The Fieldcrest CUSD 6 Board of Education held its regular Board meeting on May 30, 2018. Members present were Mykin Bernardi, Scott Hillenburg, Joe Kirkpatrick, Charles Lohr, Kimberly McKay, Tim McNamara and Beth Palm. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Daniel L. Oakley, Middle School Principal Nate Lorton, Tom Leahy of the IASB, Kevin Heid of Stifel Nicolaus, and a few community members.
The Board begin the evening with closed session to discuss "the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee or legal counsel for the public body; and collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives."
Upon return to regular session: Mr. Travis Nix spoke to the Board concerning his opposition to a hiring decision. Mr. Michael Mendola spoke to the Board regarding concerns with Fieldcrest High School math and English scores as listed in the US News and World Report.
Tom Leahy reviewed options with the Board regarding the hiring of a new superintendent following Dr. Oakley's December 31, 2019 retirement. He also reviewed services offered by the IASB if the Board decides to hire IASB to facilitate the search.
Dr. Oakley reviewed Section 2 of the Board policy manual.
In Board action during regular session, the Board: approved the consent agenda; adopted the required final FY18 Public School Calendar for submission to ISBE; set the regular Board meeting schedule for FY19; adopted the January/February 2018 PRESS Policy Update package; waived the first reading of the May/June 2018 PRESS Policy Update package and referred it to the Policy Committee; adopted a Resolution to Prevent Sexual Harassment; adopted an FY18 amended budget hearing resolution setting the hearing for June 27 at 6:30 pm; accepted bids of $24,725 from M&O Environmental and $32,500 from Environmental Assurance for asbestos abatement at the Intermediate and Primary buildings respectively; and adopted a bond resolution authorizing the issuance of approximately $2,745,000 in general obligation bonds for the Health/Life Safety work ongoing at the Primary and Intermediate buildings.
In personnel action, the Board: recalled Sarah Underwood as a teacher in the district; employed Scott Oncken as custodian at the Primary building; hired Cari Schultz as a high school freshman volleyball coach; agreed to retirement agreements with Dee Foor and Matthew Winkler for retirement at the end of the 2021-2022 school year; hired Matthew Wendling as Technology Director for the district for the FY19-FY21 school years; and thanked Deneane Nuttall for her service to the district as a Teaching Assistant and Bus Driver as she resigns at the end of the FY18 school year.
Mr. Lorton provided a brief overview of the year-end wrap-up for the Middle School building.
Dr. Oakley followed up a previous board meeting with a request for input from the board regarding a PK program for FY19. The Bright Beginnings grant which WCSEA has received for many years has now become a competitive grant, and it is unknown whether WCSEA will receive the grant again for FY19. Dr. Oakley asked if the Board wanted to move toward the idea of hosting the program for Fieldcrest students even if the district has to pay for it. The general consensus was that this was desired, but needed Dr. Oakley to bring back succinct numbers.
Dr. Oakley noted the district's annual special education LEA Determination was perfect across the Board. Dr. Oakley also updated the Board on the status of the 10-year HLS work at the Primary and Intermediate buildings, and discussed the current status of the work the Building Design Team is undertaking.
The Board will meet next in regular session on June 27, 2018 at 6:00 pm, with open session starting at 6:30 pm in the high school band room.