MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
December 14, 2005 6:30 P.M. Educational
The Board of Education of the
Ms. Marianne Clancy, Board Secretary, established a
quorum and the following Members were present: Mrs. Janet Smith, Mr. John
Hanson, Mrs. Millicent Roth, Mr. Uvaldo Herrera and Mr. John Dirks, Board
President. Mrs. Cheryl Jackson and Mr. Keith Davis were absent.
Present from the administrative staff were Mrs.
Sally Tucker, Mr. David Wood, Mr. Barry Reilly and Dr. Robert Nielsen.
Ms. Linda Aschenbrener, Public Relations Facilitator, was also in attendance.
Present from the news media was Mr. Erik Stock, WJBC Radio Station.
A public hearing for the Tax Levy 2005 was held.
Mr. Dirks stated that “In accordance with ‘The Truth
in Taxation Law,’ the Board of Education is required to hold a public hearing
because the estimate of taxes in the 2005 levy is more than 105% of the amount
extended in 2004.
At its October 26, 2005, meeting, the Board of
Education reviewed and approved the estimated 2005 levy.
Notice of the 2005 levy public hearing was published
in The Pantagraph on December 2, 2005.
As required by law, this notice date was not more than 14 days nor less than 7 days prior to the date of the public
hearing.
During the public hearing, Mr. Wood, Financial and
Legal Officer of the District, will summarize the 2005 levy and the Board and
the public will then be given an opportunity to discuss the levy.
When all discussion has concluded, the public
hearing will be adjourned.”
Mr.
Dirks asked, “Mr. Wood, will you please summarize the 2005 levy?”
Mr. Wood summarized the 2005 levy. He stated nothing has changed since the 2005 Levy Report in October. The Levy assumes a 7% increase in Estimated Assessed Value (EAV) which would reduce the tax rate from 4.47 this year to 4.45 next year. However, EAV is estimated to actually grow closer to 4.5% which would leave the rate at 4.47, the same as last year. If EAV grows less. than 4.5% the rate would increase.
The amount paid by a taxpayer will ultimately depend on their particular assessment and the tax rate.
The 2006 Education Fund budget need is estimated at approximately $25.5 M (61.5% of estimated expenditures of $41.5 M). At 7% EAV growth, the Levy generates approximately $26.6 M and the extension generates $26.3 M. Collections will be less than that. This provides a small cushion given the uncertainties with estimating state and federal receipts and inflation this
Board Meeting
December 14, 2005
Page 2
far in advance. At 4.5% EAV growth, the Levy generates approximately $26.0 M and the extension generates $25.7 M. Again, collections will be less than that and the cushion is effectively gone.
The total 2005 Levy, excluding debt service, is $33.6 M, an increase of $2.2 M over the 2004 extension. The additional amount estimated to be extended by the County for debt service is $2.4 M, a decrease of $0.1 M over the 2004 extension.
Mr. Dirks asked “Is there any discussion from the Board”? There was no discussion.
Mr. Dirks asked “Is there any discussion from the Public”? There was no discussion.
Mr. Dirks stated “The Pubic Hearing is now concluded”.
Mr. Dirks presented the Minutes for approval. It was moved by Mr. Hanson, seconded by Mrs. Roth, that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education held on November 9, 2005 and the Minutes of the Closed Meeting of the Board of Education held on November 9, 2005 be approved. Upon a roll call vote Mrs. Smith, Mr. Hanson, Mrs. Roth and Mr. Herrera voted “Aye”. Mr. Dirks abstained as he was not present at the November 9, 2005 meeting. Motion carried.
Mrs. Helmers introduced
Dr. Nielsen stated that District 87 ranks 7th in the State for having 18 National Board Certified Teachers.
Mr. Dirks congratulated the two teachers on their accomplishments and asked them to come forward and receive personal congratulations from the Board.
Mrs. Helmers introduced members of the Core Group
for the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program (MAPS): Ms. Carla
Campbell-Jackson, Ms. Reland Carter and Mr. Antonio
Newman (Additional Core Group members that were not present are Mr. Tony Jones
and Ms. Cynthia Ashby.)
MAPS is a non-profit organization developed to
provide salient mentoring relationships with local high school seniors, while also
offering scholarship opportunities for students who intend to further their
education by attending the college or university of preference.
Ms.
Campbell-Jackson and Ms. Reland Carter outlined the
information shared at the monthly meetings to those who participate as well as
the guidelines which need to be followed by participants to continue in the
program: Participants shall be high school seniors, with college aspirations; An
80% attendance ratio is required in order for the students to qualify for the
book scholarship that is awarded at the conclusion of the program. The group will adhere to the attendance
guidelines that are instituted at many of the local high schools.
