MINUTES OF THE Regularly scheduled MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF STAUNTON COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT #6, Macoupin and Madison Counties, Illinois, held in the school Libraryon Monday, February 27th, 2017.
I. Call to Order
A. Welcome/Pledge of Allegiance/Roll call
President Chris Tingle called the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:00 pm in the school Library. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll was taken: Board membersDave Lamore,Kim Peterson, John Renner, Janice Kinder and Chris Tingle were present.Stefanie Legendre and Scott Skertich absent. Administration in attendance were Superintendent Dan Cox, High School Principal Brett Allen, Grade School Principal Nancy Werden and Assistant Principal Ryan McGowen
B. Approval of agenda
Renner made a motion to approve the regular agenda as presented. Kinderseconded the motion. On a roll call vote:Lamore, Peterson, Renner, Kinder, and Tingle voted to approve the agenda as posted.Legendre and Skertich absent.
II. Recognition of Public/Visitors
President Tingle acknowledged Kelly Costa, reporter from the Staunton Star Times, Randy Anderson, and Anne Noble, Managing Director of Stifel.
III.. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Bills/Payroll/Treasurer's Report for November
B. Approval of Minutes from January, 2017
C. Approval of Personnel:
- Approval of SHS Girls Soccer Head Coach – Brad Fulk
- Approval of SJH Cheerleading Sponsor – Brooke Dugger
- Approval of SJH Asst. Track Coach - No action
- Approval of Volunteers – Zach Slightom/SHS Football
- Recognition of Resignations – The Board recognizes the resignation of Troy Redfern, with thanks for service, as SJH Assistant Baseball Coach.
- Approval of Bus Chaperone Job Description
D. Acceptance of Donations: Madison Communications – 9 LCD Monitors
E. Declaration of Surplus equipment- Band equipment
F.Destruction of Closed Session Recordings older than 18 months
Superintendent Cox recommended the approval of the consent agenda asamended (Personnel will become IX E) . Renner made a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended. Petersonseconded the motion. On a roll call vote: Lamore, Peterson, Renner, Kinder and Tingle voted to approve the agenda as amended.Legendre and Skertich absent.
IV.Administrator Reports
A. Principals reports:
Grade School by Nancy Werden
Girls’ Volleyball
The Girls’ Regional Volleyball games will be at the end of this month for the 7th grade girls and the beginning of March for the 8th grade girls. We are hosting the 8th Grade Regional games.
Olympiad
Our students in the elementary and junior high competed in the Olympiad that the Regional Office organized this month.Grades 3-8 competed in teams of four. These competitions are a good way for students to work in teams and solve problems using reasoning skills, designing and building structures, and learning how to solve problems in new and innovative ways.
FFA Week
The FFA students will be working with the elementary to teach them about Agriculture the week of February 20.
PARCC Testing
PARCC Testing will begin the second week of March and run through the first two weeks of April.
ROE Pilot Program
Trista Manar will be working within our building to help with family engagement and identifying student needs. Trista is working through her grant and piloting a program with Staunton and a couple of districts in the area. She will be coming in a couple of times each month until the end of the year and work with us to match needs and services.
Out of School Suspensions for February include 1 out of school suspension for 6 days.
High School by Brett Allen
FFA Week took place last week (Feb 21st – 24th).
. Monday – No School
Tuesday – Tractor Day / Dress Like a Farmer Day
Wednesday – Muddiest Truck Day / Camo Day
Thursday – Blue & Gold Day / Faculty Appreciation Day
*Lunch was provided to all staff in the Ag Shop
Friday – Barnyard Zoo Day / FFA Week T-Shirt Day
Mini Ag Lessons took place for the Elementary/J.H.
Students have completed the registration process for next school year. Mrs. Cress and Mr. Allen will start developing the schedule and deciding on the course offerings over the next few weeks.
Mr. Allen congratulated the following students for receiving the honor of being a 2017 Silver Medallion recipient for Staunton High School:
Colin Robertson, Mallory Feldmann, Jonathan McEnery, Kelsey Bone, Markelle Reising, Savannah Welch, Kathryn Hagans, Abbie Peterson, Annamarie Shearlock, Marcella McCalla, Hannah Pritchett, & Austin Parish.
These students represent the top 8% of students in the senior class and will be honored at an awards ceremony at Lewis & Clark Community College later this spring.
Mr. Allen congratulated our senior students who participated in the Senior Gifted Olympiad that took place in Carlinville on February 14th. One of our teams, made up of the following students: Jonathan McEnery, Markelle Reising, Marcella McCalla, & Abbie Peterson, finished in 2nd place. They were in competition with over 30 other teams in ROE #40.
The SHS Trap Team is gearing up for the upcoming season and has 39 members. They are currently completing their mandated safety trainings before starting competition.
