Charleston Community Unit School District No.1 Board met Oct. 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
At 6:30 p.m., President Coe called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following members were present:
Jason Coe, President
Scott Clarke, Vice President (arrived at 7:25pm)
Susan Daniels, Secretary
Kelly Miller, Treasurer
Brian Gough
Eva Ritchey
The following members were absent: Matt Titus
The following staff members were present:
Todd J. Vilardo, Superintendent of Schools
Chad Burgett, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Kristen Holly, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services
Visitors 28 and 1 Member of the Press
Mr. Vilardo reviewed items under the Addendum to the board book which included:
Revised Agenda
Under Consent Agenda Employment
Revised recommendation to extend the date of a resignation from a paraprofessional at Mark Twain Elementary School.
Under Focus on Students and Good News Reports, Mr. Vilardo complimented the artwork provided by the Carl Sandburg Elementary School students. Heather Bryan is the art teacher.
Governor’s Proclamation – Principal Appreciation Week
Mr. Vilardo announced that the United States Congress has declared October as “National Principals Month.” Since 1990, the Governor of Illinois has designated the third full week of October as Principal Appreciation Week. Governor Rauner has proclaimed October 21 – 27 as Principal Appreciation Week culminating with Principal Appreciation Day on October 26th. The Board of Education recognized the Charleston CUSD #1 Administrative Team in honor of Principal Appreciation Week.
Under Public Staff Comments or Questions, Written Communications, Freedom of Information Act Requests, President Coe asked if there were any requests or written communications to the Board of Education. No requests were received to address the Board of Education.
Under Consent Agenda, President Coe asked if there were any items under the consent agenda that the Board of Education would like to remove to discuss in closed session. Hearing none, Mr. Vilardo reviewed the items under Consent Agenda.
Consent Agenda: Standard Items
- Approve the minutes of the Public Hearing of September 19, 2018 and Regular Board Meeting on September 19, 2018.
- Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of September 2018.
- Approve the Activity Fund Accounts for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending September 2018.
- Approve the summary of revenues and expenditures year to date as presented by Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett.
Consent Agenda: Old Business Consent Agenda: New Business
2018 CHS Early Graduates
Contingent that all graduation requirements from the State of Illinois and CUSD #1 have been met, grant permission for the students listed in the October 5, 2018 memorandum from Principal Trevor Doughty as early graduates from Charleston High School, effective at the end of the first semester of the 2018-19 school year.
CHS Chorus Overnight/Out of State Trip Request
Approve the overnight/out-of-state trip request for the Charleston High School Advanced Chamber Ensemble to travel to Kettering, Ohio to participate in the Kettering National High School ‘A Cappella’ Festival on November 9-10, 2018.
Approve/Disapprove Serious Safety Hazard Findings Applications
Approve Serious Safety Hazard Findings application #1-18-05, for a student attending Mark Twain Elementary, effective for the 2018-19 school year. The application will be submitted to the Department of Transportation for final review.
Deny Serious Safety Hazard Findings application #1-18-08, for a student attending Charleston Middle School, application #1-18-09 for a student attending Jefferson Elementary School, and application #1-18-10 for a student attending Jefferson Elementary School, effective for the 2018-19 school year. The applications will be submitted to the Department of Transportation for final review.
School Library Per Capita Grant Application
Approve submission of the School Library Per Capita Grant Program application to the Office of the Secretary of State.
Consent Agenda: Employment
Grant a Family Medical Leave of Absence to Amy Mann, a Spanish teacher at Charleston High School.
Accept a letter of resignation from Leah Lanman as a special education paraprofessional at Mark Twain Elementary School, effective October 19, 2018.
Withdraw a recommendation to accept a retirement from CHS Principal Trevor Doughty. Mr. Vilardo indicated that the recommendation would be updated with language current with TRS (Teacher’s Retirement System) rules and regulations and brought to the Board of Education at the November 14, 2018 meeting.