Board Meeting
December 14, 2005
Page 3
Mr. Dirks thanked the group for coming to the Board Meeting
and sharing the information on MAPS. He
also thanked them for their hard work in volunteering for the program.
Mr. Dirks asked the group to come forward and
receive personal congratulations from the Board.
Mrs. Smith stated that she attended a meeting last
Thursday at the Educational Services Center (ESC) to review the facility plans
for
Mr. Hanson stated he brought a copy of the Financial
Statement Auditor’s Report for the Regional Planning Commission, as well as a
draft copy of The Visions which is
the Regional Planning Commission Newsletter, to share with anyone who is
interested in looking at them. The
Regional Planning Commission develops a comprehensive plan and rates different
projects as they come up for review. In
this month’s newsletter we are disclosing that some of the projects get bad
grades but they are continuing on for various reasons.
Mr. Hanson reported that he attending the Beyond the
Books Educational Foundation (BTB) meeting and due to some communication
problems there was not a quorum for any action items. There was a Treasurer’s Report given. One of the things they are striving for is to
reach a $1 million endowment level by 2010 and there is approximately $600,000
endowed currently.
Mr. Hanson reported that he attended a coordinating
committee meeting for BTB which was a work session on how they are going to
move forward on their fund drive efforts.
Mr. Hanson suggested at that meeting that some of the grant recipients
go to some of the PTO meetings to let parents know what BTB does and how it impacts
the District.
Mr. Dirks noted that he liked the “Fast Facts” sheet
about the District which has been circulated.
Mr. Dirks stated that he has some handouts from the
School Board Conference on sessions that addressed analysis of data and building
a successful foundation, if anyone would like to look at them.
It was
moved by Mrs. Roth, seconded by Mr. Herrera, that the Consent Agenda (Personnel
Report, Bills, Payroll, Treasurer’s Report, Financial Summary and O & M and
Life Safety Occupancy Permits) be approved. Upon a roll call vote, all Members
present, voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See
with Original Minutes, Attachment 12-14-05/1)
Dr. Nielsen reminded
everyone of the ESC Holiday Luncheon tomorrow and asked that Board Members
attend if their schedules permit.
Dr. Nielsen reminded
everyone that there will be school Monday and Tuesday next week. Winter break
begins on Wednesday.
Board Meeting
December 14, 2005
Page 4
Dr. Nielsen stated that we
are making progress in aligning our calendars for the 2006-07 school year with Unit 5 and
Dr. Nielsen wished everyone
Happy Holidays.
Mr. Dirks asked Dr. Nielsen
to report on the State “Junk Food Ban”.
Dr. Nielsen stated that the
Governor has proposed a “Junk Food Ban” which will apply to all schools in the
State of
Representative Dan Brady
spoke to the issue of the Governor’s proposal to JCAR. The Illinois General Assembly defeated a
proposal dealing with banning junk food. That proposal was focused on what could be in
vending machines. He stated that he will
be raising objections to JCAR on District 87’s behalf, but he will also supply
to the Members of the Board names of JCAR members so they can voice their
opinion directly to those individuals.
Representative Brady stated
that there are good intentions regarding this ban, but with probably very ill
intended consequences. He stated there is not an exact date set for this
committee to meet.
The Board thanked
Representative Brady for attending the Board Meeting.
It was
moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mr. Herrera that the 2005 Levy Resolution be
approved. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present, voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See with Original
Minutes, Attachment 12-14-05/2)
It was
moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hanson that the SHOR 0506-1 be
approved. Upon a roll call vote, all
Members present, voted “Aye”. Motion
carried. (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 12-14-05/3)
It was
moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mr. Herrera that the SHOR 0506-2 be approved.
Upon a roll call vote, all Members present, voted “Aye”. Motion carried. (See with Original
Minutes, Attachment 12-14-05/4)
It was moved by Mrs. Roth, seconded by Mr. Hanson that the
Board go into Closed Session for the purpose of
considering the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance,
or dismissal of specific
Board Meeting
December 14, 2005
Page 5
employees of District 87, including
hearing testimony on a complaint
lodged against an employee to
determine its validity; and to consider a student disciplinary case. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present
voted “Aye”. Motion carried.
There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Dirks adjourned the meeting.
APPPROVED: ATTEST:
___________________________ ___________________________
President Secretary