Sangamon Sun

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education met Dec. 19 to negotiate contracts.

Here is the meeting's agenda, as provided by the board:

MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

BOARD OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 186, SPRINGFIELD,

SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Monday, December 19, 2016 (6:30 PM)

The Board of Education convened in Regular Session on December 19 A.D., 2016, at 5:30 p.m.,

there being present thereat:

Present: Adam Lopez, President

Julie Hammers, Board Secretary

Chuck Flamini

Lisa Funderburg

Blake Handley

Judith Johnson

Donna Moore

Mike Zimmers

Jennifer Gill, Superintendent

CALL TO ORDER

1.1 Roll Call

President Lopez called the meeting to order.

APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mrs. Funderburg moved to adjourn to Executive Session to consider the following matters:

2.1 The Appointment, Employment, or Dismissal of Employees

2.2 Contract Negotiations

2.3 Security Procedures

2.4 Student Disciplinary Matters and Other Matters Concerning Individual Students

Motion seconded by Mr. Handley and carried by the following vote:

Those voting “aye”: Flamini, Funderburg, Handley, Johnson, Lopez, Moore, Zimmers

Those voting “no”: None.

Adjournment to Executive Session

The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. and reconvened at 6:34 p.m. Upon reconvening, it was noted

that seven Board members were present.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

3.1 President’s Comments

Mr. Lopez made the routine announcement that public comment on published agenda items

would occur during the Public Comments portion of the meeting. He instructed those interested in

addressing the Board to fill out the required Public Participation at Board Meetings Form and

submit it to Ms. Mitchell in the front row of the audience. Additionally, he reminded those

interested in addressing the Board that comments are limited to three minutes.

Mr. Lopez then provided information regarding the Alliance Leadership Summit that will be held

February 21 and 22, 2017. He asked for a volunteer from the Board to attend. Ms. Johnson

indicated that she will attend on behalf of the Board.

3.2 Board Salutes

Mrs. Funderburg reported attending the Springfield High School band concert. She saluted the 10

students going to the All State Music competition from the band.

Ms. Johnson saluted Dubois Elementary School, which she recently visited. She reported helping

students wrap gifts during her visit, an annual event held by the school. She indicated that

donations of gift bags and bows to the school would be welcomed.

Mr. Zimmers reported attending a restorative justice training on December 8, 2016. Additionally,

he announced that he visited Springfield High School. During the visit he met the school’s 48

Illinois State Scholars.

Mrs. Moore also attended the restorative justice training. She encouraged parents to complete the

5Essentials Survey currently on the District’s website.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

4.1 Old Business

There was no old business at this time.

4.2 New Business

There was no new business at this time.

4.3 Student Business

Mrs. Gill reported that Ms. Edwards was unable to be in attendance as she was preparing for final

exams. Mrs. Gill provided a brief update regarding the Student Roundtable’s recent meeting

during which plans for Unity Day continued. She indicated that this year’s theme will be

“volunteerism”.

PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD

There were no presentations to the Board at this time.

BUSINESS REPORTS

6.1 Treasurer's Report

Board members were provided with electronic copies of the Treasurer’s Report for

November 2016. Copies have been filed with the Official Minutes and are available for public

viewing on the Electronic School Board.

Mr. Joseph Bascio, Business Manager, reported that the District ended the month of November

with a cash balance of approximately $24 million in the bank for all funds. He reported earned

interest for the month of approximately $25,000, with year-to-date interest totaling approximately

$108,000. Lastly, there was some discussion regarding state payments. Mr. Bascio reported no

new state payments had been received over the previous two weeks.

6.2 Presentation of the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Board members were provided with electronic copies of the 2015-2016 Comprehensive Annual

Financial Report. Copies have been filed with the Official Minutes and are available for public

viewing on the Electronic School Board. Mr. Chad Lucas, CPA with Sikich, presented the report to

the Board.

Mr. Lucas provided an overview of the report. He indicated that the General Fund concluded the

year with a net increase over the prior year. Additionally, he reported that the number of findings

had dropped from eight to four.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

7.1 Superintendent's Report

Mrs. Gill provided the following:

• Forty-eight classrooms were involved with the Hour of Code this year, up from 21

classrooms last year.

