MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT NO. 10 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF FORD, CHAMPAIGN, VERMILION, IROQUOIS AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HELD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2003 AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA HIGH SCHOOL IN PAXTON, ILLINOIS.
President Mike Short called the meeting to
order at 7:00 p.m.
Upon roll call, the following board members answered present: Steve Bloomstrand, David Dowling, Jeff Jarboe, Jean Schwartz, Al Schweighart, Mike Short, and Dean Swan.
Others present were Marvin Barger, Andy
Bennett, Rick Brackmann, Trent Eshleman, Bill Lee, Cliff McClure, John Rawdin,
Lynn Rubarts, Charlene Sabatini, Brian Taylor, Bud Taylor, Thomas Vaughn, and
Marilyn Weber.
Dean Swan moved to approve the minutes of the
previous meetings. Jeff Jarboe seconded
the motion. Upon roll call, all members
present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Jean Schwartz moved to approve the
Treasurer’s Report. Steve Bloomstrand
seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all
members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Rick Brackmann, Will Brumleve and Stan Daro
arrived at 7:03 p.m.
Dean Swan moved to approve payment of all
current bills. Steve Bloomstrand seconded
the motion. Upon roll call, all members
present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Jim Flaherty and Nick Leon arrived at 7:07
p.m.
Mr. McClure introduced Brian Taylor and Bud
Taylor from the Skillman Corporation.
Brian Taylor gave an update on the completed work and the work that is
in progress. Items that have been
completed are the manholes have been set, utility work in the east lot has been
completed, and the foundation is complete on the north half of the
building. Right now the utility work is
in progress and over the next four weeks the contractors will be spreading rock
on the east lot, installing the underground plumbing on parts of building and
getting ready to pour the gym area. Rain
has hampered the construction of the access road. Mr. McClure informed the board about the bond
issue pertaining to spending the bond money before state funds. The Unit Office staff met with Kevin Hyde,
and the Unit Office has a handle on what needs to be done regarding this
matter. Mr. McClure also discussed the
$54,957 pre-extension contract for the new Jr. High from AmerinCIPS. It would be to the districts advantage to pay
this ahead of time. These are delivery
charges only. Mr. McClure recommended
the board approve the contract from AmerinCIPS to pay the $54,957 early for the
new Junior High. Dean Swan made a
motion to approve the AmerenCIPS pre extension
contract. Al Schweighart seconded the
motion. Upon roll call, Steve
Bloomstrand, Jeff Jarboe, Jean Schwartz, Al Schweighart, Mike Short and Dean
Swan voted aye, no nay votes, and David Dowling abstained. The motion carried 6-0-1.
Mr. McClure also informed the board about the
date of the next building committee meeting, which will be held on November 26th
at 11:30 a.m. at the Unit Office. The
construction progress meeting will be on November 26th at 10:00 a.m.
at the Skillman trailer.
Mr. McClure introduced Rick Brackmann. Mr. Brackmann met with the Parent Advisory
committee to establish a policy and procedure dealing with the special
education students. He reviewed those
procedures with the committee tonight and will pass on the accepted policy to
Mr. McClure for approval at a future meeting.
Brian Taylor and Bud Taylor left the meeting
at 7:15 p.m.
Mr. McClure introduced the principals to
discuss the parent teacher conferences.
Mr. Lee informed the board that Loda Grade School had a great turnout
and they still have a few more parents to see.
Mr. Eshleman informed the board that as of Friday, November 14th,
the Clara Peterson has seen almost every parent and their goal is to see every
parent. Mr. Rawdin informed the board
that the parent/teacher conferences at the Junior High were very successful,
the two nights went very well and over 260 parent teacher conferences were
held. Mr. Flaherty was pleased with the
307 conferences that were held with the high school teachers, which are up a
little from last year. Some of those
conferences were duplicates; he thought probably 200 of those conferences were
different parents. Mr. McClure informed
the board that he has not heard any complaints from the two evenings of
parent/teacher conferences. Mr. Daro
stated that he has not heard any negative feedback from the teachers; most of
them seemed to like having it on two evenings.
Mr. McClure discussed the 2003 STS/ISAT/PSAE
scores and handed out the updated information.
