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, FEBRUARY 15, 2006 AT 7:05 P.M. AT THE PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA BOARD ROOM IN PAXTON, ILLINOIS.

 

President Mike Short called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

 

Upon roll call, the following board members answered present: Dawn Bachtold, David Dowling, Phillip Duling, Jeff Jarboe, Mike Short, Dean Swan and Shawn Young. 

 

Others present were Marvin Barger, Andy Bennett, Will Brumleve, Stan Daro, Nancy Dewey, Jeff Graham, Dave Harber, Cliff McClure, John Rawdin, Fred Swink, Tara Tighe, and Marilyn Weber.

 

Dean Swan moved to approve the minutes of the previous meetings.  David Dowling seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.

 

Shawn Young moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report.  Dawn Bachtold seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.

 

Jeff Jarboe moved to approve payment of all current bills.  Phillip Duling seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.

 

Dean Swan read a letter from Diana Hale thanking the board for their thoughtfulness in the loss of her father.

 

Dean Swan read a letter from Don Shields resigning as freshman boys basketball coach.

 

Will Brumleve and Fred Swink addressed the board regarding a proposal that the Paxton Record would like to sponsor a journalism club with PBL High School.  They discussed the proposal with the board.  They would meet once a week either at the high school or at the Paxton Record office. 

 

Mr. McClure introduced Dave Harber.  Mr. Harber gave an update on the school improvement project.  One of the items that the committee is looking at is switching from spring to fall testing and possibly changing the company that the District purchases the testing.  It was also discussed about the possibility of decreasing the allotted time for the testing.  Mr. Harber informed the board that another draft of the school improvement report will be ready in April or May.  Mr. Harber also informed the board that the high school has been working on the curriculum to incorporate all the new state requirements.  The final phases for these requirements are scheduled for the year 2012.  Committee members visited area schools to see how they were progressing with their school improvement issues.  The one that was most interesting was Herscher.  They went through all of their successes and failures.  The trips to these schools were very successful with the information that they accumulated. 


 

Mr. McClure discussed with the board the changes in the high school course offerings in order to meet the new high school graduation requirements.  Mr. McClure, Dr. Perkins and Mr. Harber are having on-going discussions with the departments and they are not ready to make any recommendations yet.  This is a very complicated process since they are phased in at different years.  Special Education classes have not been included in these recommendations yet, but they will be before the final recommendation.  A discussion was held regarding the math requirements for students with disabilities.  Mr. Harber plans to chart the successes and failures of these courses to see where the students are being hindered or helped.  Mr. McClure provided information regarding a weighted grading system that Chuck Neitzel had prepared for the board. 

 

Mr. McClure introduced Jeff Graham the summer school coordinator.  Mr. Graham reported to the Board that summer school will be held at the Junior High school in the 6th grade wing.  If the board approves the dates and times, it would run July 5th through August 4th from 8 a.m. to

12 noon, Monday through Friday.  Summer school courses would be offered in reading and math for grades K-8 and potentially math, english, and driver’s education will be offered for high school students.  Mr. Graham sent out an email to the staff regarding who would be interested in teaching summer school.  He has had a lot of interest from the staff.  Dean Swan made a motion to approve the summer school dates and times for July 5th through August 4th from

8 a.m. – 12 noon.  David Dowling seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.

 

Mr. McClure discussed the proposed 2006-2007 school calendar.  The teacher institute days will be August 17th and August 18th, with classes starting on August 21st.  Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on the evenings of November 6th and 7th.  Christmas break is proposed to be December 21st through January 3rd and Spring Break would be April 2nd – April 9th.  School would dismiss the 24th of May if the calendar is approved as proposed.  Mr. McClure informed the board that the state has approved the Casmir Pulaski waiver for the next five years.  Mr. McClure has discussed this calendar with Stan Daro and Mr. Daro has emailed the bargaining unit the calendar.  The 2006-2007 calendar will be brought back in March for approval.

 

Mr. McClure discussed the building committee meeting with the board.  Mr. McClure and the building committee are working to revise the building usage rental charges.  These charges will not be implemented until the 2006-2007 school year.  A recommendation has been discussed for an additional cost for custodians and cooks.  It was Mr. McClure’s recommendation to further discuss this change in rental charges for the District’s buildings.  Mr. McClure discussed the Health Life Safety projects.  Mr. Bennett and Mr. Brehm have met with the telephone companies regarding the installation of a new phone system at Clara Peterson and at Eastlawn.  (See Addendum A for the details of all project estimates.)  It is the recommendation of the building committee to pursue the phone systems for these two projects and that the District would not use the old digital system.  Mr. McClure informed the board that the building committee has decided to go forward with the Clara Peterson roof replacement for the far-east wing and the gym and bid the soffitt as an alternate.  It was also the recommendation of the


committee to pursue the bleacher renovation at Zimmerman field for the home bleachers.  Mr. McClure discussed the final source of financing for each project and estimates that he has received.  (See Addendum A).  The committee is recommending that the District move forward on the following projects: 

 

·        Sound proofing of the Junior High Gym

·        Provide shades in the classrooms at the Junior High

·        Vinyl Wall Coverings/Epoxy paint at the Junior High

·        Landscaping around the Junior High

·        All Weather Track/PA System/Fencing

·        Zimmerman Field Visitor Bleachers.

 

The committee also recommending moving forward on the following O&M projects:

·        Permanent Walls in Old High School Cafeteria

·        Bathroom Partitions at Eastlawn

·        Clara Peterson Floor Tile Replacement & Office Renovation

·        High School Landscaping

 

These projects will begin this summer and will be funded by the Operations and Maintenance Fund.  The building committee will meet before the March meeting to discuss these projects in more detail.

 

Mr. McClure has been discussing with the administrators potential reductions in staff and potential savings through retirement.  The Principals have been holding building level discussions on personnel needs for the 2006-2007 school year.  Mr. McClure discussed potential action on the Reduction in Force for the Special Education and Title I aides.  Mr. Eshleman discussed class sizes at Clara Peterson.  Class sizes are 112 for kindergarten, 118 for first grade, and 102 for second grade.  There are eight aides in the building with one of them being a prep aide, which is paid through a grant.  For grades K-2 there are four instructional aides, two Title I aides and two special education aides.  Eastlawn has a total of 5 aides - one personal aide, one Title I Aide and 3 special education aides.  Class sizes are as follows:  104 students in third grade, 100 students in 4th grade, and 114 students in 5th grade.  Eastlawn is looking into inclusion.  Mr. Rawdin discussed keeping five sections of classes with the incoming 6th grade class for 2006-2007.  The district is looking into other options for this class as they move into the junior high. 

 

In other business, Mr. McClure reported that the PBL Madrigals have been invited to sing the National Anthem at the St. Louis Cardinals game again this year. 

 

Mike Brehm and First Student will be working together to install the software for the digital cameras in the school buses.  Notification will be sent out to all parents and guardians before this system is turned on. 


 

David Dowling made a motion to go into closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, and performance of specific employees of the public body.  Shawn Young seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.

 

Closed session began at 8:47 p.m.

 

Dawn Bachtold moved to come out of closed session.  Phillip Duling seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried. 

 

Closed session ended at 9:40 p.m.

 

Mr. McClure recommended the board approve the resignation of Donald Shields as freshman boy’s basketball coach.  Dawn Bachtold made a motion to approve the resignation of Donald Shields as freshman boy’s basketball coach.  Jeff Jarboe seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried. 

 

Dean Swan made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Jeff Jarboe seconded the motion.  Upon roll call, all members present voted aye, there being no nay votes the motion carried.  

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:41 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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President, Board of Education                           Secretary, Board of Education