MINUTES
PEKIN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2011
6:30 P.M.
The Pekin Community High School Board of Education met on Monday, 24 October 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 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Members present upon roll call were: Joe Alesandrini, Eric Hill, Karen Hohimer, Larry Howard, Carl Johnson, Paul O’Neal, and Ryan Wrigley.
Mr. Alesandrini noted the presence of a quorum and that there were no changes to the tentative agenda at that time.
Approval of Minutes
President Alesandrini recommended Board approval of the minutes of the Student Achievement Committee meeting of 26 May 2011; the Labor/Management Relations Committee meeting of 08 September 2011; the special closed, regular, and closed session Board meetings of 26 September 2011; and the special and special closed session Board meetings of 11 October 2011 as presented.
Motion by Hohimer, Second by Howard to Approve the Minutes of the Student Achievement Committee Meeting of 26 May 2011; the Labor/Management Relations Committee Meeting of 08 September 2011; the Special Closed, Regular, and Closed Session Board Meetings of 26 September 2011; and the Special and Special Closed Session Board Meetings of 11 October 2011 as Presented.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Hohimer, Howard, Hill, Johnson, O’Neal, Wrigley, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Communications, Public Comments, & Participation
Board Applause
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
24 October 2011
Page Two
Member Johnson thanked all responsible for setting up the Central Illinois Valley Division Fall Dinner Meeting at Caterpillar’s Edwards Demonstration and Learning Center on Wednesday, 19 October 2011. The food and presentation were excellent. Also, the Illinois Music Educators Association has held its choir competition and five Pekin High students will be members this year: Dalani Lee, Libby Alesandrini, Nick Brockamp, and Lindzey Wheeler were selected for the Senior District Choir; Nick Brockamp and Seth Johnson will participate in the Senior Jazz Choir. Seth Johnson received an honorable mention at the Young Artists Competition hosted recently by the Peoria Civic Choral.
Member Wrigley congratulated Coach Bob Neal and the Boys Golf Team for its tenth-place finish in statewide competition. As an avid golfer, he is proud of this accomplishment.
Vice President O’Neal congratulated all students who continue to work hard and do their jobs well despite the fact that they may not have the opportunity to participate in athletics or other extracurricular activities.
Secretary Hohimer expressed her excitement at the awesome season the Pekin High varsity Football Team is having. Go Dragons!
Member Howard, expanding on Dr. Johnson’s Board applause, noted those students who traveled to Porta High School to audition for places in District Four’s ensembles after working since August to prepare for this competition. Twenty-seven were accepted for the choir and will next travel to Western Illinois University on 05 November 2011 to participate in a day of rehearsals for a concert that evening. Students accepted in the jazz ensemble will do the same on 19 November. All these students are eligible to be accepted for the All-State Festival in January 2012. Congratulations to all.
Member Hill congratulated all who work hard in extracurricular activities.
President Alesandrini congratulated members of the Pekin High Culinary Arts Program and its teacher, Mrs. Billie Cassidy, for their participation in the “Relish” cooking show.
Student Council
President Maddi Carr reported on the busy schedule of Pekin High’s Student Council which worked all summer on the Blackout Project that more than met its goal of raising $15,000 for Easter Seals. Homecoming 2011 featured the theme, “Enchanted,” and was a great success as well.
Now that the second nine-week grading period is upon us, the annual Canned Food Drive has begun and will run through 22 November. Nonperishable items will be gathered in-
house and out with competitions between fourth hour advisory periods featuring pizza
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
24 October 2011
Page Three
parties on mandatory attendance day in December for the winners. The individual who collects the most cans will have a choice of two prizes—top-of-the-hill parking or a Visa Card. Those who bring canned food to donate on Culver’s Night will receive a free scoop of frozen custard. Student Council’s goal this year is to deliver 100 Thanksgiving meals on 22 November to needy families whose names have been provided by Christian Civic Outreach.
The semi-annual Life Skills party is fast approaching. Student Council members are paired with Life Skills students and all participate in games, pumpkin decorating, and other activities. This semester’s event will feature a Halloween theme. A new Student Council committee is working on Fall into Reading, or Fall in Love with Reading, Week. Reading or Literacy Appreciation Day falls in November, Maddi said, and a book drive will be held during which participants can bring in a new or gently used book and take one of their own choosing away. Student Council may donate books to the Pekin High Child Care Program as well. Another committee is working on ways to increase community service involvement. A fundraiser for St. Jude, greeting cards to be delivered to local nursing homes, and a joint cooking venture with Mrs. Cassidy and the Culinary Arts Program to prepare a meal to be served at the Salvation Army have been discussed as possible projects.
