McHenry Times

Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education met Oct. 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

I - CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Gilmore, President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and stated the following: The state of Illinois has altered provisions of the Open Meetings Act allowing Boards to conduct business via electronic means and enforce limits on gathering size in accordance with CDC guidelines in regard to the COVID-19 outbreak. The current meeting capacity is 50 people. Masks and social distancing are required to attend the meeting.

II - ROLL CALL

Present: Dr. Bidwell (via electronic means), Dr. Farris, Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Headley, Mr. Homuth, Mr. Miceli (arrived at 7:19 pm), Dr. Moan, Superintendent, and Mrs. Risa Hanson, Chief Financial Officer.

Absent: Mr. Parisi

III - CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION – Moved by Mr. Homuth and seconded by Mr. Headley to approve the Consent Agenda including minutes; and routine personnel matters with addendum, with roll call vote as follows:

Mr. Homuth - Yes

Mr. Headley - Yes

Dr. Farris - Abstain

Dr. Bidwell - Yes

Mr. Gilmore - Yes

1. Approval of Minutes

1.1 Regular Meeting of September 22, 2020

1.2 Closed Session of September 22, 2020

2. Approval of Routine Personnel Matters

Employment

Approve the employment of Amy Jones as Pre-K Classroom Health Associate for the 2020-2021 school year at 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, $12.40 per hour. (VDLEC)

Approve the employment of Nicholas Rutherford as 2nd Shift Custodian for the 2020-2021 school year at 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, $15.70 per hour. (MEES/NWMS)

Approve the employment of Dale Lindahl as Substitute Bus Driver for the 2020-2021 school year at $18.02 per hour. (Transportation)

Other

Approve a change in leave of absence start date for Michelle Burgett from a previously approved start date of November 3, 2020 to the newly requested start date of October 19, 2020. (WHS – Science Teacher)

Approve a change in hours for Kathleen Kopp for the 2020-2021 school year to 6 hours per day, 5 days per week. (GWE – LRC Associate)

Approve the transfer of Andrew Mirs to a position of 2nd Shift Custodian for the 2020-2021 school year at 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. (VDELC)

Approve the transfer of Lorie Pilat to a position of 3rd Shift Custodian for the 2020-2021 school year at 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, $16.39 per hour. (WNHS)

Approve a change in leave of absence return date for Erin Sigrist from a previously approved date of November 9, 2020 to a newly requested return date of January 4, 2021. (OES – 4th Grade Dual Language Teacher)

Approve a change in leave of absence return date for Bridget Slezak from a previously approved date of October 19, 2020 to a newly requested return date to be determined. (Transportation – Route Driver)

Resignation

Approve the resignation of Denise Albright, effective October 7, 2020. (Clay – Special Education Associate)

Approve the resignation of Desiree Stopczynski, effective October 1, 2020. (WNHS – Classroom Health Associate)

Approve the resignation of Gloria Bujak, effective August 14, 2020. (Transportation – Bus Associate)

Approve the resignation of Danielle Williams, effective August 15, 2020. (Transportation – Bus Associate)

Leave of Absence

Approve a leave of absence for Joel Alva beginning February 17, 2021 and continuing through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. (PWE/OES – Special Education Bilingual Resource Teacher)

Approve a leave of absence for Sonia Carreno beginning October 2, 2020 and continuing through a date to be determined. (CMS – Bilingual Special Education Associate)

Approve a leave of absence for Derek Clary beginning September 29, 2020 and continuing through an anticipated return date of October 5, 2020. (PWE/CMS – 2nd Shift Lead Custodian)

Approve a leave of absence for Debbie McArdle beginning August 14, 2020 and continuing through an anticipated return date of October 7, 2020. (DES – Food Service Personnel)

Approve a leave of absence for Frances Sutherland beginning September 25, 2020 and continuing through an anticipated return date of January 4, 2021. (CMS – Food Service Personnel)

Approve a leave of absence for Daniel Gorski beginning September 28, 2020 and continuing through a return date of September 30, 2020. (Transportation – Bus Driver)

Approve a leave of absence for Christine Graf beginning October 2, 2020 and continuing through a return date to be determined. (NWMS – Food Service Manager)

