MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 10 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF FORD, CHAMPAIGN, VERMILION, IROQUOIS, AND LIVINGSTON COUNTIES OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS HELD WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008 AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE PAXTON-BUCKLEY-LODA BOARD ROOM 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: David Dowling, Mike Short, Phillip Duling, Jeff Jarboe, Dawn Bachtold, Shawn Young, and Dean Swan.

Others present were Cliff McClure, Amy Teske, Marvin Barger, Christine Williams, Mike Brehm, Lynn Rubarts, Kelli Vaughn, Lindsay Rose, Paige Schwartz, Pam Schwartz, Emory Alred, Mark Prina, Stan Daro, Joel Cluver, and Travis Tate.

Phillip Duling made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Jeffrey Jarboe seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Dean Swan read a letter dated June 17, 2008 from Joseph Meyer, former PBL employee, thanking the District for its donation towards the American Caner Society.

Dean Swan read a letter dated July 9, 2008 from Eric McMillan resigning as custodian at Clara Peterson Elementary effective August 15, 2008.

Dean Swan read a letter dated June 16, 2008 from Robert Lindsay resigning as High School History teacher effective immediately.

Mr. McClure informed the Board that the Building and Grounds Committee met on June 12, 2008 and discussed the option of upgrading softball fields, the High School bleacher project which installation is anticipated to begin in early October and should take approximately one week. Mr. McClure advised that Ms. Vaugh and Mr. Overstreet are working on rearranging athletic schedules which will need to take place in the Junior High gymnasium during the month of October. Mr. McClure informed the Board that fencing around the playgrounds at Eastlawn and Clara Peterson have been completed, the roof project at Clara Peterson is almost complete and ready to move on to the High School roof project, the High School phone installation project is nearing completion, the High School and Junior High School gym floors are being refinished, the High School bleachers have been removed and scrap metal has been sold, construction has begun on the new storage facility, the new kitchen equipment at Eastlawn should be delivered sometime next week, cracks in the High School/Junior High parking lot are being filled, and the Junior High/High School cafeteria freezer is scheduled to be moved to the Clara Peterson cafeteria.

Mr. McClure advised the Board he has invited various community members to attend tonight’s meeting, specifically this portion of the meeting regarding the prospects of the District building a new softball field. Mr. McClure explained to the Board the Building and Grounds Committee has discussed this matter and has come up with two potential options regarding the softball field, and both options are to keep the softball field at the current Clara Peterson location. However, Mr. McClure stated the District needs to obtain firm fiscal commitments from community organizations and entities in order to build a new softball field. If the District cannot get this fiscal commitment, then the District would go for Option 2 which would be to fix up the present softball field at Clara Peterson and continue to stay there. Mr. McClure estimated the new softball field project to cost approximately $100,000.00 which includes new fencing at the current field and the new softball field, concession stand/restroom/storage facility, dirt work, drainage, scoreboard, and dugouts. Mr. McClure advised the Building and Grounds Committee would like the District to be responsible for 3/5^ths the cost of this project and 2/5^ths of the cost to come from community organizations, and the District would like to complete this project within 18 to 24 months. Emory Alred addressed the Board with regard to the softball field. Mr. Alred handed out a diagram of the Clara Peterson softball complex and Memorial Field baseball complex. A discussion was held regarding where the new softball field could be added to the current layout at Clara Peterson and Memorial Field. Mr. Alred added he feels adding a softball field at the Clara Peterson location is very workable. Mark Prina, director of the Paxton Park District, stated he is in favor of the proposed softball field project and feels the Park District board could come up with a monetary amount towards this project. Mr. Prina informed the Board that he is willing to assist and help the District in any way with the building of this project. However, Mr. Prina added as much as he is in favor of the District building a new softball complex he does not want the Paxton Park District to lose its adult softball program. Emory Alred stated that the City of Paxton is a willing participant in this project as well, and Lynn Rubarts, president of the PBL Boosters Club, stated they are on board with this project and will donate a monetary amount comparable to what they donated towards the Zimmerman Field/Guyot Track project. Mr. McClure stated the Building and Grounds Committee has recommended the levels of fiscal commitment needed in order to undertake this project, and the District needs to start putting things in place so this project can move forwards. Mr. McClure advised the District could work on budgeting $25,000.00 towards this project from this fiscal year’s budget and $25,000.00 from next year’s fiscal budget. Jeff Jarboe made a motion for the District to proceed with planning the new softball field at the Clara Peterson location. Phillip Duling seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Lynn Rubarts, Kelli Vaughn, Lindsay Rose, Joel Cluver, Paige Schwartz, Pam Schwartz, Emory Alred, and Mark Prina left the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Mr. McClure reported to the Board with regard to summer school in Mr. Wright’s absence. As of Monday, there are 116 students enrolled in summer school which is an increase of 31 students from last year’s number due to transportation. The District is transporting 44 students for summer school.

Mr. McClure advised the Board that he has spoken with Farmers-Merchants National Bank and with a representative of IASA regarding the District’s potential use of a procurement card. Mr. McClure explained to the Board that some vendors no longer accept purchase orders and want their money at the time of purchase. This has hampered the District by not being able to order from certain vendors. The District spends a lot of time reimbursing staff for purchases from vendors that do not accept purchase orders. If the District chose to have a credit card, the District would need to set a limit amount and pay it off at the end of each month and this would be through Farmers-Merchants National Bank. Mr. McClure explained there is more of an issue with a credit card for signatures. The procurement card works the same way as a credit card, but there is less risk because you can buy certain goods with certain vendors. Mr. McClure feels a procurement card is more limiting in this nature, and there is no cost to the District to have this card. The procurement card pays the District back on many of the purchases made, and it is billed monthly as well. Mr. McClure suggested if the District chose to utilize a procurement card, there could be one card for each building, one for the Unit Office, one for food service, and one for the Maintenance Department. A lengthy discussion was held regarding procurement cards versus credit cards, how signatures would work on both cards, and who would be allowed to use them.

