January 8, 2015 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Description:  The Superintendent will provide an update on the LNS initiative at the Board meeting. This is directly aligned with the Achievement, Learning Environment and Finance/Facilities/Resources Strategic Plan goals.  While student input will not be available until the February Board meeting, teacher feedback will be included in the January update.  

The presentation will focus on implementation of phase two and three of the LNS initiative, along with a recommendation that the District consider the piloting a "Bring Your Own Device" approach as we move forward.  

Description:  As of the Dec. 22, 2014 deadline, Center Cass 66 had only two people file for election to the three open Board seats for April’s election.  One of two scenarios will play out to address this issue: 

Scenario #1.  One or more people will file as write-in candidates.  Persons wishing to file as write-in candidates must file a statement of intent with the DuPage County Election Commission at least 61 days before the April 7 election.  The Commission has set a February 5 deadline for filing as a write-in candidate.  If one qualified write-in candidate files, that person will fill the remaining seat.  If more than one write-in candidate files, then the top 3 candidates (regular or write-in) will be elected.  Write-in candidates should consult the Commission to make sure they comply with all other requirements (e.g. statement of economic interests). 

Scenario # 2.  If no one files to be a write-in candidate, the six Board members will have 45 days to fill the vacancy through the process set forth in Board policy.

Description:  The Superintendent will update the Board on all FOIA requests received since the previous Board of Education meeting.

The most recent FOIA requests are as follows:

Vincent Miles (miles.v@aol.com) of Champaign, IL  demanded the closing records of all Debt Issuances for the past 30 years on Dec. 3, 2014.  To the best of our knowledge, this request was made numerous school districts in Illinois.  Additionally the demand included a directive to send the documents between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9, 2015.  The assignment required approximately 3 hours of resources was completed on Jan. 7, 2015.

Crystal Davis (cdavis@isbscorp.com), Account Executive for Image Systems & Business Solutions, 1776 Commerce  Drive, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 demanded the copies of all active copier and printer lease agreements the District currently has as well as any corresponding & active  service agreements for the District's existing fleet of copiers and printers on Dec. 26, 2014.  This demand required approximately one hour of resources and was completed on Dec. 30, 2014.

Tom Hoffman (tomhoffman.1@aol.com) of address unknown demanded all invoices for legal services submitted to the district covering charges for the months of May, June, and July of 2014 on Dec. 12, 2014.  To the best of our knowledge this demand was made of numerous school districts. The demand required approximately one hour of district resources and one hour of attorney resources and was completed on Dec. 17, 2014.  

Janet Martin (630.964.0959) of 40 N. Hudson St., Westmont, IL  60559 demanded the following information on all non-certified employees: Job title, hire date, job description, number of days works in a school year, number of hours worked per day, entry level salary, current salary of all existing employees, employee cost for insurance, health plan details, and other fringe benefits, and other pay incentives on Dec. 4, 2015.  The demand required approximately two hours of district resources and was completed on Dec. 9, 2014. 

Jim Watts (jimwatts@email.com) of Union Election Integrity Unit, Hwy 50, Columbus, WI 53925,  demanded the Staff Absence Records for the dates of October 29, 2014 - November 4, 2014 to specifically include the following: Teacher Name, Years of Service, Type of absence (Sick or Vacation)  on Nov. 5, 2014.  This demand required approximately one and one half hours of district resources, including attorney fees and was completed on Nov. 9, 2014.

Description:  Attached are the Financial Reports for your review.

Description:  Resignations
 None

Retirement
 James Mathiasch - Bus Driver

Transfers  
 None

New Hires  
Alexandria Minard -  Teaching Assistant

Re-Employment
 None

Positions Open: 
Bus Driver
Substitute Teachers

Description:  As per Policy 2:220, after 18-months have passed since being made, the audio recording of a closed meeting is destroyed with Board approval.  Approval is requested to destroy recording of June 11, 2013 closed session minutes.

Description:  Attached are copies of minutes from Executive Session for the past six (6) months.  Please review them carefully before the meeting.  Board policy requires the Board to review these minutes twice a year.  After reviewing these minutes,s those that are found to be appropriate may be added to the regular minutes of our meetings.

Description:  Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that Consent Agenda Items A, B, C, D, and E be approved as presented.

Description:  This is an opportunity for Committee Chairs and individual Board members to update the entire Board on any pertinent committee activities.  The Finance Committee and Communication Committee have both met since the last Board meeting.

Description:  The Board was previously provided information related to a variety of student fees.  The Committee of the Whole will discuss student fees in detail at the Jan. 26, 2015 meeting.  The Superintendent will check with the Board at the Jan. 8 meeting to ensure they have all of the necessary information prior to Jan. 26.  It is important that 2015-16 student fees be approved at the Feb. 5, 2015 Board meeting.

Description:  This year a bid process was used to solicit the lowest cost possible for the bus leases.  Bids were solicited following the November Board meeting.  Central States  Bus Co. was the only bid submitted by the December 1, 2014, 10:00 a.m. deadline.   

As was discussed at the Dec. 11, 2014 Board meeting, the District has also investigated the use of other types of bus models that were not part of the original bus lease bid.  After test driving a 71 passenger conventional model bus, we have decided to stay with the existing transit model bus.  This decision was based on the bus turning radius, the need for a 77 passenger capacity, and the ease of service and repair.

This year our plan calls for us to lease three (3) new 77-passenger buses at a cost of $13,843 each. We will be replacing bus numbers 1, 8, and 11.  The complete bus lease schedule is also provided:

Year          Bus #           Annual Cost
2011         2, 5, 13        $41,541
2012         4                   $13,993
2012         14                 $7,542
2013         6, 9               $27,687
2014         3, 7, 10         $41,531
2014         12                 $13,419
2015         1, 8, 11        $41,529 

Recommendation:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board approve the five (5) year lease with Central States Bus Co. for three (3) new 77-passenger buses at an annual cost of $13,843 for each bus. 

Description:  A revised draft of the 2015-2016 school year calendar will be presented to the Board on Jan. 8.  This version will include the parameters previously established by the Board, as well as input from teachers and staff regarding dates for SIP days and Parent/Teacher Conferences.  Input on the 2015-26 calendar will be received from teachers through January 7, 2015.

Recommendation:  The superintendent recommends the Board of Education approve the 2015-16 School Calendar as presented.

Description:  This is an opportunity for the Board to follow up on the December discussion about the creation of a Facilities Committee.

Description:  The Board may enter into executive session for the purpose of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body 5ILCS120/2(c)(1).

Superintendent Evaluation/Performance Goals