The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
On Wednesday, February 17, 2010 the West Central CUSD #235 Board of Education conducted their regular meeting and the following items took place.
President Lonnie Brent called the meeting to order in the Elementary Cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. with all board members except Sams who entered at approximately 6:02 p.m.
After President Brent led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance the Board recognized the West Central High School Bowling Team for their 20th place finish at the IHSA State Bowling Tournament.
Members of the team are Dylan Kindig (52nd place individual), Ryan Bigger (10th place individual), Colin Rothzen, Tyler Bundy, Jared Clark, Johnny Ryffel, Nathan Harden, and Logan Stogdill. Also noted as success were the following items:
Under recognition of audience request for presentation, the board heard from two former and one current WCHS students offering their support for two high school teachers whose continued employment with the district was to be debated later in the meeting.
In addition, Sam Sudaker, CSC Envoy, addressed the board upon his arrival at the meeting at approximately 7:05 p.m.
The board approved a motion to enter closed session to discuss matters pertaining to personnel at 6:19 p.m. and exited closed session at approximately 6:46 p.m. and took the following action:
The board approved the consent agenda which included:
The board approved
In addition, Superintendent Ralph Grimm updated the board on the financial report. At the end of the 7th month of the fiscal year, actual revenue and expenditures to budget should be at 58.33%.
Superintendent Grimm pointed out that our revenue received to date is 70.56% actual to budget and our expenditures are at 51.16% actual to budget.
In addition, during this section of the meeting, Supt. Grimm pointed out the listing of securities that have been pledged by the Raritan State Bank as collateral for our recently acquired certificate of deposit. This presentation of pledged securities is in keeping with board policy 4:30 - Revenue and Investments.
The board approved an emergency health and life safety amendment for repair work that was necessary at the Media campus for repairs to the sewer system. The board was informed that some more work is needed on that sewer system and a final health and life safety amendment will be presented to them for approval at the March board meeting.
The board heard from WCHS art instructor Cherry Simmons who was asking for the board's approval to add some additional artwork to the murals in the high school cafeteria which was approved. Art work SPIRIT will go on each side of the UNITED sign for this year's and future seniors to sign and leave their mark.
The board heard reports from Principal Buss, Principal Nichols and Principal Geiser. They also heard a curriculum report from Mrs. Serven, a technology report from Mrs. Frakes and a special education report from Mrs. Farniok.
The board heard a report from the High School SIP (School Improvement) teams chairperson concerning the activities of the team over the course of the last several weeks. Mr. Potts highlighted for the board the team's objectives, guiding principles and briefly reviewed the activities that the team has undertaken to date.
The board heard a presentation from the Early Childhood staff highlighting all of the aspects that make up the Early Childhood Program.
Also, during this portion of the agenda, the board heard briefly from Mrs. Linda Housewright, an area resident and a representative of the ISBE on the benefits of early childhood education.
Also during this portion of the agenda, the board reviewed a report concerning the finances of the early childhood program since fiscal year 2006. As a result of the presentations and the brief questions and answer session that was held, the board by consensus approved maintaining funding for the early childhood program for the 2010-2011 school year.
The board briefly reviewed the proposed 2010-2011 school district calendar.
The board was reminded that this calendar was the result of two district calendar committee meetings.
The board indicated agreement with the proposed calendar and were informed that this calendar will be brought to them for approval at the March board meeting.
Specific highlights of this calendar are that it closely mirrors this year's calendar, the starting date for the 2010-2011 school year will be Monday, August 16, 2010.
There will not be a full two week break at Christmas, but students will attend school on Monday and Tuesday the week of Christmas.
The calendar calls for an ending date of Wednesday, May 25, 2011 if all five snow days are used; however, if no snow days are used the ending date will be Wednesday, May 18, 2011.
The calendar also calls for a break around the Easter holiday of Good Friday and what is commonly referred to as Easter Monday.
The board heard a request from district resident Terry Myers to support a scholastic clay target program.
Mr. Myers indicated that several schools in the area are supporting teams of this type and he is requesting that West Central High School offer their support for such a program. Following a brief conversation, the board directed the superintendent to investigate this further and to report back to the board at the March board meeting.
The board was informed by the superintendent that he had been in contact with family members of Brian Hetrick and Megan Shutwell about establishing memorial scholarships in each of these individual names.
Supt. Grimm indicated that most likely there would be formal guidelines presented to the board at the March board meeting for their approval to establish these two scholarships.
The board briefly discussed a proposal for the addition of security cameras for the north campus. Following a brief discussion it was the wish of the board to have the board building committee meet with a representative from J&S to review the proposed equipment.
The board asked that the building committee to return at the March meeting with a recommendation as to how best to proceed on this particular item.
President Brent indicated that he had been in contact with a representative of the Henderson County Fair Board about the possibility of establishing a cooperative agreement by which the Fair Board could use district property on the south campus.
The board re-entered closed session at 8:40 p.m. to discuss personnel and the sale, purchase or lease of real estate, then returned at 9:45 p.m. with the following action:
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in the elementary cafeteria. The annual High School Showcase Event is also that evening and will be held in the high school gym and cafeteria beginning at 5 p.m. President Brent encouraged all members to attend the first hour if at all possible.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.