Executive (KACC) Board Meeting

Thursday, October 15, 2009

9:00 a.m.

KACC Board Room

 

Minutes

 

Members Present

 

Grant Park:      Mike Nicholson, Chairperson             Bradley:          Michael Hogan, Vice Chair (9:15)

Peotone:          Kevin Carey, Secretary                       Beecher:          Denise Brands

Central:           Tonya Evans                                       Herscher:         Ruth Schneider

Kankakee:       Colleen Legge                                    Manteno:         Dawn Russert

St. Anne:         John Palan                                           Reg. Office:    Kay Pangle                                         

 

The regular meeting of the Kankakee Area Career Center Executive Committee, Kankakee County, State of Illinois was called to order on October 15, 2009 at 9:08 a.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

 

CONSENT AGENDA

1-3.            A motion was made by Mrs. Russert, seconded by Dr. Pangle, at 9:10 a.m. to remove the Financial Reports from the consent agenda.  Motion carried by voice vote.  A motion was made by Dr. Legge, seconded by Ms. Russert at 9:12 a.m. to approve the consent agenda, minutes of the regular meeting held in September and accounts payable.  Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote. 

KACC/KARVES AUDIT REVIEW

Marcie Kolberg reported the annual financial report for KACC and KARVES will be finished within the next week to two weeks.  An extension to November 1st has been requested from the ROE.  Ms. Kolberg then informed the committee members as to where both entities stand in regard to bank reconciliations for the period of July 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009.  Ms. Kolberg stated there was an automated posting issue in regard to insurances relating to payroll liabilities which is being corrected.  Activity funds are yet to be reconciled, but that should be done next week.  Cash balances are close enough to go ahead and close the audit.  Reconciliation of the July, August and September bank statements might flush out any remaining difference.  Ms. Kolberg had addressed the Finance Committee immediately preceding this meeting in more detail.  Dr. Legge questioned if there have been ongoing problems.  Ms. Russert gave a brief history of the changes in staffing and computer software which exacerbated the issue, and now again, we are experiencing a change of personnel, but keeping the same software.  The Finance Committee is meeting more frequently for fiscal oversight and to please know, there have been no improprieties or fraud, yet there are improvements to be made internally to ensure accuracy and timeliness of procedures.  Ms. Russert stated there is a much stronger team in place and expects the situation to be rectified and move forward.  There have already been changes put in place, goals and responsibilities will continue to be defined.  Dr. Nicholson did state that once Ms. Kolberg has completed the audit, her firm will no longer be retained due to the personal relationship between herself, as a partner, and KACC’s new bookkeeper, her husband, Michael Kolberg.

 

DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

  1. Personnel Update:  Mr. Fay commented there are two new employees who have started work at KACC, Michael Kolberg as bookkeeper and Bethany Strand, Teacher’s Aide, Law Enforcement.
  2. Teacher Certification Update:  Mr. Fay reported the new employee files audited by the ROE were all found to be in compliance.
  3. Executive Sub-Committee Update: Mr. Fay stated the curriculum committee, comprised of Ms. Brands, Dr. Legge, Mr. Carey and Ms. Evans, will be meeting in the near future to discuss programs for next year and address whether or not the Pre-engineering program will be offered or discontinued.  Funding trends are not looking positive so this is an area needing to be addressed.
  4. Director’s Goals:  Mr. Fay called everyone’s attention to an initial draft of his goals.  Mr. Fay reported he received comments and suggestions from Ms. Russert and will restate and refine the goals to be resubmitted at the November meeting.

 

DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS:

  1. Michael Kolberg, Bookkeeper:  A motion was made by Dawn Russert, seconded by Michael Hogan at 9:30 a.m. to approve the hiring of Michael Kolberg at $32,000 per year, plus benefits.  Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.
  2. Bethany Strand:  A motion was made by Michael Hogan, seconded by Dawn Russert at 9:31 a.m. to hire Bethany Strand as Law Enforcement Teacher Aide at an hourly rate of $10.00 per hour.  Motion carried by unanimous roll-call vote.  Dr. Nicholson questioned if Ms. Strand was related to KACC’s Bob Strand.  Mr. Fay confirmed she is his daughter-in-law.
  3. First Reading of Proposed Policy Changes:  Several policies were presented for a first reading this morning.  They will be brought back to the committee for final approval at the November meeting.  Ms. Russert questioned who the Nondiscrimination officers were, to which she was informed Mr. Don Fay and Mrs. Bosa Goodale.

