The Pekin Community High School Board of Education met on Monday, August 25, 2008 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 Howard asked all to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Call to Order

President Howard called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 6:30 P.M.

Roll Call

Members present upon roll call were: Edward Harr, Betty Scott, George Kampas, Paul O’Neal, Karen Hohimer, Joe Alesandrini and Larry Howard. Absent: None.

Approval of Minutes

President Howard recommended Board approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 28, 2008, the Closed Session of July 28, 2008, the Special Meeting of August 11, 2008 and the Closed Session of August 11, 2008.

Motion by Alesandrini, second by Hohimer to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 28, 2008, the Closed Session of July 28, 2008, the Special Meeting of August 11, 2008 and the Closed Session of August 11, 2008.

Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Alesandrini, Hohimer, Scott, Kampas, O’Neal and Howard. Nays – None. Present – Harr Absent – None.

Communications, Public Comments & Participation

Board Applause

Paul O’Neal said it was good to have everyone back.

Karen Hohimer said it was a nice luncheon last week.

Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008
Page Two

Betty Scott applauded the administration for filling the choral director’s spot so quickly.

Ed Harr commented on how quickly the gym roof was fixed, he applauded everyone for their work.

Joe Alesandrini welcomed the faculty and staff back and commented on how Dragon Day went very well.

Larry Howard said that on Thursday of this week, it will be Board Member Joe Alesandrini’s birthday. He said that he has spent over half his life serving the students of PCHS.

Student Council

No representative this month.

Approval of Warrants

Motion by Alesandrini, second by Harr to approve the monthly warrants in the amount of $1,329,356.32 as per summary information found on page 14 of the agenda and in detailed information under separate cover.

Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Alesandrini, Harr, Scott, Kampas, O’Neal, Hohimer and Howard Nays – None. Absent – None. Warrants attached as Exhibit A

Financial Reports as of July 31, 2008

Bank Balances $21,273,699.30
District Investments – Principal $20,811,266.17
Health Care YTD ($ 17,568.71)

Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008
Page Three

New Business

Consent Agenda
President Howard reviewed the Consent Agenda:

1. Employment as Per Contract

Support

Trisha Gatewood – Special Education Teacher’s Aide effective September 2, 2008; at a salary of Category III, Step 5 as per salary schedule.
Douglas Goessman – Special Education Teacher’s Aide effective August 18, 2008; at a salary of Category III, Step 1 as per salary schedule.
David Lourash – Special Education Personal Assistant effective August 18, 2008; at a salary of Category II, Step 0 as per salary schedule.
Danelle Lounsberry – Special Education Teacher’s Aide effective August 18, 2008; at a salary of Category III, Step 0 as per salary schedule.
Pam Meserole – Special Education Personal Assistant effective August 18, 2008; at a salary of Category II, Step 3 as per salary schedule.
Becky Reeise – Student Supervisor for the 2008-2009 school year; at a salary of $9.01 per hour as per contract.
Tommy Russell – Special Education Teacher’s Aide effective August 18, 2008; at a salary of Category III, Step 5 as per salary schedule.
Stephanie Schimmelpfennig – Special Education Personal Assistant effective August 18, 2008; at a salary of Category II, Step 1 as per salary schedule.
Tom Tate – Special Education Teacher’s Aide effective August 18, 2008; at a salary of Category III, Step 5 as per salary schedule.

Differentials

Kate Williams – Girls’ Assistant Tennis Coach for the 2008-2009 school
year; at a salary of 8% differential as per contract.

Volunteers

Choral Music Program Volunteers
List of Volunteers attached at Exhibit B

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008
Page Four

2. Resignations/Retirements

Kara Klepp – Special Education Teacher Aide effective August 5, 2008.
Marian Kuban – Girls’ Assistant Tennis Coach effective July 25, 2008.
Kim Rendleman – Special Education Personal Assistant effective August 18,
2008.

Donations

Fred and Ann Vogt – Donated a 1997 Dodge Intrepid to the PCHS Automotive
Technology Class.
Karl Jordan – Donated $575.00 to the Pekin Scholarship Fund to cover the cost
of one scholarship donor board.

Motion by Alesandrini, second by O’Neal for approval of the Consent Agenda items 1 through 3 as presented.

Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Alesandrini, O’Neal, Harr, Scott, Kampas, Hohimer and Howard; Nays – None. Absent – None.

Policies for Second Reading

Karen Hohimer presented the following policies for a second reading:

4:110 – Transportation
4:150 – Facility Management and Building Programs
5:190 – Teacher Qualifications
6:30 – Organization of Instruction
6:50 – School Wellness
6:170 – Title I Programs
6:210 – Instructional Materials
6:240 – Field Trips
7:10 – Equal Educational Opportunities
7:15 – Student and Family Privacy Rights
7:30 – Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer
7:100 – Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students
7:190 – Student Discipline

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008
Page Five

7:330 – Student Use of Buildings – Equal Access
8:25 – Advertising and Distributing Materials in Schools Provided By Non-School Related Entities
8:30 – Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

Motion by Hohimer, second by O’Neal to Present the Above Sixteen Policies for a Second Read.

Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Hohimer, O’Neal, Harr, Scott, Kampas, Alesandrini and Howard; Nays – None. Absent – None.

HSDO 2008-2009 Dues

Paula Davis told the Board that we have been a member of HSDO since the late 1990’s. Paula asked the Board to approve the fee for the 2008-2009 school year.

Motion by Scott, second by Hohimer to Recommend Board Approval to Pay HSDO Dues in the Amount of $988.40 for the 2008-2009 School Year.

Motion Passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Scott, Hohimer, Harr, Kampas, O’Neal, Alesandrini, and Howard; Nays – None. Absent – None.

Presentation of Tentative 2008-2009 Budget

Carla Schaefer first gave a description of the operating funds; Educational, O & M, Transportation and IMRF. Carla explained that the Illinois Accounting manual has been changed this year. The Tort fund has been transferred from the Educational fund and is now a fund of its own. The Bond and Interest Fund has been renamed Debt Services, the Site and Construction fund has been renamed Capital Projects Fund. Carla explained the sources of revenue, real estate taxes, corporate personal property replacement taxes, state aide, and other revenue. Carla stated that salaries and benefits are the largest portion of our expenditures. Operating expenditures consist of salaries & benefits, purchased services, supplies, equipment, tuition and other. Carla talked about house bill 5285, an insurance mandate. It applies to all self insured school districts. She stated we may see added expense from this bill. Carla told the Board that the budget will be on file until September 29th with the budget hearing at the next scheduled Board Meeting on September 29, 2008.

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008
Page Six

Motion by O’Neal, second by Hohimer to Recommend Board Approval to Place the 2008-2009 Tentative Budget on Display for 30 Days.

Motion Passed by roll call vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Hohimer, Harr, Scott, Kampas, Alesandrini, and Howard; Nays – None. Absent – None.

Tazewood Mental Health Center

Paula stated that we have had a Tazewood counselor here at the school once a week since 1982. It is not possible to provide a counselor any longer at no charge. Paula said that for $10,250.00 Tazewood would provide us a counselor. We do have money in the budget to cover these expenses. Paula recommended the Board approve the proposal.

Motion by Scott, second by Alesandrini to Recommend Board Approval of the Proposal from Tazwood Mental Health Center as Presented.

Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Scott, Alesandrini, Harr, Kampas, O’Neal, Hohimer, and Howard; Nays – None. Absent – None.

School Improvement Plan

Paula Davis said that we must submit on line our school improvement plan. She said that we will continue to respond to No Child Left Behind. We have some researched based strategies for this year. We have changed the curriculum in math and added a math lab.
Paula said that we know that relationships make a difference. Relationships with teachers do make a difference. Kids face challenges; that is why we have a Student Coordinator, that’s why we have a Tazewood Counselor. Tim Ruwe said that if you look at teachers who have success in the building, they are the ones who have relationships with the students. He said our focus is on creating relationships. Tim Ruwe said that empowering our students is the first step. Some things we are doing to improve relationships are peer mediation and new in the Title program is weekly meetings. We have applied to the Successful Practices Network. Some benefits we have from this is networking with other schools, lessons and personal advisors. Tim said that Read 180 is now up and running. We will continue to do things to help kids score on testing.

Motion by Hohimer, second by Scott to Recommend Board Approval of to Approve the 2008-2009 School Improvement Plan as Presented.

Paula Davis told the Board that we will have someone from the Regional Office of Education attending our SAC meetings this year.
Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008
Page Seven

Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Hohimer, Scott, Harr, Kampas, O’Neal, Alesandrini, and Howard; Nays – None. Absent – None.

Reports

Policy Committee

Karen Hohimer stated that there was no meeting this month.

O & M Committee

Joe Alesandrini said that the O & M Committee had met tonight and had a walk through the building.

LMRC

Larry Howard said the LMRC Committee will meet on September 11, 2008.

SAC

The SAC Committee will meet on September 25, 2008.

Superintendent’s Report

Paula Davis said the school had an auction on August 16 and made around $15,500.00.
Paula explained the 1% sales tax information provided to the Board. She said we have been informed from the Regional Superintendent’s office that there really isn’t anything we need to do right now. Paula said this could generate a significant amount of money for the school district. She said we will want to take this under advisement.

Future Agenda Items

None

Announcements By President

None

Minutes – PCHS Board of Education
Regular Meeting
August 25, 2008
Page Eight

Adjournment:

President Howard declared the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

______________________________ ______________________________
President Larry Howard Secretary Karen Hohimer