March 23, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Amended Budget Hearing Immediately Followed by Regular Board Meeting

Description:  Call to Order. Secretary to the Board will take attendance.

Description:  During the public forum, comments from the public should be limited to only the 2022-2023 (FY23) Budget. 

Individuals wishing to speak during this public forum must complete the Public Comment Form and submit it to the Board Secretary prior to the start of this hearing.

The Board may address public forum comments and discuss the 2022-2023 (FY23) Amended Budget during that action item during the regular meeting of the board.

Description:  Call to Order. Secretary to the Board will take attendance.

Description: 

Individuals wishing to speak during public comment must complete the Public Comment Form and submit it to the Board Secretary prior to the start of the meeting.

Board Policy 2:230. At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and District employees may comment to or ask questions of the School Board, subject to reasonable constraints. The individuals appearing before the Board are expected to follow these guidelines:

1. Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President.
2. Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, comments shall be limited to 5 minutes. In unusual circumstances, and when an individual has made a request in advance to speak for a longer period of time, the individual may be allowed to speak for more than 5 minutes.
3. Observe the Board President's decision to shorten public comment to conserve time and give the maximum number of individuals an opportunity to speak.
4. Observe the Board President's decision to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise covered in Board policy.
5. Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board Policy, 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property.

Members of the public may speak during this portion of the meeting. Comments are limited to five minutes. Board members will not respond to public comments or questions during "Public Comments". Should total Public Comments approach or exceed a cumulative time of 30 minutes, the Board may suspend additional Public Comments until immediately prior to the Board and Superintendent Comments portion of the agenda.

Description: 

Board Policy 2:220 The President shall designate a portion of the agenda as a consent agenda for those items that usually do not require extensive discussion before Board action. Upon the request of any Board member, an item will be withdrawn from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda for independent consideration. 

There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board Member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as the first item after approval of the Consent Agenda.

Description:  Regular personnel items.

Description: 

• Rotary Club of Rantoul donated $289 to purchase materials/supplies for the elementary after school programs.
• The Board is making a $100 contribution to the Rantoul City Schools Foundation on behalf of Board Member Joe Robinson's service to the District.

Description:  Approve the Following:

• Activity: Scott Woods, Christine Johnson, Yasmin Flores, Tierra Norwood
• Imprest: Scott Woods, Christine Johnson, Jennifer Frerichs, Tara N. Pettit and Jon Brotherton
• Claims Clearing: Scott Woods, Christine Johnson, Jennifer Frerichs, Jon Brotherton, Tara N. Pettit, and Katie Johnston.

Description:  The amended budget document for fiscal year 2023 (2022-2023) is attached for review. Notice of publication and public availability of the tentative budget amendment was completed at least thirty days prior to this meeting. The reason for a budget amendment is so that the budget more accurately reflects actual expenditures and revenues. At the time of initial budget approval, revenues and expenditures are only estimates. The supporting documents are stored within the hearing portion of this meeting.

Description:  The Board is asked to approve two Memoranda of Understanding with the RCSEA.

One applies to adding an Assistant Athletic Director position for one school year to support the transition resulting from the retirement of the Athletic Director, Jane Jordahl.

The second applies to the District providing financial support to international teachers. This financial support is not additional compensation but reimbursements for costs associated with maintaining their legal status to work for RCS as well as some initial relocation expenses.

Description: 

The Board is asked to approve the Salary Advance Provision for Newly Hired Full-Time (1.0 FTE) Licensed Staff as outlined in the attached document. A typical new-hire teacher begins working for RCS during the first week of August, but is not eligible for pay until the September 15 payroll. This provision allows an individual employee to enter into an agreement that allows a salary advance of up to $2,500. This is not additional compensation to the employee, and this does not cost the district additional money. There is a risk that an employee would not fulfill their obligations and the district would need to collect the money advanced to the employee. Overall, this is intended to make us a more competitive employer by providing a one-time opportunity for new employees to assist with establishing themselves in the community and taking care of up front major expenses like moving, apartment rental, damage deposit, or other immediate needs.

Description: 

Eastlawn Roof and Gutters. Recommend Approval.
Total Cost: $1,662,983
Base Bid: $1,383,030
Alt. 1: $279,953
Funding Source: ESSER III.


