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Board of Education Business
Board of Education Committee Reports
The following
committee reports were presented:
West Fields Committee Report
Chairperson:
Rick Nogal
Members: Nadine Antonini, Sheila Pacholski
The West
Field committee considered options to improve and maintain the West
Field. The Village of Palos Park indicated that they would no longer be
able to lease the field or to provide maintenance. The committee is considering if
maintenance of the fields could be accomplished through a volunteer basis
from each organization using the fields during their own season.
Anthony Scarsella will coordinate a meeting with MWRD and Wight & Co.
will have Roettiger & Tonelli schedule the survey work as soon as
possible to review options for the area by 104th Avenue.
Communications
Committee
Chairperson:
Kathy Svanascini
Members:
Rick Nogal
The
committee developed a web site survey to help receive feedback on the
district web site. In addition,
the board reviewed updated information regarding the Board of Education
which will appear on the Web site in the future. The committee
also discussed the possibility of
using the Twitter application as an additional way of sharing
information with parents and the community. A survey question regarding Twitter
will be included in the web site survey.
Technology Committee Report
Chairperson:
Cathy Maier
Members: John Faustino
The technology committee met to
plan and develop the upcoming presentation at the National School Board
Convention which will be held in April 1, 2010.
Parent
Faculty Association Board Liaison
Members:
Nadine Antonini, Sue Hennessy, Sheila Pacholski
The
PFA had a very successful “Back to school Breakfast for Room Parents and
Art Awareness volunteers.” Mrs. Sievers, PFA President noted that
the Mother/ Son Bash will take place on November 7 and that it's not too
late to purchase commemorative paver bricks. Visit the PFA web site
at www.palos118.org/pfa for
more information.
Music Parents Association Board
Liaison
Members: Kathy
Svanascini, Sheila Pacholski
The
MPA will be presenting its annual Octoberfest fundraiser on October 24,
2009 at South Middle School. The
evening will include pupil band and chorus performances and good
food. Tickets can still be
purchased at the door. Mrs. Graben, MPA President indicated that
the MPA is completing its purchase of dresses for the choir. Please
refer to the MPA web site for information regarding the MPA and upcoming
events
www.palos118.org/mpa.
Educational Foundation
Board Liaison
Members:
Sheila Pacholski, Sue Hennessy
The Foundation
organized a successful Laps for Literature program and raised funds for
the district Media Centers. The first annual Rosemarie's Attic Resale
Event was held and many shoppers supported the fundraiser. The foundation
thanks everyone who attended and donated resale items. Following the sale, items that were not
purchased were donated to the parents of students at Enrico Tonti School
in Chicago. The Foundation felt
privileged to be able to share clothes with needy students and parents on behalf of the
Palos 118 community. Lastly, the
Phantom Ball was a success and thank you to all who donated.
Governmental and Legislative
Committee
Members:
Nadine Antonini, Richard Nogal
The committee discussed the importance of
continuing to develop communication with local and state representatives,
and with local elected officials from other governmental units. In
order to share information about activities and goals, the committee
discussed hosting a dinner meeting with elected boards of governmental
units in the Palos 118 boundaries. Dr. Dubec would develop a guest
list, with the event tentatively planned for late January 2010.
Landscape Committee
Chairperson:
Nadine Antonini
Dr. Dubec reviewed with the board the PFA's
commemorative brick fundraiser. Commemorative bricks would be sold
to construct a path at each school site. Once more details are
developed, the information would be presented to the committee for location
and color approval and recommendation to the Board of Education.
Mr. Nogal briefed the committee on the West Field committee's work,
noting that responsibility for field maintenance will likely become the
district's for 2009-10. For next year, the committee indicated the
district could provide general grass cutting, and seek support form user
groups for additional maintenance throughout the year.
Safety
Committee
Members: Rick
Nogal, Kathy Svanascini
Scott Fox,
Coordinator of Information Technology Services, provided a demonstration
of the new security cameral system which was installed in district
schools. Assistant Principals, Shelley Mulchrone, Amy Christie, and
Jen Peloquin reviewed the updated crisis manual with the committee and
discussed safety drills. The committee reviewed current information
and suggested safety procedures including a review of bus safety training
for drivers. Police and fire
officials attended the meeting.
Wellness Committee
The District Wellness committee
met and reviewed goals for the 2009-10 school year. The focus of the committee continues to
be on educating students in healthy lifestyle choices.
Other
Board Business
Approval of Board
Policies
The
committee reviewed the following polices and recommended that they be
sent to the Board of Education for adoption: Uniform Grievance Procedure Policy
(2:260), Substitute Teacher Policy (5:220), School Accountability (6:15),
Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer (7:30), Nonpublic School
Students, Including Parochial and Homeschooled Students (7:40) and
Student Support Services (7:250).
Public Hearing Date
Set
The
board approved a motion to set a public hearing date for Tuesday,
November 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. regarding the intent to use school
holidays, Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (February 12); Casimir Pulaski Day (first
Monday in March); and Veteran's Day (November 11); for
Instructional/Training Purposes in accordance with Public Act 96-640. The law has recently changed to allow
individual school boards the flexibility of designating school holidays
for pupil attendance. In the case
of the above holidays prior to the law Palos 118 was required to seek
permission for any modification from the state Board of Education. All of the above holidays have been
used for student attendance in the past under the old law.
ISAT State Report
Dr. Johnson
reported the results of District 118's performance on the 2009 Illinois Standard Achievement
Tests. Overall ISAT performance continues to be excellent, with
nearly 95% of District 118 students meeting or exceeding standards for
reading, math, and science. Individual pupil scores will be
distributed on October 31 through student report cards. The individual school report cards and
district report cards will be published to parents on line October 30,
2009.
New
Business
Update on Cook
County Health Dept. H1N1 Vaccination Program- Memorandum Approval
The Board
spent considerable time reviewing the Cook County Public Health
Department (CCDPH) vaccination
campaign and hearing comments. The
Board chose to “table” the decision in order to receive additional
information from the CCDPH and to consider the discussion. The Board expressed its thanks to the
CCDPH representative for being present, and to thank the CCDPH for its
focus on helping children during the H1N1 crisis. Please see the “Greetings From Dr.
Dubec” above for additional information on the discussion and consult our
web page at
www.palos118.org for
more H1N1 information.
Snow Removal
Contract
The Board approved a contract for snow removal with Snow Proz for the
2009-10 school year for an all inclusive cost of $30,000. Director of Business Services, Anthony
Scarsella informed the board that the district contracts for snow removal
and salting services during the winter months for all four district
facilities. The district has
contracted services with Snow Proz for over seven years and has been
consistently satisfied with their service. District Custodians are responsible for removing
snow and ice from all building entranceways and walkways.
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