Grundy Reporter

Coal City Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Aug. 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

ROLL CALL

President Ken Miller called the special meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Coal City Community Unit School District #1 District Office Board Room. In attendance were Board members Robert Bianchetta, Jeff Emerson, Mary Gill, Quint Harmon and Ken Miller. Board members Shawn Hamilton and Chuck Lander were not in attendance. Superintendent Kent Bugg, CSBO Jason Smith, and Board Secretary Karen Vota were also in attendance. High School Principal Mitch Hamann, Athletic Director Dan Hutchings, Middle School Assistant Principal Tom Ruzinok, Member of the Press Ann Gill and community members Chris Crawford and Tim Bradley were in attendance.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

President Miller led the Board of Education and others present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

1. In regard to agenda items – none.

2. In general (Limited to 5 minutes per person.) – none.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

President Miller asked if there were any items that the Board wanted to remove from the consent agenda. Hearing none, President Miller asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Mr. Emerson moved and Mr. Bianchetta seconded to approve the consent agenda which contains personnel items including:

Resignations

Shana Pogliano – 3.2 hour per day server at the Early Childhood Center, effective August 21, 2017.

Employment – pending satisfactory completion of all state requirements

Stacey Greiner – 2.5 hour per day cafeteria supervisor at the High School.

Kelly Kauzlaric – Full Time PE aide at the Elementary School, effective August 7, 2017.

Chad Kelly – Day Lead Custodian at the Early Childhood Center, effective August 7, 2017.

Kerry Morris – Assistant Cook at the Elementary School, effective August 14, 2017.

Venessa Babcock – 2.5 hour per day cafeteria supervisor at the High School

Ronnie Harris – 3 hour per day copy clerk at the Intermediate School and Middle Schools. Ronnie is a student in the transition program at the High School. An aide will accompany Ronnie to work.

Stacey Wills – Full Time PE aide at the Elementary School.

Allison Wingate – Occupational Therapist -.8 FTE

Taryn Pastore – 130 Day Permanent Substitute Teacher at the Elementary and Intermediate Schools – Taryn has a teaching degree in art education and has been a substitute in Will County for the past few years.

Tricia Smith - 174 Day Permanent Substitute Teacher at the Middle and High Schools – Tricia is a certified teacher and has been a substitute in the district for the past several years.

Jessica Warren – First Grade teacher at the Early Childhood Center. Jessica has a Bachelor’s Degree from Aurora University and this will be her sixth year of experience in the State of Illinois.

Employee Transfers

Tara Welch – from.78 FTE Science teacher at the High School to Full Time Science Teacher at the High School.

Involuntary Transfer

Donna Kaplan – custodian at the Early Childhood Center, has been assigned to the floater position at the Early Childhood Center and District Office.

Retirement

A letter of retirement was received from Cindia Brackett, assistant cook at the Middle School. Cindy will retire at the end of 2017-2018 school year.

Leave

Diantha Strylowski – 130 Day Permanent Substitute Teacher at the Early Childhood Center – Diantha has a teaching degree in music education and has been a music teacher the past few years.

Jennifer Endrst – from Full Time 1:1 aide at the Early Childhood Center to Full Time 1:1 aide at the Elementary School.

Tyrone Gregory – from custodian at the High School to Day Lead Custodian at the High School.

Aimee Kessie – from 3 hour per day cafeteria preparer to 5 hour per day cafeteria preparer at the High School.

Tracci Parkhurst – from custodian at the Early Childhood Center to Day Lead Custodian at the Early Childhood Center.

Christina Zettek – from Full Time 1:1 aide at the Elementary School to Full Time 1:1 aide at the Early Childhood Center.

Kara Doglio – from.4 FTE to.8 FTE Speech Pathologist.

Gianna Trotter – from.78 FTE PE Teacher at the High School to Full Time PE Teacher at the High School.

Lisa Ripsch – from.60 FTE Spanish teacher at the High School to Full Time Spanish Teacher at the High School.

Update - Jenn Ness – 4th Grade Teacher at the Intermediate School – On August 2,2017, the Board approved a five (5) day paid medical leave from August 17 through August 23, 2017 and a twenty-one (21) day Family Medical Leave from August 24 through September 22, 2017 with a return date of Monday, September 25, 2017. On August 15, Ms. Ness informed Dr. Bugg that she would not be utilizing the approved leave, but would use sick days as needed.

