The Fieldcrest CUSD 6 Board of Education held its regular Board meeting on January 31, 2018. Members
present were Mykin Bernardi, Scott Hillenburg, Joe Kirkpatrick, Charles Lohr, Kimberly McKay, Tim
McNamara and Beth Palm. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Daniel L. Oakley, Middle School
Principal Nate Lorton, and High School Principal William Lapp.
The Board begin the evening with closed session to discuss "the appointment, employment,
compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee or legal counsel for the public
body; and pending or probable litigation against, affecting or on behalf of the public body." (5 ILCS
120/2c) .
Upon return to regular session:
The Board heard from Robert Prince from the Knights of Columbus. He presented a check to the district
of over $1,000 from Tootsie Roll sales, with the dollars purposed for special needs students in the district.
The Knights of Columbus have raised over $46,000 for this purpose since they began several years ago.
In Board action during regular session, the Board: approved the consent agenda; adopted a resolution
regarding closed session minutes review; adopted an updated Board policy 7:100; adopted the October
2017 PRESS policy update package; approved a three-year contract with Industrial Appraisal for
appraisal of the district's buildings and contents for insurance and risk management; adopted the Water
Quality Management Plan developed by the district's Lead Mitigation Team; approved a transitional math
course for the FY19 high school curriculum; and adopted an updated FY18 Public School Calendar with
recent early dismissals and out-of-school days.
In personnel action, the Board: hired Julie Winkler as Alternate Study Supervisor; and hired Sam Bane as
an unpaid volunteer assistant high school track coach.
Mr. Lorton spoke regarding a few items occurring in his building. He spent the majority of his time
praising the Board's decision to purchase the MAP program for testing and assessment purposes.
Dr. Oakley presented the broad parameters of the Public School Calendar for FY19. It is still a moving
target, with a couple of items being discussed. However, the intent is to be done before Memorial Day if
no snow days are used.
Dr. Oakley also spent some time going over the rudiments of the new Evidence-Based Model for school
funding. The model has 26 elements which are utilized to determine a district's adequacy target for
funding, then uses those numbers to determine whether a district is in Tier I, II, III, or IV. Which tier a
district is in determines what new dollars will be available in any given year. Fieldcrest appears to be in
Tier II. We will know more when ISBE finally completes its work surrounding the formula and releases
the numbers for public review.
In Board comments, Lohr commented that he had received communication from Cordogan Clark.
The Board will meet next in regular session on February 28, 2018 at 6:00 pm, with open session starting
at 6:30 pm in the high school band room