Columbia Community Unit School District #4 Board of Education met Oct. 15
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
I. Call to Order/ Roll Call 7:00 p.m.
President Middelkamp called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Parkview Library. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was held in accordance with social distancing guidelines and was live streamed via YouTube for community viewing.
Visitor(s) present: Cindy McMullan, Sherri Mayer, Craig Mayer, Cole Mayer
II. Welcome/ Recognition Of Visitors
President Middelkamp welcomed the visitors present and the public via YouTube.
III. Public Comments/ Correspondence
Cindy McMullan addressed the Board regarding Resolution 2 with IASB concerning gun storage laws. She asked the Board not to adopt the proposed resolution. Her concern is to keep guns safely in homes to protect students from violence and suicide. She shared a personal story of one of her former students who was lost to a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 16.
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA (Items IV. and y.)
IV. Minutes and Finance
Motion to approve the following consent agenda items (Item IV, Minutes and Finance and Item V. Personnel Items), as presented, by Superintendent Grode:
A. Approve Board Minutes
1. Open Session(s)
a. Regular Meeting - September 24, 2020
2. Executive Session(s)
a. Regular Meeting - September 24, 2020
B. Bookkeeper's Financial Position/Treasurer's Reports
C. Budget Report - September 30, 2020
D. Approve Expenditures - October, 2020
E. Accept Activity Fund Report - September 30, 2020
A. Accept Resignation(s)
1. Rebecca Fields, Part-time custodian (effective 1/2/2021)
B. Employ Educational Support Personnel
1. Martin Wood, Bus Driver
2. Claudia Asselmeier, Bus Monitor
3. Jennifer Osia, Custodian
4. Barbara Dryer, Custodian
5. Whitney Şnover, Maintenance
C. Employ Certificated Personnel - none at this time
D. Approve Leave of Absence Requests
1. Jordin Messenger, Special Education Teacher at CMS, 7 weeks beginning January 2021
E. Approve Extra-Curricular Assignments
1. Jeremy Donald, Volunteer Assistant Coach, 8th grade basketball
2. John Williamson, Assistant Bowl Coach, CHS
F. Approve Non-Certified Class Advancements
1. Nicolle Nolte, Class I Driver to Class II
Driver (effective 10/22/2020) G. Declare Vacancy (s)
Motion
To Approve Consent Agenda
Motion to approve consent agenda (Item IV. Minutes and Finance and Item V. Personnel Items), with minutes correction and the removal of Jeremy Donald until after closed session, by Karen Anderson, seconded by Tammy Hines.
On a roll call vote: Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye.
The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay
A. Communications - Reports and Presentations
Enrollment Total enrollment of 1,907 was reported.
Administrative Reports
1. Principal's Report Brian Reeves, Columbia High School Principal, was in attendance and reported on the following:
The high school is in the 3rd week of hybrid learning and it seems to be going well. Everyone enjoys having kids back in the buildings. Standardized testing is happening again with 50 students taking the PSAT and seniors taking the SAT. Fall sports (cross country and golf) have ended, both with successful seasons.
2. Assistant Superintendent's Report -
Dr. Castelli, Assistant Superintendent, presented the School Improvement Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. The plan is made of SMART goals for the district, including all students. Data from state testing is unavailable due to the stay at home order last spring, Goals include the following:
• STAFF: recruitment and retainment of highly qualified staff
TECHNOLOGY: systems available to support teachers and to providing appropriate technology for each student
ACADEMICS: tier approaches to language arts, math and science
CHARACTER/SOCIAL EMOTIONAL: develop student beyond academics and share information on all topics
• CCRI: collect data to track and ensure all students are experiencing growth
3. Superintendent's Report -
a. Board/Admin District Goals and Progress
Report:
Currently we are working on finishing current projects and developing a strategic plan.
• We will create a new strategic plan this school year and act on it over the next five years. b. FOIA Requests - 2020 School Report Card and Summative Designations:
Due to the lack of data collected from no state testing in the Spring because of COVID-19, there are no change in our designations from 2019. d. Bids for Buses:
• We are currently collecting bids for the purchase of two new buses for the fleet until October 27, 2020.
e. Return to School Committee:
The committee would like to recommend a Special Board Meeting on October 28, 2020 at 6 p.m. to discuss the possibilities of expanding the return to school options to students.
