Summary of Regular Eastland Board of Education Meeting

The Eastland Board of Education held their Regular meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at Eastland Elementary school in Lanark. As a first item of business, they approved bills and claims for the month, the Regular December and Special January Meeting minutes, and the Treasurer’s Report.

During Board Input, Superintendent Hansen discussed plans for gathering input into a revised Strategic Plan for the District. The plan will be shared with employees the week of January 29th, and with a Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Thursday, February 2nd, at 6:00 p.m. It will then be brought to the Board of Education for a first reading in February, and approval in March.

Erbsen ‘in the running’

Kevin Daugherty, the Education Director for the Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom initiative, made a presentation to 1st Grade Teacher Carl Erbsen. Mr. Erbsen was nominated and selected as the State Runner-Up for Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. As a result of his selection, Erbsen will be in the running for National Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. The program is sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Thirty-five residents attended the meeting, several of whom addressed the Board members regarding the decision to protest property re-assessments. By a 5-2 vote, the Board had approved a motion at their Special Meeting of January 11, 2012 to file a protest with the Carroll County Board of Review regarding the re-assessments of properties in Freedom Township published on December 28, 2011 (available online at www.pacc-news.com). Comments from those in attendance expressed concern about the Board’s decision to protest, the use of District funds to pursue a legal protest to the assessments, the accuracy of the re-assessments, the methodology used to calculate the re-assessments, and the impact on taxpayers as well as the District. Superintendent Hansen responded to each question and statement.

Old Business

As a first item in Old Business, teachers MaryBeth Landherr and Le Hartman made presentations on measures of student growth in relation to the Indicators of Success for Business and Family and Consumer Science courses at Eastland High School.

Continuing in Old Business, the Board approved the Eastland High School Curriculum Guide for 2012-13. They also heard a mid-year budget update from Superintendent Hansen. Mid-year expenditures are at 50% of the amount budgeted for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.

As the only item in New Business, the Board heard a first reading of a school calendar for the 2012-13 school year. Action to approve the calendar will be scheduled for the Regular February meeting.

Administration Reports

Principal Burkholder reported that Eastland High School would be hosting the 2012 Northern Upstate Illini Music Festival on January 19th. Two hundred and thirty six students from Ashland-Franklin Center, Eastland, Forreston, Fulton Unity, Milledgeville, Pearl City, Pecatonica, Polo, and West Carroll will be participating in either the band or chorus. She also recognized the EHS Student Council for conducting a week long fundraising activity for the Limbs for Life charity. The Limbs for Life Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides prosthetics for those who cannot afford them and raises awareness of the challenges facing amputees.

Principal Feltmeyer reported that the annual EMS Spelling Bee will be held on January 25 at 2:15 p.m. in the gymnasium. The first and second place winners will advance to the next level of competition in Pearl City. She also highlighted that Mr. Walters, the School Social Worker, is coordinating activities for a No Name Calling Week January 23 thru 27. This is a nationwide event that EMS will be participating in this year.

Superintendent Hansen shared information on the Illinois Pathways Initiative sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Pathways Initiative seeks to improve career-track education so that students who so choose can become credentialed, licensed and prepared for employment after completion of high school or an Associate’s Degree.

Closed session

The Board went into closed session at 8:40 p.m. to discuss “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity”. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), and

“litigation, when action against, affecting or on behalf of the District has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the District finds that an action is probable or imminent in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the closed meeting minutes.”

Personnel action

After closed session, the Board approved the minutes, and the following personnel actions:

- approved the hire of [Sue Sauer] as a long-term sub for the middle school math and science teacher maternity leave.

- approved the hire of [Doug Johnson] as head softball coach for the 2012 season.

- approved the hire of [Lindsay McWorthy] as football cheer advisor for the 2012 season.

- approved continuing to post a vacancy for Fresh-Soph Baseball Coach for the 2012 season.

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.