MINUTES
PEKIN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, 22 AUGUST 2011
6:30 P.M.
The Pekin Community High School Board of Education met on Monday, 22 August 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 requested that all 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, adding that there were no changes to this meeting’s agenda.
Roll Call
Members present upon roll call were: Joe Alesandrini, Eric Hill, Karen Hohimer, Larry Howard, Carl Johnson, Paul O’Neal, and Ryan Wrigley.
Approval of Minutes
President Alesandrini recommended Board approval of the minutes of the regular and closed session Board meetings of 25 July 2011 as presented.
Motion by O’Neal, Second by Howard to Approve the Minutes of the Regular and Closed Session Board Meetings of 25 July 2011 as Presented.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Howard, Hill, Hohimer, Johnson, Wrigley, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Communications, Public Comments, & Participation
Board Applause
Member Hill congratulated staff on the hard work it took to make all preparations for the opening of the new school year. He viewed evidence of their work during a Board tour of facilities earlier this evening.
Member Howard congratulated English Department Member and Head Speech Coach Eric Ewan for showing students the value of expanding one’s horizons by playing a lead role in Eastlight’s production of Hairspray recently. By all accounts, his performance stole the show.
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Two
Secretary Hohimer echoed the sentiments of Member Hill regarding the appearance of the building, sharing her excitement when she sees the improvement as she drives by on Parkway.
Member Johnson welcomed all back to a new school year and wished everyone well.
Member Wrigley said he agreed with applause voiced by other Board members and congratulated Karli Oblak on doing such a great job with this summer’s band camp.
Vice President O’Neal welcomed students back to school for another year.
President Alesandrini congratulated the Boys Golf Team on its recent victory in the Quincy Invitational and wished all athletic programs success in the new year. He also shares other Board members’ sentiments regarding the improvement to the building’s appearance due to work completed over the summer and congratulated all who worked so hard to make it happen, including custodial and maintenance staff, architects, and contractors. Much has been accomplished in a short amount of time.
Student Council
None.
Public Comments and Participation
None.
Approval of Warrants
Motion by Hohimer, Second by Wrigley to Approve the July 2011 Monthly Warrants in the Amount of $1,945,222.03 as per Summary Information Found on Pages 13-14 of Agenda Support Material and in Detailed Information under Separate Cover.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Hohimer, Wrigley, Hill, Howard, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Mr. Alesandrini asked that Board members to address any financial questions to Director of Business Operations Schaefer.
Financial Reports as of 31 July 2011
Bank Balances on Hand $24,524,134.38
District Investments – Principal $24,288,095.73
Health Care Transactions ($92,655.83)
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Three
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.
Motion by Howard, Second by Hohimer to Adjourn to Closed Session.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes –Howard, Hohimer, Hill, Johnson, O’Neal, Wrigley, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
The Board adjourned to closed session in the Superintendent’s Office at 6:36 p.m. and returned to open session in the Board Room at 6:55 p.m.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Alesandrini made note of all names contained in the Consent Agenda.
Certified
Meredith Rineberg – Math Department beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; Bachelor of Science Degree—Bradley 2010, Grades K-9 Certification; at a salary of BA, Step 2 as per contract.
Differentials
Christina Isaacs – Head Girls Track Coach beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; at a salary of 18 percent differential as per contract.
Ken Memken – Assistant Football Coach beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; at a salary of 15 percent differential as per contract.
Cole Stoner – Assistant Boys Tennis Coach and Assistant Girls Basketball Coach beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; at salaries of 08 and 15 percent differentials respectively as per contract.
Non-differential Stipend
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Four
Kevin Chase – PCHS Choral Program Choreographer (Noteables) for the 2011-2012 school year; at a non-differential stipend of $6,500.00.
Seth Durbin – PCHS Choral Program Choreographer (Intuition) for the 2011-2012 school year; at a non-differential stipend of $900.00.
Heather Klaus – PCHS Choral Program Choreographer for the 2011-2012
school year; at a non-differential stipend of $300.00.
Lara Moffett-Menard – PCHS Choral Program Choreographer and Clinician for the 2011-2012 school year; at a non-differential stipend of $450.00.
Each of the above non-differential stipends will be reimbursed to the District from the Pekin High Choral Program Activity Account and Board approval is requested pending background checks for those who supervise students without PCHS staff present.
Volunteers
Debra Barnard – Volunteer for the Band Program effective 25 July 2011.
