West Carroll Set to Introduce Improved District Website

Michael Miller For The Prairie Advocate News

THOMSON – The West Carroll School District website will be sporting a new, “flashier” look in the very near future, thanks to the efforts of JorjAnn Fink, who informed the board of the upcoming changes at the May 20th, 2010 board meeting.

The meeting was attended by Board members Debra Klein, Tim Atherton, Mike Highland, John Brigham, and Beverly Kilpatrick. Also attending were Bill Sweeney (sitting in as Board Superintendent for the absent David Boyd), District Superintendent Craig Mathers, High School Principal Bob Lamb, Assistant High School Principal Monika Burkholder, Middle School Principal Julie Katzenberger, Intermediate and Special Education Principal Pam Delp, Primary School Principal Jeannette Ashby, Recording Secretary Sandra Aude and Brad Field of the Technology Department.

Fink gave a lengthy presentation detailing the planned changes for the website. The board had decided that while the current site was workable, it needed to be “flashier” and more eye catching in order to be more appealing to parents who were considering moving into the district and enrolling their children at West Carroll. Some of the proposed improvements Fink has been working on include an updated site banner, which will feature both the “thunderhead” emblem and a rotating group of pictures of West Carroll students. Mathers said he’d like to see a clickable calendar which would allow users to see what was happening on any certain day at the district merely by clicking on that calendar day. Katzenberger suggested possibly installing a podcast utility; Field said that would entail updating the server. Kilpatrick inquired about having current homework assignments posted, and Field said that that utility would be the province of the new Skyward system. Fink reported that a scrolling marquee would allow the district to post school events or cancellations. Other potential changes and improvements will include the ability to link the district’s Strategic Action Plan and more medical procedure and care information.

Fink said the changes to the site could be up as early as next week. Klein and Sweeney both told Fink she had done “a nice job”, and the board seemed quite positive about the progress she had made.

Utilities costs up

Mathers reported at the beginning of the meeting that the High School’s gas usage was down 45 percent from last year, and it’s cost was also down 45 percent. He said the electric usage was down 7 percent but the cost was up 41 percent. The Primary School saw electrical usage down 4 percent but the cost up 7 percent. Gas usage at the school was down 45 percent and cost also down 45 percent. The Intermediate School electrical usage was down 2 percent while cost was up 26 percent. He said that the changes that had been made in the building had paid off in terms of lower consumption but the problem was that the costs are going up.

Administrative reports

Field informed the Board that he had only eight open work orders, and 79 were closed. The installation of the new Skyward administrative software is currently going through a data conversion process and training will contiue during the summer, this time for office personnel and counselors. He added that the computer replacement project is also moving along with preparations being made for the replacements which are due in June. Field said that one issue that’s come up is the question of what will be done with the old computers that are being replaced. Some teachers have indicated they’d like to keep them in the classrooms. Field asked for the Board help and guidance in how to respond to these requests. Mathers cautioned about several issues to be aware of during this decision, including that the old computer might constitute a risk to the district network. Field added that it would be difficult to justify having extra computers in some classrooms and not others. Mathers added that Field has done “yeoman’s work” in this area. Field concluded his report by saying that five out of ten ‘smart boards’ have been installed and that inventory and connection managements projects are ongoing.

Katzenberger reported that the 8th grade girls’ and boys’ track team won two first place trophies a the May 10th Le-Win Invitational. She congratulated the kids and Coaches McIntyre and Kivisto. She also congratulated Jeff Holley and Dwana McFadden, Technology Teacher and Food Service Cook, respectively, for perfect attendance this year. Both received a gift certificate for a brunch at the House of Events from Sullivan’s Foods. She congratulated the following students for their perfect attendance this year, each of which were awarded a Dairy Queen lunch on May 17th; Gus Alamos, Natalie Comeau, Anna Curtis, Lindsay Dauphin, Nate Dunk, KaCee French, Alex Haring, Kristen Houzenga, Justin Johnson, Brady Kinder, Mark McColley, Quinn Rumler, and Hannah Walters.

