MINUTES
PEKIN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, 25 JULY 2011
6:30 P.M.
The Pekin Community High School Board of Education met on Monday, 25 July 2011, in the Board of Education Room located in The Holman Career and Technical Education Building of Pekin Community High School, City of Pekin, County of Tazewell.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
President Joe Alesandrini asked all to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Call to Order
President Alesandrini called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 6:31 p.m. and noted the presence of a quorum.
Roll Call
Members present upon roll call were: Joe Alesandrini, Eric Hill, Larry Howard, Carl Johnson, and Paul O’Neal. Absent were Members Karen Hohimer and RyanWrigley.
Approval of Minutes
President Alesandrini recommended Board approval of the minutes of the special, special closed, regular, and closed session Board meetings of 27 June 2011 and the special Board meeting of 18 July 2011 as presented.
Motion by O’Neal, Second by Howard to Approve the Minutes of the Special, Special Closed, Regular, and Closed Session Board Meetings of 27 June 2011 and the Special Board Meeting of 18 July 2011 as Presented.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Howard, Hill, Johnson, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
Communications, Public Comments, & Participation
Board Applause
Vice President O’Neal applauded the PCHS Speech Team for a very successful 2010-2011 competition season.
Member Johnson expressed kudos to all students who successfully completed Summer School 2011.
President Alesandrini recognized senior outfielder Jared Pyatt for achieving Mid-Illini Conference Baseball First Team and 2011 Journal Star Baseball All-Star Team honors
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and congratulated the PCHS JROTC Academic Team for its 11th place finish in nation-wide competition at the 2011 Tri-Service Academic Championships held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, in June.
Public Comments and Participation
None.
Approval of Warrants
Motion by Howard, Second by Johnson to Approve the June 2011 Monthly Warrants in the Amount of $2,108,235.96 as Per Summary Information Found on Pages 17-18 of Agenda Support Material and in Detailed Information under Separate Cover.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Howard, Johnson, Hill, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
Mr. Alesandrini asked that Board members address any financial questions to Director of Business Operations Schaefer and welcomed her back to the office following her maternity leave.
Financial Reports as of 30 June 2011
Bank Balances on Hand $19,848,434.53
District Investments – Principal $19,357,585.62
Health Care Transactions ($62,661.07)
New Business
Closed Session
President Alesandrini made the request for closed session regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity and student disciplinary cases.
Motion by Hill, Second by O’Neal to Adjourn to Closed Session.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Hill, O’Neal, Howard, Johnson, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
The Board adjourned to closed session in the Superintendent’s Office at 6:35 p.m. and returned to open session in the Board Room at 7:20 p.m.
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Consent Agenda
Mr. Alesandrini noted all categories contained in the Consent Agenda.
Certified
Chase Bushman – Social Studies Department beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; Bachelor of Science Degree—U of I at Urbana-Champaign 2011; at a salary of BA, Step 1 as per contract.
Josh Gschwend – Dean of Students beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration—Bradley 2010, Type 75 Certification; at a salary of MA, Step 10 plus 27 percent differential as per contract.
Cole Stoner – Special Education Department beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; Bachelor of Science Degree—SIU Edwardsville 2010; at a salary of BA, Step 2 as per contract.
Differential
Ashlee Sharp – Assistant Student Council Advisor beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; at a salary of 12 percent differential as per contract.
Volunteer
Tracy Powell – Volunteer Coach for the Boys Golf Program effective 27 June 2011.
Allison Cranford – Math/Special Education Department Teacher effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.
Joe Lindquist – Maintenance Staff effective 15 July 2011.
George McKenna – Dean of Students effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.
Holly Riggins – Social Studies Department Teacher effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year; Assistant Student Council Advisor effective 25 July 2011.
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Bobbie Jo Wiley – Special Education Department Personal Assistant effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.
The “Goers” (PCHS retirees who meet regularly for dinner) – Donation of $330.00 to the PCHS Scholarship Fund in memory of Retired Teacher and Administrator William F. Rees.
Superintendent Davis recognized Retired Teacher Karl Jordan who was in the audience and asked him to convey her appreciation and that of the Board to the “Goers” for their generous donation of $330 to the PCHS Scholarship Fund in memory of Retired Teacher and Administrator Bill Rees.
