The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Oblong Community Unit School District #4 was held on January 15, 2007 in the Elementary Library. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Poehler with the following physically present: Smith, Meese, Cross, Bilyew, Pinkston, Harris, Poehler.

Recognition & Comments – Eighteen OES students were recognized through the Character Counts Program for their outstanding character dealing with caring.

Motion by Harris and seconded by Smith to adopt consent agenda items as presented. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea. Consent Agenda items: To approve regular and closed session minutes of December 18, 2006; financial report of December, 2006; payment of January, 2007 board bills; and approve Budget Calendar - A. Dates of Receipts – July; B. Preliminary appropriation recommendations by fund – June; C. Major Board Actions regarding the budget – tentative budget – August, hearing & adoption of budget – September.

Motion by Bilyew and seconded by Poehler to adopt School Board Policy 269 pertaining to School Board meeting procedures. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross– yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Pinkston and seconded by Meese to tentativley approve the following School Board Policies: 270 – Types of School Board Meetings; 2:70.01 – Organizational School Board Meeting; 2:35 – Board Member Oath and Conduct; 4:10 – Fiscal and Business Management; 215:02 – Board Member Term of Office; 500.06 – Abused and Neglected Child Reporting; and 2:110 – Qualifications, Term and Duties of Board Officers. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Cross and seconded by Harris to open closed session minutes for the following dates in 2006: July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, and December 18. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Smith and seconded by Bilyew to employ David Weger, CPA, as auditor for the 2007-2008 school year for a fee of $5,800. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Poehler and seconded by Pinkston to approve request for instructor and four Freshman FFA members to attend the Made for Excellence Conference in Collinsville, IL on January 19-20, 2007. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Harris and seconded by Bilyew to approve the High School Cheerleaders request to attend ICCA Regional Competition on January 21, 2007 at Highland High School in Highland, IL. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Harris and seconded by Meese to approve the High School Chorus request for instructor and 10 students to attend the Millikin Music Festival in Decatur, IL on February 11 &12, 2007. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Cross and seconded by Poehler to approve the High School Band request for instructor and 4 students to attend Southern Illinois University’s Heartland Honor Band Program in Carbondale, IL February 1-3, 2007. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Harris and seconded by Pinkston to go into closed session at 7:24 PM to consider information regarding appointment, employment, or dismissal of an employee, negotiations, and to engage in discussion relating to the special education program. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poeher – yea.

Motion by Poehler and seconded by Smith to return to open session at 7:50 PM. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Poehler and seconded by Pinkston to approve closed session minutes of 1/15/07. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Pinkston and seconded by Meese to hire Mary Lou Pusey as High School Cook. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston - yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Smith and seconded by Poehler to accept Allen Price’s resignation effective at the end of the 2006-2007 school year. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.

Motion by Harris and seconded by Cross to adjourn at 7:53 PM. Roll call vote: Smith – yea, Meese – yea, Cross – yea, Bilyew – yea, Pinkston – yea, Harris – yea, Poehler – yea.