A special meeting of the Canton Union School District #66 Board of Education was called to order at 6:45 p.m., on Monday, July 21, 2008 for the purpose of conducting a public hearing concerning the intent of the district to sell $2,700,00 school fire prevention and safety bonds for the purpose of conforming the existing facilities of the district that house students to the building code required by the Illinois State Board of Education.  No written comments or public comments were presented.

 

 

 

At the regular meeting of the Canton Union School District #66 Board of Education on Monday, July 22, 2008 the following items took place:

 

1.    The regular Board of Education meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Board President Marion Kuzniar in the library at Ingersoll Middle School.

 

    2.     Board members present were Ben Bishop, Ed Bugos, Lori Coleman, Pete Franciskovich, Marion Kuzniar, Laurie Martin, and Tom Snowman. 

 

3.        President Kuzniar led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

 

    4.     The agenda was amended as follows: delete item 10-B.5, Employment, Guidance Counselor, Canton High School; revise 10-B.4 to read Library Clerk and 10-A.2, Canton High School; add the following names:  10-B.6, Lisa Harrison, District Elementary Teacher; 10-B.7, Jenna Games, District Elementary Teacher, 10-B.8, Erin Allen, Reading Aide, Lincoln Elementary School; and 10-B.9, Devin Barclay, Parent Coordinator, Lincoln Elementary School.

 

    5.     Under Good News Items, 1) The Canton Wrestling Club was commended for their second place finish at the national competition. 2) The new Ingersoll Middle School assistant principal, Mark Ghidina, was introduced to the Board of Education.

 

6.     Those items approved under the Consent Agenda are:

á       the minutes of the special meeting, June 23, 2008

á       the minutes of the regular meeting, June 23, 2008

á       the minutes of the executive session, June 23, 2008

á       the July bills and payroll

á       the June treasurerÕs report

á       the quarterly activity account reports

á       the retirement of James Lewis, Superintendent, Effective June 30, 2009

á       the resignation of Travis Engstrom, Science Teacher, Canton High School

á       the resignation of John King, School Counselor, Ingersoll Middle School

á       the resignation of Kelly Emery, Third Grade Teacher, Lincoln Elementary School

á       the resignation of Nichole McVeigh, Third Grade Teacher, Eastview Elementary School

á       the resignation of Sally Haschemeyer, Reading Aide, Eastview Elementary School

á       the resignation of Lesley Cassel, Canton Little Learners Teacher, Westview Elementary School

á       the employment of Peggy Malott, Special Education Teacher, Ingersoll Middle School

á       the employment of Letriana Cantrell, Special Education Teacher, Canton High School

á       the employment of Sabrina McKeever, Teacher Assistant, Ingersoll Middle School

á       the employment of Brenda Shawgo, Library Clerk, Canton High School

á       the employment of Lisa Harrison, District Elementary Teacher

á       the employment of Jenna Games, District Elementary Teacher

á       the employment of Erin Allen, Reading Aide, Lincoln Elementary School

á       the employment of Devin Barclay, Parent Coordinator, Lincoln Elementary School

á       the transfer of Michelle Franzoni, From Kindergarten Teacher at Eastview Elementary School to Kindergarten Teacher at Lincoln Elementary School

á       the transfer of Mardell Coleman, From Guidance Counselor at Canton High School to Guidance/Counselling at Ingersoll Middle School

á       the transfer of Amy Johnson, From Fourth Grade Teacher at Eastview Elementary School to Third Grade Teacher at Eastview Elementary School

á       Paula Arrenholz as District Treasurer

á       the CUSD #66 Attorneys

á       $4 Million Surety Bonds for the District Treasurer

á       a Resolution Re-certifying Hazardous Conditions for Students Traveling to Westview Elementary School

á       an Agreement between Canton Union School District #66 and the Canton Family YMCA for the After-School Care Program

á       the Extra-Duty Assignments for the 2008-2009 school year at Ingersoll Middle School

á       the Extra-Duty Assignments for the 2008-2009 school year at Canton High School

á       tenure for the following staff:

o      Lan Eberle, Principal, Ingersoll Middle School

o      Julie Gomes, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

o      Cathy Postin, Fifth Grade Teacher, Ingersoll Middle School

á       an increase to substitute teacher pay to $90 per day

á       the School Improvement Plan for Canton High School

á       the renewal of the food service contract with ARAMARK

 

    7.     The Board approved authorization for the transfer of accumulated tort immunity funds contained in the Education, Operations and Maintenance, and Transportation Funds as of June 30, 2008 to the newly created Tort Immunity/Judgment Fund 80.  Assistant Superintendent Robin Tonkin explained that this change is state mandated due to a change made by the state board to their accounting system.  The new tort fund will now be included on the monthly expense reports provided to the board and will be tracked by the districtÕs auditors.