Mike Freeman – Volunteer Coach for the Girls Swim/Dive Program effective 09 August 2011.
Karl Jordan and Larry Wooding – Donations of $100.00 and $25.00 respectively to the PCHS Scholarship Fund in memory of Retired Teacher and Administrator William F. Rees.
Motion by Hohimer, Second by Hill to Approve Consent Agenda Items 5.1.1-5.1.2 as Presented.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Hohimer, Hill, Howard, Johnson, O’Neal, Wrigley, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Presentation on Blackboard
Superintendent Davis invited Cynthia Hinderliter, Chairperson of Instructional Technology, and Rich Schurter, Chairperson of the Social Studies Department, to come forward and introduced them as excellent staff members who have worked hard to pilot Pekin High’s first online course, U.S. History 2. Both referred to a PowerPoint slide presentation as they reviewed highlights of the program which was initially offered for
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Five
second semester of the 2010-2011 school year and will continue this semester as U.S. History 1.
- Mr. Schurter noted that Online U.S. History 2 began with 30 students enrolled and ended in May with eighteen still participating. Many students, he feels, panicked at the beginning and dropped right away despite his efforts to dissuade them. He would like to postpone all drops this semester until the first progress reports go out to allow students more time to at least try to adjust to course requirements and methods.
- Of the eighteen who remained in the class, fourteen were completing work up to the end. Four of the six who failed were doing nothing at that point. A majority of participants earned As and Bs, prompting Mr. Schurter to mention that grades were skewed in that direction since there were many highly organized, highly motivated AA English students enrolled who showed excellent writing skills.
- Using the number of emails from participating students received by Mr. Schurter as a gauge of time they spent on the course, Mrs. Hinderliter noted that January was the peak month with just over 700. Other months showed between 200 and 400 emails to which Mr. Schurter responded. Clearly, she observed, instructors with full teaching loads of five classes per day would be challenged to keep up with this heavy volume. Understandably, some emails concerned fairly routine procedural issues while others dealt with more complex questions that required lengthy responses.
- Mrs. Hinderliter said students used Blackboard to complete coursework mainly during the hour or two right after school was dismissed for the day and from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Students could log in during the school day by using a lab computer such as those available in the Library.
- The following characteristics of online learners were observed as the semester progressed. They proved on the whole to be independent, organized, self-disciplined, and efficient in the use of time. Mrs. Hinderliter checked attendance every day when students logged on. Emails could be sent to Mr. Schurter at any time if questions arose. This year, for Online U.S. History I, all participants will be assigned a G-mail account to expedite the process. Successful students avoided falling behind in meeting course guidelines, expectations, and due dates.
Mr. Schurter noted that most students already exhibited the characteristics above when the semester started. They used student planners to organize their day, for instance. A few made significant improvements in various ways, however, in areas such as technology skills. Member Howard noted that this constitutes a hidden benefit to the course that will carry over to other classes for these students. Mr. Schurter added that high school students often have their organizing done for
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Six
them by their instructors. That is more difficult with online courses. He discovered in the very first week that interaction with students and openness to their suggestions will lead to key improvements in the way a course operates. Collaboration holds major benefits for all involved and certainly led to the development of a better class for the fall of 2011.
- Mr. Schurter listed several lessons learned over the course of Online U.S. History 2 last semester:
- An introductory lesson on Blackboard software is necessary.
- Some students may need face-to-face interaction.
- Connecting to the internet may be a struggle for some students. Students have to be reminded at times to use the correct technology. The internet can go down, but the Library’s computer lab is open before and after school should students have issues with access at home.
- There will be no online quizzes or tests this semester in Online U.S. History 1. At this point, Mr. Howard asked Mr. Schurter about his email writing style. Does he use more businesslike, proper English, or does he pepper his messages with trendy acronyms and short forms so popular with teens? Mr. Schurter responded that there were times when the volume of emails prevented the use of complete sentences on his part, but added that students were unfailingly professional in their emails to him. His greatest joy throughout the semester was reading consistently good student writing. Mr. Howard congratulated him on conveying high expectations to participants.
- Communication is key. Listen to their suggestions and, when necessary, challenge them to do better.
- Mrs. Hinderliter enumerated the goals she has for Blackboard in the District.
- Increase teacher usage. All faculty have now been trained in SmartBoard software, and Sherry Spurlock is “flipping” a Physics class which asks students to go through the lesson at home via Blackboard and come to class prepared to complete assignments and ask questions.
