Central Community High School District 71 School Board met May 20.
Here is the agenda provided by the board:
The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Central Community High School was held at 7:00PM in the boardroom.
Members present were Mike Nettemeier, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter, Sean Kennedy and Jeff Kampwerth. Visitors included Ryan Ketchum, Ami Shanafelt, Hunter, Yvonne and Jim Strubhart and Kelly Ross.
The agenda was amended and approved on a motion by Richter, second by J. Kampwerth. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
The minutes of the previous meeting were amended and approved on a motion by Kennedy, second by Kruse. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
The minutes of the special meeting were approved on a motion by Kennedy, second by T. Kampwerth. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
The financial report was reviewed and accepted on a motion by Richter, second by Voss. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
Dr. Foutch recognized Hunter Strubhart for earning the Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete Award for Central High School. Hunter was selected for the award by all of the head coaches at Central. Throughout high school, Hunter has participated in Soccer where he was a three time regional champion and in track where he state qualifier and he has earned an outstanding 4.159 GPA. In the future, Hunter plans to attend the University of Minnesota (Go Golden Gophers!!) and study engineering. Hunter is the son of Jim and Yvonne Strubhart.
There are still many parents of those (other than senior students) who have not rectified outstanding textbook and activity bills. All seniors who want to participate in graduation have paid. We are hoping that the late payment fee policy is encouraging payments and will result in less carryover debt from year-to-year, but we may need to discuss a change to that fee.
The Clinton County Academic Excellence Banquet was held on Tuesday, April 27th. There were thirteen students from Central recognized with their parents at the event. This was the 21st Annual celebration of the four schools. Central served as host this year with yours truly handling those duties and former Cougar Mrs. Britni (Holtmann) Weathers as the speaker. It continues to be one of our favorite evenings of the school year.
The City of Breese called a Joint Review Board meeting on April 29 regarding two additional Tax Increment Finance districts. Each of these (named TIF #5 and TIF #6) are both relatively small areas that are both properties that will be removed from the oldest TIF #1 that runs throughout a large area of Breese. As has been the case with recent TIF properties, they are targeted tax increment areas designed to bring an identified business or enterprise to the community. Mr. Meyer was unable to attend the meeting but Dr. Foutch, Mrs. Boeschen, and Mr. Meyer met with Mayor Hilmes the following day and gained insight into the plan as well as some other information for us to discuss.
Each year, we have usually been required to adopt the annual Prevailing Wage Ordinance that states the
district will pay prevailing wage in this area for laborers, workmen, and mechanics employed on public works construction projects. New legislation no longer requires us to take action on this.
We are waiting for confirmation on the allocation of funds from the Perkins and the Career and Technical Education grants with the C.T.E. program for next year. (We are hoping for approximately the same as last year.) However, even if that transpires, without a budget in the State of Illinois, those funds will not be dispersed until a later point in time. If you recall, we have for several years offset some of those funds to pay for tutorial services. The Response to Intervention Program continues to be effective here at Central.
Mr. Anthony Antonellis of the Gallagher Basset risk management division (this is the administrator of the Prairie State Insurance Cooperative program) provided a standard training for our maintenance and custodial personnel on April 10th. The training focused on substance abuse awareness and response in a school setting. He also documented a new safety program recommendation based upon recent legislation (Public Act 100-996) requiring an annual active shooter/active threat drill. In actuality, we do perform an annual “Code Red” drill which fulfills the guidelines of this requirement. He will be returning in July to meet with Dr. Foutch and revisit some of the recommended items from last fall and new training plans.
The Illinois State Board of Education annually releases a report on the provision of Special Education services to students and whether schools meet requirements in implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As you can see by the document, Central is meeting all requirements at a perfect 4.0 score rating. We should be very proud of the job that our Special Education staff and all teachers do in serving our special needs students.
We have not coordinated the HVAC work approved last month for Rooms 8W, 8AW, and 8BW in the west wing of the building (Heating unit in Art Room). Mr. Meyer is working with Todd Jones of FGM Architects to complete that project through Hock Mechanical as our vendor on it.
Litteken Construction has made attempts to continue some excavation work without a great deal of success. Without any additional work by the contractor, we have not received an Application for Payment this month. (The balance to finish and retainage is still $90,616.45 on the project.)
