Peru Elementary School District 124 Board of Education met November 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
Call To Order:
The regular meeting of the month of November of the Board of Education of Peru Elementary School District 124, LaSalle County, Illinois, was called to order in the Conference Room at Parkside School, 1800 Church Street, Peru, IL, by Board President Mark Lamboley, on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge Of Allegiance:
President Lamboley led the Board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call Present: Members Josanne Bruins, Simon Kampwerth, Patti Leynaud, C.G. Pillai, Vice President Renk, and President Mark Lamboley.
Absent: Member Rob Ankiewicz
Others Present: Superintendent Mark Cross, Kim Vezzetti, Lori Madden, Sara McDonald, Melissa Bosnich, Sherri Pannier, and Ben Hohenstatt.
Motion: Moved by Vice President Renk, seconded by Member Pillai, to approve the meeting agenda of November 14, 2017. Roll Call, Voting Aye: Renk, Pillai, Lamboley, Bruins, Kampwerth, and Leynaud. Nays: None. Absent: Ankiewicz. The motion carried 6-0.
Public Comment, Correspondence, And Announcements:
There were no public comments, correspondence, or announcements.
Consent Agenda:
Motion: Moved by Member Pillai, seconded by Member Leynaud, to approve the following items in the Consent Agenda:
• October 18, 2017 Board of Education Meeting Minutes
• November 13, 2017 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
• Financial Reports
• Treasurer’s Report
• District Bills
• Required Board and Employee Travel Expense Reimbursements
Roll Call, Voting Aye: Pillai, Leynaud, Renk, Lamboley, Bruins, and Kampwerth. Nays: None. Absent: Ankiewicz. The motion carried 7-0.
Recognition Of Students And Staff:
Presentation by Parkside STEM Lab Students
The Board enjoyed STEM Lab demonstrations presented by instructor Katie Budnick and students Sasha Bruins, Grace Faletti, Creed McCormick, Petra Mitchell, and Sam Zimbelman. The STEM Lab was upgraded this year with thirteen new stations and curriculum which were approved for purchase last spring by the Board of Education and partially funded by the Peru Education Foundation.
New stations demonstrated were the drones, interior and exterior house plans, 3D printing, forensics and coding. The students were very eager to show the Board their work and the Board was equally as interested in learning about the stations.
Member Ankiewicz joined the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Reports, Updates, And Informational Items:
Administrators’ Reports
Northview School
Mrs. McDonald reported:
• For the 10th year in a row dictionaries were delivered to Northview 3rd grade students by Peru Rotary members, steered by Rotarian and Board Member Simon Kampwerth. Students were excited to receive the dictionaries. Mr. Kampwerth said 4,353 dictionaries have been delivered to area schools in the past 10 years.
• Parent/Teacher conferences are once again being scheduled via a web-based system. Mrs. McDonald said the system is very user friendly and over 1,100 conferences have been scheduled by parents thus far.
• As always, Veterans Day activities at Northview were very successful. The team of teachers did a wonderful job in putting together over 300 letters to veterans who are families and friends of students. She also thanked the PTC for addressing and stuffing the envelopes for the letters. Ninety-three Hero Boxes were mailed to a National Guard troop in Afghanistan also. Postage for the boxes was raised through the Pumpkins for a Purpose project.
Parkside School
Ms. Madden reported:
• Mrs. Ladzinski’s Life Skills classroom took a trip to Al’s Bellavista in LaSalle to learn how to order food and watch it be prepared. Ms. Madden thanked classroom teacher aide Shannon Turczyn and her husband for opening up their restaurant to the students and providing them with lunch.
• There was a very large crowd for this year’s Veterans Day festivities. Ms. Madden commended choral director Natalie Verucchi, band director Phil Whaley and 8th grade language arts teacher Karole Ochs for tying together the songs, music and poems for the event.
• Parkside students will now be able to enjoy the Raider Rec Room. The room will be used as a PBIS incentive where students will be able to eat and also play some table games.
Superintendent’s Report
Mr. Cross reported:
• Mr. Cross reported that he is very proud of the district’s Veterans Day programs. He feels having them at the separate times at each building and the age appropriate activities make it very enjoyable for students, staff, veterans, and the community. He feels it is the best program the district offers for parents and community members.
