Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 19, 2011
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties,
Illinois met in regular session on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at the Administration Building – 410
West Polk Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920
At 6:30 p.m., President Coe called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following board members were present:
Jason Coe, President
Ron Miller, Vice President
Kelly Miller, Treasurer
Scott Clarke
Brenda Coffey
Susan Daniels
The following board member was absent:
Tim Hutti, Secretary
The following staff members were present:
Jim Littleford, Superintendent
Todd Vilardo, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
David Kuetemeyer, Financial Consultant
Visitors 22 and 1 Member of the Press
Mrs. Coffey moved and Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion to appoint Mrs. Miller as Secretary Pro-Tem
due to the absence of Dr. Hutti.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coffey, Daniels, Clarke, R. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: K. Miller
Motion carried
President Coe 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 the 7th grade art students from Charleston Middle
School. Toni Satterfield is the art instructor.
Jefferson & Ashmore Elementary School Students
The Character Education students were chosen by their teachers representing the trait of Respect.
Teachers choose students who exemplify this trait and they are honored at Jefferson and Ashmore
Schools for Responsibility. Roxanne Cornebise, Counselor is in charge of the program.
These students are an example to their peers and have shown an understanding of the meaning of respect
in the following six areas of Respect; self-respect, respect for others, respect for parents, respect for
teachers or authority, respect for environment and respect for property. They understand that to live a
balanced and successful life you must have respect in all these areas.
4th GradeBlaine Drake
Carson Groff
Avery Sallee
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5th GradeFantasia Maulden
Caden Myerscough
Kacee Nicholson
6th GradeAnna Lawless
Paige Swango
Halee Decker
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4th GradeRachel Mellott
Ben Tresslar
Abbie Bonnstetter
Gretchen Klepzig
Wyatt Madlem (Ashmore)
5th GradeNatasha Wiley
Isaac Williamson
Samantha Muhr
Natalie Fanale
Cameron Garrett
6th GradeSam White
Ted Shaw
Ethan Robison
Nick Bays
Jacob Bishop
Charleston Joint PTA and Ashmore Elementary School Executive Board and Members for
continued support and contributions to the students, staff and programs in Charleston CUSD #1. Krissta
Newby and Amanda Cox accepted the Certificate for Ashmore PTO and Jodi Swann accepted the
certificate for the Charleston Joint PTA.
Mr. Littleford reviewed the items under Consent Agenda.
IV. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
A. Approve the minutes of the Public Hearing of September 21, 2011 and Regular Board Meeting
of September 21, 2011.
B. Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of September 2011.
C. Approve the Activity Fund Accounts for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending
September 2011.
VI. Consent Agenda: New Business
A. Grant permission for the students listed in a memorandum from Interim Principal Trevor Doughty
to graduate from Charleston High School at the end of first semester of the 2011-2012 school
year.
B. Grant permission to establish the following activity fund account at Charleston High School
entitled: ‘Freedom Writers Club.’ This account will be subject to the state guidelines regarding
the use of activity fund accounts.
C. Grant permission to establish the following activity fund accounts at Mark Twain Elementary
School entitled: ‘KOC-Spainhour,’ ‘KOC-Gentry,’ ‘KOC-Denler,’ ‘KOC-Schultz,’ ‘KOCJackson.’ These accounts are subject to the state guidelines regarding the use of activity fund
accounts.
D. Approve Serious Safety Hazard Findings application #1-12-02 for a student attending Mark
Twain Elementary School, effective for the 2011-12 school year. The application has been
submitted to the Department of Transportation for final review.
VII. Consent Agenda: Employment
Accept a letter of resignation from Danielle Slater, a paraprofessional at Mark Twain Elementary
School, effective 9/30/2011.
Approve the recommendation for Jurane Culbreath to serve as volunteer wrestling coach at
Charleston High School during the 2011-12 school year.
Approve the list of substitutes/volunteers for Community Unit School District No. 1, effective
September 12 – October 11, 2011.
President Coe asked if there were any requests from the Board of Education to remove any of the consent
agenda items or addendum items for discussion. Hearing none, President Coe recommended that the
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Board of Education approve items under III through VI inclusive on the Consent Agenda. Dr. Clarke
moved and Mr. Miller seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, R. Miller, Coffey, Daniels, K. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under the Superintendent’s Report: 2011 Illinois School Report Cards
Mr. Littleford announced that state and federal laws require public school districts to release School
Report Cards to the public each year by October 31. Assistant Superintendent Todd Vilardo highlighted
information provided on the school report cards for each attendance center. On the back page of each
school report card, CUSD #1 building principals outlined a planned improvement for the school and
district. The school report cards will be available to the public on the CUSD #1 website following the
board meeting.
