Kankakee Times

Kankakee School District 111 Board of Education met August 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

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 Library at Kankakee High School, 1200 West Jeffery Street, Kankakee, Illinois.

Roll Call:

Members present: Mary Archie (*left at 7:02 pm)

Karen Johnston, Vice President

Joseph Lightfoot

Angela Shea, Secretary

Barbara Wells, President

Darrrell Williams

Members absent: Jess Gathing, Jr. (*entered at 6:08 pm)

A quorum was declared present.

Closed Session:

At 6:00 p.m., motion was made by Johnston, seconded by Archie, to adjourn to the Teachers’ Lounge for closed session to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Roll Call Vote--Ayes: Archie, Johnston, Lightfoot, Shea, Williams, and Wells. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The closed session was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

At 7:07 p.m. the regular session was reconvened.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Barbara Wells, Board President.

Meeting with the Board were:

Dr. Genevra A. Walters, Superintendent

Robert Grossi, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services

Felice Hybert, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum

Dr. Kathleen O’Connor, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources

Vicki Scott, Recording Secretary

News reporter John Dykstra was present from The Daily Journal.

Public Hearing:

At 7:08 p.m., President Wells opened the public hearing for the proposed Resolution approving the Breakfast After the Bell exemption. All ayes. Motion carried.

Robert Grossi, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, stated that at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, there is an Illinois School Breakfast mandate stating that all public schools with at least 70% of students receiving free or reduced lunches must operate a breakfast after the bell program. Breakfast must be provided to children after the instructional day has officially begun.

Pursuant to Section 16 of the Illinois Childhood Hunger Relief Act, the Board of Education is authorized to pass a resolution, following a public hearing, that it cannot afford to operate a breakfast after the bell program. If the District were to implement a Breakfast After the Bell program, it would have two options: shorten the instructional minutes of the school day or extend the hours in a school day in order to satisfy the Breakfast After the Bell mandate. The District cannot afford to do either. Eliminating any instructional minutes during a school day would be detrimental to the students and extending the school day would add a financial burden that the District cannot afford.

Mr. Grossi stated that the District still recognizes the importance of having its students eat breakfast in the morning. Beginning in school year 2017-18, all schools will be serving “Grab and Go” breakfast for the students. It is the recommendation of administration to approve and execute the Resolution of Breakfast After the Bell exemption.

President Wells asked if anyone had any questions about the proposed exemption.

Public Hearing Comments:

There were no written comments received or any public comments made.

At 7:13 p.m., President Wells adjourned the public hearing. All ayes. Motion carried.

At 7:13 p.m., the regular session was reconvened with the following responding to roll call: Gathing, Johnston, Lightfoot, Shea, Williams, and Wells.

Superintendent’s Report:

Good News:

➢ Dr. Walters announced that the Back-to-School Bash was a huge success. It started with an all staff rally at the Depot at 3:00 PM, a Community Walk at 4:00 PM, and the Back-to-School Bash from 5:00-7:30 PM. It was a really good time for the entire community.

➢ Mrs. Wells announced that she had an opportunity to win a contest for the District. The contest asked for testimony about a teacher who made a difference in students’ lives. Mrs. Hamilton, a third grade teacher for Edison, made a huge difference in the life of her nephew, by closing his achievement gap in both reading and math. Mrs. Wells entered Mrs. Hamilton to win free coffee for a year for herself and her fellow teachers at Edison Primary. Everyone at Edison is very excited about receiving free coffee for a year.

➢ Mr. Grossi announced that the District profited $14,000 this year from the golf outing. He said it was a great turnout with over 100 golfers along with more individuals coming to the dinner. This money will be put back into our athletic programs as well as support academic programs like Robotics.

➢ Ms. Scott thanked the Asbury Community Outreach Ministries for partnering with Kankakee School District in the Uniform Exchange Program.

➢ Mr. de Oliveira presented information on the Global Ambassadors travel. He announced that in 2019 the trip will be to Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. He stated that the trip link will open on Wednesday, August 16th, at 9:00 AM and he expects this trip to fill up quickly. Mrs. Shea thanked Mr. de Oliveira for the opportunity to go on the 2017 trip to Greece, Italy, and Spain.

