The Fieldcrest CUSD 6 Board of Education held its regular Board meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Members present were Tom Barth, Tammi Coons, Scott Hillenburg, Joe Kirkpatrick, Greg Kroeschen, Tim McNamara, and Danielle Reichman. Also present were Superintendent Dan Oakley, East Principal Nate Lorton, West Principal Molly Allen, South Principal Jason Chaplin and a number of staff and community members.
The Board heard from community member Lonna Ruestman regarding recent budget cuts and attendance centers.
The Board held a hearing on a Driver's Education Fee Increase resolution. Mr. Oakley presented the resolution, which would allow the Board the ability to raise driver's education fees to a maximum of $250. Board members and audience members asked questions related to the possible fee increase.
In Board action during regular session, the Board: approved the monthly consent agenda; adopted the negotiated FY16 health insurance rate schedule for employees; waived the first reading of a policy update package and referred it to the Policy Committee; extended principals' contracts one year, with furlough days attached for the FY16 school year; approved the final FY15 Public School Calendar as required by ISBE; adopted a resolution to raise driver's education fees to a maximum of $250; failed to adopt a fee schedule for the FY16 school year; approved an early graduation request pending completion of summer credits; posted the amended FY15 budget for public review; approved two health/life safety amendments, one at East in the order of $42,000 for boiler repairs and one at the high school in the order of $8,000 for exterior door replacement; and tabled a decision on the annex until November.
In personnel action, the Board: recognized Deb Watson's resignation as assistant high school girls' basketball coach and Ken Baker's resignation as head middle school girls' softball coach; hired Rebecca Rickman and Danielle Griffin as special education teachers in the district; hired Drew Barth, Matthew Baxter, and Jonathan Panzica as summer custodial help; and assigned the following extra duty personnel – Jen Bartman as head high school girls' volleyball coach, Dee Foor and Cathy Sanders as Key Club sponsors, Tina Fortner and Rebecca Holdsworth as National Honor Society sponsors, Rebecca Holdsworth as high school Scholastic Bowl coach, Elizabeth Kay as head middle school softball coach, Ryan Koehler as a tech aide, Cindi Koudelka as middle school cheer coach and Scholastic Bowl coach, Laurie Lorton as assistant high school girls' basketball coach, and Mitchell Neally as head high school girls' basketball coach.
Mr. Oakley walked the Board through a review of Section 2 of the policy manual. Mr. Oakley also reviewed the recent community meetings with the Board, and noted that a survey of all residents of the district will be forthcoming soon. In other items, Mr. Oakley noted that the state legislature and the governor are far apart on a budget, and the district needs to prepare for the possibility that all payments may run late next fall.
Mr. Chaplin, along with Mrs. Allen and Mr. Lorton, spoke to the Board regarding moving grades K-6 to a trimester approach. The Board asked several questions regarding the concept.
The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, at 7:00 pm at Fieldcrest High School band room, with closed session starting at 6:30 pm.