Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 17, 2010
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties,
Illinois met in regular session on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at the Administration Building – 410
West Polk Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920
At 6:30 p.m., President Miller called the meeting to order and asked for roll call. Jason Coe was
appointed to serve as Secretary Pro-Tem.
The following members were present:
Ron Miller, President
Jason Coe, Vice President
Jeff Coon, Treasurer
Jerry Esker
Tim Hutti
Kevin Oakley
The following member was absent:
Kelly Miller, Secretary
The following staff members were present:
Jim Littleford, Superintendent
Todd Vilardo, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
David Kuetemeyer, Financial Consultant
Visitors 64 and 1 Member of the Press
The Board of Education received an addendum to their board packets which included:
- Revised Board Agenda
Reflect correction to VI. B. – surplus equipment is from Ashmore School not CMS.
- Employment
Transfer of Jill Shafer to DDC with student #02180, effective 11/15/2010.
President Miller asked if there were any requests or written communications to the Board of Education.
There were no requests received.
Mr. Littleford complimented the artwork provided by Jefferson Elementary School art students in grades
4 – 6. Mandy White is the art instructor.
Under Recognition, Mr. Littleford recognized the following people:
Justin Thomas, son of Jerry and Marty Thomas, was announced the National FFA Proficiency Winner in
the area of Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Entrepreneurship. Justin earned $1,000 as
the national winner and an all expense paid 10-day trip to Costa Rica to learn about the agriculture of the
region. Julie Niemerg, FFA instructor showed a power point of pictures from the convention and a short
video of Justin winning the award.
Jerry and Marty Thomas – for supporting Justin with his record books and sponsoring the Tractor
Restoration Project.
Kiersten Kasey – recipient of the American FFA degree. This is the highest degree that the FFA can
bestow upon its members.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 11/17/2010 Page 1 Charleston FFA Chapter Team Officers – Justin Thomas, Jacob Bough, Logan Burgett, Cody Blagg and
Shae Young, for writing the program of activities that earned a “Two Star National Ranking” at the
convention.
Savannah Stowell – 8th grade student, for being selected as runner-up in an audition to perform with Neil
Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway. Savannah was able to meet and rehearse with the stars and perform
during the finale of the show at the Doudna Fine Arts Center.
Pam Storm – former Media Specialist for Carl Sandburg Elementary School was chosen as the 2010
Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) Polestar Award Winner. The Polestar Award is
presented to honor members of the Association who have made outstanding contributions to school
library media programs in Illinois.
Mr. Littleford reviewed the items under Consent Agenda.
IV. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
A. Approve the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of October 20, 2010.
B. Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of October 2010.
C. Approve the Activity Fund Accounts for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending
October 2010.
VI. Consent Agenda: New Business
A. Grant permission for the students listed in a memorandum from Principal, Diane Hutchins to
graduate from Charleston High School at the end of first semester of the 2010-2011 school year.
B. Declaration of referenced items from the Ashmore Elementary School as surplus and available
for sale or disposal.
C. Grant permission to close the following activity fund accounts at Carl Sandburg Elementary
School entitled: Lafferty Nature Center, Outdoor Classroom Grant, and Pop & Snacks.
D. Deny a Serious Safety Hazard Findings application #01-11-06, for a student attending Jefferson
Elementary School. The application will be submitted to the Department of Transportation for
final review.
E. Grant 347 (three hundred forty-seven) gifted sick leave days to Ellis “Bud” McMillan.
VII. Consent Agenda: Employment
Grant a family medical leave to Mindy Pals, 5th grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School.
Accept a letter of resignation from Katherine Becker, a paraprofessional at Mark Twain
Elementary School, effective 12/22/2010.
Accept a letter of resignation from Breanna Way, as the Cheerleading Coach at Charleston
Middle School, effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.
Accept a letter of retirement from Ellis “Bud” McMillan, Special Education Coordinator,
effective at the end of the 2012-2011 school year.
Approve the contract agreements for Linda Goble and Jana Sweeney to provide speech and
language services to cover FMLA Leaves at Mark Twain Elementary School and Ashmore
Elementary School.