 

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:

  1. Principal’s Report: Ms. Goodale reported on a recent Teacher’s Institute held at KACC.  In addition to including a copy of the Agenda, Mrs. Goodale described contents of a presentation given  by a reading specialist, a presentation given on helping 2nd year seniors to complete portfolios, faculty goals and updating the faculty binders.  Ms. Goodale stated the meeting was excellent and wound up lasting until 3:00 p.m. in order to cover all the pertinent information.  Ms. Goodale stated she is pleased with the progress taking place with the faculty and has received compliments from schools.  As another indication of positive progress, Ms. Goodale directed everyone’s attention to the attendance report.  KACC average attendance for September was 96%.  The Fire-Rescue class had an attendance of 98%.  Mr. Hogan questioned if the percentage is affected when a school does not come to the Career Center for unexpected reasons.  Mrs. Goodale responded that students are not counted absent if the home school does not send a bus to KACC. Mrs. Goodale also let Mr. Hogan know how nice it was that almost 100 students from BBCHS attended prior to the school’s start date so they would not miss there time here at KACC.
  2. Special Populations Report:  Mr. Kelley reported the WorkKeys test scores arrived. Those students identified at a 75 or below for reading and/or math have been scheduled for the Learning Center.   The first semester will focus entirely on reading, second semester will be math.  Mr. Kelley stated it has been interesting fielding calls from students’ parents where he is trying to convince them as to the value of their child being involved in the learning center, especially for those students with IEP’s.  The time in the Learning Center does not take away from class time as much as it supports what is being taught.  Students will take a post-test toward the end of the 2nd quarter.  As far as the recent Construction Expo, Mr. Kelly stated there were master craftsmen from 8 trades attending, with 459 students rotating through each individual trade area.  Sophomore day will be held November 17th at KACC.  Mr. Kelly said he is delighted Kankakee High School will send all of their sophomore students.   There is a KARVES Advisory Committee meeting at Brickstone Restaurant at 6:00 p.m. this evening.  Everyone is welcome to attend, and if possible, bring a board member.  Several superintendents in attendance remarked they will be going to the meeting.  Dr. Legge stated she is happy to hear the WorkKeys test is being administered and believes it sends a good message to the students.  Mr. Fay mentioned ISBE is more closely tracking CTE students and their success, in addition to tracking who is a “completer” which is a student who took two consecutive years of CTE classes in the same field.  These types of issues will probably be attached to our funding sometime in the future.  Ms. Russert questioned if the curriculum committee will receive the NOCTI results.  Mr. Kelley stated the data is a bit skewed since it was our first year of testing and the fact the post-test includes hands-on activities which need to be refined.  Most definitely, Mr. Kelley assured, they may have the results if they like.  Ms. Russert questioned if we are looking at the American Diploma Project.  Discussion ensued concerning the initial draft of the Language arts and math sections and how sections do not correspond to practical life application.  Mr. Fay shared a story about a gentleman from IBEW in the Champaign area who gave their initial test to 26 AP students, of which, only 1 passed the test.
  3. Crete Monee – Mr. Fay informed the committee Brian Reigler is considering sending students to KACC and may be bringing some students to Sophomore Day. 

CLOSED SESSION:

A motion was made by Dr. Legge, seconded by Ms. Russert at 9:48 a.m., to move to closed session to consider information regarding Employment, and Contract negotiating matters between KACC and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees, [5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)].

 

Re-Open Session: 

The meeting was called back into session at 10:20 a.m.

 

Adjourn:

There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Hogan, seconded by Dr. Pangle at 10:21 a.m.  Motion carried by voice vote.

 

 

 

 

                                                            As Recorded By:_______________________________

                                                                                                Kevin Carey, Secretary