Ridgeview Board of Education Regular Meeting - 6:00 P.M, October 21, 2014 Saybrook Township Building 204 N State Street, Saybrook, IL SUMMARY

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1 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Ridgeview Board of Education Regular Meeting - 6:00 P.M, October 21, 2014 Saybrook Township Building 204 N State Street, Saybrook, IL SUMMARY The Board of Education of Ridgeview Community Unit School District No. 19 was called to order at 6 p.m. by President Pam Givens. II. III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board member Chris Donaldson. PRESENTATIONS A. Annual Auditor Report-Mr. Kent Kull Mr. Kent Kull from Mose, Yockey, Brown and Kull, LLC, presented to the Board the fiscal year 2014 audit report that was conducted by the Certified Public Accountant firm in July and September, The audit for fiscal year was conducted by a new auditor due to guidelines that auditors should be changed every 4 or 5 years. Mr. Kull reviewed the audit with the Board and Superintendent Gradert during the meeting. He discussed the fiscal year-end balances in the major funds The audit for Ridgeview Community Unit School District #19 resulted in four compliance findings. The compliance findings have been reviewed by the Board and Superintendent. Procedures are in place to correct the findings. The district ended the fiscal year with a Total Profile Score of 4.00, which is Recognition with the Illinois State Board of Education, the highest designation attainable. B. S.T.A.N.G.S. Report Members of the S.T.A.N.G.S. presented their first fiscal report to the Board since their inception during the school term. Included in the report were financial information and list of activities performed by S.T.A.N.G.S. on behalf of elementary students and teachers during that time period. Board President Pam Givens and Mr. Gradert expressed sincere appreciation for all their efforts on behalf of the staff and students. IV. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Consent Agenda B. Approval of Minutes: Board of Education Meeting, September 23, 2014; Public Hearing Meeting, September 23, 2014, Policy Committee Meeting, October 14, 2014, BGT Committee Meeting, October 15, 2014 C. Approval of Bills D. Approval of Treasurer s Report/Monthly Financial Reports Ridgeview Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Oct. 21, Page 1

2 V. ADMINISTRATIVE & OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS A. Guy Gradert, Superintendent Superintendent Gradert informed the Board that on November 14, 2014, local law enforcement will conduct a police drill on District property. The District purchased an oak tree from Helmig Tree Farm in memory of Bill Winn, which will be planted on school property this fall. The Regional Office of Education will be completing the annual Health/Life Safety inspection this month. Tri-County Special Education Association Director, Scott Hogan, met with Ridgeview staff on October 10, He addressed the achievement gap between special needs students and regular education students. Mr. Hogan will provide the District with feedback regarding staff concerns and perceptions. Swinderman Engineering Services has begun installation of the video surveillance cameras. The installation will be completed on Friday, October 24, Union Roofing will be inspecting the facility roofs to provide an assessment to the Board of areas that may need repair. Harper Masonry completed the concrete work on the steps on the west side of the high school. The Building, Grounds and Transportation Committee recommended the purchase of a small utility tractor from Martin Sullivan. The District will receive a good trade in on the existing tractor. Mr. Gradert will be working on the tentative tax levy that will be presented at the November regular Board of Education meeting and will be considered for approval at the December regular Board of Education meeting. Standard and Poor has upgraded the Ridgeview bond rating to an A+. B. Cathy Weber, Elementary Principal Board President, Pam Givens, introduced Principal Dr. Cathy Weber to the Board and congratulated her on the accomplishment of obtaining her Ph. D. Principal Weber attended Programs in School Psychology workshop on October 13, 2014 at ISU along with other area principals. October th is Fire Safety Week. Mr. David Feese of Feese Insurance Agency donated color books highlighting fire safety to our K 2 nd grade students. November 20, 2014 will be the grades K 2 Thanksgiving dinner for grandparents and students. Activities that day include craft time with grandparents, student assembly and Thanksgiving lunch. The S.T.A.N.G.S. will be assisting with activities and the meal. First grade students walked to ASTA Care on September 25, While there they read stories to residents to show the residents their reading skills. The students were so well received by ASTA residents and staff that they will be visiting once a month so they can read Ridgeview Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Oct. 21, Page 2

