Grundy Reporter

Saratoga Community Consolidated School District 60-C Board of Education met Dec. 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Mrs. McDonnell led the pledge to the flag

The President called the meeting to order and directed the Secretary to call the roll.

Upon roll call being called, the following Board members were physically present at the said location: Brittany Brandt, Brett Geiger, Mike Wright, Anne McDonnell

Absent: Kurt Barth, Ginger Jones, Scott Thorson

Also present were Superintendent Kathy Perry, Principal Joe Zweeres, Assistant Principal Ashley Ringler, Director of Special Services Lacey Anderson, Board Secretary Marsha Henne, Saratoga Teachers and staff

Conduct of Public Hearing to present the 2019 Certificate of Tax Levy Supt Perry presented the tax levy calculations to the Board.

Kurt Barth arrived at 6:37 p.m.

There were no public comments

Motion by Wright, seconded by Geiger to close public hearing Voice vote: all aye votes, motion carried

Conduct of Public Hearing on E-Learning Program

Ashley Ringler discussed the e-learning program and explained materials and attendance requirements.

Public Comments

A parent asked how long students get to do e-learning assignments. Ashley Ringler stated that it would be expected to be completed the next day; but could be flexible depending on circumstances.

Motion by Barth, seconded by Wright to close public hearing Voice vote: all aye votes, motion carried

There were no teacher presentations or audience participation.

Correspondence

Board President read a letter received from Morris Lions Club thanking Saratoga for use of buses for their Fall Classic Show.

Brett Geiger stepped out of meeting at 6:52

Motion by Wright, seconded by Brandt to approve the consent agenda which includes the following items: 

A. Minutes of the following meetings:

1. November 18, 2019 Regular Board Meeting

B. Bills, payroll and financial reports for the month of November, 2019

C. Following personnel items:

1. Per employment documentations, employ the following for the 2019-20 school year: 

a) Crystal Turner, Bus Monitor

D. Press Issue 102, second reading

Roll Call Vote: AYES: Wright, Brandt, Barth, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 4-0

Absent: Geiger, Jones, Thorson

Board Committee Reports

Supt Perry shared that a SAC meeting was held on December 10th.

Brett Geiger returned at 6:54 p.m.

Superintendent Reports: 

Building

• The following people attended the meeting on December 9th to talk about Saratoga School site drainage concerns: Chamlin & Associates (Mike Perry, Ryan Hanson, Tim Hejny), City of Morris (Mayor Kopczick), IDOT (Dave Broviak, Steve Ferguson, and Steve Neiman), Craig family (Bob Craig, Robert Craig Jr., Kim Gang, Terry Gang), Studio GC (Pat Callahan by phone, Cory Boaz), District (Kathy Perry, Don Tondini, Adam Tondini). At the conclusion of the meeting Chamlin & Associates suggested that a study be completed to determine the “pinch point” in the drainage flow that is causing the water to flood the school site.

• We will have some of our summer people working over Christmas break as we usually do to scrub and burnish floors and catch up on other things that are difficult to get done when students are in the school.

Finance

• Supt Perry received the preliminary EAV information from the Grundy County Assessor.

• The bond closing took place on December 12th. Grundy Bank received $13,979,375.36.

Transportation

Technology

• Hour of Code is happening this week. Classes in Kindergarten through Fifth grade are participating with some JH high classes as well.

• Planning for camera installation in the new addition is underway.

• Tyler is working with Gerry Zeller and Amy on preparing an E-Rate 470 for proposals on a new Firewall, replacement of old cabling in existing building, and additional access points for the new addition.

• Saratoga’s E-Rate 470 request for internet proposals has been filed.

• Illinois Century Network has released more information on the state-sponsored internet service they are looking to provide for the 2021 school year. With this, we could see an increase in internet connection speed at no cost to the district. ICN is also looking to provide additional services such as Firewalls, DDOS Protection, and Content filtering at no cost to the district.

Building Administration Report

Curriculum/Professional Development/Projects

• Teachers have been working hard gathering materials to have lessons/activities ready and organized to be used if an E-learning day is called.

• The city wide January institute is right around the corner. Our teachers are contributing by giving 10 presentations!

○ Trisha Peterson and Catherine Thomas - Games and More to Use Across Your Curriculum

○ Monica Gabehart - Adult Coloring, Take It Up a Level and Printing with Gelli Plates

○ Brian Grublesky - Finding the Phenomena For Your Science Unit

○ Stephanie Tedford, Lacey Anderson, Heather Vandenberg, Sue Paulson, Jeri Williams, Beth Graham, and Dottie Laudeman - Inclusion and Differentiation, Making it Work!

○ Sandy Kruegel and Melanie Kunz - Clothesline Math and Number Talks

○ Amy Shannon, Kelli Simpson, Shelia Welch - Children’s Literature, Not Just for Kids

○ Kim Struck - Books, Brain Breaks & Beats!

○ Kate Carey, Nicole Brown, Matt Blaine, Angela Wright - Feeling the Burn? Self-Care for Professional Burnout

Special Services

• We have received one signed MOU from Mosaic Counseling for our community mental health partnership.

• We are still waiting on MOU’s from the Grundy County Health Department and Crossroads Counseling.

• We will begin ACCESS testing for English learners in January.

• We will also complete another round of academic and behavioral screening in January.

Miscellaneous/Date

• Tuesday, Dec. 17 - Jr. High Holiday Concert at 1 & 7

• Friday, Dec. 20 - 11:30 Dismissal

• Monday, Jan. 6 - Teacher Institute at MCHS

• Wednesday, Jan. 8 - Graduation Pictures for 8th grade

• Monday, Jan. 20 - No School(MLK Day)

Shared Services

There will be a Shared Services meeting on January 15th at 5:00 p.m. at MCHS.

