Quincy Reporter

Quincy Public School District 172 Board met April 24.

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

Meeting Convened

The Board of Education of School District No. 172, Adams County, Illinois, met in regular session on April 24, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Education Office, Room 214, 1416 Maine Street, Quincy, Illinois, in said school district.

Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by President Ali, who directed the secretary to call the roll. On the call of the roll, the following members were present and answered to their names: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup and Whitfield; and the following member was absent: None. Whereupon the President declared a quorum was present.

Moment of Silence

President Ali declared a moment of silence and reflection.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jim Hansen.

Focus on Students – Good Things Going On!

Administrative Assistant’s Day. Superintendent Webb reminded the Board that today is Administrative Assistant’s Day and recognized Board Secretary Phyllis Stewart.

LDE Spring Fling. Lincoln-Douglas Elementary will hold its annual Spring Fling tomorrow from 5-8 p.m. at the school. There is a book fair, food court, carnival games and other fun activities for families.

Questions and Comments

President Ali opened the meeting to questions and comments to members of the Board, by members of the public and employees of the district, in compliance with state statutes. Jeff Kerkhoff provided copies of articles and spoke about Earth Day and climate change.

Consent Agenda

It was moved by Member Troup and seconded by Member Nichols to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:

      a. Treasurer’s Report – March 2019

      b. Minutes –March 27 and April 9, 2019

      c. Check Register and JH/SH Activity Fund Reports

      d. Acknowledge receipt of the Freedom of Information Log: March 23 - April 19, 2019 (Information Only)

On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Reports of the Superintendent

1. 21st Century Grant. Superintendent Webb told the Board that the 21st Century Grant is a continuing federal grant that could be cut next year. The District has received $270,000 from the grant in the past. He said this could affect after school programs and credit recovery courses at the high school.

2. Special Education Update. Director Eryn Beswick presented an update on special education. She reported that the Special Education Association has no updated compliance data from ISBE. The last compliance review showed that all special education indicators had been met. Audit findings were reduced from 9 to 3 in the past year. The program continues to have a discrepancy in the rates of suspensions and expulsions of students with disabilities. A variety of measures have been introduced to keep students in school and in class. Mrs. Beswick said that the strength of the special education department is the quality teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers who always focus on what is best for students. Recruiting and retaining staff continues as an area that needs improvement. Board members requested additional information on the number of special education students broken down by eligibility and percentage of time students spend in special education.

3. District Improvement Plan. The 2019-2020 District Improvement Plan -- Operation: Simply World Class, was presented by Superintendent Webb. The plan shifts the district from purchased programs and systems and district-wide initiatives to more simple school-based guidance and classroom innovation. Principals will have more autonomy and control of their schools. Teachers will be free to innovate. The District offers what to teach but allows teachers to decide how it should be taught. District leaders are meeting individually with Superintendent Webb to discuss plans for next year. The many good things happening at QPS will be sustained. The great majority of students are achieving and growing well. There are great offerings for students including accelerated classes, special education offerings, honors, fine arts and extra-curriculars/co-curriculars. QPS has world class facilities and staff who have a willingness to change and improve to be the best. Areas to improve include decreasing staff turnover; attracting more applicants for open positions; increasing student achievement scores; providing more student social/emotional support; and improving teacher and leader workloads and staff morale. In this plan, the role of the central office becomes one of support and facilitation. This should simplify things and make teaching fun. To make it fun, teachers must have control, be supported, and have strong leaders looking out for them. Operation: Simply World Class—The Quincy Public Schools 2019-20 District Improvement Plan will be available on the District’s website.

4. School Based Health Care. Member Troup reported on the April meeting of the School Based Health Care Advisory Committee. The Community Healthcare Workers reported on the Hot Spotting Intervention to date. Attendance information on some students was shared. One student that had been absent 75 times last year has only missed 7 days this year. Another student missed 70 days last year and has only been absent a half day this year. There are 37 students currently being served by the Community Healthcare Workers. There was a report on the data that is being collected on students. An update on the Tracy Family Foundation grant that will provide additional funding was presented. A small group from the committee is meeting to determine the framework, timeline, and plan to create videos to highlight successes of the Hot Spotting Program within the community.

5. Competency-Based Education (CBE). Member Arns said the committee is looking ahead to next year. QHS students will have access to some online courses during the regular schedule of the day. This will include some courses required for graduation and/or hard to schedule. The QHS library will open a learning lab next year. Student-led tutoring will be available. Member Arns noted that students graduating in 2024 will have had full access to Competency-Based Education during their high school career.

Building Committee

The Building Committee report was presented by Chairperson McNay. An update was presented on the Baldwin and Denman Elementary projects. The committee recommended approval to several projects.

