Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 15, 2010
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties, Illinois
met in regular session on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at the Administration Building – 410 West Polk
Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920
At 6:38pm, President Miller called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following members were present:
Ron Miller, President
Jason Coe, Vice President
Kelly Miller, Secretary
Jeff Coon, Treasurer
Jerry Esker
Tim Hutti
The following member was absent:
Kevin Oakley
The following staff members were present:
Jim Littleford, Superintendent
Todd Vilardo, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
David Kuetemeyer, Financial Consultant
Visitors 26 and 1 Member of the Press
Under Public Staff Comments, President Miller asked if there were any requests or written communications
to the Board of Education. There were no requests received.
Under Recognition, Mr. Littleford presented Certificates of Recognition to:
Rick Cohoon for volunteering his time to design, update, and maintain the CHS website. Also, encouraging
teachers to attach their own Web Pages and training CHS staff on various software and applications.
Nell Wiseman for continued dedication to promote & support student writing in the State of Illinois through
her service on numerous State and National Committees including those for ISBE, NCTE, and AP.
The Board of Education received an addendum to their board packets which included:
- copies of Power Point Presentation on 2010-2011 Budget
- revised Board Agenda
- Consent New Business:
VI. E. Correction to Administrator Salary Compensation Report
VI. H. ISBE Annual Application for Recognition of Schools
Completed Applications for CHS, CMS, Ashmore, Carl Sandburg & Jefferson Schools
- Consent New Business: Employment
Resignation from Christopher Bates as a crossing guard, effective September 9, 2010.
Accept Volunteers in extra-curricular assignments at Charleston High School and Charleston
Middle School
- Revised Superintendent’s Report
Correction to order of items to reflect same as agenda.
2010 Adequate Yearly Progress Information - correction CHS, Carl Sandburg and Jefferson
Elementary Schools did not make AYP.
President Miller asked if there were 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.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 9/15/2010 Page 1 Mr. Littleford reviewed the items under Consent Agenda.
III. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
A. Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 18, 2010.
B. Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of August 2010.
C. Approve the Activity Fund Accounts for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending
August 2010.
V. Consent Agenda: New Business
A. Certify that the annual review meeting with local First Responders took place on September 1, 2010.
B. Deny a Serious Safety Hazard Findings application #1-01-11, effective for the 2010-11 school year,
to be submitted to the Department of Transportation for final review.
C. Grant permission to establish the following activity fund accounts at Charleston High School
entitled: “CHS Marquee” and “CHS Prom.”
D. Grant permission to close the following activity fund account at Charleston Middle School entitled,
“Flower Fund.”
E. Accept the 2010-2011 Administrator Salary Compensation Report to be posted on the CUSD #1
website and forwarded to the Regional Office of Education by October 1, 2010.
F. Approve an amendment to the contractual agreement between Eastern Illinois University,
Department of Communication Disorders and Science to provide speech/language pathology
services to students at Jefferson School and Charleston Middle School.
G. Assign Karen Murphy, Media Specialist at CMS the responsibility for the overall direction of library
media services in CUSD #1 for the 2010-11 school year.
H. Approve the “2010-11 Application for Recognition of Schools,” for Community Unit School District
No. 1.
VI. Consent Agenda: Employment
Grant a family medical leave request to Amanda Hilderbrand, Speech/Language Pathologist, at
Charleston High School due to the birth of her child.
Grant a family medical leave request to Jenny Allison, 6th grade teacher, at Jefferson Elementary
School due to the birth of her child.
Accept a letter of resignation from Ryan Shick from his extra-curricular assignments as Freshman
Boys’ Basketball Coach and Head Boys’ Tennis Coach at Charleston High School, effective
immediately.
Accept a letter of resignation from Chelsie Hahn from her extra-curricular assignment as Head Girls’
Swim Coach at Charleston High School, effective immediately.
Approve the recommendation for the following people to serve as volunteer coaches in the
extra-curricular assignments at Charleston High School listed during the 2010-11 school year.
Patrick Coulton
Head Chess Sponsor
Mike Geske
Volleyball
Aldo Ruffalo
Soccer (Boys’ and Girls’)
John McInerney
Cross Country (Boys’ and Girls’)
Approve the recommendation for Kelli Wells to serve as a volunteer Student Council Sponsor at
Jefferson Elementary School during the 2010-11 school year.
Approve the list of substitutes for Community Unit School District No. 1, effective August 10 September 3, 2010.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 9/15/2010 Page 2 Addendum Item:
Accept a letter of resignation from Christopher Bates as Crossing Guard, effective September 9,
2010.
Approve the recommendation for the following people to serve as volunteer coaches in the
extra-curricular assignments at Charleston High School listed during the 2010-11 school year.
Jennifer Hindes
Girls’ Head Swim Coach
Dwight Pentzien
Swimming
Kirsten Pentzien
Swimming
Meghan Glow
Swimming
Approve the recommendation for Hannah Dowling to serve as a volunteer in the extra-curricular
position as a Girls’ Basketball Coach at Charleston Middle School during the 2010-11 school year.
President Miller recommended that the Board of Education approve items under III through VI inclusive on
the Consent Agenda and in the Addendum. Mr. Coon moved and Dr. Hutti seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coon, Hutti, Coe, R. Miller, K. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under the superintendent’s report, Mr. Littleford reported that at the August 18, 2010 meeting the Board of
Education accepted a donation from the Class of 1959 to provide a new marquee and message center for
Charleston High School. He announced that a dedication ceremony was scheduled at 10:00am on September
24, 2010 on the south side of Charleston High School. The CHS Homecoming Assembly will begin at
10:20am. If schedules permit, the Board of Education and members of the Class of 1959 are invited to
attend the dedication and assembly.
