Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 Board
Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 Board met Monday, March 20.
Williamsville High School is located at 900 S. Walnut, Williamsville.
Williamsville Community Unit School
District Number 15
MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
*Regular meeting taking place at the District Office on March 20, 2017
Members
Position / Present:
Presiding Officer Matt Seman
Charlie Waugh
Corey Conklin
Tom Ray
Superintendent Don Beard
Building Principals / Adam Eucker, Clay Shoufler, Adam Ibbotson, Janis Lindsey and Becky Miller
Board of Education Secretary Teresa Benner
Position / Absent:
Pann Kovacevich
Kurt Ratliff
Building Principal / Doug Furlow
Call To Order / Roll Call / Pledge of Allegiance / Approval of Agenda
The meeting was called to order by President, Matt Seman. Roll call was taken by the Recording Secretary. Those in attendance stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Corey Conklin and seconded by Tom Ray that the agenda be approved as amended.
Discussion:
Revised for legal language for Action tem a.
Bohannon aS Individual Aide hire
Motion Carried
Action tem e - removed Katie
Recognition of Employees and Public
Byron Painter - South County Publications Tip Reedy, Current High School Principal at Monticello High School and new Superintendent of WCUSD15 as of July 1, 2017 Jen Thomas, teacher WJHS
Faculty Spotlight
Mr. Ibbotson introduced Jennifer Thomas, 8" grade science teacher. He noted that she is passionate about the stars and shares this passion with her students. She recently took part in two flights on NASA's SOFIA - Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. Mrs. Thomas stated that NASA modified a 747 dramatically in order to prepare it for these flights that started in 2008. SOFIA flies at 45,000 feet for 10-12 hour missions and carries a 17 ton telescope on board.
Mrs. Thomas showed a diagram of the inside of the plane and explained the layout. She also showed some images from the monitoring she did while on the flights. The plane is housed at a top secret facility. Mrs. Thomas also described for the Board her itinerary for the week and maps of the flights paths taken. Mrs. Thomas applied for nine years to be able to be a part of this program and is anxious to share her experience with others.
Approval of the Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Teresa Benner and seconded by Charlie Waugh to approve the Consent agenda containing items a, b, c, d, e, and f namely Approval of the following minutes as Written and distributed: Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 21, 2017, Approval of the Executive Session Meeting Minutes of February 21, 2017, Approval of the Bills in the amount of $573,911.26, including reimbursement of the revolving fund in the amount of $162.00, Approval of the Treasurer's Report, Approval of the Lunch Report, and Approval of Superintendent's Acceptance of Resignation:
o Jennifer Oglesby - Early Childhood Special Education/Pre-School for All
o On roll call the following members answered aye!
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman Teresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pam KOWaCevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion carried
Information Items
A. Superintendent's Report
1. Financial Update Mr. Beard noted that the budget and projections are the same as last month, and that we still have not received any categorical payments from the State in this fiscal year, for this fiscal year. WCUSD15 is owed over $460,000 currently and if we do not receive anything this month, that number will jump to over $645,000. He also stated he will present an amended budget to the Board in May to be approved in June.
Mr. Beard gave an update on the water testing law and stated that Austin Burris is coordinating this effort with the EPA. He noted that sampling is being done this week and in a short amount of time, we will be compliant. The cost to the District will be a little over $2000 for this testing.
Mr. Beard presented a 2005-2017 cash flow analysis and reiterated where we are at the end of February with a balance in all funds of $2,460,969 and a balance in the Operating Funds of $2,421,279. By comparison, at the end of February 2016, our balance in all funds was $3,368,166 and in the Operating Funds was $3,324,306.
2. Legislative Update
Mr. Beard informed the Board the conversation about seat belts on buses is escalating in the Statehouse. IASA (the Illinois Association of School Administrators) has put out an alert to all Superintendents to contact their representatives with their opinions. IASA and other school groups are opposed to the legislation and lobbying against these bills due primarily to costs associated with them, and the diminished occupant capacity likely to result. He stated that the safety of school buses is much greater than general automotive transportation and school bus crashes are rare. Mr. Beard reminded the Board we have not received any money at all for transportation. He also noted that if there is a rollover situation, or fire on a bus, seat belts can actually be detrimental.
Mr. Beard spoke about the proposed property tax freeze section of the "Grand Bargain" and reminded the Board that on the surface it sounds like a good deal, but none of the legislation guarantees that your individual property taxes would not increase. The proposal means there is a cap on what an entity, like a school district, can collect. This is likely a misconception by the public.
individual property tax rates would still change, but the total for a school, or municipality is what would be kept the same. None of the property tax revenue goes to the State coffers that pay the State's bills. It goes to municipalities, school districts, fire protection districts, and the like. This freeze would do nothing to help the State pay its debts and would only serve to hurt those entities that rely on the funding.