• The Preschool for All grant is open this year for all districts to apply for the first time in many years. Mrs. McDonald will be leading the process, and applications are due by January 12. Both explained it is a very competitive grant and while the odds are against our district getting the grant, they will keep the Board apprised on the process.
Presentation of the Tentative 2017 Tax Levy:
Mr. Cross presented the Tentative 2017 Tax Levy which he previously presented and discussed with the Finance Committee at its November 13, 2017 meeting. Mr. Cross explained that this is the first time in several years that the district would need to hold a truth in taxation hearing, assuming the request for local property taxes exceeds a 5 percent increase from last year. However, he emphasized that the vast majority of the increase is from a natural increase in the district’s local tax base, even though it is still behind its high from eight years ago. Mr. Cross said the overall increase in the tax rate would only be three to four cents, including the cost of the most recent issuance of bonds. Outside of bonds, Board members noted the tax rate is actually proposed to drop one to two cents. The Board will establish the date, time and location for the truth in taxation hearing later in the meeting.
Review of District Risk Management Program:
Mr. Cross reviewed the district’s Risk Management Program, which was included in the Board packet for their review. The program allows for certain expenditures and prorated salary allocations to be payable with Tort Immunity funds. Mr. Cross itemized allowable expenditures for the Board’s approval later in the meeting.
Presentation of the 2016-17 Illinois Report Card on Student Achievement Data, Student and Staff Demographics and School District Finances:
Mrs. Bosnich and the administrators reviewed key data from the 2017 Illinois School Report Card. This included changes over time in demographics of the student population, as well as a review of the district’s PARCC scores.
Presentation of Recommended Additions, Deletions and Modifications of Board of Education Policy Numbers: 2:260; 4:10; 4:15; 4:80; 4:110; 4:150; 4:170; 5:10; 5:20; 5:90; 5:100; 5:200; 5:220; 5:240; 5:250; 5:290; 5:330; 6:50; 6:60; 6:150; 6:340; 7:10; 7:15; 7:20; 7:70; 7:180; 7:190; 7:250; 7:260; 7:270; 7:275; 7:305; 7:340:
Mr. Cross presented and reviewed the additions, deletions and modifications for Board policies 2:260; 4:10; 4:15; 4:80; 4:110; 4:150; 4:170; 5:10; 5:20; 5:90; 5:100; 5:200; 5:220; 5:240; 5:250; 5:290; 5:330; 6:50; 6:60; 6:150; 6:340; 7:10; 7:15; 7:20; 7:70; 7:180; 7:190; 7:250; 7:260; 7:270; 7:275; 7:305; 7:340. He explained that some of the policies have added language and asked that the Board review these prior to the December 20, 2017 Board of Education meeting when they will be presented for adoption.
Action Items:
Approval of the Tentative 2017 Tax Levy:
Motion: Moved by Member Pillai, seconded by Member Kampwerth, to approve the tentative 2017 Tax Levy as presented. Roll Call, Voting Aye: Pillai, Kampwerth, Leynaud, Renk, Lamboley, Ankiewicz, and Bruins. Nays: None. The motion carried 7-0.
Adoption of Resolution Establishing a Truth-in-Taxation Hearing on December 20, 2017:
Motion: Moved by Vice President Renk, seconded by Member Ankiewicz, for a resolution to establish a Truth-in-Taxation hearing on December 20, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call, Voting Aye: Renk, Ankiewicz, Bruins, Kampwerth, Leynaud, Pillai, and Lamboley. Nays: None. The motion carried 7-0.
Approval of the District Risk Management Program:
Motion: Moved by Member Kampwerth, seconded by Member Pillai, to approve the District Management Program as presented. Roll Call, Voting Aye: Kampwerth, Pillai, Renk, Lamboley, Ankiewicz, Bruins, and Leynaud. Nays: None. The motion carried 7-0.
Adjournment:
Motion: Moved by Leynaud, seconded by Pillai, to adjourn at 8:07 p.m. Aye 7, Nay 0. The motion carried 7-0.
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