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Post by doctorwho on Nov 7, 2011 16:10:09 GMT -6
Would be nice to have some atendance at the meeting tonite- the items in red appear to have some significant interest -- I have a biz call scheduled for 7-9 pm- but if it delays or cancels I will be there- hope to see some others
1. Meeting - 6:00 pm
A. Call to order
B. Roll Call
C. Recess/Reconvene
2. Executive Session - 5 ILCS 120/2 - 6:05 p.m.
3. Regular Meeting - Open Session - 7:00pm
A. Call to Order
B. Roll Call
C. Pledge of Allegiance
D. Board Salutes
E. High School Student Representative Report from Carly Sass of Waubonsie Valley High School
4. Public Comment for Non-Agenda Items
A. Procedures for Public Comment
5. Public Comment for Agenda Items
A. Procedures for Public Comment
6. Consent Agenda and Superintendent Report
A. Superintendent Report
B. Approval of Consent Agenda Items C through F.
C. Approval of Minutes from the Regular Board Meeting on October 17, 2011 and Executive Session on October 17, 2011
D. Approval the adoption of a new high school course, Virtual Enterprise International (VEI), to be implemented durng the 2012-2013 school year.
E. Approval of the Business and Financial Items
F. Approval of the Personnel Report
7. Consent Agenda Items for Separate Consideration
A. If Necessary
8. Action Items
A. Approval of Tentative 2011 Tax Levy - Dave Holm
B. Approve the Resolution to Issue Approximately $7,060,000 General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2011A - Dave Holm
C. Approval of the IASB Resolutions and Position Statement - Cathy Piehl
9. Discussion
A. School Town/Common Core/Curriculum Update - Jay Strang, Tricia McCarthy, Allison Sherman, Joan Dollinger
B. Residency Update - Terri Drendel, Mike Popp
C. Developer Requests - Dave Holm
10. Adjournment
A. Adjourn the Meeting
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Post by EagleDad on Nov 7, 2011 21:06:33 GMT -6
Thar she Blows!!!
Sorry I couldn't make it tonight. I will be anxiously awaiting a replay.
There goes another 7 big ones. What the hell does that matter after all. I'll be interested to see if Holm said it was really offset in mystical "revenue" for portables they didn't have to rent, or if he instead keeps pulling magic bunnies out of the bottomless hat through creative use of "Bond Premiums" (cash back at closing - in trade for a higher interest rate - for the newly observant that has been going on in these parts for years).
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Post by doctorwho on Nov 8, 2011 9:02:57 GMT -6
Thar she Blows!!! Sorry I couldn't make it tonight. I will be anxiously awaiting a replay. There goes another 7 big ones. What the hell does that matter after all. I'll be interested to see if Holm said it was really offset in mystical "revenue" for portables they didn't have to rent, or if he instead keeps pulling magic bunnies out of the bottomless hat through creative use of "Bond Premiums" (cash back at closing - in trade for a higher interest rate - for the newly observant that has been going on in these parts for years). Well this is actually a two parter 1/ The $7 mil is a bond that matures in 6-weeks. DH wants to refi it, at no benefit to we the taxpayers. This $ at least has already been collected from tax payers 2/ BE PREPARED ! IN DH review of tax levy - we’re already looking at (currently) a $3.5 million deficit for next year. Here's the issue for this spendthrift bunch- and surely o new one. Much like our illustrious governor who rasied out taxes 2% ( actually 66 2/3%) to cover spending- and word is may be ready to tack on another 2% in 2012 -- it continues without ANY thought to reducing spending. None ! |
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Post by EagleDad on Nov 8, 2011 20:19:02 GMT -6
2/ BE PREPARED ! IN DH review of tax levy - we’re already looking at (currently) a $3.5 million deficit for next year. 3.5 Million deficit next year - IIRC isn't that the exact number Paul White quoted recently for annual operation of the new HS? The district squeezed by for this year with big budget cuts. We will either need to raise taxing rates massivly (which will be blindingly obvious given the lowered assessments you all just got, as it is expect a corresponding 7% increase in the rates to offset the assesment), or go back to the well in another referendum in a big way. The tax revenues just are not there to support the current operational spending levels. |
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Post by doctorwho on Nov 9, 2011 7:52:36 GMT -6
2/ BE PREPARED ! IN DH review of tax levy - we’re already looking at (currently) a $3.5 million deficit for next year. 3.5 Million deficit next year - IIRC isn't that the exact number Paul White quoted recently for annual operation of the new HS? The district squeezed by for this year with big budget cuts. We will either need to raise taxing rates massivly (which will be blindingly obvious given the lowered assessments you all just got, as it is expect a corresponding 7% increase in the rates to offset the assesment), or go back to the well in another referendum in a big way. The tax revenues just are not there to support the current operational spending levels. and the financial geniuses who led this district down this path were told exactly what would happen - and it is all coming to fruition. Where are the naysayers who said we had it wrong all along now ? We had the exact right population numbers and financial numbers - AND so did the SB leadership- yet those who rammed the high school and all the refinancing thru ignored reality for some God foresaken reason to build a high school we did not need and indeed further deepened our yearly expenses when that was the last thing we needed. I really hope these goofs are one day actually held accountable for the crippling decisions they have made. |