Mr. Brehm explained and demonstrated to the Board how the lettering will appear on the new storage facility.

Mr. McClure advised the Board that the bid openings for dairy and bread bids for the 2008/2009 school year were held on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. The District received one bread bid from Sara Lee, and one dairy bid from Prairie Farms. Mr. McClure added that the District also bids dairy products for GCMS and St. John’s Lutheran School in Buckley. Dawn Bachtold made a motion to approve the dairy bid from Prairie Farms for the 2008/2009 school year. Jeff Jarboe seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed. Dawn Bachtold made a motion to approve the bread bid from Sara Lee Bakeries for the 2008/2009 school year. Shawn Young seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. McClure informed the Board that the bid opening for waste services for the 2008/2009 school year was held on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. The District received one bid from Elson’s Paxton Sanitary System, which is the District’s current provider. Dave Dowling made a motion to approve Elson’s Paxton Sanitary System as the District’s waste services provider for the 2008/2009 school year. Phillip Duling seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. McClure advised the Board of the budget process, how ISBE changed the account numbers for fund accounting and payroll, and that ISBE created a new fund called Tort Liability Fund. Mr. McClure suggested the Finance Committee needs to meet prior to the August Board meeting to discuss the FY 2009 budget and to discuss the details of the FY 2009 audit. Mr. McClure reminded the Board that the budget needs to go on display for thirty days and needs to be advertised in the paper so the budget can be approved by the Board at the September Board meeting. Shawn Young made a motion to approve the superintendent to being the FY 2009 budget process. Jeff Jarboe seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. McClure informed the Board of the District’s 2008 AYP status report. Mr. McClure went over the report in detail explaining why the Junior High likely made AYP and why Eastlawn did not make AYP and how this difference has to do with subgroups. The Junior High raised their scores by ten percent. Mr. McClure concluded the AYP data has not been finalized by ISBE.

Mr. McClure advised the Board that the District has been discussing the option of purchasing a used van for student transportation for a while, and now the District has decided that the better investment would be to purchase a seven passenger van. Shields Automart in Paxton has a used 2007 Chevrolet Uplander seven passenger van available for $15,000.00 plus title and license fees. Dave Dowling made a motion to approve the purchase of a used 2007 Chevrolet Uplander seven passenger van from Shields Automart in Paxton in the amount of $15,250.00. Shawn Young seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. Brehm informed the Board with regard to technology improvements that are happening within the District. Mr. Brehm stated there have been several smartboard training sessions for staff this summer and the District is looking at purchasing a portable laptop lab with twenty to twenty-five laptops for the High School through the PBL Education Foundation. Mr. Brehm explained the District would actually like to have two portable laptop labs for the High School to free up the upstairs computer lab. A discussion was held regarding portable laptop labs and wireless access points at Eastlawn and Clara Peterson.

With regard to the Triple I conference, Mr. McClure stated this year’s reservations will be at the City Center.

Mr. McClure advised the Board that the Iroquois County Board passed a county school usage facility tax and this item will be on the ballot in November. Mr. McClure stated there are roughly 335 students from PBL that live in Iroquois County. This item is not on the ballot for Ford County.

Registration for the 2008/2009 school year is scheduled for August 4-6, 2008, and new teacher orientation is scheduled for August 1, 2008.

Mr. McClure informed the Board that he and Amy Teske have met with three potential companies to be the District’s third party administrator for the 403(b) annuities, and CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc. has been chosen to be the third party administrator. This company charges a $1,500.00 fee to write the District’s plan and contact all vendors, and we are in the process of completing preliminary start-up paperwork.

Mr. McClure advised the Board that the City council is planning a meeting regarding the TIF district, and the District has invited their attorney to come to the PBL September 17, 2008 Board meeting.

Dawn Bachtold made a motion to go into closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, performance of specific employees of the public body pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)1 and litigation, when an action again, affecting, or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed 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 session. Dave Dowling seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Closed session began at 8:30 p.m.

Dean Swan made a motion to come out of closed session. Dawn Bachtold seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Out of closed session at 9:45 p.m.

Mr. McClure recommended the Board accept the resignation of Robert Lindsay as High School social studies teacher and Eric McMillan as Clara Peterson night custodian. Shawn Young made a motion to accept the resignation of Robert Lindsay as High School social studies teacher and Eric McMillan as Clara Peterson night custodian. Phillip Duling seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. McClure recommended the Board approve the hiring of Jeffrey Sinn as High School social studies teacher for the 2008/2009 school year. Dave Dowling made a motion to the hiring of Jeffrey Sinn as High School social studies teacher for the 2008/2009 school year. Dawn Bachtold seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. McClure recommended the Board approve the hiring of Jeannette Funkhouser as a communication disorder/autism teacher for the 2008/2009 school year. Shawn Young made a motion to approve the hiring of Jeannette Funkhouser as a communication disorder/autism teacher for the 2008/2009 school year. Dean Swan seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. McClure recommended the Board affirm Walt Willis as a High School volunteer football coach for the 2008/2009 school year. Dean Swan made a motion to affirm Walt Willis as a High School volunteer football coach for the 2008/2009 school year. Dave Dowling seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Mr. McClure recommended the Board approve the transfer of Wendy Watkins from Junior High School custodian to Clara Peterson night custodian. Dean Swan made a motion to approve the transfer of Wendy Watkins from Junior High School custodian to Clara Peterson night custodian. Dave Dowling seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

Jeff Jarboe made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dave Dowling seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all board members being present, the vote was unanimous and the motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

President, Board of Education Secretary, Board of Education