Kankakee Times

The Kankakee School District 111 Board of Education met Oct. 24 to recognize educators.

Here is the meeting's agenda, as provided by the board:

KANKAKEE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 111

BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES

October 24, 2016

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

Illinois, was held at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at Lincoln Cultural Center, 240 Warren Avenue, Kankakee,

Illinois.

ROLL CALL

Members present: John Coghlan

Jess Gathing, Jr.

Karen Johnston, President

Angela Shea

Barbara Wells, Secretary

Members absent: Amelia Davis, Vice President

Joseph Lightfoot

A quorum was declared present.

Closed Session

At 6:01 p.m., motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Coghlan, to adjourn to closed session to discuss

appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the

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

Motion carried.

The closed session was adjourned at 6:44 p.m.

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

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by students from Montessori. In honor of Hispanic Heritage month, the

students recited the pledge in both Spanish and English. The students sang Montessori’s theme song,

“Peace Song” in both Spanish and English. The performance concluded with students performing a song

on the piano, “Walk Like a Mummy” using the Quaver method, a computer-based program.

Meeting with the Board were:

Dr. Genevra A. Walters, Superintendent

Vicki Scott, Recording Secretary

There were no news media reporters present.

Superintendent’s Report

Dr. Walters reported the following information:

1. Good News

School Event Explanation

Edison

Steuben

Montessori

Best Practice

Contest

• Holly Schafroth, Jill Rodgers and Deborah Adams were chosen as

winners in the 2015-16 Iroquois-Kankakee Regional Office of

Education, Pledge for Life Partnership, and Life Education Center’s

“Best Practice Contest.”

The “Best Practice Contest” recognized educators who developed

projects to reinforce their curriculum. Holly’s 1st place entry titled

“Teach What You Have Learned” was awarded $100.00, Jill’s 2nd

place entry titled “What Food Group” was awarded $50.00, and

Deborah’s 3rd place entry titled “Vegetable Garden” was awarded

$25.00.

Roll Call

Closed

Session

Reconvene

Pledge

Superintendent’s

Report

Good News

Board of Education Minutes-October 24, 2016 (continued) (page 2 of 4)

Edison

Donation

Drone

• Edison School is happy to be the recipient of Blessings in a Back

Pack for eight Edison students. The program provides a back

pack full of food for the students on the weekend.

• During the homecoming parade, Marcus Bulge and Nicholas Gene,

two second grade students from Mrs. Sykes technology magnet

class took aerial videos and photos using the drone. They were

able to share the homecoming parade with their classmates who

were back at school.

Mark Twain Spirit Day • Mark Twain staff and students held a spirit day and raised $160 to

Whip Pediatric Cancer.

Kennedy “Adopt a

Class”

• Each year, the New Jerusalem Seventh-Day Adventist Church

accepts nominations for teachers and classrooms that exhibit

passion for teaching and learning. This year, Mr. Paul Galassi’s

6th grade class at Kennedy was selected as the church’s “Adopt a

Class” initiative. They will receive a classroom party as well as

$100 to purchase items for the classroom. Congratulations, Mr.

Galassi and students.

2. Kankakee Fire Department

? Dr. Walters introduced Captain Mike Casagrande from the Kankakee Fire Department who

presented a “Safe School” traveling trophy to Montessori/Fine Arts School. Congratulations

to Montessori for receiving this award. This school showed the most improvement of all the

schools in Kankakee. Captain Casagrande also reported that the first, second, and third

grade students are also involved in a new program, Sparky’s To Do List. The students bring

the fire safety information home, share it with their family, and bring it back. If the whole

class brings them back, the Fire Department will give them a pizza party. This program was

introduced because of the loss of some children in fires in Kankakee.

Principal’s Report – Ms. Deb Dilks, Montessori/Fine Arts School Principal

Ms. Dilks thanked everyone for the support of their school and the staff for their continued effort to help

everyone be the best they can be. This public Montessori School continues to be something the district

should celebrate and be proud of. Ms. Dilks said that they embrace the addition of the K-3 Fine Arts

program to their school. Both programs are sharing ideas and approaches to improve student learning. Ms.

Dilks stated that Dr. Walters has led their school and the district in a focused approach with goals. With her

leadership, Ms. Dilks feels like for the first time, everyone is on the same page with concentrating on student

learning and using data to drive our instruction.

Ms. Dilks reviewed the Montessori-Fine Arts school improvement plan which mirrors Dr. Walters goals.

District Goal 1: KSD 111 will further develop and implement multi-tiered systems of support for all students

for a productive future beyond high school. She introduced student Dajon Casiel to speak on how support

groups helped him gain confidence and succeed in both reading and math. He also announced that this is

the last time for Ms. Dilks to host the Board Meeting, so the students and staff would like to thank her for all

her years of service.

