Robein District # 85

East Peoria, Illinois

Regular Board Meeting

11/27/2000

 

Call to order by Mrs. Short at 6:00pm.

 

Members present: Mr. Knight, Mr. Buttice, Mr. Greuter, Mr. Visocky, Mr. Sherwood, Mrs. Short.

 

Members Absent:  Ms. Skaggs

 

Guests:  Mrs. Daggs, Mr. Vandemore

 

Approval of Minutes:

 

Motion by Mr. Buttice/ Mr. Visocky to approve 9/21/2000 and 11/9/2000 minutes as amended. Motion voted.  Yeas-6, Nays-0.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by Mr. Sherwood/ Mr. Knight to approve 5/1/2000, 6/22/2000, 7/11/2000 as amended, and 8/24/2000 minutes.  Mr. Sherwood asked for clarification of 6/22/2000 treasurer’s report and four State Aid payments.  Dr. Bradshaw reported the sequence how payments were made.  Motion voted.  Yeas-6, Nays-0

 

Public Input:  none  

 

Treasurer’s Report:

 

Dr. Bradshaw reported on or about 12/1/2000 and additional 10% of tax money to be received.  Dr Bradshaw and Jim Mamer will meet and re-access rolling education funds into CDs.  The recent CD rate has been approximately the same as our regular account resulting in no advantage to roll this money into CD’s in the recent past.  When they do roll funds they roll funds into $50,000 CDs at a time which allows for simple removal from CD back into the regular accounts.

 

Craft sale profits will be transferred into the Sports Fund after all expenses paid.  Dr. Bradshaw and Mrs. Daggs are currently discussing bringing a resident artist to Robein in conjunction with Mrs. Hippen’s Outdoor Learning project.  Mrs. Daggs added that Student Council funds will also be used to supplement some of the costs of Mrs. Hippen’s Outdoor Learning Project. 

 

Motion by Mr. Knight/Mr. Sherwood to approve the treasure’s report. Motion voted. Yeas-6, Nays-0

 

Warrants: 

 

Questioned warrants and Dr. Bradshaw reported: #16 AR Books, #40 lap top for Mrs. Guinta and health programs and special ed. Writing of IEPs.  #83 and #114 the teacher’s lounge is now done and paid for, #99 Medicaid refund District 150s handling fee. #154 roof drain surrounding area repair.  On new roof we have a 20 year warranty,  #32-#35 four additional computers.  A new computer lab is being developed consisting of the old HPs.  This lab will be used for word processing because of their limited speed.

 

Motion by Mr. Visocky/Mr. Greuter to approve warrants.  Motion voted.  Yeas-6, Nays-0.

 

Superintendent Report:

 

Dr. Bradshaw distributed “Plan A” and an alternate “Plan B”.  See levy plans attached.  Dr. Bradshaw gave an explanation of the levy plans.  He also said the Board can, in the future, move all the levied monies into the education fund as the collar counties are now doing.  Dr. Bradshaw explained that we have a lost opportunity of $92,764.07 now, and this amount will continue to grow.  The Board must levy for all new growth or loose it.  The levy must also be filed by the last Tuesday in December.  Mr. Buttice suggested we levy for new growth at and total additional of 10%.  Consensus was that 10% is recommended.  Dr. Bradshaw will file the Truth and Taxation statement.

 

The Craft Sale went well and was very profitable.  Mrs. Sconce and her husband Randy did a wonderful job.  Both the Board and Superintendent expressed appreciation to Mrs. Sconce and all others involved.

 

Dr. Bradshaw reported the survey concerning a closed campus and latchkey was sent home and the results were totaled and distributed to the Board. 117 surveys were returned.  In summery the lower grade parents did not seem to mind a closed lunch overall, the 8th grade surveys desired an open campus.

 

Substantial interest was shown for a latch key program.  Dr. Bradshaw will research costs of existing carriers such as Fondulac Park District and others.  Then he will put forth the estimate costs to the parents to see if there is still interest.  Rogy’s will also be given as an option since they already pick up students from Robein.  It might be possible that they would offer a discount. 

 

A third grade parent's comment on liability seemed to be on target.  General discussion pursued.

 

Dr. Bradshaw commented on the lockdown situation at the school.  A parent call Robein hearing that a person possibly having a weapon was a possible danger and in the surrounding area.  Mr. Vandemore took charge as Dr. Bradshaw and Betty were out of the building.  Upper grade students were told they could not leave the school building and they presented some protests.  Lower grade students were in the process of coming back from lunch.  They were both walking and riding bikes back to Robein after their lunch and Dr. Bradshaw expressed concern that there was potential for those students to be in danger.  Mrs.. Short commented that the younger grades seem to favor a closed campus.  Discussion continued about the need to make parents aware of this lockdown and potential dangers in today’s world. 

