The Board of Education of Hamilton County Community Unit District No. 10 met in regular session on the evening of March 16, 2004, 6:00 p.m., in the Unit Office Boardroom.

            The meeting was called to order by Board President John Ewald.  Roll Call was as follows:  Present – Steve Becker, Krystal Donelson, Larry Launius, Tom Maulding, Randy Sloan, Jerry White and John Ewald.

            Motion by Donelson, second by Becker to approve the minutes of the following board meeting as presented: February 17, 2004 regular meeting; February 19, 2004 special meeting; and March 1, 2004 special meeting.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

            Motion by Launius, second by Donelson to approve the Treasurer’s Report.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

            Motion by Sloan, second by Maulding to approve the Budget report.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

            Motion by White, second by Becker to approve the attached list of bills for Hamilton County Community Unit District No. 10.  Roll Call Vote – Voting Yes – White, Becker, Donelson, Launius, Maulding, Sloan and Ewald.  Motion carried.

            CORRESPONDENCE – Mr. Sam McPeak and J.D. Ventress asked to speak before the board.

VISITORS - Sam McPeak and Victor Knight were present to ask the board what the district plans were for the Dale School grade school and to consider donating the building to the township to use as a community center.

            J.D. Ventress was present to express his concern on the selling or disposal of the old high school classroom buildings in regards to who may buy it and what it might be used for.

Several students from Mr. Ellsworth’s Civics class were present for a classroom assignment.

            SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT – Status – Mr. Mitchell discussed the monthly utilities and cafeteria reports with the Board. 

Mr. Mitchell told the board that the district could lose approximately $200,000 in state funding for the 2004-2005 school year due to the poverty count and the declining enrollment in Hamilton County Schools.

Mr. Mitchell received the district financial profile report and the report indicates that the district has been put on the financial watch list.  The ISBE will be observing the districts daily operations.

Mr. Mitchell gave the board some good news that the district could be receiving approximately $8,000 in refund through the E-rate program.  The federal government refunds the district 62% of expenditures from phone bills and internet lines that are used in the district.

CURRICULUM -  Fred Vallowe, high school biology teacher, was present to ask for the boards’ approval and possible financial help on a proposal for an Arboretum.  This project will utilize land and landscape that is already in place in a location called Bear Creek west of the Jr./Sr. High Mr. Vallowe stated that most of the money needed for this project could be obtained through state and federal grants.  The board had no objections with Mr. Vallowe going forward with this project.

Motion by Sloan, second by Becker to approve the following out of state trips HS Math Programming Students on March 20, 2004 to Evansville, IN; HS Gifted students on April 12, 2004 to Paducah, KY;  DH 1st grade on May 24, 2004 to St. Louis, MO; and HS French class on April 30, 2004 to St. Louis, MO.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS –

Mr. Mitchell updated the board on the selling of the building bond issues.  He stated that he had talked with a representative from Chapman-Cutler who indicated the bonds are eligible to be refinanced and they believe it is a good time to refinance due to low interest rates.  The cost to the district could be as much as of $40,000, but the money would come from the savings of the selling of the bonds.

Mr. Mitchell handed the board a Bid Proposal Guide for prospective auctioneers for the auctioning of the district property.  The guide it to give the auctioneers an idea of what will be sold at auction.

Mr. Mitchell discussed various building issues that were for information purposes, such as the new East Side dishwasher is to be installed over springbreak, the summer league committee is purchasing linoleum for the concession stand floor and also is looking into getting a hot water heater installed in the upper concession stand.  Mr. Mitchell also distributed a blueprint from FGM, Architects, Inc. to address sound control in the East Side band room as well as creating a new exit for the room.

NEW BUSINESS - Motion by Sloan, second by Becker to set High School graduation for May 28, 2004, at 8:00 p.m. at the Hamilton County Jr./Sr. High School.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by White, second by Maulding to approve the submission of any state and/or federal grants for which the district may be eligible in the coming year, as appropriate, to serve needs identified.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Mr. Mitchell asked the Board to convene in to executive session to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees; student disciplinary action; and pending litigation. 

