Carbondale Reporter

Galena Unit School District #120 Board of Education met July 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

1. Welcome

1.1 Call to Order – The Board of Education of Galena Unit School District #120 held their Business Meeting in the Galena Middle School Art Room (moved from the library) on July 7, 2020. The meeting was called to order at 6:07 p.m.

1.2 Roll Call – Roll call was taken, and a quorum was established. The following members were present: Member Einsweiler, Member Hyland, President Long, Member Rosenthal and Member Stodden. Members Frank and McIntyre were absent.

1.3 Approval of Agenda – Member Rosenthal moved, and Member Einsweiler seconded the motion to approve the Agenda, as presented. Voice vote, all present voted aye. Motion carried 5-0.

1.4 Public Comments – none.

2. Business

2.1 Discussion of Facility Needs Not Included in the 10-Year Health, Life Safety Plan – Marty Johnson, District Architect, was present and gave an overview of the additional facility needs that were not included in the approved 10-Year Health Life Safety Survey. He stated these items will need to be addressed as part of the District’s Master Facilities Plan in order to extend the life of the current buildings. The total costs for all three buildings totaled approximately $12.3 million:

Primary School - Marty stated the list does not address any instructional needs, only the bricks and mortar side of it. The entire building needs to be tuck pointed and the sidewalks need to be replaced. Added to that is the issue of the ductwork that continues to collapse in many areas. In addition, he added $120,000 to the costs for each building for asbestos abatement, as he felt it would be good to have an updated report for each building when any renovation or remodeling work was done. A Board member questioned if they fixed the ductwork now could it improve the whole distribution system. The answer was yes, however, it’s a catch 22. You don’t want to spend the money and then down the road if you renovated and reconfigured the rooms and changed the exit corridors, what you spent dollars on to fix would need to be changed again, as the building was originally built as an open plan. He said some of these thing could be deferred until they know holistically what their plan is.

High School – He stated this would be the major expense for the District, as it needs plumbing, electrical, HVAC, Masonry Repairs/Rebuilding, Windows/Doors, and there are site issues such as parking lots and sidewalks that need repaired. With the plumbing, he stated the building has galvanized piping and after 30-40 years it corrodes and gets smaller and smaller.

In closing he stated as they continue to work on designs for a future Master Plan these projects and costs will all be included.

2.2 Facility Committee Update - Facility Committee Chair Hyland gave a brief update from the Facility Committee meeting stating Marty’s presentation ties in nicely with what Mr. Vincent wants as far as a facility long range plan. They’ve been sifting through data and documents that Marty had provided from all the plans over the years and are gathering lots of information and wisdom. They do not have anything formalized yet and have another meeting next week and are also planning a work session. They hope to have two plans for the Board’s consideration by the August

meeting. They are using a rubric trying to evaluate which “campus plan” is better and are trying to come up with criteria that will help the Board separate which plan is better. He reminded all members they are welcome to join in any facility committee/work session.

2.3 Update on Reintegration to School and COVID-19 Implications – Superintendent Vincent gave an update on the ISBE guidelines and the safeguards included for returning to school in the fall. Listed below are some of the requirements:

• Require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks (ISBE announced that face shields are not acceptable unless the student has a health condition);

• Prohibit more than 50 individuals from gathering in one space;

• Require social distancing be observed, as much as possible;

• Require that schools conduct symptom screenings and temperature checks or require that individuals self-certify that they are free of symptoms before entering school buildings;

• Require an increase in school wide cleaning and disinfection.

He stated they’ve ordered disinfecting supplies, masks, sanitation foggers, etc. Other major purchases included thermal cameras that would be placed at all three entrances. Paraprofessionals would be at the entrance to monitor those cameras and if it showed “red” on the screen that child would be discreetly pulled aside and taken to a private area in the building to be further checked. In addition, they will ask parents to self-certify their student’s health each morning through an online link. Considerable discussion was held regarding HIPPA laws, self-certification, thermal camera screening, and issues in removing a student who is positive with COVID. If a student is positive, those in close proximity to that student for 15 minutes would need to quarantine for 14 days. There are many challenges and changes in the next several weeks and he assured the Board they are planning for many different forks in the road. The plan is to keep the students and staff as safe as possible in a pandemic.

As far as lunches and passing periods they are working on staggering classroom times so lunches could be split and students won’t be in the hallways at the same time. Students will need to practice social distancing while eating and if the weather is nice can eat their meals outside. As far as transportation students will be required to wear their masks on the bus.

Two surveys have gone out, the first to families to determine if there’s remote learning or on-site learning, what skillset they would feel comfortable with in order to help kids. The other survey was sent to staff to determine how comfortable they are with being on the front lines. Over 80% of the responses from parents showed they would send their kids back at this point, with safeguards in place. A transition team meeting is planned for next week to iron this all out and they will use the data collected from the surveys.

With regard to sports IHSA has opened it up to where 50 individuals are able to practice in same space at the same time as long as the equipment is disinfected and as long as they are spaced apart. They also must wear masks unless they are actively exercising. They will be meeting with the custodial crew to be sure they are adequately sanitizing between sessions. This does not open the gym up for other groups.

2.4 First Reading of PRESS Policies – Superintendent presented the following policies for a first reading:

PRESS ISSUE 103 – March 2020

POLICY NUMBER TITLE Summary

2:125 Board Member Compensation; Expenses

The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) is a mandate that requires strict monitoring of school district expenses. Board members may be reimbursed for expenses for attending district business. This includes lodging, travel, meals, etc.

