MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

 

January 26, 2005            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: Mrs. Janet Smith, Mr. John Dirks, Mr. Uvaldo Herrera, Mr. John Hanson, Mrs. Millicent Roth, Mr. Keith Davis and Mrs. Cheryl Jackson, Board President. 

 

Present from the administrative staff were Dr. Robert Nielsen, Mrs. Sally Tucker, Mr. Barry Reilly and Mr. David Wood.

 

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

 

Present from the news media was Ms. Sharon Wolfe, The Pantagraph and Ms. Jayme Monicelli from WJBC Radio Station.

 

Mrs. Jackson presented the Minutes for approval.  It was moved by Mr. Dirks, seconded by Mr. Herrera, that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held on January 12, 2005 and the Minutes of the Closed Session held on January 12, 2005 be approved.  Upon a roll call vote, Mr. Hanson, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Dirks, Mrs. Roth, Mr. Herrera and Mrs. Jackson voted “Aye”.  Mr. Davis abstained as he did not attend the last Board Meeting.  Motion carried.

 

Mr. Hanson stated that he attended the Judge John M. Scott Educational Trust Committee meeting at Heartland Bank on January 25, 2005. 

 

Mrs. Smith reported that she attended the Judge John M. Scott EducationalTrust Committee meeting at Heartland Bank on January 25, 2005.  Mrs. Smith reported that the account increased from $1.2 million to $1.4 million. A portion of this increase is proposed to be allocated for District 87 Summer School funds.

 

Mr. Davis mentioned that he was pleased to see interest in the School Board by the Pantagraph.

 

Mrs.Vickie Slagell, Stevenson School Principal, reported on Summer School 2005.

 

The proposal includes:

  • Classes would begin Monday, June 6 and end Friday, July 8 • Twenty four days of attendance • School day would begin at 8:30 and end at 11:30 a.m.
  • All K-8 students will be at BJHS
  • All 9-12 students will be at BHS
  • Tuition will be set at $200 for regular education and will be non-refundable.  Special Education students attend tuition free.
  • Deadline for enrolling (except BJHS students) will be Friday, April 22.
  • Full scholarships will be offered to students eligible for free lunches and a score of 1, 2, or 3 stanine in Reading and Math on Terra Nova tests, or a 28 on the Kindergarten PALS screening.
  • A minimum of 15 students per class is required at the elementary level and a minimum of 20 at the junior high level.

 

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January 26, 2005

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  • At BHS, a Freshman Lit. and 2nd semester Algebra class will be offered with a minimum enrollment of 20 students.
  • Stevenson School will offer an Early Start Bilingual program to English Language Learners (ELL) students from July 25 to August 12.  Two classes of 15 tuition free students will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. from Monday through Friday.  This program is funded by a Title III grant.
  • Staff will include 19 teachers and 14 program assistants for a total of $90,754
  • Sheridan and Irving students will be able to attend a tuition free Summer Bridges program, pending final consideration by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

 

Mrs. Tucker, reported on Terra Nova Test results for Mathematics. In summary:

  • Achievement levels in grades 1 through 8 for all students are at 80% and higher.
  • 4th graders (the first class that was offered full-day kindergarten at each of our Title I schools) recorded the highest percent of students reading at or above grade level.
  • 2nd grade test scores showed a 9% increase in students reading at or above grade level since 2001.  This class was the first to benefit from the Math Magic Kindergarten mathematics program, written by District 87 kindergarten teachers (Jean Stumpf, Sue Hardy, Lynn Meeker and Sue Hurliman).
  • African American students have shown significant progress, especially at grades 3 and 4.  Many of these students benefited from full-day kindergarten at Title I schools. 
  • Two-thirds to three-fourths of our African American students across all grade levels are performing at or above grade level in mathematics.
  • Low income students in Grade 1 made the greatest gain since 2001 with an increase of 16%.  Gains were also seen at Grades 3 and 4.  Sixty-six to seventy-five percent of our Low income students across all grade levels are performing at or above grade level in mathematics.

 

Mrs. Jackson presented the Consent Agenda for approval.  Mr. Davis asked that the Bills be pulled and moved to Board Action E.  Mrs. Jackson stated that the Verizon Contracts are being pulled and will be brought back at a future Board Meeting.

 

It was moved by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mrs. Roth, that the Consent Agenda (Personnel Report, Financial Summary, Treasurer’s Report, Sheridan School HVAC Bid Recommendation, Irving School HVAC Bid Recommendation, BHS Old Academic HVAC Bid Recommendation, District Packaged Boiler Equipment Bid Recommendation and the Life Safety Building Permit Applications) be approved. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present, voted “Aye”.  Motion carried. (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 1-26-05/1

 

It was moved by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Herrera that the Board approve the BJHS Expansion, Option 3, as recommended by Dr. Nielsen.

 

Option 3

12 classrooms 15,400 sq. ft. ($2,548,800) Arts for Life ($268,946) Discipline Office ($185,260) Gym (G2) 15,200 square feet

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Total: $6,141,806

 

Upon a roll call vote, all Members present voted “Aye”.  Motion carried.  See with Original Minutes, Attachment 1-26-05/2)

 

It was moved by Mr. Herrera, seconded by Mr. Dirks that the Board approve the Judge John M. Scott Educational Trust Resolution. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present voted “Aye”.  Motion carried.  (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 1-26-05/3)

 

      It was moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Roth that the Board approve the Debt Certificate Resolution. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present voted “Aye”.  Motion carried.  (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 1-26-05/4)

 

      It was moved by Mr. Dirks, seconded by Mr. Davis that the Board approve the District 87 School Calendar 2005-06. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present voted “Aye”.  Motion carried.  (See with Original Minutes, Attachment 1-26-05/5)

 

      Mr. Davis expressed his concern about the cell phone bill on page 2 of the larger bill list in the amount of $1,004.  Mr. Wood stated that the Verizon contracts which were pulled from tonight’s agenda, to be brought back at a later date, will help address these larger bills. 

 

It was moved by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mr. Hanson that the Board approve the Bills. Upon a roll call vote, all Members present voted “Aye”.  Motion carried.  (See with Original Minutes,

Attachment 1-26-05/6)

 

Mr. Mike Williams, President of the Bloomington/Normal NAACP, sought clarification regarding the number of stanines in norm referenced testing and expressed concern regarding the achievement gap in mathematics for African American students.

 

      It was moved by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Dirks 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. 

 

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

 

 

 

APPPROVED:                                ATTEST:

 

                                   

                                   

___________________________               ___________________________

President                                 Secretary