Public Notice is Hereby Given that a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education of Rochester Community Unit School District #3A is set for the (XXth) day of (Month), 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Bruce Hays Administration Building, 4 Rocket Drive, Rochester, IL 62563.
The agenda for the regular meeting is attached hereto.
Dated the (XX)th Day of (Month) 2024
The Rochester “Robot Rebellion” Robotics team is comprised of 14 high school and junior high students who compete in FIRST Tech Challenge competitions. Their season runs from September to February, and each year they are required to build and program a robot to complete different tasks for points.
They are excited to show the Board of Education a brand new robot they built this year with the help of sponsorship from the Rochester Lions Club, JT Welding and JC Custom Woodworking. The Robotics team recently won the Motivate Award. The Motivate Award is awarded to a team "sparking others to embrace the culture of STEM through FIRST."
At each regular and special open meeting, members of the public and District employees may comment to or ask questions of the School Board, subject to reasonable constraints. Individuals appearing before the Board are expected to follow these guidelines:
Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President.
Identify her or himself and be brief. Ordinarily, such comments shall be limited to 5 minutes. In unusual circumstances, and when the individual has made a request in advance notice to speak for a longer period of time, the individual may be allowed to speak for more than 5 minutes.
Observe the Board President’s decision to shorten public comment to conserve time and give the maximum number of individuals an opportunity to speak.
Observe the Board President’s decision to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise covered in Board policy.
A designated spokesperson should be chosen to speak for large groups.
Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board policy, 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property.
Petitions or written correspondence to the Board shall be presented to the Board in the next regular Board packet.
The Board of Education accepts, with thanks and condolences, memorial donations from the Watson Family to the Rochester Junior High Band program in memory of Jerome "Jay" Watson.
Administrative reports have been included for review.
Principals
Director of Student Services
Director of Special Education
Director of Communications and Engagement
Reminder to File Statement of Economic Interest - sangamoncounty.lrseis.com. An email should have been sent to your Rochester email.
Closed session is a necessary aspect of board meetings as it allows for discussions regarding confidential matters, including personnel issues, litigation, and negotiations. These discussions are crucial for making informed decisions while also protecting the privacy rights of individuals involved in sensitive matters. However, it is important to limit closed session only to the items on the agenda that require confidentiality. The Open Meetings Act requires that only discussions can take place during closed session and any action taken must be limited to the announced agenda. Examples of regular and routine exceptions to the Open Meetings Act that allow for closed sessions include personnel matters, collective bargaining, litigation, sale or lease of property, and student discipline. Confidentiality is crucial during closed session, and any information shared should not be disclosed to the public. This ensures that the board can make informed decisions while protecting the privacy rights of individuals involved in sensitive matters.
The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act.