Motion by Howard, Second by Hill to Approve Consent Agenda Items 5.1.1-5.1.3 as Presented.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Howard, Hill, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
Systems Administrator
Superintendent Davis explained that, due to a growth in job responsibilities because of a significant increase in hardware and in the number of software applications since Mr. Dan Damotte joined the District as Network Administrator, as well as our desire to treat staff who work in this highly competitive field fairly, the Board is requested to approve both a change in his title to Systems Administrator, since he must manage and maintain numerous technology-based systems, and an increase in his salary to $66,039.00. She said it is important to note that Mr. Damotte has completed considerable advanced coursework and has passed numerous tests, including those necessary for Microsoft IT certification. The District has no system to recognize this and other accreditations which give him, it has been noted, the equivalent of a master’s degree.
Motion by O’Neal, Second by Johnson to Approve of Dan Damotte as Systems Administrator at a Salary of $66,039.00 as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Johnson, Hill, Howard, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Director of Buildings and Grounds
Superintendent Davis explained that Director of Buildings and Grounds Tim Bonnette came to the job in 2010 with relatively little management experience which led to her decision to recommend an initial salary lower than that of both of his predecessors. His
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performance over the past year has exceeded expectations. In addition, he has assumed new job responsibilities which include coordination and supervision of F.M. Peterson Theatre, a significant task. Assigning lighting and sound operations to second shift maintenance personnel has saved the District over $4,000 in differentials no longer paid to Theatre managers. Mrs. Davis said it is time to correct the error of setting Mr. Bonnette’s initial salary low and asked that it be adjusted to $64,500.00 in light of his commendable job performance. Member Howard cautioned Mrs. Davis against berating herself too harshly since hindsight, as they say, is 20/20.
Motion by Howard, Second by O’Neal to Adjust the Salary of Tim Bonnette, Director of Buildings and Grounds, to $64,500.00 for Fiscal Year 2012 as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Howard, O’Neal, Hill, Johnson, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
2011 PCHS Graduates
Superintendent Davis mentioned that the list of 2011 PCHS graduates includes the names of seniors who took advantage of a special Summer School program which allowed them to earn up to three required credits for graduation and ended before 30 June so they could be counted with the Class of 2011. Any senior requiring more than three credits for graduation who successfully completed courses in regular Summer School is not included on this list.
Vice President O’Neal congratulated all 2011 PCHS graduates.
Motion by O’Neal, Second by Howard to Make the Names of the 2011 Graduates of Pekin Community High School a Matter of Record as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Howard, Hill, Johnson, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
2011-2012 Athletic and Non-Athletic Differential Schedules
Motion by Johnson, Second by Hill to Approve the 2011-2012 Athletic and Non-Athletic Differential Schedules as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Johnson, Hill, Howard, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
Designation of Depositories
This agenda item, reported Director of Business Operations Schaefer, comes to the Board annually and designates Pekin financial institutions that might be used as depositories
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Regular Meeting
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during the fiscal year. The list has no changes since last year. President Alesandrini pointed out that Chase Bank no longer has a location in Pekin and it was decided, with the approval of Members Howard and Hill who made and seconded the motion to approve, to strike Chase from the list.
Motion by Howard, Second by Hill to Approve the Designation of Depositories as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Howard, Hill, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
2011 School District Financial Profile Recognition
While this may seem a small matter to some, Mrs. Davis said she felt it important to acknowledge that the District once again has earned the highest designation possible, “Financial Recognition,” in the 2011 Illinois State Board of Education School District Financial Profile. Director of Business Operations Carla Schaefer does a great job of managing funds entrusted to the District by the community’s taxpayers. Pekin High has earned this honor for many years and we are pleased to have received it again, noted Mrs. Davis.
Motion by O’Neal, Second by Johnson to Make Pekin High’s Placement within the Financial Recognition Range, the Highest Category Attainable, by the 2011 Illinois State Board of Education School District Financial Profile a Matter of Record as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Johnson, Hill, Howard, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
2011-2012 Potential Parent Volunteers for the PCHS Choral Program
Mrs. Davis noted that the Board has not considered a choral parent volunteer list of this length before. We want to avoid paying for background checks on every person listed since some will not be supervising students without a PCHS staff member present. Parent volunteers who take tickets at concerts, file music, or perform similar services to the program do not require background investigations. The Board is asked to approve the list of potential parent volunteers for the 2011-2012 school year pending background checks for those who supervise students without PCHS staff present.
Motion by Howard, Second by Johnson to Approve Potential Choral Program Parent Volunteers for the 2011-2012 School Year as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Howard, Johnson, Hill, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
Request for Revisions to the PCHS Curriculum Guide
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Assistant Superintendent Ruwe explained that the PCHS Curriculum Guide is reviewed with the help of department chairpersons each year. General Biology 1 and 2 in the Science Department, Geography of North America in the Social Studies Department, and Living Science 1 & 2 in the Career and Technical Education and Science Departments have not been taught for many years and the Administration is proposing omitting them from the Guide to avoid confusion. Some courses which have been similarly dormant will remain as required by funding regulations for Career and Technical Education. Board approval is necessary to add courses to and remove courses from the Guide.
Motion by O’Neal, Second by Howard to Approve the Deletion of Courses from the PCHS Curriculum Guide as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Howard, Hill, Johnson, and Alesandrini. Nays – None. Absent – Hohimer and Wrigley.
Reports
Policy Committee
None.
O & M Committee
Chairperson Howard deferred to Superintendent Davis who has been closely monitoring the progress of several projects under way this summer for a comprehensive Operations and Maintenance report. Mrs. Davis noted that several Board Members joined her, Director of Buildings and Grounds Bonnette, and other administrators for a tour of construction venues around campus prior to this evening’s meeting.
- The renovation of restrooms located adjacent to Central Office in the Holman Center will be completed by 05 August 2011.
- Exterior wall panel/window replacement in F and G Buildings is significantly behind schedule. A meeting was held today in the Superintendent’s Office with District architects, Lee Gerrietts and Bruce Maxey of BLDD Architects, and the general contractor, Venovich Construction of Tremont, and subcontractor, JMC Glass of Bloomington, responsible for this project. A timeline of projected completion dates was provided which is unacceptable to the District. Fabrication of black panels was initially delayed, and information provided by the subcontractor to the contractor does not track with the actual number delivered. The contractor indicates 28 are still needed; had the subcontractor delivered the number he said were actually fabricated, only ten would be needed. The entire project will not be finished by the start of school in mid-August. It will be a tremendous challenge to get all of G Building and the cafeteria and kitchen areas in F Building done, and that will be accomplished only if the contractor manages
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to hire additional needed laborers. Choral and band rooms can be completed with students in school since work there will be external. A major problem is a dearth of glazers. The general contractor, who appears to be receiving little cooperation from the subcontractor, will be contacting other glass companies in the area in search of additional workers. Another issue centers around mistakes made in the fabrication of the red frames, necessitating on-site adjustments. The District can be faulted for none of this, and there are steps that can be taken if we invoke performance bonds, but our overriding goal is to get the work done. Mrs. Davis assured the Board that the District will stay on top of this fluid situation. She is guardedly optimistic that more workers will be secured, and overtime pay will be the responsibility of the contractors. Sounding a brighter note are the many people who have expressed to her compliments on the aesthetic improvements the new wall panels have made to the building. They also present a very pleasing internal appearance in classrooms and other areas, noted Mrs. Davis.
She answered a few questions from Board members regarding this issue, referring to a color-coded blueprint diagram showing work at various stages of completion. Work has not begun at all in areas marked in red, and contractors were told to devote their efforts to completely finishing other locations before starting there. The District was informed that contractors want to replace panels in walls surrounding the gardens that flank the Theatre during Christmas break. That will not happen, Mrs. Davis asserted.
- A change order was necessary in the B/C Building foundation leak repair project. Mrs. Davis expressed confidence that this work will be completed on time for school to begin, even though the fill and soil in the trench must be tested for proper compaction before blacktop can be applied. The gravel sublayer will be ready by the time students return, allowing for both sets of vestibule doors to be used as emergency exits.
- Parents and students will be alerted that the doors on the back of F Building near the choir and band rooms can no longer be used as a student drop-off location. This safety directive will be strictly enforced. Cars en route come around corners and approach these doors much too fast. Parents dropping students off for school or school events will be directed to the Dragon Hill and column entrances.
PCHS Summer School 2011
Principal Melissa Bloom highlighted items from the final report submitted by Summer School Director Josh Gschwend which was included in agenda support materials. Initially, 32 sections of 21 different courses were offered to interested students. At the start of Summer School, students filled 694 seats throughout 29 sections of eighteen courses, an addition of fifteen students, four sections, and two courses over last summer. These numbers grew in part due to increased staff interest in teaching Summer School; we did not have to hire teachers outside the District to fill positions this year. Student
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numbers in some sections fell below the threshold of 18-19 required to pay the instructor’s salary, but this factor was offset by unusually high enrollments in courses such as Physical Education, Health, and American Government.
Summer School went very well, reported Mrs. Bloom, thanks to the good work done by Director Gschwend and his staff. Eighty-seven percent of students completed coursework successfully, a decline of one percent from last year. It appears that 50 to 60 percent of students who enrolled in Summer School did so to get ahead. Approximately 50 percent enrolled to make up credits. Seniors in need of credits to graduate with the Class of 2011 were offered three opportunities to do so in a special program that concluded before 30 June. Twenty-eight availed themselves of the opportunity; all but one completed work successfully. Out-of-district students also fared well, it appears, since none requested that their grades be withheld from home schools.
Superintendent Davis asked Mrs. Bloom to comment on the recommendations included in Mr. Gschwend’s report. Mrs. Bloom thought the rationale behind the request by the Math Department to offer Algebra 2 and 4 instead of Algebra 1 makes sense, as does Mr. Gschwend’s recommendation to consider raising tuition for in-district students to $90 per course. The current $85 per course tuition figure goes back as far as available records, which date to 1996, indicate. These issues will be taken under advisement by the Administration before preparations begin for Summer School 2012.
School Report Card Preliminary Data
Superintendent Davis informed the Board that information contained in the District’s School Report Card is not in final form at this time, due in part to data issues with the Illinois Board of Education. Other districts are reporting a four to eighteen percent drop in meeting or exceeding state standards in reading. We are excited to report that we are not. More work will be done here soon on PSAE data. The State Board’s data, taken from the Student Information System (SIS) which pulls it from Skyward, is not even close to the data we have, Mrs. Davis said. The State Board shows fewer incoming freshmen–503 four years ago for the Class of 2011–than we do at 518. We do not receive regular reports from them indicating the information they have. There are other discrepancies between the State and the District as well, such as the number of graduates and the number of students who have withdrawn, which lead us to wonder if SIS is functioning correctly. The data used by the State yields a graduation rate of 74.8 percent, an incorrect calculation if one uses their numbers. The figure should be a little over 78 percent which is much closer to our number. In a conversation with personnel at the State Board today, Mrs. Davis learned that they are grappling with some problems there.
We are also frustrated with changes in governmental rules and regulations. Life Skills students can, by law, stay in school until their 22nd birthday. Yet No Child Left Behind legislation says they cannot be counted in the graduation rate if they do not complete coursework in four years. When students with IEPs who reside in the District turn fifteen
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years old in the eighth grade, we are obligated to pay their tuition since the law states they are the District’s responsibility. SIS transfers these students into Pekin High as
ninth graders and counts them as part of the freshman class. Fifteen were in that category this year, but the system is not equipped to take such things into consideration when computing the graduation rate. Nor is the process which is employed straightforward. What we do know is that we have a graduation rate of around 78.5 percent. The State has given Mrs. Davis the authority to make adjustments to their data so it is more in line with ours.
The good news, continued Mrs. Davis, is that trends in student achievement appear positive and the interventions we have instituted in the District appear to be paying dividends. She was cautious not to overstate her optimism until final calculations are made available by the State, but cuts at the State Board are beginning to show real problems there. It is becoming clear that they face considerable challenges in carrying out their responsibilities imposed by new legislation such as that enacted this past spring concerning the evaluation of teachers. Changes in state assessment loom large on their horizon as well.
Future Agenda Items.
Mr. Alesandrini reminded the Board that a report on plans to disseminate information to students regarding prescription drug use and distribution, and the consequences for engaging in such activity if caught, is forthcoming.
Announcements by the President.
President Alesandrini asked Board Members to review information contained in the IASB bulletin, “Mandatory Board Member Training,” which was included in this month’s Board agenda packet. Based on Illinois Senate Bill 7, dismissal guidelines dictate training of board members before next spring. Member Howard asked if the IASB will be able to meet training requirements. Mr. Alesandrini responded that all training components are in place save the third regarding board voting on dismissal of personnel under the Performance Evaluation Reform Act, and the IASB is waiting on the Illinois State Board of Education to publish its implementing rules. He expressed confidence that the IASB will be able to meet the training needs of its members.
Adjournment.
Hearing no objections, President Alesandrini declared this regular Board meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
Joe Alesandrini, Board President Karen Hohimer, Board Secretary
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