SENECA GRADE SCHOOL

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

 

 

The Board of Education held budget hearing at 6:45 p.m. on September 24, 2008 at the Seneca Grade School North Campus Board Room. 

 

President Blalock called for roll call.

 

Present:  Baker, Claggett, Thompson, Roseland, and Blalock. 

Absent:  Barla, Bedeker

 

No one was present with questions from the public.

 

Thompson moved to adjourn the hearing; seconded by Claggett at 6:55 p.m.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock.

Nays:  None

 

 

The board of Education met for their regular scheduled meeting at 7:00 p.m. on September 24th, 2008 at the Seneca Grade School North Campus Board Room.

 

President Blalock called for roll call.

 

Present:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Absent:  Barla and Bedeker

 

Claggett moved to accept the minutes from the August 20, 2008; seconded by Thompson. 

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Hearing of Citizens:  None Present

 

Hearing of Teachers:  Supt. Misener introduced to the Seneca Grade School Board of Education the new employees.  Casey Bronson, Title One Reading teacher, Sherilyn Daniels, Elementary P.E. teacher, Michael Richards, Music teacher, Jycee Feiner, 4th grade teacher, Kellee Widman, nurse and Lori Haines, 3rd grade academic assistant.  They are all wonderful assets to the staff at Seneca Grade School.  Jen Zelko and Margi Monahan, 2nd grade teachers were both present.  Jen reported on the adjustments in reading, grouping Tiers II & III students and creating literacy centers.  Teachers have been working on writing a grant for a science field trip to Pilchner Park.  They also just completed very useful training with the new AIMSweb assessment software. 

 

 

Thompson moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report and investments as given by secretary:  Education $424,077.20; Building $83,73879; Transportation $13,553.10; IMRF $13,731.05; Tort $51,192.28; Life Safety $7,545.70; Totaling $593,838.12; seconded by Baker.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Claggett moved to pay the following monthly bills:  Education $116,450.15; Building $48,224.80; Transportation $9,731.18; Tort $51,192.28; Life Safety 7,545.70; Total $233,144.11; seconded by Roseland.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Mike Vezzetti gave his annual fiscal year end presentation.  He discussed the current markets and assured the board that all investment is in full compliance with the State of Illinois Complied Statutes.  

 

Supt. Misener reviewed the audit with the board.  Everything was in order.  Thompson moved to accept the 2007-08 audit; seconded by Baker.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Claggett moved to adopt the 2008-2009 budget; seconded by Thompson

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Claggett moved to enter into a 36 month electricity agreememt with MidAmerican Energy; seconded by Thompson. 

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

 

Baker moved to approve the annual Application for Recognition for both the North and South Campus; seconded by Roseland.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Supt. Misener reviewed the school report card test scores and congratulated the teachers for doing a fine job accomplishing scores everyone should be proud of.  Roseland moved to approve the 2007-2008 school report card; seconded by Thompson.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Claggett moved to set Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00 p.m. for 8th grade graduation ceremonies; seconded by Baker.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Supt. Misener thanked the American Legion Post 457, the Seneca High School FFA, the Men’s Choir, Seneca Grade School Band and Chorus, Mrs. Novotney and the Character Counts Committee for their participation and planning of the Freedom Walk. 

 

Principal Severson reported Wednesday was a ˝ day, school improvement.  Teachers attended SOCS web training.  This will give teachers additional knowledge in setting up profiles and creating links to classroom assignments, for parents to assess from home on the Seneca Grade School website.   The 8th graders attended the GAVC Career Fair on Sept. 9th.  This event gave students hands on opportunities to participate in numerous demonstration pertaining to welders, electricians, carpenters and bricklayers. The 5th grade students have joined an educational partnership with North American Hydro.  This program supports discussions on alternative energy sources.  Students are learning different ways electricity can be produced and watched various demonstrations on solar power.  On September 19th the students toured the Dayton Hydro-Electric plant and saw how electricity was produced. 

 

Principal McGhee reported Monday, September 29th will be the P.S.O. Family Book Fair night.  She encouraged all families to attend.  She announced that Character Counts has set up a new “Pirate” incentive program for good behavior.  Students can earn pirate praise slips for demonstrating character counts traits.  Weekly winners will be drawn from the treasure box and students earning 10 pirate slips will be awarded “A Kid of Character” award and their picture displayed.  She also explained how the new student schedules have build in time for teachers to team by grade level which has been a very useful tool to help focus on development of the new reading series. Mrs. McGhee showed the board different reports that the reading specialist and teachers will have access to when using AIMSweb for assessment of their students.  Parents will be receiving assessment reports three times a year.  She will be explaining further details to parent in her next newsletter. 

 

Thompson moved to go into Executive Session at 8:16 p.m. for personnel and legal; seconded by Claggett.

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Thompson moved to return to Open Session at 8:56 p.m.; seconded by Claggett

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Thompson moved to hire Keri Niswonger, as classroom aide and help assist with the new RTI reading initiative; seconded by Claggett. 

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

Board read thank you note from Cindy Bogren for the flowers she received while she was in the hospital.   

 

Baker moved to adjourn at 8:58 p.m.; seconded by Thompson

 

Yeas:  Baker, Claggett, Roseland, Thompson, and Blalock

Nays:  None

 

 

 

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Teachers Present:  Jen Zelko

                               Margi Monahan

                               Sherilyn Daniels

                               Michael Richards

                               Casey Bronson

                               Jycee Feiner

Staff Present:         Lori Haines

                              Kellee Widman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________    ______________________________

Approved                             Date                                       Dianne Bushman, Secretary