We have completed more of the work with furnishings and equipment and we continue to flesh out the additions with new items but very little contractor work is being completed. The major items to be completed are outside on this project as well. The people of Millenium are also waiting for some break in the weather to complete it. They are also mobilizing to begin the interior renovations for the summer. And, we are coordinating room movement and changes to take place this summer as well. Millenium Construction has submitted Application for Payment #11 for the amount of $5,682.22 for our approval. We also have received Change Order #4 in the amount of $3,544.60 that provides for sixty-three additional feet of fencing and a gate over the sidewalk of the building. (This leaves a balance to finish including retainage of $221,711.51.) A motion to approve payment #11 for $5682.22 and change order #4 for $3544.60 to Millenium Construction was made by Kennedy, second by Kruse. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A few months ago you authorized the letting of bids on the food service contract and we have been completing all of the extensive paperwork for this program. The ISBE Nutritions Program has very
extensive requirements for this bidding process. A motion to award the food service contract to Ceres Food Management for 2019 with 4 annual renewals was made by Voss, second by Richter. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A motion to set a Budget Amendment hearing for June 17th at 6:45PM was made by J. Kampwerth, second by Kennedy. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A motion to renew IASB membership for dues was made by Kruse, second by Ricther. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A motion to approve Brian Short as Zero Period P.E. Instructor was made by T. Kampwerth, second by Voss. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A motion to employ Nick Dall and Ryan Kuper as volunteer football coaches pending all necessary requirements are met was made by Kennedy, second by J. Kampwerth. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A motion to employ Adeja Powell as volunteer Color Guard assistant pending all necessary requirements are met was made by Voss, second by Kennedy. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A motion to approve the resignation of Raeshelle Braye as Special Education Aide was made by J. Kampwerth, second by T. Kampwerth. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
A motion to approve the resignation of Eric Drake as Special Education Aide was made by Richter, second by Kruse. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy, Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT:
For the 2019-2020 school year, Central High school will be implementing the STEP program. This program provides workplace training for students with special needs and also subsidizes employers who are willing to hire students with IEP’s. It is a true game changer in regards to preparing special education students for life after high school. Nicole Weh has graciously volunteered to oversee the program. Along with the STEP program, all special education teachers will be attending a two-day workshop in October 2019 on Transitional Services. The purpose of this workshop is to provide educators with the information necessary to design effective systems that ensure our students’ post-secondary success.
The school improvement team is working on strengthening our current intervention systems for struggling students. At Central, we have a Student Assistance Program (SAP) that meets bi-weekly to discuss the progress of students who have been referred to this program. During these meetings, teachers, school counselors, and our school psychologist design intervention plans for students that have been identified as underperforming. Once the plan is implemented, the student is given an advocate and the SAP team is updated in regards to the student’s grades, behavior, and attendance.
This process works well for some students, but we believe there are still some students falling through the cracks. The team decided that it would be a good idea to include the student in the SAP meetings. With the student present, the team could get a better idea of what interventions may be needed. This also gives the student an opportunity to see (first-hand) how much time and attention several members of the CHS faculty and staff are dedicating to their success.
Dr. Foutch is very excited about a vision for creating a “Virtual Reality” room in the media center. He described to the BOE the educational impact of this technology.
A new evaluation system will be designed and hopefully approved by January of 2020. During contract negotiations, it was discussed that any evaluation changes must be approved by the joint committee by January of the year prior to implementation. This is a State of Illinois PERA Article 50 requirement and therefore it will be necessary to meet this deadline. Mr. Ketchum and Dr. Foutch will spend considerable time on this project in the summer and we will hit the ground running in the fall.
Dr. Foucht recognized English Teacher Katie Florczyk. Mrs. Florczyk was recognized by the Illinois Education Association Region 5 as an Educator of Distinction. Katie was nominated for this award by her peers and she is extremely deserving of the honor. Mrs. Florczyk is a passionate, caring educator who pours her heart into her classroom. She works with several of our reluctant learners in freshman fine arts and senior workplace communications classes and she is willing to go the extra mile to make sure those students are successful. Katie truly is a one-in-a-million type educator and Central is blessed to have her. She makes Central High School a better place.
Dr. Foutch also recognized Gina Benhoff, along with other members of the Central staff, who started a new tradition this year for Prom and Homecoming. As you know, some of our students cannot afford to get their hair, makeup and nails done for these dances and miss out on this "pampering". This year, Gina organized an event at Central that offered those prom pampering services. 15 awesome girls signed up to come in and get pampered on May 4 at 11:00. Dairy King donated burgers, fries and a drink for each girl and Covered in Chocolate donated sweet treats! Alison Fuhler from Design's Unlimited and 5 cosmetology students from Kaskaskia College came to the event to do the hair, nails and makeup.
Prior to the event, each student got an invitation bag with shampoo/conditioner/body wash and lotion. On the day of the event, each girl also received a "glam bag" to take with them. These “glam bags” included make-up samples, a few small perfumes, deodorant, safety pins, gum, mints, chapstick. etc.
Dr. Foutch also recognized many student accomplishments including Junior from Mrs. Shanafelt’s Honors English III class who earned distinction in the Letters about Literature Writing Contest. Also recognized the HOSA seniors who passed the CNA test. Blake Markus was recognized for his 2019 State FFA Win in the area of Surveying.
The board entered into closed session on a motion by Richter, second by Kruse to discuss contract negotiations and the Treasurer’s position. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy. Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None Motion carried at 9:07PM.
The board entered back into open session on a motion by Voss, second by Kennedy. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy. Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None Motion carried at 10:11PM.
The board adjourned the meeting on a motion by Kennedy, second by J. Kampwerth at 10:12PM. Roll call vote: Aye –Mike Nettemeier, Sean Kennedy. Mary Lou Voss, Amy Kruse, Jeff Kampwerth, Tanya Kampwerth, Tim Richter. Nay – None
http://www.centralcougars.org/may2019.htm
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