Kankakee Times

The Kankakee School District No. 111 board of education gathered for a regular meeting Monday, April 11.

The Kankakee School District board of education is composed of seven elected members, each of whom are dedicated to ensuring a high-quality educational experience for local students. 

Board members are elected to four-year terms; no salary is issued for their services. Members may seek reelection for any number of terms.

Here are the meeting minutes as provided by the Kankakee School District No. 111 board of education:

KANKAKEE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 111 BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES

April 11, 2016

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Kankakee School District No. 111, Kankakee County,

Illinois, was held at 5:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria at Kankakee Junior High School, 2250 East Crestwood

Street, Kankakee, Illinois.

ROLL CALL

Members present: Amelia Davis, Vice President

Jess Gathing, Jr.

Karen Johnston, President

Angela Shea

Barbara A. Wells, Secretary

Members absent: John Coghlan (*entered at 6:40 PM)

Joseph Lightfoot

A quorum was declared present.

Closed Session

At 5:33 p.m., motion was made by Wells, seconded by Gathing, to adjourn to the Library for closed

session to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of

specific employees of the public body and negotiations. ROLL CALL VOTE--Ayes: Davis, Gathing,

Shea, Wells, and Johnston. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The closed session was adjourned at 6:33 p.m.

At 7:00 p.m. the regular session was reconvened.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by students from the Kankakee Junior High School Beta Club.

Meeting with the Board were:

Dr. Genevra A. Walters, Superintendent

Robert Grossi, Director of Business Services

Vicki Scott, Recording Secretary

News reporter, Mr. John Dykstra, was present from The Daily Journal.

Superintendent’s Report

? Good News

School Event Explanation

Kennedy Grant

• Jamie Kotovsky, music teacher at Kennedy, received a grant

from DonorsChoose.org to purchase 20 soprano ukulele gig

bags at $15.89 each. Mrs. Kotovsky titled her grant “Homeless

Ukuleles need Homes.” The ukulele bags will hold the ukuleles

that Mrs. Kotovsky received earlier in the school year through a

DonorsChoose.org grant. Kennedy appreciates Mrs. Kotovksy’s

continued quest for materials to enhance the music program.

KJHS

Orchestra

IESA Solo and

Ensemble Contest

• On Saturday, April 2nd, nine members of the KJHS Orchestra

traveled to Dwight for the IESA Solo and Ensemble Contest. All

of the soloists received a first place rating.

o LeVante Davenport, violin solo – I (LCC)

Roll

Call

Closed

Session

Reconvene

Pledge

Superintendent’s

Report

Good News

Board of Education Minutes-April 11, 2016 (continued) (page 2 of 5)

o Alaiya Jackson, violin solo – I (KJHS)

o Sam Love, violin solo and piano solo – I (LCC)

o Valeria Santana, violin solo – I (KJHS)

o KeMia Smith, viola solo – I (KJHS)

o Micah Thomas, viola solo – I (LCC)

o Jaden Turner, viola solo – I (KJHS)

o Cameron Vinson, cello solo – I (LCC)

o Jakir Wills, viola solo – I (KJHS)

Two students also received “Best of the Day” for string solo and

piano solo.

o Samuel Love, piano solo, Sonatina in C – Vivace

o Cameron Vinson, string solo – Minuet

King/

Montessori

Choir

IESA Music

Competition

• On Saturday, April 2nd, members of the King/Montessori choir

went to the IESA music competition. Brianna Butler, a fifth grade

student in Mrs. Selock’s class at King, received “Best of the Day”

recognition for her vocal performance. The students listed below

received either a 1st or 2nd place rating.

o King 1st Place

 Trinity Baines – 5th grade

 Brianna Butler – 5th grade

 Kennashia Chandler – 5th grade

 Sade Lagesse – 6th grade

 Ariana Mathias – 5th grade

 Margaret Mulcahy – 5th grade

o 2nd Place

 Yarizza Pina

o Montessori 1st Place

 Lily Cantrell – 7th grade

 Janiya Sherman – 5th grade

 Addie Young – 7th grade

Dr. Walters introduced Alex Palacios, a senior from Kankakee High School, who will be honored on

Friday as the Youth Volunteer of the Year. This award is sponsored by the Community Foundation,

Pledge for Life Partnership and the United Way.

