, as a custodian, and are always looking for individuals interested in serving as a substitute teacher, substitute teaching assistant, substitute nurse, and substitute custodian.
Finally, Dr. Weikle spoke about the Illinois 5 Essentials Survey, which gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes: Effective Leaders, Collaborative Teachers, Involved Families, Supportive Environments, and Ambitious Instruction. Families and staff are encouraged to participate in the survey.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
- Abby Scott. Topic: Concerns about four school board candidates' views.
- Mark Adams. Topic: Support for the referendum
9. REPORTS
A 1st reading of School Calendar for 23-24 school year
Michelle Lamboley presented the first draft of the school calendar for the upcoming school year.
B Budget
1 6th Month Budget Review
Marty Hickman shared a mid-year budget review, and reported an approximately $10 million structural deficit in the education fund. He noted that projections for the structural deficit would actually have been higher, had the district not had so many unfilled positions (38 as of 1/12/23 down from 65 on 8/15/23). He noted that other funds, including the transportation fund and operations and maintenance funds continue to be monitored closely.
2 Future Fiscal Years' Discussion
Following the 6th month budget review, Kalitzy, of the board finance committee, led the board into discussion of future budgets, including a focus on reduction of expenditures, as well as increased revenue. Following last week's Finance Committee meeting, board members asked Dr. Weikle to look at budget reductions, if additional revenue is not available to the school district. Dr. Weikle and board discussed a variety of options to reduce expenditures that would attempt to limit the impact on classroom sizes and education to students. Board members identified proposed cuts for the upcoming fiscal year as well as additional cuts that would need to occur over multiple years, in an attempt to reduce the structural deficit. There will be a special board meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 to vote on the proposed reductions, which would take effect for the 2023-2024 academic year.
10. RECESS
At 8:45 p.m. the Board recessed.
11. RESUME TO PUBLIC SESSION
At 8:56 p.m. the board returned to public session
C Requests for Information Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act The District has received and processed the following requests for information: Do I need to add the two FOIA requests by name here?
12. CONSENT AGENDA
Weikle reviewed and recommended the following consent agenda items for approval.
A Approval of Minutes
Minutes are not released for public viewing until approved by the Board of Education
1 Closed Session 12.14.22
3 Regular Session 12.14.22
4 Special Session 01.11.23
B Personnel Matters
C Payment of Bills and Payrolls
D Approve Finance Department Reports
1 November 2022 Financial Statements
2 December 2022 Financial Statements
E Approve Board Policies, Administrative Procedures, and Exhibits 1 Section 4: Operational Services
a. Administrative Procedure 4.60-AP1 Purchases
b. Administrative Procedure 4.140-AP1 Fines, Fees, and Charges - Waiver of Student Fees
c. Exhibit 4.140-E1 Application for Fee Waiver
2 Section 5: Personnel
a. Policy 5.220 Substitute Teachers
b. Policy 5.330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves
c. Administrative Procedure 5.120-AP1 Statement of Economic Interests for Employees
d. Administrative Procedure 5.120-AP2 Employee Conduct Standards
3 Section 6: Instruction
a. Policy 6.250 Community Resource Persons and Volunteers
b. Policy 6.260 Suggestions or Objections to Curriculum
c. Administrative Procedure 6.260-AP1 Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials
d. Exhibit 6.230-E1 Request for Reconsideration of IMC Materials Form
e. Exhibit 6.260-E1 Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Form
4 Section 7: Students
a. Policy 7.290 Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention
b. Policy 7.340 Student Records
c. Administrative Procedure 7.190-AP4 Use of Isolated Time Out and Physical Restraint
d. Administrative Procedure 7.250-AP2 Prot. for Responding to Students with Soc., Emot., or Mental Health Problems
e. Administrative Procedure 7.340-AP1 School Student Records
f. Exhibit 7.340-AP1,E4 FAQS Regarding Military Recruiter Access to Students and Student Information
F Approve 60 Month Agreement with Watts Copy Systems, Inc., for a Color Copier Machine Located at Eugene Field Production Center
G Approve Purchase of Campus Optimizer under the Omnia Partners Cooperative Purchasing Agreement at Fox Creek Elementary, Grove Elementary, Prairieland Elementary, and Towanda Elementary,
H Approve Overnight Trip Requests
Gozur moved and DeHaai seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented. Roll Call: Ayes: Coleman, DeHaai, Gozur, Kalitzky, Pyle, Roser, Hitchins. Nays: None. Motion carried.
13. BOARD REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMENTS
- DeHaai congratulated Gabe Pabst and thanked the board for their discussion regarding proposed budget cuts. He provided a Facility Committee report.
- Roser provided a Beyond the Books foundation update and reminded teachers and staff that the grant application cycle is open. She gave an update of the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee meeting from January 17, 2023.
- Gozur updated that the Finance Committee had met on Friday, January 13 and attended the Regional Planning Commission meeting on January 4th.
- Pyle attended the Finance committee meeting and Parent Teacher Advisory Council meeting this month. She updated that the Citizens Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for January 25th.
- Kalitzy noted that the Special Board meeting will be held on January 31, 2023, for the board to take action on the proposed budget cuts for the 2023-2024 academic year. He encouraged the public to reach out to board members with questions or concerns regarding the proposed cuts.
- Coleman indicated that the Board Policy committee will be meeting on 2/1/2023 at 3:00pm.
- Hitchins reminded the board to return to closed session to complete remaining board work. He indicated that the board would return to public session to take action on the student disciplinary case only.
14. RECESS
At 9:53 p.m. the Board recessed.
15. RETURN TO CLOSED SESSION
At 10:01 pm, Gozur moved and Coleman seconded to return to closed session.
16. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
At 10:27 p.m. Kalitzky moved, DeHaai seconded to return to public session.
17. ACTION
A. Action of the Board upon Student Suspension Review
Gozur moved and Kalitzky seconded to approve action of the Board upon Student Suspension Review. Roll Call: Ayes: DeHaai, Gozur, Kalitzky, Pyle, Hitchins. Abstain: Roser, Coleman: Nays: None. Motion carried.
18. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:28 pm the Board adjourned.
https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1482?meeting=563793
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