The Fieldcrest CUSD 6 Board of Education held its regular Board meeting on January 25, 2017. Members present were Tom Barth, Tammi Coons, Scott Hillenburg, Joe Kirkpatrick, Greg Kroeschen, Tim McNamara, and Danielle Reichman. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Daniel L. Oakley, South principal Jason Chaplin and a few community members.
During the public commentary/communications section of the Board meeting, Dr. Oakley read into the record the Village of Rutland's resolution regarding the use of current buildings.
In Board action during regular session, the Board: removed the December meeting minutes from the consent agenda to correct an error, then approved the minutes; approved the consent agenda; adopted a closed session minutes resolution which opens some formerly closed session minutes; approved Health/Life Safety documents for filing with the state; approve a three-year agreement with MAP to provide longitudinal testing and documentation for students in all grades; tabled a resolution on regulating expenses due to need for clarification of the language of the resolution; and adopted a resolution renaming East, South and West for 17-18 to reflect the grade levels in the buildings.
In employment action, the Board: hired Tim Spencer and Lyndsey Perry as drivers; and recognized Cindi Koudelka resignation as middle school cheerleading coach following this year's season.
Mr. Chaplin addressed the Board regarding activities at South.
Dr. Oakley updated the Board on the fiscal state of the district as related to state of Illinois payments. The state is behind about 7 months at this time, and have made no categorical payments (special education and transportation) at all for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The state has finally completed payments on bills from the 2015-2016 school year, but the Board should prepare for the state being at least 6 months behind on payments to the district. Dr. Oakley followed up on the conversation at the January Board planning meeting and stated that the Board should, at the February regular Board meeting, sell the $1.2 million in working cash bonds already approved.
The Board also discussed several items:
-The state of Illinois has mandated lead testing in school buildings through a new law passed last year. The rules have not yet been written, so there are several things we don't know for sure yet. The timeline for our buildings is likely December of 2017, although if the rules are promulgated before that time, we can go earlier.
-The Board discussed the addition of four ½ day school improvement days to the 2017-2018 calendar. The discussion swirled around whether to adopt the approach often used for such days, which is using Friday afternoons, or to use a more innovative approach, such as starting school late for those four days. There was concern on both sides of the issue, and more discussion is likely before a decision is reached.
-The Board also discussed the proposed police services agreement with the city of Minonk. Among the primary discussion items were why such an agreement is necessary and specific elements within the agreement.
-Dr. Oakley presented a guideline in response to questions that had been posed regarding 6th grade students being in the same building as 7th and 8th grade students next year and their eligibility for athletics/activities.
The Board discussed several items on the proposed guidelines. -Other items discussed by the Board included the upcoming RIFs in March and the process leading up to it, and the Board candidate pre-election workshop coming up February 1.
The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, 2017, at 6:30 pm at Fieldcrest High School band room, with closed session starting at 6:00 pm.