Lamb thanked the West Carroll Education Foundation for their successful Radiothon which netted over $18,000.00 on April 23rd. He also thanked the Sports Booster Club for donations of over $10,000.00 for various programs to help support summer camps and athletic programs. He acknowledged and thanked the following organizations for their help in planting 10 trees to commemorate five years of West Carroll; Science Club, FCCLA, FFA, National Honor Society, and Student Council. He congratulated the FFA for being the top rated school in Section One of Illinois; he said this was a “compliment to our teachers and kids”.

Ashby said in her report that all first graders are now reading at or above grade level and she said she was very excited about this data. She congratulated Grace Shelley for being “Principal for a Day” on May 7th, and said that 90 students and 10 teachers are now currently in the summer school program. She said that the May 10th Rocky’s Rocking With Writing Party was a success, and that this has been a “very exciting” year for the Primary School.

Delp thanked the Savanna Park Board for the annual 4th grade Picnic/Swim Day and also Beth Diener and the two 5th grade teams that competed in the May 7th Eco Meet, which saw the teams getting 2nd place overall. She acknowledged Matthew Haring and Allison Law for being nominated to represent WCIS at the IPA Student Leadership Brunch. She said the May 14th Walk/Bike A Thon which the 4th graders participated in will donate its proceeds to the American Cancer Society, and that it was a great way to teach kids about caring for others.

Delp also reported that there are currently 270 students enrolled in the Special Education program at West Carroll, and she attributed this decline in figures (down from 315 last year) partially to the assimilation of special education kids back into the mainstream programs.

Mathers reported that the District was making “good progress” in regard to student achievement. He announced that as reported in the Alliance Legislative Report, the State of Illinois adjourned without passing a budget, and that he was “not quite sure how they were going to function without passing a budget”. He said among several noteworthy areas of the reports was the issue of being able to claim preschool mileage on the district’s reimbursement for transportation. He said this will help the preschool.

Bids and busses

The Board next dealt with Property and Casualty Insurance bids. Lockhart and Law were the low bidders for this coverage, coming in at $51,293.00 (which includes earthquake insurance but not terrorism insurance) but this was without a treasurer’s bond. Mathers recommendation was to go with Lockhart and Law for the property and casualty coverage and with Trissel, Graham and Toole for the treasurer’s bond at a price of $2,602.00. The total of both bids would be $53,859.00. Motions were made to accept these recommendations and the board unanimously approved both.

Next the Board considered bids for the installation of new High School lockers. Two options were presented; one for a bolted, 16 gauge locker and one for an angle iron/welded locker. The low bid for both versions came from Carroll Seating; 16 gauge at $43,500.00 and angle iron/welded at $49,333.53. The Board elected, unanimously to go with the 16 gauge option from Carroll Seating.

The Board next had to review their bus trust agreement. Central States was informed that all contracts must demonstrate proof of interest. The proposed interest rate for districts that had entered into bus agreements was one percent, or $14,758.33.00 value. Central States proposes to donate 24 cameras to West Carroll, the value of which is $34,080. Also, Central States will increase the trade-in values by $5,000.00. These changes will serve to equal the bus costs between the two funding formulas. Sweeney motioned to approve the bus lease agreement with Central States for Blue Bird buses. The Board unanimously approved this motion.

The Board also approved the Board Policy Updates. They likewise unanimously approved the Freshman Transition Plan proposed at the previous meeting; this plan consists of the new freshman wing, a common school improvement period for freshman core teachers, advisor-advisee meetings, parent meetings, goal setting and a freshman open house/registration.

New business

Under New Business, the Board heard from Lori Miller of Miller, Bettner and Parrot regarding the District’s Health Insurance renewal. The company recommended continuing with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, although the rates are a bit higher this year. After some discussion the board, after a motion by Kilpatrick, chose to renew the Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage.

The Board also renewed, unanimously, its annual bus garage agreement, after a motion by Highland, and also its Head Start rental agreement.

Mathers recommended Highland to fill the position of the District’s IASB governing representative, and this recommendation was approved by the Board.

The Board approved continuing the District’s participation in the Race to the Top initiative which could potentially make state funding (from a pot of $400 million) available to participating districts.

Finally the Board went into executive session to discuss employee issues, collective bargaining, student discipline, and special education matters.