January 22, 2018

Mikaelian Education Center
615 Locust Road
 
OBSERVER REPORT
(Note that I was unable to attend in person so this is based on the video feed of the meeting.)
 
All Board Members were in attendance.  The meeting began on time and the Board adjourned to Executive Session at 8:58 PM.
 
Public Comments
 
Public Comment session was held at the beginning of the meeting.  Mark Steen, Board President, requested that everyone be courteous and reminded speakers that they had 3 minutes to speak and 1 additional minute during the second public comment period.  The only topic covered by the public speakers was with respect to the band/orchestra program at HMS and WJHS.
 
At the second public comment period, Beth Drucker spoke about role of D39 as a leader for other school districts including New Trier, Evanston and Go Green Illinois Schools (an organization that represents 60 school districts will be visiting D39) and requested person be appointed to review sustainability across the district. 
 
 
Topics Covered:
 
Many topics were discussed by the Board.  The following are the items which may be of interest to the LWV:

1. Finance Report – Board had a Finance Committee meeting where the topic was a  “deeper dive” into revenues in the District’s Budget. 

 

1. Interim Administrative Appointments – Dr. Lechner announced two interim appointments as two administrators are retiring.  Dr. Ramona DeCristofaro will be the Interim Administrator for Student Services replacing Dr. Denise Thrasher.  Ellen Crispino will be Interim Business Manager replacing Gail Buscemi.  The approval of these new administrators contracts was placed on the Consent Agenda.  Ms. Kearney requested that these items be pulled from the Consent Agenda.  Mrs. Kearney disagreed with the terms of the contract related to benefits package.  Discussion followed that this is the same contract used for all administrators.  Motion to approve the administrators contracts was approved with a vote of 6-1.

 

1. League of Women Voters Student and Government Leaders Program.  Dr. Lechner gave an overview of  the League’s Program and mentioned that the Program had kicked off last week for district 8th graders.

 

1. 2019 Fiscal Year Budget Calendar and Resolution – Board is required to present a budget calendar.  The presented calendar meets all of the State’s requirements. 

 

1. January Special Education Child Count – this is also an annual requirement in Illinois.  Currently 504 students receiving special education services in D39.  A presentation was made on the details and trends of special education in D39.  Several board members asked follow-up questions regarding the report.  One interesting discussion was the move-ins for the quality of D39 special education services.

 

1. Consent Agenda – As noted above, Mrs. Kearney requested that the approval of the interim contracts for student services administrator and business manager be removed from the consent agenda.  Consent Agenda was approved unanimously.
   1. Approved the Personnel Report
   2. Approved the 2019 Fiscal Year Budget Calendar and Resolution
   3. Approved the 2018-2019 School Calendar
   4. Approved the Financial Auditing Firm Contract Extension
   5. Approved Interim Contracts for Student Services Administrator and Business Manager – moved off consent agenda
   6. Approved as First Read Revised Board of Education Policies 6:150, 6:160, 6:170, 6:180, 6:190, 6:200, 6:220 and 7:180
   7. Approved the Resolution Prohibiting Sexual Harassment and Revised Policies
   8. Approved Bills for Payment  

 
          Rhona DiCamillo
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