Community Unit School District #205 Board of Education met Sept. 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Call to Order/Roll Call
The Community Unit School District #205 Board of Education met in closed session prior to the regular meeting at 5:30 PM at the Lincoln Education Center, 932 Harrison St., Galesburg, IL. The meeting was called to order by President Cervantez. The roll was read and the following Members responded: Hunigan, Lyon, Cervantez, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters (via phone), Phelps (7) Roll Call #1
Closed Session
It was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Phelps to move to closed session for the purpose of appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of an employee(s) and negotiations update—5:30 PM. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Hunigan, Lyon, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #2
Following closed session, it was moved by Member Hunigan and seconded by Member Scherpe to return to open session—7:00 PM. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #3
Budget Hearing
Mrs. Jennifer Hamm, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations presented on the budget for the District, pointing out that the deficit is a revenue issue due to COVID-19 and not because of the District (insert) and Mr. Jeff Houston discussed the AVC budget.
Recognition of Visitors
Mrs. Lisa Wolfe, GHS teacher, spoke to the Board regarding not being able to decorate her room, not being allowed to have a refrigerator in her room and her own key to access her room.
Presentations to the Board
A. Food Service Presentation—Matt Davis
Mr. Matt Davis, Director of Food Service, presented on food service during E-Learning, the District being eligible for the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) through December and how the first week of meal delivery went.
Ms. Courtney Knuth, Health Services Coordinator for the District, presented on IDPH and ISBE guidelines for the District and what is currently taking place for screenings and contact tracing, including current cases, quarantine and exclusions of students (14 exclusions all in the past 30 days) and staff (30 exclusions in the past 30 days).
L. Discussion on E-Learning and Status of In-Person Learning after October 12, 2020
The Board discussed food service, health concerns, and moving forward. Dr. Asplund requested what type of data the board would like to have to make their decision for going forward. Items included insurance liabilities and protection, feedback from LUDA Districts and neighboring states, dollar cost of implementation following IDPH guidelines, human cost of full implementation and what will take place and what school will look like, parent/staff survey data, PPE supplies, availability and accessibility and cleaning procedures.
Approval of Consent Agenda
A. Consider Approval of Minutes:
Monday, August 10, 2020, Regular Meeting
Monday, August 10, 2020, Closed Session
B. Consider Approval of Payroll and Claims
It was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Phelps to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Lyon, Hunigan, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #4
The Board took a break 9:10PM-9:16PM
Focus Area #1: Relevant Skills that Lead to Employability
A. Administrative Report on Curriculum
Mrs. Tiffany Springer, Director for Curriculum and Instruction, stated that Instructional Coaches provided a form for any help staff might need, which resulted in over 70 staff members that they worked with. The parent help site is active and being utilized. There were 314 families that attended the parent universities. Mr. Prats has been offering parent universities for ESL help. The parent universities have been recorded and are on the website.
B. Special Education Report
Dr. Dawn Michaud, Special Education Director, stated that Monday, September 21, 2020, the District will begin face to face instruction with special education students. Fifty students will be in attendance with thirty of them riding a bus and the rest being brought in by parents. Bright Futures students are attending in person for one hour and K-12 will be two hour attendance.
C. Building Reports
President Cervantez asked how attendance was going so far and how the wifi distribution was taking place. Dr. Asplund stated that attendance was running in the 90% range and at this point the housing authorities don’t have their tenants with access to internet and the District is trying to work through that. The District is working on getting hot spots to those in rural areas first since the hot spots have arrived.
D. Enrollment Report
Dr. Asplund stated that enrollment is up at all levels except the K-4 enrollment is down.
Focus Area #2: Facilities That Assist in Skill Acquisition
A. Building and Grounds Committee Report
Member Lyon stated that the buildings are ready and teachers are moving in to King and he looks forward to the time when kids are in the buildings. Member Lyon stated that there needs to be discussion about the secondary campus.
B. Galesburg High School Renovation Timeline Presentation and Discussion
Mr. Brian Archibald with Legat Architects presented a drawing of what the auditorium could look like. He stated that the seats would be ADA compliant throughout the auditorium. The current drawings are not being designed with a balcony due allow for more seating. The acoustics are improved by the reshaping of the ceiling and the auditorium itself into more of a triangle space. Mr. Archibald stated that they are researching two options for the semi recessed orchestra pit. Ideally moving it to stage left would be best for sound and designed for fifteen people.
Mr. Lee Marbach with Russell Construction discussed the cost and what is included at this point. Member Lyon stated that he thinks the only time we ever fill the auditorium is at graduation and the past few years it has not been close to full. Member Lyon stated the District doesn’t have a need for a 2400 seat auditorium. Lee Marbach explained bid schedule projections for the project and timelines. Dr. Asplund asked if the Board would approve being more disruptive and take on an aggressive schedule or would they rather spread the bids out, cost more and take longer. Discussion ensued. The Board chose to take the more aggressive option.