Principal’s Report – Chuck Hensley, Principal of Kankakee Junior High School

Mr. Hensley’s report was titled “Good Things are Happening!” He started by introducing his staff

because he stated that if it wasn’t for his staff, all the successes wouldn’t be possible. He then

introduced four students, Karina Calderon, Sergio Pena Pacheco, Kayla Jonae Williams, and Marlesia

Walker. Karina spoke on behalf of the Beta Club, Sergio spoke on Student Council, Kayla addressed the

PBIS and MTSS work, and Marlesia reported on the library and technology student helpers.

Mr. Hensley introduced Lynda Cohagan, Library Information Specialist, to give the junior high school

data report. She has taught students how to read, interpret, and understand data along with the help

of their classroom teachers. She reviewed Performance Series and AimsWeb data. She showed

graphs that indicated that KJHS is really making some good progress.

Public Comments – There were no public comments made.

Consent Agenda

The following items were presented:

1. The following Board minutes were presented for approval:

 March 17, 2016-Special Meeting (Regular & Executive Session Minutes)

 March 29, 2016-Regular Meeting (Regular & Executive Session Minutes)

Principal’s

Report

Public

Comments

Consent

Agenda

Board

Minutes

Board of Education Minutes-April 11, 2016 (continued) (page 3 of 5)

2. The Regular Bills were presented for approval. (See Insert A.)

3. The Payroll & Related Bills were presented for approval. (See Insert B.)

4. The contract with ATI Physical Therapy was presented for approval.

5. The E-Rate Funding was presented for approval.

6. The Rewards Program with BSN Sports and Under Armour was presented for approval.

7. The Head Start Policy Council documents were presented for approval.

8. The KHS Overnight Trip Request was presented for approval.

9. The following personnel items were presented for approval:

Name Position Effective Date

Resignations/Retirements – Support Personnel

Diane Grebner LPN at LCC/Student Support Services End of 2015-2016 School Year

Don Glenzinski Carpenter at LCC/Maintenance Department June 30, 2016

Deisi Guzman Parapro/Bilingual at Steuben April 5, 2016

Noelle Barney Teacher Assistant/Head Start at Proegler May 31, 2016

Appointment – Certified Personnel

Viodelda Judkins Dual Language Teacher at TBD 2016-2017 School Year

Appointment – Support Personnel

Corey Zych Network Systems Manager at LCC/Technology March 30, 2016

Appointments – Extra-Curricular Personnel

Rebekah Ruettiger Softball, Assistant Coach at KHS April 11, 2016

Hilary McDaniel Girls on the Run at KHS April 11, 2016

President Johnston asked if there was any discussion needed on any of the consent agenda items and

hearing none, she asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Motion was made by Shea, seconded by Gathing, to approve the above listed Consent Agenda items as

amended. ROLL CALL VOTE--Ayes: Coghlan, Davis, Gathing, Shea, Wells, and Johnston. Nays:

none. Motion carried.

Action Items

1. Implementation of Fees for Athletics and Extra-Curricular Activities

President Johnston asked if there was any discussion and hearing none, she asked for a motion to

approve the implementation of fees for athletics and extra-curricular activities.

Motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Coghlan, to approve the implementation of fees for athletics

and extra-curricular activities as presented.

ROLL CALL VOTE--Ayes: Davis, Gathing, Shea, Wells, Coghlan, and Johnston. Nays: none. Motion

carried.

2. Resolution for Honorable Dismissal of Food Service Employees

The Resolution authorizing the honorable dismissal of Food Service Employees was presented

for approval. (See Insert C.)

Melissa Pommier

Tyisha Williams

Melinda Velasco

President Johnston asked if there was any discussion and hearing none, she asked for a motion to

approve the Resolution for honorable dismissal of Food Service Employees.

Motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Shea, to approve the Resolution for honorable dismissal of

Food Service Employees as presented.