2:160 Board Attorney

Every policy is reviewed and updated every 5 years. Minor language changes.

4:50 Payment Procedures

5 year review-unchanged.

5:35 Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act

Minor style changes in footnotes and legal references

5:50 Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace; E-Cigarette, Tobacco and Cannabis Prohibition

The policy itself is unchanged. The footnotes have been changed to reflect a law change on the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, which clarified discipline procedures for Illinois employers. Most had to do with the employment of school resource officers, which does not apply to Galena USD #120.

5:60 Expenses

Adjusted with the GATA implementation in addition to policy 2.125 above.

5:150 Personnel Records

Policy unchanged. Footnotes are updated in response to Freedom of Information Act exempting disclosure of specific types of information about employees that the Illinois Education Labor Relations Act added.

5:210 Resignations

Policy unchanged. Footnotes updated to update procedures for teachers who resign midyear to accept another teaching position.

5:280 Duties and Qualifications

Legal references updated in response to amended ISBE rules governing educator licensure and certification.

6:135 Accelerated Placement Program

Legal references updated in response to amended ISBE rules implementing Accelerated Placement Act. Basically requires that school district posts accelerated placement policy on the website.

6:235 Access to Electronic Networks

Policy itself unchanged. Footnotes are clarified to clarify that the District’s electronic network is not a public forum for general use by outside parties and by limiting use of the network to the purposes stated under the Acceptable Use subhead we are in compliance with Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.

6:280 Grading and Promotion

This policy updates the language to not include the PARCC test, which was discontinued in 2019. Language is updated to have more nebulous language.

7:70 Attendance and Truancy

Illinois school code previously included very specific reasons students can miss school, including illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, and situations out of student’s control. Laws went into effect last year to add “mental, emotional, or physical health or safety” and students are also allowed to miss school if they are eligible to vote (two separate laws).

7:90 Release During School Hours

Similar to above, added specific language allowing release time for students to vote during the school day.

7:130 Student Rights and Responsibilities

Policy unchanged-footnotes updated for 5 year review

7:325 Student Fundraising Activities

Policy unchanged-footnotes updated for 5 year review

8:10Connection with the Community

Policy unchanged-footnotes updated for 5 year review

8:30 \Visitors to and Conduct on School Property

Policy changed in response to law requiring districts to allow union representatives to meet with employees during the work day without pay or leave time for certain reasons.

8:80 Gifts to the District

Policy unchanged-footnotes updated for 5 year review

8:110 Public Suggestions and Concerns

Policy updated in response to law requiring districts to establish email polices in effort to prohibit use of email by third parties.

PRESS ISSUE 104 – June 2020

POLICY NUMBER

2:220 School Board Meeting Procedure

Updated in response to virtual board meeting procedures due to COVID.

4:180 Pandemic Preparedness; Management and Recovery

New policy in response to pandemic preparedness and emergency response.

7:40 Nonpublic School Students, Including Parochial and Home-Schooled Students 

Policy unchanged-footnotes updated for 5 year review

7:190 Student Behavior

Policy changed due to new law on isolated time out and physical restraint procedures.

7:340 Student Records

Policy is updated but changes are not substantive.

7:345 Use of Educational Technologies; Student Data Privacy and Security

NEW policy-created in response to law protecting data privacy of students.

He stated the policy committee went through the March and June PRESS policies updates electronically. Most of the policies are standard updates from the IASB 5-year review and have only minor changes, however, there were three main policies that had changes: 1) Policy 2:220 - Open Meetings Act language was updated in response to virtual board meeting procedures due to COVID; 2) Policy 7:190 - Updated due to a new law on time-out and restraint; 3) Policy 7:345 - New policy in response to law protecting data privacy of students. This will be on the July agenda for a second and final reading.

2.5 Approval of Amended 2020-2021 School Calendar – Superintendent Vincent stated this was on the agenda as Governor Pritzker signed into law that election day was a school holiday; therefore, the school calendar would need to be amended. He’s currently in conversations with the certified and non-certified unions as to where the extra day would be made up; therefore, asked that this item be tabled to the July 21st meeting. To this end the following motion was made:

Member Rosenthal moved and Member Einsweiler seconded the motion to table Agenda Item 2.5 until the July 21st regular meeting. Roll call vote, all present voted aye. Motion carried 5-0.

2.6 Acceptance of Resignation: Michael Suau,.5 Time Instrumental Music Instructor - Mr. Michael Suau submitted his resignation as.5 time Instrumental Music Instructor, effective immediately. To this end the following motion was made:

Member Rosenthal moved and Member Hyland seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Michael Suau,.5 Time Instrumental Music Instructor, effective immediately. Roll call vote, all present voted aye. Motion carried 5-0.

3.0 Executive Session For…

3.1 The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with [the Open Meetings Act]. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), amended by P.A. 101-459.

Member Rosenthal moved and Member Einsweiler seconded the motion to go into Executive Session at 7:21 p.m. to discuss The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with [the Open Meetings Act]. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), amended by P.A. 101-459. Roll call vote, all present voted aye. Motion carried 5-0.

4.Reconvene to Open Session –

4.1Motion to Reconvene to Open Session – Member Rosenthal moved and Member Hyland seconded the motion to reconvene into open session at 7:36 p.m. Voice vote, all present voted aye. Motion carried 5-0.

There was no action coming out of Executive Session. 5. Adjournment

5.1 Adjourn Meeting – Member Rosenthal moved and Member Hyland seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 p.m. Voice vote, all present voted aye. Motion carried 5-0.

https://gusd120.k12.il.us/Pirates/board-committee-minutes/