Macomb Community Unit School District 185 Board met July 10.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Board President Jill Myers called the meeting to order in the C.T. Vivian Library at Macomb Jr./Sr. High School. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll was taken with the following members present: Kapale (via Teams), Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. The meeting was streamed live on Macomb Schools 185 Facebook.
Members Thompson, Torrance and Myers thanked the community for communications regarding the return to school. Member Gray asked about the new refuge island on Grant Street near MacArthur and Dr. Twomey explained its installation is part of the Safe Routes to School Grant project to make it safer for District students to walk and ride their bikes to school.
Ms. Myers announced the cancellation of the Joint Annual School Board Convention for this year.
Dr. Twomey reported to the Board as follows:
Construction Report
o Work at Edison is finishing up. The building will be ready for the first day of school.
o Middle School – planning continues. News on grant results is the same – we should know within 10 days.
District Update – plan for opening schools: Emails and survey results have been helpful in developing the plan. Absence of a written plan to this point has been intentional. Things change so quickly, letters to the community every week or two seemed the best choice. The letter to be sent tomorrow will include the District plan. Dr. Twomey went on to address the major areas of the plan:
o Transportation – bus students will be temped prior to getting on the bus. Schedules have been adjusted to account for extra time. Students walking or arriving at school by car will be temped before entering the building and adults will be present to assure social distancing.
o Masking/Face Shields – the District has enough equipment on hand and all busses will have extra masks available in the event students or staff arrive without one. Masking is mandatory while in school buildings except when eating breakfast or lunch. There are tents on each building’s grounds to allow for mask breaks, time in the fresh air, and, at MJSHS, for music lessons.
o Disinfecting – custodial staff will disinfect buildings every night. Buildings will be closed at a definite time in the later afternoon or evening until the next morning. Students and teachers will disinfect tables, chairs, etc. before and after each use throughout the day. There are hand sanitizer stations in hallways and rooms. Traffic in the hallways will be one way only. There will be multiple lunch periods at each school with disinfection between each period. In response to questions regarding details of daily operations, Dr. Twomey noted it is important to trust the administrators to implement the protocols in their buildings and that adults in the buildings will be the gold standard leaders.
o Options for participation – students may attend school in-person with the hybrid attendance model or may choose online instruction. We must demonstrate a 5-hour instructional day to meet state requirements. Online instruction for grades 6-12 is through Edgenuity. ROYALS is helping to administer the program as they have much experience with it. Our students will not have access to AP classes through Edgenuity as they must be monitored by a credentialed teacher. Our teachers cannot run hybrid classes and monitor online AP classes. Parents and students will have a week to try Edgenuity and decide if they want to stay with it. Those that choose it must stay with it for the semester. Communicating the difference between fall and spring is extremely important. Work will be graded and attendance is expected. There will be no attendance incentives: students and staff are to stay home when they feel unwell.
o Special Education – case managers are working with parents to meet IEP goals for each student.
Member Myers asked Katie Hoge, District Technology Director, to speak about work over the summer. Ms. Hoge advised the technology department spent the summer working with administrators to be sure needs of teachers would be met. The department provided professional development over the summer to all staff to enhance facility with online platforms and instruction. They created videos for families to watch and for teachers to use in classrooms providing instruction on the use of Clever, Teams, and Skyward. Laptops, hotspots, and other tech devices were purchased and prepared for distribution to each district student.
o Protocols – Dr. Twomey worked with hospital representatives and the health department to develop protocols for managing any incidents related to COVID. The protocols have also been approved by the Regional Office of Education. These protocols will be included in the next community letter.
Dr. Twomey addressed an email received from Lisa Scalf. In response to questions asked, he advised as follows:
o The structure of classes at MJSHS makes teacher-only movement impossible.
o Lunch will be held in different places – not just the cafeteria - allowing for social distancing.
o Students must wear a mask during P.E. held indoors. It will be more like a health class.
Social distancing rules will be enforced even when outside.
o Study halls are provided for students who need additional assistance.
o The District is unable to utilize alternative learning sites as they do not meet standards set by School Code and the District would have to hire more staff.
o Medical professionals and feedback from families were taken into account during the development of protocols.
o Technology – every student will be able to have a device at home. Devices will be distributed as soon as they are ready.
o Daycare – the District has assisted as much as possible with this issue, but doesn’t have the resources to provide solutions for over 5,000 families, all of whom have different needs. Organizations in town have the capacity to offer tremendous amounts of support in terms of daycare and at-home learning support. Dr. Twomey advised he reached out to Norine Hammond about a waiver for licensed facilities.
Following the presentation of the District plan, the Board took calls from the community. Dr. Twomey answered questions from Shannon Duncan about whether students should use their personal laptops or those distributed by the District, and the availability of AP courses to students in the hybrid attendance model, but not available to those choosing online instruction. He also answered questions from Lisa Scalf about parent notification in the event a student becomes sick at school and sanitizing classrooms throughout the day.
Transportation Bid – the cost sheet came back reflecting an increase a little over 10%. Most of that increase is due to increased pay for drivers.
Tentative Budget – review of the tentative proposed 2020-2021 budget. There are deficits, but not huge ones. Fund balances will help the District get through the unknowns. We are traditionally conservative when we budget and will see what the numbers look like when the budget is finalized.
District calendar – new codes make it look like we are doing 100% remote learning when we really have 75-80% of our students attending through the hybrid schedule and 20-25% of our students fully online.
FOIA Requests: Rich Egger from WIUM and Mike Schmidt from WGEM requested the civil suit settlement agreement; SmartProcure requested vendor info from January 28, 2020 through current.
