January 24, 2018

Board Highlights: Jan. 23, 2018

The following is a brief recap of the Tues., Jan. 23, 2018, BPS101 Regular Board Meeting.

• View the agenda and all supporting documents from this meeting and minutes from previous meetings. 
• View BATV’s recording of the Jan. 23 meeting.
• View recap of Tues., Dec. 19 Board Meeting.

Celebration: BHS Football Team

The entire Batavia Varsity Football Team came to Board Meeting to thank Board Members for their continued support of athletics and surprised Board Members with a giant “Thank You” sign that they held up on the sidewalk outside the meeting. Also at the meeting, the Board honored several players’ academic achievements, including

• Jack Haefer – Jack is one of three National Football Foundation-Scholar Athlete Award recipients in the Chicago area. The NFF’s prestigious Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes high school students for their outstanding individual academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, and community involvement. Jack will be honored by the NFF as well as NFL and college football players at Halas Hall on Feb. 19. Jack was also named a 2018-19 Illinois State Scholar, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Social Studies National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Science National Honor Society. Additionally, he is on the BHS Baseball Team and an active member of Batavia High School’s Key Club.  

The following 11 football players also earned the IHSFCA Academic All-State 7A Award. To qualify for this honor, you must be a member of a varsity team, be selected as a First Team All-Conference player, and have a current cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better.

• Michael Bautch

• Riley Cooper – Riley is also a 2018-19 Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society

• Nolan Eike

• Michael Jansey

• Jared Martin – Jared is also a member of the National Honor Society

• Maxwell McFadden – Maxwell is also a 2018-19 Illinois State Scholar

• Michael Niemiec

• Eric Peterson – Eric is also a 2018-19 Illinois State Scholar

• Collin Richter – Collin is also a 2018-19 Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society

• Tom Stuttle
• Luke Weerts

Fun fact: The varsity football team’s cumulative GPA is 3.51!

Celebration: Assistive Devices Helping Early Childhood Students

Cheryl Curry, assistant principal at Alice Gustafson/Early Childhood and Louise White Elementary Schools, shared with Board Members how Early Childhood students with impairments in the production or comprehension of spoken or written language, are using alternative methods of communication, such as an electronic device. Cheryl showed the following video to help Board Members get a better understanding how these devices help our youngest learners communicate. The video also showcases one EC student’s progress over the course of school year …

Report: Meeting Dates

The Board approved the following Board Meeting Schedule for the 2018-19 school year and approved the elimination of the Feb. 6 Board Meeting in 2018.

• July 17, 2018
• August 21, 2018
• September 18, 2018
• October 2, 2018
• October 16, 2018
• November 13, 2018
• December 18, 2018
• January 15, 2019
• February 19, 2019
• March 19, 2019
• April 23, 2019
• May 21, 2019
• June 18, 2019

All of the meetings will take place at 7 p.m. at the Rosalie Jones Administration Center, 335 W. Wilson Street, Batavia.

Report: Five-Year Financial Forecast

On behalf of BPS101’s Resource Responsibility Advisory Council (RRAC), Chief Financial Officer Tony Inglese walked Board Members though the District’s five-year forecast, which includes fiscal years 2019-2023. Key points:

The District’s financial outlook is cautious:

• Enrollment is projected to continue to decline by 2% annually for the next five years. Annual staffing reductions proportional to enrollment declines are fiscally prudent.
• Fund balances have improved but remain nominal. The District requires more cash to avoid short-term borrowing during the fiscal year and improve its ability to withstand external financial threats (e.g., pension cost shift or tax freeze).
• Without intervention, expenditures are projected to outpace revenue growth and generate compounding annual deficits.
• Rapidly increasing medical insurance costs are the primary driver of expenditure growth and pose a threat to the District’s financial security.
• To balance the budget in 2019, RRAC recommends that the Board of Education consider a staff reduction of 8-10 FTE through natural attrition (i.e., resignations and retirements). The Council also recommends that the Board and District Insurance Committee implement measures to contain medical insurance increases to less than 10%.

Report: Student Services

BPS101 Student Service Director Lisa Palese and Student Services Assistant Director Kari Ruh provided this annual report to Board Members on the current strengths and opportunities within the Student Services Department. During her presentation, Mrs. Palese responded to concerns over supports for students with IEPs and the social and emotional needs of all students. All comments can be viewed here.

Action: Health Life Safety Work Bid

Board Members approved the contract from Construction Solutions of Illinois, Inc. to complete the District’s Health & Life/Safety work for the sum of $442,723.

Action: Approval of Lease for Multifunction Devices

Board Members approved a three-year, $1 buyout capital lease with American Capital for 46 Konica Minolta multifunction devices for the sum of $304,673.76. Additionally, the Board approved the disposal of 26 existing copiers to JJ Bender for $22,200.

Regular Board Meeting
Tues., Feb. 20, 7 p.m

Regular Board Meeting
Tues., March 20, 7 p.m

Regular Board Meeting
Tues., April 17, 7 p.m