Building Committee Recommendations

It was recommended by the Building Committee and moved by Member McNay to approve the following recommendations: A) Health Life Safety Project for new exhaust for diesel mechanics classroom and improvements to woodworking classroom. Estimated cost is $20,000 each. B) Internal project building sidewalk access from parking lot to concession stand at QHS. C) Internal project to install railings at Flinn Stadium at a cost of $6,500. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Curriculum Committee

Chairperson Bailey presented the Curriculum Committee report. A proposal for marching band to count as PE credit was presented. This would eliminate the sports study hall. PE credit would remain 3.5 credits to graduate which includes PE, Health, Drivers’ Ed and Marching Band. Marching band is a class as well as an after-school activity, so this will provide flexibility for these students to take other classes. The committee reviewed a proposal to offer a JROTC course next year to generate interest in the JROTC Program to begin in 2020-2021. This will create a career path for students interested in military service, law enforcement and/or fire service.

Marching Band/PE Credit

It was recommended by the Curriculum Committee and moved by Member Bailey to approve Marching Band for PE credit. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

JROTC Bridge Course/Program

It was recommended by the Curriculum Committee and moved by Member Bailey to approve the QHS JROTC Bridge Course for 2019-2020 and the JROTC Program for 2020-2021. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Finance Committee

A monthly financial update and cash summary report was presented to the Finance Committee. Chairperson McNay reported that the committee heard a recommendation to increase lunch prices for 2019-2020. Food Service Director Jean Kinder explained that the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act requires districts participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide the same support for lunches served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price lunches as they are for lunches served to students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunches. According to the USDA, pricing paid lunches below the cost of production effectively increases Federal subsidies for higher income children because Federal funds intended for free and reduced-price lunches are being used to help fill in the gap between what a paid lunch costs and what the school receives. The committee reviewed the recommendation for fall 2019 food and non-food bids.

Increase Meal Prices

It was recommended by the Finance Committee and moved by Member McNay to approve increasing student lunch prices by ten cents. The 2019-2020 lunch prices will be $2.60 for pre-k through fifth-grade and $2.85 for grades 6 to 12. Adult meals are required to be 50 cents greater than the highest student paid lunch. The new adult meal price for 2019-2020 is $3.35. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

2019-2020 Fall Food and Non-Food Bids

It was recommended by the Finance Committee and moved by Member McNay to approve lone bid from Kohl’s Wholesale for fall semester 2019-20 food and non-food items at a cost of $729,673.05 and the escalator milk bid at a cost of $228,523.75 from sole bidder Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. The produce and bread bids were rejected and will be re-bid (Doc. Reg. No. 3073). On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Policy, Discipline and Human Relations Committees

The Policy, Discipline and Human Relations Committees did not meet in April.

Lease/Pledge Agreement Athletic Facility at Flinn

It was moved by Member McNay and seconded by Member Troup to approve the Lease/Indemnification Agreement and Irrevocable Pledge Agreement with Five-Man Sled Company of Quincy, LLC relevant to construction of an athletic facility at Flinn Stadium (Doc. Reg. No. 3074). On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

2019-2020 District Improvement Plan - Operation World Class

It was moved by Member Whitfield and seconded by Member Troup to approve the 2019-2020 District Improvement Plan – Operation World Class (Doc. Reg. No. 3072). On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Executive Session

At 6:58 p.m., it was moved by Member Bailey and seconded by Member Troup that the Board suspend the rules and go into executive session to discuss: a) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the School District; b) collective negotiating matters between the School District and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees; d) the sale or lease of property owned by the District; g) student disciplinary cases; i) pending, probable, or imminent litigation; and j) attorney/client privilege. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Resumption of Rules

At 7:35 p.m., it was moved by Member McNay and seconded by Member Arns to resume the conduct of the regular meeting under rules. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Student Discipline

It was moved by Member Bailey and seconded by Member Ali to adopt the recommendation regarding pre-expulsion agreements for two QHS students. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Personnel Addendum

It was moved by Member Bailey and seconded by Member Troup to approve the Revised Personnel Addendum as amended. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Executive Session Minutes

It was moved by Member McNay and seconded by Member Troup to approve the Resolution Authorizing Executive Session Minutes for Public Release from October 24, 2018 through April 9, 2019 and Authorizing Destruction of Records Closed Session more than Eighteen Months Prior to October 24, 2018 (Doc. Reg. No. 3075). On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of Canvass/Certificates of Election

It was moved by Member Ali and seconded by Member Bailey to approve the Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of Canvass Reports and Certificates of Election from the Canvassing Board of Adams County, Illinois (Doc. Reg. No. 3076). On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Adjournment

It was moved by Member Bailey and seconded by Member McNay that the regular meeting adjourn. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried and the regular meeting was duly adjourned.

https://www.qps.org/wp-content/uploads/042419regmnt.pdf