Board of Education

ROCK ISLAND-MILAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 41
Board of Education Regular meeting
Rock Island High School Library
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009 5:15 P.M.

Download PDF of agenda >>

I. Preliminary (1)
Call to Order and Roll Call

II. Executive Session
It is recommended that the Board of Education move to Executive Session to
discuss the employment of a specific employee.

III. Preliminary (2)

A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Approval of Board of Education Minutes . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the minutes of the regular meetings of October 27 and November 10, 2009 as presented.

IV. Communications
Citizens Wishing to Address the Board of Education
Items on the agenda will be addressed at the appropriate time during the meeting. Items not on the agenda will be heard at this time. 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. Reports

A. Reports from Board Members
Voting Members
Student Members
B. Report from Superintendent
C. Report from RIEA Representative

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

VII. 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:
X. F. Student Expulsions     XI. F. Holiday Inn Contract
X. G. November Fund Raisers     XI. G. List of Donations
XI. C. SES Contract     XI. H. October Financial Statements
XI. D. Reading Horizons Purchase    XI. I. Bills for Payment
XI. E. Computer Purchase    XII. B-C. Personnel

VIII. Special Items

A. Property Tax Levy . . . Hearing
The Board will conduct a public hearing on the Property Tax Levy.
B. Administrative Cost Limitations Waiver . . . Hearing
The Board will conduct a public hearing on the Administrative Cost Limitations waiver.

IX. Education

A. School Improvement Plans . . . Information
Deb Taber and Lucille McCorkle will present the School Improvement Plans for Earl Hanson and the Academies, which were approved at the October 27, 2009 meeting of the Board.
B. PBIS Update . . . Information
Diane LaMaster will provide an update on the PBIS initiatives in District 41.

X. Operations

A. Revised Website Presentation . . . Information
Mike Breidenstein and Holly Sparkman will present the revised district website.
B. TAG Sessions . . . Information
Board members will determine their preference in splitting the December 15, 2009 TAG session into two separate sessions with the IASB.
C. Second Reading of Board Policies . . . Information/Possible Action
Cabinet members will review the revisions to Board Policies 2:20, 2:40, 2:70E, 2:110, 3:40, 4:40, 4:100, 4:110, 4:140, 6:340 and 7:190 as recommended by PRESS. It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the revisions as presented, if appropriate.
D. First Reading of Board Policies . . . Information
Cabinet members will review the revisions to Board Policies 4:30, 5:30, 5:90, 5:100, 5:120, 5:250, 5:330, 5:280, 6:110 6:300, 6:310, 6:320, 7:240 and 7:300.
E. Enrollment Projections . . . Information
Dr. Mike Oberhaus will present the Enrollment Projections from 2010-2011 through 2014-2015.
F. Student Expulsion . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve Student Expulsion No. 05/01/20.
G. November Fund Raisers . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the November Fund Raisers as presented.

XI. Business/Finance

A. Property Tax Levy . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education adopt the Property Tax Levy as presented at the October 27, 2009 meeting of the Board.
B. Administrative Cost Limitations Waiver . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the Administrative Cost Limitations Waiver as presented.
C. Supplemental Educational Services Contracts . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the execution of contracts with Supplemental Educational Services Providers as presented. Total expenditures per student not to exceed $2,065.05. Title I funds will be
used as required by NCLB.
D. Reading Horizons Purchase . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the purchase of the Discover Intensive Phonics and Reading Horizons programs as presented for a cost of $158,362 as presented. Title I ARRA funds and IDEA ARRA funds
(when approved) will be used.
E. MacBook Computer Purchase . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the purchase of 150 MacBook laptop computers for student use with the Reading Horizons program for a cost not to exceed $164,850. Title I ARRA funds will be used.
F. Holiday Inn Contract . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the contract with the
Holiday Inn, Rock Island, Illinois, for the 2010 Medal of Honor Banquet. Cost
is covered by donations from local agencies and attendees of the banquet.
G. List of Donations . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education acknowledge the List of
Donations as presented.
H. October Financial Statements . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the October Financial
Statements as presented.
I. Bills for Payment . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education authorize Bills for Payment
dated November 15, 2009 in the amount of $2,757,749.00 and November 16,
2009 in the amount of $549.80.