- Investigate the need for Blackboard Mobile so students can access Blackboard via their iPod or Android devise.
- Create a summer school course. This may allow the District to broaden the scope beyond the Social Studies Department of courses offered online. She reminded the Board that Pekin High is still the only district in the State to offer an online Blackboard course.
- Continue Pekin High’s partnership with Illinois Central College regarding online courses.
Mrs. Davis praised and thanked both Mrs. Hinderliter and Mr. Schurter for the outstanding effort necessary to bring these online courses to fruition. They have done the District a tremendous service by determining where many of the bugs are in such an
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Seven
endeavor, then seeking appropriate solutions. Expansion to other areas of the curriculum will come, albeit slowly, as other faculty and students come forward to express an interest. Member Wrigley reported receiving many emails from students to that effect. The ever-increasing use of smartphones will doubtless create more demand. Mr. Schurter informed the Board that the buzz around school regarding the program grew more positive as the semester progressed. He heard many students praising the online course as a way to get additional credit outside the regular school day. President Alesandrini thanked both for their report and hard work and asked for future updates.
Revision to the Superintendent’s Contract
Superintendent Davis reported that the Board had been alerted to a change in the law which requires the addition of an addendum to her contract regarding performance goals. This document has been reviewed by legal counsel. President Alesandrini reminded the Board that the date in the addendum by which an evaluation of and a recommendation for proposed changes to the Mathematics Program shall be prepared for Board consideration has been set at 01 March 2012.
Motion by Howard, Second by O’Neal to Approve the Revision to the Superintendent’s Contract as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Howard, O’Neal, Hill, Hohimer, Johnson, Wrigley, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Presentation of Tentative 2011-2012 Budget
Director of Business Operations Carla Schaefer employed a handout of a PowerPoint dealing with the District’s tentative 2011-2012 budget and another of the budget itself during her presentation. She referred to four major components of District Operating Funds—Education, O & M, Transportation, and IMRF—and informed the Board that auditors will be here later this month through early September to prepared the annual audit that will be presented to the Board later in the year. The excess in the Education Fund for fiscal year 2011 was approximately $384,000 more than anticipated in the amended budget, revenues were about $135,000 less, and expenditures were approximately $519,000 less. The Operations and Maintenance Fund was within $10,000 of amended budget projections. The Transportation Fund ended with approximately $260,000 more than anticipated and the IMRF Fund was $41,000 short of projections due mainly to changes in Buildings and Grounds staff.
Non-operating Funds include debt services, capital projects, working cash, the Tort Fund, and the Life Safety Fund. Results here were close to those budgeted—only $8,500 less than projected—primarily because the FY2011 budget was amended and took into
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Eight
account figures more current than those available when the budget was drawn up over a year ago.
Turning to sources of District revenue for the Operating Fund, Mrs. Schaefer explained that the three largest—real estate taxes, Corporate Personal Property Replacement Taxes (CPPRT), and general State aid—compose 81 percent of funds received. The biggest of these, real estate taxes at 50 percent of all revenue, is based on the 2010 levy which was adopted by the Board last December and was limited by a Consumer Price Index figure of 2.7 percent. The first payment, about $5.7 million, was received in July 2011. Other disbursements will arrive in October and by the end of November. The District anticipates a little over $400,000 more in real estate taxes in FY 2012, even though the Estimated Assessed Valuation (EAV) was down close to $950,000, or 0.15 percent. Mrs. Schaefer expects to see further declines in the EAV in future years.
CPPRT, composing the second largest source of District revenue, resulted when the Illinois General Assembly abolished business personal property taxes to replace revenue lost to local governments and school districts and is not a predicable funding source. These were up $639,000, or 23 percent, due to a State amnesty program which allowed delinquent taxes to be paid without penalty. We are expecting a drop of $425,000, or 12.8 percent, for 2011-2012. Mrs. Davis added that these are the dollars that Illinois Governor Quinn is recommending be used by school districts to pay the salaries of regional superintendents.