Employ Kelsey Hallett as a full time paraprofessional at Mark Twain Elementary School for the
remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. This employment was contingent upon the continued
educational needs of the students and receipt of all information required for employment.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 11/17/2010 Page 2 Approve the reassignments for the paraprofessionals listed at Carl Sandburg Elementary School
- Kris Handley – to student #05759
- Kim Shambo – to student #07218
Approve the people listed to serve as volunteer coaches in the extra-curricular assignments at
Charleston High School during the 2010-2011 school year.
Chris Brown
Boys Basketball
Rachel Daugherty
Girls Basketball
Lew Hankenson
Wrestling
Paul Stranz
Wrestling
Jennifer Hindes
Boys Swimming
Alyssa Baker
Cheerleading
Jeffery Schoenberg
Speech
Nick Niemerg
Speech
Anne Kidwell
Scholastic Bowl
Approve Kiel Emberton to serve as a volunteer boys’ basketball coach at Charleston Middle
School during the 2010-2011 school year.
Approve Abigail Lee and Alexandra Underwood to serve as volunteer cheer sponsors at Jefferson
Elementary School during the 2010-2011 school year.
Approve the list of substitutes/volunteers for Community Unit School District No. 1, effective
October 12 – November 5, 2010.
Addendum Item
Approve the transfer of Jill Shafer to DDC with student #02180, effective 11/15/2010.
President Miller asked if there were any requests from the Board of Education to remove any of the
consent agenda items or addendum items for discussion. There were no requests from the Board of
Education.
President Miller recommended that the Board of Education approve items under III through VII inclusive
on the Consent Agenda and in the Addendum. Mr. Oakley moved and Dr. Hutti seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Hutti, Esker, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: Coon on Consent Agenda
Abstain: Coon on the Minutes of October 20, 2010
Motion carried
Under the Superintendent’s Report, Assistant Principal, Trevor Doughty provided an update on
preparation of the 34th Annual Boys’ Basketball Holiday Tournament at Eastern Illinois
University, and the 18th Annual Girls’ Basketball Holiday Tournament at Charleston High
School. The two basketball tournaments take a tremendous community effort to support and
sustain the needed volunteers to run the tournaments. Hosting the basketball tournament and
their fans is a major boost to the Charleston business community.
Financial Consultant, David Kuetemeyer presented the Budget Calendar for the 2011-2012 school
year. A copy of the calendar is included for the Board of Education to review.
Mr. Oakley moved and Mr. Coon seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by the
Board of Education.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 11/17/2010 Page 3 On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Coon, Esker, Hutti, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Moving to New Business, Mr. Littleford reported that the District’s health insurance program was an
Insurance Trust and in effect from January 1 to December 31. Mr. Littleford reported that Steve Bushue
of Bushue Human Resources met with the CUSD #1 Health Insurance Committee on October 27 to
summarize the renewal proposal from the current provider, Personal Care, and to discuss the plan design
changes required by the Health Care Reform.
Mr. Bushue was in attendance and reviewed the recommendation from the committee. The Insurance
Committee consensus included the following:
1. Continue to utilize Personal Care as the third party administrator for the group health insurance
plan.
2. Recommends that the Gold and Silver Plans remain the same with the exception of mandated
items as required by the Affordable Care Act. See the 2011 Plan Options sheet attached.
3. Recommend that the premiums and board contributions for the Gold and Silver Plans to remain
the same for the 2011 Plan Year, based on collective bargained language.
4. Renew life insurance coverage with Benefit Administrative Systems and Mutual of Omaha for
two year period without change in rates.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education accept the recommendation
from Steve Bushue of Bushue Human Resources, Inc. and the CUSD #1 Health Insurance Committee,
effective January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.
