At a recent meeting, the Batavia Public School District 101 Board discussed the annual exit report, which contains student graduation data covering the entire 2015-2016 school year.
The board oversees all educational programming in the district. It adopts state requirements and reflects community needs, provides the resources necessary to pursue the goals according to its policies and monitors district performance to see that results are consistent with goals and policies.
Below are the minutes from this meeting, as provided by the board.
Regular Meeting (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)
Generated by Kathy Scaffidi on Thursday, June 9, 2016
Members present
Tina Bleakley, John Dryden, Jon Gaspar, Sue Locke, Chris Lowe, Jason Stoops
Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM
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1. Opening of Meeting_______________________________________
Procedural: 1.1 Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice President Stoops.
Procedural: 1.2 Roll Call
Board Members: Tina Bleakley, John Dryden, Jon Gaspar, Sue Locke, Chris Lowe, Jason Stoops
Also Present: Lisa Hichens, Superintendent; Addie Bobosky, Student Ambassador; Justin Chu, Student Ambassador; Sue Gillerlain, Communications Manager; Tony Inglese, CFO; Brad Newkirk, CAO; JoAnne Smith, BHS Principal; Kathy Scaffidi Recording Secretary.
Visitors: 43
Procedural: 1.3 Pledge of Allegiance
Board Member Locke led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Items Removed from or Added to the Agenda_________________
Discussion, Information: 2.1 Items Removed from or Added to the Agenda
There were no changes to the agenda.
3. Celebrating Successes___________________________________
Discussion, Information: 3.1 Batavia High School - Highest Honors Class of 2016
JoAnne Smith, Principal of Batavia High School, informed the Board there were 31 students in the class of 2016 who were in the "top of the class". These students received a GPA of 4.375 or higher and took a minimum of 12 AP classes.
Dr. Smith introduced the following students who were able to attend the Board Meeting. She asked the students to state where they were attending in the fall and their major. Madison Astling - Georgia Institute of Technology (Technology and Industrial Engineering); Maren Flessen - Illinois Wesylan (Theatre, International Arts Administration); Brian Helfrecht - Purdue University (Electrical Engineering); Emily Lasse - Purdue University (Bio Chemistry); Karen Li - Emmery (Business with concentration in Strategies of Management Consulting); Katharine Lindgren - University of Chicago (undecided); Hannah Ullberg - University of Wisconsin Whitewater (Physics and Engineering); Samatha Walter - University of Illinois (Electrical Engineering); Benjamine Zinser - NE University Boston (Mechanical Engineering).
The names of the remaining students who were in the top of the class are: William Bernardoni, Sydney Cavanaugh, Samuel Chen, Michael Doranski, Marielle Eustace, Darby Findley, Hannah Frazier, Christopher Galena, Alyssa Gao, Emily Hess, Diane Kazlauski, Miriam Kroc, Amanda Maher, Alexander Majors, Marissa Moon, Abigail Mrenna, Haley Niedzwiedz, Katherine Quattrocchi, Meghan Razimoff, Nicholas Schiesl, Michael Thayer, Elizabeth Williams.
4. Comments____________________________________________
Information: 4.1 Public
There were no public comments.
Information: 4.2 BPS Partners
There were no comments from the BPS Partners.
Information: 4.3 Student Ambassadors
Justin Chu was sworn in as the new student ambassador by Board Member Lowe.
Athletics: The baseball team finished in the Sweet 16 and are the regional champs.
Other: Bobosky and Chu will meet over the summer to discuss focus group topics for the upcoming school year. If the Board has any ideas or recommendations, to please let them know.
The Board thanked the students and would like them to make sure the topics are "relevant".
5. Public Hearing_______________________________________
Information: 5.1 Public Hearing on the Amendment of the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget
There were no public comments. A public hearing will take place on June 21st at 7:00 p.m., as the Illinois School Code requires when amending a budget.