Approve a leave of absence for Lucrecia Hoff beginning September 15, 2020 and continuing through a return date to be determined. (Transportation – Bus Associate)

Approve a leave of absence for Hernando Restrepo beginning September 30, 2020 and continuing through an anticipated return date of October 30, 2020. (Transportation – Bus Driver)

IV - COMMUNICATIONS

Mr. Gilmore stated: "Communications" are a time for community members and District employees to express a point of view, not to debate an issue. There will be a sign-up sheet for the public to identify their name, address, phone number, name of the organization you represent (if any) and a brief description of the topic to be addressed. The public can submit public comments electronically to the Board of Education through the following email address: schoolboardpubliccomments@wcusd200.org. Written comments will be read aloud at the meeting. Comments are generally limited to 3 minutes (See Board Policy 2:230).

Mr. Gilmore added that written comments submitted through the public comments email address would be subject to the guidelines in Board Policy 2:230 and comments would be accepted for inclusion at the meeting until such time as the Communications portion of the meeting was completed.

1. A community member addressed the Board with objections to the District utilizing tax abatements.

2. A parent asked for clarification regarding her student’s schedule for the hybrid/remote learning plans.

3. A community member addressed the Board with questions regarding the debt survey and suggestions for cost savings measures.

V - SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

1. Dr. Moan informed the Board that Return to Learn survey results were being finalized by schools and families with students who are planning to attend in-person learning will be notified of their “A” or “B” day designation by the end of the week.

2. Dr. Moan reminded the Board that parent/teacher conferences would be held on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

VI - UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no unfinished business.

VII - NEW BUSINESS

1. Approval of 2019-2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report A representative from the Accounting firm of Evans, Marshall & Pease, P.C. reviewed key highlights of the audit report conducted for fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. The report, also called a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), contained no findings and is on file at the District Office.

Mr. Homuth - Yes

Mr. Miceli - Yes

Dr. Farris - Yes

Dr. Bidwell - Yes

Mr. Headley - Yes

Mr. Gilmore - Yes

2. Approval of a Resolution to Sell the Building Trades House

This item was included on the agenda so the Board could consider an offer for the purchase of the building trades house.

Chief Financial Officer Risa Hanson explained that the District received 4 offers for the building trades house and none of the offers contained a home sale contingency. After reviewing the offers, the Board agreed to accept the highest offer of $240,000 with a November 20, 2020 closing date.

MOTION - Moved by Mr. Homuth and seconded by Dr. Farris to approve and waive the reading of the resolution for the sale of the building trades house located at 1401 Sandpiper Lane for a purchase price of $240,000, with roll call vote as follows: (On File)

Mr. Homuth - Yes

Dr. Farris - Yes

Dr. Bidwell - Yes

Mr. Miceli - Yes

Mr. Headley - Yes

Mr. Gilmore - Yes

3. Review of Debt Survey Results (On File)

Dr. Moan updated the Board on the Debt survey results. He explained that over 65% of respondents strongly agree or agree to utilizing a combination of options to address the District’s debt.

During Board discussion, Dr. Moan asked the Board for guidance on next steps. Mr. Headley asked for information on refinancing, and Mr. Homuth is interested in budget reduction options. Mr. Gilmore asked that PMA provide the Board with refinancing scenarios at the next Board meeting.

4. Update on McHenry County Department of Health School Metrics 

Dr. Moan informed the Board that the McHenry County Department of Health School Metrics dashboard would be live on Wednesday. He explained that District administration will notify families on a weekly basis about any changes in the learning models based on the McHenry County Department of Health School Metrics. Dr. Moan added that October 16 would be utilized as a remote planning day for staff. In addition, District administration will confirm on the 16th that the McHenry County Department of Health School Metrics are aligned with the return to in-person hybrid learning model before students return to the buildings on October 19.

VIII - COMMITTEE REPORTS

There were no committee reports.

IX - ADJOURNMENT

MOTION – Moved by Mr. Homuth and seconded by Mr. Headley to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m., with roll call vote as follows:

Mr. Homuth - Yes

Mr. Headley - Yes

Dr. Farris - Yes

Dr. Bidwell - Yes

Mr. Miceli - Yes

Mr. Gilmore - Yes

https://meetings.boardbook.org/Documents/CustomMinutesForMeeting/1277?meeting=402850