• A Shout Out to the Springfield High School Band, Lanphier High School Band, and

Southeast High School Jazz Band on their winter concerts

• A Shout Out to AT&T for their recent grant award to the Springfield Public Schools

Foundation. This award will fund AVID programs throughout the District.

• A Shout Out to Springfield High School senior Grace Thompson who is in the running for

a $10,000 scholarship from the Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest.

• The 5Essentials Survey is available for parents on the District website.

• A Shout Out to the Telephone Pioneers and Shoe Carnival for providing over 3,000 pairs

of shoes to students in need.

• In follow-up to a Board member information request regarding truancy, anywhere from 74

to 100 students at each high school are considered chronically truant. There was some

further discussion regarding this topic. Ms. Johnson asked that the Board be updated

again at the end of the year regarding chronic truancy.

• In follow-up to a Board member information request regarding the high school science

curriculum, in the 2017-18 school year an honors biology course will be added as will an

honors chemistry course. Both will be made available to freshmen. These classes will be

offered to students to take concurrently, if so desired. The third course of Project Lead

the Way was offered this year at Southeast High School. Springfield High School and

Lanphier High School were able to offer the first course. They will continue to expand the

Project Lead the Way offering at Springfield and Lanphier as students advance through

the program. Zoology and Botany will be open to sophomores now. AP Physics will be

open to juniors and seniors. AP Chemistry and AP Biology will be offered to sophomores,

juniors and seniors. Mrs. Funderburg thanked Mrs. Gill for her work surrounding this

curriculum. Mr. Zimmers asked if there will be an increase in access to technology with

the increased course offerings. Mrs. Cheree Morrison, Director of Secondary Schools,

reported that the technology department continues to work on one-to-one initiatives.

Mr. Zimmers asked to be updated at a future date regarding technology in these

classrooms.

• In follow-up to a Board member information request regarding the District’s handwriting

curriculum, she reported that the Zaner Bloser handwriting curriculum is introduced to

students in the 3rd grade and continues through the 5th grade. Ms. Johnson inquired as to

expectation versus practice with respect to the curriculum.

CONSENT ACTION ITEMS

8.1 Approval of Consent Action Items

Approval of consent action items as listed in the agenda.

Resolution: The Superintendent recommends approval of the consent action items 8.2 through

8.10 as described in the corresponding resolutions.

ORIGINAL - Motion

Member (Lisa Funderburg) Moved, Member (Michael Zimmers) Seconded to approve the

ORIGINAL motion 'The Superintendent recommends approval of the consent action items 8.2

through 8.10 as described in the corresponding resolutions'. There was some discussion

regarding item 8.4. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 7 Nay: 0. The motion

Carried. 7 - 0

Those voting “aye”: Flamini, Funderburg, Handley, Johnson, Lopez, Moore, Zimmers

Those voting “no”: None.

8.2 Approval of the Minutes of the Executive Session and the Regular Meeting of

December 5, 2016

Resolution: WHEREAS, the Board of Education of Springfield School District 186 reviews the

minutes of the regular session and the executive session of the previous Board Meetings; and

WHEREAS, copies of these sets of minutes were distributed to the Board in the board packet

prior to this meeting; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education

approves the aforementioned set of regular session and executive session minutes and directs

the Secretary to include them in the official records of the Board of Education meetings.

8.3 Approval of Payroll and Bills Payable

Resolution: That the Board of Education approves payroll and bills payable as shown in the

attached report.

8.4 Tabulation of Bids and Recommendation for Purchase and Payment Bid #17-01 —

Diplomas – High Schools

Resolution: BE IT RESOLVED to accept the low acceptable bid for the following bids and to

approve payment of same upon completion: Bid #17-01 — Diplomas – High Schools

8.5 Tabulation of Bids and Recommendation for Purchase and Payment Bid #17-04 —

Bleachers – Lee School

Resolution: BE IT RESOLVED to accept the low acceptable bid for the following bids and to

approve payment of same upon completion: Bid #17-04 — Bleachers – Lee School

8.6 Approval of a Resolution to Repay and Reborrow a Loan from the Working Cash Fund

to the Retirement Fund

The School Code of Illinois allows for a transfer of funds to accommodate cash flow conditions.