JWE Site Project #2 (Parking Lot and Sidewalks). Recommend Approval.
Total Cost: $729,654
Base bid: $619,204
Alt. 1: $63,100
Alt. 2: $47,350
Funding Source: ESSER III.

Multi-Site Door Project (Eastlawn, Pleasant Acres, Northview, Eater). Recommend Approval
Total Cost: $1,985,000
Base bid: $1,196,400
Alt. 1: $402,400
Alt. 2: $386,200
Funding Source: Multiple Sources including Maintenance Grant with local match ($50,000), COPS Grant with local match ($101,635), ESSER III.


BDM Secure Entrance Project. Recommend Approval of Base Bid with project beginning in the summer of 2024.
Total Cost: $2,179,400
Base bid: $1,122,000
Alt. 1: $289,000
Alt. 2: $263,400
Alt. 3: $483,400
Alt. 4: $21,600
Funding Source:  Multiple Sources including Maintenance Grant with local match (TBD), COPS Grant with local match (TBD), ESSER III, Local.

Description:  The Board is asked to approve the creation of Bulldog's RISE. This approval is intended to authorize the Administration to move forward with programming which includes staffing, procurement of materials, and the process of identifying and placing students. As with any other school or program, in the future, the Board will still be asked to authorize the hiring of specific staff and expenditures. The Administration is not yet making a recommendation for location of the program nor is Administration requesting the purchase or lease of property at this time. It is the preference of Administration, that his program will be housed in a location outside of a current school building and within RCS. Any outside location will be brought to the Board for approval.

Description: 

3-8-2023 freedom@irtaonline.org (Illinois Retired Teachers Association-IRTA); The name and email address of any certified staff (teachers, administrators, nurses, counselors, etc.) who are retiring this year.
3-15-2023 Smart Procure. Recurring
3-23-2023 julie@databid.com (Databid); I am looking for the companies who submitted bids and their bid amount for all 4 projects that bid March 15, 2023.

 

Description: 

Read Across America at Northview https://www.wcia.com/news/education/wcias-jacob-dickey-takes-part-in-read-across-america-day/ 

School therapy dog comforts kids during tornado warning https://www.wcia.com/news/school-therapy-dog-comforts-kids-during-tornado-warning/ 

Therapy dog helps students practice empathy at Broadmeadow Elementary in Rantoul https://www.wandtv.com/news/therapy-dog-helps-students-practice-empathy-at-broadmeadow-elementary-in-rantoul/article_80b88840-b6f8-11ed-9eec-3f065bbe6186.html 

Tornadoes lead to 'crazy start' to local school week https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/education/tornadoes-lead-to-crazy-start-to-local-school-week/article_a4201f0d-f474-5037-b0ac-14f2b3cb7bc5.html 

Hot dog: Cooper all the rage at Rantoul's Broadmeadow Elementary https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/education/hot-dog-cooper-all-the-rage-at-rantouls-broadmeadow-elementary/article_e39ebb43-ad7d-59a2-9f29-888ea7146a82.html 

Illinois highlighted as a national leader in advancing students’ mental health  http://link.isbe.net/m/1/90208844/02-b23081-47bb06fd586d4a7f94ff8ff5f21d7b40/5/611/9c659fe1-99c1-492f-9961-3628d2537589?fbclid=IwAR12y3f5Yd-o0refbua8Y1gv42KRLoZ4jouzAZgRrWZJbWstCCDwKb3piTo 

Here’s How 4 States Spent Their ESSER Money https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/heres-how-4-states-spent-their-esser-money/2023/03

Description:  The Board is provided a monthly report detailing student in-school suspension, out-of-school suspensions, and placements in CARE. Due to the student record data contained in this report, this report remains confidential. 

Description:  Provided here is a list of some of the different activities the school district has hosted this year. This is not a comprehensive list.

Description:  On April 1 at 9:00 AM the Board will hold a special meeting  and move to closed session for self-evaluation, practices, and procedures or professional ethics, when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public body is a member. No action will be taken.

Description: 

Reason for Closed Session: Personnel; Purchase or Lease of Property.

The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in an educational setting or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as independent contractors in an educational setting or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired.