Oglesby Elementary School District 125 Board of Education met March 15.
Here is the minutes as provided by the Board:
Call to Order/Roll Call
Mike Porter, Vice President, called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present: Bob
Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic, Roger Miskell, Mike Porter, and Marc Strand. Absent:
Mike Barrie, Jim Knoblauch. Others present: Michael Pillion, Superintendent, Cindy
Pozzi, Principal, Michael Balestri, Dean of Students/Curriculum Director, and Traci
Tomasson, Secretary to the Board of Education.
Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Bob Etzenbach, seconded by Roger Miskell, to approve the board meeting
agenda for March 15, 2017. Voting aye: Bob Etzenbach, Roger Miskell, Doug
Kramarsic, Mike Porter, and Marc Strand. The motion carried 5-0.
Approval of Consent Agenda
MOTION by Marc Strand, seconded by Doug Kramarsic, to approve the consent
agenda, keeping the February 15, 2017, closed minutes closed. Voting aye: Marc
Strand, Doug Kramarsic, Bob Etzenbach, Roger Miskell, and Mike Porter. The motion
carried 5-0.
Communications
Mr. Pillion said he received a thank you note from Kelly Legrenzi for the gift for social
worker week.
Approval of District Calendar for 2017-2018
Mr. Pillion said there is no change in the 2017-18 district calendar from last month.
MOTION by Doug Kramarsic, seconded by Marc Strand, to approve the district calendar
for 2017-2018 as presented. Voting aye: Doug Kramarsic, Marc Strand, Bob
Etzenbach, Roger Miskell, and Mike Porter. The motion carried 5-0.
Approval of Final District Calendar for 2016-2017 and Set Graduation
Mr. Pillion said there have been no changes in the calendar at this point, and graduation
will be May 26. MOTION by Roger Miskell, seconded by Bob Etzenbach, to approve
the final district calendar for 2016-2017 and set the graduation date for May 26. Voting
aye: Roger Miskell, Bob Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic, Mike Porter, and Marc Strand.
The motion carried 5-0.
Set the April Board Meeting Date and Time
Mr. Pillion said we can do the reorganization meeting and the regular April meeting at
the same time one week later on April 26th. He said there is one vacancy and told
board members if they knew of anyone to have them contact the district office.
MOTION by Marc Strand, seconded by Bob Etzenbach, to approve the April board
meeting date and time for April 26th with the reorganization meeting at 5:30 and the
regular meeting to follow. Voting aye: Marc Strand, Bob Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic,
Roger Miskell, and Mike Porter. The motion carried 5-0.
Discussion/Recommendation of Preschool RFP
Mr. Pillion said he has discussed the preschool RFP at previous meetings. He noted
that he has not received the RFP as of yet. He said he has contacted other districts
who are part of the umbrella to see if they want to continue with the current program. He said there is a possibility of full day programming, but noted that this would cut back
on the number of kids in the program and there would be a waiting list. He said as soon
as he receives the RFP he will fill it out based on the current program and any changes
that the state requests. The board members agreed to keep the program the same.
MOTION by Roger Miskell, seconded by Bob Etzenbach, to approve Mr. Pillion to seek
preschool and 0 to 3 grants keeping programming similar and making mandated
changes as needed. Voting aye: Roger Miskell, Bob Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic, Mike
Porter, and Marc Strand. The motion carried 5-0.
Reports/Updates
Superintendent Reports/Information
Enrollment Report– Mr. Pillion said enrollment is similar to last month.
Financial Update - Mr. Pillion said the district has not received categorical
payments this year, but has received some preschool money.
Building Update– Mr. Pillion said he is starting the process to complete some life
safety work at both schools. He said the work should be around $2,000 each
and he is currently working with the architect. He also said he is still working on
the new phone system details and should have more information for the board at
the April meeting.
County Recognition – Mr. Pillion said the following staff members were chosen
this year for the ROE Excellence in Education County Recognition: Certified
Staff - Kendra Heiden and Jennie Smith; Non-Certified Staff - Traci Tomasson
and Liz Kutz; and retirees - Cheryl Templeton, Glenda Valle, and Cindy Pozzi.
FOIA Update - Mr. Pillion said there were no FOIA requests since last month.
Principal Reports/Information
History Fair– Mrs. Pozzi said eight of the ten projects that were sent to regionals
received superiors and will now advance to the state competition in Springfield.
She said the qualifiers included: Kylie Ambrose: Lottie Holman O’Neill; Macy
Anderson, Illinois State Fair; Hannah Barrie: Illinois Governor’s Behind Bars;
Avery Brovelli and Maya Marenda: Can you hear the Whispering Giants?;
Karissa Etzenbach: Chicago Blackhawks: One Goal; Nick Hancock: Route 66 –
The Main Street Of America; Lauren Klein: Harlem Globetrotters: Breaking
Barriers; and Brayden Porter and Drake Weber: Holiday Tourney’s The Town
Gift.
2017 You Be the Chemist Challenge Regional– Mrs. Pozzi congratulated Will
Warnell for placing 2nd at the Regional Chemistry Challenge at IVCC Saturday,
February 25. She said he will advance to the state competition in April in
Chicago.
