MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Board of Education of the
Ms.
Marianne Clancy, Board Secretary, established a quorum and the following
Members were present: Mr. John Dirks, Mr. John Hanson, Mrs. Cheryl Jackson, Mr.
Keith Davis, Mrs. Millicent Roth and Mrs. Janet Smith, Board President. Mr. Uvaldo Herrera was absent.
Present
from the administrative staff were Dr. Roger Kilpatrick, Mr. Barry Reilly and
Mrs. Sally Tucker.
Ms. Linda Aschenbrener, Public Relations
Facilitator, was also in attendance.
Present
from the news media was Ms. Rebecca Loda from The
Pantagraph, Mr. Will Koch, WMBD TV, Mr. Steve Nicoles,
WHOI TV, and Mr. Kevin Hankis, WJBC Radio Station.
Mrs.
Smith presented the Minutes for approval. It was moved by Mrs. Jackson,
seconded by Mr. Hanson that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on
Mrs. Cindy Helmers, Bloomington High School (BHS) Principal,
introduced Mrs.Ann Gore, BHS Instrumental Music
Instructor, Mr. Dennis Morrissey, BHS Vocal Music Instructor, and Mrs. Karen Monhardt, BHS Instrumental Music Instructor. Each teacher
had students who were chosen as All-State Musicians. They include: Heather Delong (violin), Katie Gandhi (cello), Danielle Pence (violin), Katie Vasel
(flute) and Emma Schmelzer
(chorus). Ms. Schmelzer was recently chosen to sing
the National Anthem at the Girls' AA State Championship Basketball game.
Also honored was Gwen DeVeer who was chosen to perform at January's Illinois
High School Theatre Festival. Mrs.
Smith thanked the group for their hard work and representing BHS and asked the
students, their parents and teachers to come forward and receive
congratulations from the Board.
Mr. Dirks stated he met with the Citizens’ Advisory Council on
Thursday, February 5th. Reports were provided at the meeting by the Facilities
Sub-Committee and the Student Achievement Sub-Committee.
Mr. Hanson reported that he attended the recent McLean County Regional
Planning Commission. He stated their financial report, year ending
Mrs. Jackson announced that the Corn Belt Division will hold their
semi annual conference and dinner meeting on Tuesday, March 9th at
Mrs. Roth reminded the Board that evaluations for Dr. Nielsen are due.
Mr. Lue Walters and Mr.
Mike Williams, President Bloomington-Normal NAACP spoke in opposition regarding the district's financial decision to
eliminate the position of Title I,
Board Meeting
Page
2
have an adverse
effect on children of color, low income and the disabled.
*Title I grant allocations were
cut $100,000 this year and are expected to be reduced next year due to a 25-30%
decrease in the district's low income populations. Title I federal funding is
determined by information compiled and released by the 2000
Mrs. Roth asked the
audience for their financial support to aid our Summer School Scholarship Fund.
Mrs. Smith stated she will meet in March with the Judge John M. Scott
Vocational Education Trust Committee. Mrs. Smith announced that, if possible,
any additional funds will be funneled to the Summer School Scholarship Fund.
Mr. Colin Manahan, Director of
Facilities Management, presented the 2004-2008 Five-Year Improvement Plan.
There are two components to the 5-year plan:
Five Year Life Safety Plan (funded by life safety bonds and life safety tax
levies
Five Year Maintenance Plan (funded by operations and maintenance tax levy)
2004-05 Five Year Facilities Improvement Plan Total Expenses:
Maintenance Plan – $520,000
Life Safety Plan – $6,377,146
Expenses by Location:
Bent $442,000
BHS $3,978,346
BJHS $1,222,800
District $45,000
Irving $10,000
Oakland $418,600
Raymond $66,000
Sheridan $42,000
Stevenson $222,000
Washington $450,400
Total $6,897,146
Repairs in Operations & Maintenance fund include:
Bent: Replace ceilings and lights, paint and replace markerboards
on top floor.
BHS: Refinish north gym floor, paint south gym, replace ceilings and lights and
paint old academic hallways
BJHS: Carpet replacement
Irving: Replace 1st floor hall ceiling
Oakland: Replace ceilings and lights, paint and replace markerboards
in 3rd grade wing
Washington: add HVAC, paint, replace ceilings and lights and replace markerboards on 1st floor.
Repairs in Health/Life Safety fund include:
Bent: Add HVAC top floor
BHS: Add new chiller plant, replace HVAC in old academic south gym and
auditorium and
Board Meeting
Page
3
replace stage curtains.
Replace track surface, resurface South gym floor, replace South gym roof and
repave southwest parking/drive
BJHS: Replace original roof and repave south side and bus lane.
Raymond: Replace hallway carpeting
Stevenson: Add exterior lighting and replace deteriorated paving.
Mr. Manahan stated that the bond
for the work will be released in May, with the interest rate near 5% to be amortized
over a 15 year span.
Mrs. Smith thanked Mr. Manahan for all of
his hard work.
Mrs. Smith presented the Consent Agenda for consideration. Mr. Davis asked that the Bills be moved to
Board Action F. It was moved by Mrs.
Roth, seconded by Mr. Dirks that the Consent Agenda (Personnel Report, Payroll
and Cosmetology Contract Extension) be approved. Upon a roll call vote, all
Members present, voted “Aye”. Motion
carried. (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 02-11-04/1)
Dr.
Nielsen presented a summary of the district's financial situation.