The Bulldog Betterment Club is planning a ‘Clean-Up Day’ to take place on Saturday, March 4th, in which they will be picking up any litter that has been thrown on streets leading up to the school.
This year’s spring musical will be Thoroughly Modern Millie, and will be performed May 5th & 6th in the auditorium. Rehearsals for the musical will begin soon.
The Post Prom will be holding an Iron Man Volleyball Tournament on Friday, March 24th @ 7:00 PM in the Main Gym.
.One student was suspended out-of-school since the January 2017 Board of Education Meeting.
B. Superintendent Dan Cox
- Mr. Cox reported that Dex's Tree Service has removed the trees and it went very well. He complimented them on the cleanup of the trees.
- Mr. Cox informed the Board that the next IASB Spring Division Meeting will be held at Greenville Jr. High on March 30th.
- During the Teacher’s Institute on January 3 faculty and staff met with Larry Newman and Scott Brooks on creating safe schools environment. The goals for the day were to begin discussions and action steps on developing working definitions of bullying and cyberbullying, common language, a comprehensive approach to identification and prevention, and identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement within the District.
During the middle of January several faculty and staff viewed a documentary, Paper Tigers, focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and Trauma Informed Practice. During the school improvement day on February 3rd faculty and staff continued the discussion on ACE’s, identifying the most prevalent within our schools, and discussing action steps for recognition and response.
Operations and Maintenance Report
- Athletic Facilities
The new fence surrounding the softball outfield and the bullpen for the baseball field are nearly completed.
- Drainage Ditch
The city of Staunton has completed the work for the drainage ditch on the back of the property near the FFA plot field.
- Roof Damage
The wind damage to the roof of the school was presented and discussed before turning over the claim to the insurance.
- Roof Reseaming
The first phase of the roof projects have begun. The seaming was completed last week.
- Roof Color
The Board was given a choice between grey(the color we have now) or black (which is more durable and more energy efficient).
- Asbestos Removal
Asbestos was found in the third grade classroom windows. GRP, working with the Illinois Department of Public Health, was advised that a full containment was not needed, thus saving the District approximately $70,000.
- Lead sampling
Staunton has been proactive in testing our water faucets and has met all the requirements for lead levels.
Finance
- Financial Profile Score Report
We are classified at 3.55 Financial recognition by the State Board of Education!!
- Insurance Bidding
The District will be bidding property and liability insurance next year. It will continue to be bid every three years.
- Financial Conditions
The District has yet to receive a mandated categorical payment for FY17. Thus far the running total owed to the District is $317,000 and growing. This does not account for the $2 million in general state aid the District has lost during the proration era since 2012.The district relies on 52% of its funding to come from the state (the average is 26%).Illinois maintains a $5.2 billion deficit gap (and growing).A proposed property tax freeze would also hamper the District's finances. Because we are a tax capped District, we would not even receive the revenue for CPI-U which will equal approximately $100,000 annually. Mr. Cox went on to tell the Board that we will need to make revenue and/or expenditure adjustments by $100,000 to $200,000. He noted that once again we will need to consider raising fees and rely more heavily on fundraising efforts by booster clubs and the community to continue to provide the various extra-curricular programs offered to students. He reiterated that District #6 and the rest of the schools throughout the state have not been battling financial crisis due to mismanagement at the local level. Instead, the State's gross underfunding through a model that is the most inadequate and inequitable in the nation has placed districts in the position of continuously making difficult decisions. In January he presented the "State of the District" report that optimistically hoped for a balanced budget by next year. But now, with the continued delay in revenue and lack of a State Budget for nearly two years, that optimism is fading. In order to have a balanced budget, we must ask "at what cost?"
During the planning stages of the FY18 budget people must remember that the Board has reduced the deficit by an estimated 77% (from $625,503 down to $141,300) and down 86% from a deficit of just over $1,000,000 two years ago. He complemented faculty and staff for their exemplary efforts to provide quality education and programs to students despite fewer resources, having the highest class sizes in the area, being the only District in the area with one Counselor, and having the fewest Social Workers in the area.
- Additional Budget Considerations
FY17MCAT-1st payment expected no earlier than May. Likely only 1-2 payments.
FY18 Property Tax Freeze= $100,000 less revenue
Decline in Federal Grants: Impact unknown
Pension cost shift: Impact unknown (avg. TRS pension is $49K per year) and no social security-the District has paid in, the State has not.