The third largest source of District revenue is general State aid which is based on the property wealth of the local school district; the wealthier the district, the lower the State aid. The District’s foundation level will remain the same as last year at $6119 per student. We are anticipating a decrease in State aid of $782,000 due to an increase in tax revenue, a decrease in average daily attendance (ADA), and a proration by the State this year. The proration has the effect of wiping out payment 22 entirely and some of payment 21 for a loss of $153,000. The District’s total State aid entitlement for this year is $3,079,000, of which we will receive $2,926,000. Hold Harmless funds will not be available again, resulting in a loss of $877,000 to the District. Had Hold Harmless been funded, we would have received $3.9 million. Mrs. Schaefer expects a steady decline in the District’s ADA figures in future and Mrs. Davis pointed out that property values will continue to trend downward as well.
Revenue received outside the three largest sources include federal, which will be down approximately $640,000, $582,000 of which was ARRA funding; interest income, which is currently very low due to terrible rates; and mandated categoricals, of which the last two payments of FY 2011 are expected by 31 December 2011 and the first two payments of FY 2012 are expected by 30 June 2012. In addition, the State transportation budget was cut by 40 percent.
Overall, local sources of revenue make up 75 percent (54 percent real estate taxes, fifteen percent CPPRT, and six percent other) of the total, State sources 21 percent, and federal
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Nine
four percent. Our budgeted revenue for 2011-2012 is down approximately $2.6 million from last year’s actual revenue, of which $782,000 is in State aid, $640,000 is in ARRA and other federal funds, and $425,000 is in CPPRT funding. It should be pointed out, Mrs. Schaefer said, that our revenue last year was skewed upward due to one-time funding sources including the sale of two Building Trades houses rather than one and $249,000 in energy grant dollars for panel replacement in F and G Buildings.
Budgeted Operating Fund expenditures are up approximately $1.3 million for FY 2012. Personnel salaries and benefits account for 67 percent of costs. Still, the increase does not reside here. Even after adding an administrative position, the District will realize a savings of $136,000 in this area due largely to the replacement of four retired staff members with less costly teachers. Medical claims, which will rise by an estimated $286,000, along with purchased services, at nineteen percent of expenditures including Aramark fees and other outside contracts such as transportation services, account for a large share of the increase in Operating Fund expenditures.
For the first time in many years, expenditures will exceed revenue in FY 2012. When FY 2011 and 2012 are factored together, the net effect is a slight actual surplus, a balanced budget, over the two-year period. A deficit reduction plan is therefore not necessary. A detailed list of expenditures can be found in the Tentative Budget 2011-2012 document supplied, Mrs. Schaefer said. She explained that the large deficit in the debt services category of the Non-operating Fund is due to a transfer of funds for tax abatement purposes. Increased administrative costs for our health insurance program are responsible for the deficit in the Tort Fund. The health life safety category reflects expenditures for work done in the B/C Building to correct the foundation leak there. Changes may be made to this part of the budget before the next Board meeting since the District has received a tentative health life safety report from our architects that contains projects categorized as “urgent” which will cost approximately $400,000. What is not known is whether they will fall in FY 2012 or later. Overall, the District’s projected revenue for FY 2012 stands at $21,022,739 and its expenditures at $23,059,335, resulting in a deficit of $2,036,596.
The tentative budget will be on display in the District Office until 26 September 2011, noted Mrs. Schaefer.
President Alesandrini asked Board members to refer to the Tentative Budget 2011-2012 document which shows an excess in revenue over expenditures of $2,320,365 as well as the projected deficit figure provided in Mrs. Schaefer’s presentation. Taking both years into account, the District and the Board of Education can realize their goal of a balanced budget. This helps to dispel some of the gloom of this year’s budget when considered alone. Superintendent Davis mentioned that many districts across Illinois are calling upon the State to address cash flow issues that create huge problems for schools. Mr. Alesandrini invited Members to direct any questions they may have to Mrs. Schaefer.
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Ten
Motion by Wrigley, Second by Howard to Approve Placing the Tentative 2011-2012 Budget on Display as Presented for Public Inspection with Adoption at the September 2011 Regular Board of Education Meeting.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Wrigley, Howard, Hill, Hohimer, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Reports
Policy Committee
None.
O & M Committee
Chairperson Howard reported that the O & M Committee had not met since the last regular Board meeting but would probably do so soon since many issues concerning facilities face the District. He expressed his pleasure with the large volume of work completed around the campus, especially under such difficult circumstance, which the Board witnessed on its building tour earlier this evening. Superintendent Davis concurred and joined Board members who had cited the good work done by the Buildings and Grounds staff. The O & M Committee will be convened soon to consider the preliminary health life safety report submitted by District architects, she noted.
