Batavia Public School District 101 Board of Education met Oct. 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
Members present
Bob Baty-Barr, Tina Bleakley, Cathy Dremel, John Dryden, Jon Gaspar, Sue Locke, Chris Lowe
To View this Meeting
1. Opening of Meeting
Procedural: 1.1 Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Dremel.
Procedural: 1.2 Roll Call
Also Present: Lisa Hichens, Superintendent; Natalie Assell, Assistant Director of Special Education; Amy Biancheri, BEA President; Justin Chu, Student Ambassador; Tony Inglese, CFO; Chris Milka, Assistant Principal; Brad Newkirk, CAO; Lisa Palese, Director of Student Services; Anne Paonessa, Principal HCS; Steve Pearce, CHRO; JoAnne Smith, Principal BHS; Chris Theros, Student Ambassador, Kathy Scaffidi, Recording Secretary
Procedural: 1.3 Pledge of Allegiance
Board Member Bleakley led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Items Removed from or Added to the Agenda
Information: 2.1 Items Removed from or Added to the Agenda
There were no items removed or added to the agenda.
3. Celebrating Successes
Information: 3.1 STEM Scholars Program
JoAnne Smith introduced the three STEM Scholars to the Board. They each introduced themselves and talked about the scholarships which they received through Randy Hultgren's office, as well as their plans for the future. To learn more about Ava Langstaff, Hannah Thiel and Andrew Scott, see Board Highlights.
Dremel thanked these students for attending the Board Meeting and congratulated them on their Scholarship and wished them the best in their future endeavors.
4. Public Comments
Information: 4.1 Public
There were no public comments.
Information: 4.2 BPS Partners
Based on all the work the District has done on Social and Emotion Learning (SEL), the Kane County Regional Office of Education asked the District to to run the upcoming county-wide Institute Day making SEL the focus. The Student Services Committee will do the planning.
Louise White Elementary has collaberatively agreed to send their school leadership team to a training on November 8th where they will meet with the principal of the Paper Tigers documentary. The focus will be to help districts deal with students who face social and emotional challenges. LWS will be the model for other schools in the District.
BEA is going to sponsor a Trivia Night Fundraiser with a tentative date of November 24th. Details of this event and promotions will follow. Excited to have another Bulldogs Unleashed Silver Sponsorship. BEA is working with the National Honor Society and Dawn Zalkus (Art Teacher at BHS) to paint two of the puppies to put up for auction at Trivia Night.
Biancheri travelled to Washington DC for NEA super week. She met will staffers and Illinois representatives and talked about the raising of debt ceilings, and passing the Dream Act of 2017, which is especially meaningful for Illinois. Urges the community to contact their state representatives. There is no State News.
Information: 4.3 Student Ambassadors
Student Ambassadors Justin Chu and Chris Theros provided the following information:
Sports: Congratulations to the girls and boys Cross Country Teams who both finished first. The varsity football team is still undefeated. The upcoming Friday night game will determine the conference champs. This game is also the Sports Net Game of the Week.
The Link Crew will have another meeting with freshmen this week.
The Junior Class took the PSAT and are waiting for the results.
5. Consent Agenda
Action (Consent), Minutes: 5.1 Approval of the 2017-10-03 Regular Meeting Minutes
Action (Consent): 5.2 Personnel Report
Action (Consent): 5.3 Payrolls and Bills
Action (Consent): 5.4 Donations
Action (Consent): 5.5 BHS Overnight Field Trip Request: Dance Team National Competition
Action (Consent): 5.6 Approval of the Consent Agenda
Pearce reviewed the consent agenda in detail.
There were no Board questions. However, Dryden would like to see more detail in the Invoice Journal Summary.
Resolution: Motion to approve all items in the Consent Agenda as presented.
Motion by Bob Baty-Barr, second by Chris Lowe.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Aye: Bob Baty-Barr, Tina Bleakley, Cathy Dremel, John Dryden, Jon Gaspar, Sue Locke, Chris Lowe
6. Reports
Information: 6.1 FOIA Requests
This is a monthly report which requires no Board action. There were no questions.
Information: 6.2 Treasurer Reports
These are monthly reports which require no Board action. There were no questions.
Information: 6.3 English Learners Program Report (BOE Policy 6:160)
Newkirk introduced Anne Paonessa, English Learners (EL) Program Director and Principal of H.C. Storm Elementary. She provided information and facts regarding the EL Program.