Approve the transfer of Mel Himes from his current assignment as a paraprofessional in the ED Transition room into the position as a building program paraprofessional at Charleston High School for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year.
Approve the transfer Kathryn Haughee from her current assignment as a paraprofessional at Charleston High School into the position as a special education program paraprofessional in the preschool program at Mark Twain Elementary School, effective October 22, 2018.
Approve the employment of Blake Richardson as a full time special education program paraprofessional at Mark Twain Elementary School, effective October 18, 2018. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment.
Approve the employment of Elijah Magee as an Assistant Speech coach at Charleston High School during the 2018-19 school year. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment.
Approve the list of substitutes/volunteers for Community Unit School District No. 1, effective October 9, 2018.
President Coe recommended that the Board of Education approve items under IV through VII inclusive on the Consent Agenda and under the addendum. Mr. Gough moved and Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Gough, Ritchey, Miller, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: Mrs. Miller abstained from vote on the Public Hearing and Regular Board meeting minutes of September 19, 2018.
Motion carried
Under the Superintendent’s Report: 2018 Illinois School Report Cards
State and federal laws require public school districts to release School Report Cards to the public each year by October 31. However, as of this date, ISBE has not made the report cards available. Mr. Vilardo reported that this year, with new ESSA requirements, we anticipate a different “look” for the school report cards. Assistant Superintendent Kristen Holly will provide support to the administrative team, as we interpret these results and use the data to develop school improvement plans. Mrs. Holly provided a visual overview of the school report cards for board members review, noting that the new report cards would look different. More information about how district staff use information in School Report Cards to plan for and implement continual school improvement measures will be provided to the Board at its regular meeting in November.
Annual Status Report of the District’s Gifted Program
In accordance with Board Policy 6:130, Assistant Superintendent Kristen Holly provided a report on the status of the District’s gifted program. Mrs. Holly stated that currently 168 students were in the GATE program. Mrs. Holly acknowledged the work of the GATE Committee, which consists of teachers, administrators, and parents. The committee meets annually to review the design of the district’s gifted and talented program and offerings. She commended Jodi Cline, GATE instructor for her dedication to the program and contributions to the students in the program.
2018 Tax Levy Information
Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett reviewed initial information in establishing the 2018 tax levy with the Board of Education. He explained that this levy represented a 4.98% increase above that of last year and does not require a public hearing. He indicated that even though the district was levying a 4.98% increase, the district would not receive any money above the increase in new construction and the increase in the consumer price index which was at 2.1%. Mr. Burgett noted that he decreased the levy amount in the Education Fund and increased the levy amount in the transportation fund due to the lack of categorical payments from the State. Mr. Burgett said that the levy amounts would probably change next month as he will be attending a workshop with PMA Financial Network on the levy process. Board action on the Levy will take place at the November 14, 2018 meeting.
Mrs. Miller moved and Mrs. Ritchey seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by the Board of Education.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Miller, Ritchey, Gough, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under New Business: Agreement for Temporary Land and Facility Use
Mr. Vilardo reported that Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Chad Burgett and Ashmore Elementary School Principal Robert Lynn met with Village of Ashmore public officials to review its emergency operations plans. From this meeting, the Village officials have requested changes to the existing intergovernmental agreement between our school district and the Village of Ashmore with regard to use of facilities. As part of this review of emergency operations plans, it was also requested that a separate intergovernmental agreement be established with the Ashmore Fire Protection District that would permit CUSD #1 to utilize the Ashmore Fire Department in the event of a disaster and or emergency situation.
The Village Board met on September 25, 2018 and approved a resolution pertaining to the Intergovernmental Agreement. Both intergovernmental agreements were reviewed by CUSD #1 Attorney Chris Miller.