•
On June 30, 2002, District 87 ended the year with a 1.7 million dollar deficit
• On June 30, 2003, District 87 ended the year with a 2.5 million dollar
deficit
• On June 30, 2004, District 87 will end the year with a 1.5 million dollar
deficit
The deficit is due to the weak economy, decrease in General State Aid and the
elimination of categorical state grants
• 21 teaching positions, 3 administrator positions and two technology staff
members were eliminated for the 2003-2004 school year. Also, non-certified
teaching positions, equaling nearly $750,000, were cut for the 2003-2004 school
year
• In all, 1.2 million dollars was cut for the 2003-2004 school year in
personnel alone
• For the first time in many years, tuition free Summer School was eliminated
• Eliminations also included: reductions in the coaching staffs and cuts in all
elementary clubs and organizations - except Student Council and School
Crossing/Safety guards
• Cost saving cuts include $200,000 in new textbooks and $100,000 in supplies
and equipment. All out of district travel has been reduced.
• Savings include $654,000 in early retirement incentives and $52,000 savings
in short term cuts
• The district's tax rate was raised
• For 2004-2005: 19 teachers, administrative staff and non-certified staff
positions will be eliminated for a savings of $800,000.
• More coaching positions - equaling $25,000 - will be cut. $50,000 will be cut
by eliminating extra duty assignments.
Board Meeting
Page
4
• Funding for instructional materials, maintenance and technology will be cut
• Drivers Education fees were increased from $50 to $200.00 per student.
• $1.4 million will be cut from the 2004-2005 school year, resulting in 4
million dollars in cuts over three years. This amount equals an 11% decrease in
the Education Fund and represents a 10% cut in the district's teaching staff
• The state is discontinuing the funding of programs. The Gifted program was
eliminated this year and based upon Census data, our Title I funds will be
further reduced due to a 25-30% decrease in low income students. The cuts in
Title I are in addition to about $100,000 in cuts this year.
• Other grants have been prorated to 60-70% of past value
• Full day kindergarten will be eliminated next year
• It is estimated that 600 million new dollars will be needed to fund education
in Illinois next year – just to stay at the current level. The current State deficit
is 2 billion dollars.
Dr. Nielsen stated he was informed
on February 9th by the Governor's Office that there will be no additional
funding for education next year.
It was moved by Mrs. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Hanson that the
Board approve Summer School 2004. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present,
voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See
with Original Minutes, Attachment 02-11-04/2)
It was moved by Mr. Davis, seconded by
Mrs. Roth that the Board approve the SHOR 0304-1. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present,
voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See
with Original Minutes, Attachment 02-11-04/3)
It was moved by Mrs. Jackson, seconded by Mr.
Dirks that the Board approve the Revocation of
Behavioral Probation Contract. Upon a
roll call vote, all Members present, voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See with Original
Minutes, Attachment 02-11-04/4)
It was moved by Mrs. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Davis that the Board
approve the Tuition-Based Enrollment. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present,
voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See
with Original Minutes, Attachment 02-11-04/5)
It was moved by Mrs. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Hanson that the
Board approve the Settlement Agreement. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present,
voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See
with Original Minutes, Attachment 02-11-04/6)
Mr. Davis asked if the cell fees on Page 2 of the larger bill
packet in the amount of $913.49 for Operations and Maintenance, was for one or
two months? Dr. Kilpatrick stated that
that amount is probably for one month.
Mr. Davis stated that he would like to urge Mr. Manahan to attempt to
lower cell phone bills. Dr. Kilpatrick
stated that he and Mr. Manahan have met on this issue and are reviewing cell
phone contracts for the maintenance people to reduce those costs.
Board Meeting
Page
5
Mr. Davis also stated that on Page 5 of the bills there seems to
be a lot of money written to various financial institutions and life insurance
companies etc., are these flex plan expenditures? Dr. Kilpatrick said yes and some are payroll
deductions for tax shelter annuities that the employees want to have funds
contributed to.
Mr. Davis also noted that on Page 6, there are two expenditures to
the Bloomington Education Association (BEA) totaling $20,499.30 and asked what
that was for? Ms. Diane Goerlitz, BEA
President, stated that the District deducts BEA dues from employees’ paychecks
and then writes the BEA a check for those dues.
Mr. Davis asked what the check to the Regional Office of Education
for Hilia Billing is for, in the amount of $14,025.18
on Page 24? Dr.
Kilpatrick stated that it was for Special Education Services for students.
Mr. Davis asked what the payment to Transworld
Systems, Inc on Page 27 is for in the amount of $4,725.00 for Collection Fees? Dr. Kilpatrick
stated that that is the 2-year fee the Collection Agency charges on our
delinquent accounts. We are currently
owed approximately $20,000 in fees, e.g. parking fees, textbook fees, registration fees.
This is the first time we have used this firm.
It was moved by Mrs. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Dirks that the Board
approve the Bills.
Upon a roll call vote, all Members present, voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See with Original
Minutes, Attachment 02-11-04/7)
Several community
members spoke in opposition of eliminating the position of Director of Title I,
It was moved by Mr. Hanson, seconded by Mrs. Jackson that the Board go into Closed Session to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of District 87, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present voted “Aye”. Motion carried.
It was moved by Mr. Dirks, seconded by Mr. Hanson that the Board return to the Regular Meeting. Upon a roll call vote all members present voted “Aye”. Motion carried.
There being no
further business to come before the Board, Mrs. Smith adjourned the meeting.
APPROVED:
_________________________________
President
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Secretary