Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 Board of Education met Feb. 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on February 21, 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, Jacob Reno, Nicholas Strohbeck, Dr. Kevin Bowman, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, Recording Secretary. Andrew Bagley, President, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment: None
Correspondence and Recognition: Superintendent Bowman recognized Mr. Bob Ruyle, Maintenance Director for Southwestern, for being honored by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for a Those Who Excel Award for Special Recognition as an Education Support Personnel. Mr. Ruyle has been with the district for many years and does a fantastic job. Congratulations Mr. Ruyle!!!
Also, Dr. Bowman, congratulated High School student, Jillian Beilsmith, who was selected for the IHSA All-State Academic Honorable Mention Team!
Administrators Reports:
Stephanie Renken, Special Education Coordinator, reported on the Special Olympic basketball team and their wins. The team will be traveling to Bloomington next month for competition.
Mr. Bearley, High School Principal, thanked the winter sports coaches for all their hard work. He mentioned that Senior recognition nights were all concluded as well. He also thanked the students who participate in winter sports for the long hours put in to be able to participate. Mr. Bearley reported on the HS Scholar Bowl team: current record of 98-16, #1 in state for small schools; #4 nationally for public small schools, and #68 for all schools in the country!! Mrs. Mitchell recently escorted a group of high school students to a John Deere Training Facility in Missouri. Mr. Bearley also reported on the new Ag Teacher/FFA sponsor, Mr. Tyler Hamilton, being an asset and how well he is doing so far. Mr. Bearley thanked the FFA Alumni for the dinner prior to the board meeting.
Shipman Elementary Principal, Rhonda Wooldridge, reported that Olympiad returned this year and Shipman sent four teams. One 4th grade team received 1st place! All teams that attended were in the top 10 teams. Ms. Wooldridge also reported on the Book Blast that was recently held at Shipman as well as at Brighton North. The program lasted for three weeks and raised $7000. 565 books will be sent to Shipman and each student will receive one book and up to 10. Each teacher will receive 10 books also and 10 books to the library. One student won an iPad, and several won treasure chests.
Mrs. Reed, Brighton North Primary Principal, also reported on the Book Blast held at Brighton North. Brighton North raised $8,936 and 700 books. Two students won $100, one student won $200, an iPad was given away, blankets, treasure chests, and disco balls as well. Brighton will also receive $743 worth of books to be used in the book vending machine. This fun activity will be used again next year.
Mr. Hopkins, Medora Intermediate Principal, reported on the Graphic Design class that was recently held by Art Teacher, Mrs. Campbell. So many students participated that the club had to be divided into two separate groups. The group designed and made t-shirts. Mr. Hopkins also wanted to thank the new school counselor, Mrs. Pembrook, for adding to her already busy load of students by taking on several students from Medora Intermediate. Medora sent four teams to the Olympiad also with three teams being in the top 10. Mr. Hopkins reported that he had received an email from a person outside of the district that indicated how well the Medora student’s behavior was at the Olympiad activity, which made Mr. Hopkins extremely happy. Principal Hopkins reported that IAR testing is coming soon, and he will be meeting with each student 1:1 to discuss the future testing. Friday, February 24th will be Piasa Pride in Medora per Mr. Hopkins.
Superintendent Report:
Superintendent Bowman reported enrollment has stayed the same as well as discipline not changing much either.
District Update:
Dr. Bowman reported on the HS and MS HVAC project and asked that the board approve the project this evening. The project total will be $686,313. Also, the MS gym abatement was mentioned as well as the Brighton North restroom abatement. The total for these projects will be approximately $798,563 with the majority being paid from grant money leaving approximately $85,563 to be paid from district funds.
Superintendent Bowman also reported on the HS Scholar Bowl team which finished 9-0 in the conference and has won their 8th consecutive South-Central Conference Championship…Great Job Birds! Dr. Bowman also thanked all the coaches, players, cheerleaders, band members, band director, and the National Anthem singers for a great winter sports season at Southwestern Middle and High Schools!
Calendar update per Dr. Bowman: two snow days used thus far…if that is all we use, May 24th will be teacher institute and last student attendance day would be May 23rd; but there could still be bad weather days ahead.
Updates to Shipman ball fields were discussed. Improvements will begin soon.
Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:
District Report Card Data Review-Dr. Bowman provided the website for anyone to look at our districts overall report card (www.illinoisreportcard.com). There is a lot of information on this website regarding the district. Dr. Bowman complimented the district on all their accomplishments thus far per the website. The SAT scores are above state average. Several other scores are up as well. Dr. Bowman indicated that there are many positive things in our district, and we are in a good area to be in.
Items Considered for Action…
Consent Agenda:
Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of January 31, 2023, being: Education Fund $6,373,885.00, Operations/Maintenance $1,311,516.00, Transportation $896,384.00, Working Cash $3,257,426.00, with the total being $11,839,211.00, County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for January was $58,790.36; January bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list…regular board meeting minutes from January 17, 2023, closed session board minutes from January 17, 2023, Special Board meeting minutes from February 6, 2023, and closed session board meeting minutes from February 6, 2023.
Jacob Reno made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented with Donna Loy seconding the motion for such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Strohbeck
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Andrew Bagley made a motion to approve a resolution abating a portion of the taxes. Jason Oertel made the second motion to approve the resolution.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, and Bagley
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Donna Loy made a motion to approve PRESS Update 110 as presented with Randy Gallaher seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, and Gallaher
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Dr. Bowman spoke to the board about possibly adding an addition to the storage shed at the high school for additional storage. A discussion was held regarding this possibility. Jason Oertel made a motion to approve the Superintendent to seek bids for adding an addition on the storage shed at the HS. Nicholas Strohbeck made the second motion as such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
A memo of understanding with the Southwestern Education Association to approve a stipend for teacher(s) teaching out of district students was set at $250 after Randy Gallaher made the first motion with Donna Loy making the second motion to approve.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The board approved to hire one Instructional Coach to be utilized in an elementary building. Jason Oertel made the first motion with the second motion being made by Jacob Reno.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Andrew Bagley made a motion to amend the Middle School Health, Life, Safety dollars for asbestos and floor replacement MS gym floor with Randy Gallaher seconding the said motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Donna Loy made a motion to hire Mary Bilbruck as a 2-hour lunch/recess monitor at Brighton North with Jacob Reno seconding the motion to approve.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Strohbeck
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
7.9 was tabled until March 2023.
Andrew Bagley made a motion to approve the final Trane Contract HVAC HS/MS subject to final attorney review. Nicholas Strohbeck made the second motion for such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, and Bagley
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Kim Schieler was hired as a permanent substitute teacher to be used in the HS and MS after Nicholas Strohbeck made the motion for such. Donna Loy seconded the motion to approve.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, and Gallaher
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Prior to moving into Closed Session, two items were briefly discussed and will be investigated further: #1 Air conditioning costs for the MPR (multi-purpose room) and #2 reviewing student fees for the upcoming school year
Jenny Hanks made a motion to move into closed session with Andrew Bagley seconding the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 8:03 P.M.
Donna Loy made the motion to move back into open session with Jenny Hanks making the second motion to go back into open session.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 8:36 P.M.
Jacob Reno made a motion to adjourn the meeting with Jenny Hanks seconding the motion to adjourn.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Reno, Strohbeck, Bagley, Gallaher, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Meeting adjourned at 8:36pm.
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