Mr. McClure presented trend data regarding these scores. Mr. Eshleman discussed the Clara Peterson’s
data and how the data related to the meet and exceeds area. He also explained how the ‘No Child Left
Behind” legislation relates to this data.
Mr. Lee gave a detailed report of the STS/ISAT/PSAE at Loda Grade School
and what they are working towards in improving their scores. Mr. Rawdin gave a
report on the Junior High results. The
junior high is working towards bringing the Special Education students into the
regular classroom and this eventually will be a way to start to improve these
test scores. Mr. Flaherty handed out his
information regarding the high school test scores.
Mr. McClure informed the board that the 2003
school report card has not been received yet from the State. It will be distributed as soon as the
district receives it.
Mr. McClure gave a presentation regarding the
updated preliminary 2003 levy figures.
David Dowling made a motion to approve the 2003 preliminary levy. Jean Schwartz seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all members present voted
aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Mr. McClure discussed a handout regarding the
PBL cost reduction plan. Locally next
year the district will be asking for a slight increase in local funding. Investments are not receiving very high
interest rates, hopefully that will change.
The district is also not banking on an increase in state aid. There will be an increase in salaries and
increments, health insurance, and the district’s comprehensive insurance will
have a slight increase. Mr. McClure
informed the board that he would like the finance committee to meet in the near
future and start finalizing some plans for cost reduction plan and Mr. Stan
Daro would also be included in those meetings.
Mr. McClure recommended the board set the
2003 preliminary hearing levy for Wednesday, December 10th, at
7:00p.m. Dean Swan made a motion to
approve the preliminary levy hearing on Wednesday, December 10th at
7:00 p.m. Jean Schwartz seconded the
motion. Upon roll call, all members
present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Mr. McClure introduced the principals to discuss
their fall activities. Mr. Rawdin
informed the board of the junior high fall activities. The highlights were the boys and girls state
cross country teams and girls softball team that also went to State. Mr. Lee gave a detailed report on the activities
at Loda Grade School the highlight was grandparent’s day. Mr. Flaherty handed out his fall activity
report and gave a brief discussion on the academic honors. Mr. Eshleman
discussed the Clara Peterson activities regarding how they are showcasing writing
assignments, the Title I supper and the open house were both a great
success.
Mr. McClure provided policies to be reviewed
and policies that need to be inserted into the board policy manuals. Mr. McClure discussed the policy regarding
Mr. Meyer’s requests to allow outside business to have equitable access to
school functions. Mr. McClure
recommended the board approve the procedures that he handed out. David Dowling made a motion to approve the
procedures. Steve Bloomstrand seconded
the motion. Upon roll call, all members
present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
In other business, Mr. McClure informed the
board that the Taste of PBL is from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday November 15th
at the High School.
Mr. McClure distributed letters from the
IHSA.
Jean Schwartz made a motion to go into closed
session to discuss employment of specific employees, pending litigation and
discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed. Jeff Jarboe seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all members present voted
aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Closed session began at 8:50 p.m.
Dean Swan moved to come out of closed
session. Al Schweighart seconded the
motion. Upon roll call, all members
present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Closed Session ended at 10:20 p.m.
Mr. McClure recommended the board hire Kelli Vaughn as Assistant High School
Softball Coach. Jean Schwartz made a
motion to approve the recommendation.
David Dowling seconded the motion.
Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes
the motion carried.
Mr. McClure recommended the board terminate
Charlene Sabatini as Custodian at the Clara Peterson. Dean Swan made a motion to approve the
termination. Steve Bloomstrand seconded
the motion. Upon roll call, all members
present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Mr. McClure recommended the board approve
releasing the following closed session minutes:
February 13, 2002, April 10, 2002, May 15, 2002, June 12, 2002, August
14, 2002, September 18, 2002, November 13, 2002, and December 11, 2002. David Dowling made a motion to approve the
release of the above mentioned closed session minutes. Jeff Jarboe seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all members present voted
aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Jean Schwartz made a motion to adjourn. Jeff Jarboe seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all members present voted
aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 10:22 p.m.
_____________________________________ _________________________________
President, Board of Education Secretary, Board
of Education