Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 Board of Education met March 15.
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, Nicholas Strohbeck, Kyle Hacke, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, Recording Secretary. Jacob Reno was absent. Andrew Bagley-President led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment: None
Correspondence and Recognition: High School Principal, Mark Bearley, recognized the High School Boys Basketball team this evening. The team won 1st place in the 103rd Annual Macoupin County Basketball Tournament that was held in Gillespie this year. The board congratulated the team as well as Coach, Jason Darr, and Assistant Coach, Pat Keith!
Mr. Bearley also recognized the High School Scholar Bowl team along with Coach, Matt Hasquin. The Scholar Bowl team has had a great year! The teams’ accomplishments and wins are many to say the least.
A thank you for the board was read.
Administrators Reports:
Mrs. Renken, Special Education Coordinator, reported that the Special Education Department is currently establishing a Restraint/Time-Out plan to be implemented at the end of this school year. They are also finalizing IEPs in turn to figure out programming for next school year.
High School Principal, Mark Bearley, reported that the HS Drama Club will be presenting The Wizard of Oz under the direction of Heather Gustafson on April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The National Honor Society Induction will be held March 20th at 3pm, and Mr. Bearley wanted to thank Mr. Dugas for sponsoring that. Also, Mr. Bearley gave special mention to Mrs. Goetten and Mrs. Ruyle for planning this year’s prom which will be held at Lewis & Clark Community College Commons. Everyone is glad that the prom will be held this year even though it definitely has been a short notice to prepare. S. Brewer and E. Strohbeck have come forward to plan the After-Prom party with very limited time to do such. Mr. Bearley stated that the community/businesses have been gracious thus far in donating to the After-Prom which will be held at the YMCA with buses transporting the students attending.
Mr. Bearley reported that Deputy T. Ruyle is doing an excellent job connecting with the students at all the different schools. He is greeting students, patrolling the parking lot(s), and eats lunch at different schools with the students to make his presence known.
Also, the High School math and English departments have held practice SAT testing and the actual SAT will be held on April 13th.
Shannon Bowman, Middle School Principal, stated that the 8th grade State Science and IL Readiness testing will be held soon. She also invited the Board members to the Jacoby Arts Center in Alton as ten of the Middle School student’s artworks were selected and will be on display there for an Art Show March 12th – March 26th.
Mrs. Bowman reported that volleyball has ended, and that track has begun with 48 students signed up to participate. Also, the Middle School Scholar Bowl team has been competing and doing well. Mrs. Bowman happily indicated that the Middle School will be holding a dance for students on April 1st in which she says is a welcome activity as well as several other activities being planned for the end of the year. Teachers are happy that activities have returned to normal for their students in Middle School.
Shipman Elementary Principal, Rhonda Wooldridge, went to the Piasa Team Music Trivia night and indicated it was a huge success. She thanked the members who put it together and worked so extremely hard on it. Ms. Wooldridge told the board that it was very nice to be able to open her building up this week to normal activities prior to Covid. There will be a spring class party and parents are able to eat with their child when arranged with the building. She also reported that Shipman Elementary will be holding a spring fling this Thursday as a reward for positive behavior. The week of April 4th Shipman students will be doing the IAR testing.
Principal Wooldridge reported on the Accelerated Reading store, the upcoming book fair, and the Fun day at the end of the year.
Mr. Hopkins, Medora Intermediate Principal, said that he could not believe that it is already the 2nd day of 4th quarter and that shortly school will be over for the year. IAR testing will be starting at Medora Intermediate the week of April 1st. Mr. Hopkins shared that Medora is getting back to normal activities and group work/projects are now being started again since the restrictions have been lifted. He indicated that he has been rotating lunch times and kids so as to introduce kids to other students that they have not gotten to meet yet due to the restrictions that were in place. Mr. Hopkins also reported that he had a parent meeting in his office in person today and was tickled to do so.
Principal Hopkins reported that Mrs. Lawson, 7th/8th grade cheer sponsor, is having a Cheer camp for 5th/6th graders every Tuesday after school to introduce them to cheerleading. Medora Intermediate is also busy starting planning for Fun Day towards the end of school as well as a movie trip day.
Mr. Hopkins also gave an update on the District Improvement Team and the surveys that the team sent out. The results of the survey will soon be posted on the district website. He also welcomed any feedback from the board and asked that if any board member would like to be a part of the District Improvement Team to let him know.
Superintendent Report:
Superintendent Hacke reported that the enrollment is currently still 1223. Mr. Hacke also mentioned the discipline issues throughout the school has taken a slight increase with all of the restrictions being lifted but nothing to get alarmed at currently.