President Cervantez stated that due to the late hour she would move item F up so that Mr. Marbach and Mr. Archibald can leave.
F. Consider Approval of Lombard Change Order Request for Lights
Lee Marbach stated that there was a discrepancy in the lighting and the lights needed to be changed out. The change order is for only the lighting and not the install or any labor fees. It was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Rodriguez to approve as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Shcerpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez (7). Motion carried. Roll Call #5
C. Consider Approval of Facilities Use Agreement with the City of Galesburg
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez to approve as presented. Mr. Eric Matthews, Athletic Director, stated that the agreement is the same as last years for the most part but there are a few small changes due to COVID and tennis courts. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #6
D. Consider Approval of Facilities Use Agreement with the YMCA
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Walters to approve as presented. Mr. Matthews stated that this agreement has the most changes due to COVID and some of the areas aren’t being used by the YMCA due to COVID and not having outside groups in facilities. This will be a one year agreement. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters (7) Motion carried. Roll Call # 7
E. Consider Approval of Community Solar Project
It was moved by Member Hunigan and seconded by Member Phelps to approve as presented. Member Lyon stated that the proposal is for the project at Lincoln Education Center, which is for solar arrays to be placed in the area along the railroad tracks and the roof of Lincoln Education Center. Twenty-five percent of the electricity is allocated to a school building of the District’s choice and the other seventy-five percent is allocated to the low income families in the community. The placement at Lincoln Education Center should provide help to two hundred and fifty families in the community. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #8
Focus Area #3: Responding to the Changing Needs of our Community
A. Consider Approval of PRESS Policies (First Reading)
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez to approve as presented. Member Lyon stated that we need to look at Policy 5:220. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Rodriguez, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #9
B. Consider Approval of District 205 Budget
It was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Phelps to approve as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Phelps (7) Roll Call #10
C. Consider Approval of Area Vocational Center Budget
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Lyon to approve as presented.
The following Members voted AYE: Cervantez, Hunigan, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Lyon, Walters, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #11
D. Consider Approval of a 1 Year Extension to Physical Immunization Exclusion Date
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez to approve as presented. Courtney Knuth, District RN, stated that IDPH is recommending to push back the state exclusion date for one year extending the date to October 15, 2020. The state recommendation is to not exclude for no physical until October 15th for this one year. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #12
E. Consider Approval of Heart Technologies Agreements
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez to approve as presented. Dr. Asplund stated that these agreements move our technology services from Redeye out of Arizona to Heart Technologies in East Peoria. The agreements are for remote services and offsite storage. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #13
F. Consider Approval of Career and Technical Education Intergovernmental Agreement
It was moved by Member Rodriguez and seconded by Member Lyon to approve as presented. The agreement is the same as prior years that keeps us in Delabar and keeps us in GAVC so we can access the Perkins Grant funds. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Hunigan, Lyon, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #14
G. Consider Approval of District Wide Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP)
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez to approve as presented. Mr. Matt Davis, Food Service Director, stated that CEP rate will run out June 2021 and so we are required to reapprove the program. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #15
H. Consider Approval of Behavior Interventions Policies and Procedures
It was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Phelps to approve as presented. Dr. Dawn Michaud stated that this is an annual document that must be presented and approved by the Board. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #16
I. Consider Approval of Resolution providing for the issue of approximately $13,385,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2020A, of the District for the purpose of increasing the Working Cash Fund of the District and refunding certain outstanding bonds of the District, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds, and authorizing the sale of the bonds to Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez to approve as presented. Mrs. Hamm introduced Kevin Heid who was on the Zoom meeting. Mr. Heid stated that the 2011A bonds are outstanding and can be refinanced and at the same time can issue the financing for the 2020A. This resolution sets forth the parameters that allow them to go to market on the bonds. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #17
J. Consider Approval of Resolution providing for the issue of approximately $10,880,000 General Obligation Refunding School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) Series, 2020B, of the District for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding bonds of the District, providing for the pledge of certain revenues to the payment of principal and interest on the bonds, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay such principal and interest of the pledged revenues are insufficient to make such payment, and authorizing the sale of the bonds to Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodrigues to approve as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #18
K. Report on Negotiations
Member Lyon stated that the teams have taken a hiatus to get school started and will then schedule a meeting for this month.
Personnel
A. Consider Approval of Personnel Report
It was moved by Member Rodriguez and seconded by Member Phelps to approve the personnel report as presented. On roll call the following Members Voted AYE: Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Phelps (6) Abstained: Walters (1) Motion carried. Roll Call #19
B. Grievance Update
Dr. Asplund stated that the GEA withdrew the last grievance so there none.
C. Report on FOIA Requests
Dr. Asplund stated that there are no FOIA requests to report
Board of Education Comments
Comments were made by Members Scherpe, Walters and Cervantez
Future Agenda Items—None
Adjournment
It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez that the regular meeting be adjourned—11:15PM. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Lyon, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #20
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