MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

June 23, 2004 6:30 P.M. Educational Services Center

The Board of Education of the Bloomington Public Schools, School District 87, McLean County, Illinois, met in Regular Session.

Ms. Marianne Clancy, Board Secretary, established a quorum and the following Members were present: Mr. John Dirks, Mrs. Janet Smith, Mrs. Millicent Roth, Mr. Uvaldo Herrera, Mr. John Hanson and Mrs. Cheryl Jackson, Board President. Mr. Keith Davis was absent.

Present from the administrative staff were Dr. Robert Nielsen, Dr. Roger Kilpatrick and Mrs. Sally Tucker.

Ms. Linda Aschenbrener, Public Relations Facilitator, was also in attendance.

Present from the news media was Ms. Michelle Steinbacher, The Pantagraph.

Mrs. Jackson stated the following: "At this time, the Board of Education is holding a public hearing on Bloomington Public Schools' amended budget.

In accordance with Section 17-1 of the School Code, the Board of Education prepared an amended budget in tentative form for the Bloomington Public Schools, District 87, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2004. As required by the School Code, the amended budget has been on file for public inspection at the School District's Educational Services Center for over thirty days. Public notice of the availability of the budget was published in The Pantagraph on May 17, 2004. The tentative amended budget is on display in the rear of the room.

Also in accordance with Section 17-1 of the School Code, the Board is holding a public hearing on the budget at this time. This public hearing is pursuant to notice published in The Pantagraph on May 17, 2004.

During the public hearing, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Roger Kilpatrick, will provide a summary of the budget. The Board of Education will be given an opportunity to discuss the budget. Members of the public will then be given the opportunity to discuss the budget. When all the discussion has concluded, the public hearing will be adjourned.

At this time, Dr. Kilpatrick will present a summary of the budget.”

Dr. Kilpatrick presented a summary of the 2003-04 Amended Budget. Dr. Kilpatrick stated as in the past, we have prepared an amended budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year. Dr. Kilpatrick emphasized that the Amended Budget is viewed as a “not to exceed” budget in terms of expenditures. As a practice the expenditures are not to exceed the amount that was budgeted in total. Because our original budgets are designed to provide a best estimate of the revenues and expenditures for the year, we do not budget for additional revenues such as grants or expenditures that may occur during the year. The amendment process allows us to incorporate those items.

The major reason for an Amended Budget for 2003-04 is the incorporation of the sale of the $20 million of Health Life/Safety Bonds that took place in the spring. Since the District is already using these funds to make required

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facility repairs the bond proceeds as well as the expenditures need to be provided for in the Amended Budget. We estimate that over the summer we will be doing approximately $6 million in repairs and replacements with these funds. The net difference between our revenues and expenditures in total for the other funds should be close to our original estimates with the exception of the one-time tax amnesty funds of approximately $250,000. In addition because of the timing of some state payments that are received either at the very end of June or beginning of July, the revenues could be somewhat different. However, the year as a whole went much as planned.

Mrs. Jackson asked: “Is there any discussion of the budget from the Board?” There was no discussion from the Board.

Mrs. Jackson asked: “Is there any discussion from the public?” There was no discussion from the public.

Mrs. Jackson stated: “The Public Hearing is now concluded.”

Mrs. Jackson presented the Minutes for approval. It was moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Roth, that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on June 9, 2004, and the Minutes of the Closed Meeting held on June 9, 2004 be approved. Upon a roll call vote Mrs. Smith, Mr. Dirks, Mr. Herrera, Mrs. Roth and Mrs. Jackson, voted “Aye”. Mr. Hanson voted “Present”, as he did not attend the June 9 Board Meeting. Motion carried.

It was moved by Mr. Hanson, seconded by Mrs. Smith that the Board go into Closed Session to consider litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 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.

Mr. Hanson reported on the recent Regional Planning Commission (RPC) meeting. He stated they devoted most of the meeting on a staff presentation for GIF, which is a digital photograph service that is provided by the RPC. One of the things planned for the future is a public website which would make it easy to obtain on the information they can provide. One concern was the “blight map” they provide which could effect school districts. This map zeros in on crime rates, incomes, etc.

Mr. Dirks stated he went to the annual meeting of the Beyond the Books Foundation (BTBF) where new officers were announced: Mr. Willie McCauley, President, Mr. Alex Horvath, Vice-President, Mr. Rick Mehall, Treasurer and Ms. Peg Wetzel, Secretary. Representing District 87 on the BTBF Board will be Mr. Dirks, Mrs. Tucker, Ms. Nini Koch, Mr. Chuck Hurliman and Mr. Bob Reardon. Ms. JoLynn Plato will be the teacher representative from District 87.

Mrs. Tucker stated that special recognition was given to Ms. Beverly Keller, District 87 Director of Accounting, by the President of the BTBF Board

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for her accounting help on the BTBF books each year. Ms. Keller’s service is greatly appreciated.

Mr. Dirks stated that he is getting many comments and inquiries about the work going on at Bloomington High School.

Dr. Nielsen’s stated that he wanted it on the record that all of these improvements being done in the District are being paid by Life/Safety funds which are dedicated funds.

Mrs. Jackson presented the Consent Agenda for consideration. It was moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Roth that the Consent Agenda (Personnel Report, Bills, Treasurer’s Report, Financial Summary, Amending Board of Education Policies Manual, BHS Boiler Equipment Bid Recommendation, BHS Cooling Tower Equipment Bid Recommendation, BHS Classroom HVAC Equipment Bid Recommendation, BHS Classroom HVAC Installation Bid Recommendation, BHS Classroom HVAC Controls Installation Bid Recommendation, BHS Old Academic Piping and Installation Bid Recommendation, BHS Classroom Suspended Ceiling Installation Bid Recommendation, BHS Chiller Equipment Bid Recommendation, BHS Classroom HVAC Installation Building Permit, Life Insurance Rates, and Permanent Transfer of Funds) be approved. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present, voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 06-23-04/1)

Dr. Nielsen stated that this is the last Board Meeting of the school year. We will not meet in July; the next meeting is August 11, 2004. He commended the Board in guiding the District through turbulent times over the last two years and thanked them personally.

It was moved by Mr. Dirks, seconded by Mr. Hanson that the Board approve the Amended 2003-2004 Budget. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted “Aye”. (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 06-23-04/2)

It was moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mr. Dirks that the Board approve the Transportation Contract 2004-2007. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted “Aye”. (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 06-23-04/3)

It was moved by Mrs. Roth, seconded by Mr. Dirks that the Board approve the Document Production Agreement. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted “Aye”. (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 06-23-04/4)

Representative Dan Brady addressed the Board and stated that Superintendent Nielsen serves on an advisory committee for education and does an excellent job on behalf of the issues important to District 87. Also along that line, Dr. Nielsen took the time to detail his thoughts on your positions in regards to what your hopes are for funding relating for K-12. The information was very helpful and I appreciated it. We are called back to a special session tomorrow afternoon in Springfield. The Governor believes we will remain in Springfield until we have a budget for 2005. Two of the main sticking points in the budget remains to be the funding at the K-12 level and also the funding in Medicaid for the State of Illinois. The Governor wants to see more growth in both those areas. Representative Brady stated he hopes we can get things done in the next several days that are necessary because what we face July 1 will not be a very pretty situation for those involved who rely on the state budget.

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Mrs. Jackson thanked Representative Brady for coming in and speaking to us and she feels we get very good advice from Dr. Nielsen and Dr. Kilpatrick on funding issues effecting District 87.

There being no further business to come before the Board, Mrs. Jackson adjourned the meeting.

APPROVED:

ATTEST:

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President

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Secretary