School Board Moves Ahead With Committees

Citing the large number of issues currently facing the Board of Education, some school officials said the need for individual committees within the board is now necessary.

“Since there is so much work ahead with the third high school, or do we add additions, contract negotiations, funding issues, how to best handle budget shortfalls, the care of our students as they’re transported throughout the district, and many other issues, I believe committee of the whole is not the best format,” said School Board President Bill Walsh.

District 308 will now have six individual committees, each headed by two board members.

Board members David Behrens and Lynn Cullick will sit on the growth and facilities committee; Brent Lightfoot and Mike Scaramuzzi will take the helm of the finance committee; Laurie Pasteris and Scaramuzzi will head up the policy committee; Pasteris and Alison Swanson will take on the teaching and learning committee; Swanson and Cullick will head up the personnel committee; and Lightfoot and Cullick will sit on the negotiations committee.

The committees will meet, as scheduled by the board, and then report back to the entire board with their findings. No action can take place until the entire board is seated and in session, said Diana Yuhas, assistant to Supt. Dan O'Donnell.

Walsh said school board members will determine the makeup of their committees, including who is the chair and when and where they will meet.

“It’s not every week or twice a month,” he said. “Just when it’s appropriate or deemed necessary.”

However, O'Donnell cautioned committee members to make sure they are in compliance with the open meetings act.

“You have to make sure when and where and the agenda for the meeting gets posted in a timely manner so there is no Open Meetings Act violation,” he said.

State law requires public bodies to post notice of all topics likely to be discussed during a public meeting at least 48 hours before the meeting is to take place. The law also requires that minutes be kept at each meeting.