➢ Mr. Grossi said that since last October or November the District began to develop the renovation plan for the high school. They have had meetings with the community, Finance Committee, high school staff, students, and parents. The District was asking, what are the important things to spend this money on and how do we want the high school to operate not only in the next three years but the next 25 years? Mr. Grossi said that we want the spaces to provide flexibility and be able to fit our new way of learning that we want to implement not only at the high school but throughout the district. Mr. Grossi introduced Mr. Ed Wright from DLA Architects and Mr. Dan Petrarca, owners representative from Grilli Construction. Mr. Wright did a presentation on the renovations that will take place at the high school. He stated that approximately 40% of the building will be renovated.

Mr. Wright reviewed the areas to be renovated:

• Outside of the building – main drive and main entrance

• Band room space, practice rooms, and office space

• New culinary lab - restaurant

• New addition in the courtyard space

• Remodeling the theatre area

• Remodeling kitchen and cafeteria

• Expanding the front lobby space

• Creating a fine arts wing

• Rework the academies

• Credit Union space

• Senior lounge area

• Relocating Teachers’ Lounge

• Relocating Assistant Principals and their teams

Mr. Gathing thanked the architects for the great job they’ve done on Phase I, the football field. He stated that it is really beautiful. Mrs. Wells stated that on September 1st the celebration for the field will take place. Mrs. Wells also asked about the bid process for the renovation and Mr. Wright explained the process. Mr. Wright said this work won’t be done in one summer; it is going to take several years to complete. Mrs. Johnston stressed that the parents, students and staff will have to cooperate and understand that the education process will look a little bit different while construction is taking place. Mrs. Wells asked for the people to say good things and stay positive throughout this renovation.

Dr. Walters said her goal before retiring is to finish the high school. She said she will continue to look for additional funds to finish the high school after 2020. Hopefully, before she leaves the District will have a new high school.

Public Comments:

There were no public comments.

Consent Agenda:

The following items were presented:

➢ The following Board minutes were presented for approval:

o Regular Meeting ~ July 10, 2017 (Regular & Closed Session)

o Special Board Meeting ~ July 27, 2017 (Regular Session)

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

➢ The Payroll and Related Bills were presented for approval. (See Insert B.)

➢ The Resolution for Serious Safety Hazard Findings was presented for approval. (See Insert C.)

➢ The Applications for Use of Temporary Facilities were presented for approval.

➢ The KHS Trip Request to Austria, Germany, and Switzerland was presented for approval.

➢ The Board Members Reimbursements were presented for approval.

Motion was made by Gathing, seconded by Johnston, to approve the above listed Consent Agenda items as presented. Roll Call Vote--Ayes: Gathing, Johnston, Lightfoot, Shea, Williams, and Wells. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Action Item:

1. Resolution of Breakfast After the Bell Exemption (See Insert D.)

Motion was made by Johnston, seconded by Gathing, to approve the Resolution of Breakfast After the Bell Exemption as presented. Roll Call Vote--Ayes: Johnston, Lightfoot, Shea, Williams, Gathing, and Wells. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Old Business:

There was no old business discussed.

Information and Proposals:

1. Personnel Transfers

Name; Transferred To; Date:

Transfers (Licensed Educational Professionals)

Cassady Lancaster 5th Grade Dual Language at King August 14, 2017

Maria Spargur 2nd Grade Dual Language at Mark Twain August 14, 2017

Tracy Toepher Choir/Piano at KJHS/KHS August 14, 2017

Transfer (Support Personnel)

Alejandra Perez Dual Language Paraprofessional at Mark Twain August 14, 2017

2. Policy Manual Changes (1st Reading)

3. Board Committee Meeting Minutes

4. Opening of School Activities – Letter to Staff Members

5. Response to Freedom of Information Act Request

6. State and Federal Revenue Report

7. Budget Update

At 7:52 p.m. motion was made by Johnston, seconded by Gathing, to adjourn the meeting. All ayes; motion carried.

https://www.ksd111.org/cms/lib/IL01904746/Centricity/Domain/68/August15.17.pdf