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Post by EagleDad on Nov 9, 2011 15:17:57 GMT -6
I watched the meeting last night the "Approve the Resolution to Issue Approximately $7,060,000 General Obligation School Refunding Bonds" now makes more sense to me. That said, I do not agree with in principal it, when debt comes to term, you need to start expiring some of it someday, otherwise you will be forever kicking it (a big rotating mass of bonds) down the road in a non-ending loop. Our state government may run that way, but it doesn't mean we need to. Given the current economy however, and financing situation, I can understand the desire to do it. I was really, really impressed with the way Mark Rising is representing us. He takes nothing for granted, does not simply rubber stamp whatever the administration brings before him, and asks reasonable, intelligent and rational questions to understand the situation. That said, it does not take an organizational expert to realize that our current board is , as a whole group extremely dysfunctional right now. There seems to be a lot of lack of respect going around and double/triple talk to avoid answering very simple queries, or more importantly just doing the right thing. The fact that the new curriculum had to be voted on and approved BEFORE the presentation on the same topic so that the board could understand what they were voting on is just plain silly, and stupid, and I do not care what Roberts Rules of order CB trounces out to justify it. C'mon gang, do the right thing, have some brains and common sense. Don't act like 2 yr olds throwing tantrums over process (and I say that to all, not just a few). IF YOUR PROCESS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR IT, CHANGE THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS DUMB. Make a motion to not be stupid, then vote on it if you need to. The legal billing situation looks untenable, I would start rejecting them as a board ,member and tell the vendor the invoices are crap and you need to start filing intelligible invoices so that they can be understood. If overbilling/overpayment/etc is a all screwed up, take 3 months off. Tell them that you are not paying for 3 months, after which you want one solid accounting of what is left due and start over. Holm needs to stop letting the kiddies color on them with crayon also apparently. (make a copy if you want to do that). More scary to me is that they seem to be making multi-million dollar decisions with little lead time, little information, and little discourse allowed on the subjects. Process is being used as an excuse to squash thought and discussion (gee, I wonder what motherf*cker that was learned from) and it strikes me as a very dark road they are going down. It is certainly not one that builds trust, teamwork and longer term relationships that can be drawn upon down the road in challenging times that are coming when the hard work hits (and when a lot more eyes are watching). If I were Curt I would fix that now. An observation. Cathy Piehl needs to start doing the job that she coveted so bad as IASB rep. She needs to be briefing the whole board on IASB issues and legislative developments downstate in a timely manner, as that is the IASB reps role. She should not filter or roadblock information. Her cop out that I have it to you when it was given to me was pathetic. Get off your butt and go get it (or at least ask for it) yourself, that is what you signed up for. If you don't, you are not needed and bring no value as an intermediary. If she does not start doing the job, she should either pass on the responsibility to someone who can do it and is willing (or share it as was offered), or be prepared to answer to it during reelection by those in the public with big mouths  , sharp talons, long memories, and deep archives. One last statement. I can't help in watching the board meetings these days to realize this is all just grand theatre for no actual effect or impact. It strikes me that the administration is gonna do whatever the hell they want to anyway (like sell bonds, then ask for the OK later, buy curriculum then tell you about what they are later, etc). I hope those that are in position to push back against this continue to do so. I know it must be hard, frustrating, and draining, but I dearly hope they hold out until they can get some help to do the right thing. |
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Post by EagleDad on Nov 9, 2011 17:53:54 GMT -6
Even more amazing to me, the Daily Herald covered the meeting and below is their most important and lead story from the evening. Really DH?!? They pass 7 million dollars in new bonds same day as selling them, and you discuss the thickness of curriculum binders and how someone learned what a scanner is in 2011? Were they even there? Does the administration just write the feel-good stories up, send them to them and they publish them? What a waste modern newspaper journalism is. I'm just glad we won't have to put up with it much longer. I think I preferred stories on housewives' new shoes and haircuts or what was growing in mommy's tummy 
www.dailyherald.com/article/20111109/news/711099827/District 204 may cash in on business deal By Kristy Kennedy Indian Prairie District 204 could earn royalties through a business partnership with a software company that will allow the district to manage its curriculum through a customized computer system. A company called SchoolTOWN is working with the district to create an e-sharing system that will put curriculum into a digital repository, making it easier to access, sort and modify. Currently curriculum materials are distributed to teachers in thick, three-ring binders that have proved to be cumbersome to update. At this week’s school board meeting, staff members displayed a hefty binder, at least a half-foot thick containing the fourth-grade math curriculum. Changes are made by pulling out old papers and inserting new curriculum sheets. Under the new system, officials expect teachers will have an easier time accessing curriculum and sharing lesson plans. The computer system is expected to be available districtwide this fall. At the same time, District 204 will provide an endorsement for SchoolTOWN as it markets the product. The company also will use the district’s new math and language arts curriculum which is based on Common Core standards that have been adopted by many states, including Illinois. If other schools use District 204 materials, the district could receive royalties. “They have the expertise with the content, the software content. We have the expertise with curriculum and Common Core,” said Jay Strang, assistant superintendent. “It’s a pretty sharp deal.” He said the district could have paid from $150,000 to $350,000 for similar software that it will be getting for free. “This is very unique in the world of education to start doing these kinds of partnerships,” Superintendent Kathy Birkett said. “I think we will see more of them.” |
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Post by macrockett on Nov 10, 2011 7:10:09 GMT -6
2/ BE PREPARED ! IN DH review of tax levy - we’re already looking at (currently) a $3.5 million deficit for next year. 3.5 Million deficit next year - IIRC isn't that the exact number Paul White quoted recently for annual operation of the new HS? The district squeezed by for this year with big budget cuts. We will either need to raise taxing rates massivly (which will be blindingly obvious given the lowered assessments you all just got, as it is expect a corresponding 7% increase in the rates to offset the assesment), or go back to the well in another referendum in a big way. The tax revenues just are not there to support the current operational spending levels. Operating Costs of MVHS for 2012...straight from Dave Holm. I asked the question back in March. I suspect they will end up closer to the $3.5 million soon with the addition of all 4 years. Yes, we desperately needed that space.  ipsd204.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=news&thread=3671&page=1Now we are desperately looking for a way to pay for it and the operating costs. It isn't rocket science. Also, go to ipsdweb.ipsd.org/uploads/Business/CAFRFY10.pdfOn page 80-85 of the attached PDF you can see the schedule of payments for each bond series. Most of these payments are back end loaded and are stretched out. D204 doesn't have any excess cash laying around so they have to refinance all principal payments coming due rather than pay them off. I spoke about this on the Blue board some months ago, how the debt as not being paid down. All these bond issues have periodic principal pay downs scheduled into them. This will happen over and over again in the coming years.Page 93-94 of the pdf show the principal and interest payments for each of the last 10 years. You can see in 2010 principal payment was much lower relative to prev years. Page 96 property assessments Page 97-98 historical tax rates Page 100 historical levies Page 101 outstanding debt. Here you can see the debt is not being paid down in a significant fashion recently. |
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Post by doctorwho on Nov 10, 2011 9:56:40 GMT -6
"On page 80-85 of the attached PDF you can see the schedule of payments for each bond series. Most of these payments are back end loaded and are stretched out. D204 doesn't have any excess cash laying around so they have to refinance all principal payments coming due rather than pay them off. I spoke about this on the Blue board some months ago, how the debt as not being paid down. All these bond issues have periodic principal pay downs scheduled into them. This will happen over and over again in the coming years."
This is the part that gets me that people either did not pay attention to- or just wanted that damn HS so badly in their back yard ( or to ensure they got to stay where they wanted) - they just didn't care. We refinanced debt that already would have been retired by now in some cases..and now like the house of cards many individuals find themselves in- we DO NOT have the money to cover normal operating expenses for what we overbuilt to going forward.
This is NOT the state's fault, this is NOT the economies fault
This blame lies squarely upon Curt and Mark and Jeanine who knew damn well better and did this anyway. Thanks for leaving this mess to everyone else....
Teo of the 3 are prfoessionals - you know they knew better than this- they would never handle their house finances like this-- so WHY did they do this ?
someday that answer will indeed be known
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Post by doctorwho on Nov 10, 2011 10:01:14 GMT -6
I watched the meeting last night the "Approve the Resolution to Issue Approximately $7,060,000 General Obligation School Refunding Bonds" now makes more sense to me. That said, I do not agree with in principal it, when debt comes to term, you need to start expiring some of it someday, otherwise you will be forever kicking it (a big rotating mass of bonds) down the road in a non-ending loop. Our state government may run that way, but it doesn't mean we need to. Given the current economy however, and financing situation, I can understand the desire to do it. I was really, really impressed with the way Mark Rising is representing us. He takes nothing for granted, does not simply rubber stamp whatever the administration brings before him, and asks reasonable, intelligent and rational questions to understand the situation. That said, it does not take an organizational expert to realize that our current board is , as a whole group extremely dysfunctional right now. There seems to be a lot of lack of respect going around and double/triple talk to avoid answering very simple queries, or more importantly just doing the right thing. The fact that the new curriculum had to be voted on and approved BEFORE the presentation on the same topic so that the board could understand what they were voting on is just plain silly, and stupid, and I do not care what Roberts Rules of order CB trounces out to justify it. C'mon gang, do the right thing, have some brains and common sense. Don't act like 2 yr olds throwing tantrums over process (and I say that to all, not just a few). IF YOUR PROCESS DOES NOT ALLOW FOR IT, CHANGE THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS DUMB. Make a motion to not be stupid, then vote on it if you need to. The legal billing situation looks untenable, I would start rejecting them as a board ,member and tell the vendor the invoices are crap and you need to start filing intelligible invoices so that they can be understood. If overbilling/overpayment/etc is a all screwed up, take 3 months off. Tell them that you are not paying for 3 months, after which you want one solid accounting of what is left due and start over. Holm needs to stop letting the kiddies color on them with crayon also apparently. (make a copy if you want to do that). More scary to me is that they seem to be making multi-million dollar decisions with little lead time, little information, and little discourse allowed on the subjects. Process is being used as an excuse to squash thought and discussion (gee, I wonder what motherf*cker that was learned from) and it strikes me as a very dark road they are going down. It is certainly not one that builds trust, teamwork and longer term relationships that can be drawn upon down the road in challenging times that are coming when the hard work hits (and when a lot more eyes are watching). If I were Curt I would fix that now. An observation. Cathy Piehl needs to start doing the job that she coveted so bad as IASB rep. She needs to be briefing the whole board on IASB issues and legislative developments downstate in a timely manner, as that is the IASB reps role. She should not filter or roadblock information. Her cop out that I have it to you when it was given to me was pathetic. Get off your butt and go get it (or at least ask for it) yourself, that is what you signed up for. If you don't, you are not needed and bring no value as an intermediary. If she does not start doing the job, she should either pass on the responsibility to someone who can do it and is willing (or share it as was offered), or be prepared to answer to it during reelection by those in the public with big mouths , sharp talons, long memories, and deep archives. One last statement. I can't help in watching the board meetings these days to realize this is all just grand theatre for no actual effect or impact. It strikes me that the administration is gonna do whatever the hell they want to anyway (like sell bonds, then ask for the OK later, buy curriculum then tell you about what they are later, etc). I hope those that are in position to push back against this continue to do so. I know it must be hard, frustrating, and draining, but I dearly hope they hold out until they can get some help to do the right thing. "If I were Curt I would fix that now." asking the leader of the 4 on 3 vote to fix it is like asking....well you know where i'm going with this All I can say is Onemore vote- that all that is needed to start to end this charade that passes for procedure |
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Post by jimbob on Nov 12, 2011 4:34:23 GMT -6
The name "Jay Strang" and the word "curriculum" in the same sentence is oxymoronic.  |
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Post by macrockett on Nov 12, 2011 9:02:59 GMT -6
The name "Jay Strang" and the word "curriculum" in the same sentence is oxymoronic. Jimbob, do you think they forgot the s or is there more to it than that? |
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, sharp talons, long memories, and deep archives.
