The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

West Central CUSD #235 July Meeting

On Wednesday, July 21, 2010 the West Central CUSD #235 Board of Education highlighted good news items as follows:

•  Board member Anderson was thanked for overseeing the moving of the football practice equipment to the south campus for camp
•  Board member Clark thanked Johnson Sod for the lending of their equipment to seed the practice field on the north campus.
•  President Brent thanked Leon Johnson, Joy Lyon and Dan Potts for their past service to the school district as they will certainly be missed
•  The custodial and maintenance staff were thanked for all their hard work as the buildings are very near being ready for the new school year
•  It was noted that the chemistry room remodel looks fantastic and thanked Jeff Lox for his work on this summer project

There were no members of the audience who wished to address the board xand the board approved the consent agenda which included:

•  Use of Biggsville State Bank for the high school and elementary activity accounts and the Bank of Stronghurst for the middle school activity account;
•  Continued use of Watkins Photography as the school photographer.
•  Quote from Gunther contracting in the amount of $16,300 for north campus parking lot repair work
•  Reappoint Sharri Richard as district treasurer
•  List of West Central CUSD #235 board of education meeting dates and times for FY11
•  Request for Waivers of certain school holidays.

Board approved the following:

• June 16 regular minutes, closed session minutes, and amended budget hearing, payment of all bills with a few additional bills presented at the table.
• June treasurer's report, (Superintendent Grimm reported that as of Wed., July 21, 2010 the State of Illinois owed the district $775,806).
•  bids for the dairy and bakery products for FY11-Interstate Brands and the diary vendor-Anderson/Erickson Dairy. Both are the current providers.
•  repayment of a $250,000 loan from the working cash fund to the transportation fund- made in FY10.
•  a resolution authorizing a loan of $250,000 from the working cash to the transportation fund for FY11.

The board briefly discussed a proposed renewal agreement from Eagle View Community Health Systems to conduct the random student drug testing program for FY11 and directed Superintendent Grimm to seek additional quotes from other vendors for this service and to bring those quotes back to the board for action in August.

The board heard a brief presentation on the tentative FY11 district budget from Superintendent Grimm who highlighted the fact that the Tentative FY 11 district budget shows anticipated revenues of $7,991,972 and anticipated expenditures of $9,619,775. This is a deficit budget for FY11.

Part of the reason for the deficit is the early receipt of FY11 property tax money. However; taking into account the early distribution of local property tax money, the tentative FY11 budget is a deficit budget by approximately $90,000. It was also suggested by the superintendent that the budget deficit could grow larger by the time the board approves the budget in September.

Following a brief questioning and answering session about the proposed budget, the board approved the tentative FY11 budget and directed that it be put on display. It was pointed out that the board will be asked to approve the final FY11 budget at their meeting in September.

The board also discussed again as to whether or not to continue with 4 sections of each grade level at the elementary level. After some discussion, it was the consensus of the board that we will review student enrollment numbers for each of the elementary grades at the end of the second day of registration. If the numbers warrant continuing a 4th section of kindergarten and first grade, the administration has permission to fill those vacancies.

The board approved a health life safety amendment for roof repair at the south campus in the a amount of approximately $125,000. This amendment will be filed with the State Board of Education and upon its approval, bid documents will be prepared by the district architect and bids will be solicited.

There were no reports this month.

The board heard an update on the progress of the summer work in the district by Superintendent Grimm.

The board heard a report on the activities that will be taking place the first couple weeks of August in preparation for the start of the 2010-11 school year. The board agreed to sponsor an all district staff luncheon on Tuesday, August 17, 2010.

The board entered closed session to discuss matters pertaining to personnel and student discipline at 8:05 p.m. and exited closed session at 9:26 p.m. and took the following action:

• Approved resignation of Karl Johnson as WC District Bus Driver
• Approved resignation of Dan Potts as WC Director of Bands
• Approved resignation of Joy Lyon as WCES First Grade Teacher
• Employed Mike Hendrickson as a WC District Bus Driver, Matt Henning as WC Director of Bands, Megan Smith as WCHS Freshman Class Sponsor, Jeff Robbins as WCMS Football Coach, Tonya Niera as WCES Enrichment Sponsor, Terri Copeland as WCMS Enrichment Sponsor, Tammy Slater as WCMS Art Club Sponsor, Byron Helt as WCMS Student Council Sponsor, and approved the WC Extracurricular Sponsor List, resignation of Dick Goff as WCMS Football Coach, resignation of Kay Alliman as WCMS Cheer Coach and Art Club Sponsor, resignation of Tammy Rankin as WCMS Enrichment Sponsor, and reinstated an expelled WCHS student beginning with the fall semester of the 2010-11 school year.

The board adjourned at 9:35 p.m. until the next meeting on Wednesday, August 18, at 7 p.m. in the elementary cafeteria.