Minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 16, 2008 The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties, Illinois met in regular session on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at the Administration Building – 410 West Polk Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920 At 6:30 p.m. President Mason called the meeting to order and asked for roll call. The following members were present: Gail Mason, President Jason Coe, Vice President Kelly Miller, Secretary Jeff Coon, Treasurer Jerry Esker The following members were absent: Ron Miller Kevin Oakley The following staff members were present: Jim Littleford, Superintendent Todd Vilardo, Assistant Superintendent David Kuetemeyer, Financial Consultant Visitors 26 and 1 Member of the Press Under Board Recognition, Mr. Littleford introduced Pam Storm, Media Specialist at Carl Sandburg Elementary School. Ms. Storm was happy to announce that Carl Sandburg students earned 90,819 points from participating in the Reading Counts Program during the 2007-08 school year. She introduced the three students that earned over 1,000 points apiece: Timothy Cho, Karly Coffey and Lauren Zhang in attendance with their parents. Mr. Littleford presented Timothy and Karly with a Certificate of Recognition. Lauren was not able to attend the meeting. Mr. Littleford listed summer projects performed through a Community Outreach program within Charleston CUSD #1: • collected school supplies and delivered them to the schools • weeded gardens and mulched at Jefferson and Carl Sandburg • read books onto CD’s for Jefferson • made posters and other visual aid projects for High School and Carl Sandburg teachers • picked up trash on school campuses Churches that participated: The Crossover – Mattoon, Kansas United Methodist Church, Tri-County Church – Ashmore, First Assembly of God – Mattoon, East Harrison Street Church of God – Charleston, and Salisbury Church – Charleston. Marsha Dawson was in attendance and accepted a Certificate of Recognition on behalf of the Salisbury Church. Mr. Littleford stated he would send thank you letters with Certificates of Recognition to each of the churches that participated. President Mason asked if there were any public, staff comments. There being none, Mr. Littleford asked that the Board move to the Superintendent’s Report. Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Vilardo announced Central Registration would be held in the Charleston High School cafeteria on Friday, July 25, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Monday, July 28, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. As in the past, he reported many organizations will have informational areas
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for parents and students. All district administrators will be in attendance to answer any questions. If parents are not able to attend Central Registration, they will be able to register their children at each school site after July 28. Mr. Littleford provided plans for the August 13 All-Staff Institute Day activities and asked the Board of Education to attend if their schedules permitted. A continental breakfast will be served in the CHS cafeteria at 7:30 a.m. Welcome and opening thoughts provided by Superintendent, Jim Littleford - 8:30 a.m. in the CHS Auditorium, followed by presentations 9:45 – 11:45 from Attorney, Brandon Wright on the Legal Aspects of RTI (Response to Intervention) and Sandy Behrens, RTI Applied in Schools. From 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in the CHS Media Center, the Board of Education will host a reception to welcome Jim Littleford and Todd Vilardo into the District. Invitations were sent to CUSD #1 employees and Community members. Mr. Littleford reported on a meeting held on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 to discuss the problems incurred with installation of the CHS Baker Gymnasium bleachers. The approved design plans sent to Carroll Bleachers for construction allowed the bleachers to move out farther than was intended by District personnel. The lower tier south and north side bleachers infringe onto the out-of-bounds red stripe line. Mr. Littleford asked Bill Richardson, Director of Buildings and Grounds, Pat Carroll, Carroll Bleachers, and Architect, Mike Sneddon of the UpChurch Group to outline the problems and present options for the Board of Education to consider. As an option, Mr. Carroll reported that the row space could be reduced to 30% capacity and would still remain in compliance with ADA requirements. The foot space now allowed for 26” could be adjusted to 24” or one row could be removed. The cost for the change would be approximately $7300. Athletic Director, Jerry Calandrilla suggested that the rows could be shortened in the student and visitors section. The Board of Education raised the question of how the miscalculation occurred. Mr. Sneddon stated that it was a