XII. Personnel

A. Certified Resignation Due to Retirement . . . Action
A recommendation will be made at the meeting.
B. Certified Appointments . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the Certified Appointments of Danielle Hansen and Laura Hotle as presented.
C. Non-Certified Resignation . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the Non-Certified
Resignation of Jevon Robinson as presented.

XIII. Adjournment

Superintendent Loy acknowledged the Board of Education with special certificates in recognition of School Board Member Day, November 15, 2009, in Illinois. “School board members serve countless hours working to make public education the best it can be for every child,” said Loy. “They bear responsibility and oversight in District 41 for an annual budget of $70 million, over 6300 students from Pre K to High School, and more than 500 employees throughout 17 buildings. Your steadfast devotion to this community and its children are very much appreciated. Thank you for a job well done.”

Board Member Reports
Earl Strupp, Linda Dothard and Dave Rockwell attended the Denkmann ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, November 5. Ms. Dothard commended the staff and construction crew for their hard work on the new addition and front office reconfiguration. Mr. Rockwell thanked the school district and community for supporting the Rock Island-Milan Boosters Annual Raffle and Dance last Saturday. The event netted about $6,000 that will be put back into the school district through grants.

Student member Zavier Clark said that the high school wrapped up the Food Drive last week and gathered about 31,000 pounds of food for the cause. Board President Bill Cleaver, a war veteran himself, spoke at Earl Hanson Elementary for their Veteran’s Day program. He thanked all veterans for their dedication and service in this time of war. Superintendent Loy also conveyed a special thank you to all veterans who have made a difference in the lives of citizens.

Mr. Loy announced that the Rock Island County Health Department is setting up an H1N1 vaccine clinic at the high school on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 3:30 – 7:00 p.m. The vaccine is for children and other priority groups. There is no cost for the vaccine. More information >>

2010-2011 Budget
At the last Board of Education meeting on Oct. 27, Associate Superintendent Mike Oberhaus reviewed five year projections with the board. The Administration is recommending the district consider using surplus funds to cover a half of the potential 2010-11 budget deficit of $4.3 million. Currently there are $29 million in reserves. Revenues for the district are down and  and the board committed $8 million in reserves for the Building Excellence plan. The board agreed to move forward to construct the 2010-11 budget with a deficit of no more than $2,150,000, anticipating the rest of the $4.3 million to be covered by surplus funds.

Administration anticipates bringing a $2.15 million deficit budget to the board with recommended cuts sometime in January.

School Improvement Plan Presentations: Edison & Washington Jr. High
Principal Gary Flecker of Edison identified that his building met 2 of 4 goals set last year. The school achieved A.Y.P. in all categories except students with disabilities. Co-teaching, implemented last year, is anticipated to help that sub-group of students perform to standards. Action plans include bell-to-bell instruction, improved expectations with Building Intervention Team and monitoring ISAT data throughout the year. Mr. Flecker is very proud of the staff and students at Edison Jr. High and the building “is full of energy and knowledge.”

Principal Mark Hepner of Washington Jr. High is pleased with the school making A.Y.P. this year in all areas and commends his staff for putting in time above and beyond the normal school day to help meet the students academic achievement needs. The school has increased supplemental classes and after school instruction with the implementation of Lights on for Learning. Both Edison and Washington have been collaborating with programs and plan to continue to work together to prepare students for high school.

Building Excellence Update
Greg Larrison of Larrison & Associates presented a design plan for Earl Hanson Elementary. The design would expand the north west side of the school to include a new cafeteria, common area and small paved playground outside the cafeteria. The project originally budgeted for 1,950 square feet, however it was determined that the expansion would need about 3,000 square feet. Projected budget: $400,000. Mr. Larrison also presented the Edison and Washington Jr. High remodels. At Edison he proposed to move offices to west side of building where the library is currently located, and create a media center where the current main office location is. Centrally locating the offices near the entrance will allow for a secure entrance feature to be installed. A new re-purposed administration area at Washington Jr. High would allow the entrance to be located near current main office and not near gym/cafeteria. Additional science rooms will be constructed on the second floor to accomodate additional classes.

In anticipation of the 2010-11 budget deficit and overexpentidure of other projects in the Building Excellence plan, administration recommended that the Jr. High projects be tabled and completed at a later date. That will save the district approximately $825,000. The board approved to move ahead with the Earl Hanson project to complete all of the elementary school construction/renovations of the Building Excellence plan. The District plans to break ground at Earl Hanson sometime March 2010.

