Riverside Public Schools  •  District Ninety Six

 

 

                                                                             December 17, 2008

 

The Riverside District 96 Board of Education held its regular December meeting on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 in the Hauser Junior High School LRC at 7:30 p.m.  Prior to the regular business meeting, the Board conducted a Truth in Taxation hearing regarding the 2008 Certificate of Levy.

 

Truth in Taxation Hearing.

 

An informational packet was available for those in attendance at the hearing.  The packet contained a copy of the Certificate of Tax Levy, a notice of the hearing (as published in the Suburban Life on December 8, 2007) and a tax levy worksheet with the recommended levy for tax year 2008.

 

·     the total recommended levy for tax year 2008 is $23,981,512 and does not include any allocation for the bond and interest fund which was paid in full in December 2007.  The actual levy will be capped by the Property Tax Extension Law estimated at 4.2%

·     provisions were also made to enable the district to access tax revenue from any new construction during the 2008 tax year

 

 

Regular Business Meeting.

 

The Board approved the following items listed under the Consent Agenda:

a.                   Minutes of the Building Committee Meeting of November 18, 2008.

b.                   Minutes of the Regular Business Meeting of November 18, 2008.

c.                   Financial Statement as of November 30, 2008.

d.                   General Invoices, Schedule A-682.

e.                   Maternity leave request from reading specialist Janet Kucek beginning in early February.

 

The Board adopted a resolution to set the levy for tax year 2008 at $23,981,512 in compliance with the provisions of the Illinois Property Tax Code – Truth in Taxation Law.

 

The Board reviewed the first draft of the 2009-10 school year calendar and discussed the scheduling of institute days, parent/teacher conferences, early dismissal days, etc.  Supt. Lamberson noted that the draft is based on the 2008-09 calendar with regard to Institute Days and school improvement days. Input from administrators, staff, and parents will be obtained before a final recommendation is presented to the Board in February 2009.

 

The Board approved the settlement agreements on PTAB appeals from J. C. Penney and Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company for tax years 2002, 2003, and 2004 at a total loss of $649,000 in tax revenue to the district.

 

 

Following their semi-annual review, the Board took action to keep closed and confidential, the executive session meeting minutes for the past six months (June through December 2008).

 

Informational Reports from the Superintendent and Staff:

 

a.                   The enrollment as of November 30, 2008 was 1,452 students.

 

b.                   Because of the weather conditions, the podcasts from the principals and student tech presentations will take place at the January meeting.

 

c.                   Supt. Lamberson reviewed with the Board a proposed Residency Validation process that would give parents two options for proving residency to principals on a yearly cycle – the traditional method of providing five original documents with name and address such as a lease, utility bill, tax bill, etc. or a community-based process of having a residency affidavit signed by an approved, bonded “residency authenticator” who has first hand knowledge of the family’s residency.  Discussion also took place regarding when and how often validating residency would be required.  Action on this item is anticipated in spring ’09..

 

d.                   A parent survey is being prepared for all current District 96 families regarding their intent to return in the fall and if they will have a child entering kindergarten next year.  This will aid in planning for the 2009-10 school year prior to kindergarten registration in March 2009.

 

e.                   Board vice-president Nancy Jensen reported on the progress of the policy review and update in consultation with the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB).  Two more meetings will be held before the February Board meeting.  The draft document will be posted on the district’s website for review prior to Board adoption at the April Board meeting. 

 

            The redesigned District 96 website will be ready in early 2009.

 

The Board discussed the process of trademarking/copywriting school names and the Riverside District 96 name to more effectively manage communication.  IASB has been asked to provide more information and sample policies on this topic.

 

 

Future Meeting Dates.

 

a.    Education Committee Meeting, January 20, 2009, 5:00 p.m., Hauser Junior High LRC.

b.    Regular Business Meeting, January 20, 2009, 7:30 p.m., Hauser Junior High LRC.