Columbia Community Unit District No. 4 Board of Education met July 16.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ALL ATTENDEES WERE PRESENT VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Present: Karen Anderson
Tammy Hines
John Long
Greg Meyer
Scott Middelkamp
Greg O'Connor (arrived at 7:09 p.m.)
Lisa Schumacher
Mr. Christopher S. Grode, Superintendent
Dr. Courtney Castelli, Assistant Superintendent
Mrs. April Becherer, Eagleview Principal and Transportation Director
Call to Order/ Roll Call
President Middelkamp called the regular meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. via live streaming on Facebook.
Visitor(s)
Visitor(s) present: none
II. Welcome/ Recognition of Visitors
President Middelkamp welcomed the public who were viewing the meeting via live streaming on Facebook,
III, Public Comments And Correspondence
There were no public comments.
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA (Items IV. and v.)
IV. Minutes and Finance
Motion to approve the following consent agenda items (Item IV. Minutes and Finance and Item V. Personnel Items), as presented, by Superintendent Christopher s. Grode:
A. Approval of Minutes - a) Open Session(s)
a. Regular Meeting - June 18, 2020
b) Executive Session(s) -
a. Regular Meeting - June 18, 2020 Approve Bookkeeper's Financial Position/Treasurer's Reports Approve Budget Report - June 30, 2020 Approve Expenditures - July 2020 Activity Fund Balance Report - June 30, 2020
Personnel Items Accept Resignations
A. Accept Resignation(s) - 1) Megan Perschbacher, Middle School Special Ed. Teacher & Middle School Student Council Co-Advisor 2) Janet Lindsay, Paraprofessional 3) Carey Burton, CHS Asst. Scholar Bowl Coach 4) Becca Cleary, Eagle Zone Student Worker 5) Kathy Roever, CMS cook 6) Paige Liddell, EV kindergarten 7) Cindi Correll, Bus Monitor 8) Gina Gunn, Special Education (retire at the end of 2020-2021 school year)
Employ Educational Support Personnel
Employ Educational Support Personnel - 1) Michelle Floerke, REI Paraprofessional 2) Olivia Edwards, REI Paraprofessional at Eagleview 3) Dawn Geske, Bus Driver 4) Michelle Swan, Bus Driver
Employ Certificated Personnel
Employ Certificated Personnel -
1) John Guiney, CHS Special Education Teacher 2) Megan Poole, EV Tuition Preschool Teacher 3) Danielle Wilson, EV Kindergarten 4) Katie Repp, CMS Special Education Teacher
D. Approve Leave of Absence Request(s) - None
Approve Leave of Absence Request(s)
E. Approve Extra-Curricular Appointments
Approve Extra Curricular Assignments 1) Jared McCunn, Freshman Boys Basketball Coach 2) T.J. Menard, 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach 3) Derrick Rozycke, 7th Grade Boys Baseball Coach 4) Allie Leingang, Volunteer Assistant Girls Golf 5) Jon Wehrenberg, Volunteer for HS Boys Basketball 6) Collin Wehrenberg, Volunteer Freshman Boys
Basketball
F. Approve Non-Certified Class Advancements - None
Approve Non Certified Class
Advancements
G. Declare Vacancy (s)
Declare Vacancy(s) 1) Middle School Student Council Co-Advisor 2) CHS Assistant Scholar Bowl Coach 3) Eagle Zone Student Worker 4) CMS Cook (5 hour position) 5) Bus Monitor
Motion
To Approve Consent Agenda
Motion to approve consent agenda (Item IV. Minutes and Finance and Item v. Personnel Items), as presented, was made by Karen Anderson, seconded by Lisa Schumacher.
On a roll call vote: Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp Aye, O'Connor-Absent, Schumacher-Aye.
The motion carried, 6-Aye, 1-Absent, 0-Nay
VI. Communications - Reports and Presentations
A, Enrollment - none B. Administrative Reports
1) Principal's Report -
Mrs. April Becherer, Eagleview Principal and Transportation Director, reported on the following:
a. Mrs. Becherer shared that the administration team and select teachers have been meeting to create plans for returning to school. b. Kindergarten screening also occurred earlier in the week on July 14-15. All students, parents, and staff wore masks and met in groups of 10 for 45 minutes. About 130 students participated in the screening.
2) Assistant Superintendent's Report -
Dr. Castelli, Assistant Superintendent, reported on the following:
a. Planning for the Fall. Dr. Castelli reported that a group of Administrators, Directors, and Teachers gathered for over 5 hours to discuss the plans for returning to school. They reviewed the results of the parent surveys and the teacher surveys.
