Action Items

-The Board of Education voted to approve the amendments to the Student Appearance Policy 6041. The amendments accomplish two things.  First, they update the general dress appearance language as recommended by the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee.  Second, they also remove from the District's policy the option for individual school buildings to implement a dress color (aka uniform) requirement.  The dress color removal was the recommendation of a second parent, teacher, administrator work group which polled the families in the District in reaching its recommendation.

-The Board of Education voted to request from the LuLu Rippberger Scholarship Trust Fund eight (8) student awards not to exceed $2000 per student and from the Allen Larsen Music Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund one (1) student award not to exceed $1000 per student.

-The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of Gym Uniforms, Paper, Computer Supplies, Custodial Supplies and Standard Office Supplies at a cost of $315,846.45.

-The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of the district-wide license for professional development videos from UnCommon Schools in the amount of $36,225.

-The Board of Education voted to adopt the amendments to the Instructional Materials Policy. The policy amendments incorporate the Superintendent's authority to approve remote learning plans and their revisions, update titles and clarify procedures.  

-The Board of Education voted to purchase 3000 Dell Chromebooks/Carrying Cases/Plastic Clam Shells and licenses. This purchase is needed to upgrade outdated devices and these Chromebooks will be used to support the Remote Learning Strategy. The cost for 3000 Chromebooks is $1,020,849.

-The Board of Education voted to purchase 500 Hotspots from T-Mobile with a one-year agreement. These hotspots will be assigned to those students that do not have access to a WiFi internet connection. The cost for 500 hotspots is $120,000 for one year of service.

-The Board of Education voted to approve the  purchase of Phonak System for the DHH program in the amount of $29,900. Phonak materials are audiological equipment (FMs, sound fields, etc.) that allow access to auditory input in the classroom environment.  Direct instruction, troubleshooting, and equipment management are all covered via the student's IEP.  Items need to be purchased to update current equipment (replacement) and add needed equipment for new students. 

-The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of Panorama in the amount of $19,750 for the 2020-2021 SY.The Academics is requesting the purchase of Panorama Education to serve as an SEL screener for students in grades 6-12.  The purchase of this software will support the district's Strategic Plan: Institutional Access and the district's MTSS/SEL initiative.  The Panorama (SEL) Questionnaire measures student mindsets, behaviors, and attitudes that might be related to success in school and beyond the classroom.  These interactive reports will provide educators with actionable strategies to build student's SEL skills in the classroom.

-The Board of Education voted to  approve the Parent/Student Handbook on Rights and Responsibilities as presented for Second Reading. The Handbook was posted for First Reading on May 12, 2020 and presented by the Chairs of the Parent/Teacher Advisory Committee to the Board at its Operations Services Committee meeting on May 19, 2020.  Second reading reflects modifications to the Handbook recommendations based on final administrator and legal review. 

Finance Items

-The Board of Education voted to appoint Ms. Gwendolyn Polk as the District's Treasurer for three (3) years (beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2023) and authorize the Superintendent to obtain six (6) bonds from insurance carrier Ohio Casualty Insurance (including the Treasurer's Bond) for a total not to exceed $28,796. The appointment of a school treasurer and posting of a Treasurer Bond with the Regional Office of Education are required as a precondition of the receipt of funds (105 ILCS 5/8-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-1)   Sec. 8-1. requires school districts to appoint a treasurer and Section 8-2 of School Code (105 ILCS 5/8-2) requires each treasurer of a school district to be properly bonded.

Personnel Items

-The Board of Education voted to approve the retirements, resignations and retirement extensions of 15 employees. 

-The Board of Education voted to approve the professional development request for Mr. Daniel Hill and Ms. Meredith Kramer to attend the "Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset Train the Trainer" sessions at a cost of $3,600 per participant, from June 3-5 (sessions to be conducted via computer).