St. Joseph-Ogden High School High School District No. 305 Board of Education met Monday, Oct. 24 and set the date for its tax levy hearing.
Here are the minutes as provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School High School District No. 305:
St. Joseph-Ogden High School District #305
301 N. Main Street, PO Box 890
St. Joseph, IL 61873
217-469-2586
St. Joseph-Ogden CHSD 305
Board of Education
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 24, 2016
7:00 PM
Board Room, Superintendent’s Office
St. Joseph-Ogden High School
Minutes
Recording Secretary: Suzanne Jean
1. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President James Rein.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Present: McCormick, Reese, McDermott, Taylor, Schluter, Rein
Absent: Mohr
Also Present: Brian Brooks, Superintendent and Gary Page, Principal Carla Reese was appointed Acting Secretary in the absence of Ms. Mohr.
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Brooks recommended approval of the agenda as presented.
Motion: McCormick
Second: Taylor
To: approve the agenda as presented
Voting Yes: 6
Voting No: 0
MOTION CARRIED
5. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Mr. Brooks discussed the consent agenda items and recommended approval as presented and amended to add payment of four additional bills.
Motion: McDermott
Second: Reese
To: approve the consent agenda as presented and amended to add payment of four additional bills – Haley’s Electric $2155.40, North-West Drapery Service $4016.50, PSAT/NMSQT $338, and St Joseph-Stanton Firefighter’s Assn $100
Voting Yes: McDermott, Rein, McCormick, Reese, Schluter, Taylor
Voting No:
MOTION CARRIED
* Approval of September Minutes (budget hearing and regular and closed session meeting)
* Approval of October Bills as presented and amended
* Pre-approval of bond payment to Heartland Bank in the amount of $466,587.50 that is due prior to the next regular board meeting
* Approval of Personnel Items
Approve Tatum Hawkins as substitute teacher for Harbaugh maternity leave and for Krisman maternity leave
Approve Mike Birt as wrestling volunteer
6. COMMUNICATION FROM STA
Jennifer Brooks was present.
7. COMMUNICATION FROM VISITORS
8. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/DATES
November 3 – Early Dismissal at 2:00 p.m. ~ Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 4 – No School ~ Parent-Teacher Conferences
November 20 – Talent Show at 2:00 p.m.
November 18 through 20 – Triple I Conference in Chicago
November 22 – Early Dismissal at 2:00 p.m.
November 23 through 25 – Thanksgiving Break
November 28 – Regular Board of Education Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
9. BUSINESS
A. Unfinished Business
1. Fiscal Year 2016 Audit Report
Mr. Brooks explained the source of the erroneous pre-K designation on the audit and the plan to fix it for the future. Mr. Brooks recommended approval of the FY 2016 audit.
Motion: Schluter
Second: Rein
To: approve the FY 2016 audit report as prepared by Russell Leigh and Associates
Voting Yes: Reese, Rein, McCormick, Schluter, Taylor, McDermott
Voting No:
MOTION CARRIED
B. New Business
1. Special Education Curriculum Review
Special Education department chairperson Jennifer Brooks and teachers Mary Benoit and Beth Beckett were present. Department faculty/staff positions and qualifications were presented along with enrollment numbers. Special Education eligibility and services were discussed as well as information on the role of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Response to Intervention (RtI) Plan.
2. FY 2017 1 st Quarter Financial Report and Five Year Projections
Mr. Brooks presented revenue and expenditure amounts posted to date as compared to budgeted amounts for the 1st quarter of this fiscal year. Everything looks right where it should be for this point in time. His biggest concern is if we will receive all of the revenue that we are due this year. The five year financial projections predict a declining fund balance in the Education Fund. Although we have cut expenditures in the last few years, revenues have also declined and are not expected to increase anytime soon due to the financial status of the state. On the positive side, the O&M and Transportation funds are projected to increase fund balances as long as transportation money is not cut more than anticipated. The sales tax money has helped tremendously in sheltering the O&M fund.
3. Potential Science Lab Project
Mr. Brooks has gathered information on how much it would cost to upgrade the science labs. Sales tax money can be used and the project is expected to cost roughly $381,150 to $400,000. There are other projects that will need to be done in the future such as roofing and resurfacing the track, but the money can be built back up again at the rate of approximately $365,000 per year.
Mr. Brooks would like to do the science labs this summer and if the board can give the go ahead within the next month or two he believes that there is time to make that happen.
4. 2016 Tentative Tax Levy
Mr. Brooks discussed his tentative tax levy proposal and recommended that a truth in taxation hearing be set for December 19, 2016 at 6:55 p.m. Although the proposed tax rate shows up as $2.0798, the more likely tax rate will end up being $2.0019. This is a slight decrease from the current rate due to an abatement made this year. The final outcome will be dependent on what the EAV actually ends up being.
Motion: Rein
Second: McCormick
To: approve the 2016 tentative tax levy as presented and to set a Tax Levy Hearing on December 19, 2016 at 6:55 p.m.
Voting Yes: Rein, Schluter, McCormick, Taylor, McDermott, Reese
Voting No:
MOTION CARRIED
5. Principal’s Report
Mr. Page acknowledged the presence of Assistant Principal/AD Brady Smith and boys’ basketball assistant coach Kiel Duval at the meeting. He explained that they were there to publicly recognize someone who shies away from recognition. Mr. Smith presented Mr. Brooks with an award from the Illinois
Coaches Association for being a Coach of State Champions for Boys Basketball Class AA for the year 2015-2016.
10. CLOSED SESSION
Motion: Rein
Second: McCormick
To: go into closed session at 8:38 p.m. for (1) 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. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)
Voting Yes: McDermott, Taylor, Reese, McCormick, Schluter, Rein
Voting No:
MOTION CARRIED
Open session resumed at 9:29 p.m.
Motion:
Second:
To: go into closed session at 9:30 p.m. for (5) the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5)
Voting Yes: Taylor, McCormick, McDermott, Rein, Reese, Schluter
Voting No:
MOTION CARRIED
Open session resumed at 9:39 p.m.
11. ACTION ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
None
12. GOOD OF THE CAUSE
Mr. Brooks stated that he went to the village board meeting last week to discuss the concerns that were publicly expressed by one member of their board about the look on Main Street since the district has acquired most of the properties on the block directly north of the school.
Mr. Brooks emphasized the continued willingness of the district to work with the village on all matters affecting both entities. He was asked if anything could be done to improve the view in that area and Mr. Brooks agreed to look into possible landscape solutions. Mr. Brooks has talked with Mrs. Duitsman to see if her horticulture class could come up with any cost effective solutions.
Mrs. Reese stated that she was told that the fire department was impressed with the school technology capabilities during the emergency drill conducted last week.
Mr. Rein congratulated Coach Hewerdine on the 2016 Illinois Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame recognition.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Rein
Second: McCormick
To: adjourn at 9:45 p.m.
Voting Yes: 6
Voting No: 0
MOTION CARRIED
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