ISBE requested each district develop three scenarios for education this coming school year.
1) Fully Remote - it is the safest but has a significant impact on students, families, and teachers. It is not the ideal situation for labs, reading, or students with disabilities. 2) Fully In-Person Instruction - with the size of classrooms and number of students is too difficult to provide proper safety guidelines. 3) Hybrid Model - split the classes in half alternating in-person and remote learning, best scenario and best way to start the year.
The District asks for flexibility from families and understands every scenario will have an impact. The type of education is likely to vary throughout the school between each scenario. Federal and state government, public health departments, and the superintendent could modify plans at any time.
The surveys proved the community recognizes schools as a vital service and cornerstone of the community. The District is focused on creating a safe environment for the students and service providers in making our plans. Some challenges include:
1) Substitute Teachers - It is always a challenge to recruit enough substitutes during a regular year; the current situation magnifies this issue. 2) Teacher Anxiety - Some teachers see up to 150 students a day; the teacher's survey indicated many teachers have anxiety about this added possible exposure.
The recommendation is to follow the Hybrid Model for the first nine weeks of the school year. During registration students can select a hybrid learning model or fully remote option, The hybrid model will divide the participating student body in half making group A and group B. All students within the same family will be in the same group. Each group will have two days of in-person instruction and three days of remote learning. Group A will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays and participate in remote learning on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Group B will participate in remote learning on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. They will attend school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Students with disabilities will have in-person instruction at school every day, except for Fridays which will be remote learning.
During the first nine weeks of school operating with the hybrid learning plan in-person classes will have early dismissal to provide staggered bus schedules and time for teachers to interact with remote
learning students each day. Fridays will be used for teachers to connect with students and adjust lesson plans to individual learning that can be completed remotely, opposed to the group learning projects that were common in the recent past.
Administrators, Department Directors, and Teachers are working to create a plan to include mask breaks in a safe manner while in school.
Registration will open on Monday and parents can select hybrid or remote learning for the first nine weeks. They can then change their choice after the first nine weeks. ISBE states the Superintendent is the only one that needs to approve the plan to return to school, but the District would like the support and approval of the School Board in making this decision. A special meeting is scheduled for July 29, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. to present the full plan and for the Board to vote on its approval.
3. Superintendent's Report -
a. FOIA Requests. There were two FOIA requests.
1. Smart Procure 2. Belleville News Democrat re: architectural services bids b. Joint Annual Conference, November 2020.
As of today the IASB Joint Annual Conference is scheduled for November 20-22, 2020 in Chicago. Registration will be July 27th, unless it is cancelled completely. c. Summer Projects.
1. The valve project at the Middle School is completed. 2. The HVAC project at this high school has yet to be started, but they are aware the project must be completed by August 17, when teachers return to the building. 3. The project at the High School came in under the approved budget and will start shortly
Mr. Grode also reported on the following:
The school calendar needs to be approved at the special meeting on July 29.
The postponed commencement ceremony was great. He also apologized for the technical issues.
Yield update provided on the land we harvest
Mr. Grode has been meeting with different affiliations at the school including the PTA, CEA, CESPA, and others.
Completed negotiations and have a tentative agreement with the CEA for SY 2020-2023.
Mr. Grode is meeting with Traube tent to discuss having tents available to provide space for mask breaks for students at school.
He has met with the architects for the building projects and look forward to working with them to complete the projects scheduled.
A meeting is scheduled for Mr. Grode to meet community leaders including the Chief of Police, Mayor, and City Administrator.
VII. Items For Action
A. Motion to Approve Milk Bid
Motion was made by Karen Anderson and seconded by John Long to approve the milk bid to Prairie Farms for the 2020-2021 school year.
On a roll call vote: Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, D-Nay
B. Motion to Approve Bread Bid
Motion was made by Greg O'Connor and seconded by Tamny Hines to approve the bread bid to Alpha Baking Co. for the 2020-2021 school year.
On a roll call vote: Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay
Motion to Approve Food and Supplies Bid
C. Motion was made by John Long and seconded by Greg
Meyer to approve the food and supply bid to Kohl's Wholesale for the 2020-2021 school year.
On a roll call vote: Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay
D. Bids are still pending therefore no action was made.
Motion to Approve Chemicals for Food Service Bid
E. Motion to Approve Fuel Bid
Motion was made by Karen Anderson and seconded by Greg O'Connor to approve the fuel bid to R&M Fuel for the 2020-2021 school year.
