The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

WC To Lease 16 School Busses

At the regularly scheduled November 18, 2014, meeting of the West Central CUSD #235 Board of Education, the board approved three, one-year agreements with Midwest Bus Sales for school busses for the 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years.

The lease amount for 16, 71 passenger busses for each yearly lease will be $228,240, which is the same amount that the district has paid for the last two years.

The district will also lease a 20 passenger mini bus with a wheelchair lift for the same time period as the 71 passenger busses for a cost $13,950 per year which is the same amount that the district has paid for the last two years.

The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. in the WCES Cafeteria by Board President Dr. Lonnie Brent, with all board members present.

Dr. Brent led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Under Good News Items, the following items were highlighted:

The WCMS Veterans Day program was highlighted both in terms of the quality of the speaker and the exceptional behavior of the middle school students

Rachel Reynolds was recognized as being the WRAM/WMOR and Frontier Communications Teacher of the Week last week

It was reported that a United School District parent called the district to compliment 8th grade boys basketball Coach Josh Harris for providing playing time to a WCMS player.

The board approved the agenda with no changes or additions.

Under Recognition of Audience Requests for Presentation Dr. Brent recognized Jason Guyton who was in attendance to address the board on Agenda Item XII. WCMS Football Program.

The board approved the following items under the Consent Agenda:

The minutes of the regular meeting of October 15, 2014; the special meeting of October 30, 2014 and the closed session of October 30, 2014

An agreement with America's Best Water Treaters, Inc. for service on the district boilers for one year.

The board approved the payment of all bills as presented and approved the activity accounts for each building as presented. The October treasurer s report was approved as presented.

Superintendent Grimm reported to the board that the revenue received to budgeted revenue expected is at 61.86%. Actual expenditures for the first third of the fiscal year are at 30.41% of budget. Superintendent Grimm also reported that as of Tuesday, November 18, 2014, the State of Illinois has vouchered $380,781 to the comptroller s office. The district has not yet received this money.

In other business the board:

• approved extending the current agreement for snow removal for the north campus with Mark Muhleman of Stronghurst. Mr. Muhleman will be paid $270 per snow event of 2 or more for snow removal for the south campus and $65 per event of 2 or more for snow removal (on an as needed basis) for the Media campus.
• approved the 2014 Tentative Tax Levy. This year s tentative tax levy calls for an extension amount of $4,667,294 which is an increase over the 2013 levy extension amount of 4.95%. The board will vote to approve the final 2014 Tax Levy at the December 17, 2014, board meeting.
• approved a resolution authorizing the use of a local realtor to sell four lots the district owns that sit adjacent to the current baseball diamond. The agreement is for 120 days and calls for a commission not to exceed 7%.
• approved a recommendation from the administration to split our current three Kindergarten sections into four sections beginning on January 5, 2015. It was noted that parents will be informed of this decision by the board by letter.
• Parents will be asked to volunteer their children for the move to the new section. If there are not a sufficient number of volunteers, criteria will be developed to identify those students who will then be moved into the new section. Progress on this initiative will be reported to the board at their December meeting.
• heard reports from building principals Mrs. Lafary and Mr. Nichols.
• reviewed the written report submitted from WCHS Principal Mr. Schneider.
• reviewed the Curriculum Report as submitted by Mr. Grimm, the Technology Report submitted by Mrs. Frakes and the Special Ed Report as submitted by Mrs. Smith.
• discussed concerns identified by Jason Guyton pertaining to the WCMS Football Games. Specifically, Mr. Guyton inquired as to whether or not a different practice schedule could be developed that provided more practice time for the MS football team so that they had more than 10 practices before their first game. " asked District Athletic Director Randy Frakes and WCMS Principal Jeff Nichols to research alternatives for consideration and to report back to the board.
• reviewed a proposed revision to Board Policy 8:30, Community Relations  Visitors to and Conduct on School Property. Specifically the proposed revision deals with parents or spectators who are ejected from an extracurricular event whether that event is at home or at another school district. The proposed revision would suspend the spectator from the next scheduled event for that sport or activity. Failure to abide by the suspension for the next event by the spectator involved will result in a more formal type of sanctioning by the board as is currently allowed by this policy. The revision to this policy will be brought back to the board at the December meeting for second reading and adoption.
• was presented a brief report on the new implemented Integrated Math curriculum. The report will be discussed in more detail at the December board meeting.

The board took the following action regarding personnel:

• Approved a Leave of Absence for WCHS Special Ed Teacher Karen Gall
• Employed Telisha Fedele as WCMS Associate; Cheryl Bielser as a long term sub; Jamie Hennings as a WCES Kindergarten Teacher beginning Monday, January 5, 2015 and Cindy Wilkins as WCHS Associate
• Employed Quinn Leath as WCMS Seventh Grade Boys Basketball Coach; Jon Slover as WCMS Sixth Grade Boys Basketball Coach
• Accepted the resignation of Terry Painter from his position as volunteer assistant WCHS Bowling Coach

The board took no action on the employment of a WCES Assistant Principal or on the approval of administrator contracts.

The board entered Closed Session to discuss matters pertaining to personnel at approximately 7:15 p.m. The board exited Closed Session at 8:20.

The board was reminded that their next regularly scheduled meeting is Wednesday, December 17, 2014. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in the WCES Cafeteria.

There being no other business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:21 p.m.