Grundy Reporter

Morris Community High School District #101 Board met December 11.

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

Present:                      President Judie Roth                       Mr. Chris Danek

                                   Vice President Tom Anderson         Mrs. Kim Puckett

                                   Secretary Scot Hastings                  Mr. Jim Ringer

                                    Mrs. Lynn Vermillion

Also Present:              Superintendent Pat Halloran

                                    Principal Kelly Hussey

                                    Assistant Principal Jeremiah Farrell

The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Student Council Representative

Student Council Vice President Kaleb Hefford reported pencil bundles are being made to

distribute to students prior to final exams, a family is being sponsored for the holidays from We

Care and the theme for the winter formal is “Intergalactic Space Party.”

Approval Consent Agenda

President Roth inquired of the Board if there were any items on the consent agenda anyone

would like removed. Hearing none, President Roth asked for a motion to approve the consent

agenda as presented. On a motion made by Mr. Anderson and SECONDED by Mrs. Vermillion

the following items were approved:

Minutes

On a motion made by Mr. Hastings and SECONDED by Mrs. Vermillion the following minutes

were approved:

November 9, 2017 - Special Meeting

November 9, 2017 - Special Meeting Executive Session

November 13, 2017 - Special Meeting

November 13, 2017 - Special Meeting Executive Session

November 13, 2017 - BOE Meeting

November 13, 2017- BINA Hearing

November 13, 2017- Executive Session

November 28, 2017 - Special Meeting

November 28, 2017 - Special Meeting Executive Session

The destruction of the following closed meeting audio recording was approved on the same

motion:

December 14, 2015- Destruction of Closed Session Audio Recording

Financials

Financial Statements – Payment of Bills – Student Activity Account

Facility Use Request(s)

Donna Mueller School of Dance request to use the auditorium, 3 classrooms and the lighting

room for a dance recital and practice June 7-9, 2018.

On roll call vote, those voting AYE: Mrs. Vermillion, Mr. Ringer, Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Puckett, Mr.

Danek, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Anderson. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Grundy County Special Ed Cooperative – Financial Statements/Bills

A motion was made by Mrs. Puckett and SECONDED by Mr. Danek to ratify the financial

statements and bills of the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative as submitted and

approved by the Grundy County Special Education Board at its meeting. On roll call vote, those

voting AYE: Mr. Ringer, Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Puckett, Mr. Danek, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Anderson,

Mrs. Vermillion. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Grundy County Special Ed Cooperative – Staff Recommendations

A motion was made by Mr. Hastings and SECONDED by Mr. Ringer to ratify the

recommendations including employment of staff, certified staff and program assistants as

submitted and approved by the Grundy County Special Education Board at its meeting. On roll

call vote, those voting AYE: Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Puckett, Mr. Danek, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Anderson,

Mrs. Vermillion, Mr. Ringer. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

District Report

Dr. Halloran reviewed recommendations to custodial staffing for the 2018-2019 school year due

to retirements of B&G Director Steve Lutz and James Taylor.

J.D. Morrison gave a technology presentation, “Building a 21st Century Classroom” containing 6

areas of focus: Student Digital Literacy and Citizenship, Professional Development, Resources

and Finances, Software Systems & Tools, Hardware & Infrastructure, and Future Plans & Next

Steps. J.D. highlighted the following: the rollout next year of a STEM class for freshmen

integrating math & science and fulfilling the Algebra I and 1st year science requirements; the use

of the SAMR model for integration of tech in the classroom, stressing use not as a replacement

for teaching but as a teaching tool; FY14-FY17 tech grant monies received totaled $225,400 with

2017 tech leases at $150,000; Google Drive and classrooms, Little SIS, and various apps are

being utilized at higher rates; 887 devices have been provided for instruction including use by

physical education classes; and a survey is planned for the spring to address future needs.

Building Report

Mr. Hussey reviewed upcoming dates and activities along with the Rising Star minutes.

MCHS has been recognized by Next Gen Personal Finance as a Gold Standard School Leader.

MCHS requires all students to complete a semester-long personal finance course. NGPF research

indicated that only 1 in 6 students nationwide graduates with a required personal finance course.

