Seneca Township High School District 160 Board of Education met Nov. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
A regular meeting of the Seneca Township High School Board of Education was held at 6:00 p.m. President Frye called the meeting to order with roll call.
1. ROLL CALL: Present: Johnson, Hamilton, Frye, Olson, Eltrevoog, Biros
Absent: Yandell
Yandell stepped in at 6:47pm
Others present: Superintendent Dan Stecken, Principal Michael Coughlin, Dean of Students Mark Giertz, Recording Secretary Nadine Maierhofer, Faculty Member Kent Weber, Student of the Month winners and guests, and Ottawa Media Rick Koshko.
2. RECOGNITION OF GUESTS AND VISITORS
Student award winners were recognized.
3. Success at SHS
Principal, Mike Coughlin, mentioned the wonderful Veterans Day Program that was presented by our very own FFA with the help of Ag Teacher, Mr. Kent Weber. He is very proud to be a member of Seneca High School as our FFA students showed great respect and being the best role models for not only our student body, but all Veterans that joined us as guests that day.
4. INVESTMENT REPORT
Mr. Stecken reviewed the Investment Report. President Frye stated that the Investment Report would stand approved as presented, subject to audit.
5. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Mr. Stecken reviewed the Financial Dashboards.
6. TREASURER'S REPORT
Mr. Stecken gave the Treasurer's Report in Rob Maierhofer's absence.
President Frye stated that the Treasurer's Report would stand approved subject to audit.
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Transfer Hearing Minutes, dated October 20, 2021
B. Regular Minutes, dated October 20, 2021
C. Building/Grounds/Transport Committee Minutes dated November 3, 2021
Mr. Stecken stated he received no additions or corrections to the minutes. President Frye stated minutes would stand approved as presented.
8. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Mr. Stecken briefly reviewed the accounts payable.
President Frye asked for a motion to approve the Accounts Payable as presented.
A motion was made by Joe Johnson and seconded Rich Hamilton to approve the Accounts Payable as presented.
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Johnson, Olson, Biros, Eltrevoog, Frye, Hamilton
Nays:
Motion Carried
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
10. EDUCATIONAL ITEM
No educational items were received.
11. COMMITEEE REPORTS
Superintendent Dan Stecken and President Ron Frye both mentioned that working with Wold was going very well, they listen to the group's needs and are showing great dedication in their work. They have listed options and given the district different directions to look in.
12. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
A. Finance Report
1. 2022-23 Budget
Mr. Stecken refers to this budget as a big picture budget because we lack many details that are still unknown. We refer to this budget as our December adopt. We must follow all the rules, advertisement requirements, hearings, postings, etc., that we do with the finalized September adopt. This budget will be tweaked and modified over time until it is transferred to the state budget form in September. The budget hearing will be held at 8:20 am on December 15, 2021, prior to the regular board meeting. Mr. Stecken stated this budget is balanced, and it does not include any transfers into the Capital Projects Fund.
2. 2021 Levy
Mr. Stecken stated the 2021 Levy will represent approximately an 8.03% increase over last year's extension. Therefore, the district will be required to conduct a Truth in Taxation hearing before our regular board meeting and after the budget hearing in December. The levy will be abated to comply with the terms of the property tax agreement with Exelon resulting in a tax rate of $1.74838, which is a consistent decrease for the 2nd year from the previous rate of $1.79838.
3. Auditor RFP
Mr. Stecken went over some key points with the Board from a conversation he had with Jason Hohulin from Gorenz and Associates. Since the conversation did not go well, Dan informed the Board that we have put out Requests for Proposals for auditing services for the 2022-23 school year. He anticipates receiving offers from 2-3 firms.
A motion was made by Joe Johnson and seconded Rich Hamilton to approve the Auditor Request for Proposal as presented.
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Johnson, Olson, Biros, Eltrevoog, Frye, Hamilton
Nays:
4. Strat Plan Agreement
Mr. Stecken mentioned to the Board as in previous meetings/discussions he would like to partner with Mr. Larry Heidemann again this year to produce extensive financial forecasting and strategic planning for SHS. His forecasting tools can be used to determine successful future events, while also helping guide current decision-making practices.
A motion was made by Sara Olson and seconded Jason Eltrevoog to approve the contract for Strategic Planning with Mr. Larry Heidemann as presented.
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Olson, Biros, Eltrevoog, Frye, Hamilton, Johnson
Nays:
B. Personnel Report
1. Updated Co-Curricular List
Mr. Stecken informed the Board that Assistant Volleyball Coach, Amy
Mino has resigned. She has taken a full-time teaching job outside of the district and will be greatly missed in the program.