 

    8.     Superintendent Lewis explained that due to the high cost for fuel the administrative team has begun the process of reviewing the number of and reason for field trips (class, athletic, and other) taken by the district.  Administrators will continue discussion with staff and coaches regarding voluntary reduction on the number of trips and other options such as combining trips or to regionalize trips while still providing educational experiences for the students.  He reported that through the diligence of the staff the number of field trips has already been decreased.  Discussion will be held with the transportation director to consider additional options for cutting the costs associated with transporting students.

 

    9.     Board Member Lori Coleman will represent Canton Union School District at the Delegate Assembly during the IASB-IASA-IASBO Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.

 

  10.     The Policy Governance Committee will meet on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the first floor conference room at the Administration Office.

 

  11.     Board Member Tom Snowman reported that the Meeting the Needs of All Students/Producing Well-Rounded Students Committee met.  Future committee meeting reports will be provided in the board packets using the established template. President Kuzniar will schedule a time for committee members to meet to share ideas and results.

 

  12.     A report on the data provided in the student performance metrics was reviewed for the Board by Superintendent Lewis.  The data is studied for ways to reduce the number of expulsions, suspensions and referrals.  For future reports, the administrative team will clarify data collection guidelines so as to be consistent throughout the district.  President Kuzniar requested that future board metric reports provide a commentary on the data and recommended action to be taken.

 

            The graduation and retention rates and how they are determined was discussed.  The high school promotion and retention rates will be provided to the Board as soon as that data is available.  Information on how District #66 compares to the state average was requested for future reports.

 

            Student attendance (which affects income from General State Aid) in District #66 remains excellent for the district schools (Eastview 95.3%; Westview 95.0%; Lincoln 95.2%; Ingersoll 95.7%; and Canton High School 94.0%), and is typically at or above the state average.  Student grades for language, math, and science were presented and reviewed for areas needing improvement. 

 

  13.     Technology Director George Bruninga reported that the Technology Plan for the district had been approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. The plan covers 2007-2010.  Mr. Bruninga has in place a three-year cycle for hardware replacement, which focused on the high school last year, the middle school this school year (08-09), and the elementary schools next year.  The E2T2 grant award will enable the district to get more technology into the classrooms with the addition of mobile labs and will provide professional development for teachers, with the intent of increasing student performance.  Technology has become an integral part of curriculum and instruction throughout the District #66 classrooms due to the diligence of the teachers.

 

  14.     Information on the Special Education metrics was presented by Cheley Martin, Special Education Director.  Two years of data reflected an increase in referrals, due in part to the preschool program and Head Start referrals.  Staffing levels in the special education department increased from 2006-07 to 2007-08.  One teacher was added at the high school and a part-time teacher was added at the middle school this year, to meet state mandates.  The department strives to meet student needs in other areas also, not just special education issues.  She noted that the teacher/pupil ratio is on a downward trend and that District #66 special education services are provided to students from other Fulton County schools that are unable to offer an appropriate program in their home school district.

 

  15.     The board was reminded of the special meeting on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (note time change from previous years) in the Canton High School auditorium for presentation of the Board Academic Awards.  This year the students being honored will be seated on the stage, along with the Board of Education.  A reception for the students will be held in the high school cafeteria immediately following the presentation.  The regular board meeting will be held on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school library.

 

  16.     Future agenda items:  Introduction of new staff.

 

  17.     The board entered executive session to review executive session minutes and to discuss matters pertaining to personnel and contract negotiations.

 

  18.     Upon exiting closed session the Board approved a Resolution for the declassification of certain closed session minutes and for certain executive session minutes to remain classified and not available for public inspection.  President Kuzniar declared the regular meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.