Mr. Hussey updated the board on the I-8 and NIB XII conferences, discussions are still

underway.

Pause For Applauses include:

- Pause for Applause to the Morris Redskins Varsity Football Team. The Varsity Football

Team defeated Rochelle on Saturday 14-9 in the IHSA State Quarterfinals. The Redskins

will now play Saturday at 4:00 vs Chicago Raby in the IHSA Semifinals for a chance to

go to State!

- The Interact Club collected a TON of hats, gloves, toothbrushes, hand warmers, food, etc.

for the Blessing Bags! We want to give a big thank you to the generous MCHS students

and staff!

- Congratulations to the football team for making the entire trip thru the playoffs and the

right to play for the 4A State Championship title this Friday at 7pm. Go Skins!

- Morris Community High School, FCCLA chapter successfully sold, frosted and delivered

268 Cookies for a Cause, all money raised will be donated to Grundy County We Care.

Thank you FCCLA members for your time, energy and remembering your

responsibilities!

- Congratulations to the Morris High School Football Team. The 2017 Morris Redskins

finished with a record of 11-3, NIB12 Conference Champions, and are the Class 4A State

Runner-up. You showed us all Friday night what Redskin Pride is all about.

Congratulations players and coaches.

- Congratulations to MCHS Speech Team who started the 20171-8 season at their home

invitational with a 2nd place finish out of 18 teams. Special congrats go to tournament

champions Haley Fritchtnitch in Dramatic Interpretation and Avery Baetzel in Original

Oratory.

- A pause for applause goes out to the 2017 Madrigals and Ladies in Waiting for putting on

two fantastic shows this weekend, and brightening the holiday season for so many

people. Well done!

- Congratulations to the Morris Mathletes on their 3rd place finish at the Northern Illinois

Big 12 Conference Math Contest. Two teams finished in first place: The Calculator

Team of Peter Smyk, Kailey Pierce, Kaitlynn Baxa, Michael Escobedo, and Aaron Day;

and the Geometry & Trigonometry of a Right Triangle Team of Sam Jacobson, Meg Gile,

Kaitlynn Baxa, and Ella Ferguson. Perfect papers were written by Meg Gile, Nolan

Robbins, Kaylee Roether, and Charles Pascual.

- Interact adopted 5 Park Pointe residents for the holidays and due to the AWESOME

generosity of MCHS' students and staff we have successfully gotten everything on their

wish lists and more!

- Congratulations to MCHS Speech on a 3rd place finish of 25 teams at the Rochelle

Invitational. The Redskins had 11 Varsity finalists. Special congrats to tournament

champions Tyler Mroczek in Prose Reading, Maggie Dudley in Radio Speaking and

Grace Johnson in Special Occasion Speaking.

- Congratulations to Kailey Pierce and Keaton Auwerda! Kailey was named to the AllConference

Team for Varsity Scholastic Bowl and Keaton was named to the JV Team.

- Congratulations to the following wrestlers for placing at the Buffalo Grove Rex Lewis

Invitational last Saturday: 182 Cody Baldridge Champion, 152 Mason Young 3rd Place,

195 Robert Bates 3rd Place, 120 Bryce Claypool 5th Place, 113 Brandon Mazzoni 6th

Place, 126 Logan Severson 6th Place.

Public Participation

Dr. Charles Birch addressed the BOE with concerns related to the loss of the industrial arts

program at the district.

Discussion/New Business

Mrs. Roth and Mr. Ringer attended the Joint Annual Conference last month. Mrs. Roth indicated

she acquired ideas to use as board president and commended the board for being a “great board”

with no infighting and no late meetings. Mr. Ringer attended a workshop reviewing college

board SAT information that was “phenomenal,” he will share the information with the board.

Approval of 2017 Tax Levy

President Roth read the Tax Levy Resolution. A motion was made by Mr. Anderson and

SECONDED by Mr. Danek to approve the 2017 tax levy. On roll call vote, those voting AYE:

Mrs. Puckett, Mr. Danek, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Vermillion, Mr. Ringer, Mrs. Roth.

NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

School Board Policy Revisions – First Reading

The first reading of the following new and revised school board policies was approved on a

motion made by Mr. Ringer and SECONDED by Mrs. Puckett. On roll call vote those voting

AYE: Mr. Danek, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Vermillion, Mr. Ringer, Mrs. Roth, Mrs.

Puckett. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

School Board: 2:260-Uniform Grievance Procedure; Operational Services: 4:10-Fiscal and

Business Management, 4:15-Identity Protection, 4:80- Accounting and Audits, 4:110-

Transportation, 4:150-Facility Management and Building Programs, 4:170-Safety;

Personnel:5:10-Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment, 5:20-Workplace

Harassment Prohibited, 5:90-Abused and Neglected Child Reporting, 5:100-Staff Development

Program, 5:200-Terms and Conditions of Employment and Dismissal, 5:220-Substitute

Teachers, 5:240-Suspension, 5:250-Leaves of Absence, 5:20-Employment Termination and

Suspensions, 5:330- Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves; Instruction: 6:20-School Year

Calendar and Day, 6:50-School Wellness, 6:60-Curriculum Content, 6:140-Education of

Homeless Children, 6:150-Home and Hospital Instruction, 6:280-Grading and Promotion, 6:300-

Graduation Requirements, 6:310-High School Credit for Non-District Experiences: Course

Substitutions: Re-Entering Students, 6:340-Student Testing and Assessment Program; Students:

7:10-Equal Educational Opportunities, 7:15-Student and Family Privacy Rights, 7:20-

Harassment of Students Prohibited, 7:70-Attendance and Truancy, 7:150-Agency and Police

Interviews, 7:180-Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment, 7:190-

Student Behavior, 7:250-Student Support Services, 7:260-Exemption from Physical Education,

7:270-Administering Medicines to Students, 7:275-Orders to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment,

7:305-Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries, 7:340-Student Records.

ADOPTION OF THE PARAMETERS RESOLUTION (WC BONDS)

On a motion made by Mrs. Vermillion and SECONDED by Mr. Hastings the following

resolution read by President Roth for the issuance of $1,700,000 in bonds was approved:

          Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $1,700,000 Taxable General

         Obligation School Bonds, Series 2018, of the District, for the purpose of

         increasing the Working Cash Fund of the School District, providing for the levy

         of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds,

          and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof.

On roll call vote, those voting AYE: Mr. Hastings, Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Vermillion, Mr. Ringer,

Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Puckett, Mr. Danek. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Donation – Akzo Nobel

On a motion made by Mr.Danek and SECONDED by Mr. Ringer a donation in the amout $5155

to be used toward completed softball field improvements was accepted. On roll call vote, those

voting AYE: Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Vermillion, Mr. Ringer, Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Puckett, Mr. Danek,

Mr. Hastings. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Employment of Joseph Waldron as Superintendent

Joseph Waldron was employed as superintendent for a three year period beginning July 1, 2018

through June 30, 2021 at a FY19 salary amount of $138,000, FY20 salary amount of $142,140

and FY21 salary amount of $146,404 all years with benefits on a motion made by Mr. Hastings

and SECONDED by Mr. Anderson. On roll call vote, those voting AYE: Mrs. Vermillion, Mr.

Ringer, Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Puckett, Mr. Danek, Mr. Hastings. Mr. Anderson. NAY: None.

MOTION CARRIED.

Custodial Staffing Transition for FY19

On a motion made by Mrs. Puckett and SECONDED by Mrs. Vermillion custodial staffing

recommendations for FY19, as presented to the board by Dr. Halloran, were approved including

the following: the naming of Mark Walker as B&G Director at a salary of $67,000; naming of

Jane Montero as Asst. B&G Director at a salary of $40,000; an increase to Ken Rork’s salary

from $29,994 to $35,000 all beginning 7/1/2018; employment of a custodian to replace Mark

Walker’s position in February-March; and employment of a custodian to replace Jim Taylor in

April-May. On roll call vote, those voting AYE: Mr. Ringer, Mrs. Roth, Mrs. Puckett, Mr.

Danek, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Anderson, Mrs. Vermillion. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Adjournment

A motion was made by Mr. Hastings and SECONDED by Mr. Danek to adjourn the meeting.

On voice vote, those voting AYE: All. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.

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