Superintendent
In recognition of School Board Member Day, Superintendent Dr. Bruce Law read a proclamation describing the service Board members provide to the community as well as expressing gratitude to Board members for their service. Administration then presented the Board members with personalized BOE notecards made by young adults in the Adult Opportunities Program.
Board liaisons Keith Chval and Robin Gonzales discussed with the full Board the path forward for strategic planning following the meeting Board liaisons Chval and Gonzales had with Administration to review the requests for proposals (RFPs) for strategic planning received in July. The Board affirmed that the proposals should be rated and a recommendation brought back to the full Board on November 20.
The Board has previously discussed engaging an Owner’s Representative who is not aligned with a specific architect or construction firm to represent the District’s interests for pre-construction and construction work. Dr. Law asked the Board for direction on the scope of a potential engagement. The Board directed Administration to proceed with preparing to put the services out for bid.
Technology
As requested by the Board, Director of Information Technology Tim Hohman presented to the Board options and costs involved to improve the audio-visual set up for Board meetings. The Board agreed not to spend money on this area but Administration will continue to look into methods to make it easier for all to see projected content and for Board members to follow along with content as it is projected.
Academics
Assistant Superintendent for Academics Pam Bylsma presented the proposed revisions to the 2018-19 Program of Studies guides. Highlights included changes responsive to a new state graduation requirement, to student-centered and school-based needs, and to college transcript considerations. A comparison of curricular offerings by school and department, as well as list of course fees and academic-related fees were also provided. The item will come back for approval at the November 20 meeting.
Human Resources
Per regular cadence, Chief Human Resources Officer Domenico Maniscalco presented to the Board the fall student athletic and activity participation tallies.
Business
Andrew Mace, from the District’s auditor Klein Hall CPAs LLC, was in attendance to present the fiscal year 2016-17 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Mr. Mace pointed out to the Board that Klein Hall was able to provide a clean opinion for the audit, noting that less than 25 percent of districts do. He complimented the Business Office staff because District 86 records its own year-end accruals. He also reminded the Board that the fund balance in the audit reflects the year the money is to be spent not the year in which it is received.
Chief Financial Officer Josh Stephenson presented an updated five-year financial forecast. The updates included the audited 2016-17 actuals, the adopted 2017-18 budget, and the forecast assumptions that were reviewed by the Board in October.
Administration presented an overview on the levy process and reviewed the estimated levy. At least 20 days before adopting a levy, the Board is required to estimate the amount of money “necessary to be raised by taxation” (35 ILCS 200/18-60). The Resolution Estimating Aggregate Levy for the Year 2017 will be brought back to the Board for approval at the November 20 meeting
Each year the Board approves a resolution that allows Administration to make the necessary transfers from the Education and Operations & Maintenance Funds to the Debt Services Fund. These transfers are necessary since the debt service payments for 2015 A & B series bonds and the lease (2016 lease for copiers, Chromebooks, and laptops) payment are being funded by operations in the current fiscal year but the payment is required to be made from the Debt Services Fund. The resolution will be brought back for approval at the November 20 meeting.
The Board reviewed a recommendation from Administration to award Bid 18-010 Pest Control to W.B. McCloud & Company for a three-year contract to provide pest management services for the District at the following annual cost: $10,220 for 2018-19, $10,020 for 2019-2020, and $10,320 for 2020-2021. The item will come back for approval at the November 20 meeting.
The Board discussed the Finance Committee’s recommendations on revised facility rental fees. The item will brought back for consideration at the November 20 meeting.