Mr. Hacke reported that spring sports started this week in the school. He reported to the board on projects for the upcoming summer to be done. The Superintendent mentioned summer school will likely be held again this year with more information to come regarding that. Mr. Hacke reported that the current After-School program will be ending on April 12th as students are slowly losing interest and attendance is decreasing.
Superintendent Hacke reported that a bid opening was held last week for the summer roof project. Also bathrooms and doors at certain schools will be updated this summer.
Also, Mr. Hacke informed the board that bargaining will begin soon with the Southwestern Education Association(SEA).
Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:
The following resignations were acknowledged: J. Middleton, Utility Worker; A. Lamer, HS Science Teacher; C. Hagen, MS Boys Basketball Coach; and A. Roe, Elementary Teacher.
Items Considered for Action…
Consent Agenda:
Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of February 28, 2022, being: Education Fund $5,489,573.00, Operations/Maintenance $1,368,757.00, Transportation $877,092.00, Working Cash $3,196,652.00, with the total being $10,932,074.00, and the County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for February was $57,655.23, February bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list…regular board meeting minutes from February 16, 2022, closed session minutes from February 16, 2022, approval of the lease agreement with Step-by-Step Inc. to provide before & after school program, as well as the approval of lease agreement with Illinois Economic Development Corporation.
Mr. Hacke reported on the finances of the district and indicated that the district is doing good financially at this time. February’s County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue received was the largest so far this year according to Mr. Hacke, and he hopes this will continue to increase. He also reported that the district has received all the local revenue it is due.
The lease agreements presented to the board are current programs held at Brighton North and should be continued per the Superintendent. The lease agreement with IL Economic Development Corp. is the Head Start class that is an all-day program at Brighton North.
As no questions were voiced regarding the Consent Agenda, Andrew Bagley made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. Jason Oertel seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Strohbeck
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Hacke requested that the board approve the 2022-2023 Public School Calendar as presented. The topic of Act of God days was discussed amongst the board members and superintendent. The first day of student attendance would be August 17, 2022, and the proposed last day of school would be May 26, 2023, depending on snow days used. Jason Oertel made a motion to approve the 2022-2023 Public School Calendar as presented with Donna Loy making the second motion to approve.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Strohbeck, and Bagley
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The Final School Calendar for 2021-22 was presented to the board. Five emergency days were built into the calendar but six were used. The Superintendent has requested an Act of God Day from the IL State Board of Education for the extra day. If approved, the last day of student attendance would be May 26, 2022. Nicholas Strohbeck made a motion to approve the final 2021-22 calendar as presented. Donna Loy made a second motion to approve.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Strohbeck, Bagley, and Gallaher
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The board discussed the need for another Social Worker in the district after Superintendent Hacke requested approval to post for a Social Worker for the 2022-23 School Year. If a social worker cannot be hired, possibly another counselor would suffice. Andrew Bagley made a motion to post for another Social Worker to be hired with Randy Gallaher seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Hacke asked the board to approve a posting to hire a Technology/High School Secretary for the 2022-23 School Year. This position would support both departments. Donna Loy made a motion to approve with Jason Oertel seconding the said motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Jason Oertel made a motion to approve D. E. Martin’s roof bid for the summer 2022. Andrew Bagley made a second motion to approve D. E. Martin. The roof project will include a portion of the HS, Middle School, and Shipman. The bid approved is for $796,438.00
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The High School Scholar Bowl team requested approval for April 22-24, 2022, overnight NAQT Small School National Championship Tournament in Rosemont, IL. Andrew Bagley made a motion to approve the overnight trip with Nicholas Strohbeck seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Strohbeck
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Cheryl White will be employed as a Lunchroom Worker for the remainder of the 2021-22 School year after Donna Loy made a motion for such. Nicholas Strohbeck seconded this motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Strohbeck, and Bagley
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Randy Gallaher made a motion to employ Dwight Bonnell as a Bus Rider for the 2021-22 School Year. Donna Loy seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Strohbeck, Bagley, and Gallaher
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Dwight Bonnell will also be employed as the Utility Worker. Nicholas Strohbeck and Andrew Bagley made the first and second motions for such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Andrew Bagley asked the Superintendent how the new CLD laws would affect the district. A short discussion was held.
Donna Loy made a motion to move into closed session with Nicholas Strohbeck seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 8:26pm
Donna Loy made a motion to move back into open session with Nicholas Strohbeck seconding such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 9:32pm
Andrew Bagley made a motion to adjourn the meeting with Randy Gallaher seconding the motion to adjourn since there were no further items to discuss.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Strohbeck
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Meeting adjourned at 9:33pm.
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