DeKalb Times

Sycamore Community Unit School District #427 Board of Education met March 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Sycamore Community Unit School District #427 met in regular session on March 10, 2020, in the 6th Grade ELA at Sycamore Middle School, 150 Maplewood Drive, Sycamore, Illinois.

Members present

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

Others Present

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

Administrators Present

J. Cleven, J. Drennan, M. Ekstrom, S. Frankiewicz, T. Franks, L. Reilley, N. Reineck, R. Schrader

Audience Members Present

S. Zak, WLBK; M. Wells, The Daily Chronicle; B. Baird, J. Baird, B. Beetz, K. Beetz, N. Berger, L. Biarnesen, T. Biarnesen, J. Bode, T. Bode, F. Bomar, B. Boryla, L. Boryla, R. Boryla, D. Bouge, T. Caputo, V. Caputo, C. Countryman, J. Countryman, K. Countryman, Tatyana Curtis, Teyun Curtis, A. Gallegos, K. Gallagos, D. Gautcher, A. Goodman, E. Hoerchler, C. Jennings, D. Jennings, L. Jennings, S. Jennings, A. Jordan, M. Jurkovic, S. Kingren, K. Kirby, T. Kyler-Curtis, L. Lantz, E. Lee, N. Lee, M. Lockart, J. McCormick, D. Meyer, D. Olson, M. Olson, T. Olson, W. Olson, C. Overton, J. Overton, Person Family, E. Rubeck, A. Ruby, H. Rutherford, J. Sapita, C. Sauber, P. Seiler, B. Simpson, L. Simpson, D. Surdez, K. Surdez, J. Taylor, J. Thompson, S. Tranchita, G. Whelpley, M. Whelpley, S. Williar, K. Zeitler, R. Zeitler

Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM

1. Opening Items

1.01 Call To Order

President Dombek 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

Mrs. Stuckert asked to remove item 7.03 Facility Assessment Results from the agenda.

Motion by Jeff A Jacobson, second by Eric N Jones, to approve the agenda as amended.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

2. Consent Agenda

2.01 Approval of Regular Minutes February 25, 2020*

2.02 Approval of Minutes of Executive Session February 25, 2020*

2.03 Bills Payable*

2.04 Approval of 2020-2021 Membership in the IHSA*

2.05 Approval of 2019-2020 Amended School Calendar*

Motion by Steve M Nelson, 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, Steve M Nelson, Kristen R Wrenn, Jim J Dombek

3. Audience to Visitors

3.01 Audience Participation

No one from the audience addressed the Board.

4. Board Spartan Awards

4.01 Recognition of Young Authors

President Dombek recognized the District winners of the Young Author contest: Lainey Person, 2nd Grade at North Grove Elementary School; Brooke Boryla, 4th Grade at North Elementary School; and Aaliyah Gallegos, 7th Grade at Sycamore Middle School. Penelope Jourdain, 1st Grade at North Grove Elementary School was not in attendance. President Dombek thanked all the students who participated in the Young Author contest as well as the parents that encouraged them.

4.02 Excellence in Education Honorees

Mrs. Countryman and President Dombek recognized the Sycamore School District staff members that were nominated for the Excellence in Education Award: Nicholas Reineck, Jami Thompson, Matthew Moore, Michelle Tranchita, and Neilly Berger. She stated that Nicholas Reineck and Jami Thompson were also county winners.

4.03 Student Spartan Awards - Middle School

The Sycamore Board of Education recognized the following middle school students for their accomplishments: the Wrestling team and the Girls Dance Team. Mr. Cleveln also recognized Lilly Jennings, who won first place in the DeKalb County Spelling Bee and now qualifies to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.

5. Communications/Correspondence/Informational Items

5.01 Various Letters/Newsletters

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

Mrs. Countryman stated that she included in the packet for the Board members a couple of publications from the Illinois State Board of Education regarding the coronavirus. She noted that she is meeting with the DeKalb County Health Department this Friday. She stated that health room procedures and processes have been reviewed and the District is in the process of developing an e-learning plan that will be submitted to the Regional Office of Education in the next couple of days.

Jones asked if the e-learning initiative would support a framework for a snow day policy. Mrs. Countryman responded that the District did not embark on that this year because the elementary students do not have machines.

5.02 FOIA Requests

There were no FOIA requests received since the last meeting.

5.03 Committee Reports

Dombek reported from the IASB Kishwaukee Division Dinner Meeting. He stated that the Superintendent gave a great presentation regarding the importance of social emotional learning for students.

6. Superintendent's Report

6.01 Middle School Report/Presentation

Mrs. Countryman shared that Dan Wheeler, Fifth Grade Teacher at South Prairie Elementary School, received the Golden Apple Teacher Award from First State Bank and School Tool Box.

Mr. Cleven reviewed the Middle School goals and what is being done to meet these goals, with the Board. He noted that one of the goals is to move the PLC process to the next level; and the Middle School hosted a PLC at Work livestream from Stevenson High School this past summer. He stated that another goal includes incorporating the use of technology in the classroom and the 8th grade is 1:1 this year.

Mr. Cleven also congratulated the 8th Grade Girls' Basketball team for being NCJC Conference Champions.

7. Chief Financial Officer's Report

7.01 Approval of FY21 Student Fees-2nd Reading*

Motion by Kristen R Wrenn, second by Jeff A Jacobson, that the Board of Education approve the FY21 Student Fees as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Aye: James M Chyllo, Jeff A Jacobson, Eric N Jones, Steve M Nelson, Kristen R Wrenn, Jim J Dombek

Nay: Julenne Davey

7.02 Approval of FY21 Building Use Fees - 2nd Reading*

Motion by Kristen R Wrenn, second by Eric N Jones, that the Board of Education approve the FY21 building use fees as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

8. Open Discussion and Future Agenda Items

8.01 Open Discussion, Issues, Observations, Questions

None.

8.02 Future Agenda Items

None.

9. Executive Session

9.01 Executive Session for the Consideration of Matters Related to the Appointment, Employment, or Dismissal of Personnel, Matters Related to Individual Students, and Imminent Litigation*

Motion by James M Chyllo, second by Eric N Jones, that the Board of Education adjourn to executive session for the consideration of matters related to the appointment, employment, or dismissal of personnel, matters related to individual students, and imminent litigation.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

10. Action Items from Executive Session

10.01 Resolution Authorizing Non-Reemployment of Full-Time, Non-Tenured Teachers Not In Last Year of Probationary Service*

Motion by Eric N Jones, second by James M Chyllo, to approve the resolution authorizing non-reemployment of full-time, non-tenured teachers not in last year of probationary service, as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

10.02 Personnel Report; Employment, Re-employment of First, Second, and Third Year Non-Tenured Certificated Personnel, Placement of Certificated Personnel on Tenure, Re-employment of Part-Time Non-Tenured Certified Personnel, Leaves of Absence, Resignations, Retirements*

Motion by Jeff A Jacobson, second by Steve M Nelson, to approve the personnel report as presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

11. Adjournment

11.01 Adjournment

Motion by Kristen R Wrenn, second by James M Chyllo, to adjourn the meeting at 8:19 p.m.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

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

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/syc427/Board.nsf/Public