3 to their reading partners at ASTA Care. Junior High School teacher and Junior High Student Council Sponsor, Ms. Ashley Barnes, along with the Junior High Student Council members provided daycare for young children during the Pre-K Fall Family Fun Night. The Scholastic Book Fair began Tuesday, October 21 and runs through Thursday Oct. 23, On Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 2:20 p.m., the elementary students will participate in an honors assembly. C. Jim Campbell, JH/HS Principal Principal Jim Campbell reported to the Board that ASPIRE testing, which is included in the former PLAN and EXPLORE tests, occurred during the last two weeks. The testing is done online this fall. PARCC testing will be completed in the spring of VI. VII. VIII. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA No comments from the public were provided at this meeting. COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION A. Set Curriculum & Technology Meeting Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 6 p.m. B. IASB Report to the Membership (hand-out) C. The Extra Mile Newsletter COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Policy Committee Meeting Board President, Pam Givens, presented the second reading of proposed updates to the Ridgeview Board Policy Manual. Policy #4:60 Purchases and Contracts new language will be added to keep the $5,000 spending limit without prior Board approval by District personnel. Policy #5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays and Leaves Committee recommended not to adopt the policy. These items are negotiated per the Ridgeview Education Association agreement. Policy #7:180 Preventions of and Response to Bullying - The name of the Complaint Manager will be changed from Emily Watterson to Cathy Weber. Policy #7:240 Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities has been recommended by the committee to table the issue at this time. Research needs to be completed on this topic first. The committee discussed chain of command and succession plans to be updated in the Administrative Procedures.. B. BGT Meeting The Buildings/Grounds and Transportation committee reported to the Board that Martin Sullivan would like to sell the district a small utility tractor. They are proposing a good trade in value for the current utility tractor and the purchase price of the new tractor under $5,000. The committee also discussed seal coating the Ridgeview Elementary parking lot and Ridgeview Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Oct. 21, Page 3

4 playground; the purchase of a sound system for the south gym; and the future of the contract with Honeywell. IX. BUSINESS ITEMS Old Business: A. Consideration and action on a Resolution providing for the issue of Taxable General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2014A, and General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2014B, of the District, for the purpose of increasing the working cash fund of the District, and providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds. Kevin Wills, representative from First Midstate, Inc., was in attendance at this meeting to discuss the funding bonds to refinance the debt certificate that is in the Operations and Maintenance Fund 20 and transferring the bond to Debt Services Fund 30. The structure of the refinancing of the bond will allow the district to pay off the bond by December 1, Proper language necessary for the issuance of the bond documents was not provided for this meeting resulting in the need to schedule a special meeting on October 27, 2014 to proceed with finalization of the bond. A motion for Old Business Item IX A was tabled until the special Board of Education meeting that will be held on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 5 p.m. in the Media Center at Ridgeview CUSD #19, Colfax, Illinois. B. Second Reading of Policies as presented by the Policy Committee 2:20 Powers and Duties of the School Board Updated 2:200 Types of School Board meetings Footnote change 2:220 School Board Meeting Procedure-Footnote change 2:230 Public Participation at School Board Meetings and Petitions to the Board- Footnote change 4:60 Purchases and Contracts-Update 5:30 Hiring Process and Criteria-Update 5:260 Student Teachers-Update 5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays and Leaves-Subhead amended. Footnotes updated 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited-Updated 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment-Rewritten and renamed 7:240 Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities-Updated X. OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA No comments from the public were provided at this meeting. XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION Went into Executive Session at 7:23 p.m. to discuss topics listed as exceptions for closed meetings of the Open Meeting Act. Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees [Section 2 (c) (1)] Came out of Executive Session at 7:30 p.m., went back into Regular Session. and aproved and sealed the minutes of the Executive Session. Ridgeview Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Oct. 21, Page 4

5 XII. ACTIONS AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION A. Accept, With Regret, the Resignation of Cole Winterland as Assistant Junior High Baseball Coach and Assistant High School Baseball Coach. B. Approval of Cathy Tolan as Volunteer C. Approval of Randell Wittenberg as Sub Bus Driver pending successful completion of requirements D. Approval of Cathy Weber as Sub Bus Driver pending successful completion of requirements E. Approval of purchase of Tractor not to exceed $5000 from Martin Sullivan Inc. XIII. ADJOURNMENT President Pam Givens adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Ridgeview Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes Oct. 21, Page 5