Building Excellence current construction projects slide show >>

Rock Island High School Attendance Incentive and Finals
The high school perfect attendance incentive allows a student to opt-out of finals if they have had no absences (sickness or other) during the semester. In light of the current pandemic with the H1N1 flu virus, Principal Robert Mason has been aware of concern relating to a students attendance and coming to school sick in order to prevent an absence. As this can be a threat to the health of the high school population, if there is an issue of student absences that correlate with the pandemic flu outbreak, the perfect attendance incentive at the high school will be suspended. Principal Mason and his staff are monitoring illnesses & absences and will continue to do so.

Other items:

• Asst. Superintendent Kay Ingham and S.K.I.P. Principal Mike Russell are working on details to move the Special Kids in Preschool program from Moline to the Horace Mann building in Rock Island. The building could also have room for the district’s E.D.R. program (currently at Earl Hanson) and also some Head Start programs.
• Ken Jaeke, Director of Instruction and Assessment, reported on Building Transitions protocols as it serves students who are moving from Pre-K to Kindergarten, 6th grade to Jr. High, Jr. High to High School and then after graduation. The priority is to move students seamlessly through levels while providing support for academic and social needs. Transitioning not only impacts students, but parents as well, and the district provides opportunities and information to help guide families along throughout the students academic career.
• Board Policy Revisions – as changes in legislation and newly passed laws take effect in the State of Illinois, the board policies are updated to reflect changes. Policies 2:20, 2:40, 2:70E, 2:110, 3:40, 4:40, 4:100, 4:140, 6:340 and 7:190 were recommend for update by administration.
• The board agreed to acknowledge and appropriately honor Robinson Woods at the Rock Island Center for Math & Science and further discussion will ensue as school construction nears completion.
• Board approved a contract to S.J. Smith, Davenport, IA for welders at Rock Island High School.
• Board approved contract to DEPCO, Pittsburg, KS for the Modular Technology Lab at Rock Island High School
• Board approved contract to Center Stage, Monmouth, IL, for replacement of sound system in the Field House at Rock Island High School.
• Board approved contract to RK Dixon, Davenport, IA for switches for computer network upgrade at Eugene Field, Longfellow and Primary Academy.
• Board approved contract to Macintosh Computers to purchase computers for student use and for four staff members pending ARRA IDEA grant from Illinois State Board of Education.
• Board approved contract to Dell Computers for computers for student use at Edison, Washington and Thurgood Marshall pending approval of ARRA IDEA grant from Illinois State Board of Education.
• Board approved contract to Promethean Active Classroom to purchase five interactive whiteboards for special education classrooms at Earl Hanson, Edison and Rock Island Center for Math & Science pending approval of ARRA IDEA grant from Illinois State Board of Education.
• Board approved contract to Dukane Company to purchase carts to be shared by special education teachers at Thurgood Marshall Center pending approval of ARRA IDEA grant from Illinois State Board of Education.
• Board approved to award a contract to Advanced Brain Technologies to purchase listening kits for use with students under direction of Autism Facilitator pending approval of ARRA IDEA grant from Illinois State Board of Education.

ROCK ISLAND-MILAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 41
Board of Education Regular meeting
Rock Island High School Library
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009 6:00 P.M.

Download PDF of Agenda >>

I. Roll Call

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Reports from Board Members

IV. Updates from the Superintendent

V. Communications

A. Requests from persons wishing to speak on certain agenda items will be called upon at the appropriate time.
B. 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.)

VI. 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. Student Expulsion    VIII. D. Bills for Payment
VIII. B. School Sub-Accounts (1 & 2)    VIII. E. Audit Approval
VIII. C. Contracts (1-11)

VII. Operations

Student Expulsion . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve Student Expulsion No. 01/11/22.

VIII. Business/Finance

A. 2010-2011 Budget . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education direct the administration to construct the 2010-11 budget with a deficit no greater than $2,150,000.

B. School Sub-Accounts . . . Action

1) Frances Willard
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the transfer of sub-accounts at Frances Willard Elementary School as presented in the background information.
2) Rock Island Center for Math & Science
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the move of the student fund raising accounts at the Rock Island Center for Math & Science as presented in the background information.

