District Goals Top the Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD #399 Agenda

The Chadwick-Milledgeville School Board met Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in the Milledgeville High School Library.

After approval of all consensus items, the Board heard Public Comments.

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) President Sarah Leif, along with fellow chapter members Sam Schmidt and Elivia Medina, presented safety initiatives promoted by the group. The SADD group is encouraging students not to text while driving and they are distributing automotive emergency kits to each student that receives their license at the high school.

Thank you to Linn Morgan for his donation of $100 to the sophomore class, and a thank you was received from Mrs. Schopf.

District goals

Under Old Business, the Board approved the 2013-14 District Goals:

Goal 1: Student Achievement

Student achievement is at the core of all of our district goals. We believe that students succeed best in an exciting and challenging environment where they are actively engaged in the learning process.

Objective A: Develop and implement a program intended to foster academic growth.

Objective B:  Develop a district-wide system of assessments and interventions to meet the academic needs of underperforming students through implementation of our district wide RtI (Response to Intervention) program.

Objective C: Improve existing technology and infrastructure in order to implement a 1:1 computer initiative at the 9-12th grade level during the 2013-14 school year.

Goal 2: Highly Qualified And Dedicated Employees

We value, respect, and support our highly qualified and dedicated staff of classified, certificated, and administrative employees who are committed along with the board to academic achievement for all students.

Objective A:  Recruit the best and brightest candidates for all positions. In addition, insure that all candidates hired are highly qualified and meet all state and federal requirements.

Objective B: Encourage and facilitate continued professional learning especially in the area of technology in order to achieve improved instructional effectiveness and student engagement.

Objective C: Implement a performance based teacher evaluation model and system.

Goal 3: Responsible Financial Practices

In a dynamic financial environment, the district will continue to ensure students’ academic success.  The district will maintain fiscal solvency while at the same time making support of critical educational programs our top priority.

Objective A: Adopt and maintain a balanced budget.

Objective B: Target the development of a fund balance substantial enough to weather difficult financial times.

Objective C: Receive an annual audit with no substantive material findings.

Objective D: Utilize available bond revenue financing options to enhance the safety and quality of our facilities without increasing the local tax rate.

New business

The Board then approved a resolution to waive two holidays during the 2013-14 School Year; Waive Lincoln’s Birthday Wednesday, February 12, 2014-regular student attendance day; Waive Casimir Pulaski Day Monday, March 3, 2014-regular student attendance day.

Superintendent Schurman noted that the proposed calendar mirrors WACC and Eastland. We will start August 19, 2013 and finish May 29 unless we incur snow days which will be added to the end of the year.

Approved the 2012-13 Teacher Performance Rating RIF List. This is the second year of this new rating system and it places teachers in four possible pools. The lowest rated teachers are first to go if RIF’s are made.

Approved 2012-13 Non-Certified Personnel Seniority List. This list is unchanged and reflects the number of years of service of all non-certified personnel.

The Board voted to go into closed session at 7:40 P.M., and voted to come out of closed session at 8:14 P.M.

Motions out of closed session:

Accepted the resignation of Mrs. Jean Livengood as Computer and Physical Education Teacher effective at the end of the 2012-13 school year.

Accepted the resignation of Mr. Hunter Allspaugh as District Technology Coordinator effective June 30, 2013.

Approved a leave of absence for Mrs. Jill Hesse K-3 Special Education Teacher.

Hired Mr. Joe Leddy of Milledgeville as Freshman-Sophomore Softball Coach for the 2013 season.

Approved a three year contract extension for Superintendent Schurman through June 30, 2018. This will result in a new five year contract for Superintendent Schurman. Specific salary and contract terms will be worked out prior to the March board meeting.

Hired Mrs. Valerie Geary of Thomson as Junior High Co-Head Track Coach for the 2013 season.

Approved Mr. Shannon Schave of Chadwick as a volunteer H.S. baseball coach for the 2013 season.

Approved Logan McDaniel of Chadwick as a volunteer H.S. track coach for the 2013 season.

Rehired non-tenured and 4th year non-tenured staff: Guidance Counselor-Stacy Bontz 1st year; Ag/Science-Tara LaFollette 1st year; Math-Kyle Knutti 4th year; Spanish-Tara Read 3rd year; 5th Grade-Amy Strehlow 2nd year; Reading /Language Arts-Katie Wilkinson 4th year; JH Special Education-Jenna Adolph 2nd year; Band-Cheryl Neumann 2nd year; and Upheld Suspensions

Administrative business

Legislative update. Superintendent Schurman noted that Governor Quinn is still pushing for pension reform but that little progress has been made on the issue in the legislature. However, transfer of the state’s portion of the pension costs is expected to be a part of the compromise bill.

New CEO program at WACC. Principal Rademacher announced the creation of a new entrepreneurship program at Whiteside Area Career Center. It will provide students with a crash course on how to start a business and the fundamentals of business ownership. The program will be open to a limited number of juniors and seniors in the WACC service area.

NW IASB Spring Dinner Meeting Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Superintendent Schurman announced that the dinner will take place in Prophetstown Middle School and the program will include a presentation for new school board candidates at 5:00 P.M.

Legal issues update. Superintendent Schurman reported that beginning July 1, 2013 only a registered nurse that holds a bachelor’s degree or higher and possesses a School Service Personnel Certificate endorsed for nursing may make special education recommendations relating to health concerns. This issue is of great concern and it is our hope that we can share the services of a certified nurse with other districts in our special education cooperative.

Principal’s Report. Principal Rademacher reported that four staff members attended Common Core Leadership Training at Sauk Valley Community College. She also reported that high school registration has begun for classes next year.

Superintendent’s Report. District Spelling Bee was completed January 31, 2013. Allison Fossett and Ben Covey placed 1st and 2nd. The Regional Spelling Bee will be February 26th at Pearl City.

Teacher Institute was held February 15, 2013. Superintendent Schurman reported that the K-8 staff worked on Common Core Based Quarterly Objectives and curriculum alignment. The high school staff received Moodle training and worked on the Common Core. In addition, the entire staff completed the State of Illinois 5-Essential Survey.

The next meeting will be Monday, March 18, 2013, at 7:00 PM in the Milledgeville High School Library.