Sycamore Community Unit School District 427 Board of Education met November 26

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella

Jan 9, 2020

Sycamore Community Unit School District 427 Board of Education met Nov. 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Sycamore Community Unit School District #427 met in regular session on November 26, 2019, in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 245 W. Exchange Street, Sycamore, Illinois.

Members present

James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Steve M Nelson, Kristen R Wrenn

Others Present

Kathy Countryman, Superintendent; Kathy Sloniker, Secretary; Nicole Stuckert, Asst. Supt. for Business Services

Administrators Present

L. Reilley, K. Webster

Audience Members Present

M. Wells, The Daily Chronicle; S. Zak, WLBK; B. Hammon, L. Lantz

Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM

1. Call to Order

1.01 Call To Order

Vice President Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

1.02 Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

1.03 Roll Call/Adoption of Agenda

Motion by Jeff A Jacobson, second by Kristen R Wrenn, to approve the agenda as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Kristen R Wrenn, Steve M Nelson

2. Consent Agenda

2.01 Approval of Minutes of Special Meeting November 11, 2019*

2.02 Approval of Minutes of Executive Session November 11, 2019*

2.03 Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting November 12, 2019*

2.04 Approval of Minutes of Executive Session November 12, 2019*

2.05 Approval of Minutes of Special Meeting November 15, 2019*

2.06 Approval of Minutes of Executive Session November 15, 2019*

2.07 Approval of Minutes of Special Meeting November 19, 2019*

2.08 Approval of Minutes of Executive Session November 19, 2019*

2.09 Bills Payable*

2.10 Financial Reports*

2.11 Disposal of Equipment*

2.12 Sycamore Middle School Improvement Plan*

Motion by Kristen R Wrenn, second by James M Chyllo, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Kristen R Wrenn, Steve M Nelson

3. NIA Consent Agenda

3.01 NIA Bills Payable*

3.02 NIA Treasurers' Report*

3.03 NIA Personnel Report*

Motion by Eric N Jones, second by Kristen R Wrenn, to approve the NIA Consent Agenda as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Kristen R Wrenn, Steve M Nelson

4. Public Hearing

4.01 Public Hearing for Adoption of a Levy in Conformance to the Requirements of the Truth in Taxation Act

Vice President Nelson called the Public Hearing for the Adoption of a Levy in Conformance to the Requirements of the Truth in Taxation Act to order. No one from the audience choose to speak and no written communications were received. President Nelson closed the public hearing.

5. Audience to Visitors

5.01 Audience Participation

No one from the audience addressed the Board.

6. Communications/Correspondence/Informational Items

6.01 Various Letters/Newsletters

Vice President Nelson stated that these items have been placed in the Board packet for the Board's information.

6.02 FOIA Requests

The Board reviewed the FOIA requests included in their packet.

6.03 Committee Reports

Davey stated that she will be attending an Old North Grove School Meeting soon, and was wondering if there was an update on the land. Mrs. Stuckert responded that there are no updates at this time.

Mrs. Stuckert reminded the Board that the Mayor's Ad Hoc Committee is coming up next week, and the District is planning on bringing it to the Board in December for a vote.

Jones noted that he was not able to attend the most recent Sustainability Committee due to conflict.

6.04 Suspension Report

The Board reviewed the most recent Suspension Report.

Jacobson asked if the District could include in the Suspension report a comparison of how many incidents occurred this year versus the previous year.

Davey asked if the Board could get an update on the LEAF Program at South Prairie Elementary School. Mrs. Countryman stated that an update on the LEAF Program can be added to the agenda when the Board meeting is scheduled at South Prairie, after the first of the year.

7. Superintendent's Report

7.01 Learning and Teaching Update - School Report Card/ESSA Update - K. Webster

Mrs. Countryman asked Dr. Webster to tell the Board about her second Doctorate degree that she is working toward. Dr. Webster stated that her classes are completed, and she is now working on her dissertation. She stated that her degree will be in Childhood Trauma and Resilience.

Dr. Webster reported on the Every Student Succeeds Act (EESA), which focuses on providing and maintaining equity for all students. She also reported on the State School Report Card. She pointed out that all seven (7) of the buildings in the District received a commendable designation, which indicates that the school has no underperforming subgroups and a graduation rate greater than 67%.

Mrs. Stuckert stated that the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires the school report cards to include a site specific cost per pupil amount. She indicated that an additional 2000 accounts were created in order to determine these costs. She explained that the cost per pupil is based on site expenditures and district centralized expenditures; divided by the number of school site students.

Dr. Webster reviewed the Learning and Teaching Goals with the Board. She noted that the third goal is a new one and is based on SAT Scores. She noted that the EB (Emergent Bilingual) Goals are for our ELL Teacher, Mrs. Robles. Dr. Webster explained that the District currently has two district instructional coaches at the elementary level. She indicated that an evaluation of the current coaching model, as well as a needs assessment for a possible expansion of the current coaching model, will be conducted.

7.02 2020-2021 District Calendar - 2nd Reading*

Motion by Kristen R Wrenn, second by Jeff A Jacobson, to approve the 2020-2021 District Calendar as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Kristen R Wrenn, Steve M Nelson

8. Assistant Superintendent for Business Services' Report

8.01 Adoption of the 2019 Tax Levy Resolution*

Motion by Eric N Jones, second by Kristen R Wrenn, to approve the 2019 Tax Levy Resolution as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Kristen R Wrenn, Steve M Nelson

8.02 Waiver of Student Fees and Debt Collection

Mrs. Stuckert gave the Board an update on the Free and Reduced lunch program, which goes hand in hand with student fees. She stated that the school code instructs the District to waive student fees for children whose families cannot afford them. She explained that a student qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) with the approval of a FRL application or schools can establish a separate process for determining eligibility for a waiver of fees. She noted that students that are directly-certified or categorically eligible are automatically approved. Mrs. Stuckert commented that the Student Fee Waiver is a separate process. She noted that if a family does not qualify for a fee waiver, the District creates a payment plan. She stated that collections are up 20% since FY17.

9. Open Discussion and Future Agenda Items

9.01 Open Discussion, Issues, Observations, Questions

Wrenn stated that she has missed the Spartan Senate Representative and their report to the Board. Mrs. Countryman indicated that she would contact Tim Carlson, Sycamore High School Principal regarding a Spartan Senate Representative reporting to the Board on their discussions.

9.02 Future Agenda Items

LEAF Program Update

10. Executive Session

10.01 Executive Session for the Consideration of Matters Related to the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, or Dismissal of Personnel and Imminent Litigation*

Personnel Report

Motion by Jeff A Jacobson, second by James M Chyllo, that the Board of Education adjourn to executive session for the consideration of matters related to the appointment, employment, compensation, or dismissal of personnel and imminent litigation.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Kristen R Wrenn, Steve M Nelson

In at 8:33 p.m. and out at 8:59 p.m.

11. Action Items from Executive Session

11.01 Approval of the Personnel Report; Employment, Resignations*

Motion by Kristen R Wrenn, second by Jeff A Jacobson, to approve the personnel report as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Julenne Davey, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Kristen R Wrenn, Steve M Nelson

12. Adjournment

12.01 Adjournment

Motion by Julenne Davey, second by James M Chyllo, to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 p.m.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried