Worth School District 127 Board of Education met November 11

By Philip Gonzales

Feb 4, 2021

Worth School District 127 Board of Education met Nov. 11

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

1. MEETING OPENING

A. CALL TO ORDER

President Drew Sernus called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

B. ROLL CALL

Members Present on Zoom: Drew Sernus, Dave Blanks, Michelle Egan, Vince Flores, Danette Keeler, Stephanie Peltzer

Absent: Meghan Sisk

Administrators: Dr. Mark Fleming, Superintendent

Cindy Dykas, Business Manager/CSBO (Zoom)

Linda Esposito, Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Ashley Toms, Assistant Principal, Worth Elementary/Worthwoods

Jason Tooth, Assistant Principal, Worth Junior High (Zoom)

Maureen Eichstaedt, Worth Elementary Principal

JoAnne Albrecht, WEA President (Zoom)

JoAnne Tyree, WEST President (Zoom)

Robert Jeffers, Director of Technology

Others Present

Pam Ephraim, EC

Mary Zirngibl, EC

Jill Moore, Board Recording Secretary

C, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

President Drew Sernus led the Pledge of Allegiance.

President Drew Sernus read the guidelines for the Covid-19 restrictions and the purpose of offering a remote meeting.

2. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

VETERAN'S DAY - HONORING OUR VETERANS

Dr. Fleming opened by honoring Veteran's our with respect, honor and gratitude for their service and keeping us safe. Dr. Fleming recognized Board Member Vince Flores for his dedication and service as one of our Veterans.

Dr. Joe Zampillo shared that Worth Junior High put together a Veteran's Day virtual celebration and the band played the Armed Forces melody, Dr. Zampillo stated that Sarah Egan was among the students that played. The presentation ended with a scrolling tribute to Veterans that were connected to our students to honor them. The presentation will be posted on our webpage as well as social media. There were discussions with students as to why Veteran's Day is so important and why it is celebrated.

Maureen Eichstaedt shared that Worth Elementary had students participate in various activities which included students and EC students participating in videos thanking our veterans. Kindergarten students shared a video reciting the pledge of allegiance and thanking our Veterans. They connected with the Home Town Heroes Program in Worth to honor those veterans. Students were given online links to participate in virtual tours of the War Veterans Memorials and other educational links as to what it means to be a Veteran. The video was compiled into a virtual Veteran's Day commemoration and posted on social media

Linda Esposito shared that Worthwoods' students created classroom videos, sang songs, made some artwork, poetry. The presentation was posted on social media and the principals' page.

Dr. Fleming took a moment to recognize our School Board members for all they do and stated that this Sunday, November 15 is Board Member Recognition Day. Dr. Fleming stated how thankful he is for each one of them for all their support and dedication during these difficult times as well as the WEA and WEST staff. Dr. Fleming showed Board Members the jackets each one of them will be receiving for their service in District #127.

2020 RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT

Dr. Fleming shared that the 2020 Resolutions Committee Report will be presented on Saturday, November 14 and presented recommended resolutions to adopt and those that are not recommended as follows:

Not recommend to adopt: Loan Program; Gun Storage; School Report Card; Pre-K teacher licensure; Local Control for a Pandemic

Recommended to adopt: Resolution Teacher Shortage; E-Learning on Election Days; Local Control from Pandemic; Reaffirmation for existing Positions (3) Charter Schools; Belief Statement; Integrate the Principals equity and exclusion,

Board Member asked if there is something in place regarding snow days. Specifically, students not having to make that day up now that we have e-learning in place. Dr. Fleming stated that there is already something in place that school districts can adopt e-learning for emergency closing days due to a snow day. It can be done through the Intermediate Center 4 and the district can certainly look into having that. The district will look into adopting this next summer.

WORTH ELEMENTARY CONSTRUCTION PLANNING

DLA continues to study the WE grounds and building in preparation for the design elements for the bid process. They took some soil samples near the playground area and it is on track to move ground in the spring. Tentatively, we have a site visit set up for November 15,

STAFFING DURING COVID-19

Dr. Fleming stated that we've been able to obtain 2 full time permanent substitute teachers that will be with the district all year long. The district acquired 7 other licensed substitute teachers through March 2 so if we have teachers out or need to work remotely, we are able to bring these substitutes in. We currently have four at Worth Elementary; four at WW; and one at WIH. We have the flexibility of shifting the subs where they are needed and it's been extremely helpful. Dr. Fleming thanked the Board for all their support in this area.

BUILDING UPDATE/REPORT

There were no further updates.

3. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE

A, BUSINESS MANAGER

Cindy Dykas shared a PowerPoint presentation detailing the 2020 Tax Levy process. Ms. Dykas shared that in the motion section the 2020 Tax Levy resolution is there to adopt the tentative levy. The formal hearing will be at the December Board Meeting,

B. DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES Dr. Sinead Chambers was absent.

C. DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Ms. Esposito shared that the hybrid model was very successful. Orientation week gave us an opportunity to practice drop off and pick up, make sure all students were bringing their certification forms, and wearing their masks. At this point we've completed two "A" days and two "B" days. It definitely is an adjustment, but it is going very well. Report card day is coming soon and we put together a committee to assist with putting together a new way of communication to parents. We covered three key areas for reporting:

Consistently shows an understanding of the concept

Developing and understanding of the concepts

• Needs improvement . Math, Reading and Language Arts . We put areas related to Covid which includes: Attendance, Google Meets attendance, homework completion, and classroom behavior.

Parents will be receiving a different report card this semester as all report cards will be sent digitally.

Parent Teacher Conference: All conferences will be done virtually, My Calendly will be released to the parents and it will show all the available time slots so parents can sign up online.

Board Member asked that due to the parent teacher conferences being held by Zoom, will two parents be allowed to log-in separately. Ms. Eichstaedt commented that Zoom does have a waiting room and it will both parents in.

Board Member asked if there will be a separate Google Classroom link for each teacher or will all teachers be in one meeting with parents at the same time. Each teacher will have separate links in Google Classroom and they will each be approximately 10 minutes each. This applied the same to the Worth Junior High.

Board Member asked that if the district has considered doing virtual live for remote students and students in the classroom. Ms. Esposito replied that they are currently doing that at the junior high. One of the reasons we did not do that at the elementary level is due students being on their devices for an extended period of time. We allowed 2.5 hour increments for the elementary level. Ms. Eichstaedt stated that at times they did that at the elementary level and the attention span is much different for a kindergarten than a 6th and 7th grader. Dr. Fleming stated that the results of the survey showed the majority of the elementary teachers did not want to teach that way. Dr. Fleming stated that we can revise and adapt as we go along.

Board Member asked could we do the 3-4 hour block of live teaching verses having a full day lesson. Ms, Esposito stated that in person and at home students are getting the same lesson in the morning and the afternoon that includes math and reading, Students also have independent lessons that include science, social studies, along with music and P.E. Each student receives the same lesson in the morning and the same lesson in the afternoon, Dr. Fleming reiterated that the high majority of teachers did not want to do that.

4. CITIZENS' REMARKS - AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

There were no citizens' remarks.

5. CLOSED SESSION

A. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION

Recommended Motion (roll call): "that the Board of Education adjourn to closed session at 6:41 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees and security procedures, school building safety and security, and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property."