On a roll call vote:
O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye
The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay
Motion to Approve The Second Reading of Board Policies
F. Motion was made by Karen Anderson and seconded by Tammy Hines to approve the second reading of board policies, as presented.
5-Year Review - No Changes 4:50 Payment Procedures 7:130 Student Rights and Responsibilities 7:325 Student Fundraising Activities 8:80 Gifts to the District Draft Updates - Changes Noted 2:125 Board Member Compensation; Expenses 2:125-E1 (Rewritten) Board Member Expense Reimbursement
Form 2:125-E2 (Rewritten) Board Member Estimated Expense
Approval Form 2:160 Board Attorney 5:60 Expenses 5:60-El (Rewritten) Employee Expense Reimbursement Form 5:60-E2 (Rewritten) Employee Estimated Expense
Approval Form 5:150 Personnel Records 5:280 Duties and Qualifications 6:135 Accelerated Placement Program 6:280 Grading and Promotion 7:70 Attendance and Truancy 7:90 Release During School Hours 8:10 Public Relations 8:30
Visitors to and Conduct on School Property 8:110 Public Suggestions and Concerns
Administrative Procedure 4:180-AP3 Grant Flexibility; Payment of Employee Salaries During a Pandemic
On a roll call vote: Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye.
The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Abesnt, O-Nay
Motion to Approve Christopher Grode as IMRF Authorized Agent
G. Motion was made by Tammy Hines and seconded by
Lisa Schumacher to approve Christopher Grode as IMRF Authorized Agent.
On a roll call vote:
Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye.
The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay
Motion to Approve Christopher Grode as MissVic Authorized Board Member
H. Motion was made by Karen Anderson and seconded by
John Long to approve Christopher Grode as MissVic Authorized Board Member.
On a roll call vote: Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer- Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, o-Nay
I. Motion to Approve Board Resolutions to Extend the Term of the MissVIC Employee Benefits Pools and the MissVIC Property Casualty Pool
Discussion to modify the agreement to one-year from the proposed three-year commitment, therefore ending on June 30, 2021. Motion was made by Greg Meyer and seconded by Tammy Hines to approve the modified term of the MissVIC Employee Benefits Pools and the MissVIC Property Casualty Pool for one year, ending June 30, 2021.
On a roll call vote: Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay
Motion to Approve Chromebook Care and Use Agreements for School Handbooks
J. Motion was made by Lisa Schumacher and seconded by Greg Meyer to approve Chromebook Care and Use Agreements for School Handbooks.
On a roll call vote:
Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay
VIII, Discussion Items
Mr, Grode discussed the creation of working committees for the Board. He suggested a Finance subcommittee is currently operating with Scott Middelkamp and Karen Anderson. He would like to add a Facilities subcommittee to review cost estimates and weigh the pros and cons for projects. Tammy Hines agreed and recommended Greg Meyer and Greg O'Connor to serve in this capacity and they agreed. The discussion of adding a representative to standing committees including each of the four School Improvement Teams located at each school. Board members were not named to each committee. Tammy Hines agreed to replace Karen Anderson on the Safety Committee.
IX. Board President's Prerogative
President Middelkamp welcomed Mr. Grode and Kimberly Johnson to Columbia CUSD#4 as the new Superintendent and District Secretary/Board of Education Reporting Secretary, respectively. He also thanked the Administration and staff for the hard work in making the best decisions possible during this difficult time.
Closed Session 7:49 p.m.
It was moved by Tammy Hines, seconded by John Long to enter Closed Session for:
1) The Purposes of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (1); and 2) The Purposes of discussion of collective bargaining items. 5 ILCS 120/2/(c) (2).
On a roll call vote:
Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay
Open Meeting Reconvened - 9:27 p.m.
President Middelkamp reconvened the meeting to Open Session in the District Board Room at 9:27 p.m.
Present: Karen Anderson Tammy Hines John Long Greg Meyer Scott Middelkamp Greg O'Connor Lisa Schumacher
Mr. Christopher S. Grode, Superintendent Dr. Courtney Castelli, Assistant Superintendent
Absent:
Visitor(s) Present:
None
No action was taken as a result of the closed session.
Action As A Result Of Closed Session
XI. Adjourn - 9:28 p.m.
with no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by John Long, seconded by Tammy Hines, to adjourn the meeting. President Middelkamp adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m.
On a roll call vote: Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye.
The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ybeQmDtOTb4E3Yb5sPCCrCQeyVLef86_HQQCq8WOnQ8/edit
Alerts Sign-up