Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 Board of Education met July 28.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, Lake County, Illinois, met in Regular Session in the ZBTHS South Cafeteria, One Z-B Way, 3901 W. 21st Street, Zion, Illinois, commencing at 7:00 p.m.
Board President Nordstrom presided.
ROLL CALL
Members present: President Nordstrom, Vice President Nieto (Zoom), Secretary Roberts (Zoom), Member Leech (Zoom), Member Richards (Zoom), and Member Stephen, and Member White (Zoom).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AGENDA AMENDMENTS
President Nordstrom asked Dr. Rodriguez if there were any amendments to the agenda. Dr. Rodriguez indicated the following personnel approval item had come in since the agenda packet went out and needed to be added under Personnel Approvals Item 15:
Employment: Maria Danos (Special Education Teacher).
COMMUNICATIONS FROM STAFF, GUESTS, AND DISTRICT RESIDENTS
Kathy Champine stated that she thinks the Board’s decision to go forward with an Interactive Remote Learning Plan was a good decision and that the plan looks excellent. Ms. Champine then referenced Dr. Rodriguez’s employment contract noting that per the terms of contract, Dr. Rodriguez is to develop and present to the Board a list of his stated goals and performance objectives. Ms. Champine asked Dr. Rodriguez if he is willing to make these performance objectives and goals public.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Member Richards, seconded by Vice President Nieto to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 7-0. Included in the Amended Consent Agenda are the following:
• Minutes from the Regular Meeting of June 23, 2020;
• Minutes from the Special Meeting of June 30, 2020;
• Minutes from the Special Meeting of July 21, 2020;
• Activity Report – June 2020, EXHIBIT “A”;
• Bills Paid Report – June and July 2020, EXHIBIT “B”;
• Bills Payable Report – July 2020, EXHIBIT “C”;
• School Treasurer’s Report – June 2020, EXHIBIT “D”;
• Revenue & Expenditure Report – June 2020, EXHIBIT “E”;
• Disposal Requests, EXHIBIT “F”;
• FOIA Requests, EXHIBIT “G”;
• NJROTC Overnight Field Trips, EXHIBIT “H”;
• Textbook Adoption Request, EXHIBIT “I”; and
• Destruction of Closed Session Recordings – July 26, 2018.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Rodriguez reported on the following:
• The Interactive Remote Learning Plan that was approved at the July 21st Special Meeting has been received with a lot of positive feedback from the community members as well as surrounding districts.
• Based on feedback from the community, parents, Board members, and staff updates have been made to the plan.
• Dr. DiGangi went over the revised plan. Most notably, the Interactive Remote Learning Plan now includes synchronous instruction on Fridays.
• All teachers will be expected to be in the building twice per week for office hours and Administration has drafted an outline of all roles and responsibilities for every employee group in the District.
• Calendar of Activities. (EXHIBIT “J”, Calendar of Activities, is included and made a part of these minutes.)
• The next Regular Board of Education Meeting is on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. at ZBTHS.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS
2019-20 Year End Financial Report
Dr. Wilkinson’s report included the following:
• The District experienced an overall favorable year-end budget due to additional funding received from the State of Illinois as well as the timing of construction payouts budgeted in the Capital Project Fund. Those construction related expenditures will be realized in the FY21 budget.
• The District received 99.08% of budgeted revenues.
• Expenditures were 95.69% of budgeted expenditures.
• The District received additional state revenue from the new Evidence Based Funding formula that allocates funds to inadequately funded schools.
Dr. Rodriguez expressed his appreciation of the fiscal responsibility that the District has maintained over the years. He noted that this has allowed the District the opportunity to invest in the Natatorium project without a referendum.
Member Roberts stated that she wants to make sure that the Natatorium project is promoted more to the community.
Member Leech added that the Board has been stressing for some time the need for the District to bring in a Communications position. She suggested that Board discuss this again.
(EXHIBIT “K”, FY20 Budget to Actual – All Funds, is included and made a part of these minutes.)