The Board agreed and the meeting iş set.
VII. Items for Action
Motion to
A. Motion was made by Greg Meyer and seconded by John
Long to approve the roof work by Tremco at Parkview - not to exceed $9,000 and Eagleview - not to exceed $38,900.
On a roll call vote: Hinęş-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye.
The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay
Motion to Approve the 2020-2021 School Improvement Plan
B. Motion was made by Lisa Schumacher and seconded by
Tammy Hines to approve the 2020-2021 School Improvement Plan as present.
On a roll call vote: Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay
Motion to Approval of 1st Reading of Board Policies (Press Issue 105)
C. Motion was made by Karen Anderson and seconded by Greg
O'Connor to accept first reading of board policies (Press Issue 105).
Draft Updates - Changes Noted
2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure
5:10 Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
5:100 Staff Development Program
5:20 Workplace Harassment Prohibited
5:220 Substitute Teachers
7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities
7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment Teen Dating Violence Prohibited Harassment of Student Prohibited
Draft Update - New
Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance
Procedure On a roll call vote:
Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay
VIII. Discussion Items
A. IASB Resolution: Student Safety and Protection Plans
The Board discussed Resolution #2 referring to gun storage. The consensus of the board was to recommend adopting this resolution as written at the IASB Delegate Assembly meeting on November 14, 2020. Karen Anderson will represent the Columbia CUSD4 Board of Education at the IASB Delegate Assembly.
IX. Board President's Prerogative
President Middelkamp thanked the administration and teachers for their commitment to providing excellent education during such a difficult situation.
X. Executive Session
It was moved by John Long, seconded by Greg Meyer to enter Closed Session for:
1) The Purposes of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1); and 2) The Purposes of discussion of collective bargaining items. 5 ILCS 120/2/(c) (2). 3) Discuss student disciplinary cases; pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(9).
On a roll call vote: Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye, Long-Aye Meyer-Aye.
The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay 7:36 p.m.
Reconvened 8:20 p.m.
President Middelkamp reconvened the meeting to Open Session in the Parkview Library at 8:20 p.m.
Absent:
Present: Karen Anderson
Tammy Hines
John Long
Greg Meyer
Scott Middelkamp
Greg O'Connor
Lisa Schumacher
Mr. Christopher S. Grode, Superintendent
Dr. Courtney Castelli, Assistant Superintendent
Visitor(s) Present: Sherri Mayer, Craig Mayer, Cole Mayer
XI. Action As A Result Of Closed Session
It was moved by Karen Anderson, seconded by Greg O'Connor to deny student 20-21-1 suspension appeal and adopt the Hearing Officer's findings of fact,
On a roll call vote: Anderson-Aye, Hines-Abstain, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye.
The motion carried, 6-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay, 1-Abstain
It was moved by Tammy Hines, seconded by John Long to approve wage increases for Administration as presented.
On a roll call vote: Hines-Aye, Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, 0-Nay
It was moved by Lisa Schumacher, seconded by Tammy Hines to approve the collective bargaining agreement between Columbia CUSD4 and the Columbia Educational Support Professionals Association-IEA-NEA for 2020 2023.
On a roll call vote: Long-Aye, Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher-Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Aye. The motion carried, 7-Aye, 0-Absent, O-Nay
It was moved by John Long, seconded by Karen Anderson to approve Jeremy Donald as a volunteer assistant coach for 8th grade basketball.
On a roll call vote: Meyer-Aye, Middelkamp-Aye, O'Connor-Aye, Schumacher Aye, Anderson-Aye, Hines-Nay, Long-Aye.
The motion carried, 6-Aye, 0-Absent, 1-Nay
XI. Adjournment 8:25 p.m.
With no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Greg Meyer, seconded by Karen Anderson to adjourn the meeting. President Middelkamp adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.