Maddi thanked all at Pekin High who have supported Student Council so far this year—staff, administration, and Board Members. President Alesandrini presented her with a box of canned food donated by Members and she assured them she would figure the person-to-can ratio so they could be entered into competition for a pizza party. Jokes were also exchanged about the difficulty many had in recognizing this year’s Grand Marshal for the Homecoming Parade, former principal Mike Davis.
Public Comments and Participation
None.
Approval of Warrants
Motion by O’Neal, Second by Hill to Approve the September 2011 Monthly Warrants in the Amount of $1,871,433.44 as per Summary Information Found on Pages 31-32 of Agenda Support Material and in Detailed Information under Separate Cover.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – O’Neal, Hill, Hohimer, Howard, Johnson, Wrigley, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Mr. Alesandrini noted that warrants can now be paid and asked that Board members address any financial questions that may arise later to Director of Business Operations Schaefer.
Minutes – Board of Education
Regular Meeting
24 October 2011
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Financial Reports as of 30 September 2011
Bank Balances on Hand $26,621,386.34
District Investments – Principal $26,273,142.00
Health Care Transactions ($72,723.32)
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 collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employee.
Motion by Howard, Second by Wrigley to Adjourn to Closed Session.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes –Howard, Wrigley, Hill, Hohimer, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
The Board adjourned to closed session in the Superintendent’s Office at 6:41 p.m. and returned to open session in the Board Room at 7:22 p.m.
Consent Agenda
Mr. Alesandrini made note of all names contained in the Consent Agenda and mentioned the amount of the donations to the District’s Scholarship Fund and Latin Club so they could be made matters of record.
Certified
Brenda Warren – Credit Recovery Instructor for Session 2, 24 October-23 November 2011, of the 2011-2012 school year at a salary of $23.17 per hour as per contract.
Substitute Certified
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Regular Meeting
24 October 2011
Page Five
Darrin Michael – Substitute for the Math and other departments at a salary of $16.00 per class period as per contract.
David Starman – Substitute for any department at a salary of $16.00 per class period as per contract.
Substitute Support
Henry Sweet – Substitute Custodian effective 07 October 2011 at a salary of Step 0 plus $0.30 per hour second shift differential as per contract.
Differentials
Tonya Barra – Best Buddies Advisor effective for the 2011-2012 school year at a salary of 06 percent differential as per contract.
Delores Ely – Flag and Rifle Sponsor effective for the 2011-2012 school year at a salary of 08 percent differential as per contract.
Rick Shemansky – Assistant Coach for the Softball Program effective for the 2011-2012 school year at a salary of 12 percent differential as per contract.
Volunteer
Lisa M. Frantz – Volunteer for the Marching Band Program effective 26 September 2011.
Altrusa International, Inc. of Pekin – Donation of $100 to the PCHS Scholarship Fund in memory of Dorothy Clevenger.
Henrietta Davis – Donation of $50 to the PCHS Latin Club.
Motion by Howard, Second by Hohimer to Approve Consent Agenda Items 5.1.1-5.1.2 as Presented.
Motion passed by roll call vote: Ayes – Howard, Hohimer, Hill, Johnson, O’Neal, Wrigley, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Treasurer Bond
Director of Business Operations Schaefer noted that the District’s Treasurer Bond, which is kept on file with the Regional Office of Education, must be increased from its current
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Regular Meeting
24 October 2011
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level of $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 to comply with the School Code of Illinois which requires that the Bond represent 25 percent of the full amount which may come under the control of the District Treasurer at any one time.
Motion by Hohimer, Second by Wrigley to Approve the District’s Treasurer Bond in the Amount of $6,000,000, to Take Effect 01 December 2011, as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Hohimer, Wrigley, Hill, Howard, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Show Choir Trip to Branson, Missouri, 30 March-01 April 2012
Superintendent Davis explained that this trip to Branson will allow the Noteables to participate in a regional competition sponsored by an organization known as “Fame,” which also sponsors a nationwide competition in Chicago to which the top three groups at Branson will be invited to perform. Specific details of the trip can be found on pages 38-30 of agenda support materials. She particularly wanted to point out that it is the regional competition that the Board is now being asked to approve. If the Noteables qualify for finals, it will be difficult for the Board to deny them approval to go to Chicago. This is something new for music groups and she thought it important to make them fully aware of this situation. She recommended that each trip be approved on a case-by-case basis and noted that an additional trip to Chicago for nationals would cost less than $5000. The Choral Parents Club will help meet expenses for the Branson trip and another fundraiser will probably be necessary, in addition to the Bingo Helpers and fruit sales fundraisers already under way.