2011 Tax Levy Information
Financial Consultant, David Kuetemeyer provided the Board of Education with the initial information in
establishing the 2011 tax levy. He reported the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) limits
the amount of property taxes the County Clerk is able to extend. The increase in amount of taxes over the
prior year is limited to 5% (or the Consumer Price Index) whichever is the lesser. For the 2011 tax year
the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 1.5%. The Board of Education will need to take action in adopting the
Certificate of 2011 Tax Levy by the December meeting.
Senate Bill 315/Number of Joint Committee Members to Represent Board of Education
Mr. Littleford reported that according to new legislation, PERA (Performance Education Reform Act),
each school district must use a joint committee composed of equal representation selected by the school
board and its teachers, or if applicable, the exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers, to address
the matters described in the new law pertaining to honorable dismissals. With this Act, he stated that
riffing groupings now involve four categories. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) plans to
provide a default model involving these four categories. The committee must be formed and hold its first
meeting by December 1, 2011 and one of the key components is equal representation agreed upon by both
entities.
Mr. Littleford reported CEA President Jody Smith agreed that the 3 – 5 range of representatives from
each side would be adequate. Mr. Littleford stated the Board management team should consist of Central
Office Administration and Building Administrators. If there were no objections from the Board of
Education, Mr. Littleford indicated that he would use 3 – 5 representatives from the Administrative Team.
There were no objections from the Board of Education.
Central Office administration and CEA Executive Board members will be attending an October 27 PEAC
meeting in Bloomington. Mr. Littleford stated that he hoped to secure more definite information on
PERA from the meeting. A joint committee meeting will be scheduled prior to December 1, 2011.
Tactical Planning/Board of Education Intentions of Future Bond Schedule
Mr. Littleford announced the Central Office Administrative Team has spent recent weeks in Tactical
Planning to evaluate the current District Health/Life Safety 10-Year Survey, Health/Life Safety projects,
Bond Schedule, and Bond Levy. As planning continues on these issues, he said that it is vital for the
Charleston CUSD #1 Board of Education to provide feedback regarding the continuance of a Bond Levy
when the current Bond Schedule expires in 2014-15. New bonds could fund projects that fall into healthlife safety requirements, which don’t need voter approval.
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Mr. Littleford reported that Charleston CUSD #1 has the opportunity to apply for an Early Childhood
Construction Grant through the Capital Development Board in consultation with the Illinois State Board
of Education. The grant is a 10% matching grant and could be used to replace the modular classrooms at
Mark Twain Elementary School. Plans could include consolidating all of the Early Childhood programs
into the Mark Twain facility. Mr. Littleford noted that replacing the modular classrooms would not
qualify for health-life safety funds.
Mr. Littleford explained that the district architects would need to be involved to develop construction
plans. Mr. Littleford asked for direction from the Board of Education as to whether the District should
pursue grant.
President Coe asked if any one of the board members were opposed to the Grant.
Mrs. Daniels asked with the decline in student enrollment, what attributes to the lack of space at Mark
Twain School?
Mark Twain School Principal Terry Diss reported enrollment numbers have dropped a little, however
with required special services, they need more space to better serve the students. He said the early
childhood program has moved to a full day (1 morning session and 1 afternoon session) and all of the
classrooms are full. Therapy, speech, social work, and other services also require space. Mr. Diss noted
that the intervention classroom was currently located in the storage room.
The Board of Education gave an informal go-ahead for district administrators to work with the architects
and administrative team in moving forward in submitting the early childhood matching grant by the
November 30, 2011 deadline.
Mr. Littleford provided a power point presentation with a long list of possible projects ranging from long
term to more immediate that included repairing roofs at Charleston High School, Charleston Middle
School, Jefferson Elementary School and the Administration Office. Also, adding security features at
several locations as well as work on heating units and more. (Power point presentation provided in
official board book.)
Mr. Littleford informed the Board of Education that he has invited Investment Broker Kevin Heid of First
Mid-State, Inc. to be at the November 16, 2011 board meeting to review the bond schedule and future
bonding for the District.
Mr. Miller said with the current economy the district should ‘do things that we have really got to do’ and
‘postpone as many things as we can.’ He stressed that the community is hurting and he was not in favor
of raising taxes.
In response Mrs. Miller stated that sometimes we need to re-invest in the community.
Dr. Clarke moved and Mrs. Coffey seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by
the Board of Education.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Coffey, Daniels, R. Miller, K. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under Old Business:
Review Parameters of 2012-13 Calendar & Example of Early/Late Start Calendars
Board members were provided with two rough draft calendars as requested at the September 21, 2011
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meeting. One draft calendar had an early start date of Tuesday, August 14 (Teacher Institute) and one
with later start date of Monday, August 20 (Teacher Institute). Mr. Littleford stated that Board of
Education had the option to amend the parameters for the Calendar Committee to use in preparing the
2012-13 school calendar, if desired. There were no changes to the parameters established by the Board of
Education at the September 21, 2011 meeting.
