Southwestern Community Unit School District No. 9 Board of Education met Oct.19.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. in the Middle School Commons in Piasa, Illinois. Andrew Bagley-President, called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m. and asked Randy Gallaher, Board Secretary, to call roll showing those members present as: Andrew Bagley, Randy Gallaher, Jenny Hanks, Donna Loy, Jason Oertel, Jacob Reno, Kyle Hacke, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, Recording Secretary. Andrew Bagley-President led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment:
Mrs. Tammy Weber was present and spoke to the board regarding her son being attacked on September 30th in the High School by another student for wearing a gay pride flag. She wants the see change and acceptance within the school. She spoke to the fact that teachers are not reporting issues that they see. She feels that the students have no voice. She read a newspaper article and several social media posts. Mrs. Weber wants to help obtain a solution for the bullying and harassment that she believes is taking place within the schools. She introduced Amy Sedor, President of PFLAG out of Edwardsville, who spoke briefly and offered support to the school district regarding the issue.
Also, President Bagley read an email that he had received shortly before the meeting from Natalie Casey regarding the above issue.
Correspondence and Recognition: None
Administrators Reports:
The administrators were all in their individual buildings as it was Parent-Teacher Conferences in the district and not in attendance.
Superintendent Report:
Superintendent Hacke reported that the enrollment was 1232 which is down by five since last month. He also gave the discipline report that indicated there has been nine In-School suspensions and four Out of School Suspensions thus far this year.
Mr. Hacke mentioned that the Facilities Committee had met recently. He indicated that the reduction of a bus route in the Brighton area has been working well.
The superintendent reported that the Southwestern Middle School has been listed in the top 30% of Middle Schools in Illinois in the US News & World Reports. Congratulations to staff and students! https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/illinois/badge-eligible-school-256399. The test to stay option being offered at school is working well.
Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:
Dara Simmons resigned from the School Board per Mr. Hacke. The board will run an ad/article in the local paper and on social media platforms regarding the need of a new member and the items needed to apply. The deadline to apply was set for November 2, 2021. The new member cannot live within Shipman Township as there are currently three members of the board from that township.
The ESSER III grant has been submitted for acceptance. This is a three-year grant that requires the money to be spent by September 2024. Some of the items to be paid from this grant will include but no limited to summer school with transportation, an after-school program with transportation, added counseling services, test to stay program, credit recovery, district improvements, improved wireless access, curriculum, roof replacements, some air conditioning, etc. The plan will be on the district website soon with a link for suggestions.
Items Considered for Action…
Consent Agenda:
Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of September 30, 2021, being: Education Fund $4,669,253.00, Operations/Maintenance $1,117,386.00, Transportation $843,349.00, Working Cash $3,166,071.00, with the total being $9,796,059.00, and the County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue was $56,808.04, September bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list… regular board meeting minutes from September 21, 2021…Special Board Minutes-Budget Hearing September 21, 2021…Facility Committee Meeting Minutes September 30, 2021….and Special Board Meeting Minutes-Student Disciplinary Hearing October 14, 2021.
Mr. Hacke gave a report on the finances which are looking good. The district is three months into the budget & 25% thru the fiscal year. There were no questions regarding the Consent Agenda. Andrew Bagley made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Donna Loy made the second motion to approve the consent agenda.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The board approved the 8th Grade Overnight Trip to Washington D.C. after Jacob Reno made a motion to approve with Jason Oertel seconding the said motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Bagley
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The agreement with Southwestern Trap Shooting Club was discussed. Instead of the NRA Certification for Instructors/Guidelines, the club requested to move to the Sporting Clays
Association. After discussion, Jason Oertel made the motion to approve the changes with Jenny Hanks seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Bagley, and Gallaher
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Hacke explained to the board regarding an After-School program that he and the administrators want the district to begin offering next Tuesday, October 26, 2021. The program would run every Tuesday thru the end of the school year from 3:15pm-4:15pm and transportation would be provided to each elementary school for pick-up/drop off purposes. The program would be by invitation only with a permission slip being sent to parents/guardians with details included for each student. A short discussion was held, and Jason Oertel made a motion to approve the After-School program with Donna Loy seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Bagley, Gallaher, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The board tabled Item 7.5 until the November meeting.
Jill Darr was employed as a Paraprofessional at Brighton North Primary for the 2021-22 School Year after motions were made respectively by Jenny Hanks and Donna Loy.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Reno, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Donna Loy made a motion to employ Pam Travers as a Lunchroom/Recess Aide at Brighton North for the 2021-22 School Year. Jason Oertel made the second motion to employ Pam Travers.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Randy Gallaher made a motion with Jenny Hanks seconding the motion to employ Joe Durham as the Girls Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Bagley
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The board approved the Facility Improvements which means that Ittner Architecture Company can proceed with paperwork to seek bids for the summer work 2022. Andrew Bagley made a motion to approve such with Randy Gallaher seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Bagley, and Gallaher
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Hacke requested permission from the board for six students who are enrolled in the program to become teachers after graduation and one teacher to attend the IETC(Illinois Education & Technology Conference) November 17-19, 2021, in Springfield, IL. This is a grant funded program that the students are involved in and the grant would be paying for this overnight trip. Donna Loy made a motion to approve the overnight trip and Randy Gallaher seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Bagley, Gallaher, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Andrew Bagley made a motion to move into closed session with Donna Loy seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Reno, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 8:14pm
Randy Gallaher made a motion to move back into open session with Donna Loy seconding such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Reno, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 9:20pm
Being no other items for discussion, Jason Oertel made a motion to adjourn the meeting with Andrew Bagley seconding the motion to adjourn.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Meeting adjourned at 9:38pm.
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