This resolution repays a loan in the amount of $3,800,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the

Retirement Fund. A new loan is approved in the amount of $2,800,000 from the Working Cash

Fund to the Retirement Fund.

Resolution: WHEREAS, Article 20 of the School Code authorizes transfers from the Working

Cash Fund to any fund of the District for which taxes are levied; and WHEREAS, the Board has

previously approved a loan from the Working Cash Fund to the Retirement Fund in the amount of

$3,800,000; and WHEREAS, the District collected total taxes in the Retirement Fund of

$5,810,914 during 2015-16; and WHEREAS, the District anticipates collection of total taxes in the

Retirement Fund during 2016-17 in the amount of $5,605,700; NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED THAT: 1. Final repayment shall be made from the Retirement Fund to the Working

Cash Fund in the amount of $3,800,000; and 2. Upon completion of the action authorized above

and in anticipation of the total taxes to be received during 2016-17 in the Retirement Fund; a new

loan is hereby approved from the Working Cash Fund to the Retirement Fund in the amount of

$2,800,000.

8.7 Approval of a Resolution to Repay and Reborrow a Loan from the Working Cash Fund

to the Operations and Maintenance Fund

The School Code of Illinois allows for a transfer of funds to accommodate cash flow conditions.

This resolution repays a loan in the amount of $3,750,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the

Operations & Maintenance Fund. A new loan is approved in the amount of $3,250,000 from the

Working Cash Fund to the Operations & Maintenance Fund.

Resolution: WHEREAS, Article 20 of the School Code authorizes transfers from the Working

Cash Fund to any fund of the District for which taxes are levied; and WHEREAS, the Board has

previously approved a loan from the Working Cash Fund to the Operations & Maintenance Fund

in the amount of $3,750,000; and WHEREAS, the District collected total taxes in the Operations &

Maintenance Fund of $13,019,396 during 2015-16; and WHEREAS, the District anticipates

collection of total taxes in the Operations & Maintenance Fund during 2016-17 in the amount of

$13,164,526; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. Final repayment shall be made

from the Operations & Maintenance Fund to the Working Cash Fund in the amount of $3,750,000;

and 2. Upon completion of the action authorized above and in anticipation of the total taxes to be

received during 2016-17 in the Operations & Maintenance Fund; a new loan is hereby approved

from the Working Cash Fund to the Operations & Maintenance Fund in the amount of $3,250,000.

8.8 Approval of a Loan from the Working Cash Fund to the Transportation Fund

Interfund Loan – The School Code of Illinois allows for a transfer of funds to accommodate cash

flow conditions. This resolution approves a loan of $1,500,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the

Transportation Fund.

Resolution: WHEREAS, the District anticipates that the Transportation Fund will not have

sufficient cash available to meet the District's obligations; and WHEREAS, Article 20 of The

School Code of Illinois authorizes transfers from the Working Cash Fund to any fund of the district

for which taxes are levied; and WHEREAS, the District collected total taxes in the Transportation

Fund of $4,616,643 during 2015-16; and WHEREAS, the District anticipates collection of total

taxes in the Transportation Fund during 2016-17 in the amount of $4,866,100; NOW

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a new loan is hereby approved from the Working Cash

Fund to the Transportation Fund in the amount of $1,500,000.

8.9 Approval of an Agreement with Springfield Urban League Head Start

Resolution: WHEREAS, Springfield Urban League Inc., Head Start and Springfield Public

School District 186 are interested in strengthening cooperative inter-agency planning and

community-based services; and WHEREAS, each party is offering to refer, and will refer persons

to the other, and will accept referrals from the other subject to each agency’s criteria; NOW

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education approves a linkage agreement with

Springfield Urban League Inc., Head Start, which demonstrates a working relationship between

the District and the agency for the 2016-2017 school year.