communication problem. The UpChurch Group was not aware of the IHSA regulations and was prepared to make good on the additional costs incurred to the district to correct the problem. Mr. Littleford informed the Board that under Item IX. Recommended Action New Business, he would be requesting for authorization to approve any forthcoming bleacher change orders. He thanked Pat Carroll and Mike Sneddon for their attendance and report. Mr. Littleford announced a committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, at 9:00 a.m. to continue planning for the Concession Facility to be located on the All Sports Complex. Committee members: Sara Paap, Randy Etnire, Jeff Coon, Laura Ferry, Jerry Calandrilla, David Kuetemeyer, Bill Richardson, and Jim Littleford. Four different sets of plan options have been forwarded to all committee members for review. Major discussion items include exact location, cost, water, sewer, and hot food availability. More information or a recommendation will be made at the August Board Meeting. David Kuetemeyer reviewed the estimated final balances in the 2007-08 school year budget. He was happy to announce that the Education Fund will end with a positive balance. The district is waiting for the auditor to confirm the end of the year balances in all funds. President Mason thanked Mr. Littleford for his report and asked for a motion to accept the Superintendent’s Report. Mr. Coe moved and Mr. Esker seconded the motion. On roll call vote: AYE: Coe, Esker, Coon, K. Miller, Mason NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried
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Mr. Littleford reviewed the items under the Consent Agenda. III. Consent Agenda: Standard Items A. Approve the minutes of the following meeting: Regular Meeting of June 18, 2008. B. Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of June 2008. C. Approve the Activity Fund Accounts for the period ending June 2008 for the CUSD #1 attendance centers. V. Consent Agenda: New Business A. Approve the closed session minutes of the following meetings: January 16, 2008, February 13, 2008, February 20, 2008, March 5, 2008, March 19, 2008, April 16, 2008, May 6, 2008, May 21, 2008, and June 4, 2008; and not make public the minutes of the closed session minutes. B. Approve the hazardous walking areas by resolution and reaffirm transportation from and to a childcare provider’s residence for the 2008-09 school year. C. Declare referenced inventory from the Charleston High School Football program as surplus and available to be donated to the Trojan Booster Club. Further, declare referenced equipment from the CHS Training Room as surplus and available for sale or disposal. D. Approve the Application for Approval of Student Occupancy of a Temporary Facility and Temporary Facility Evacuation Assurance, for the modular classrooms located at the Mark Twain Elementary School site for the 2008-09 school year. VI. Consent Agenda: Employment Accept a letter of resignation from Sandy Wilson as the Charleston Middle School Principal, effective July 31, 2008. Approve the transfer of Dana Hunter into the position of LBS1 teacher at Carl Sandburg Elementary School for the 2008-09 school year. Approve the transfer of Patti Murphy into the position of Reading Specialist within the Media Center at Jefferson Elementary School for the 2008-09 school year. Approve the transfer of Andrea Doty into a secretarial position at Charleston Middle School for the 2008-09 school year. Approve the transfer of Mary Isbell into a secretarial position at Charleston High School for the 2008-09 school year. Approve the transfer of Chris Handley into the position of Classroom Paraprofessional at Carl Sandburg Elementary School for the 2008-09 school year. Approve the employment of Greg Juriga in the position of Physics/AP Physics/mathematics teacher at Charleston High School for the 2008-09 school year. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment. Approve the employment of Amy Wood in the position of LBS1 teacher at Carl Sandburg Elementary School for the 2008-09 school year. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment. Approve the employment of Kristin Townsend in the extra curricular assignment as 8th grade Volleyball Coach at Charleston Middle School for the 2008-09 school year.
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Approve the employment of Chad Miller in the extra curricular assignment as Head Coach of Girls’ Track and Field at Charleston High School for the 2008-09 school year. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment. President Mason asked if there were any requests from the Board of Education to pull any of the consent agenda items or addendum items for discussion. There being none, the superintendent recommended that the Board of Education approve items under III through VI inclusive on the Consent Agenda. Mr. Esker moved and Mr. Coe seconded the motion.
