Board of Education

The Rock Island-Milan Board of Education began their regular board meeting by recognizing the State of Illinois Spotlight Schools: Audubon, Frances Willard, Longfellow, Ridgewood and Thomas Jefferson as 2008 Illinois Spotlight Schools. To be a State of Illinois Spotlight School, each school must:

• Have made AYP for the last two years
• At least half of the students are from low-income families
• At least 60% of students must have met or exceeded standard in reading and math in 2008
• At least 50% of the students must have met or exceeded standars in both reading and math in the two previous years (2007 & 2006).

Board members will be traveling to the schools to present the certificates in the near future. Superintendent Loy commended the schools for their excellent vision and hard work.

Building Excellence Update
Ben Hott, Rock Island Milan School District Construction Project Manager, updated the board about the Building Excellent construction projects. Read the report at the construction blog >>

Personnel
Board members granted tenure status to 24 full-time administrators and teachers who have completed their probationary period after 4 years of service. The board did not renew contracts of 12 teachers in the district: 6 first year teachers, 2 teachers completing a partial year of service and 4 part-time contracts. Some may have the option of being called back at the beginning of the school year.

Other items:

• Superintendent Loy reported that the Stimulus Package Funding is still not definite for the school district. The $2.9 million coming over the next two years is earmarked for Title 1 and Special Education, however the shovel-ready project money has shifted to the state level. The district has submitted project list to state representative, state board and governor’s office to cover all bases. In this years budget – revenue streams are coming in slowly. Corporate replacement taxes are 19% down from last year and the district is currently behind ½ million in corporate replacement taxes. Mr. Loy expects the situation to get worse as it continues.
• Board Member Dave Rockwell attended the Sustainable Schools Symposium in Joliet last week and represented the School District in a presentation given by Neighborhood Partners member Ed Hanna. Mr. Hanna put together a very good presentation and it reflected the school district’s process over the last 6 years very well.
• The board continued to review policy updates and revisions. Many of the policies are either replacements for or updates to the current policies that reflect legislative changes or administrative rules. The administration will continue to further review of student extra-curricular activity and visitors/conduct on school property policies before making recommendations to the board.
• The board approved the purchase of an upgrade to the Student Information System. The upgrade will allow for the use of an online grade book for secondary and high school level teachers that will give access to student’s grade and class progress. A Professional Development plan is being put together in order to train staff on how to use the system.

Next Board of Education meeting Tuesday, April 14.

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ROCK ISLAND-MILAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 41
Regular Meeting of the Board of Education
Rock Island High School – Library
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009 6:00 PM

The Board will meet in Executive Session to discuss Personnel and possibly
acquisition of property and potential litigation at 5:30 P.M. with the regular meeting
beginning at 6:00 P.M.

I. Preliminary

A. Call to Order and Roll Call
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Approval of Board of Education Minutes . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the minutes of the
regular meeting of February 24, 2009 (including Executive Session minutes to be
kept on file as confidential) as presented.

II. Special Item

Recognition of Spotlight Schools . . . Recognition
The Board of Education will recognize Audubon, Frances Willard, Longfellow, Ridgewood and Thomas Jefferson as the 2008 Illinois Spotlight Schools.

III. Communications

A. Communications from Citizens
B. Requests from persons wishing to speak on certain agenda items at the
appropriate time during the meeting.

IV. Reports

A. Reports from Board Members

• Voting Members
• Student Members

B. Report from Superintendent
C. Report from RIEA Representative
D. Citizens wishing to address the Board of Education on items not on the
agenda. Comments should be limited to three (3) minutes. (Matters regarding
specific employees or students are of a confidential nature and will not be heard in
open session.)