8.10 Approval of a Resolution for a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Consultant

Resolution: WHEREAS, Springfield School District 186 desires services for on-site consulting

from Jen Frakes, MA, BCBA to provide staff development services on Functional Behavior and

Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs); and WHEREAS, Jen Frakes is qualified to provide such

services as an Applied Behavioral Analysis Consultant for the District; and WHEREAS, Jan

Frakes has indicated her willingness and desire to provide a day of technical assistance onsite

training for district paraprofessionals at a cost of $400 per day; NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED that the Board of Education approves the retention of consultant Jen Frakes per the

terms identified above and directs the Superintendent to execute the necessary documents on

behalf of the Board.

ROLL CALL ACTION ITEMS

9.1 Approval of Personnel Recommendations

Resolution: The Superintendent recommends adoption of the Personnel recommendations as

presented.

ORIGINAL - Motion

Member (Michael Zimmers) Moved, Member (Blake Handley) Seconded to approve the

ORIGINAL motion 'The Superintendent recommends adoption of the Personnel

recommendations as presented'. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 7 Nay: 0.

The motion Carried. 7 - 0

Those voting “aye”: Flamini, Funderburg, Handley, Johnson, Lopez, Moore, Zimmers

Those voting “no”: None.

9.2 Approval of a Resolution Accepting the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for

Fiscal Year 2016

Acceptance of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2016.

Resolution: The Superintendent recommends adoption of the following resolution: WHEREAS,

the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 105, Article 5, Section 2-3.17a require the completion of

an annual financial audit by all school districts; and WHEREAS, the accounting firm of Sikich,

L.L.P., has conducted such an audit in accordance with all prescribed statutory requirements,

rules, regulations, and/or standards; and WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received and

reviewed said audit from, Sikich, L.L.P; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of

Education accepts the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (audit) for Fiscal Year 2016 as

presented.

ORIGINAL - Motion

Member (Lisa Funderburg) Moved, Member (Blake Handley) Seconded to approve the

ORIGINAL motion 'The Superintendent recommends adoption of the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 105, Article 5, Section 2-3.17a require the

completion of an annual financial audit by all school districts; and WHEREAS, the accounting firm

of Sikich, L.L.P., has conducted such an audit in accordance with all prescribed statutory

requirements, rules, regulations, and/or standards; and WHEREAS, the Board of Education has

received and reviewed said audit from, Sikich, L.L.P; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that

the Board of Education accepts the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (audit) for Fiscal

Year 2016 as presented'. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 7 Nay: 0. The

motion Carried. 7 - 0

Those voting “aye”: Flamini, Funderburg, Handley, Johnson, Lopez, Moore, Zimmers

Those voting “no”: None.

9.3 Approval of a Resolution Amending the Tax Levy for the Payment of the Taxable

General Obligation Limited Tax School Bonds, Series 2014B of Springfield School District

No. 186, Sangamon County, Illinois

The General Obligation Limited School Refunding Bonds, Series 2014B were structured to allow

for annual growth in the Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB) based upon the CPI each year.

The bond documents filed with the County Clerk in March 2014 assumed no increase. Now that

we know that the 2015 CPI is 0.7%, this resolution informs the County Clerk to extend taxes for

the debt service payments for the 2016 tax year to capture the growth in the DSEB. This

resolution is to be filed annually to adjust for the change in the CPI each year. This resolution

must be adopted by the Board and filed with the County Clerk no later than February 29, 2017.

Resolution: The Superintendent recommends adoption of the resolution amending the 2014B

bond levy as attached.

ORIGINAL - Motion

Member (Donna Moore) Moved, Member (Charles Flamini) Seconded to approve the

ORIGINAL motion 'The Superintendent recommends adoption of the resolution amending the

2014B bond levy as attached'. Upon a roll call vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 7 Nay: 0. The

motion Carried. 7 - 0

Those voting “aye”: Flamini, Funderburg, Handley, Johnson, Lopez, Moore, Zimmers

Those voting “no”: None.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

10.1 Next Regular Meeting — Tuesday, January 3, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. — Board Room

10.2 Freedom of Information Report

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Lopez declared the meeting

adjourned until Tuesday, January 3, 2017. The meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.

_______________________________________

Adam Lopez, President

______________________________________

Julie A. Hammers, Secretary

Dated: _________________________