District Goal 2: KSD 111 will build a positive public perception through consistent communication to all

stakeholders regarding the District’s work with teachers, parents, students and community members on

conflict resolution, safety, health and well-being. Ms. Dilks introduced Angela Anders and Diane

Richardson to speak on the new Business Education elective which will give the students a wide variety of

opportunities to learn about the business field. They are starting with a school store, school newspaper, and

google gurus helping the 2nd – 6th grade teachers with the chrome book rollout. Ms. Dilks stated that there

are many opportunities for school connections through the following: boys’ intramurals after school, girls’

intramurals (volleyball/cheer squad) after school, chess club during lunch hours, drama club-2nd semester,

summer garden club, and junior high volunteer classroom helpers.

District Goal 3: KSD 111 will develop an effective system of communication including roles and

Principal’s Report

Board of Education Minutes-October 24, 2016 (continued) (page 3 of 4)

responsibilities, expectations and procedures that will support, encourage and retain effective leaders.

Ms. Dilks reviewed Montessori’s PARCC comparisons and AimsWeb data. Ms. Dilks said she is celebrating

the growth that Montessoi made last year.

She concluded her presentation by introducing her staff.

Public Comments

• No public comments were made.

Consent Agenda

The following items were presented:

1. The Board minutes of the following meeting were presented for approval:

• October 11, 2016-Regular Meeting (Regular & Executive Session Minutes)

2. The Policy Manual Changes (2nd Reading) were presented for approval.

3. The following personnel items were presented for approval:

Name Position Effective Date

Resignation – Support Personnel

Antoinette Eldridge Head Start Teacher Assistant at Proegler October 21, 2016

Appointment - Support Personnel

Renee Whitehouse Human Resources Coordinator November 7, 2016

Appointments – Extra-Curricular Personnel

Malik Temple Drumline at KHS October 24, 2016

Malik Temple Asst. Marching Band at KHS October 24, 2016

Malik Temple Jazz Bank Director at KHS October 24, 2016

Heriberto Zavala Asst. Girl’s Soccer at KHS October 24, 2016

Lisa Walker Scholastic Bowl Coach at KJHS October 24, 2016

Seneca Stevenson Freshman Class Sponsor at KHS October 24, 2016

Christine Williams Girl’s Basketball Asst. at KHS October 24, 2016

Kenneth Thomas Boys’ Basketball – 7th at KJHS October 24, 2016

Tewaine Wicks Boys’ Basketball Asst. at KHS October 24, 2016

Motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Shea, to approve the above listed consent agenda items as

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

carried.

Audit Report for 2015-2016

Carmen Huizenga, auditor from Smith, Koelling, Dykstra and Ohm (our independent auditors), presented the

audit report. Ms. Huizenga thanked the Board for allowing Smith, Koelling, Dykstra and Ohm the opportunity

to perform the District’s audit. Ms. Huizenga briefly reviewed the Annual Financial Report that was received

by the Board.

Motion was made by Coghlan, seconded by Gathing, to approve the Audit Report for 2015-2016 as

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

carried.

Owner’s Representative

Motion was made by Coghlan, seconded by Gathing, to approve the Owner’s Representative as presented.

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

Old Business

No old business was discussed.

Public Comments

Consent Agenda

Board Minutes

Policy Changes

Personnel Items

Resignations

Appointments

Audit Report

Owner’s

Representative

Old

Business

Board of Education Minutes-October 24, 2016 (continued) (page 4 of 4)

Information and Proposals

The following items were provided for information:

1. FOIA Request

2. Head Start Policy Council Information

3. Board Committee Minutes

? Curriculum Committee Meeting – April 13, 2016

? Policy Committee Meeting – May 17, 2016

Dr. Walters introduced Mr. Dan Petrarca from Grilli Construction Inc., as our owner’s representative. Mr.

Petrarca said he was happy to be here and said he looks forward to working with everyone.

Closed Session

At 7:52 PM, President Johnston asked for a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss appointment,

employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body.

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

President Johnston announced that there will be no action taken after closed session.

The closed session was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

At 8:21 p.m. the regular session was reconvened.

At 8:22 p.m. motion was made by Shea, seconded by Coghlan, to adjourn the meeting. All ayes; motion

carried.

SIGNED: ______________________________________

Karen Johnston, President

ATTEST: ______________________________________

Barbara A. Wells, Secretary

vs

Approved: November 14, 2016

Information

FOIA

Head Start

Committee Minutes

Introduction

Closed

Session

Adjourn

Reconvene

Adjourn