Principals’ Report
Zion-Benton Township High School
Dr. Pawelczyk reported on the following:
• Summer Programming is on-going with students recovering credits through APEX and students taking driver education.
• Summer Professional Development has been very successful and has been done virtually. Some PD will begin in-person as the start of school nears. New Teacher Academy will be in-person and all of the safety/social distancing protocols will be practiced.
• Preparations are underway for the 2020-21 school year with the finalization of curriculum projects, new teacher on-boarding, and the finalization of the details and logistics of the Interactive Remote Learning Plan.
(EXHIBIT “L”, Zion-Benton Township High School Board of Education Report, is included and made a part of these minutes.)
New Tech High @ Zion-Benton East
On behalf of Principal Kubic, Principal Pawelczyk reported on the following:
• Traffic at the New Tech campus has been limited but productive with diploma distribution, yearbook pick up, and cleaning by maintenance staff.
• Education opportunities continue for New Tech Staff with several staff members participating in the New Tech Annual Conference as well as articulation meetings and District-wide professional learning opportunities.
• Education opportunities continue for New Tech students through Dual Credit, credit recovery, and the Junior Zion-Benton Leadership Academy.
• Preparations continue for the next school year. Several staff members are working on curriculum projects, updating curricula, and finalizing plans for the Earned Honors program.
• Mr. Kubic and Ms. Felske are working regularly with other administrators on the reopening plan for school.
Member Roberts asked if the District has been having football practice.
Dr. Pawelczyk responded that yes, the District is currently having practice and adhering to all guidelines that have been put forth to this point. Dr. Rodriguez added that a final decision regarding athletics by IHSA will be made in the coming days.
(EXHIBIT “M”, New Tech High @ Zion-Benton East Board of Education Report, is included and made a part of these minutes.
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
Business/Bid/Finance Committee
President Nordstrom reported that the Business/Bid/Finance Committee met and reviewed a number of items. Highlights include: 2019-20 year-end financial report, school board resolution to regulate expense reimbursements, natatorium project construction bids, assignment of natatorium construction bids to Camosy Construction, and the Illinois Community Eligibility Provision. Many of the items discussed will be further explained by Dr. Wilkinson under New Business as action items.
Policy Committee
Final Reading and Adoption of Recommended Policy Changes:
A motion was made by Secretary Roberts, seconded by Member Stephen to approve the final reading and adopt the following revised policies:
Section 5 – Personnel
5:10 – General Personnel – Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment
5:20 – General Personnel – Workplace Harassment Prohibited
5:30 – General Personnel – Hiring Process and Criteria
5:35 – General Personnel – Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act
5:40 – General Personnel – Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease
5:50 – General Personnel – Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace; E-Cigarette, Tobacco, and Cannabis Prohibition
5:60 – General Personnel – Expenses
5:70 – General Personnel – Religious Holidays
5:80 – General Personnel – Court Duty
5:90 – General Personnel – Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
5:100 – General Personnel – Staff Development Program
5:120 – General Personnel – Employee Ethics; Conduct; and Conflict of Interest
5:130 – General Personnel – Responsibilities Concerning Internal Information
5:150 – General Personnel – Personnel Records
5:180 – General Personnel – Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity
5:185 – General Personnel – Family and Medical Leave
5:190 – Professional Personnel – Teacher Qualifications
5:200 – Professional Personnel – Terms and Conditions of Employment and Dismissal
5:220 – Professional Personnel – Substitute Teachers
5:230 – Professional Personnel – Maintaining Student Discipline
5:240 – Professional Personnel – Suspension
5:250 – Professional Personnel – Leaves of Absence
5:260 – Professional Personnel – Student Teachers
5:270 – Educational Support Personnel – Employment At-Will, Compensation, and Assignment
5:280 – Educational Support Personnel – Duties and Qualifications
5:285 – Educational Support Personnel – Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus and Commercial Vehicle Drivers
5:290 – Educational Support Personnel – Employment Termination and Suspensions
5:300 – Educational Support Personnel – Schedules and Employment Year
5:310 – Educational Support Personnel – Compensatory Time-Off
5:330 – Educational Support Personnel – Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves
Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 7-0. (EXHIBIT “N”, Final Reading and Adoption – Board Policy Revisions, is included and made a part of these minutes.)
