Benjamin School District 25 Board of Education met Aug. 12.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
Call to Order
Board President Vince Engstrom called the meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Administration Service Center boardroom, 28W250 St. Charles Road, West Chicago, Illinois 60185.
Roll Call
In attendance were Members Jack Buscemi, Tammy Mastroianni, Dennis Peterson, Anna Taylor, Lisa Willuweit, and Vince Engstrom; Jodi Krause – absent; Superintendent, Dr. Jim Woell; Business Manager, Cheryl Witham; Evergreen Elementary School Principal, Laura Pfanenstiel; Benjamin Middle School Principal, Mike Fitzgerald; Recorder, Jennifer Szabo, and members of the staff and community whose signatures are filed with these minutes.
Pledge of Allegiance
President Engstrom led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approve Agenda
Member Willuweit moved and Member Taylor seconded to approve the agenda as presented. On a roll call vote, Members Buscemi, Mastroianni, Peterson, Taylor, Willuweit, and Engstrom - Aye. Member Krause - absent. Motion carried.
Board Salutes
The board extended a special salute to Tim Kazmierczak, Buildings and Ground Director for his outstanding work to coordinate cleaning and maintenance of the buildings with construction projects. In addition, he oversaw the Benjamin Middle School band alcove and Evergreen Elementary School playground rubber surface projects. Dr. Woell and the board also extended a special salute to GSF employees for having the schools safe and clean for the start of the school year.
Approve Draft(s) of Minutes
Regular Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2019
Board Retreat Minutes of July 22, 2019
Member Mastroianni moved and Member Taylor seconded to approve the minutes as presented. On a roll call vote, Members Buscemi, Mastroianni, Peterson, Taylor, Willuweit, and Engstrom - aye. Member Krause – absent. Motion carried.
Superintendents Report:
Roof Replacement and Wall Repair for 2020 Summer - Tim Kazmierczak, Buildings and Ground Director shared with the Board that INSPEC will continue testing to find where the leak is coming from.
School Board Visitations to Schools in Fall – The board was asked to schedule visitations to both schools in late September or early October. Further discussion will take place later in the meeting under Discussion Items.
Opening of Schools - Dr. Woell provided an overview of staffing.
Staffing - Dr. Woell provided an overview of staffing and reviews of new hires. Evergreen Elementary School Grade 3 teacher Lisa Gozdziewicz was introduced to the Board.
Buildings and Ground – Tim Kazmierczak, Buildings and Ground Director summarized the cleaning and maintenance work that has been completed over the summer.
Emergency Closing Procedures - Dr. Woell explained the process to determine emergency school closings and the communication tools used. Those tools include district website, notification calls, email blasts, Facebook, Twitter, and staff telephone trees.
ESSA Site-Based Expenditure Update - Cheryl Witham explained the new site-based expenditure requirement as part of the ESSA program. Each state has to meet this requirement.
Education/Administrator Directory 2019-2020 – Dr. Woell and the Board reviewed the Education/Administrator Directory of 2019-2020.
FOIA Request - Dr. Woell shared with the Board that the District received a request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/ on July 12, 2019 from Bethany Simpson, Data Acquisition Specialist, SmartProcure for any and all purchasing records from 2019-04-01 to current. The District complied with the request.
President's Report
Board Planning Calendars for August and September – President Engstrom reviewed the timelines. August 15, 2019 the Board will walk through the schools starting at 6:30 p.m. at Evergreen Elementary School.
Citizens' Desire to address the Board on Agenda Items
There was no one in the audience who desired to address the Board on Agenda Items
Board Reports and Requests
Report: SASED – Member Buscemi reported projects have been completed and have been approved through the Regional Office of Education (ROE). A kitchen sink was repaired for $1,000 vs $9,000. A high school student passed away and counseling was available.
Report: LEND - Member Peterson reported there was no LEND meeting.
Notice: Carol Stream Intergovernmental Meeting: Thursday, August 29, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., Bielawski Municipal Center, 500 N. Gary Ave, 2nd Floor Board Room. Member Engstrom is unavailable to attend; Dr. Woell will attend on behalf of the District.