C. Contracts . . . Action

1) Welders – Rock Island High School
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to S.J. Smith, Davenport, IA, in the amount of $12,338.44 for welders at Rock Island High School.
2) Modular Technology Lab Upgrade – Rock Island High School
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to DEPCO, Pittsburg, KS, in the amount of $45,100.00 for the Modular Technology Lab at Rock Island High School.
3) Sound System Replacement – R.I.H.S. Field House
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to Center Stage, Monmouth, Illinois, in the amount of $19,890.00 for the replacement of the sound system in the Field House at Rock Island High School.
4) Cleaveland Insurance Group – District Health Insurance Program
It is recommended that the Board of Education contract with Cleaveland Insurance Group for developing bid specifications, bidding, analyzing bids and making a recommendation for the District health insurance program for $10,900.
5) Rescind Contract for Switches for Computer Network Upgrade
It is recommended that the Board of Education rescind the contract with RK Dixon, Davenport, IA, for switches for the computer network upgrade at Eugene Field, Longfellow and the Primary Academy at a cost of $10,522.13.
6) Switches for Computer Network Upgrade
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to RK Dixon, Davenport, IA, for switches for the computer network upgrade at Eugene Field, Longfellow and the Primary Academy at a cost of $13,938.22 as presented.
7) Macintosh Computers
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to Macintosh Computers in the amount of $15,778.00 to purchase computers for student use and for four staff members as presented. Pending approval of the ARRA IDEA grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.
Dell Computers
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to Dell Computers in the amount of $21,566.00 to purchase computers for student use at Edison, Washington, Rocky and Thurgood Marshall as presented. Pending approval of the ARRA IDEA grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.
9) Promethean Active Classroom
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to Promethean Active Classroom in the amount of $10,790.00 to purchase five interactive whiteboards for special education classrooms at Earl Hanson, Edison and the Rock Island Center for Math & Science as presented. Pending approval of the ARRA IDEA grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.
10) Dukane Company
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to Dukane Company in the amount of $4,058.00 to purchase carts to be shared by special education teachers at Thurgood Marshall Center as presented. Pending approval of the ARRA IDEA grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.
11) Advanced Brain Technologies
It is recommended that the Board of Education award a contract to Advanced Brain Technologies in the amount of $1,262.00 to purchase listening kits for use with students throughout the District under the direction of our Autism Facilitator as presented. Pending approval of the ARRA IDEA grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.
D. Bills for Payment . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education authorize Bills for Payment dated October 30, 2009 in the amount of $3,262,281.42.
E. 2008-09 Audit Approval . . . Action
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the 2008-09 Audit as presented at the October 27, 2009 meeting of the Board.

IX. Committee of the Whole

A. School Improvement Plan Presentations . . . Information
Gary Flecker and Mark Hepner will present the School Improvement Plans for Edison and Washington Jr. High Schools, which were approved at the October 27, 2009 meeting of the Board.
B. SKIP Location . . . Information
Kay Ingham will discuss with the Board the pending recommendation to move SKIP (4000 – 11th Street, Moline) to the Horace Mann location (3530 – 38th Avenue, Rock Island) beginning with the 2010-11 school year.
C. School Transitions Report . . . Information
Ken Jaeke will present a brief overview of our District 41 grade transition procedures, activities and protocols. These protocols involve transitions from Pre-K to Kindergarten, 6th grade to Jr. High School, Junior High School to Grade 9, and Grade 12 and beyond.
D. First Reading of Board Policy Revisions . . . Information
Cabinet members will review the revisions to Board Policies 2:20, 2:40, 2:70E, 2:110, 3:40, 4:40, 4:100, 4:110, 4:140, 6:340 and 7:190 as recommended by PRESS.
E. Building Excellence Update . . . Information
Mike Oberhaus and Ben Hott will provide the Building Excellence update, including a presentation from Greg Larrison on the designs for Earl Hanson and discussion of the junior high schools.
F. IASB Resolutions . . . Information
Board members will review the IASB Resolutions to be considered at the Triple I Conference November 20-22, 2009.
G. Rock Island Center for Math & Science Plaque . . . Information
Rick Loy will lead a discussion on the plaque to be placed in the Rock Island Center for Math & Science.
H. Rock Island High School Attendance Incentive and Finals . . . Information
Robert Mason will present insight into the attendance incentive and finals with regard to the pandemic emergency.

X. Executive Session

It is recommended that the Board of Education move to Executive Session to discuss the employment of a specific employee.

XI. Adjournment