Inglese gave an overview of the process and explained to the Board the fund transfers needed in order to finance the track and field improvements at Batavia High School. All fund transfers and budget amendments require a public hearing. There is an expected surplus balance in the overall operating fund budget to end the 2015-2016 year.
The Board had the opportunity to ask questions.
6. Reports____________________________________________
Information: 6.1 Class of 2016 Exit Report
Dr. JoAnne Smith, Principal of the BHS discussed the annual exit report. In May, 473 students graduated at Northern Illinois University. Ten percent graduated in December and ninety percent graduated in May.
She briefly reviewed the following summary data in the report: Honor Roll Data; GPA by Decile; Achievement Results; Final Transcript Requests; Post-Secondary Experiences and Recommendations for Further Review.
The Board had the opportunity to ask questions.
Information: 6.2 Art and PE Curriculum
Newkirk explained the process of how district curriculum was redeveloped for Art and PE. Curriculum redevelopment is truly a collaborative and time intensive process.
As stated in the agenda, the Subject-Area Leadership Team for Art worked for over a period of two school years to clarify and articulate the curriculum. The framework shows the progress of units and standards developed by the team. Instruction will continue to focus on creation and creativity but will also include more critical thinking and communication as students analyze and articulate their thinking. The team developed an annual self-portrait assessment which will track student progress longitudinally.
Also, the Subject-Area Leadership Team for Physical Education worked for three years developing an articulated curriculum for Physical Education for K-12. The enhanced PE standards will focus more on the components of lifelong fitness and less on sport specific instruction. The State of Illinois has also begun mandating that school districts report fitness assessment results for students. This assessment is built into the curriculum at all levels.
The Board had the opportunity to ask questions. A recommendation will be brought before the Board at a later date.
Information: 6.3 2016-2017 Handbooks
Newkirk discussed the handbook process as well as what information would be useful in a student/parent handbook. The handbook(s) have been completely overhauled. Sue Gillerlain, Communications Manager, did an amazing amount of work to make the handbook user friendly. The District Handbook will now be web-based for parents and students in real time. Newkirk reviewed the table of contents of the handbook.
There is a draft overview which is available to the Board. There are no recommendations at this time.
If there is any feedback, please contact Brad Newkirk.
7. Action___________________________________________
Action: 7.1 Personnel Report
Newkirk reviewed the Personnel Report for the Board in detail. The Board did not have any questions regarding this report.
Moved by Lowe and second by Locke to approve the Personnel Report as presented.
Ayes: Lowe, Bleakley, Dryden, Gaspar, Locke, Stoops, Six (6)
Nays: None (0)
Motion Carries
8. Staff/Board Comments_____________________________
Information: 8.1 Administration Comments
Hichens: Karen Sullivan, a Kindergarten Teacher at Louise White School, recently announced her retirement. On behalf of the Board and administration, Hichens wished her well in all future endeavors.
Information: 8.2 Board Comments
Locke: She reminded everyone that June 14th is 100th anniversary of Flag Day. On June 12 from 3:00 to 7:00 various activities will take place at the Riverwalk for this event. Thanked Newkirk and CAAC for their hard work.
Lowe: No comments
Bleakley: No comments
Stoops: Congratulated Justin Chu as the new Student Ambassador. Great to see the highest honor roll students. To Matt Holm: He had a great career as the baseball coach, ending that career with his team being the Regional Champs. Safe summer to all and Go Bulldogs!
Dryden: No comments
Gaspar: Thanked everyone for all of their hard work.
9. Adjournment_____________________________________
Action: 9.1 Adjourn
Moved by Locke and second by Bleakley to adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education at 8:20 p.m.
Ayes: Locke, Lowe, Bleakley, Dryden, Gaspar, Stoops, Six (6)
Nays: None (0)
Motion Carries
______________________________ ______________________________
Cathy Dremel, President Dr. Lisa Hichens, Secretary
Next Scheduled Board Meetings:
June 21
July 19
August 9, August 23
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