Other

Contracts over $25,000 that are posted on the website:

American Capital (technology lease)

McGrath Office Equipment (copy machine lease) 

SEA (exclusive bargaining representative) 

Santander Bank (bus lease)

J & R 1st in Asphalt Inc. 

USBANCORP (bus lease) 

Midwest Transit (school buses)

Greenway Motors (special education van)

Construction Update

• The asbestos floor tile in the small gym will be abated over Christmas break. We will serve lunches from the door 4 entry area and students will eat in classrooms for the first week after break while the new floor is being installed.

• In order to allow for more work to be done prior to the precast walls arriving, the architects and contractor made a decision to add height to the poured foundation wall and remove it from the precast walls. It was an add for the concrete and a deduct for the precast totaling out to $21,567. This amount will come out of the contingency of $500,000.

• The classroom addition area has foundation footings, foundation walls, underground site utilities, and underground plumbing completed. They are working on under the slab electrical and are adding stone backfill to prep for slab pour in classroom addition. They are hoping to begin pouring the slab on Friday. Adding the stone is going to be an additional not to exceed $44,856 that will be applied to the $500,000 contingency. Without adding the stone, they would not be able to pour the slab until possibly spring due to the ground being too soft/moist.

• They are working on foundation footings in the cafetorium / library area. They have completed underground site utilities in this area.

• Slabs have been poured in the small group area on both sides of the current school store (across from MPR).

• They are working on the retention area and are ready to add the base to the additional bus parking area which they will actually do in the spring.

• The middle gym floor will be removed over spring break and the new floor will be installed following break.

• We have been working on finishes with Cory and Rebecca from Studio GC.

Old Business

Motion by Geiger, seconded by Wright to approve risk management plan

RollCallVote: 

AYES: Geiger, Wright, Barth, Brandt, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 5-0

Absent: Jones, Thorson

Scott Thorson arrived at 7:10 p.m.

Motion by Barth, seconded by Wright to approve the Tax Levy for the tax year 2019

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Wright, Brandt, Geiger, Thorson, McDonnell

AYES: Brandt Thorson 

NAYES: None

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Motion by Brandt, seconded by Thorson to approve E-Learning Program for the years 2019-20 through 2022-23

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Motion by Barth, seconded by Thorson to approve purchase of.204 acres additional property bringing total property purchase to.678 acres for $54,240

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Motion by Wright, seconded by Barth to approve security camera proposal for new addition from LaForce for a cost of $31,215

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Motion by Geiger, seconded by Wright to approve 2019-20 School Improvement Plan

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Discuss Regional Flood Study for watershed that impacts the Saratoga School site

The result of the meeting that was held on Saratoga drainage concerns ended with the suggestion that a study be done to determine where the problems are. Supt. Perry received a proposal for study with the cost of $23,000. Supt. Perry discussed concerns of flooding on school site when it rains. The Board decided to wait to vote on accepting proposal. Supt Perry will share this information with Sue Rezin and David Welter. Additional information will be provided in upcoming month

New Business

Discuss Building Usage Rental Fees

Joe Zweeres and Supt Perry had another meeting with the Pastor from Mission Bible Church. The church would like to be able to finalize where they will house their church services for next year and Saratoga is their top choice. Supt. Perry said it would be a good time for the board to discuss building rental fees taking into consideration the additional space that we will have next year. The Board decided to wait to review the rental fees next month.

Motion by Wright, seconded by Barth to approve the resolution abating the Working Cash Fund of Community Consolidated School District Number 60-C, Grundy and Kendall Counties, Illinois

The resolution is required to abate the working cash bonds portion ($3,051,677.11) of the bond proceeds to the operations and maintenance fund of the district. The money will then be transferred to the capital projects fund of the district.

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Establish date for Board Study Session

February 10, 2020 was date set for next board study session

Review Closed Session Minutes was tabled until after closed session

Informational Items:

Jr. High Holiday Concert – Tuesday, December 17 School Board Conference Report

Motion by Wright, seconded by Geiger to adjourn to closed session at 7:42 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, student disciplinary cases, matters relating to individual students, probable litigation and discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. - 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1), (9), (10), (11), (14).

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Action taken as a result of Closed Session:

Brandt Thorson McDonnell

Absent: Jones

Motion by Barth, seconded by Geiger to return to regular session at 8:20 p.m.

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Motion by Thorson, seconded by Geiger to release closed session minutes: May 20, 2019 and November 18, 2019

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Motion by Wright, seconded by Barth to agree the need for confidentiality still exists as to all or part of the following minutes: September 18, 2017, November 20, 2017, February 20, 2018, March 19, 2018, June 18, 2018, July 16, 2018, August 20, 2018, October 15, 2018, November 19, 2018, February 25, 2019, June 17, 2019, June 27, 2019, July 15, 2019, August 19, 2019, September 16, 2019, October 21, 2019

Motion by Geiger, seconded by Thorson to destroy the following closed session digital recordings which are at least 18 months old and for which approved minutes of closed meeting already exists: December 18, 2017, January 16, 2018, April 16, 2018, May 21, 2018

Roll Call Vote: 

AYES: Barth, Thorson, Brandt, Geiger, Wright, McDonnell

NAYES: None 

Motion Carried: 6-0 

Absent: Jones

Motion by Garth, seconded by Wright to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a1LvtqKT0I4kAGAI7o84ubRePlv9kEdu/view