Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 18, 2010
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties, Illinois met
in regular session on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at the Administration Building – 410 West Polk Avenue,
Charleston, Illinois 61920
At 6:30pm, President Miller called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following board members were present:
Ron Miller, President
Jason Coe, Vice President
Kelly Miller, Secretary
Jerry Esker
Tim Hutti
Kevin Oakley
The following board member was absent:
Jeff Coon, Treasurer
The following Central Office staff was present:
Jim Littleford, Superintendent
Todd Vilardo, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
David Kuetemeyer, Financial Consultant
Visitors 24 and 1 Member of the Press
Under public comments and written communications, President Miller asked if there were any comments,
questions or written communications. There were no requests for the Board of Education.
Mr. Littleford indicated the Board of Education received an Addendum to the board book which included:
Consent Agenda:
A. Remove a recommendation for a Serious Hazardous Walking Application for a CMS Student.
Add a recommendation for a Serious Hazardous Walking Application for a Kindergarten student
attending Mark Twain School.
C. Authorization to contract part time help for Speech & Language evaluation services at Mark
Twain Elementary School for the 2010-2011 school year.
Employment:
- Penny Hess as a 60% time art teacher at Mark Twain and Ashmore Elementary Schools for the
2010-11 school year.
- Approve Patti Bennett as a volunteer assistant softball coach at Charleston Middle School.
Superintendent’s Report:
A. Actual/Anticipated enrollment: Correction to CMS numbers as of August 10, 2010. Provided a
copy of an enrollment summary as of August 18, 2010.
Under Focus on Students and Good News Reports, Mr. Littleford presented Certificates of Recognition to the
following people:
- Jodi Cline, for her service to the Charleston CUSD #1 Gifted Education Program.
- Ron Woods – owner of Byrd’s Cleaners for his contribution in providing towels and wash/fold service to
the CHS Football Team during the 2010 season. Mr. Woods was not able to attend the meeting. Nicole
Woods accepted the certificate on his behalf.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 8/18/2010 Page 1 Under Consent Agenda, Mr. Littleford asked if there were any items under the consent agenda that the Board of
Education would like to remove to discuss in closed session. There were no requests from the Board of
Education.
Mr. Littleford reviewed the recommendations under the consent agenda.
IV. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
A.
Approve the minutes of the Public Hearing and Regular Meeting of July 21, 2010.
B.1 Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of July 2010.
B.2 Approve the Activity Fund Reports for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending
July 2010.
V. Consent Agenda: Old Business
Approve the transfer of Robert Farris from his full time second shift/split assignment as a custodian
at Jefferson Elementary School and Charleston High School into a full time second shift assignment
at Charleston High School, effective August 11, 2010.
Further, approve the transfer of Don Taylor from his current assignment as a full time first shift
custodian at Jefferson Elementary School into a full time, first shift/split assignment between
Charleston High School and Jefferson Elementary School, effective August 11,2 010.
VI. Consent Agenda: New Business
A. Addendum: Approve the Serious Safety Hazard Findings application #1-02-11, for a student
attending Mark Twain Elementary School, effective for the 2010-2011 school year. Further, to
submit the application to the Department of Transportation for final review.
B. Grant permission to close the following Activity Accounts at Charleston Middle School: CMS
Discovery Labs, Gold Team Service, and Toyota Tapestry.
C. Addendum: Grant permission to contract extra part-time help for speech and language evaluations at
the preschool level for the 2010-2011 school year.
VII. Consent Agenda: Employment
Approve the assignments for the paraprofessionals at Carl Sandburg Elementary School as
recommended for the 2010-2011 school year:
Debbie Gillespie – Student #08115
Chris Handley – Student #07218
Sandy Evans – Student #12391
Approve the list of substitutes for Community Unit School District No. 1 as of August 9, 2010.
Under the Addendum:
Approve the employment of Penny Hess as a 60% time art teacher at Mark Twain and Ashmore
Elementary School for the 2010-2011 school year. This employment was contingent upon the receipt
of all information required for employment.
Accept the recommendation for Patti Bennett to serve as the volunteer assistant softball coach at
Charleston Middle School for the 2010-2011 school year.
Mr. Coe moved and Mr. Oakley seconded the motion to approve items under IV through VII inclusive on the
Consent Agenda and in the addendum.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 8/18/2010 Page 2 On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Oakley, Esker, Hutti, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under the Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent Littleford announced the 2010-2011 school year officially
opened with an all staff institute day on Tuesday, August 17, 2010. First half day of student attendance was
Wednesday, August 18 and the first full day of attendance was scheduled for Thursday, August 19. Board
members were provided the actual and anticipated enrollment numbers as of August 10, 2010 and as of August
18. Mr. Littleford noted the district was down approximately 43 students from last year.
At 7:45pm, Mr. Esker arrived at the meeting.