Motion by Sloan, second by Becker to enter in to executive session at 7:45 p.m.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Sloan, second by Launius to come out of executive session at 10:00 p.m.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

            Motion by White, second by Maulding to approve the minutes from executive session.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

 Motion by Sloan, second by Donelson to eliminate head teacher positions effective at the end of the 2003-2004 school year.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Donelson, second by Maulding to honorably dismiss the following tutors due to reduction-in-force:  Janell Bullock, DH; Denise Frymire, BC; Christina Garrett, ES; Jerri Blemker, ES; Robbie Edwards, BC; Tracy Strole, ES and Glenda Wells, DH.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Launius, second by Becker to honorably dismiss the following teacher aides due to reduction-in-force:  Brandee Wellen, Vallery Gray, Sharree Sloan, Lori Howton, Patti Miles, Teresa Golden and Teresa Mitchell.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by White, second by Maulding to honorably dismiss Janice Crow as Family Resource Center Coordinator due to reduction-in-force.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Sloan, second by Launius to honorably dismiss Scott Webb as Coordinator of the Workforce Investment Act due to reduction-in-force.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried

Motion by White, second by Becker to honorably dismiss Debra Johnson as high school vocational tutor/social activities director due to reduction-in-force.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Maulding, second by Launius to honorably dismiss Kathy Smith as junior high study hall monitor due to reduction-in-force.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Launius, second by White to honorably dismiss the following part-time cashiers due to reduction-in-force:  Rita Phillips, Marilyn Melton, Phyllis Bond and Carla Browning.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by White, second by Becker to honorably dismiss Nancy Prince as part-time bus monitor due to reduction-in-force.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by Sloan to honorably dismiss the following part-time non-tenured teachers, as per resolution:  Vicki Ellingsworth and Patricia Trout.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Launius, second by Maulding to honorably dismiss the following second year non-tenured teachers, as per resolution:  Marcie Clark and Deanna Erwin.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by White, second by Sloan to honorably dismiss the following part-time custodian due to reduction-in-force:  Kim Smith.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by Donelson to honorably dismiss the following secretary due to reduction-in-force: Melissa Ragan.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Donelson, second by Becker to place the following first year teachers on second year probationary status:  April Smith, Pam Tondini and Clint Winemiller.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Maulding, second by White to place the following second year teachers on third year probationary status:  Tim Ellsworth and Arlanna Fries.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Launius, second by Maulding to place the following third year teachers on fourth year probationary status:  Kevin Blemker, Jerry Brock-Jones, Michele Cross, Hank Emerson, Sue Kinder, Kathy Teffertiller, Jacque Thomas and Jim Webb.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by Maulding to place the following fourth year teachers on tenure:  Kim Bridwell, Shannon Brown, Mike Johnson and Stephanie Lemke.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by White to employ Charlie Pryer as one-half time principal/10% District Title I Director and 40% Reading Teacher assigned to Dahlgren School beginning with the 2004-2005 school year.  Roll Call Vote – Voting Yes – Becker, White, Donelson, Launius, Maulding and  Sloan.  Voting No – Ewald.  Motion carried.

Motion by Sloan, second by Donelson to approve Gary Hopper as a volunteer varsity baseball coach for the 2003-2004 school year.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by Maulding to authorize to advertise for a freshman girls basketball coach for the 2004-2005 school year.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Launius, second by Sloan to authorize to advertise for an assistant varsity track coach for the 2003-2004 school year.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by White to authorize to advertise for Summer League umpires and concession workers for the 2004 season.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Sloan, second by Maulding to authorize to advertise for Summer School teachers for the summer of 2004.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by Donelson to authorize to internally post for a junior high language arts instructor for the 2004-2005 school year.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Donelson, second by Launius to authorize to advertise for a junior high cheerleading sponsor for the 2004-2005 school year.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by White, second by Becker to authorize to advertise for summer maintenance and field worker positions for the summer of 2004.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Sloan, second by Becker to authorize to advertise for a driver’s education/physical education teacher for the 2005-2006 school year.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Donelson, second by Sloan to schedule a special board meeting to discuss personnel issues on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Unit Office.  Vote was taken by voice and motion carried.

Motion by Becker, second by Donelson to adjourn.  Vote was taken by voice, motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.                                                        

 

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                                                                                    Board President

 

                                                                                    _____________________________

                                                                                    Board Secretary