Carbondale Reporter

Carbondale Elementary School District #95 Board of Education met November 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

1. Roll Call:

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Mr. John Major, President

Mr. Carlton Smith, Vice President

Ms. Erinn Murphy, Secretary

Ms. Michelle Connet

Ms. Catherine Field

Ms. Natasha Zaretsky

Administrators present:

Dr. Elizabeth Lewin, Interim Superinendent

Mr. Justin M. Miller, Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Colleen Doyle-Parrott, Director of Curriculum/Instruction & Assessments

Ms. Zeppelyn Brewer, Director of Pupil Services

Roll Call

2. Executive Session 6:05 pm

Roll Call:

Mr. John Major, President

Mr. Carlton Smith, Vice President

Ms. Erinn Murphy, Secretary

Ms. Michelle Connet

Ms. Catherine Field

Mr. Gary Shepherd

Ms. Natasha Zaretsky

Smith moved, seconded by Field, to enter Executive Session at 6:05 PM for the purpose of discussing performance, evaluation and compensation of specific personnel matters, matters relating to student discipline, matters relating to collective bargaining, and matters relating to pending litigation.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Murphy, Connet, Field, Shepherd, Zaretsky, Major, Smith

No votes: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

Executive Session adjourned at 7:10 pm.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Major, Connet, Field, Shepherd, Zaretsky, Murphy, Smith

No: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

3. Public Comments

Ashaki Roberts spoke regarding her continuous issues with the bus driver not consistently picking her daughter up at the corner of Robert Stalls and Chestnut. The bus company is aware of the issues. Mr. Miller is involved with trying to get the issue resolved.

Jennifer Hartlieb read the following statement on behalf of the CEA: Teachers have expressed concerns about the curriculum mapping process. Teachers appreciate the opportunity to have input and involvement. Yet, we are the ones being expected to take on all of the work, on our own time, for no pay, while we have a very highly paid curriculum director. We are educated professionals who should not be expected to volunteer our time and work for free. You would never expect this of your doctor, dentist or district attorney. While it is appreciated that a small portion of this project will take place on SIP days, it is disappointing that teachers have been asked to choose mapping on November 21st. This SIP day was specifically set aside, per the collective bargaining agreement, for teachers to work in their classrooms on items of their own choosing without administrative direction. The current curriculum mapping schedule includes dates in March and possible dates as late as May. It is imperative that mapping be finished long before May. It was stated at the last board meeting that scheduling issues at CMS can not be addressed before curriculum mapping is finished. Time is also required to research and purchase desperately needed materials before the start of the next school year. Mapping alone will not fix the problems. The school report card indicates that there were many teacher absences in previous school years. In one building teachers have been asked to reflect upon how their absence affects student achievement. I would like to ask YOU to reflect upon how school climate affects teacher attendance. One of our members has had to miss work due to being punched in the jaw by a student, which required x-rays and follow up care. We have other teachers who found out the evening before the first day of student attendance that their job assignment was changed. We have another teacher who was notified in October of a job assignment change. I ask you to reflect upon the stress this causes and how THAT might affect teacher attendance. In the past few years, a new policy was implemented by administration, which forced teachers to take half days off for appointments when they didn’t interfere with the workday with students such as a 3:30pm doctor’s appointment. Teachers are not to blame for the low achievement or our students. We have been in survival mode for the last 6 years, and to this day we have still not been thrown a life preserver. We have continually brought district problems to attention for the past 6 years. While problems are finally being acknowledged, the teachers are being made to feel that it is their fault. We are also very concerned that that middle school AT teacher received an involuntary transfer and instructional assignment change in October. The notification process for this involuntary transfer and instructional change did not take place according to the collective bargaining agreement. This change created schedule disruptions for a number of students who now will have to acclimate to a new teacher. The AT room is supplied for teaching students who read at a high level and now this teacher is being required to accommodate students who have learning difficulties and struggle with reading. How can this possibly be what is best for students? We have to find a way to create positive change now. Our students can’t afford to wait one more day.

Discussion: Dr. Lewin responded that all teachers were given the option to volunteer to participate in curriculum mapping due to the complaints she had received about teachers not having the option to be involved. Since the statement read is contradicting what the teacher originally stated to Dr. Lewin, they are welcome to change their mind about participating in the curriculum mapping process.

4. Approval of Agenda

Murphy moved, seconded by Shepherd, Recommend approving the Agenda:

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Murphy, Connet, Field, Shepherd, Zaretsky, Major, Smith

No votes: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

Consent Agenda Items

Shepherd moved, seconded by Zaretsky, Recommend approving Consent Agenda Items 5.1 – Minutes, 5.2- Financial Reports, and 5.3-Communications

Yes votes: Murphy, Field, Shepherd, Zaretsky, Major, Smith

No votes: None

Abstain: Connet

Absent: None

Motion carried

Minutes

5.11 Regular – October 26, 2017 5.12 Executive – October 26, 2017

5.2 Financial Reports

5.21 Approval of Bills 5.22 Treasurer’s Report

5.23 Monthly Budget Report

5.24 School Activity Fund Reports

5.3 Communications

5.31 FOIA Requests – None

5.32 Donations - None

6. Committee Reports

6.1 President’s Remarks – John Major

6.11 • 2017 IASB Joint Annual Conference, November 17-19, 2017 in

Chicago, IL

• Jim Helton, IASB Representative will present survey data from staff/community focus group meeting on November 28, 2017.

• Superintendent Candidate Interviews are December 6 & 7 , 2017 at 5:00pm. There are 38 applicants. The best 6 will be chosen. December 13, 2017 will be a Meet and Greet of the final candidates and interviews at 5:00pm. The goal is to have a new Superintendent hired by January 2018.

6.2 Committee Reports –

6.21 Public Relations Committee Report – Erinn Murphy

• The Public Relations Committee last met on October 3, 2017 at 4:00pm at the CES95 Administrative Center

• The Carbondale Connection will hold it’s first forum on November 30, 2017 from 6:00-7:30pm at the CES Administrative Center to gather community feedback regarding the Superintendent search.

• The December 5, 2017 meeting has been cancelled and the next meeting is scheduled for February 6, 2018 at the CES Administrative Center at 4:00pm.

6.3 District Reports

6.31 Director of Pupil Services, Zeppelyn Brewer - None

6.32 Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessments, Colleen Doyle-Parrott

• Colleen introduced Jennifer Ramasami a graduate student in the Psychology Department at SIU who is conducting a study on pretend play and creativity. The study is for children K-5 and the purpose is to learn more about child play and creativity development. Students will be recruited from Lewis, Parrish, and Thomas schools within District 95. The study will include Hispanic and non-Hispanic children from the traditional classrooms receiving standard instruction or Shelter English and English as a second language (ELL) services and children within the two-way immersion program. Questionnaires and Consent forms will be sent home with students.

6.33 Assistant Superintendent, Justin Miller

• Mr. Miller presented job descriptions for the recommendation of a full- time Parent Education and a part-time ECH Coordinator that will be funded from the ECH 0-3 grant money.

• The 1 percent sales taxes money was received. Plans to upgrade the security cameras and purchase of additional cameras will be implemented.

6.34 Interim Superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Lewin

• A corrected suspension report for September and the October suspension report was distributed to the Board

• Dr. Lewin suggested different workshops that should be attended by those going to the joint annual conference so that more information can be gathered vs. everyone attending the same workshops.

7. Old Business - None

8 New Business

8.1 Action on Classified Personnel

8.11 Action on Resignations

Murphy moved, seconded by Connet, Recommend accepting the resignations of Cedric Malone, Instructional Aide effective November 10, 2017 and Sabrina Steels, EOC Aide effective November 21, 2017.

Voice Vote

Yes votes: Shepherd, Field, Zaretsky, Major, Murphy, Connet, Smith

No votes: None

Abstained: None

Absent: None

Motion carried

8.12 Employment of Student Supervisor Aide

Field moved, seconded by Shepherd, Recommend the employment of Corey Cawthon as a Student Supervisor Aide for the 2017-2018 school year, pending a clear CBI.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Shepherd, Field, Zaretsky, Major, Murphy, Connet, Smith

No votes: None

Abstained: None

Absent: None

Motion carried

8.13 Employment of LPN Nurses – Tabled

Smith moved, seconded by Connet, Recommend the employment of _____ as LPN Nurse for the 2017 – 2018 school year, pending a clear CBI.

Voice Vote

Yes votes: Major, Connet, Field, Murphy, Zaretsky, Shepherd, Smith

No votes: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

8.2 Action on Certified Personnel

8.21 Action on ECH 0-3 Grant Funded Family Educator Position

Field moved, seconded by Shepherd, Recommend changing the ECH 0-3 grant funded Family Educator position from a half-time position to a full-time position starting November 15, 2017.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Field, Shepherd, Zaretsky, Major, Connet, Murphy, Smith

No votes: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

8.22 Action on ECH 0-3 Grant Funds

Field moved, seconded by Smith, Recommend approving the posting of a full-time Family Educator and a half-time ECH Coordinator both funded through the ECH 0-3 Grant.

Roll Call Vote:

Yes votes: Zaretsky, Major, Connet, Field, Shepherd, Murphy, Smith

No votes: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

8.3 Action on Levy Resolution

Murphy moved, seconded by Smith, Recommend approval of the Resolution to file a Tax Levy for the 2017 tax year for less than 5% of the prior year’s tax extension.

Roll Call Vote

Yes votes: Zaretsky, Major, Connet, Field, Shepherd, Murphy, Smith

No votes: None

Absent: None

Motion carried.

9. Next Scheduled Meetings

9.1 Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Special Board Meeting (Open To The Public)

CES95 Administrative Center

5:00 pm

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Board Member Retreat

Carbondale Middle School Library

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Wednesday, December 6 and Thursday, December 7, 2017

Superintendent Candidate Interviews

CES95 Administrative Center

5:00 pm

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Superintendent Candidate Meet & Greet (Open To The Public)

Interviews – 2ND round (Closed Session)

CES95 Administrative Center

5:00 pm

*Thursday, December 14, 2017

Regular Board Meeting (Open To The Public)

CES95 Administrative Center

6:00 pm

6:05 pm Motion and Roll Call Vote to go into Executive Session (Closed) for the purpose of discussing matters relating to the performance, evaluation and compensation of specific personnel, matters relating to student discipline, matters relating to collective bargaining, and matters relating to pending litigation. 7:00 PM Reconvene Regular Board Meeting Public Session (Open To The Public)

*This Is Not A Fourth Thursday

10 Public Comments (Name & Address of Person Speaking)

Margaret Nesbitt commented on the suspension report and asked if the reasons for the suspensions can be given. Ms. Nesbitt gave an update on the success of the I Can Read Denim and Diamonds Fundraiser. Ms. Nesbitt also reported that the I Can Read program has a Positive Incentive Program at CMS on December 16, 2017.

11. Adjournment

Smith moved, seconded by Shepherd, Recommend Adjournment at 8:41PM.

Voice Vote:

Yes votes: Major, Connet, Field, Shepherd, Zaretsky, Murphy

No votes: None

Absent: Smith

Motion carried.

https://www.ces95.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=77&dataid=1885&FileName=BOE%20Minutes_%20November%2014%202017.pdf