Mr. Littleford announced that the Calendar Committee meeting is scheduled to meet on Thursday,
November 10, 2011 at 3:45pm.
Moving to New Business: 2010-2011 Audit Report
Mr. Littleford invited Cleve Karch of Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan LLP to present the FY11 Financial
Report for Community Unit School District No. 1. A copy of the audit was provided in the board
members information.
After introductions to the Board and audience, Mr. Karch presented a brief overview of the financial audit
of school district records and reports for the 2010-11 school year. He announced there were no instances
of noncompliance material to the financial statements of CUSD #1 disclosed during the audit. Mr. Karch
reviewed one repeat audit finding and indicated that he had met with Mr. Littleford and Mr. Kuetemeyer
to discuss the finding and plan corrective action.
In closing, Mr. Karch commended the efforts of the Board of Education, Administrative Team, and
teaching staff for being proactive with reductions. He commented that the district was better off
financially.
After all questions were answered, Mr. Littleford thanked Mr. Karch for the audit report. Mr. Karch
thanked the administration, staff, and Board of Education.
It was recommended by the superintendent that the Board of Education accept the financial audit as
prepared by Gilbert, Metzger and Madigan, LLP for the 2010-2011 school year. Dr. Clarke moved and
Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Daniels, Coffey, R. Miller, K. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
2012-2013 CHS Course Descriptions
The superintendent recommended that the Board of Education approve the 2012-2013 Charleston High
School Course Description Booklet with the changes as presented.
Trevor Doughty addressed the changes in the 2012-13 course description booklet, which included one
new course offering entitled ‘Coles County Entrepreneurship Class’.
Mrs. Daniels raised the question about the rigor of the course description of the Coles County
Entrepreneurship Class and if there had been any consideration of allowing for weighted grades.
Mr. Doughty indicated not at this time. He said that they would like the class to be in place for a school
year, then will try to determine the rigor of the class and if weighted grades would be needed on the
academic portion.
Dr. Clarke moved and Mrs. Coffey seconded the motion.
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On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Coffey, Daniels, R. Miller, K. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Title 1 Staffing Proposal – Grant Authority to Staff
Assistant Superintendent Todd Vilardo received notification that the State has allotted an additional
$156,775 in Title I funding for the District. This was due to an increase this year of approximately 60
‘low-income’ students from one year to the next and because the State received a substantial increase in
Federal Title I dollars this year.
Mr. Vilardo gathered input from our principals and staff of Title I schools and provided a proposal in
which the additional funds would be used to compensate Title I paraprofessionals (new positions) who
can provide additional instructional support for our low-performing students as follows:
Mark Twain Elementary School
Ashmore Elementary School
Carl Sandburg Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary School
1.0 FTE
1.0 FTE
2.0 FTE
1.0 FTE
In addition, Mr. Vilardo proposed that these additional funds be used to compensate Mrs. Gail Schultz in
her current position as Title I Reading Recovery Teacher Leader.
Remaining funds will be used in accordance with our Title I grant application’s goals of providing
professional development for Title I staff and instructional materials for Title I eligible students.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve the Title I Staffing
Proposal as presented by Assistant Superintendent Todd Vilardo, effective for the 2011-12 school year.
Dr. Clarke moved and Mr. Miller seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, R. Miller, Coffey, Daniels, K. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Extra Curricular Activities/Compensation for Supervision
Mr. Littleford reported that due to administrative staff reductions in recent years, the number of evenings
devoted to supervision of extra-curricular activities by CUSD #1 Administrators and the CHS Athletic
Director has increased. Allowing compensated volunteer teachers to assist with occasional night
supervision, Mr. Littleford stated would help to avoid stress and fatigue by our CUSD #1 Administrative
Team and CHS Athletic Director.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education grant authorization to
permit Charleston CUSD #1 Teachers to volunteer for extra-curricular supervision at the additional
compensation rate under Article XVIII ‘Professional Compensation and Related Provisions,’ Section K,
in the Professional Negotiations Agreement, Charleston Education Association, IEA/NEA and the Board
of Education. Mr. Miller moved and Mrs. Daniels seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: R. Miller, Daniels, Clarke, Coffey, K. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
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At 9:20pm, Mrs. Coffey made a motion to adjourn from the board meeting. Dr. Clarke seconded the
motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Coffey, Clarke, Daniels, R. Miller, K. Miller, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Jason Coe
President, Board of Education
Tim Hutti
Secretary, Board of Education
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