School Board Niles Township District 219, Cook County, Illinois MINUTES Special Board Meeting, Monday, December 8, 2003
The meeting was held in the Board Room of the District Office, 7700 Gross Point Road, Skokie, Illinois. I.
Call to Order and Roll Call Board President Robert Silverman called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Board members present at Roll Call: Michael Burnett, Sheri Doniger, Jeffrey Greenspan, Ruth Klint, Tim Knudsen, Robert Silverman, Lynda Gault Smith.
II.
Executive Session It was moved by SILVERMAN and seconded by KNUDSEN to recess into closed session to discuss matters relating to litigation and the employment, appointment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Burnett, Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Knudsen, Silverman, Gault Smith. The motion carried. The Board recessed into closed session at 7:04 p.m. At 7:43 p.m. it was moved by BURNETT and seconded by KNUDSEN to return to open session of the Regular Board Meeting. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Burnett, Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Knudsen, Silverman, Gault Smith. The motion carried.
III.
Recall to Order of Open Session Mr. Silverman recalled the meeting to order at 7:55 p.m. The pledge was recited.
IV.
Changes / Additions to the Agenda There were no changes to the agenda.
V.
Audience to Visitors Robert Swartz, 8027 Kostner, Skokie spoke to the Board against going out for a referendum proposal.
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of December 8, 2003
Page 1 of 5
VI.
Approval of Consent Agenda It was moved by DONIGER and seconded by GAULT SMITH to accept the consent agenda. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Burnett, Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Knudsen, Silverman, Gault Smith. The motion carried. Included in the consent agenda: − Personnel
Approve the employment of the following certified staff: NAME
POSITION
FTE
EFFECTIVE DATE
Kaltakis, Anastasia
ESL Teacher – West MA+45, Step 1
1.0
December 4, 2003
Approve the employment of the following certified staff for 2004 summer school: NAME
POSITION
FTE
Hoffman, Isaac Dean McTague, Ryan Dean Swedberg, Andrew Dean
1.0 1.0 1.0
Approve the following stipend positions for the 2003-2004 school year: NAME
POSITION/LOCATION
Semmerling, Jeff Stanton, Jane
Play 3 Other - West P.A.L.S. - North
Approve the employment of the following part-time, classified personnel: NAME
POSITION
RATE
Little, Cory
EFFECTIVE DATE
Student Monitor – Security
$13.00/Hr. December 9, 2003
Approve the following clerical substitutes for the 2003-2004 school year: Milena Nitti and Sandra Piper.
Approve the following teacher substitutes for the 2003-2004 school year: NAME
NAME
Battalini-Ellis, Nikki Beck, Daniel Davis, Ian
Kirkos, Bill Maze, Adam
− Cisco Grant – to accept the donation of equipment from Cisco Systems, Inc., which has a market value of $43,645.57. VII.
Business Referendum Question Gerry Yeggy explained the Superintendent’s Financial Advisory Committee was split into three subcommittees that studied different portions of the District’s fiscal operations. He was chair of the referendum committee that tried to analyze what size of referendum question would be needed to place the District Page 2 of 5
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting December 8, 2003
in a sound financial position. He reviewed data showing projected balances with a 23¢, 26¢, and 32¢ referendum question and what the typical impact on property taxes would be for Niles Township homeowners. Mr. Yeggy clarified that all the referendum scenarios include additional cost reduction actions totaling approximately $2 million. Mr. Knudsen asked how much of referendum monies would go for salaries. A discussion ensued on referendum money not being earmarked within the education fund. Mr. Silverman said that if the Board went with a 23¢ scenario and has $2 million in cuts for the next school year, the District will still run out of money in 2010. He stated the 23¢ still forces the Board to continue to make cuts. Mr. Knudsen said he has a problem with the projected 3.5% plus step salary projections for staff. It was noted that this is a projection only and that 3.5% has not been given to staff for over five years. Mr. Silverman said that if salaries were frozen for the next six years, the District will still be in a deficit position of over $42 million. Mr. Knudsen said he is worried about what a referendum would do for senior citizens. He said the District will not be out of money for two years and would like to see the consultant’s report, the teachers’ contract signed, and the audit report before agreeing on an amount for a referendum. Susan Husselbee said the audit report is taking more time to compile as the processing requirements have changed. Mr. Burnett asked how much contingency money was built in the assumptions. Mr. Yeggy said he will supply the Board with amounts by fund. Mr. Silverman said he made a list of all the things that District has done since going out for a referendum in November 2002. Eliminated 8-10 teaching positions by staffing tighter and increasing class size, reduced administrative costs, renegotiated bus, food service, maintenance and security contracts, holding salaries for the last five years to percentages far below neighboring districts, limited the maximum course load, limited the number of clubs in each school, reduced the fine arts budgets, reduced athletic programs, reconfigured the student assistance program, reduced technology integration initiatives, lengthened the computer replacement cycle schedule, reduced travel and conference costs, reduced the hospitality, purchased service, and supplies budgets, reduced textbook expenditures, raised student fees, increased parking fees, notified NTESE of our intent to withdraw, and eliminated school field trips that are not self funded. He said that is a long list of things the District has done to reduce costs, and we are still projected to be $92 million in the red as of fiscal year 2010.
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of December 8, 2003
Page 3 of 5
Ms. Gault Smith said by not going out for a referendum now we will be jeopardizing the education for the students of our community. Ms. Klint said the Board needs to be proactive. She said she is afraid that 23¢ will not allow us to bring back some of the things that have been cut. She said there will come a time when some of the cuts need to be reinstated, such as technology, just so students will be able to have updated equipment. She said she feels sorry for the senior citizens but this will be a burden on many working families also. Mr. Greenspan said he has a problem with selling a referendum at 23¢ and possibly having to make cuts to programs at some time in the future. Dr. Doniger said she feels we need to go out for a referendum and thinks seniors in the community will support the schools. Mr. Silverman said 78% of the school districts around the state are operating at a deficit and a greater number of districts are asking their public for referendum approvals. .
At 9:00 p.m. a five minute break took place. The revenue details for fiscal year 1993 to 2003 were reviewed by the Board. Mr. Silverman asked the Board members to pick a referendum amount that the community will be in favor of. He said a quality education cannot be maintained without a referendum. Mr. Greenspan said by holding off on going out for a referendum will compound itself. Getting it on the ballot and approved earlier will save the district money. Mr. Codell said he asked directors to attend tonight’s meeting and they will be at all subsequent meetings to discuss SFAC recommended cuts. A schedule will be developed by the administration for review of the SFAC recommendations.
VIII.
Old Business There was no old business discussed.
Page 4 of 5
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting December 8, 2003
IX.
New Business There was no new business.
X.
Audience to Visitors (on items related to district business) Philip Prale, 3837 Jarlath, Lincolnwood, spoke on the Board’s need to focus on revenues and not expenditures. Richard Reeder, 8519 Karlov, Skokie spoke on the quality of education and housing values. Joannie Collens, 6633 LeRoy, Lincolnwood, spoke on the need for a referendum.
XI.
XII. XIII.
Correspondence and FOIA Requests There were no correspondence or FOIA requests. Information Items Adjournment It was moved by DONIGER and seconded by GAULT SMITH to adjourn the meeting. A roll call vote was taken. Voting Aye: Burnett, Doniger, Greenspan, Klint, Knudsen, Silverman, Gault Smith. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
________________________________ President
_____________________________ Secretary
MINUTES APPROVED JANUARY 5, 2004.
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of December 8, 2003
Page 5 of 5
