Oakland CUSD #5 Board of Education met Nov. 20.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The meeting was called to order by President Dowden at 7:00 p.m. with members: Dowden, Fonner, McQueen, Pearcy, and Walsh present. Clifton was absent. Also present were Supt. Landeck, Director of
Student Services Patty Stark, Principal Amanda Coffey Michelle Strader, Kelly McConaha, Maddie Hammel, Roy McCammon, Dan Herrington, and Janice Hunt.
A motion was made by Turner, seconded by Dowden, to approve the agenda as presented. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
Roy McCammon and Dan Herrington, representing the Oakland Fire Department, asked the board if the 2020 Fourth of July fireworks could be fired off at the school. As their presentation continued, the suggested that the whole celebration could be held on school grounds. The board told McCammon and Herrington that they would look into it from a legal and liability standpoint and have it as an agenda item in December. Landeck read a letter on behalf of the Regional Office of Education thanking the board members for their service as National Board Members Day was the week before. Landeck, acting on behalf of Kent Kull, auditor, presented the FY19 audit.
Coffey thanked everyone involved in making the Veteran's Day Program a success again this year. She also thanked the staff involved in putting on Family Fun Night. Landeck congratulated the fall sports coaches and athletes that advanced in post-season competition. He stated that overall it was a successful fall sports season. Landeck read an email from Angela Griffin of Coles Together talking about how well Oakland HS students represented their school and community on the recent Manufacturing Tours Day.
Landeck informed the board that he had received 2 FOIA request since the last board meeting. The first was from Dr. Robert Kramer of Gilman, IL. Dr. Kramer requested a wide range of items including, but not limited to, salaries and curriculum. The second FOIA request was from Rachel Conner of SmartProcure. That request asked for the FY20 budget. Landeck indicated that both request were responded to within the legal timeframe.
A motion was made by Pearcy, seconded by McQueen to approve the Consent Agenda including the payment of bills in the total amount of $460,717.50 as presented. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
Landeck informed the board that “Financial Discussion” was originally put on the agenda when the State was behind on payments and pro-rating general state aide. At that time, it was necessary to keep the board up-to-date on a monthly basis. However, now with the evidence based funding model and fewer categorical payments, there isn't as much to update the board on monthly. Landeck said he will keep this item under Old Business though for if nothing else to share financial information with the board and community.
Landeck presented the tentative tax levy. He actually presented two sets of numbers; what he actually anticipates and what the tentative tax levy says. He reminded the board and those in attendance that he has to do this every year as to not leave money on the table.” He said that it is especially important to do that this year as he has been told to anticipate Coles County's EAV to increase by over 20%. Landeck stated that the aggregate levy increase exceeds 5% so a Truth in Taxation Hearing is required. He reiterated that that doesn't mean taxes are going up by more than 5%, the amount be asked for is more than 5%. Landeck stated that based on the anticipated EAV figures received from the county assessor's offices, the tax rate should actually be lower than last year which included a $75,000 abate in taxes. A motion was made by Dowden, seconded by Turner to approve the tentative tax levy for tax year 2019 as presented. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
While introducing the tentative tax levy, Landeck stated the actual numbers, as well as the numbers being presented, did not represent any funds being used to abate taxes like the board had decided to do last year. If the board decided to do that again, the tax rate would be even lower than Landeck had discussed earlier. However, Landeck stated that he had reservations on doing that again due to some possible legislation that, if passed, would negatively impact the district. Landeck stated that if the district did abate taxes and tax caps were put in place, the district would be capped at the lower rate and this would decrease tax revenues in the future. He stated that if tax caps were not being discussed he would be for abating again this year. However, since they are being discussed and 65% of all district funding comes from property tax revenue, Landeck said his recommendation would be to not abate this year and see what happens.
Because the aggregate tax levy exceeded 5% Landeck said, the board would be required to hold a Truth in Taxation Hearing. Landeck suggested to hold the hearing before the regularly scheduled December meeting. A motion was made by Walsh, seconded by Fonner to set the date and time for the Truth in
Taxation Hearing on the Tax Year 2018 levy for Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 6:45 pm in the Lake Crest library. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
Landeck gave a short presentation of the school report card. He reported that Lake Crest had received a designation of "Commendable” and that Oakland HS did not receive a designation due to an insufficient data size. Landeck went on to give a quick overview of the different designations and the data that goes into figuring those designations.
Landeck provided the first reading of PRESS Issue 102 October 2019. He said that it was the largest PRESS issue in the history of IASB policy services. This issue is so large he said because of all the new laws passed by the 101st general assembly. Topics covered in this issues that Landeck discussed were the legalization of cannabis, federal and state grant requirements, threat assessment, sexual abuse allegations and investigations, sexual harassment, employment rights, curriculum, mental health and medication administration, and FAFSA completion. No action was taken as this was the first reading for
these policies. They will be on the agenda again in December for approval.
Coffey, Stark, and Landeck gave their reports.
A motion was made by Walsh, seconded by Fonner to enter into executive session. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
The board entered executive session at 8:15 pm
The board returned from executive session at 8:46 pm.
A motion was made by Walsh, seconded by Turner to accept executive session minutes as read in executive session. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Turner, seconded by Fonner to hire Maddie Hammel as a teacher for the 2020 2021 school year. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Fonner, seconded by Dowden to approve Kent Kibler as a volunteer football coach. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Pearcy, seconded by McQueen to hire Brittni Blake as junior high volleyball assistant coach. Upon roll, all members present voted aye. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Walsh, seconded by Dowden to adjourn at 8:50 pm. Upon voice vote, all members present voted aye. Motion Carried.
https://www.oakland5.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/5254a088e29cc/Approved%20Nov%202019.pdf
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