On roll call vote: AYE: Esker, Coe, Coon, K. Miller, Mason NAY: none Abstain: Coon & Mason from June 18, 2008 minutes Motion carried Under new business, Financial Consultant, David Kuetemeyer and Insurance Consultant, Travis Bushue of Bushue Human Resources provided a summary that outlined student accident insurance coverage available for the district to purchase covering all students and athletes, athletes only, and students only. Option I covers all students and athletes, also includes football insurance. Option II covers athletes only. Option III covers students only. Mr. Bushue recommended Option I for student accident coverage submitted by Dimond Brothers Agency, underwritten by Lawrence E. Smith & Associates with an annual premium of $12,370.50. Mr. Kuetemeyer reported in the past, Charleston CUSD #1 only offered Catastrophic Insurance Coverage for student athletes in grades 9-12. For this year, the district asked Mr. Bushue to request bid quotes for catastrophic coverage for athletes in grades 7-12 and also for students in grades K-12. Student athletes in grades 7-12 would be required to pay a $4.00 fee; therefore, making catastrophic coverage for students in grades K-12 self funded. Mr. Kuetemeyer indicated this was a lot of coverage for the fee. For Catastrophic Coverage, athletes in grades 7-12, Mr. Bushue recommended First Agency, underwritten by AIG with an annual premium of $1,621.67, for students in grades K-12 only, First Agency, underwritten by AIG with an annual premium of $1,969.41. Based on the recommendation from Travis Bushue, the superintendent recommended that the Board of Education accept the proposal from Lawrence E. Smith & Associates for a student accident program presented from Dimond Brothers Agency and catastrophic coverage for athletes in grades 7-12 and for students in grades K-12 presented from First Agency underwritten by AIG for the 2008-09 school year. Mr. Coon moved and Dr. Mason seconded the motion. On roll call vote: AYE: Coon, Mason, Coe, Esker, K. Miller NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried From discussion under the Superintendent’s Report, it was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve acceptable bleacher change orders as provided by The UpChurch Group Architects and/or also provide the Superintendent authorization to approve future change orders in order to rectify the situation. Mr. Coe moved and Mr. Coon seconded the motion.
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On roll call vote: AYE: Coe, Coon, Esker, K. Miller, Mason NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried The Board of Education reviewed committee assignments for the 2008-09 school year. Due to their work schedules, Mr. Coe and Mr. Esker would not able to serve on the CEA/Administration committee. Otherwise, all committee membership remained the same as the 2007-08 school year. The Board of Education asked Mr. Littleford to check with Ron Miller, who was absent, to see if he would be able to serve on the CEA/Administration Committee. Mr. Coe moved and Ms. Miller seconded a motion to accept the committee assignments for the 2008-09 school year. On roll call vote: AYE: Coe, K. Miller, Coon, Esker, Mason NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried Mr. Coon moved and Dr. Mason seconded a motion to establish Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. as a Special Board meeting for the Board/Administrative Retreat. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Administration Office. On roll call vote: AYE: Coon, Mason, Coe, Esker, K. Miller NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried The superintendent asked the Board of Education to grant the authority to employ personnel in order to begin the 2008-09 school year with the appropriate staff. This was contingent upon receipt of all information required for employment and based upon Board approval at the following board meeting. Mr. Esker moved and Mr. Coe seconded the motion. On roll call vote: AYE: Esker, Coe, Coon, K. Miller, Mason NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried At 7:36 p.m., President Mason recommended that the Board of Education adjourn into closed session to consider information regarding appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the pubic body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity. Ms. Miller moved and Mr. Coe seconded the motion. Mr. Littleford stated during closed session the Board of Education would specifically discuss the resignation of the CMS Principal. On roll call vote: AYE: K. Miller, Coe, Coon, Esker, Mason NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried
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At 7:54 p.m., Mr. Coon made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mr. Coe seconded the motion. On roll call vote: AYE: Coon, Coe, Esker, K. Miller, Mason NAY: none Abstain: none Motion carried Mr. Littleford outlined tentative plans and dates for employing the CMS principal. At 7:55 p.m. Mr. Esker moved to adjourn from the board meeting. Ms. Miller seconded the motion. On roll call: AYE: Esker, K. Miller, Coe, Coon, Mason NAY: none Motion carried
_Jason Coe_____________________ President Pro-Tem, Board of Education _Kelly P. Miller____________ Secretary, Board of Education
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