PROCEEDINGS
BOARD OF EDUCATION
ALTON COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11
October 17, 2006

The meeting was held at the Administrative Center, 1854 East Broadway, Alton, Illinois on October 17, 2006. President David Lauschke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Board members who answered present were: Benjamin Golley, Ed Gray, Michael Harris, Dan Nickel, and David P. Lauschke.

The following administrators were present: David C. Elson, Interim Superintendent of Schools; Donald Lindsey, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education; Philip Trapani, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education/Principal; Shirley J. Eaves, Director of Financial Services; Mark Cappel, Director of Human Resources; John Cunningham, Director of Title I & Special Services; Jack Martin, Jr., Plant Facilities and Maintenance Administrator.

Nick Lucchesi, The Telegraph reporter, was also present.

READING OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:

Vice President Ed Gray read thank you notes from the following:

1. Stella Felder and family for the flowers sent for Grandma Turner’s illness and death.
2. Larry Dirks, IASB, for hosting the Fall Division meeting at Alton High School.

Citizens Agenda:

Parent Jacqui Toeniskoetter asked the board to look into security, safety and health concerns she and a group of parents shared for their middle school students. She made several suggestions about how to improve security for the students and staff.

Brenda L. Powers, AEA President, expressed some teacher’s concerns about using the copiers and the building costs involved. Secondly, the AEA was concerned about the 4.85% salary increases for administrative salaries versus a 2% cap placed on the salary increase for teachers with longevity.

Safety concerns were brought up by a parent of a middle school child as he must walk 1.1 miles to school at 6:30 a.m. She asked the board to reconsider designating their area as hazardous and unsafe so those students walking early in the morning without supervision can have transportation. Mr. Jack Martin took the residency information for Chris Norman, Transportation Liaison with Laidlaw Services.

Motion: Approval of Consent Agenda:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Nickel, that the Board of Education approve the consent agenda as follows:
- Approval of Minutes of September 19, 2006
- Treasurer’s Report
- Revolving Funds
- Approval of Bills
- Student Activity Fund Report
- Cash Flow Projection
- Approval of Payments to Contractors
Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Nickel-yea; Golley-yea; Gray-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

FY 2006 Auditor’s Report

Scheffel & Company representatives Steve Pembrook and Theresa Moore provided the FY 2006 auditor’s report. An exit conference had been held with Superintendent Elson and Shirley Eaves, Director of Financial Services on October 16, 2006. Mr. Pembrook reported clean opinions were given for the Independent Auditor’s Report and the Report on Compliance and Internal Control. Additionally, the federal compliance and reporting issues were found to be materially correct in the reporting of our federal dollars.

Construction Project Status

Mr. Jack Martin, Plant, Facilities and Maintenance Administrator, said Woolpert did not have an invoice for September. Only a few items needed to be finished, such as, grading the soccer field, mounting vehicle cameras in the front area of the high school and making some camera readjustments inside. Stairway signs were ordered. The installation of local alarms on doors at the high school and the middle school.

Fall Housing Report 2006

Effective October 16, 2006, the total number of students enrolled was 7,150. We saw an increase of 147 at the high school and the remainder was equally split between the middle school and elementary school. The total student increase was 264. A major focus has been placed on maintaining high attendance percentages throughout the district.

Employee Recognition

Mr. Paul Scharth, safety assistant at East Elementary School, was nominated for and received the Illinois Principal Association’s “Friend to Education” award. Additionally, Paul voluntarily monitors the playground and outside equipment for the safety of the East Elementary students.

Student Recognition

Katie Brooks and Luke Jackson were named the September Alton/Godfrey Rotary Student of the month. Katie has a GPA of 4.597 and a senior class ranking of #1. She is organized, self motivated, honest and maintains a high level of integrity. Senior student Luke Jackson’s GPA is 4.550 and his class ranking is #3. Luke is highly respected by his peers and teachers. Luke was selected as a Scholar Athlete for the tennis squad last spring.

During a recent two-day Jobs for Illinois Graduates (JILG) conference, six students represented Alton High School. Of those six students, Jocelyn Burrell received an award for the Best Speech and Steven Tate was recognized for his Leadership in the Historian group. Other attendees were; Michelle Howard, Heather Roberts, Jamekia Latham and Kyara DeBruce.