She spoke of how students in this program are identified when English is not their primary language. She discussed the technology and various other tools which are used to support student learning in the classroom. Her report and additional facts given to the Board can be found here.
The Board had the opportunity to ask questions and clarify information.
Information: 6.4 High School Counseling and Advising Report (BOE policy 6:270)
This annual update is required by the Board. Newkirk gave a brief overview of the 2016-2017 outcomes of the program and the highlights for the 2017-2018 school year for the high school. This report can be found in Board Highlights.
Comments were provided by the Board.
Information: 6.5 Middle School Counseling and Advising Update (BOE Policy 6:270)
This annual update is required by the Board. Newkirk gave a brief overview of the 2016-2017 outcomes of the program and the highlights for the 2017-2018 school year for the middle school. This report can be found in Board Highlights.
Comments were provided by the Board.
Information: 6.6 Middle School ALOP Planning Update
Lisa Palese and Natalie Assell prepared this report which includes updates, planning and the potential launch of the ALOP program at Rotolo Middle School, hopefully beginning in 2018.
BOE adopted this strategic personalized learning plan, making sure students who are faced with academic and social challenges receive the supports needed to become successful. This program can be life changing for students and families.
The Board had the opportunity to ask questions.
7. Action
Action: 7.1 Policy Report
There was lengthy discussions regarding District's policy on extracurricular and co-curricular activities. The minor changes in the verbiage will serve as the basic framework and reflect the Board's vision of how it values these activities. This revised policy is being brought to the Board for a second reading and adoption.
There was Board discussion on an additional verbiage change.
Resolution: Motion to approve Policy 6:190 Extracurricular and Co-curricular Activities as presented with the removal of the words "and fun" in item #5.
Motion by Chris Lowe, second by Bob Baty-Barr.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Aye: Bob Baty-Barr, Cathy Dremel, John Dryden, Chris Lowe
Nay: Tina Bleakley, Jon Gaspar, Sue Locke
8. Staff/Board Comments
Information: 8.1 Administration Comments
Hichens told the community that the Board has been going through training, learning about the strategic role of the Board which is to set a vision for the District. The tactical group takes those plans and makes the vision a reality. The operational group are the teachers who are in front of the students on a day to day basis.
October is National Principals Month, Hichens would like to recognize the tactical group which is comprised of administrators. Batavia has 25 of the most amazing principals and assistant principals. She thanked those individuals for all they do.
Information: 8.2 Board Comments
Gaspar: Thanked the Board for the engaging meetings. Homecoming week was great, including the parade and the Hall of Honor celebration. Nominations for the Hall of Honor are now being taken. Please go to the website. The Committee will choose the nominees in February. Thanked Sue Gillerlain for revising Backpack Mail to include dining fundraising. There is an upcoming BIC Meeting on 11/11, which Gaspar is unable to attend. If another Board member would like to sit in, please contact Lisa Hichens.
Dryden: The first Stipend Committee meeting was yesterday. There is much work to do and could be a long and laborious process. Dryden will update the Board. Go bulldogs.
Baty-Barr: Great to meet and listen to the STEM Scholars, who are all robotics kids. His first experience with the District was the web monitor for Chaos (robotics). It is wonderful to see these activities leading to greater things. The past weekend, the Marching Band competed in two competitions on the same day. The Band came in 3rd at ISU in a morning competition and then drove to Downers Grove South and took Grand Champions 1st Place. Tomorrow night the Band is doing a community performance in full constume from 7:30 to 8:00 and will present the show from top to bottom. The Band will be ging to St. Louis to compete in the Bands for America competition. Thanks to the Board for another great meeting.
Bleakley: Commented about the band members practicing in the horrible rain last week.
Lowe: He was at ISU this weekend watching the RMS Cross Country team compete in the state tournament. Congratulations to RMS 7th-grade student, Katrina Schlenker, on earning the 2016 IESA Cross Country 3A Girls State Champion title and establishing a new state record. RMS Boys took 4th. The future looks bright for the Cross Country team next year. BHS Cross Country also did well in state competition. Good luck to the football team this weekend and those in winter activities. Also thanked the Batavia Police and Fire Departments for escorting the Cross Country team from BHS to RMS in the pouring rain.
Locke: Thanked Lisa Palese and her team of counselors for all they do at BHS and RMS.
Dremel: No comments.
9. Adjournment
Action: 9.1 Adjourn
Motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education at 8:03 p.m.
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