P.B.I.S. – Mrs. Pozzi said there was a P.B.I.S. celebration at Washington on
March 10th where the students played trivia. She congratulated the following
students for being chosen for the P.B.I.S. Spotlight: 6th grade – Lexi Pratt, 7th
grade – Allie Legrenzi; 8th grade – Avalon Lazzarotto.
PARRC Testing - Mrs. Pozzi said testing began Tuesday and it ran smoothly.
She said testing will continue this week.
Curriculum Director Reports/Information
Professional Development- Mr. Balestri said staff members have utilized their
ELN accounts to take the state mandated ethics training. He said the March 1st
early dismissal time was utilized for grade level meetings and the March 8th for
continued work on assessment. He noted that the April early dismissal time will
be focused on grade level work.
PARCC Testing/Illinois Science Assessment– Mr. Balestri said PARCC testing
began March 7th and continues this week. He said testing has run smoothly and
he thanked the staff for their preparations. He said the Illinois Science
Assessment will be given to the 5th graders after PARCC has concluded. He
said ISBE sent information stating that the results from the 2016 ISA will be
available this summer.
RtI/P.B.I.S.– Mr. Balestri said the RtI data meetings at Washington are scheduled
for March 20, and at Lincoln March 21. He said the Lincoln P.B.I.S. celebration
for the 2nd trimester was Friday, March 3 with several activities that students
could choose from. He explained that through February this year there have
been 65 minor behavioral incidents compared to 100 last year at the same time,
and 47 major behavior incidents compared to 43 last year at the same time.
Benchmark Assessment Committee – Mr. Balestri said the committee will meet
on March 16 for a presentation by AimsWeb Plus, and then will meet again to
finalize a recommendation for the 2017-2018 school year.
Lincoln P.B.I.S. Student Spotlight– Mr. Balestri congratulated the following
students for being chosen for the P.B.I.S. Spotlight: Olivia Sargent,
Kindergarten; Lilly Whitecotton, 1st grade; Kiera Ratajczak, 2nd grade; Andrea
Luaisa, 3rd grade; Mikael Brown, 4th grade; and Miya Washkowiak, 5th grade.
Old Business
Mr. Pillion said a cross country survey went out to 5th, 6th and 7th grade students. He
said three 7th grade students and eight 6th grade students were interested. He said this
is enough to keep having conversations and noted that he will continue to talk with other
districts and report back to the board.
New Business
None
Delegations
None
Closed Session
MOTION by Marc Strand, seconded by Bob Etzenbach, to enter into closed session at
5:49 p.m. to discuss:
1. 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).
2. The placement of individual students in special education programs
and other matters relating to individual students. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(10).
3. Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its
employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary
schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2).
Voting aye: Marc Strand, Bob Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic, Roger Miskell and Mike
Porter. The motion carried 5-0.
Mike Barrie arrived at 5:56 p.m.
MOTION by Mike Barrie, seconded by Roger Miskell, to return to regular session at
6:05 p.m. Voting aye: Mike Barrie, Roger Miskell, Bob Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic,
Mike Porter, and Marc Strand. The motion carried 6-0.
Action Items after Closed Session
Approval of Re-Employment of Non-Tenured Certified Staff
MOTION by Marc Strand, seconded by Doug Kramarsic, to approve the re-employment
of non-tenured certified staff as presented. Voting aye: Marc Strand, and Doug
Kramarsic, Mike Barrie, Bob Etzenbach, Roger Miskell, and Mike Porter. The motion
carried 6-0.
Approval of Assignment of Tenure
MOTION by Mike Barrie, seconded by Bob Etzenbach, to approve the assignment of
tenure to Alyssa Schmitt and Amanda Ragsdale. Voting aye: Mike Barrie, Bob
Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic, Roger Miskell, Mike Porter and Marc Strand. The motion
carried 6-0.
Approval of Coaching Position
MOTION by Marc Strand, seconded by Roger Miskell, to approve the hiring of Tara
Cozzi for the cheer coach position as presented. Voting aye: Marc Strand, Roger
Miskell, Mike Barrie, Bob Etzenbach, Doug Kramarsic, and Mike Porter. The motion
carried 6-0.
Approval of Recommended Personnel
MOTION by Bob Etzenbach, seconded by Mike Barrie, to hire Esmeralda Harris as the
school psychologist for the umbrella for the 2017-18 school year. Voting aye: Bob
Etzenbach, Mike Barrie, Doug Kramarsic, Roger Miskell, Mike Porter and Marc Strand.
The motion carried 6-0.
MOTION by Marc Strand, seconded by Doug Kramarsic, to hire Merritt Burns as the
Principal for Washington School for the 2017-18 school year. Voting aye: Marc Strand,
Doug Kramarsic, Mike Barrie, Bob Etzenbach, Roger Miskell, and Mike Porter. The
motion carried 6-0.
Adjourn
MOTION by Marc Strand, seconded by Bob Etzenbach, to adjourn. All in favor, aye.
The motion carried 6-0. Time: 6:08 p.m.
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