Alton Middle School Report

Ms. Henrietta Young reported on the following topics:
1. Lockers - Hart Construction has repaired the lockers that were reported as broken.
The board will accept a bid for new lockers for the Main and Annex buildings tonight.
2. Security - Personnel will be realigned to monitor entrances and exits. Cameras will be adjusted, repaired or replaced. Key pads are needed at selected entrances and additional cameras are being considered to monitor high traffic areas.
3. Telephones - Many of the problems have been corrected by Phonemasters. Ms. Young asked the board to consider adding classroom telephones which would improve communications between school and home, improve security, and provide confidentiality between the teacher and parent.
4. Cafeteria - More student lines have been opened allowing for faster service.
5. Transportation - Improvements were made in the student foot traffic and the departure times. Busses arriving after 3:15 p.m. have a designated parking area.
6. Custodial/Maintenance - A needs list will be prioritized to address the concerns
of transitional needs and repairs. Custodial services remain an issue.
7. Technology - Classroom computers and printers are being installed. Plans are to schedule instructional use of the Depco Lab.

8. Zero Hour - A committee was formed of Unified Arts teachers and administrators who will address long range plans for the exploratory schedule. Readjustments to class sizes will improve the imbalance in some of the music classes.

ROUTINE BOARD ACTION ITEMS

Motion: Personnel:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Gray, that the Board of Education would approve the following personnel changes as indicated:
Offer employment to the following certificated personnel effective for the 2006-2007 school year:
Cynthia Dorris
Jessica Hoth
Megan Robinson
Steven Slater
Accept the resignation of the following personnel in an extra duty position effective as indicated:
Sarah Lange - Alton High School - Assistant Girls Basketball Coach - October 6, 2006
Alton High School - Assistant Softball Coach - October 6, 2006
Accept the resignation of the following educational support personnel effective as indicated:
Ebony Muse-Watson - August 30, 2006
Margo Relford - September 29, 2006
Accept the resignation through retirement of the following educational support personnel effective as indicated:
Charlotte Brown - October 19, 2006
Ronnie Kitsmiller - September 26, 2006
Approve the termination of the following educational support personnel effective as indicated:
Burnett Ammons - September 5, 2006
Offer employment to the following educational support personnel effective as indicated:
Radha Carter - October 3, 2006
Carol Jackson - October 16, 2006
Katrina Murray - September 5, 2006
Manchion Neely - September 18, 2006
Elsa Rivera - October 11, 206
Amy Woodman - October 2, 2006
Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Gray-yea; Golley-yea; Nickel-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

Motion: Personnel:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Nickel, that the Board of Education approve the attached list of people to serve in substitute capacities in the Alton School District.
Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Nickel-yea; Golley-yea; Gray-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Motion: Construction Management:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Nickel, that the Board of Education approve payment to S M Wilson and Company for construction management services in the amount of $4,000.91. Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Nickel-yea; Golley-yea; Gray-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS AND QUOTES:

Motion: Locker Bid Award:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Gray, that the Board of Education approve the bid from Warehouse Design in the amount of $221,700.00 for new lockers at Alton Middle School. Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Gray-yea; Golley-yea; Nickel-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

NEW BUSINESS

Motion: Resolution on Safety Hazards:
It was moved by Mr. Gray, seconded by Mr. Harris, that the Board of Education adopt the attached Resolutions on Safety Hazards. Voting on the motion was as follows: Gray-yea; Harris-yea; Golley-yea; Nickel-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

Motion: Approval of Lease-Purchase Agreement for Percussion Equipment:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Gray, that the Board of Education authorize the treasurer to enter into a 36 month lease-purchase agreement with Carrollton Bank for the purchase of percussion equipment. Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Gray-yea; Golley-yea; Nickel-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay - none.

Motion: S.T.A.R.S. After-School Tutorial Transportation:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Gray, that the Board of Education accept the bid from Laidlaw Transit to provide student transportation services for S.T.A.R.S. after-school tutorial program during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years. Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Gray-yea; Golley-yea; Nickel-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay - none.

Motion: State Library Grant:
It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Gray, that the Board of Education grant permission to apply for the Illinois State Library Grant. Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Gray-yea; Golley-yea; Nickel-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay - none.

Motion: IASB Convention Delegate and Alternate:
It was moved by Mr. Nickel, seconded by Mr. Harris, that the Board of Education designation Benjamin Golley to be the IASB Convention delegate and Michael Harris as the alternate. Voting on the motion was as follows: Nickel-yea; Harris-yea; Golley-yea; Gray-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

CONFERENCE ITEMS

A. Recommendations from the Board of Education Relative to Agenda Topics for Future
1. Notice a special Building Committee meeting for Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 7:00 a.m. to assist the middle school staff in prioritizing needs.
B. Administrative Review of Topics for Future Consideration
1. Notice a special meeting of the Building and Finance Committees for Wednesday, November 1, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss Health/Life/Safety building needs and financial implications.

Motion: To Adjourn:

It was moved by Mr. Harris, seconded by Mr. Gray, that the Board of Education adjourn.

Voting on the motion was as follows: Harris-yea; Gray-yea; Golley: Nickel-yea; Lauschke-yea. Nay-none.

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.