 

Dr. Bradshaw suggested that a closed campus could be reviewed this year for the next school year.  Parents could pick up their children, Mr. Vandemore would have the list of students being picked up by parents, and this system could flow smoothly.

 

Mrs. Short volunteered to research what is currently being done in the District 102, especially about how they are handling sign in and sign out, and will advise the Board.  Dr. Bradshaw said he could start advising parents and continue to make parents aware of this potential danger every other month.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Policy – Mr. Sherwood reported on nine policies included for review and two changes.  7:20 page 2 Robein has no type 75 females.  Our attorneys recommended striking this sentence “at least one of these individuals will be a female, and at least one will be male.”  Concerning 8:30 #10 Dr Bradshaw asked the attorneys if #10 is struck we would not create additional liability for the school.  Dr Bradshaw reported that the attorneys stated we would not have any additional liability if we struck #10.  Mr. Knight said that the cities have ordinances to protect property from skateboarders and rollerbladers.  Dr. Bradshaw said he would continue to monitor the situation.

 

Mrs. Short asked the Board Members for the committee requests and she would advise Board members of their assignments by the December meeting.

 

Audience Participation:

 

Mrs. Daggs reported she and Mrs. Bare attended the Bradley Senate after the Senate members came to talk with Robein students.  She also asked if the teachers would be given the results of the community survey as reported earlier in this meeting.  Dr. Bradshaw will provide that information to the teachers.  Mrs. Daggs also mentioned the exit sign when leaving the parking lot has been vandalized.  Mr. Greuter suggested the Board look into a swinging gate.  Mrs. Short added the double swinging gate cost less than $500.00.  Mrs. Daggs asked if the school must have a stop sign at this exit.  Mr. Knight said it is not needed, as it is the driver's responsibility to stop to avoid an accident when exiting.   Mrs. Short referred the issue of the sign and a possible gate to the building committee.

 

Old Business:

 

Board members gave a convention update.  Mr. Buttice asked as to the status of the maintenance grant refund.  Dr. Bradshaw reported the State has not yet released this money.  The last reimbursement came in February/March. 

 

Dr. Bradshaw reported he is going to Springfield to talk with the State House in support of the School Improvement Days waiver.  Dr. Bradshaw will keep us advised.  We currently have State Board approval.  The holiday waivers ran out and need to be resubmitted for in February.  This is just a matter of photocopying the last form used.

 

New Business:

 

The levy hearing date was set at the regularly scheduled meeting in December on the 18th at 6:00 PM.

 

Motion by Mr. Sherwood/Mr. Visocky to accept the first reading of policies 2:70, 2:220, 6:270, 7:20, 8:50, 6:15, 6:170, 7:10, and 8:30 as presented.  No discussion.  Motion voted.  Yeas-6, Nays-0. 

 

Dr. Bradshaw reported that the other superintendents in East Peoria have been under pressure to start school later due to the heat.  The other three districts will most likely begin school after Labor Day and plan to be out on June 7th, with no snow days.  Other districts do not have a/c like Robein.  In the past Robein has attempted to follow the high school.  The high School will use Thursday and Friday prior to Labor Day as institute days.

 

 

 

EPACC:

 

A meeting is to be held Thursday.  The goal for second semester is to have the four districts work together on some projects.  Next year to follow up on the process of different levels of thinking and tying them to state standards.  They will bring in speakers for K-5th, 6-8, and high school. 

 

Executive Session:

 

Motion by Mr. Knight/Mr. Sherwood to enter executive session to discuss personnel issues.  Motion voted. Yeas-6, Nays-0.  Motion carried.  Board entered executive session at 7:51 PM.

 

Motion by Mr. Knight/ Mr. Greuter to return to open session.  Motion voted.  Yeas-6, Nays-0.  Motion carried.

 

Continuation of New Business:

 

Motion by Mr. Buttice/ Mr. Knight to accept the resignation of Dr. Bradshaw per his 11/27/2000 written request with regrets.  Motion voted.  Yeas-6, Nays-0.  Motion carried.

 

Mr. Buttice discussed the “School Board Newsbulletin” and the tool for self-assessment.  He suggested this could be pursued in the future. 

 

Dr. Bradshaw pointed out the new school rating system announced in the same publication.

 

Adjournment:

 

Motion by Mr. Knight/ Mr. Sherwood to adjourn.  Motion voted Yeas-6, Nays-0. Motion carried.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:11 PM. The next scheduled special meeting is on 12/5/2000 at 6:pm.  The next scheduled regular meeting is on 12/18/2000 at 6:pm.

 

______________________                                        __________________________

President, Chris Short                                                    Secretary, Steven Buttice (sub)