Grundy Reporter

Minooka Community High School District #111 Board of Education met Sept. 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. by Vice-President Patti Ruettiger. Due to the pandemic and the closing of the school facilities, the meeting was held at Minooka Community High School-Central Campus in the PAC (Performing Arts Center). Members of the public were welcome to attend in person (with social distancing measures in place) or to view the meeting via YouTube. Public comments were accepted in person or via phone or email. A physical quorum was present with the following board members answering roll call:

YES         NO

 Mike Brozovich                                  X

 Laura Hrechko                    X

 Patti Ruettiger                    X

 Dee Crye                            X

 Cherie Barnes                    X

 Wendi Arlis                         X

 Dustin Heap                       X

Additionally present were:

 Brent Edwards                   X

 Janel Grzetich                    X

 Bryan Zwemke                   X

 John Troy                           X

 Kenny Lee                          X

 Colleen Ward                     X

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Due to the pandemic, the agenda for the meeting was reduced. 

COMMUNICATIONS/RECOGNITION

As noted above, communications/recognitions were postponed. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Vice-President Patti Ruettiger read a public statement on behalf of the board members. Mrs. Ruettiger stated that it has always been the intent of the board to resume in-person education as quickly as possible. She added that the proposal allows for expanding the current practice of bringing in students who have greater needs regarding remote learning and then implementing the return to learn plan as amended beginning October 19. Additionally, regarding concerns with the school logo and mascot, Mrs. Ruettiger noted that the board plans to follow the detailed recommendations of the Cultural Assessment.

Ted Trujillo, Morris resident, spoke to the Board of Education about his displeasure with the MCHS mascot, as well as with the Cultural Assessment process.

Alexis MonDragon, Alumni Class of 2002, spoke about her experiences while a student at MCHS as a proud native woman. She also spoke about her displeasure with the MCHS mascot, and volunteered to be on the upcoming task force related to the mascot.

Gilbert MonDragon addressed the board regarding his heritage and experiences as a resident of the community. He also expressed that his issue is not the mascot, but how his people are portrayed.

Jacob Pursell expressed his views and rationale for the MCHS student body to remain in remote learning.

Nicole Bitterman, spoke about her desire for MCHS to return to in-person learning as soon as possible and her concern for the mental health of all students.

isa Ryan, addressed her desire for students to return to in-person learning. Her students are involved in school and athletics, and they are yearning for something other than remote learning.

Kirk Tanka, spoke about his desire for his daughter to return to in-person learning as soon as possible. Also, he hopes that when in-person hybrid learning does occur, that students are engaged, and not working in the hallways as they are doing where he teaches.

Additionally, responses to prior public comments were provided in the board packets.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Administrative reports were provided to the board members in the packets.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Crye, to approve the consent agenda as presented:

A. Open Session Minutes

1. August 11, 2020 – Board Workshop

2. August 19, 2020 – Regular Meeting

3. August 24, 2020 – Special Meeting

4. September 2, 2020 – Special Meeting

B. Financial Reports

1. Payment of Bills/Total

2. Employee Payroll

3. Imprest Fund Report/Total

4. Activity Fund Report

Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 6:19 p.m.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Return to Learn:

Discussion took place regarding the amended version of the Return to Learn Plan 2020. A recommendation was made to implement the Hybrid Learning Plan as presented. A Memorandum to the Board of Education and the proposed Return to Learn Plan were included in the board packet. The memo indicates the desire to expand services to those with greater needs, to expedite the return of special education students to in-person learning on October 5, to implement the proposed/amended hybrid schedule on October 19, and to provide the Superintendent with autonomy to implement adaptive pauses if/as needed. Other topics covered during the discussion were custodial staffing/cleaning and child care. Consensus was reached to communicate that child care provisions as needed would continue to October 19.

Educational Foundation Update:

There was no Education Foundation report, as there has not been a meeting since the last regular Board of Education Meeting. It was reported that the foundation will meet again on October 27.

Strategic Plan Update:

The board heard Strategic Plan Reports from Goal Leaders Mrs. Soliman, Mr. Wikoff, and Dr. Zwemke, reporting on Goals #2 and #3.

Policy Review:

A brief synopsis was provided in the board packet reviewing selected MCHS #111 Board of Education Policies as part of an ongoing review of the BOE policy manual.

Second Reading of PRESS Plus:

A draft manual was provided in the packets for review. It was reported that the manual was being recommended for adoption later in the meeting.

ACTION ITEMS

Return to Learn Plan:

MOTION: by Heap, seconded by Crye, to approve the Return to Learn Amended Plan as presented. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:11 p.m.

PRESS Plus Manual:

MOTION: by Barnes, seconded by Crye, to approve the second reading and adoption of the PRESS Plus Policy Manual as presented. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:12 p.m.

Memorandum of Agreement with the Three Rivers Public Library:

MOTION: by Hrechko, seconded by Heap, to approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the Three Rivers Public Library District to provide library cards to students as presented. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:12 p.m.

FY21 Budget Resolution:

MOTION: by Heap, seconded by Barnes, to adopt the FY21 Budget Resolution as presented. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:13 p.m.

Change Order:

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Crye, to approve the ESG Change Order as presented. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:13 p.m.

IASB Delegate:

MOTION: by Heap, seconded by Arlis, to appoint Cherie Barnes as the IASB Delegate. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:14 p.m.

Salary Reports:

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Hrechko, to accept the presentation of salary reports with direction to post the reports. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:14 p.m.

Quest CoVid-19 Adjusted Meal Service MOU:

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Barnes, to approve the Quest CoVid-19 adjusted meal service MOU as presented. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:15 p.m.

Continuation of Transportation Salaries:

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Heap, to approve the continuation of transportation salaries. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:16 p.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Crye, to adjourn the meeting to executive session for the purpose of discussing matters related to minutes; the appointment, compensation, discipline, dismissal, employment and performance of specific employees of the District; the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body; pending litigation; individual student discipline, and negotiations. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:17 p.m.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Crye, to return the meeting to open session. Hearing no objections, the motion was approved. Time: 7:43 p.m.

ACTIONS FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION

Closed Session Minutes

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Hrechko, to approve the closed session minutes as presented: August 19, 2020, Regular Meeting. Hearing no objections, the motion was approved. Time: 7:46 p.m.

Personnel

Leaves of Absence:

MOTION: by Crye, seconded by Heap, to approve the following leaves of absence as presented:

 Barb Goggins - Bus Driver from approximately 8/31- 10/9/20 (29 days) unpaid leave of absence

 Rick Undesser - Teacher-World Languages, from approximately 8/31 - 2/28/21 (60 days; intermittent) under the

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:47 p.m.

Employment:

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Barnes, to approve the employment of the following support staff member(s) as presented, pending proper paperwork and background check deemed favorable by the MCHS #111 Administration:

 Robert Pulvermacher - Campus Monitor ($17.36/hr.)

 Consuelo Ramirez-Arroyo - Interventionist-Math ($17.23/hr.)

Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:48 p.m.

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Heap, to approve the following extracurricular appointments for the 20/21 school year as presented, pending proper paperwork and background check deemed favorable by the MCHS #111 Administration.

Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:49 p.m.

Retirement MOU:

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Barnes, to approve the MOU regarding retirement of Certified Staff Member Kristen North as presented. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:50 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: by Arlis, seconded by Heap, to adjourn the meeting. Voting Aye: Barnes, Hrechko, Ruettiger, Arlis, Heap, and Crye. Motion carried. Time: 7:50 p.m.

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1417?meeting=401432