V. Nomination of Agenda Items for Future Meetings of the Board

VI. Action on Routine Matters

A. Act on Agenda Additions and/or Deletions
B. Approve Agenda
C. Blanket Motion
Opportunity will be given for the selection of items that need no discussion to
be approved at the appropriate time on the agenda. The following items are
recommended for the Blanket Motion:

VII. A. Head Start Child Development Program Grant
VII. D. Student Expulsions
VIII.

A.4 Air Conditioning, Cleaning and Start up
A.5 Tod Faller Contract
A.6 Asbestos Tile Abatement
A.7 Materials Testing and Engineering Services Contract
A.8 Upgrade of Student Information System

VIII. B. Bills for Payment
IX. Personnel

VII. Operations

A. Head Start Child Development Program Grant . . . Action

It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the Head Start Child Development Program Grant as presented.

B. Policy Revisions . . . Information

The Board of Education will review the revisions to Board policies 4:170, 5:29, 5:90, 6:120, 7:10, 7:100, 7:190, 7:20, 7:210, 7:230, 7:240, 7:290, 7:300, 7:50, 8:30.

C. Building Excellence Update . . . Information

A progress report will be given to the Board on the Building Excellence program.

D. Student Expulsions . . . Action

It is recommended that the Board of Education approve Student Expulsion 01/04/23.

E. TAG, Phase II . . . Action

The Board will determine if they want to sign-up for the IASB Targeting Achievement through Governance Phase II training.

VIII. Business/Finance

A. Construction Contracts . . . Action

1) Thomas Jefferson
A recommendation for selection of the contractor to complete construction bids opened Thursday, March 5th will be made at the meeting.
2) Frances Willard
A recommendation for selection of the contractor to complete construction bids opened Monday, March 9th will be made at the meeting.
3) Denkmann
A recommendation for selection of the contractor to complete construction bids opened Monday, March 9th will be made at the meeting.
4) Air Conditioning, Cleaning and Start Up
A recommendation for selection of the contractor for air conditioning, cleaning and start up bids opened Monday, March 9th will be made at the meeting.
5) Tod Faller
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the contract for service for Tod Faller in the amount of $5,260
6) Asbestos tile abatement
It is recommended that the Board of Education accept the low bid from Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation for amount of $9,600.00 to abate the floor tiles at the Primary Academy
7) Materials Testing and Engineering Services Contract
Qualifications were received on Thursday, March 5th after review a recommendation will be provided at the meeting.
Upgrade of Student Information System
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the Student Information upgrade at a cost of $94,800 as presented.

B. Bills for Payment . . . Action

It is recommended that the Board of Education authorize Bills for Payment dated February 28, 2008 for $3,252,632.37 as presented.

IX. Personnel

A. Administrators/Teachers Tenure . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education award tenure to the list of 24 administrators and teachers who have completed their probationary period as presented.
B. Administrators/Teachers Completing Three Years of Probationary Status . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education issue a contract to the list of 25 administrators and teachers who have completed three years of probationary status as presented.
C. Administrators/Teachers Completing Two Years of Probationary Service . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education issue a contract to the list of 30 administrators and teachers who have completed two years of probationary status as presented.
D. Administrators/Teachers Completing One Year of Probationary Service . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education issue a contract to the list of 28 administrators and teachers who have completed one year of probationary status as presented.
F. Non-Renewal of Contracts . . . Action
1) Teacher Completing Four Years of Probationary Service
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the non-renewal of one teacher who has completed four years of probationary service as
presented.
2) Teachers Completing One Year of Probationary Service
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the non-renewal of six teachers who have completed one year of probationary service as presented.
3) Teachers Completing a Partial Year of Service
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the non-renewal of the list of two teachers who have completed a partial year of probationary service as presented.
4) Teachers Completing Part-Time Contracts
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the non-renewal of the list of four teachers who have completed a part-time contract as presented.
G. Certified Resignations . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education accept the certified resignations of Joshua Johnson and Diana Alm as presented.

X. Executive Session

It is recommended that the Board of Education move to executive session to discuss personnel, potential litigation and possible acquisition of property.

XI. Adjournment