He went on to say that 59% of all property tax revenues go to public school districts. 63% of a school's operating funds, on average, come from property tax. If that is frozen, or the growth is limited, it is detrimental to schools. Property tax funding is not great, but is a reliable source of revenue. If property taxes are frozen, a referendum is inevitable. Without funds, we cannot keep programs, jobs and the quality of education needed in Our Schools.
There is talk about the 1% sales tax increase in Sangamon County that would be a collective action with county schools and District 186 in Springfield.
B. Principal’s Report
Janis Lindsey- full report Submitted to the Board
o PARCC testing for 3" graders this week, 4" graders next week
o Sherman Jump - $15,000 raised for St Jude's
o Chick Fil A night last week raised $700 for PTO
o Mouse Races coming up for PTO
Doug Furlow - full report Submitted to the Board
Clay Shoufler -
o PARCC testing is underway
o Track and Scholastic Bowl underway
o 4" quarter started today
Adam Ibbotson -
o Successful 6" grade orientation earlier this month for incoming 6" graders
Adam Eucker - full report Submitted to the Board
o Musical is this weekend - Friday night and two performances on Saturday o Scholastic Bowl placed 2" in Statel- 1 time in school history
o Two students made the All-Sectional team and 1 made the All-State team o Winter sports are done - 3 students each were recognized as All Conference for both boys' and girls' basketball o Sports Boosters spring event - dueling piano group at Boondock's
o They have donated back $175,000 in the last 4 years and have another $70,000 on tap for this year
Executive Session
A motion was made by Tom Ray and seconded by Corey Conklin to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of Under 5 ILCS 120, 2c of the Open Meetings Act. the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee or legal counsel for the public body
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye:
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman efesa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pam Kovacevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion carried
The Board entered executive session at 6:39pm and returned to open Session at 6:56pm.
A motion was made by Teresa Benner and seconded by Matt Seman to return to open Session.
Discussion: None
Motion carried.
Action Items
A motion was made by Teresa Benner and seconded by Charlie Waugh to adopt the Resolution of The Dismissal of a Professional Educator Licensed (PEL) Employee, Sara Gwaltney, as presented; and that the Superintendent be authorized and directed to deliver, or cause to be delivered, the Notice to the employee as specified in the Resolution.
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye:
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman Teresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pann Kovacevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion carried
A motion was made by Teresa Benner and seconded by Tom Ray to approve Overload Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for the 2017-18 school year.
o James Doerfler - HS Science, BJ Halford - HS Government, Jon Hampton - HS Science, Jay Martens - HS History, Jennifer Smith - HS Ag Science, Jaime Vicich - HS Spanish, Kyle Muskopf - District Band and Will Peters - Elementary PE
Discussion: none
o On roll call the following members answered aye!
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman Teresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pam Kovacevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion Carried
A motion was made by Charlie Waugh and seconded by Matt Seman to approve the Reemployment of all Certified Staff, excluding anyone previously dismissed for Want of a Professional Educator License, for the 2017-18 school year
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye!
Tom Ray Charles Waugh
Matt Seman Teresa Benner
Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pam KOWaCewich Kurt Ratliff
Motion Carried
A motion was made by Corey Conklin and seconded by Teresa Benner to grant tenure for the following staff
o Dan O'Connor, Josh Patrick, Megan Baugher, Scott Weller, Matt Mead and
Lindsey Mundstock
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye:
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman eresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pam KOWaCevich Kurt Ratijff
Motion Carried
A motion was made by Charlie Waugh and seconded by Tom Ray to employee non-certified staff.
o Lori Batson, PT Cook at WJHS
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye!
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman Teresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pam KOWaCevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion Carried
A motion was made by Corey Conklin and seconded by Matt Seman to approve IHSA membership for 2017-18
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye!
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman Teresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pann Kovacevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion carried
A motion was made by Matt Seman and seconded by Charlie Waugh to approve the scholastic Bowl National trip to Chicago
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye!
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman Teresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent:
Pam Kovacevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion carried
A motion was made by Charlie Waugh and seconded by Matt Seman to approve the early graduation request for Micah Weiss in December of 2017
Discussion: None
Motion carried
A motion was made by Corey Conklin and seconded by Tom Ray to approve the 20 day Consulting Agreement for Don Beard for the 2017-18 school year
Discussion: None
o On roll call the following members answered aye:
Tom Ray Charles Waugh Matt Seman Teresa Benner Corey Conklin
o On roll call the following members were absent: Pann Kovacevich Kurt Ratliff
Motion Carried
Adjournment
A motion was made by Teresa Benner and seconded by Matt Seman to adjourn the meeting.
Discussion: None
Motion Carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:01 pm
https://pipeline.locallabs.com/stories/511110449
Alerts Sign-up