Mr. Littleford reported that district administrators were in the final stages of filling staffing positions prior to the
opening of school and all staffing positions were filled by the opening day and ready for students.
CHS Athletic Director, Liz Watson provided an update regarding a recent meeting with Taylorville officials
concerning future additions of the Apollo Conference. Beginning with the 2012 school year, the following
school districts will no longer be in the Apollo Conference: Robinson, Newton, and Olney. Mattoon will join
the conference in 2012. Ms. Watson reported that Taylorville was not interested in joining the conference at this
time because of concerns of travel time to Paris (all country roads). The Apollo Conference would include:
Charleston, Effingham, Mt Zion, Paris, and Mattoon. She indicated that Breese Moter Dei may have interest in
joining and they were located approximately 2 hours away.
In addition, Mrs. Watson reported that the Trojan Booster Club Executive Board did not make a decision at their
retreat regarding corporate sponsorship of the Girl’s Holiday Basketball Tournament. The Booster Club would
make a decision at their September meeting.
President Miller thanked the superintendent for his report.
Mr. Oakley moved and Dr. Hutti seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by the Board
of Education.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Hutti, Coe, Esker, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under Old Business, Mr. Oakley moved and Mr. Coe seconded a motion to grant authorization to delete the
Board Policies, Administrative Procedures, and Exhibits as listed.
6:15-E2
6:15-E3
6:15-E4
Notice to Parents of Children Enrolled in School that Missed AYP for Two or More
Consecutive Years
Application for School Choice Transfer Option
Application for Supplemental Educational Services
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Coe, Esker, Hutti, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Mr. Oakley moved and Dr. Hutti seconded a motion to adopt newly established Board Policies, Administrative
Procedures, and Exhibits as listed.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 8/18/2010 Page 3 2:70-E
2:260-AP2
6:15-AP
6:120-AP2
6:120-AP2, E1
Checklist for Filling Board Vacancies by Appointment
Nondiscrimination Coordinator and Complaint Manager
School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services
Access to Classrooms and Personnel
Request to Access Classroom(s) or Personnel for Special Education Evaluation and/or
Observation Purposes
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Hutti, Coe, Esker, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Mr. Coe moved and Mr. Oakley seconded a motion to adopt revised Board Policies, Administrative Procedures,
and Exhibits as listed.
2:20
2:40
2:100
2:110
2:200
2:240
2:260
3:40
4:30
4:40
4:60-AP1
4:90
4:100
4:110
4:110-AP1
4:110-AP2
4:120
4:120-AP
4:130
4:140
4:150
4:160
4:170
4:170-AP1
4:170-AP2
4:170-AP3
4:170-AP4
4:170-AP5
4:170-AP6
5:10
5:20
5:30
5:90
5:100
5:120
5:120-AP2
5:180
Powers and Duties of the School Board
Board Member Qualifications
Board Member Conflict of Interest
Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers
Types of School Board Meetings
Board Policy Development
Uniform Grievance Procedure
Superintendent
Revenue and Investments
Incurring Debt
Purchases
Activity Funds
Insurance Management
Transportation
School Bus Post-Accident Checklist
Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspection; Bus Driving Comments
Food Services
Food Services
Free and Reduced-Price Food Services
Waiver of Student Fees
Facility Management and Building Programs
Environmental Quality of Buildings and Grounds
Safety
Comprehensive Safety and Crisis Program
Criminal Offender Notification Laws
School Bus Safety Rules
Emergency Preparedness Response to Homeland Security Codes
Unsafe School Choice Option
Plan for Responding to a Medical Emergency at a Physical Fitness Facility
Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
Workplace Harassment Prohibited
Hiring Process and Criteria
Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
Staff Development Program
Ethics
Employee Conduct Standards
Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity
Regular Meeting Minutes of 8/18/2010 Page 4 5:220
5:250
5:330
6:15
6:15-E
6:20
6:50
6:60
6:60-AP
6:110
6:170-AP3
6:280-E1
6:280-E2
6:280-E3
6:300
6:300-E1
6:310
6:320
6:340
7:10
7:20
7:40
7:50
7:70
7:100
7:180
7:190
7:240
7:250-AP1
7:300
8:30
8:70
8:100
Substitute Teachers
Leaves of Absence
Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves
School Accountability
Resolution Declining Requests to Accept Non-Resident Choice Students
School Year Calendar and Day
School Wellness
Curriculum Content
Comprehensive Health Education Program
Programs for Students At Risk of Academic Failure and/or Dropping Out of School
and Graduation Incentives Program
No Child Left Behind Checklist
Progress Check (Kindergarten, First, Second Grades)
Progress Check (Third – Sixth Grades)
CMS Retention Scale
Graduation Requirements
Application for a Diploma for Veterans of WW II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam
Conflict
Credit for Alternative Courses and Programs, and Course Substitutions
High School Credit for Proficiency
