Southern Illinois News

By Philip Gonzales

Feb 14, 2022

Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education met Dec. 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL

At 6:00 p.m., President Coyle called to order the regular meeting of the Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education.

Members present: Jessica Radogno, Carlos Hevia, Angela Steketee, Leah Conover, Kevn Marren, Laura Coyle

Adina Hoover entered the meeting at 6:08 p.m.

Members absent: None

Also present: Superintendent Kevin Carey, Business Manager Kimberly Anderson, and the Superintendent's Administrative Assistant Shannon Cossairt.

Pledge of Allegiance

Laura Coyle led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Mr. Marren, to enter closed session to discuss personnel issue and student discipline.

Ayes: Conover, Marren, Steketee, Coyle, Hevia, Radogno

Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

The Board entered closed session at 6:01 p.m.

The Board returned to open session at 6:43p.m.

Due to the Public Hearing on Tentative Tax Levy scheduled to start at 7:00 pm, as published, the order of the meeting was changed.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES November 16, 2021

Motion by Ms. Steketee, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the November 16, 2021, regular meeting of the Board of Education, as presented.

Ayes: Radogno, Hevia, Steketee, Hoover, Conover, Marren, Coyle

Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

November 16, 2021 Closed Session

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the minutes of the closed session of the November 16, 2021, regular meeting of the Board of Education.

Ayes: Radogno, Hevia, Steketee, Hoover, Conover, Marren, Coyle

Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

December 8, 2021 Special Meeting

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Conover, to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2021, special meeting of the Board of Education.

Ayes: Radogno, Hevia, Steketee, Hoover, Conover, Marren, Coyle

Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Conover, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

1. Personnel Recommendations

2. Approval of Board Travel Expenses

3. Renewal of SSCIP Insurance Agreement

4. Approval of the Additional November 2021 Expenditure Report

5. Ratification of November 2021 Regular Payroll

6. Disposal of Equipment - Stationary Bikes – WJHS

7. Disposal of Equipment – Technology

8. Approval of December 2021 Expenditure Report

9. Approval of AFR Shared Services or Outsourcing

Requirement Report 10. Approval of Student Tours

Ayes: Marren, Steketee, Coyle, Hevia, Hoover, Radogno, Conover

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION

Update on the 2021-2022 School Year

Superintendent Carey presented to the Board an update on the 2021-2022 school year. He reviewed the following:

• Guiding Principles

• DuPage County

• Local Positivity Rates

• Staff Covid-19 Data

• Student Attendance Data – August 16- October 21

• CDC Transmission Levels

• Updated CDC, IDPH, ISBE Guidance

• If a School District Defies the Executive order...

• Reminders

• Testing

• Vaccine Clinic

As per the Board's request Superintendent Carey has included data to show the trend of local positivity rates. The District had the first of two vaccination clinics on December 11, 2021 and the second clinic will be held on January 8, 2022. Vaccines are available for all age groups who are eligible to receive one.

Board Reporting from IASB Conference

On the weekend of November 19-21, 2021, Board members attended the IASB Joint Annual Conference. Board members attended different training sessions. They shared with the other Board members some of the takeaways and what they attended.

Angela Steketee shared how it was nice to learn about what was going on in other districts.

Kevin Marren shared he attended a session on mental health and how there are schools training students to see signs in other students. The website with more information is mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

Carlos Hevia attended a session on communication. He took away the Board cannot be in charge of it, communication should really come from school staff. He also took away from his sessions that the most important decision a Board can make is the hiring of a Superintendent. This is a decision this Board will have to make. He also attended some training on equity and inclusion. He will be bringing more to the Board table over the next couple of months.

PUBLIC HEARING ON TENTATIVE TAX LEVY

The Public Hearing on the proposed 2021 Tax Levy was called to order by President Laura Coyle at 7:01 p.m.

Business Manager, Kim Anderson, shared with the Board, that the hearing and tentative levy were posted in the paper. The tentative levy was presented at the November 16, 2021 meeting. Ms. Anderson reviewed the levy.