2. FMLA Request
Mr. Stecken informed the Board that Guidance Counselor, Jessi Holman has submitted her FMLA for maternity leave beginning February 15, 2022. Her leave will go through the end of the Spring Semester 2022, but she plans on resuming work in June as she will need to make up her summer contract dates.
A motion was made by Tiffany Biros and seconded Rich Hamilton to approve the Personnel Report as presented.
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Biros, Eltrevoog, Frye, Hamilton, Johnson, Olson
Nays:
Motion Carried
C. Building, Grounds & Transportation
1. Building Update
Mr. Stecken touched on a few items that Maintenance Supervisor Barry Buchanan and his team are working on: 1) The LED streetlights are all installed and this phase of the project is complete; 2) installation of the replacement compressors in the main campus chillers #1 and #3 are complete; 3) bleachers were inspected on 9/13 and we have received the results along with several items that need to be repaired; 4) water test on the leaking skylight is complete, we have received the results of the test and a quote for the repairs; 5) irrigation winterization for all sport fields is complete; 6) currently they are servicing equipment in preparation for snow removal.
2. Gym Project Schematic Design
Mr. Stecken briefed the Board that the Buildings, Grounds and
Transportation Committee has been busy working on the gym project schematic design. The next phase includes developing user groups to take a deeper dive into more refined details.
A motion was made by Sara Olson and seconded Jason Eltrevoog to continue Schematic Design and Design Development update with Wold Architects as presented.
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Olson, Biros, Eltrevoog, Frye, Hamilton, Johnson
Nays:
Motion Carried
3. 98 Chiller Repair Project
Mr. Stecken mentioned that we have been working on the anticipation of the chiller repair project for quite some time. With the help from Wold Architects we have received Bid Documents. He also mentioned that we would be using ESSER II monies to pay for a large portion of this project.
A motion was made by Rich Hamilton and seconded Tiffany Biros to seek bids for the 98 Chiller Repair Project as presented.
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Hamilton, Johnson, Olson, Biros, Eltrevoog, Frye
Nays:
Motion Carried
4. Parapet Wall Project Completion
Mr. Stecken mentioned that we have final documentation on the repair of the Parapet Wall. He stated it was a pleasure to work with Lite
Construction. He also stated our architect, Tim Woolever, from Wold, was a great resource in this project.
D. Summer School
Mr. Stecken informed the Board of the summer school courses we will offer: Algebra I - two semesters, Drivers Education, Dual Credit Speech, and our Summer Bridge Program. The dates for each semester will be Semester 1 - June 6th- June 24th and Semester 2 - June 28th-July 15th•
Enrollment and teacher availability will determine final schedule.
A motion was made by Jason Eltrevoog and secon ed Rich Hamilton to approve Summer School 2022 as presented.
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Eltrevoog, Frye, Hamilton, Johnson, Olson, Yandell, Biros
Nays:
Motion Carried
E. Executive Session
Mr. Stecken stated that he would ask for an Executive Session at the end of the meeting.
13. PRINCIPAL/DEAN OF STUDENTS
A. Illinois State Scholars
Principal Mike Coughlin presented the list of 11 seniors that were named Illinois State Scholars this school year. He said he was proudof the entire group, they represented the senior class well and the award was based on class rank and SAT scores.
B. Tri-County Conference Leadership Conference
Mr. Coughlin informed the Board that we had 8 students selected to attend the 2021 Tri-County Leadership Conference in LaSalle on October 18, 2021. The presenter for the conference was Mr. Ted Wiese. There were many activities they participated in throughout the day along with 64 others from schools in the Conference.
C. First 9 Weeks Stats
Dean of Students, Mark Giertz, reviewed the information from the first nine weeks. The attendance rate was 93.3%. 93.7% of all grades given were C's or above. 6.3% of total students received a discipline referral. Most referrals were issued for being tardy for classes or tardy for school.
14. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATION AND FOIA REPORT
Mr. Stecken stated there was no FOIA requests and 4 State Superintendent Weekly Messages as supplemental readings.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A motion was made by Joe Johnson and seconded by Tiffany Biros, to adjourn to Executive Session, including Administration, to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employee, student discipline and pending litigation
ROLL CALL: Ayes: Johnson, Olson, Yandell, Biros, Eltrevoog, Frye Hamilton
Nays:
Motion Carried
15. ACTION ITEMS AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no action item after the executive session.
16. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
https://www.senecahs.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/60d343039c34d/NOV%20MIN%202021.pdf
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