Motion by Howard, Second by Wrigley to Approve the Noteables Show Choir Trip to Branson, Missouri, for the Fame Branson Competition, 30 March-01 April 2012, as Presented.
Member Johnson expressed his concern that the all-female Pekin High show choir, Intuition, had been excluded from this opportunity. They have their own coach, costumes, and choreographer and participate in fundraisers. Intuition is considered a stand-alone group which, with the Noteables, attends area competitions. He indicated his support of the Noteables trip this school year but asked that Intuition be included in future opportunities of this kind. Mrs. Davis responded by providing background information regarding Intuition which basically has allowed more females at Pekin High to participate in the show choir experience than would have been possible with Noteables alone. It is the current feeling of the administration that the director should be allowed to decide which groups should participate in events such as this, for whatever reasons. It is her understanding that Vocal Music Director Kaleigh Tarpley made the situation clear to all show choir participants and their parents at the beginning of this school year. Dr. Johnson rejoined that he considers these two groups as equals and his concern remains.
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Regular Meeting
24 October 2011
Page Seven
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Howard, Wrigley, Hill, Hohimer, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Third Assistant Softball Coach for the 2011-2012 School Year
Superintendent Davis referred Board members to page 40 of agenda support materials for the rationale to support approval of a third assistant varsity softball coach for the upcoming season. This request is based on the number of students interested in the program and the skill level requirements of incoming participants and is made annually as needed.
Motion by Wrigley, Second by Hohimer to Approve a Third Assistant Varsity Softball Coach Position for the 2011-2012 School Year as Presented.
Motion Passed by Roll Call Vote: Ayes – Wrigley, Hohimer, Hill, Howard, Johnson, O’Neal, and Alesandrini. Nays – None.
Reports
Policy Committee
Chairperson Hohimer reported that the Policy Committee met earlier today to review closed minutes and consider revisions to current Board policies. The committee will recommend that two sets of closed minutes be opened by Board action. She also read the list of policies that were reviewed and noted that all but four were recommended for a first reading, one of which will be referred to District Attorney Jay Greening for his review and then returned to the committee for further consideration at a future meeting.
O & M Committee
Chairperson Howard reported that he expects a meeting in the near future to wrap up all outstanding details on summer projects which he will share with the Board. Mrs. Davis added that the parking lot adjacent to B/C Building will be blacktopped, weather permitting, on Wednesday, 26 October 2011. This moves us all the closer to wrapping up summer projects.
Labor/Management Relations Committee
Superintendent Davis informed the Board that the Labor/Management Relations Committee met on 13 October to hear her presentation on Senate Bill 7. Among many other things, this legislation requires Board training and will result in significant changes in teacher evaluation and reductions in force (RIF) procedures. Details are coming out in piecemeal fashion and the rules have yet to be written, so everything about the bill is subject to change. She is sure there will be more to share in future.
Student Achievement Committee
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Regular Meeting
24 October 2011
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The Student Achievement Committee, Mrs. Davis reported, will meet again on Thursday, 27 October 2011, to discuss Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI) training scheduled for the day prior. Members will also hear about Charlotte Danielson who developed a model
of instruction and evaluation which the State of Illinois has adopted as the basis for evaluation procedure contained in Senate Bill 7. She repeated that there are lots of changes for schools looming on the horizon, offering many new things to learn.
Future Agenda Items
None.
Announcements by the President
- Mr. Alesandrini congratulated several Board Members who received the following awards in the IASB’s 2010-2011 Master Board Member Awards Program at the Central Illinois Valley Division fall dinner meeting on Wednesday, 19 October 2011:
- Joe Alesandrini – Master Board Member Status Maintained,
- Karen Hohimer – Master Board Member, Levels I & II,
- Larry Howard – Master Board Member Status Maintained,
- Dr. Carl Johnson – IASB LeaderShop Academy Member.
- He asked that Members complete forms for season basketball tickets and parking passes and return them to Rick White, if possible, at the conclusion of this meeting.
- President Alesandrini announced that the Pekin High delegation to the 2011 Joint Annual IASB, IASA, IASBO (“Triple I”) Conference will be leaving for Chicago Thursday, 17 November 2011. The conference is scheduled for 18-20 November. A packet containing a complete itinerary and support information will be provided before departure. Mr. Howard, he mentioned, has already gone online to download a copy of the conference program so he is now ready to complete the planner portion by noting those breakout sessions he wishes to attend. He welcomed others to do the same.
- The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, 28 November 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Adjournment
Hearing no objections, President Alesandrini declared this regular Board meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
______________________________ ______________________________
Joe Alesandrini, Board President Karen Hohimer, Board Secretary |