V. Financial Report
A. Informational Discussion of Madison County 1 Cent School Facilities Occupation Tax
On April 4, 2017, the voters of Madison County will be asked to approve a proposal to provide funding to all county school districts through a 1-cent sales tax increase.We have 311 students in Madison County which would, if passed, give the District approximately $65,000 in new revenue. The revenue from this sales tax can only be used to maintain and improve school facilities or to make payments on existing bond debt and cannot be used for salaries and benefits. Mr. Cox reminded the Board that the sales tax revenues can be used for:
New or remodeled school facilities
Additions and renovations
Land acquisitions
Safety and security improvements
Energy efficiency
Paying off building bonds
Architectural planning and engineering
Durable Equipment
The sales tax revenues cannot be used for operating costs such as:
Salaries and benefits
Instructional costs
Textbooks and computers
Moveable equipment
School Buses
Operating Costs
Unlike many types of sales tax, this specific tax does not tax items that many people think to be essential to families, and especially, senior citizens. The increased sales tax does not apply to:
Cars, trucks, ATV’s boats, and RV or mobile homes
Unprepared food (groceries)
Medicine including prescriptions drugs and over the counter drugs
Farm equipment, parts and farm inputs
In summary, if it is not currently taxed, it will not be taxed
Staunton CUSD #6 is in the process of completing much needed maintenance work to roofing, building envelope, and HVAC in many areas throughout the District. The same improvements are needed at the 1924 section of the high school immediately. The 1-cent sales tax would allow the district to begin the much needed improvements at the high school and ensure the facilities provide a safe, secure and comfortable learning environment for generations to come.
B. Discussion of Macoupin County 1 Cent School Facilities Occupation Tax Revenue Study
Anne Noble, Managing Director of Stifel, told the Board that projections within the report are more conservative that what were initially used when projecting future revenue. The reason for this is Macoupin County has an unusually wide rand of untaxed items than the state average. Groceries and medications are too heavily weighted when compared to retail and restaurants within the county. Over the past several years sales tax collections have declined in relationship to the overall population declining by 12%. Staunton has stayed relatively flat, unlike neighboring districts who are declining in enrollment. Again, the report is conservative projecting no growth in collections moving forward. As a result the District will project $50,000 in annual revenue versus the initial projection of $90,000 after bonds are sold.
C. Consideration of a Resolution Providing for the Issue of not to Exceed $2,900,000 General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) of the District for the Purpose of Improving the Sites of and Altering, Repairing and Equipping School Buildings and Facilities, Providing for the Pledge of Certain Revenues to the Payment of the Bonds and the Levy of Taxes to Pay the Bonds if the Pledged Revenues are Insufficient and Providing for the Sale of the Bonds to the Purchaser Thereof
Anne Noble also told the Board that Staunton will issue alternate revenue bonds in the amount of $2.9 million (at 4.04% interest) to complete capital improvements to building infrastructure throughout the District as financed via the County Schools Facility Occupation Tax (CSFST). Currently bonds will be issued at 24.5 years (maturity date Jan. 1, 2044 with the option to refinance at 9-10 years (Jan.1, 2027 will be the "optional redemption date" where the Board can 1) pay off the entire bond, or 2) reconstruction the bond). The Board was also told that approximately $50,000 of the excess bond sales tax revenue can be used for other purposes. This method of financing will result inno increase to property taxes.
The scope of work includes roof replacements, tuck-pointing/sealing/lintel replacement, window replacement, door replacement, HVAC replacement, electrical repair/upgrade, HS shop exhaust system replacement, controls instillation, drop ceiling instillation. All scope of work has been approved by the Board via resolution prior to voter approval of the CSFST.
The Superintendent recommends approval of the Resolution Providing for the Issue of not to Exceed $2,900,000 General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) of the District for the Purpose of Improving the Sites of and Altering, Repairing and Equipping School Buildings and Facilities, Providing for the Pledge of Certain Revenues to the Payment of the Bonds and the Levy of Taxes to Pay the Bonds if the Pledged Revenues are Insufficient and Providing for the Sale of the Bonds to the Purchaser Thereof.Tingle made a motionto approve the Resolution Providing for the Issue of not to Exceed $2,900,000 General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) of the District for the Purpose of Improving the Sites of and Altering, Repairing and Equipping School Buildings and Facilities, Providing for the Pledge of Certain Revenues to the Payment of the Bonds and the Levy of Taxes to Pay the Bonds if the Pledged Revenues are Insufficient and Providing for the Sale of the Bonds to the Purchaser Thereof. Renner seconded the motion. On a roll call vote: Lamore, Peterson, Renner, Kinder and Tingle voted to approve the Resolution as presented.Legendre and Skertich absent. We will get our money from the sale of the bonds on March 15th.
D. Discussion of FY18 Budget Preparation
- Reduction in Force
We will have one retirement this year in first grade. On paper to continue to strive to have a balanced budget the District will need to absorb this position. He does not recommend this because we will average 27 students per class in 1st grade. Recalling a RIFed teacher from last year will lower the students per class to 20. As a alternate to recalling the teacher who was RIFed is to cut two sections of PK (but for every dollar spent in PK we get $6 back) or to regress to 1/2 day kindergarten. He does not recommend either of those two options. While RIF at the HS is possible, and likely needed, the question remains at the expense of what program?