Mr. Littleford presented the 2010-2011 sixth day enrollment statistics and long range enrollment projections
to the Board of Education. The statistics revealed a decrease of 43 students from last year.
The Illinois State Board of Education has made 2010 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) information available
to all districts. Assistant Superintendent, Todd Vilardo presented the AYP status report for the district.
Charleston Middle School and Ashmore Elementary School made AYP status, whereas, Charleston High
School, Carl Sandburg Elementary School, and Jefferson Elementary School did not make AYP status.
Through a power point presentation, Mr. Vilardo and CUSD #1 building principals, (Diane Hutchins, CHS
Principal, Brad Oakley, CMS Principal, Terry Diss, Principal of Ashmore and Mark Twain Elementary
Schools, Chad Burgett, Principal Carl Sandburg Elementary School, and Debbie Poffinbarger, Principal
Jefferson Elementary School) provided additional information highlighting positive outcomes, challenges for
the schools and the next steps.
Mr. Littleford commended the administration and staff and extended his appreciation for the outstanding job
of implementing new programs and partnerships within the District.
President Miller brought up a point that the state standards did not align with the testing. Assistant
Superintendent, Mr. Vilardo agreed and stated it was important to look at other measures of student
achievement within our district.
Mr. Littleford reported the Central Office Administration Team attended a webinar provided by State
Superintendent Chris Koch on September 9th, which provided rules associated with the Federal Jobs Bill.
The Central Office Administrative Team then met with area administrators the following day to discuss the
available options. Mr. Littleford reported that the AARA Funds was one-time money for districts to save or
Regular Meeting Minutes of 9/15/2010 Page 3 create jobs. He indicated the money could also be used in paying current salaries. More information will be
forthcoming from the state after the rules are finalized.
Dr. Hutti moved and Mr. Coe seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by the Board
of Education.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Hutti, Coe, Coon, Esker, R. Miller, K. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under Old Business, the superintendent recommended that the Board of Education adopt by resolution the
2010-11 budget for Community Unit School District No. 1. Dr. Hutti moved and Mr. Esker seconded the
motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Hutti, Esker, Coe, Coon, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
During a recent Trojan Booster Club Board Meeting, the group approved hosting the 2011 and 2012
CHS Girls’ Holiday Basketball Tournaments. Mr. Littleford invited CHS Athletic Director, Liz Watson, to
discuss the financial details regarding the tournament, including available teams, and possible format.
Ms. Watson reported the Trojan Booster Club agreed to be the “umbrella” for sponsorship for the 2011 and
2012 Girl’s Holiday tournaments. The following schools will participate and, upon Board approval,
contracts will be sent out by the following week: Effingham, Paris, Taylorville, Urbana, Rantoul, and
Teutopolis. The tournaments would be a round robin format and the teams would each play four games.
The committee planned to meet on a monthly basis to plan for the tournaments.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve the Trojan Booster
Club as the official host of the 2011and 2012 CHS Girls’ Holiday Basketball Tournaments. Mr. Coon
moved and Dr. Hutti seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Mr. Esker wanted to clarify that managerial rights remain with Liz Watson, Athletic
Director. It was noted by the administration that all managerial rights of the tournament would remain with
the Athletic Director, but the funds would run through the Trojan Booster Club.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coon, Hutti, Coe, Esker, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
It was recommended by the superintendent that the Board of Education adopt a Resolution to repay an
Interfund Loan between the Working Cash Fund and Transportation Fund in the amount of $438,000. Mr.
Coe moved and Mr. Coon seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Coon, Esker, Hutti, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
The Calendar Committee will be planning their initial meeting to begin the process of determining the
2011-12 school district calendar. As in the past, the Board of Education was asked to provide direction to
Regular Meeting Minutes of 9/15/2010 Page 4 the committee regarding the parameters on their desire relating to school attendance days. The Board of
Education was provided an outline of choices in designing a school calendar and what was used for the
2010-2011 school year.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education establish parameters and
guidelines for the 2011-2012 school calendar committee. The Board of Education reviewed the outline of
options for the 2011-2012 calendar as well as what the 2010-2011 calendar provided.
After discussion and review of calendar parameters, Mr. Coe moved and Dr. Hutti seconded a motion to
keep the parameters for the 2011-2012 school calendar the same as provided for the 2010-2011 school year:
• use the same parameters as last year:
- Spring Break would be guaranteed
- Spring Break would be the same as EIU
- Holidays to waive – up to the committee to select two
- Good Friday will be used as a holiday
- Do not start school on a Thursday
- prepare different options for staff to choose
On roll call vote:
AYE: Hutti, Coe, Coon, Esker, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 8:10pm, 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.
Dr. Hutti moved and Mr. Coe seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Hutti, Coe, Esker, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 9:07pm, Mr. Coe made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mr. Oakley seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Oakley, Esker, Hutti, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 10:53pm Mr. Coe moved to adjourn from the board meeting. Mr. Miller seconded the motion.
On roll call:
AYE: Coe, R. Miller, Coon, Esker, Hutti, Oakley, K. Miller
NAY: none
Motion carried
_Ronald L. Miller___
President, Board of Education
_Kelly P. Miller______
Secretary, Board of Education
Regular Meeting Minutes of 9/15/2010 Page 5