Kankakee Times

Donovan Community Unit School District 3 Board met October 25.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

Regular Meeting:

President Schultz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call was taken with six (6) members present; Mr. Munson was absent. Mr. Westrick then introduced the Donovan Elementary Students of the Month. We had two families in attendance. Kimberly Cox and her mom Misty Cox were there to represent first grade. Madelyn Loy and her mom Melisa Loy were there to represent fourth grade. The Board congratulated them on their achievements.

Mr. Westrick then introduced Ms. Lee Gray. She is the new Assistant District Unit Office Secretary. The Board welcomed her to the District.

Next, the Board started with New Business item “A” Presentation of FY 17 Audit by Russell Leigh of Russell Leigh and Associates. Mr. Leigh then gave a summary of the FY 17 Audit. Mr. Schultz thanked him for coming and sharing the report.

Ms. Kendall Boudreau arrived at 6:20 pm and Mr. Westrick then introduced her to the Board. The Board welcomed her to the District.

The Board moved to Board Packet Information. Item “A” was the approval of agenda. Mr. Wisniewski made a motion, seconded by Dr. Miller to approve the agenda. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6). Next was the approval of the Consent Agenda items including: 1) Regular Meeting Minutes of September 27, 2017, Special Board Meeting Minutes of October 11, 2017, and Special Board Meeting Minutes of October 18, 2017. Mrs. Carlson made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Regnier to approve the Consent Agenda items. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6). Item “B” was approval of Accounts Payable. Mrs. Regnier made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Carlson to approve the Accounts Payable. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6). The Board considered student activity fund account reports, there was no comment. Item “E” was FOIA Request. No discussion was needed.

Visitors/ Written Correspondence/Public Participation-

There were eight visitors present; Lee Gray, Assistant District Unit Office Secretary; Kendall Boudreau, Preschool Teacher; Russell Leigh, Russel Leigh & Associates; Melisa Loy, Madelyn Loy, Misty Cox, and Kimberly Cox, Student of the Month Recipients and Families; and Nikki Nicholson, DEA Representative. There was one piece of written correspondence, a thank you card from the Senior Class, an invitation for the Board Members to attend the Dedication Ceremony for the new Milford School. There was no other correspondence to come before the Board.

Donovan Education Association Report-

Ms. Nikki Nicholson was the DEA Representative to give this month’s report. She started her report by sharing that the Kindergarten through 5th grade get to participate in a program called Ag in the Classroom, where Mr. Larry Haigh brings an activity each month to discuss the agriculture with the students. She stated next that the second grade worked on Pumpkin Book Reports, where the students read a book and then got to decorate a pumpkin and make a poster describing the book. Next, the fifth grade students were able to make Pueblo villages and then worked with the third graders discussing them. The third grade reading class all read books and then wrote a narrative describing them. Next, the first graders have been learning about pioneers and doing different activities about the subject. Ms. Nicholson then shared that Elementary staff and students have been able to walk and run over 2,300 miles since the beginning of the year. She also stated that the Elementary has been able to earn $137.50 so far with Box Tops. She then shared that the Elementary and Junior High Speech Contest will be on Friday, October 27th and the state competition will be on Saturday, November 11th. Next, she stated that the Donovan Elementary Staff appreciates being able to go to different conferences. She stated that while she attended the Reading Conference, she has taken the idea of have a Book Challenge, where fifth grade classes in the area work to read 15 books with classmates and then be invited to our school to work on a project with the other classes. She shared that she is just in the beginning stages but is looking forward to it. The Elementary school is having a Fall Carnival on Tuesday, October 31st from 8:30 until 10:30, where the students will get to participate in games around the school. Then, she shared that the Junior High will be participating in Spirit Week on Oct. 30-Nov. 3, with Monday being Pink and Purple day to show awareness for Breast Cancer and Rett Syndrome. Finally, she stated that working with the Chromebooks is going really well in her 5th grade class and she stated that she would like to have an open house for her students’ parents after the New Year to showcase what they’ve learned so far. Mr. Schultz thanked her for her report.

Administrative Reports-

Superintendent Report: Mr. Westrick started his report by sharing that he has contacted St. Anne school about the Ag program and their participation in the program. Next, he stated that Mrs. Pitkin conducted her first formal staff meetings and that they were very informative. He then shared that he will begin working on the Tax Levy very soon. Mr. Westrick then stated that he had his second meeting with Bushue and that he has begun looking into the District utilizing the company. Finally, he shared that the District had their inspection with the IKAN ROE on Tuesday, October 24th and that there were no complaints. Mr. Schultz thanked him for his report.