RECESS
No recess was taken.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion to Ratify Publication of Public Hearing Notice for the Purpose of Approving the 2020-21 Budget at the Regular September 22, 2020 Board of Education Meeting
A motion was made by Member Stephen, seconded by Member White to ratify the publication of public hearing notice for the purpose of approving the 2020-21 Budget at the September 22, 2020 Board of Education Meeting. Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 7-0. (EXHIBIT “O”, Notice of Public Hearing, is included and made a part of these minutes.)
School Board Resolution to Regulate Expense Reimbursements
A motion was made by Member White, seconded by Vice President Nieto to approve the Resolution to Regulate Expense Reimbursements for 2020-21, which is an annual requirement. Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 7-0. (EXHIBIT “P”, Resolution to Regulate Expense Reimbursements.)
Approval and Awarding of Natatorium Project and Construction Bids
A motion was made by Member Stephen, seconded by Vice President Nieto to waive any technicalities in the bidding and award trade bids to the lowest possible bidders as listed and submitted on the Natatorium project contractor’s report, totaling $1,919,550. Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 6-1. (Member Richards voted no.) (EXHIBIT “Q”, Natatorium Bid Awards, is included and made a part of these minutes.)
Approval of Assignment of Natatorium Project Construction Bids to Camosy Construction as Construction Manager
A motion was made by Vice President Nieto, seconded by Member White to assign the bids awarded for the Natatorium trade work, as listed on the contractor report dated 06/25/2020 and 07/15/2020, in the amount of $1,919,550 to Camosy Construction as the District’s construction manager for the Natatorium Project. Member Richards asked how the construction manager was selected and whether or not any other construction companies put forth any interest in the project. Dr. Wilkinson stated that Camosy Construction is the construction manager that was put in place when the project initially began as a renovation to the pool. Member Richards expressed her concern that Camosy Construction has been the construction manager for so many of the District projects.
President Nordstrom and Dr. Wilkinson both stated that as the District moves forward with different capital plans, the Board can explore using other companies for the purpose of construction manager. Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 5-2 (Member Leech and Member Richards voted no). (EXHIBIT “R”, Natatorium Bid Award Assignments 06/25/2020 and 07/15/2020, is included and made a part of these minutes.)
OLD BUSINESS
Capital Improvements Updates
Dr. Wilkinson updated the Board on the District’s capital projects. Highlights included the following:
• The Kenosha road parking lot entrance has been repaved, widened, and restriped.
• There has been extensive work done to repair the sidewalks and curbs around the school.
• There has been updates to ceiling tile, grid replacements, and lighting to match areas of PAC to the rest of the building.
• Camosy Construction will begin construction on the natatorium in the next several days.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
CLOSED SESSION
A motion was made by Vice President Nieto, seconded by Member Stephen to adjourn to closed session at 7:50 p.m. for consideration of appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific personnel, collective bargaining matters, and security procedures to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property. (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1,2,8)). Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members voting 7-0.
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION
A motion was made by Member Richards, seconded by Member Vice President Nieto to return to open session at 8:18 p.m. Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 7-0.
PERSONNEL APPROVALS
A motion was made by Vice President Nieto, seconded by Member Stephen to approve the personnel approvals as amended. Motion was approved by a roll call vote of members present voting 7-0. Included in the amended personnel approvals were:
Appointments:
Mondragon, Dalila (District Personnel Specialist).
Employments:
Avery, Derek (ZBTHS Math Teacher),
Danos, Maria (Special Education Teacher).
Resignations:
Balika, Benjamin (NT Environmental Science Teacher), Pelli, Jody (ZBTHS Special Education Teacher).
2020-21 Coaches
EXHIBIT “S”, Monthly Personnel Report as amended, is included and made a part of these minutes.
ADJOURNMENT
https://www.zbths.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=1159&dataid=6664&FileName=MNJuly2820R.pdf
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