Minutes November 15, 2012

Board of Special Education Page -3-

LINCOLN-WAY AREA SPECIAL EDUCATION

Joint Agreement District 843

MINUTES

Regular Meeting, November 15, 2012

Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Special Education, Will County, Illinois, held at Pioneer Grove Educational Center, 601 Willow Street, Frankfort, IL 60423, at 7:00 p.m. on the 15th day of November, 2012.

I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by President Katherine Moore at 7:00 p.m.

II. ROLL CALL

Present: Maureen Broderick, substituting for Deborah Kedzior, arrived at 7:07 p.m. (District #122), Timothy Doyle (District #114), Mary Kenny (District #161), Katherine Moore (District #159), Patrick Usher (District #157C)

Absent: James Gast (District #210) and Deborah Kedzior (District #122)

Staff Present: Dr. Sally H. Bintz, Director

Craig Englert, Assistant Director for Finance and Operations

Cheryl Della Penna, Administrative Assistant

David Armbrecht, District 843 Transportation Supervisor

DiAnne Bielinski, Pioneer Grove Principal

Judy Boyens, supervisor

Julie Egan, supervisor

Johanna Frick, teacher

Mollie Frick, supervisor

Sue Fronek, speech pathologist

Jeanne Hartung, teacher

Robin Latman, supervisor

Jennifer Olech, teacher

Pam Pedziwiatr, speech pathologist

Ina Phelps, teacher

Natalie Pufahl, teacher

Sarah Rexroad, supervisor

Anne Trovato, speech pathologist

Lisa Villarrubia, teacher

Visitors Present: Ken Buck

Todd Hayden, Cooperative Attorney

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING AND CLOSED SESSION OF OCTOBER 18, 2012

A motion was made by Mary Kenny and seconded by Timothy Doyle to approve the minutes of the Regular and Closed Session Meetings of October 18, 2012.

Voting Aye: Doyle, Kenny, Moore, Usher

Motion carried: 4 Aye, 0 Nay

IV. PUBLIC COMMENT

There were no comments.

MOVE AGENDA ITEM ON AGENDA

A motion was made by Timothy Doyle and seconded by Mary Kenny to move the Director’s Report to the beginning of the REPORTS section of the Agenda.

Voting Aye: Doyle, Kenny, Moore, Usher

Motion carried: 4 Aye, 0 Nay

V. REPORTS

C. Director’s Report

1. Foundation

Dr. Bintz informed the Governing Board that the recipients of the 2012 Foundation Grants were in the audience to be recognized and awarded their grants. This year the Foundation provided $6,000 in grants. Following are the staff members who received grants:

STAFF MEMBER GRANT REQUEST

Gail Malvestuto - - - - - Grant application to work in the summer of 2013 to expand

Andrea Teichmiller social thinking activities

Sue Fronek

Lisa Villarrubia - - - - - Computerized skill building program called IXL Math

Jennifer Olech - - - - - Hearing Awareness Activity Kit (HAAK)

Tracey Lesh - - - - - Dukane LCD Projector, VGA adapter for iPad, iTune gift cards

Natalie Pufahl - - - - - TT-12 Interactive Document Camera

Sarah Rexroad - - - - - ABAS-II Examination Kit with Intervention Planner and Scoring Assistant

Anne Trovato - - - - - iPod touch player, laptop headphones with microphone, Philips

Fidelio docking speaker

Debbie Novelli - - - - - iPad, accessories, iTune card, two year extended warranty

and EC Team

Robin Latman - - - - - Webcam with microphone, captel phone, weather radio, Sonic book

alarm clock, clarity alert master, strobe light, and smoke detector

Ina Phelps - - - - - Age/grade appropriate educational games and learning activities

Pam Pedziwiatr

Christine Sicinski

Sandy Gardner

Trish Roberts

Madeline Hurley

The Foundation is also sponsoring a 50/50 holiday cash raffle. Fifty percent of the monies will be awarded to one winner. Fifty percent of the monies generated will be held by the Foundation to fund mini-grant requests submitted by Cooperative staff to benefit the Cooperative’s classes and students. These additional funds to the Foundation should allow for grants to be awarded during the middle of the school year. The Foundation will sponsor a spring fashion and variety show fund raiser on March 23, 2013. Dr. Bintz and Mrs. Moore expressed appreciation to Sue Fronek for her organization skills in putting together this event.

2. Parent Advisory Council

Dr. Bintz reported that the Parent University sponsored by the Parent Advisory Council on November 3, 2012 at the Pioneer Grove Educational Center was a success. This event was well organized and attended. Mr. Buck, president of PLASE, was in the audience and Dr. Bintz indicated that this year the Parent Advisory Council and PLASE worked together on this program and she appreciated the efforts extended by both organizations for the success of this activity.

3. Joint Site and Long Range Planning Committee

Dr. Bintz indicated that she is recommending that the Joint Site and Long Ranged Planning Committee postpone future meetings. The director has met and had discussions with some of the member districts regarding student projections for next year. At this time the Pioneer Grove numbers that were projected cannot be confirmed and more analysis is required.

4. Student Enrollment Report

Dr. Bintz briefly reviewed the 2012 Student Enrollment Report.

5. Blackboard Connect

Dr. Bintz stated that the Cooperative is up and running the new staff and parent automated calling system (Blackboard Connect) to be utilized for emergency school closings and other important Cooperative information.

A. Treasurer’s Report – Financial and Payables

Mr. Englert reviewed the Treasurer’s Report with the Governing Board.

B. Review of Advisory Committee Minutes

Dr. Bintz reviewed the minutes from the November 13, 2012 Advisory Meeting.

D. Principals’ Reports

Mackay Education Center

Dr. Bintz stated that Debbie Heffernan was in Denver, Colorado presenting at the University Council for Educational Administration Convention. The Director indicated the students have been participating in social interaction activities at Paradise Park Assisted Living Center in New Lenox to fulfill their community service. Enrollment is up at the Center.

Pioneer Grove Educational Center

DiAnne Bielinski reported on the recent family sensory night activity that was held on November 13. The art work in Pioneer Grove was complimented and the art teacher, Mrs. Berezin, was recognized for her involvement with the students. Mrs. Bielinski also reported that the Prestwick Country Club Ladies Social Group have made donations to Pioneer Grove and new projects that the students create are sent to the Country Club Social Group to show appreciation for their generous donations

VI. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Acting on the recommendation of the Director, Timothy Doyle moved, seconded by Mary Kenny for the Governing Board to ratify the Consent Agenda as follows:

A. Approval of Current Payables

Current payables were presented for review in each respective fund.

B. Approval of Financial Statement

Dr. Bintz provided verbal Information regarding the Financial Statement for the month of October 2012 and investments through November 15, 2012.

C. Approval of Personnel Items as Listed:

1. Resignation

Non-Certified Staff

Lauren Garvick, student worker, effective November 13, 2012.

Lourdes Sanchez, bus driver, effective November 9, 2012.

Laura Wathen, bus driver, effective October 29, 2012.

2. Employment

Certified Staff

Millie Herbst, speech pathologist, effective November 5 through May 29, 2013.-

Non-Certified Staff

Sara Cambron, student worker, effective November 20, 2012.

Jennifer Dahlman, paraprofessional at Pioneer Grove Educational Center, effective October 29, 2012.

John Hart, paraprofessional at Oakview School, effective October 24, 2012.

William LaBeau, bus driver, effective November 15, 2012.

Mark Martin, bus monitor, effective October 29, 2012.

Matt Shearer, paraprofessional, STEP program at Mokena Elementary School, effective November 12, 2012.

Todd Stevens, paraprofessional at Pioneer Grove Educational Center, effective November 5, 2012.

3. Parental Leave

Carrie Grabowski, speech pathologist, effective November 5, 2012 through the end of the 2012-13 school year.

D. FOIA Request

None were received.

CONSENT VOTE:

Voting Aye: Broderick, Doyle, Kenny, Moore, Usher

Motion carried: 5 Aye, 0 Nay

VII. CLOSED SESSION

A motion was made by Mary Kenny and seconded by Patrick Usher to move to closed session at

8:02 p.m. for the purpose of discussing:

A.  The appointment, employment, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the Cooperative.

Voting Aye: Broderick, Doyle, Kenny, Moore, Usher

Motion carried: 5 Aye, 0 Nay

OPEN SESSION

A motion was made by Timothy Doyle and seconded by Mary Kenny to return to open session at 8:22 p.m. On voice vote the motion carried.

VIII. ACTION ITEMS

A. Holiday Office Schedule

A motion was made by Maureen Broderick and seconded by Patrick Usher to approve the Holiday Schedule for District 843 to close the District Office on December 24 and 31, 2012.

Voting Aye: Broderick, Doyle, Kenny, Moore, Usher

Motion carried: 5 Aye, 0 Nay

B. Employee Dismissal/Removal of Certified and Non-Certified Personnel

A motion was made by Maureen Broderick and seconded by Timothy Doyle to approve the removal of employee 3438 due to employee misconduct effective October 31, 2012.

Voting Aye: Broderick, Doyle, Kenny, Moore, Usher

Motion carried: 5 Aye, 0 Nay

C. Employee Resignation

A motion was made by Maureen Broderick and seconded by Timothy Doyle to accept the resignation of employee 3276 and to approve the resignation agreement with that employee.

Voting Aye: Broderick, Doyle, Kenny, Moore, Usher

Motion carried: 5 Aye, 0 Nay

IX. INFORMATION ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next regular meeting of the Board of Special Education will be held at 7:00 p.m. on December 20, 2012 at the Administrative Center, Frankfort, IL.
X. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Timothy Doyle and seconded by Mary Kenny that the meeting be adjourned. All members voted Aye. Motion carried. President Moore declared the meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl A. Della Penna,

Administrative Assistant

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President

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Secretary