There were no questions from the Board regarding the proposed 2021 Tax Levy.

A community member asked how the public was made aware of the levy. Superintendent Carey and Ms. Anderson shared that the District has followed all the legal obligations in making the proposed levy available to the public. Notice of the Proposed Tax Levy Hearing was posted in the Westmont Suburban Life On December 2, 2021.

Ms. Coyle declared the Public Hearing on the proposed 2021 Tax Levy closed at 7:05 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Public comment was given by Larissa Fetterly.

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of Authorization for Treasurer to Pay Additional December 2021 Expenditures

Motion by Ms. Conover, second by Mr. Marren, to authorize and direct the Treasurer to pay bills received in December 2021 for the 2022 fiscal year, as presented.

Ayes: Steketee, Coyle, Hevia, Hoover, Radogno, Conover, Marren

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

Resolution to Adopt 2021 Tax Levy

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr. Hevia, to adopt the resolution setting the 2021 Tax Levy, as presented.

Ayes: Coyle, Hevia, Hoover, Radogno, Conover, Marren, Steketee

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

Approval of Manning and Miller Transition to Grade Level Centers

Motion by Mr. Hevia, second by Ms. Radogno, to approve Manning and Miller transition to Grade Level Centers.

Ayes: Hevia, Hoover, Radogno, Conover, Marren, Steketee, Coyle

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

Approval of the Tentative 2021 Tax Levy

Motion by Ms. Radogno, second by Mr, Hevia, to approve the tentative 2021 Tax Levy as presented.

Ayes: Hoover, Conover, Marren, Coyle, Radogno, Hevia, Steketee

Nays: None.

Motion Carried.

This item has tabled for a later meeting.

Approval of Roof Replacement Contract for Westmont High School

Resolution Authorizing a Supplemental Tax Levy to Pay the Principal of and Interest on Outstanding Limited Bonds of Community Unit School District 201, DuPage County, Illinois

Motion by Ms. Conover, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the resolution authorizing a supplemental tax levy to pay the principal of and interest on outstanding limited bonds of Community Unit School District Number 201, DuPage County, Illinois, as presented.

Ayes: Radogno, Conover, Marren, Steketee, Coyle, Hevia, Hoover

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

Approve 2021 Retirement Contract for Linda Klawitter

Motion by Ms. Conover, second by Mr. Marren, to approve the 2022-2023 school calendar as recommended.

Ayes: Conover, Marren, Steketee, Coyle, Hevia, Hoover, Radogno

Nays: None

Motion Carried.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

Communications

Superintendent Carey shared with the Board that Linda Klawitter will be retiring on December 31, 2021. Ms. Klawitter has been a tremendous asset to the District and will be missed.

Superintendent Carey attended the choir and band concerts for WJHS and WHS. They sounded amazing and the students did great.

Superintendent Carey would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays!

FOIA requests have been attached to BoardDocs for the Board to review.

Alliance Legislative Update

None at this time.

Update on Meeting Minutes Agendas/Curriculum

None at this time.

BOARD REPORTS

Laura Coyle said the WHS Band Boosters Craft Fair was amazing.

Carlos Hevia shared an update from the PR Committee. Yard signs are now available. If you would like one, please contact the District Office or Westmont High School. Also, there is a Realtor Fair coming up. Another early discussion by the PR Committee is making a newsletter for the District.

Angela Steketee would like to also invite other parents to join the PR Committee.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None at this time.

FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS

Semester 1/ Quarter 2 Ends December 17, 2021

Winter Break December 20, 2021 through January 3, 2022

Teacher Institute Day January 4, 2022

Classes Resume for Students January 5, 2022

Elementary PTO and Committee Meeting January 10, 2022. 6:00 pm Manning Elementary School

School Board Meeting January 11, 2022, 6:00 p.m. Westmont Village Hall

CLOSED SESSION

Not needed at this time.