Summary of the Homer School District 33C
Board of Education Meeting
August 14, 2017
___________________________________________________________________________
    Deb Martin, President      Elizabeth Hitzeman, Vice President      Karen DeFilippis, Secretary
Adam Briner, Member  Kevin DeSchaaf, Member  Christine Marcinkewicz, Member  Russ Petrizzo, Member                                                                                     
 
 
At the August 14th Board of Education meeting:
 

  • Teachers Union representative Cathy Clayton reported teachers are busy getting their classrooms ready for the 2017-2018 school year and that they are looking forward to another successful year

 

  • Support Staff Union representative Susan Koziarski reported everyone is excited to get to know their new students and see past students

 

  • Member Petrizzo questioned an overage on the district’s copier lease. Technology Director Arlene Siefert explained the overage is common because the buildings surpass the number of copies allotted in the contract. The District could raise the allotment, she added, but runs the risk of paying for copies it never uses. Under the current contract, the District only pays for what it uses. There is no upcharge for the extra copies. The District pays the same price for each copy either way

 

  • The Board approved the following personnel recommendations:

Resignations

  1. Jadwiga Kaminska – 7th grade special education teacher, Homer Junior High School,

effective August 16, 2017

  1. Annette Kane – clerical aide, Homer Junior High School, effective for the 2017-2018

school year
 
 Letters of Intent to Retire

  1. Diane Pullara – Choir Director, Hadley Middle School and Homer Junior High School, effective June 30, 2022
  2. Eileen Roe – Media Center Professional, Goodings Grove School, rescinded her application to retire effective August 21, 2017

 
             Position Recommendations

  1. Additional bus driver to fill an additional route due to increased enrollment
  2. Additional full-time substitute bus driver

 
 
 
 
 
Employment Recommendations

  1. Sarah Sheehan – Instrumental Music teacher, Hadley Middle School, effective August 21, 2017
  2. Lisa Wentz – 0.5 FTE TPI teacher, Hadley Middle School, effective August 21, 2017
  3. Amy Benavides – Resource Math, Hadley Middle School, effective August 21, 2017
  4. Dianna Petrakis – Kindergarten teacher, Schilling School, effective August 21, 2017
  5. Samantha Schneider – school nurse, Homer Junior High School, effective August 21, 2017
  6. Ralph Motto II – 0.5 FTE custodian, Homer Junior High School, effective August 21, 2017
  7. Kim Bonomo – bus driver, Transportation, effective August 16, 2017
  8. Brian Svoboda – bus driver, Transportation, effective August 16, 2017
  9. Frank Rutkowski – bus driver, Transportation, effective August 16, 2017
  10. Trina Pozulp Lindeman – bus driver, Transportation, effective August 23, 2017
  11. Sponsors for clubs at Hadley Middle School, effective for the 2017-2018 school year
  12. Jerome Casey – volunteer coach, Girls Basketball, effective for the 2017-2018 school year

 

  • Superintendent Kara Coglianese presented an update on Ross School, the one-room schoolhouse at the entrance to Hadley Middle School and Homer Junior High School. The District is pursuing a few leads from local business owners, as well as a district employee with contracting skills, who may be willing to assist with restoration efforts.

 

  • Assistant Superintendent for Business Christi Tyler presented a tentative budget for FY 2018. Highlights include:
    • A balanced budget with an operating budget of $47,813,389 in revenues and $47,070,023 in expenses in the Education, Operations & Maintenance and Transportation funds. (This represents a surplus of $743,366 across these funds)
    • A continued investment in 21st century learning with resources committed to Chromebooks, computers, projectors and the STEAM labs
    • Science textbooks at the middle school/junior high level
    • A new Student Information System
    • Roof repairs at Butler School
    • A baseball field at Butler School
    • Playground site prep at Goodings Grove School
    • Paving for bus drop-off improvements at Schilling School
    • Mounted projectors

 
Tyler noted that for the first time in three years, the State of Illinois has passed a state budget.  This budget includes a change in the way state funding is allocated to school districts. The governor and legislators have not reached an agreement on the formula.
 
 
 
 
She also noted:

  • The District continues to monitor potential legislation that would have budgetary impacts, including pension cost shift and a property tax freeze
  • The budget includes a bus trade-in of $2.2 million, which is recorded as a sale of fixed assets
  • The transportation budget includes the first payment on a five-year bus lease as well as one-time expenses for bus radios, student ID card readers and child harnesses
  • Property, liability and workers’ compensation insurance decreased by $39,000
  • The October 1st renewal of the District’s fully insured benefit program is increasing overall by 4.3 percent. However, changes in contribution rates will lessen the budget impact of this increase

 
The budget will remain on public display until a public hearing on September 26, 2017 at 6:45
p.m. in the Administration Center.
 

  • The Board discussed the District’s residency policy and how it applies to families who temporarily move out of the District or live with friends and family while they build a new home in the District. Dr. Coglianese reported the District is seeing a high level of families applying for residency affidavits, which is concerning. The Board discussed heightening its awareness and monitoring the numbers

 
 
 
 
 
 
The Next Regular School Board Meeting is September 26, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
A Budget Hearing will be held prior to the Regular Meeting at 6:45 p.m.
The Board’s Facility Audit Sub-Committee will meet August 24, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.
 
 
 

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