Mr. Coon moved and Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coon, Oakley, Hutti, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: Esker (supported the recommendation but abstained from vote)
Motion carried
Following the October 20, 2010, Regular Board Meeting, district officials met with The Upchurch Group,
Inc., to discuss the Illinois State Board of Education Energy Efficiency Grant relating to pending district
roof projects. Mr. Littleford reported that The Upchurch Group assured district officials the projects
would fall under the umbrella of this particular grant, but was unsure of grant parameters because
information forthcoming from the ISBE was very limited and grant award amounts would not be
available until applications had been submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education.
At a subsequent meeting between district officials and the Upchurch Group, Inc., on November 8, 2010,
the architectural firm presented the information located in the board members board packets:
1) roof proposals for Central Office and Charleston High School with costs and energy savings,
2) bidding & contract requirements,
3) Standard Agreement Form Between Owner & Contractor, and
4) additional insurance information.
Architect, Steve Russell was in attendance to discuss the roof proposals/options and answer questions
from the Board of Education.
Following discussion, the superintendent recommended that the Board of Education approve high school
roof option #2 and administrative office option #1 to be submitted in an Energy Efficiency Grant
application by The Upchurch Group to the Illinois State Board of Education. Final approval for
Regular Meeting Minutes of 11/17/2010 Page 4 completion of the two projects will be determined once the final grant allocations have been released by
the Illinois State Board of Education.
Mr. Oakley moved and Mr. Esker seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Esker, Oakley, Coon, Hutti, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
All Charleston Schools utilize the Illinois School Improvement Planning process throughout the year.
Assistant Superintendent, Todd Vilardo highlighted information on the report cards and on how the
school improvement plans are developed and used by the district.
The superintendent recommended that the Board of Education accept the 2010-2011 School Improvement
Plans and the District Improvement Plan as presented. Mr. Oakley moved and Dr. Hutti seconded the
motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Hutti, Coon, Esker, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education adopt, in tentative form, the
job description for the CUSD #1 Crossing Guard position on first reading. The tentative job description
will be placed for public review until final adoption at the December 15, 2010 board meeting. Mr. Esker
moved and Mr. Coon seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Esker, Coon, Hutti, Oakley, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education adopt, in tentative form,
newly established and revised board policies, administrative procedures, and exhibits as presented. The
tentative policies will be placed for public review until final adoption at the December 15, 2010 Board
Meeting.
Newly Established
Board Policy, 4:60-Exhibit, Notice to Contractors
Board Policy, 7:190-AP6, Guidelines for Investigating Sexting Allegations
Board Policy, 7:190-AP6-Exhibit-1, Letter to Parents/Guardians About Preventing and Reducing
Incidences
of Sexting
Board Policy 7:285, Food Allergy Management Program, must be adopted by the Board of Education by
January 2011.
Board Policy 7:285-AP, Implementing a Food Allergy Management Program
Revised
Board Policy, 2:70-Exhibit, Checklist for Filling Board Vacancies by Appointment
Board Policy, 2:160, Board Attorney
Board Policy, 2:200-AP, Types of School Board Meetings
Board Policy, 2:260-AP1, Guidelines for Investigating Complaints and Allegations
of Misconduct
Regular Meeting Minutes of 11/17/2010 Page 5 Board Policy, 4:20, Fund Balances
Board Policy, 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited
Board Policy, 7:180, Preventing Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment
Board Policy, 7:190, Student Discipline
Board Policy, 7:190-AP5, Electronic Devices
Mr. Coon moved and Dr. Hutti seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coon, Hutti, Esker, Oakley, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 7:31pm, President Miller recommended that the Board of Education adjourn into closed session to
consider information regarding appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or
dismissal of specific employees of the pubic body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged
against an employee to determine its validity.
Mr. Oakley moved and Dr. Hutti seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Hutti, Coon, Esker, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 8:11pm, Dr. Hutti made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Hutti, Oakley, Coon, Esker, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 8:12pm, Mr. Oakley made a motion to adjourn from the board meeting. Mr. Coon seconded the
motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Coon, Esker, Hutti, Coe, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
_Ronald L. Miller_______
President, Board of Education
_Kelly P. Miller_________
Secretary, Board of Education
Regular Meeting Minutes of 11/17/2010 Page 6