Based upon Attorney Chris Miller’s review, the superintendent recommended that the Board of Education approve the Village of Ashmore ‘Agreement for Temporary Land and Facility Use in the Event of Emergency and/or Disaster Situations’ and the Ashmore Fire Protection District ‘Agreement for Temporary Land and Facility Use in the Event of Emergency and/or Disaster Situations’. Mr. Gough moved and Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Gough, Ritchey, Miller, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Criteria for Calendar Committee/3-Year School Calendar
Dr. Clarke arrived at 7:25pm
It is the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education establish parameters and guidelines for the District Calendar committee. The calendars for the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 school years will be adopted by the Board of Education in February or March 2019.
Following discussion and review of calendar parameters, it was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education adopt the four points noted as the parameters for the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 school calendars as follows:
1) Do not start before Monday, August 12
2) First semester ends prior to Winter Break
3) Do not have a full week off for Thanksgiving Holiday
4) Schedule Spring Break same as with Eastern IL University
Mrs. Ritchey moved and Mr. Gough seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Ritchey, Gough, Clarke, Miller, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Discussion Items/No Action
Intergovernmental Agreement - Implement a School Resource Officer Program
Mr. Vilardo reported that he had received a request from Charleston Police Department Chief Chad Reed to possibly enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Charleston to implement a School Resource Officer Program. A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a police officer authorized by a police department or agency to work in collaboration with schools to provide safe learning environments. Typical roles associated with SRO’s include educator (i.e. guest lecturer), informal counselor/mentor, and law enforcement officer. According to a 2016 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education,
42 percent of public schools reported that they had at least one SRO present at least one day a week during the academic year. Mr. Vilardo requested that the Board of Education discuss the request, as points of the discussion could be useful in studying the impact of such an agreement. He noted that Chief Chad Reed, Officer Erica Roa, Officer Heath Thornton, and City Comptroller Heather Kuykendall were in attendance and available to participate in the discussion.
Mr. Vilardo reported that Mattoon, Effingham, and Sullivan School Districts currently have one or more School Resource Officers. Casey- Westfield will have an SRO after January 1. Chief Reed stated that since January 1 of this year, the Police Department received 184 calls to CUSD #1. He added that benefits of having a SRO in the school/s include familiarity with the layout of the schools, getting to know students and students viewing the officer as a familiar face.
Points of discussion from the Board of Education included:
- Wide ranges of perspectives on the issue in the school district and among community members.
Both sides are very passionate on their beliefs.
- Finances to employ an SRO. The district has not budgeted for this expenditure, but maybe could use Title IV dollars through Safe & Healthy schools, as an allowable expense.
- SRO would be employed by City of Charleston – Charleston CUSD #1 could reimburse the City for all or part of services.
City Comptroller Heather Kuykendall provided the Board of Education with an approximate cost to the school district in employing an SRO.
Officer Roa, currently a juvenile officer, talked about her experiences working with students and parents in the CUSD #1 schools as well as attending outreach events in the community. She reviewed the training process for officers who are interested in becoming an SRO.
The Board asked if the school district would assist in the interview process. Chief Reed indicated that the school district would have input in the interview process.
Following discussion, President Coe asked board members for any other discussion regarding directing Superintendent Vilardo to investigate the impact of such an intergovernmental agreement.
Mr. Vilardo stated that he would begin the process to:
1. investigate the factual context and the impact of granting or not granting the request;
2. prepare an evaluation of the request and a recommendation that takes into account the Board’s priorities in the allocation of resources, including funds, time, personnel, facilities, and the transmission of knowledge and culture through which student learn in areas necessary to their continuing development and entry into the world of work; and
3. consult the Board attorney for a legal review of any proposed intergovernmental agreement.
The estimated timeframe to have the study completed could be late winter/early spring. If the Board of Education approves, the SRO program would be implemented beginning with the 2019-20 school year.
Mr. Vilardo thanked everyone for their input and that he would keep the Board of Education up to date on the process.
At 8:15pm, Mrs. Miller made a motion to adjourn from the board meeting. Mr. Gough seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Miller, Gough, Clarke, Ritchey, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
http://www.charleston.k12.il.us/pdfs/bdminutes/2018-2019/10-17-2018RegularBdMtg.pdf
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