Recap of June 23 Board Meeting
Posted on 06/22/2020
Action Items
The Board of Education voted to submit the IEMA Public Assistant Grant registration documents in response to COVID-19 on behalf of Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60.
The Board of Education voted to approve the submission of the Consolidated District Plan (CDP) to the Illinois State Board of Education. The Consolidated District Plan (CDP) is part of the pre-planning process for our other federal grant application submissions and allows districts to answer one set of planning questions to meet requirements for the 12 other Federal formula grants. The purpose of the CDP is to promote meaningful collaboration among district administrators and coordinate efforts across district offices. The CDP also streamlines the federal grant application process.
The Board of Education voted to approve the contract and purchase of Lexia's Core5 and PowerUp, in the amount of $206,067. Lexia's Core5 (K-5) provides an adaptive, individualized learning experience to advance reading skills in phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Core5 Reading accelerates reading skill development, predicts students’ year-end performance, and provides teachers with data-driven action plans to help differentiate instruction.
The Board of Education voted to approve the submission of the Amended Robbie M. Lightfoot Early Learning Center Application. The former Waukegan Armed Forces Reserve Center property, now Robbie Lightfoot Early Learning Center, was conveyed by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) to Waukegan Public Schools District 60 by quitclaim deed dated December 12, 2012. The conveyance was made at discounted sales prices under the Public Benefit Conveyance authority of Public Law 107-217 for use by Waukegan Public Schools District 60 for educational purposes. An annual utilization report is required to be submitted by the district to the USDOE.
The Board of Education voted to purchase 1200 Hand Sanitizer Dispensers and 200 cases of bagged hand sanitizer at a value not to exceed $60,000. In order to accommodate placing sanitizers stations next to every classroom, the district has purchased 1200 Hand Sanitizers Disposals and 200 cases of bagged hand sanitizers valued at approximately $60,000 for the first semester, to be billed monthly. Initial order cost is $11,736.00 and it is anticipated that this will be a monthly value for replenishment.
The Board of Education voted to approve the Continuing Resolution Agreement (CRA) as an interim authority, enacted to provide authority for ongoing activities because the District's budget has not been adopted by the beginning of the fiscal year. This CRA has a fixed life and provides the authority necessary to allow operations to continue in the absence of budget adoption. This CRA will expire immediately upon the adoption of the FY 2020/2021 budget.
The Board of Education voted to approve the Re-cabling at Jack Benny Middle School which involves restoring all network connectivity and communication for the changes occurred during the school abatement project at a cost of $104,527. Computer Power Systems will be restoring all network connectivity and communication for the changes occurred during the school abatement project. The quote covers the reinstall of all network cabling and access points for the entire school, along with the new network rack enclosure(s)and switch install for the MDF room.
The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of Teaching Strategies GOLD Portfolio Renewals in the amount of $20,702.50 and also the purchase of Ignite by HATCH in the amount of $21,250.
The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of Expeditionary Learning 2.0 in the amount of $420,066.
The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of Achieve 3000 in the amount of $539,250.
The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of Carnegie Learning 6-8 MATH, $206,480; EM4 K-5, $ 297,599; Dreambox Prek-8 $136,000; and Edulastic Entire District Incl all content all schools, $38,000.
The Board of Education voted to approve the sale of activity bus #7 $500. The bus was purchased in 2012. This bus is a diesel bus and the maintenance on this bus has been costly over the years and has continued to be expensive to repair and this bus has not been safe to drive and has been out of service. We currently have 5 White Activity buses that are operable and able to be driven.
The Board of Education voted to execute the Bushue Human Resources, Inc. agreement to provide services in the area of Human Resources, Safety and Insurance, pending final legal review in the amount of $30,000.
The Board of Education voted to accept the proposal from Safety National for the District's Excess Workers Compensation carrier. The annual premium will be $119,697 (a 13.1% decrease from 2018) and is included in the (2) year rate guarantee from 2019.
The Board of Education voted to approve a 3 year contractual agreement with Athletico to support Athletics programs and athletic training at a cost of $105,000.
The Board of Education voted to approve a one year contractual agreement with Major Carter Bell to provide consulting services for the JROTC program at a cost not to exceed $30,000.
The Board of Education voted to approve the AIG proposal for Athletic Catastrophic Accident Insurance renewal and authorize the Superintendent to execute and accept the renewal contract at a cost of $3,976.
Personnel Items
The Board of Education voted to approve the posting and hiring of an Alternative Placement Officer. This position will be funded by the TAOEP grant.
The Board of Education voted to approve two assistant principal positions for Waukegan High School.
The Board of Education voted to retroactively approve Constantine Sampras to attend the Teacher's Professional Development that occurred in February to Austin, Texas, at a cost of $924.76 which includes conference registration fee, travel, lodging, and meals per diem.
The Board of Education voted to increase TRS/IMRF markup and health care contributions equal to Director level entitlements for all Coordinators and Academic Chairs at a cost of $281,850. This action affects 25 positions.
The Board of Education voted to approve the appointments, resignations, retirements and reclassifications of 26 employees, including the appointment of Flor Carter as Interim Principal at AOEC and Sandi Johnson as Interim Principal at Clearview Elementary School.
Information Items
Staff presented information about the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grant # 15-203426 Reinstatement Notification and Release of Grant Funds. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) issued a grant to Waukegan Public Schools in preparation for construction and remodeling to what is now the Robbie Lightfoot Early Learning Center. The value of the grant was $1M with $250K being paid at the onset of the project. The District received a suspension notice for grant-related activities effective June 30, 2015. Since that time the District has submitted twenty-three (23) quarterly reports and multiple annual extension requests that have subsequently been approved in hopes that the remaining funds for this grant would be appropriated and the District's grant would be re-instated. On May 4, 2020, the District received notification from the DCEO that the grant had been re-instated and funds had been appropriated for the project pending final documentation submittal and review. All remaining requested documents have been submitted and on June 17, 2020, the District received notice that the remaining grant funds have been approved for release to the District.
The Board of Education reviewed first reading revisions to the following policies: Policy 2101 Conduct of Board Meetings; Policy 6026 DCFS Interviews; and Policy 4307 Mandated Reporter.
New Business
The Board of Education discussed the Intergovernmental Agreement between Waukegan Public Schools and City of Waukegan regarding Public Safety Services.