Update – Ashley Frizzell – Social Worker at the High School – On June 7, 2017, the Board approved a two (2) week paid maternity leave from August 23, through September 5, 2017 and a six (6) week unpaid Family Medical Leave from September 6 through October 18, 2017. Ashley submitted an updated letter requesting 4 weeks of FMLA instead of 6 weeks. Her two (2) weeks of paid leave will begin on August 16 and end August 29, 2017. The twenty-two (22) day Family Medical Leave will begin on August 30 and end on Friday, September 29, 2017.

Cynthia Bennett-Valtman – Music Teacher at the Elementary and Intermediate Schools – thirty-seven (37) day paid medical leave using accumulated sick leave in accordance with the teachers negotiated agreement from August 16 through October 6, 2017. Cindy plans to return on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.

Extra-Curricular Resignations

JV Girls Soccer Coach – Todd Painter

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Job Description – Permanent Substitute Teacher K-5 Job Description – Permanent Substitute Teacher 6-12 & Substitute Coordinator

Roll Call. Ayes: Jeff Emerson, Robert Bianchetta, Mary Gill, Quint Harmon, Ken Miller Nays: Motion Carried.

OLD BUSINESS

A. DISCUSSION ON MEMBERSHIP IN THE INTERSTATE 8 CONFERENCE

For over a year, the Interstate 8 conference leadership has been discussing potential changes to the conference, based on concerns with the disparity in enrollments between the large and small divisions of the conference. When Seneca decided it was in their best interest to leave the conference, that left the conference with 11 schools for the 2018-2019 school year. It is very difficult to develop a conference schedule with only 11 schools, so the conference leadership started actively looking for a 12th school. Morris, Pontiac and Kankakee High Schools all showed an interest in joining our conference, but Pontiac pulled out of the running. Morris and Kankakee High Schools both made presentations to the conference leadership, but neither of them received the requisite number of votes to join the conference. Coal City High School voted for Morris to join because we believed they were an excellent fit for our conference, but only 3 other conference schools votes for them to join. The failure of either school to receive enough votes once again left the conference at 11 schools for the 2018-2019 school year.

Since that time, there have been discussions of some schools breaking away from the I-8 to form a new conference. Coal City High School has been asked to join this group, which includes Manteno, Peotone, Herscher, Wilmington, Reed-Custer and Lisle. The group would need another team to reach 8 schools, and as of right now, we do not know who that 8th school might be.

President Miller thanked Mr. Hamann and Mr. Hutchings for presenting all options to the Board. At this time, the Board is in a wait and see position until the next I-8 leadership meeting on September 6. The District's position is still to add a 12th team and leave the conference in-tact. The second preference would be to have a 10 team conference that keeps nearly all of the current conference schools. However, neither of those options appear to have enough support from the other conference schools. After the September 6 conference meeting, the Board will know what options are realistically available for future conference affiliation.

Girls Varsity Head Soccer Coach – Michael Kostbade

Fresh/Soph Softball Coach – Katie Muntz

6th Grade Volleyball Coach – Lauren Deter

The Board was clear that whatever our conference affiliation, it should allow our students to continue participating in extra- and co-curricular activities at the same level they do currently. Mr. Hamann and Mr. Hutchings echoed that desire as they continue to advocate for what is best for the students of Coal City High School. Dr. Bugg will keep the Board informed as this process moves forward.

OPEN FOR ITEMS NOT KNOW AT AGENDA PREPARATION TIME

Dr. Bugg informed the Board that he would be testifying in court later this week regarding a land use issue within the district.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

1. In regard to agenda items – none.

2. In general (Limited to 5 minutes per person.) – none.

NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 @ 6 P.M. In District Office Board Room

NEXT BOARD STUDY SESSION: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 @ 6 P.M. In District Office Board Room

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Harmon moved and Mr. Emerson seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m. President Miller asked if there was any opposition to the motion, hearing none considers the motion approved.

http://www.coalcity.k12.il.us/unit/agenda_minutes/minutes17-18/Minutes_Board_08_28_17_SpecialMeeting_I8.pdf