Summary of Eastland Board of Education Meeting

At their regular meeting of August 18, 2010 the Eastland Board of Education approved the minutes of the July 21st Regular Meeting and the July 7th and August 5th Special Meetings. They also approved payment of all bills and claims, the Treasurer’s Report, and the following personnel actions:

- Approved the call back of Robin Bookman and Judy Weber as bus drivers for the 2010-11 school year conditioned on continued state funding for pre-school transportation costs. (These drivers were reduced in force by the Board of Education at their Regular Meeting of March 17, 2010 due to uncertainty about pre-school grant funding)

- Approved and accepted the resignation of Nicole Koehler from the position of part-time elementary Spanish teacher for the 2010-11 school year.

- Approved posting a vacancy for a part-time elementary Spanish teacher for the 2010-11 school year.

The new road on the east side of Eastland High School was completed just in time to access the bus garage for the first day of school. Supt. Mark Hansen said Friday that the construction schedule is on track in spite of an extremely rainy summer. (PA photo/Tom Kocal)

During Input, Supt. Mark Hansen reminded Board members of the Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8th, to approve bids for the Eastland High School Addition and Renovation Project. No members of the public addressed the Board during Communications.

Old Business

The Board approved renewals of the high school track co-operative with Chadwick-Milledgeville for the 2011 and 2012 seasons and the middle and high school wrestling co-operatives with Polo High School for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. For future reference, they directed Supt. Hansen to provide a summary of transportation costs associated with these activities. The Board also heard information from Principal Ritchie on projected participation levels for high school baseball in 2011 and 2012. Because summer participation levels continue to be high, and Lanark and Shannon continue to have summer league programs that are viable, Principal Ritchie recommended that a future baseball co-operative not be pursued at this time. The Board agreed, but directed the superintendent and principal to evaluate the status annually.

Continuing, Hansen presented information on pre-school planning and the budgetary impact for 2010-11. Eastland is a member of the Carroll County Early Step Pre-School Consortium, which has agreed to continue with pre-school programming in the County for 2010-11, provided that state grant funds continue to flow. Eastland will have two sections of 20 students in pre-school.

New Business

The Board completed a 1st Reading of the following policies and procedures: 2:200, 2:250, 2:250-AP1, 2:250-E1; 2:250-E2, 4:30; 4:60; 4:60-AP1; 4:90; 4:110; 4:110; 4:110-AP2; 4:170; 4:170-AP6; 4:170-AP6-E1; 4:170-AP6-E2; 5:10; 5:20; 6:120-AP2; 6:120-AP2-E1; 6:60; 6:60-AP; 7:10; 7:20; 7:50; 7:180; 7:270; 8:20-E, and 8:30. These policies will be scheduled for approval at the Regular September Board of Education meeting (may be reviewed at the Supt’s office).

Hansen presented a Transportation Committee Report. The committee recommended that the District trade-in and replace the Dodge Van as soon as possible. At the end of the fiscal year, they recommended replacement of at least one of the cars used for special routes, and the purchase of a full-sized, 71-passenger bus to replace bus #10. Total capital outlay for these purchases is estimated to be between $110,000 and $150,000 depending on whether one or two cars are purchased. Hansen reminded the Board members that the District made no fleet replacements during the 2009-10 school year. He also clarified that the District is facing a $126,000 deficit in the Transportation Fund because of an unprecedented, 42% cut in state funding to Districts for transportation. In effect, reserve funds will be used to make these necessary capital purchases.

Hansen presented the preliminary 2010-11 Eastland District Budget, reflecting a $315,000 overall deficit. Most of the deficit is in the Education and Transportation Funds due to reductions in state funding. Hansen reminded the Board that the Ed Fund deficit is based on conservative revenue projections, and that the deficit would have exceeded $400,000 had the Board not made $200,000 in reductions in March, 2010.

Preliminary Budget Posted

The Board approved the preliminary 2010-11 budget for posting and public display. According to statute, a public budget hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22nd, in the Board Room at Eastland Elementary School, 200 South School St., to be followed by the Regular September meeting. Interested persons can obtain a copy of the budget at the Elementary Office any working day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., or they can download a copy from the District website at www.eastland308.com. Just go to the “Board Information” page and click on the link “Preliminary 2010-11 Budget.”

Hansen made a presentation on the 2010-11 health insurance renewal. Despite a low claim year, Blue Cross/Blue Shield has made an initial offer of an 18.5% increase in premiums. The District is working with Miller/Buettner and Parrott to get competitive quotes from other providers, and to negotiate a reduction in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield renewal. The Board will approve an insurance carrier at their September 22nd meeting. The effective date will be October 1, 2010.

As a last item, Hansen presented information on 2009-10 student academic outcomes in Math and Reading. Preliminary analysis shows that District initiatives to improve K-8 reading and to require test prep activities for all 11th graders are working. Students taking dual-math their sophomore year are also showing gains in relation to college-readiness benchmarks. Analysis further suggests the need for improvement of Math outcomes in grades K-11, and reading outcomes for grades 9-10. This year the staff will be implementing a new Math curriculum in grades K-5, as well as evaluating the K-11 Science curriculum for improvements to be made in 2011-12. Also, Eastland High School will be implementing a new Learning Lab initiative to increase supplemental instructional opportunities for struggling students, and Eastland Middle School will be increasing the length of instructional time devoted to core reading and math instruction.

Closed Session

The Board adjourned to closed session at 8:11 p.m. to discuss the selection of a person to fill a public office, including a vacancy in a public office, when the District is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the District is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3).

They exited closed session at 8:49 p.m., approved the closed session minutes, and approved a motion to appoint Lorrie Heeren to the vacant Board seat. Lorrie will serve until the April, 2011 election, at which time she will have the option of whether to run for election. Five (5) Eastland Board of Education seats will be up for re-election in April.

The meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m.