Opening of School & First Teachers’ Institute Days
Superintendent Davis informed the Board that Dragon Day was filled with many activities and had gone very well. The day gave incoming freshmen a chance to familiarize themselves with the building without upperclassmen present. The first Teachers’ Institute Day was also a success. Mrs. Bloom did a wonderful job, reported Mrs. Davis, talking to staff about continuous improvements made throughout the system. Board members have received copies of Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning by Mike Schmoker which will be used this year in professional learning communities to assist staff in further developing the District’s System of Supports Program as it strives to improve student achievement. Mrs. Davis asked Interim Administrative Assistant Danielle Owens to share the EPAS data presented to staff on opening day last week which highlights some gains made last year and outlines areas needing attention this year.
Mrs. Owens referred to a PowerPoint slide program during her remarks and emphasized the importance of data which drive District decision making. She reminded the Board that EPAS data is the result of four tests taken by students—Explore for incoming and current freshmen, Plan for sophomores, and the ACT assessment for juniors. Benchmarks are set for each as a measure of student progress in meeting college and career readiness standards, and students who meet benchmarks as eighth graders are on
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Eleven
track to do so on the ACT three years later. Students capable of meeting benchmarks on the ACT have a 75 percent chance of earning a C or better and a 50 percent chance of earning a B or better in a college entry-level class and markedly improve their odds of success once they leave high school. Today, work readiness is stressed along with college preparedness since expectations in the work place are also important. Benchmarks increase as students work through the EPAS test series and individual scores are used to determine student growth. Mrs. Owens pointed out that the maximum score possible on the Explore test is 25 whereas the top scores on the Plan and ACT assessments are 32 and 36 respectively.
Incoming freshmen this year, the Class of 2015, took the Explore test last January, partially to help us determine their placement in classes they will be taking this year. Only 29 percent of students coming to us from feeder schools met the math benchmark. It should be pointed out that Pekin High taught approximately 47 percent of those students in its eighth grade Algebra 1A/2A program last year. Those not meeting benchmarks last year were placed in the District’s Directed Electives Program in reading and/or mathematics. This year the need is still there, so all English 1 and Title students are enrolled in the Reading Directed Electives Program. Students who did not meet the math benchmark have been enrolled in Algebra 1 as well as directive electives for math.
Last year’s freshmen, the Class of 2014, took the Explore assessment last April. Their scores improved in the areas of English, reading, and science. Math fell seven percent despite implementing the Math Directed Electives Program. This is a point of concern for the District in terms of the efficacy of our core math curriculum and the directed electives math classes. Of course, there is not a great deal of trend data regarding the effects of the latter since it was initiated last year.
Last year’s sophomores, the Class of 2013, took the Plan assessment in April 2011. Mrs. Owens noted that using the second day of PSAE testing to administer the freshman Explore and the sophomore Plan instruments last spring for the first time resulted in more solid results and concrete data since so few students were absent for all three tests. Once again, the trend in scores was upward and proves to us that we are making progress in improving performance as students progress through Pekin High. As last year, this year’s juniors who fell in the sixteen to nineteen scoring range have been targeted in math and/or reading for our Core Curriculum Enrichment (CCE) Program which will use their fourth hour advisory periods throughout the year to work on core skills in preparation for the ACT next April. A science component will be added to the program at students’ request. Some students whose scores do not warrant CCE can and do request it. There is an increased need for CCE, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, noted Mrs. Owens. Some have worked to get into the sixteen-to-nineteen range and still need the push that CCE can give. Also, some top-track English and math students fall into this range on the Plan test and receive CCE, but that should not be happening. This leads to the need for a constant review of our core curriculum to make sure students who come to Pekin High meeting benchmarks do not fall behind to the point where they need work on essential skills in preparation for the ACT their junior year.
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Twelve
The Class of 2012, this year’s seniors, showed an increase in science and a slight increase in math, but lost some ground in English and reading scores on the ACT taken last spring. The smaller number of students taking this assessment did skew the sample size, Mrs. Owens said. The District’s English curriculum is under review. It should also be noted that several students in the Class of 2012 did not benefit from the Directed Electives and Core Curriculum Enrichments Programs implemented for younger students.