Student Testing and Assessment Program
Equal Educational Opportunities
Harassment of Students Prohibited
Nonpublic School Students, Including Parochial and Home-Schooled Students
School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools
Attendance and Truancy
Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students
Preventing Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment
Student Discipline
Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities
Measures to Control the Spread of Head Lice at School
Extracurricular Activities
Visitors to and Conduct on School Property
Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities
Relations with Other Organizations and Agencies
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Oakley, Esker, Hutti, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Mr. Kuetemeyer provided a report on the tentative 2010-2011 school budget. He also provided a recap on the
2009-2010 school budget, and fund balances for 1996 through 2010.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education adopt by resolution the 2010-2011
tentative budget for Community Unit School District No. 1 and in accordance with the School Code, the tentative
budget was placed on file for public review for at least 30 days.
Further, to establish Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 6:00pm, as the time for the public hearing on the
tentative budget.
Mr. Oakley moved and Mr. Coe seconded the motion.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 8/18/2010 Page 5 On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Coe, Esker, Hutti, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Mr. Littleford reported that the Class of 1959 notified the Central Office in late July that they had secured
enough funds to donate a new marquee and message center for Charleston High School. CUSD #1 has applied
for the funds raised by the Class of 1959 to the Charleston Charitable Foundation. John and Carolyn Young
worked with Monitor Sign Service of Mattoon to provide the sign while Dan Cougill coordinated placement of
the sign on district property. The 20’ electronic sign is to be placed along Route 16 on the south side of
Charleston High School. Commercial Electric is running the CAT 5 cable and electric service while the City of
Charleston is boring for the conduit. The City of Charleston and IDOT have been advised of the project and both
have given approval. This message center will provide information on current school activities at CHS as well as
throughout the district. A dedication is being scheduled for Homecoming on September 24th.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education accept the donation for a new
marquee and message center for Charleston High School from the Class of 1959. Mr. Oakley moved and Dr.
Hutti seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, Hutti, Coe, Esker, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
The City of Charleston is requesting Charleston CUSD #1 to support an extension of the Downtown Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) District for an additional 12 years. While the first 23 years of the TIF District have
been considered an outstanding success, city officials have indicated that several critical projects still need to be
completed. The City views economic development as a type of partnership under its Downtown TIF
Redevelopment Plan with the School District and other taxing bodies. Mayor John Inyart and City Manager
Scott Smith were in attendance to provide additional information and will answer questions from the Board of
Education.
Mayor Inyart reported on completed and ongoing projects in the downtown area that were approved in the TIF
district. He indicated that it was an investment in continuing to keep up the older buildings.
Mr. Smith stated 34 projects have been approved in the downtown area through TIF. He shared information on
the process of applying and being awarded a grant through TIF. TIF grants are used for structural repairs to
extend the life of the building. Business owners applying must match the grant. The grant is not paid back to the
City. Mr. Smith told the board that the City Council should vote in September on a proposed 20% rebate to the
taxing bodies if the extension is approved.
After considerable discussion, Mr. Coe moved and Mr. Oakley seconded a motion to adopt the Resolution in
Support of the City of Charleston Downtown TIF District 12 Year Time Extension. This motion was under the
condition that the District be guaranteed a rebate of 20% from tax loss back, approximately $15,000.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coe, Oakley, Esker, Hutti, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 8:04pm, 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.
Regular Meeting Minutes of 8/18/2010 Page 6 Mr. Oakley moved and Dr. Hutti seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Oakley, 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 9:08pm, Mr. Oakley moved to adjourn from the board meeting. Dr. Hutti seconded the motion.
On roll call:
AYE: Oakley, Hutti, Coe, Esker, K. Miller, R. Miller
NAY: none
Motion carried
Ronald L. Miller
President, Board of Education
Kelly P. Miller
Secretary, Board of Education
Regular Meeting Minutes of 8/18/2010 Page 7