ROME COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Board of Education Meeting Minutes November 20, 2007
1. The Rome School Board of Education Meeting of November 20, 2007, was called to order by President Hills with the roll call at 7:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call Carl Miller Ron Bradford Donna Fally Mike Koch Present Absent Absent Present Mike Moore - Present Edward Self - Absent Harry Hills - Present
Also in attendance were Meredith Fox, Holly Shirley, Superintendent Dwain Baldridge, and Recording Secretary Mary Beth Voss. 3. A motion was made by Carl Miller and seconded by Mike Koch to approve the minutes of the October 16, 2007, and October 23, 2007 (Special), Board Meeting Minutes. The motion was unanimously approved. 4. A motion was made by Mike Moore and seconded by Carl Miller to approve the monthly Financial Report. Vote: Carl Miller –Yes Ron Bradford – Absent Donna Fally – Absent Mike Koch – Yes The motion was unanimously approved. 5. A motion was made by Mike Koch and seconded by Mike Moore to approve the bills in the amount of $82,018.43. Vote: Carl Miller –Yes Ron Bradford – Absent Donna Fally – Absent Mike Koch – Yes The motion was unanimously approved. 6. A motion was made by Carl Miller and seconded by Mike Koch to approve the repayment of the Revolving Fund in the amount of $1,073.77. Vote: Carl Miller –Yes Ron Bradford – Absent Donna Fally – Absent Mike Koch – Yes Mike Moore – Yes Edward Self – Absent Harry Hills – Yes Mike Moore – Yes Edward Self – Absent Harry Hills – Yes Mike Moore – Yes Edward Self – Absent Harry Hills – Yes
The motion was unanimously approved. 7. Recognition and Comments from Employees and Public. On behalf of the Rome Education Association, Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Shirley extended their appreciation to board members for all the work they do for the district. They told member the desserts for the evening are provided by the REA in show of their appreciation. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 9. NEW BUSINESS a. Carl Miller and Superintendent Baldridge highlighted several sessions they attended at the IASB/IASA Joint Annual Conference of November 16-18. Harry Hills summarized legislative issues discussed at the Delegate Assembly stating there were over 390 delegates in attendance. b. A motion was made by Carl Miller and seconded by Mike Moore to accept the resignation of Pamela Ford as a part-time cook, effective October 25, 2007. Vote: Carl Miller –Yes Ron Bradford – Absent Donna Fally – Absent Mike Koch – Yes The motion was unanimously approved. c. A motion was made by Mike Moore and seconded by Carl Miller to employ Cathy Voyles as a part-time cook (four hours per day), in addition to being a part-time custodian, to make her a full-time employee. Vote: Carl Miller –Yes Ron Bradford – Absent Donna Fally – Absent Mike Koch – Yes The motion was unanimously approved. d. A motion was made by Carl Miller and seconded by Mike Koch to approve a proposed estimate of the 2007 aggregate tax levy that is less than 105% of the taxes extended for the previous year. The motion was unanimously approved. e. A motion was made by Mike Moore and seconded by Carl Miller to approve the district’s participation in the FY2008 School Library Per Capita Grant Program. 2 Mike Moore – Yes Edward Self – Absent Harry Hills – Yes Mike Moore – Yes Edward Self – Absent Harry Hills – Yes
The motion was unanimously approved. f. A motion was made by Mike Moore and seconded by Carl Miller to approve the use of Martin Miley as a volunteer 5th grade basketball coach for the 2007-2008 school year. The motion was unanimously approved. g. A motion was made by Carl Miller and seconded by Mike Koch to adjourn to closed session to do a mid-year evaluation of the bookkeeper’s accounting and record maintenance and consider including full-year non-certified employees and the administration in the Section 125 (Cafeteria) Plan. Time: 8:12 p.m. The motion was unanimously approved. A motion was made by Carl Miller and seconded by Mike Moore to return to open session. Time: 8:40 p.m. A motion was made by Carl Miller and seconded by Mike Moore to approve the $250.00 per month in lieu of insurance stipend for Mary Beth Voss as is currently being received by other full-year non-certified employees, retroactive to the beginning of FY2008. Vote: Carl Miller –Yes Ron Bradford – Absent Donna Fally – Absent Mike Koch – Yes The motion was unanimously approved. A motion was made by Mike Koch and seconded by Mike Moore to revise the Rome Community Consolidated School District 2 Section 125 Plan to define “eligible employees” as members of the Rome Education Association and full-year non-certified and administrative personnel. The motion was unanimously approved. 10. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT a. Superintendent Baldridge recapped the Special Board Planning Meeting of October 23, 2007. He presented the district goals as follows: 1) Complete the tasks and projects as identified on the “Building and Grounds Improvement List,” 2) Establish a gifted program for grades six through eight, and 3) Explore the introduction of fine arts and Spanish into the curriculum. b. Bright Star and ISBE Academic Improvement Awards. Superintendent Baldridge read a portion of a letter from SchoolSearch 2007, congratulating Rome CCSD 2 on receiving the Bright Star Award. The award is based on school districts whose students’ academic performance ranks in the upper one third of Illinois school districts, but whose expenditure per pupil ranks in the lower one-fourth of the state. Rome is one of 80 3 Mike Moore – Yes Edward Self – Absent Harry Hills – Yes
school districts out of 872 in Illinois to receive this award. Baldridge informed members that the district also received the ISBE Academic Improvement Award, a result of students exhibiting marked improvement in reading and math scores. b. Student and Staff Recognition Superintendent Baldridge stated the Family Reading Night of November 8 was a success with approximately 50 parents in attendance. He shared some of the highlights of the Veteran’s Day Program presented on November 12, and announced the names of several veterans who were in attendance. Baldridge congratulated the boys’ basketball team for receiving 2nd place in the Rome Tournament. He commended Mrs. Quick and Mrs. Tucker for stepping outside their prospective roles to conduct a session on analyzing student ISAT test scores at the Rend Lake College Market Place on November 1. Baldridge announced that Thursday, November 15, was designated as School Board Members’ Day throughout the state and he commended board members for their hard work, dedication, and continued efforts in working for the betterment of the Rome School District. d. Miscellaneous Superintendent Baldridge informed members that Mrs. Coats has worked diligently to obtain reimbursement from our telephone and internet service providers through the E-Rate Discount Program. He commended her for her efforts which resulted in a savings to the district of approximately 60% of the total telephone and internet expenditures for FY07. 11. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Mike Moore and seconded by Mike Koch to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 p.m. The motion was unanimously approved.
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