South Cook News

Prairie Junior High School District 126 Board of Education met May 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER 

The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The Board and audience stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL 

Secretary Pierce called the roll.

Present:

Marigrace Sinnott-Snooks, President 

Joe LaChica, Vice President 

Lori Pierce, Secretary 

Donna Waldrom 

Harry Tannehill 

Therese Zaker

Absent

Kimberley Powers

Also Present:

Craig Gwaltney, Superintendent 

Steve Gress, Assistant Superintendent 

Lori Connolly, Director of Teaching and Learning 

Robert Condon, Director of Special Education

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

Harry Tannehill moved, seconded by Joe LaChica, “To approve the minutes of the April 11, 2019 Regular Board Meeting". Upon roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye: LaChica, Waldrom, Sinnott-Snooks, Tannehill, Pierce, Zaker. Nay: none. The motion carried 6-0.

STAFF/STUDENT/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION 

Robert Condon from the Special Education Department updated the board on what's happening in Special Ed with a slide presentation and video.

CONSENT AGENDA 

Harry Tannehill moved, seconded by Therese Zaker, “To approve the Consent Agenda”. Upon roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye: Waldrom, Sinnott-Snooks, Tannehill, Pierce, Zaker, LaChica. Nay: none. The motion carried 6-0.

EDUCATIONAL REPORT 

Lori Connolly reported the importance of Social Emotional Learning. She stated that she along with Lane staff members attended a workshop presented by Carla Tantillo Philibert, founder of the Mindful Practices Organization and author of Everyday SEL in Elementary School. Carla teaches educators how to incorporate simple SEL tools into the classroom setting so that students can assume responsibility for their actions, become bodily aware, improve their focus, understand their emotions and maintain positive relationships with others.

Various strategies, breathing techniques, and yoga poses are taught. This past summer, the administrative team and social workers met to discuss our social emotional programming across the district. Patti and Shanda Gilligan (Lane social worker) shared their experiences with the pilot of the mindfulness strategies. As a result, a focus on mindful practices was implemented across the district this school year.

Lori also spoke about the summer reading program. She reported that this summer, our K-2 students will be reading, Library Mouse, by Daniel Kirk. Students in grades 3-6 will read Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library, by Chris Grabenstein. The media center directors and reading specialists are creating book activities, including a website dedicated to the two books.

Craig Gwaltney also reported that the enrollment in the District 126 continues to be consistent with previous years.

Patti Egan spoke to the Board about ALICE Training. She stated that all District employees have taken the ALICE training course and that Alsip School District Administrators and the Alsip Police Department continue to work together to ensure the safety of District 126 staff and students.

Therese Zaker moved, seconded by Donna Waldrom , “To direct the superintendent to prepare the 2019-2020 Budget”. Upon roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye: Sinnott-Snooks, Tannehill, Pierce, Zaker, LaChica, Waldrom. Nay: none. The motion carried 6-0.

OLD BUSINESS 

Joe LaChica moved, seconded by Harry Tannehill “To award the contract for the 2019 Gym Renovations at Hazelgreen School to K.M. Holly Constructions Inc. at a cost not to exceed $246,750.00." Upon roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye: Tannehill, Pierce, Zaker, LaChica, Waldrom, Sinnott-Snooks. Nay: none. The motion carried 6-0

CLOSED SESSION 

Harry Tannehill moved, seconded by Therese Zaker, “To go into Closed Session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the district to determine its validity”.

Harry Tannehill moved, seconded by Joe LaChica, “To come out of Closed Session”. Upon roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye: LaChica, Waldrom, Sinnott-Snooks, Tannehill, Pierce, Zaker. Nay: none. The motion carried 6

ACTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION 

Joe LaChica moved, seconded by Therese Zaker, “To approve the Administrator and Classified salaries as discussed in Closed Session”. Upon roll call, the vote was as follows: Aye: LaChica, Waldrom, Sinnott-Snooks, Tannehill, Pierce, Zaker. Nay: none. The motion carried 6

ADJOURNMENT 

Donna Waldrom moved, seconded by Therese Zaker, "To adjourn the meeting". Upon roll call, the vote as follows: Aye: Waldrom, Sinnott-Snooks, Tannehill, Pierce, Zaker, LaChica. Nay: None. The motion carried 6-0 at 8:40p.m.

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