Member Torrance moved, and member Adams seconded, to approve as presented items on the Consent Calendar, which included: Minutes from the July 20, 2020 regular Board meeting, Treasurer’s Report, Investment Report, Monthly Board Report, Bills and Payroll, Financial Update on Life Safety Projects (.05 levy), Monthly Activity Account Report, State Funding Update, and WCISEC Personnel and Financials. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Gray moved, and member La Prad seconded, to approve and hold indefinitely the minutes from the closed meeting held during the July 20, 2020 regular Board meeting. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member La Prad moved, and member Torrance seconded, to approve the following personnel recommendations:
Certificated Staff:
Request for Leave:
Erin Fink, School Social Worker, request for intermittent leave to begin August 3, 2020, and extend through August 28, 2020.
Resignation:
Nicole DeRenzy, Special Education Teacher, Macomb Senior High School, effective July 21, 2020.
Change in Assignment:
Kris Thrapp, Part time Math Teacher, Macomb Senior High School, effective August 17, 2020, now Part time Math Teacher, Macomb Senior High School, start date to be determined.
Employment:
Amanda Stoneking, Blended Pre-School Teacher, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, to be placed at Step 8, Bachelor’s Degree, on the pay scale, effective August 17, 2020. (new)
Laura Waldrop, School Social Worker, Lincoln Elementary School, to be placed at Step 3, Master’s Degree, with additional days, on the pay scale, effective August 3, 2020. (new)
Employment Long Term Substitute:
Christopher Buchanan, Long Term Substitute Teacher, Macomb Junior High School, to be paid at a per diem rate, effective August 17, 2020 (additional resources due to COVID procedures).
Hailea Hadsall, Long Term Substitute Teacher, Edison Elementary School, to be paid at a per diem rate, effective August 17, 2020 (additional resources due to COVID procedures). Jean Ann Marlow, Long Term Substitute Teacher, Lincoln Elementary School, to be paid at a per diem rate, effective August 17, 2020 (additional resources due to COVID procedures).
Andrea Williams, Long Term Substitute Teacher, Macomb Senior High School, to be paid at a per diem rate, effective September 3, 2020 (additional resources due to COVID procedures).
Educational Support Staff:
Retirement:
Diane Dirksen, Program Assistant, Edison Elementary School, effective August 10, 2020. Resignation:
Ashley Fayhee, Program Assistant, Macomb Senior High School, effective August 6, 2020. Norrita Hammond, Program Assistant, Macomb Senior High School, effective August 7, 2020.
Kaitlyn Krieg, Program Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School, effective July 24, 2020. Madison Myers, Program Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School, effective August 6, 2020. Robyn Rosenboom, Program Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School, effective July 27, 2020. Rebecca Swanson, Program Assistant, Edison Elementary School, effective July 23, 2020.
Employment:
Priscilla Taylor, Special Services Secretary/Administrative Service Center Secretary, Macomb School District, 12 month position, 7 hours per day, effective August 10, 2020 (replaces Shattuck).
Co-Curricular:
Resignation:
Nicole DeRenzy, Yearbook Advisor (co-sponsor), Dance Team Coach, and Senior Class (co-sponsor), Macomb Senior High School, effective July 21, 2020.
Jana Gamage, Yearbook Advisor (co-sponsor), Macomb Senior High School, effective July 29, 2020.
Employment:
Lisa Allen, Spiderweb Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, Level 3, effective 2020-2021 school year.
Ashley Andrews, New Parent Coordinator, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective 2020-2021 school year.
Tonya Hamer, New Teacher Mentor, Macomb Junior High School, effective school year 2020-2021 (Brown).
Tanner Scott, New Teacher Mentor, Macomb Senior High School, effective school year 2020-2021 (Twomey).
Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member La Prad moved, and member Gray seconded, to release minutes from closed meetings held February 24 (8:32 p.m.) and March 16, 2020, and to continue to hold minutes from closed meetings held January 27, February 24 (8:12 a.m.), April 20, and May 18, 2020. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Torrance moved, and member La Prad seconded, to authorize the destruction of the audio recording from the closed meeting held August 20, 2019, and to hold recordings from closed meetings held June 18, July 16, September 17, October 15, November 19, and December 17, 2018. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Gray moved, and member Adams seconded, to approve destruction of audio recordings from closed meetings held November 23 and December 15, 2015, February 22, March 21, and April 25, 2016, and continue to hold audio recordings from the closed meeting held January 25, 2016 (action tabled at February 2018 meeting). Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member Torrance seconded, to authorize the destruction of closed session recordings previously approved for destruction (delayed due to order to hold arising from lawsuit) held on: October 17, 2016, February 27 and March 20 (8:35 p.m.) 2017, July 17, August 21, and October 16, 2017, and January 22, 2018. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member La Prad moved, and member Adams seconded, to accept the tentative 2020-2021 District Budget. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Thompson moved, and member Torrance seconded, to approve the Transportation Contract, effective August 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member La Prad moved, and member Adams seconded, to appoint Kelly Carpenter as the Homeless Liaison for the 2020-2021 school year. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Gray moved, and member La Prad seconded, to approve the 2020-2021 amended District calendar. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
Member Adams moved, and member Gray seconded, to approve COVID-19 protocols and the re- opening plan for the 2020-2021 school year. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
At 10:21 p.m., member Thompson moved, and member Adams seconded, to hold a closed meeting for the purpose of discussing the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), collective negotiating matters, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2), the purchase or lease of real property, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5), student discipline, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9), and pending or imminent litigation, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11). Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, Thompson, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.
The Board returned to open session at 10:58 p.m.
Member La Prad moved, and member Thompson seconded, to adjourn at 10:59 p.m. Motion carried by voice vote.
https://www.macomb185.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/742
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