CALL TO ORDER

The Southeastern Community Unit School District #337 Board of Education met at 6:00 p.m. in the Southeastern Jr. High gymnasium in Bowen, Illinois, on Wednesday, November 12, 2007.  President Robb Wood called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Board Secretary Burdette Rosendale called the roll with the following members present: Rod Bruenger, Mark Cox, Vice President Dave Neill, Lyle Paben, Rick Ramsey, Secretary Burdette Rosendale and President Robb Wood.  

ADMINISTRATORS

Interim Superintendent Donald L. Daily, High School Principal Todd Fox, Junior High Principal Michael D. Owen, and Elementary Principal/District Technology Director Nancy Akers were in attendance.   Recording Secretary Anita Marlow was also present.

VISITORS /PRESENTERS

Several community members and Southeastern staff members were in attendance.

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS

President Robb Wood welcomed visitors and informed them of the protocol for addressing the Board.  Time was allowed for questions from the audience. 

RECOGNITION OF JUNIOR HIGH SPEECH STUDENTS AND DIRECTORS

The Board congratulated the Junior High Speech Students, Director Cindy Twidwell and Assistant Carole Laffey on their accomplishments at the Hancock County and State Speech Contests.  Twelve entries received lst-place ratings at the county contest with 2 entries receiving 2^nd places.  At the state contest all 14 entries received 1^st-place ratings.  Southeastern was the only school out of eight schools to receive all 1^st-place ratings.  Four students also received the Judge’s Choice Award at the contests.  Two of these students received the Judge’s Choice Award at the county and state contest.

2007 TAX LEVY

Superintendent Daily explained in detail the 2007 Tax Levy, which generates local tax revenue for the 2008-2009 school year.

TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING SCHEDULED

On a motion by Paben and seconded by Ramsey, the Board moved to schedule a Truth In Taxation Hearing for Monday, December 10, 2007 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the District Office at the Southeastern Junior High School in Bowen.  Roll call vote:  Paben, yes; Ramsey, yes; Bruenger, yes; Neill, yes; Cox, yes; Rosendale, yes; and Wood, yes.  7 yes; 0 no.  Motion carried.

ADOPTION OF BOARD POLICY – SECTION SIX

Following the second reading of Section Six  – Instruction - of the board policy manual, a motion was made by Bruenger and seconded by Cox to adopt this section of the Southeastern CUSD #337 Board Policy Manual.  Roll call vote:  Ramey, yes; Bruenger, yes; Neill, yes; Cox, yes; Rosendale, yes; Paben, yes; and Wood, yes.  7 yes; 0 no.  Motion carried.

FIRST READING OF BOARD POLICY – SECTION SEVEN

Section  Seven – Students – of the board policy manual was presented for the first reading. 

CONSENT AGENDA

Board Member Ramsey made a motion which was seconded by Neill to approve the consent agenda as amended:

·        Approved the minutes of the regular meeting and closed session held October 10, 2007.

·        Approved the bills, financial statements, and activity funds

·        Following is a listing of November 2007 bills by fund

                       Education                        $  43,389.19

                       O & M Fund                      193,440.01

                       Transportation                     10,693.33                    Total Bills                          $ 247,522.53

·        Approval of a resolution to include compensation paid under an internal revenue code 125 plan as IMRF earnings

·        Employed Amanda Heller as a one-on-one paraprofessional at the elementary building

Roll call vote:  Bruenger, yes; Neill, yes; Cox, yes; Rosendale, yes; Paben, yes; Ramsey, yes; and Wood, yes.  7 yes; 0 no.  Motion carried.

PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS

Elementary Principal Nancy Akers reported:

·        Elementary is an Illinois Spotlight School for 2006 – this is recognition for high performing, high poverty schools.

·        Cafeteria received a perfect score from the School Meals Initiative Review (state review to ensure that school menus are in compliance with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans – Board President congratulated Bebe Ann Dobbins and Rachelle Douglas, cooks, for this outstanding review.

·        Parent/Teacher Conferences had 98.9% attendance.

·        TIPP Grant (Technology Immersion Pilot Program) – evaluation laptop needed to image programs on the students’ laptops has arrived and will be purchased from technology funds so it will be available for future imaging use – Sara Ramsey and Sue Henry will be presenting at the Illinois Education and Technology Conference.

·        E-Rate Application for FY09 has been filed

Junior High Principal Mike Owen reported:

·        Three-year Social Emotional Grant funded by the Illinois State Board of Education has been awarded – Former Principal Tami Roskamp and Counselor Keela Whewell wrote this grant to assist students in the development of social and emotional life skills in conjunction with the Character Education Program that is currently in its fourth year of implementation.

·        Junior high also received Illinois Spotlight School Award for 2006

·        Parent/Teacher Conferences had 59% attendance.

High School Principal Todd Fox reported:

·        High school received the 2006 Illinois Honor Schools Academic Improvement Award

·        Senate Bill 172 for stricter  drivers education requirements

·        Parent/Teacher Conferences had 32% attendance – always other activity conflicts at this time

·        FCCLA sponsored and organized a very impressive Veterans Day Program – Karen Janssen, Sponsor, and Students Andrew Green and Scott Witt were congratulated for this.

·        Update on the new high school building – construction is meeting target dates.

President Wood commended the students,  parents, teachers and staff  for the academic progress being achieved at all three buildings. 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Superintendent Daily  reported :

·        District events on the calendar

·        Budget Report – Superintendent Daily informed the Board and audience members that though the state’s budget has been passed by both legislative bodies and it has been signed by the governor, a Budget Implementation Bill to fund the state budget has not yet been signed by the governor.  This continues to delay the funding of an increase of $400 per student in the General State Aid Foundation Level.

REVIEW OF PAST MONTHS’ ACTIVITIES  RELATING TO FUTURE PLANNING

Superintendent Daily read the handout that had been provided to the audience regarding the past several months’ activities relating to the results of inspections of the buildings, community meetings and concerns, as well as looking at possibilities for the future.

RESOLUTION FROM PLYMOUTH VILLAGE BOARD

A Resolution from the Plymouth Village Board, which was passed on November 7, 2007, had been received by Administrators and Board of Education Members.  This Resolution requested that the Board delay action on closing the Plymouth building, that the Board has not considered all information, that the Board has not considered all alternatives, and it requested that this Resolution be placed in the record of this meeting.  In placing this Resolution in the record of this meeting the Board is simply acknowledging its receipt and the Board is not stating its support for the Resolution or its agreement with the contents of the Resolution.

RESOLUTIONS TO CLOSE THE BOWEN SCHOOL FACILITY OR PLYMOUTH SCHOOL FACILITY

Superintendent Daily read the Resolution to Close the Bowen School Facility.  He then read the Resolution to Close the Plymouth School Facility.

Following the reading of the Resolutions, President Wood asked if previous questions from the audience had been answered.  This was followed by comments from the audience as well as some of the board members.

MOTION TO PASS RESOLUTION TO CLOSE THE PLYMOUTH  SCHOOL BUILDING

On a motion by Neill and seconded by Bruenger, it was moved to pass a Resolution to close the Plymouth School Building at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.  Roll call vote:  Neill, yes; Cox, yes; Rosendale, yes; Paben, yes; Ramsey, yes; Bruenger, yes; and Wood, yes.  7 yes; 0 no.  Motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT

The Board moved to adjourn at 6:58 p.m. on a motion by Paben and seconded by Cox.  Voice vote:  all yes.  Motion carried.