Notice: 39th Annual Law Seminar: September 28, 2019, Hyatt Lodge at McDonalds Campus - Board Members Buscemi, Mastroianni, Peterson, Taylor, Willuweit and Engstrom; and Dr. Jim Woell will attend on behalf of the District.
Triple I Conference: November 22-24, 2019, Sheraton Grand Chicago – Board Members Buscemi, Mastroianni, Peterson, Taylor, Willuweit and Engstrom; Superintendent, Dr. Jim Woell; and Business Manager Cheryl Witham will attend on Saturday, November 23.
Notice: West Chicago Intergovernmental Meeting: Nothing to report, meeting to be determined.
Financial Report
Cheryl Witham presented the year-to-date financial statements/Treasurer's Report for the month ended June 30, 2019 and July 31, 2019 along with accounts payable and payroll.
Year-To-Date Financial Statements and Treasurer's Report for the Month Ended June 30, 2019 and July 31, 2019
Accounts Payable: 06/13/19 - 08/12/19 = $1,349.696.30
Payroll: 06/14/09 = $220,239.55;06/15/19 = $155,863.88; 06/16/19 = $144,784.03; 06/17/19 = $144,748.61; 06/18/19 = $144,748.02; 07/01/19 = $28,089.41; 07/15/19 = $27,625.60
Member Taylor moved and Member Peterson seconded to approve the financials as presented. On a roll call vote, Members Buscemi, Mastroianni, Peterson, Taylor, Willuweit, and Engstrom - aye. Member Krause – absent. Motion carried.
Employment: Patrick Kelly, Summer Band Camp Assistant at $17/hourly; Carri Chambers at $12.40/hourly, Evergreen Teacher Assistant; Ann Pearson, Long Term Sub-Teaching Assistant at $136/daily; Nicole Johnson, Part-time EL Teacher at Evergreen at $23,726.86, Karin Sheehy; Teacher Assistant Evergreen at $12.40/hourly; Tara McGoldrick, Lunchroom Assistant Evergreen at $29.26 a day/or $19.51/hourly, Lisa Gozdziewicz, Grade Three Teacher at $43,409.00; Stacey Murphy, Teacher Assistant at Evergreen at a daily rate of $241.16.
Personnel Retirement: Deborah Olson to retire at the mid-year break of the 2019-2020 school year.
Approve Hazardous Bus Routes This is the annual resolution requesting continuation of state-approved existing hazardous bus routes as follows: 25-88-2 Evergreen School route along County Farm Road from Vale to Birchbark; 25-88-3 Benjamin School route along North Avenue from County Farm Road to Prince Crossing Road; 25-95-1 Diversey/Fair Oaks intersection and north and south on Fair Oaks Road to district boundaries; 25-95-2 Along Morton Road from Mardon to Birchbark; 25-98-1 Fair Oaks to Benjamin School, St. Charles Road from North Avenue to Klein Road.
Member Peterson moved and Member Taylor seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. On a roll call vote, Members Buscemi, Mastroianni, Peterson, Taylor, Willuweit, and Engstrom - aye. Member Krause - absent. Motion carried.
Citizens' Desire to Address the Board on Non-Agenda Discussion Items
There was no one in the audience who desired to address the Board on Non-Agenda Discussion Items
Action Items
GSF Contract Amendment for Approval – Dr. Woell shared with the board that Harvard's contract which included five sick days and GSF includes three. Dr. Woell also discussed the amended contract which reflects five sick days for the 2019-2020 school year. The Board requested more information such as personal time, vacation time, and insurance information.
Member Mastroianni moved to add the GSF Contract Amendment for Approval to the September 9, 2019 Board Meeting for further discussion. Dr. Woell will check in the amount of personal days and insurance with the Harvard contract.
Discussion Items
Member Mastroianni will not be at the September 9, 2019 Board Meeting.
The school board is scheduled to visit Evergreen Elementary School and Benjamin Middle School on September 26 starting at 8:00 a.m. at Benjamin.
Adjourn
The meeting unanimously adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
https://4.files.edl.io/698e/09/11/19/164829-b8d5119e-f6d1-4157-8a41-24ea813188ae.pdf
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