Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 Board of Education met Jan. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on January 17, 2023, 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, Dr. Kevin Bowman, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, Recording Secretary. Board members, Jacob Reno and Nicholas Strohbeck were absent. Andrew Bagley, President, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment: None
Correspondence and Recognition: High School Principal, Mark Bearley, gave a report to the board regarding the PASS Social and Emotional Screener (Pupils, Attitudes toward Self & School) that was recently conducted with all students. This is a new tool being used in the district. It identifies how students are doing socially and emotionally. School counselors will work with students that were identified needing help. The screener provided good feedback academically and behaviorally.
Administrators Reports:
Stephanie Renken, Special Education Coordinator, reported that the Special Olympics program is back in full swing after the Covid pandemic. Seven Southwestern students will be participating in a Special Olympics Skills competition on February 5th in Trenton, IL. She indicated that the plan is to add a few sporting events in the next few years here at Southwestern.
She also reported that the district will begin utilizing an on-line speech program/pathologist to replace an employee for the remainder of the year in the near future. These on-line programs seem to work well and have been used in the past.
Mrs. Renken also mentioned that she will be attending a convention in Springfield next week and will be exploring the options of a psychologist intern for the district. The intern would work full-time for the district for a year for a small stipend before they would be able to graduate from college.
Mr. Bearley, High School Principal, gave a shout-out to Ms. Wray, Band Teacher/Director, for the good job she has been doing with the Southwestern band. He indicated that the number of students interested in joining band is increasing each year. He mentioned how many compliments he gets on the band and their musical talents.
Principal Bearley reported on the recent Shop with a Cop Program that was conducted in December. He indicated that nine Southwestern students got to participate in the program this year. He and several staff members accompanied these students to Target to shop. Each student got to spend a total of $550 each on whatever gifts they wanted for themselves and their families. All the gifts were then gift wrapped by Target as well. Each student also received a $325 food voucher to be spent at Sinclair’s grocery store in Jerseyville. Mr. Bearley thanks Mayor Kasten from Brighton and all who participate in this great community service. He indicated that this is a great program for Southwestern students.
Shipman Elementary Principal, Rhonda Wooldridge, reported that Shipman is back to normal after the holidays and starting the new year out with a recent Mad Scientist Assembly. The third graders had never been to an assembly due to Covid; they were very excited to attend.
Ms. Wooldridge thanked Officer Tommy Ruyle for being so visible in her building. He comes to visit, eat lunch, and interact with her students quite often. Officer Ruyle will be doing a third-grade bicycle safety presentation and a 4th grade cell phone safety presentation in the near future.
Principal Wooldridge thanked the Maintenance Dept. and custodians for all their hard work over the Christmas break relating to the water/heat issues. She said they done a great job.
Macoupin County Health Department contacted Ms. Wooldridge and informed her that the counselor that was provided to our district has resigned. The health department is trying to hire another counselor.
Ms. Wooldridge also reported that Shipman has 36 students participating in the After-School Program currently. The After-School program consists of tutoring, enrichment groups, and reading groups.
Mrs. Reed, Brighton North Primary Principal, spoke about Mrs. Pembrook, Counselor, and the PASS program. Mrs. Pembrook has been coming to Brighton North and interacting with teachers and students. She will be visiting weekly and working with students.
Mrs. Reed also mentioned to the board that the Southwestern Foundation for Educational Excellence will be having their annual event at Eckert’s Orchard/Winery in Grafton on March 25, 2023.
Superintendent Report:
Superintendent Bowman reported enrollment up just a bit at 1214.
District Update:
Dr. Bowman mentioned several accomplishments of students and Southwestern teams that has happened in the last several days; such as M. Basnett who placed 22nd in the Jerseyville IHSA bowling regionals and will advance to the Sectionals in Collinsville, HS boys basketball won their first game in the Macoupin County Tournament, the HS girls basketball play tonight in county tournament, Scholar Bowl team finished second in the Piasa Bird Invitation on Saturday, etc.
Superintendent Bowman also thanked Bob Ruyle, Kevin Constable, and the custodians for all their hard work over the Christmas break also due to water leaks and heating issues. It was quite a feat, and they worked numerous hours repairing and cleaning. He also mentioned the Middle School gym floor got very wet due to the leaks, but it has since dried out; replacing the floor will be evaluated and discussed further in the coming months.
Dr. Bowman also thanked his district office staff, IT, and secretaries for their work in implementing a new Skyward program. He also informed the board that the new activity bus arrived earlier than expected.
As well, Dr. Bowman, also informed the board that all the health, life, and safety surveys have now been approved by ISBE. This process started in July but is finally finished.
Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:
The board acknowledged D. McGowen’s resignation as a bus rider.
Items Considered for Action…
Consent Agenda:
Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of December 31, 2022, being: Education Fund $6,166,743.00, Operations/Maintenance $1,233,778.00, Transportation $948,304.00, Working Cash $3,254,897.00, with the total being $11,603,722.00, County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for December was $58,038.07; December bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list…special board meeting minutes from the tax levy hearing on December 20th, regular board meeting minutes from December 20 2022, and closed session board minutes from December 20, 2022.
Dr. Bowman indicated that the district’s finances are good at this time. Board member, D. Loy, mentioned a question from a concerned citizen regarding the track lights being on each day and costing the district money. President Bagley informed her that this was discussed when it was decided to have the lights on and that it would not cost the district much at all due to new LED lights and the fact that they are turned on and off at dawn/dusk by a satellite.
Donna Loy made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented with Jason Oertel seconding the motion for such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Press Update 110 was inadvertently not voted on by mistake. This update will be presented again at the February meeting of the board.
Randy Gallaher made a motion to employ full-time teacher aide, Tiffany Tutterow. Andrew Bagley seconded the motion to employ Mrs. Tutterow.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Bagley
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Jenny Hanks made a motion to move into closed session with Donna Loy seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Bagley, and Gallaher
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 7:41 P.M.
Jenny Hanks made the motion to move back into open session with Donna Loy making the second motion to go back into open session.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Bagley, Gallaher, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 8:22 P.M.
After closed session, Andrew Bagley made a motion to hire Nicole Nance as the HS/MS Assistant Principal for the 2023-2024 School Year.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Jenny Hanks made a motion to adjourn the meeting with Andrew Bagley seconding the motion to adjourn.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00pm.
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