New CEL school board wants cuts in building plans

Big concerns loom with state cuts that include transportation plus higher health insurance costs

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[May 24, 2013]  The Chester-East Lincoln Board of Education met Tuesday night for the monthly meeting. Board members present were Kenny Golden; Ben Roland; Jeff Brooks, president; Lori Birnbaum, vice president; Tish Podunajec, secretary; Randy Wolf; and Jason Toft. Superintendent Jennifer Hamm was also present.

Before the public was recognized as part of the actual meeting, Brooks said he wished to congratulate Darla Rohrer and Greg Rader on their retirements after this year.

As part of the public recognition, Heather Wolf spoke concerning her husband, Randy, and his motives for running for the CEL school board. Wolf said her husband's father and grandfather had both been on the board in the past. The couple also have children who attend the school. Randy Wolf had previously declined board membership before the election, and his wife cited his father's encouragement as helping him to make the decision to run for election.

"With Randy, this school is in good hands," she said.

As part of the financial report, Hamm elaborated to the new board members on the various funds and expenses that the school uses in finances. Hamm also explained a couple of the expenses that Brooks was questioning, such as the $136,000 paid to CTS as a good-faith payment, and the typical storage costs for documentation ($1,200-$1,500).

As part of her superintendent's report, Hamm presented the exiting board members who were in attendance with a gift for their service and time.

"Thank you very much, and we appreciate your services," said Hamm.

She presented data on the MAP tests given to the students. The tests are given three times a year to determine if they are meeting Common Core Standards.

"Every single one of our grade levels met the target except for one," said Hamm. She said that the one class contains some students who are "a challenging group of personalities." Furthermore, that one class was still very close in math and reading.

Hamm also commended the teaching staff for their efforts in incorporating the Common Core Standards into their teaching with the amount of success that has been shown.

Hamm said that graduation is on Friday, May 24, and asbestos abatement on the flooring begins on May 29. For the summer, the office staff will be working in the kindergarten classrooms if anyone needs to contact them.

Hamm gave an update on the boiler room renovations. She said the containment of the boiler room has begun, and the health department has been working with CTS in the school to help make sure everything is being done with the health of those in the building in mind.

Hamm also said that the board will have to make some difficult decisions in the future concerning health insurance. The upcoming Affordable Health Care Act will put strain on schools such as CEL due to its wording. The act will require that any employee, including coaches and substitute teachers, will have to be included in the school's plan if they are found to be working more than 30 hours a week.

Furthermore, it is unknown if the government considers a school year to function in the same way as a normal business year, because of the shorter time frame.

Hamm said that there are school district agencies attempting to work with the federal government to create exemptions in the act. In the meantime, she said the school legal counsel has advised CEL to proceed as if it is any other business.

In June, the qualification period will begin in order to determine where the school falls in this act and if there is any discrimination found in their benefits.

Later in the meeting, the board members expressed a desire to see an updated budget for 2013 to reflect the actual expenses that have accumulated. Hamm said she will present the amended budget at the next meeting.

Hamm told the board that for the third year, CEL will be applying for a $20,000 technology grant from the Woods Foundation. Hamm hopes to use the potential dollars for purchasing laptops for the fifth- and sixth-grade classes, which would mean every class would have access to laptops.

Hamm gave a brief presentation on the equalized assessed valuation of property, or EAV, and the school's expected revenue losses from the state for the next year. Hamm's estimates were based on past trends and what she has heard from state officials.

Hamm said the school district received its tax extension from the county this week, and the district's EAV increased by $2 million, which is a 4.2 percent increase, or $78,000 in money due to the district. This is not an increase in the tax rate; the figure represents an increase in property values as a whole.

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As for the revenue losses, the projections would indicate tougher times ahead for the district. According to Hamm's estimates, the district could expect to see further cuts to the education fund of up to $110,000. Furthermore, the state could be cutting transportation down to 19 percent of the current payments, which would be a loss of $202,000.

Hamm said that transportation is not required by law in the state of Illinois, and that if the cuts are made, the school may have only two years of bus service left. Hamm said that those who feel strongly about this issue need to contact their representatives in the state government to help keep transportation going for schools in Illinois.

"We can survive the general state-aid hit; we cannot survive the transportation cut," Hamm said.

On a last note for finances, Hamm said that the district can expect to save $204,000 next year due to events such as retirements, savings in the food budget and various other sources.

"As grim as this looks, trust me, we are in a far better position than other districts in the state of Illinois, and I'm thankful for that," said Hamm.

Action items approved by the board included:

  • The posting for a full-time physical education teacher for next year.

  • The posting for a special education instruction aide for grades five through eight.

  • A memorandum of understanding with the Chester-East Lincoln Education Association that will allow Jason Toft to serve as a board member and as a volunteer girls basketball coach. Whitney Kessinger and Heather Wolf will be sharing the position of assistant basketball coach. Jason Toft abstained from both votes, and Randy Wolf abstained from the latter.

  • Contracts with Technology Electronics and Access Locksmiths for the new security measures that will be included in the school renovations. These contracts cover the new security measures outside of the work of BLDD and CTS. This will cover systems such as electronic locks with key cards, system software and new doors that can be shut remotely in case of an emergency.

Finally, as the last action item of the night, the board came to a vote on whether or not they will pay Leslie Starasta for her temporary role as board treasurer. Starasta acted as board-appointed treasurer, and she has agreed to stay on until the end of June. She would earn a small stipend of $433 for May and June. Hamm said the board is looking for a new treasurer.

Initially, the board voted to disapprove, with Brooks, Birnbaum, Podunajec and Wolf voting no. Hamm explained that there has to be a board member functioning as treasurer, or an outside person, who has to be paid. Brooks said Starasta could still be the treasurer for now, but he did not approve paying the stipend.

The position cannot be taken by an officer of the board, and none of the non-officers were willing to take the job. Brooks said he had been contacted by someone who inquired about the position, and they were waiting for the executive session to be interviewed. The person was not named.

"I didn't know there was anybody being interviewed tonight," said Hamm.

Roland said he had heard nothing as to any other interested party, and he told Brooks that the vote may have been influenced by knowledge possessed by one person (Brooks).

"If some board members have knowledge of some facts or impressions or hopes of this position, that's really board information we should all have before we make a vote on it," Roland said. "As far as the idea of allowing Mrs. Starasta to do the job in May and June, waiting for whoever it is that's in contact with you, and not pay her, that's a crock, too."

Hamm said that if someone wants to fill a position at the school, they should contact her and not the board president, as the superintendent's responsibilities include interviewing and hiring new workers.

Brooks said he was not sure what to do with this new information. The board voted unanimously to rescind the vote due to the new conversation.

[By DEREK HURLEY]

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