ACT informs districts that average student growth from year to year should be two points. The District would, of course, like to see our students do better than the average. Average point growth shown by District students in the past two to three years falls in the average range, but is declining. We still show growth, but need to do so at a faster rate, indicating that we need to continue to push our students to show more substantial growth across the board. Data shows that accelerated students who scored very well on the Explore did not show as much point growth as a group as they should. Their achievement level needs attention, too.
The best news of all comes in the ACT results of student in the Class of 2012, this year’s seniors, compared to last year’s seniors, the Class of 2011. Substantial gains were shown across the board. The increase in English was ten percent with 59 percent meeting or exceeding benchmarks. Fifteen percent growth was realized in math—a huge increase. There was a nine percent increase in reading and a nine percent boost in science. We have not had as many students meet or exceed benchmarks in these areas since 2003. This data provides a major reason for celebration and the staff was excited about it, reported Mrs. Owens.
Mrs. Owens explained that the PSAE test given on two adjoining days each April to juniors consists of the ACT assessment the first day and the Work Keys test the second. The State combines scores on each to determine whether or not districts meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Last year, 85 percent of all those tested had to meet or exceed benchmarks for that district to meet AYP. Whereas Pekin High realized huge performance gains, it did not meet AYP. However, in math we jumped from 47 to 57 percent who met or exceeded; in reading we rose two percent to 56 percent; in science ten percent; and in writing sixteen percent to 54 percent. Students who meet or exceed in two or more areas will be recognized at the District’s annual Academic Assembly later this year.
Data such as this continues to drive District decisions regarding curriculum and various intervention programs. Implementing the Discovery Education Program this year will provide additional information more frequently than EPAS’s once-per-year test results and will facilitate the process of monitoring of student progress. It is a goal of the District to put data in a usable, practical format in the hands of faculty members to support instruction and differentiation, helping them to work smarter, not harder. There is plenty of good news to report, observed Mrs. Owens, at a time when some other districts are shying away from the data because they cannot show growth. Mrs. Owens’s
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Thirteen
presentation will be shared at a future Student Achievement Committee meeting and will be made available to Board Members in hardcopy format.
Superintendent Davis thanked Mrs. Owens and Assistant Superintendent Ruwe for their hard work in putting this information together, especially in light of the fact that data does not always arrive from the State in so organized a form. It is indeed a great day to be a Dragon. Other districts’ scores are slipping, but the percentage of our students who meet or exceed benchmarks continues to climb. Too, we continue to be completely transparent in reporting data results.
Prescription Drug Possession and Distribution
Superintendent Davis reported that, in an effort to prevent future expulsions, the Board sees a need to address the issue of prescription drug possession and distribution. To that end, all District administrators and deans will be visiting fourth hour advisory periods as an initial step to speak to students, using the talking points outlined on the handout distributed to Members earlier in the evening. A schedule of visits will be developed tomorrow. Health classes also address this issue and athletes participate in a presentation on the use of steroids. Mrs. Davis explained that students are at times unaware of District expectations and have an inaccurate perception of the harm prescription drugs can do, thinking they are safe when they are not. They will be informed that they can expect answers from adults in the building should they have questions or comments. If they see something amiss, they can say something to adults here in an atmosphere of trust that has led to good relationships between students and adults at Pekin High.
Member Howard said the last two sentences on the outline summarizes the District’s position well: “We are here for you; please come to us for help. Your health and well-being are too important to us to be left to chance.” Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Owens enumerated some of the many times, especially in the first couple of weeks, that students hear the message concerning the possession of controlled substances and the severe consequences that attend such behavior, and students do sign a document indicating that they have had portions of the Student/Parent Handbook read to them which include parts concerning this issue. President Alesandrini informed Members that they could be present at some of these fourth hour administrative presentations if they wish as their schedules allow.
LMRC
No report. The next meeting is scheduled for 08 September 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the Board Room.
SAC
No report. The next meeting is scheduled for 22 September 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the Board Room.
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
22 August 2011
Page Fourteen
Future Agenda Items.
None.
Announcements by the President.
President Alesandrini directed Board Members to see Rick White after the meeting to pick up 2011-2012 Mid-Illini Conference Activities Passes, 2011 PCHS Football Season Tickets for both students and adults, and 2011 Football Parking Passes if interested.
He also announced that the next regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, 26 September 2011, at 6:30 p.m.
Adjournment.
Hearing no objections, President Alesandrini declared this regular Board meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
Joe Alesandrini, Board President Karen Hohimer, Board Secretary
|