Principal Report:

Mrs. Pitkin started her report by giving enrollment numbers for both the Elementary and Junior-Senior High Schools. The Elementary School has a total of 118 students and the Junior-Senior High School has a total of 178 students. Of those 296 students, there are 45 students with IEPs and 8 students with 504s. Next, she informed the Board that there will be a field trip to Chicago for the Chicago River Tour and that the transportation has been covered by the Athletic Boosters on November 3rd. Also, there is a field trip on November 13th for 3rd through 5th grade to attend the Kankakee Symphony at Olivet. She then shared that there is one student who received a 32 score on the ACT and that that student is being recruited by Stanford University. Next, she stated that the Junior High is having Spirit Week October 30th through November 3rd. She then stated that the first round of formal evaluations has been started. Mrs. Pitkin then summarized some electives that the students are interested in by grade level. Next, she shared that Keeley Smith has been chosen as Student of the Quarter at the Kankakee Area Career Center for Collision Repair and Kati Goodrich has been chosen for Medical Terminology. She then finished her report by giving a summary of both the Technology and Guidance reports. Mr. Schultz thanked her for her report.

Special Education Report Mrs. Pitkin shared her special education report during her principal report.

Committee Reports-

• Buildings & Grounds: There was a meeting on September 29, 2017 at 9am at the Elementary School. The committee was able to discuss the marquee that will be placed at the front of the Elementary School and the west side fence at the Elementary either being fixed or taken down. Mr. Schultz thanked him for his report.

• Executive Committee: The committee was able to discuss the Superintendent Evaluation at the meeting.

• Policy Committee: There was a meeting before the October Board Meeting. The recommendations will be shared during new business.

Old Business-

In old business, item “A” was Approve donation of refrigerator for HS Science classroom from Bade Appliance. Mrs. Carlson made a motion, seconded by Dr. Miller to approve the donation of the refrigerator for the HS Science Classroom from Bade Appliance. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6).

Item “B” was the discussion of, and possible action on, conference membership for HS Boys’ Basketball team for the 2018-19 school year. Mr. Wisniewski made a motion, seconded by Mr. Schmidt to exit the ECIC Conference. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6).

Item “C” was approve increasing substitute teacher pay to $85 per day. Mr. Wisniewski made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Carlson to approve increasing the substitute pay to $85 per day. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6).

New Business-

Item “B” was Approve purchase of diesel fuel from Heritage FS Inc. Mrs. Carlson made a motion, seconded by Dr. Miller to approve the purchase of diesel fuel from Heritage FS Inc. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6).

Item “C” was discuss, and take appropriate action on, recommendations from the Policy Committee Meeting. Mr. Wisniewski made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Regnier to approve the first reading of the following policies: 1:10, 1:20, 1:20 AP, 1:25, 1:26, 1:28, 1:30, 6:240, 6:240 AP, 7:95, and 7:110 and move them to the second reading. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6).

Item “D” was Executive Session. Mr. Schultz made a motion, seconded by Dr. Miller, to enter executive session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance of specific employees of the District and individual student concerns and student discipline. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6). The Board entered executive session at 7:17 p.m. Regular session resumed at 8:13 p.m.

Mr. Schultz requested a motion to approve the executive session minutes. Mr. Schmidt made a motion, seconded by Dr. Miller, to approve the executive session minutes as presented. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6).

Item “F” was Personnel. Mrs. Carlson made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Regnier to accept the resignation of Cole Nesselrodt as HS Boys’ Basketball Assistant Coach. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6). Mrs. Carlson made a motion, seconded by Dr. Miller to appoint Mr. Daniel Fager as HS Boys’ Basketball Assistant Coach. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6). Mr. Schultz made a motion, seconded by Mr. Wisniewski to appoint David Miller as Volunteer HS Boys’ Basketball Assistant Coach with stipulations. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – Yes (5) Present (Miller). Mr. Wisniewski made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Carlson to appoint Dr. Laura Nelson as Junior High/High School Business Teacher. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – Yes (5) No (Schultz). Mr. Schultz made a motion, seconded by Mr. Schmidt to approve the Superintendent Evaluation Form. The motion was approved on a roll call vote – All Yes (6). Mr. Wisniewski made a motion, seconded by Dr. Miller to approve the transfer of Mr. Milan from long-term sub to Business Paraprofessional. There were no other personnel actions to come before the Board.

“XII” was Other business. After discussion regarding the sports team policy and team member amounts, there was no motion to be made.

President Schultz requested a motion to adjourn. Mrs. Carlson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Wisniewski to adjourn at 8:31 p.m. The motion carried - all in favor – Yes (6).

http://www.donovan.k12.il.us/files/_iQAmW_/ba27bf4fac1950d13745a49013852ec4/BM_Oct_25_2017.pdf