Bills

ATI Physical Therapy

E-Rate Funding

Rewards Program

Head Start

Trip Request

Personnel

Resignations/

Retirements

Appointments

Athletic/Activities

Fees

Honorable

Dismissals

Board of Education Minutes-April 11, 2016 (continued) (page 4 of 5)

ROLL CALL VOTE--Ayes: Gathing, Shea, Wells, Coghlan, Davis, and Johnston. Nays: none. Motion

carried.

3. Resolution Authorizing and Providing for an Installment Purchase Agreement for the

Purpose of Improving School Buildings for the District and for the Issue of Not to

Exceed $10,200,000 Debt Certificates, Series 2016, Evidencing the Rights to Payment

Under said Agreement, Prescribing the Details of the Agreement and Certificates,

Providing for the Payment of the Certificates and Authorizing the Sale of said

Certificates to the Purchaser Thereof (See Insert D.)

Secretary, Barbara Wells, read the following statement:

Resolution authorizing and providing for an Installment Purchase Agreement for the

purpose of improving school buildings in and for The Kankakee School District, No. 111,

Kankakee County, Illinois, and for the issue of not to exceed $10,200,000 Debt

Certificates, Series 2016, of said School District evidencing the rights to payment

Under said Agreement, prescribing the details of the Agreement and Certificates,

And providing for the security for and means of payment under said Agreement of

Said Certificates, and authorizing the proposed sale of said Certificates to the

Purchaser thereof.

President Johnston asked if there was any discussion and hearing none, she asked for a motion.

Motion was made by Coghlan, seconded by Gathing, to approve the Resolution authorizing and

providing for an installment Purchase Agreement for the purpose of improving school buildings for the

District and for the issue of not to exceed $10,200,000 debt certificates, Series 2016, evidencing the

rights to payment under said agreement, prescribing the details of the agreement and certificates,

providing for the payment of the certificates and authorizing the sale of said certificates to the purchaser

thereof as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE—Ayes: Shea, Wells, Coghlan, Davis, Gathing, and Johnston.

Nays: none. Motion carried.

4. Resolution Authorizing Performance Based Superintendent’s Contract Between the

Board of Education and Dr. Genevra A. Walters (See Insert E.)

Motion was made by Coghlan, seconded by Wells, to approve the Resolution authorizing Performance

Based Superintendent’s Contract between the Board of Education and Dr. Genevra A. Walters as

presented.

ROLL CALL VOTE--Ayes: Shea, Wells, Coghlan, Gathing, and Johnston. Abstained: Davis. Nays:

none. Motion carried.

Old Business

There was no old business discussed.

Information and Proposals

The following items were provided for information:

1. Transfers (Certified & Support Personnel)

Name Transferred To Effective Date

Certified Personnel

Brian Mathis Special Ed Teacher Self-Contained at KHS April 1, 2016

Support Personnel

Maria Salcedo Paraprofessional at King April 4, 2016

Sunceray Crawford Floating Paraprofessional April 4, 2016

Angela Parks Paraprofessional at KHS April 4, 2016

Resolution

Old

Business

Information

Policy Changes

Committee Meeting

Financial Profile

Summer Nutrition

Program

Wellness Walk

Holiday Tournament

Head Start

FOIA Requests

Financial

Staff Absence Report

Board of Education Minutes-April 11, 2016 (continued) (page 5 of 5)

Name Transferred To Effective Date

Karen Anderson Principal’s Secretary at KHS July 1, 2016

2. Financial Profile Score

3. Head Start Policy Council

4. Freedom of Information Act – Requests for Information

5. Budget Update

6. State and Federal Revenue Report

7. Staff Absence Report

Dr. Walters announced that there will be a golf outing on April 22nd at the Kankakee Country Club. She

stated that the funds raised will go into a future Foundation and the funds will be used to support

students and student needs.

At 7:37 p.m. motion was made by Wells, seconded by Shea, to adjourn the meeting. All ayes; motion

carried.

SIGNED: ______________________________________

Karen Johnston, Board President

ATTEST: ______________________________________

Barbara A. Wells, Board Secretary

vs

Approved: May 9, 2016

Adjourn