Mr. Jake Reno - School Board Member | Southwestern CUSD No. 9
Mr. Jake Reno - School Board Member | Southwestern CUSD No. 9
Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 Board of Education met Feb. 20.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on February 20, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Middle School Commons in Piasa, Illinois. Jason Oertel-President, called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m. and asked Jenny Hanks, Board Secretary, to call roll showing those members present as: Jenny Hanks, Donna Loy, Jason Oertel, Jacob Reno, Andrew Ruyle, Brad Schuchman, Nicholas Strohbeck, Dr. Kevin Bowman, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, Recording Secretary.
Public Comment: None
Correspondence and Recognition:
Dr. Bearley presented the HS Boys’ Basketball Team along with their coaches and recognized their accomplishment of winning the Macoupin County Tournament Championship recently as well as it being the third consecutive win for Southwestern at the Macoupin County Tournament!!! Coach, Jason Darr, spoke and said how proud he is of the boys and thanked them as well as their parents for being so supportive! Congratulations players & coaches!
Dr. Bearley also recognized M. Basnett & J. Basnett for being HS Bowling Team Sectional Qualifiers. The students and coach had to travel quite a distance to participate. Congratulations team!!
Administrator Reports:
Mrs. Renken, Special Education Coordinator, reported that all the IEP meetings are moving along. She also reported on the Special Olympics Skills Competition held recently and that two participants received recognition. A. Cox received a silver medal and C. Ruyle received a gold medal. C. Ruyle will be participating in the state special Olympics in March. Congratulations to both students!!!
High School Principal, Mark Bearley, thanked the English and Math teachers for helping to prepare students to take the SAT test soon as it will be digital and new to the students. Juniors will be taking a practice SAT this Thursday in preparation for the actual test. Dr. Bearley thanked the Productions class for their hard work making banners for many individuals/teams/students recently. They do a great job! Mr. French and Mrs. Ruyle have been busy constructing and painting the set for the Drama clubs spring play. He reported that the Prom committee is hard at work getting ready for prom which will be held at LCCC on May 4th. Dr. Bearley also praised the Pep Club and student section for supporting their school, and he mentioned that they are a positive group and have a lot of fun cheering. Also, Dr. Bearley reported that this week is National FFA week. The FFA students have been providing snacks as well as food for teachers/staff. The FFA will also be traveling to Shipman Elementary to do a presentation for the third-grade classes. Mrs. Ruyle and Ms. Smith have been working in the greenhouse preparing for spring. Dr. Bearley indicated that they have numerous items planted in the greenhouse.
Mrs. Reed, Brighton North Principal, gave an update on the After School program stating they are averaging 30 students per week with eight teachers participating. Kick-Off Read Across America will be held at Brighton North in early March.
Mrs. Reed also made mention to the Board members about the upcoming Southwestern Foundation for Educational Excellence dinner/dance to be held March 9th.
Medora Intermediate Principal, Mr. Baumberger, told the board that Medora would be holding IAR testing April 10-12th. He also thanked Mrs. Sackman for her help in securing a Book Vending Machine for Medora Intermediate as well as the Southwestern Foundation for Educational Excellence for providing the funding. Medora students recently enjoyed a STEM assembly provided by Bayer which was arranged by Mrs. Lawson. Mr. Baumberger also mentioned that Mrs. Whipps is working on the Olympiad teams for this spring.
Superintendent Report:
Superintendent Bowman gave the current enrollment report of 1155 students. He also reported that there were no in or out of school suspensions/expulsions for the month of January.
Dr. Bowman gave the board a district update reporting on the following:
· District architects were at the HS for a walkthrough 2/7/2024
· District received the School Project Maintenance Grant which is a $50,000 matching grant.
· Science of Reading/LETRS information was discussed. Title grant would provide this special training to help improve reading instruction for district teachers based upon the Science of Reading.
· Congratulations to Coach Hasquin & the SW High School Scholastic Bowl team on their 9th consecutive conference championship! Awesome!
· Southwestern HS Bowling Sectional Qualifiers-Jaden Basnett & Mason Basnett!
· Yearly grant writing process will begin continuing until the end of May. Dr. Bowman also reported that he will be starting on the Consolidated District Plan soon.
· Snow Days-the district utilized all five emergency days this year. The last student day will be May 23rd and the last teacher day will be May 24th. Any further snow days will be Act of God days.
Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:
Dr. Bowman reported to the board about the IL School Report Card website (https://illinoisreportcard.com). He urged board members to visit the website and explore all the information that is provided.
Superintendent Bowman also presented the board policy for Information Only 4:40 AP.
The board acknowledged the resignation of Tammy Seymour, HS Registrar, effective at the end of the school year. Joe Behl also resigned as the MS Scholastic Bowl Coach effective immediately.
A discussion was held regarding the possible purchase of an American Flag that lowers from the ceiling in the HS gymnasium.
Dr. Bowman reported to the board that the district was awarded the school maintenance grant in the amount of $50,000 which is a matching grant.
Items Considered for Action…
Consent Agenda:
Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of January 31, 2024, as follows: Education Fund $7,854,182.00 Operations/Maintenance $1,532,131.00, Transportation $968,623.00, Working Cash $3,355,657.00, with the total being $13,710,593.00, County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for January was $56,685.57; February bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list…regular board meeting minutes from January 16, 2024, and closed session minutes from January 16, 2024.
Dr. Bowman reviewed the financial report and stated the district has received the fourth payment from Macoupin County being $565,000.00. He mentioned the sales tax resolution that would be discussed shortly. There were no questions regarding the consent agenda. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented and Jacob Reno seconded the motion to accept the consent agenda.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Superintendent, Dr. Bowman, presented a resolution to the board abating a portion of the taxes levied to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Funding Bonds, Series 2017A. Donna Loy made a motion to approve the resolution as presented with Brad Schuchman seconding the motion to approve.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, and Loy
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Bids were opened on January 26, 2024, for Summer 2024 Asbestos Abatement at the High School. Talbert ICS was the low bid at $196,000. Andrew Ruyle made the motion to accept the low bid from Talbert ICS with Donna Loy making the second motion to accept the bid.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Jenny Hanks made a motion to authorize the superintendent to post for a full-time Teacher Aide. Jason Oertel made a second motion to authorize the posting.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Andrew Ruyle made a motion to hire Melissa Tungett as the Assistant Girls’ Soccer Coach with Brad Schuchman making the second motion for such.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Ruyle
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Kassidy Gaither was hired as a high school science teacher for the 2024-2025 school year after Nicholas Strohbeck made the first motion for such with Jenny Hanks making the second motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, and Schuchman
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Brad Schuchman made a motion to employ Amy Albanese as the MS Scholar Bowl Coach with Donna Loy making the second motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, and Strohbeck
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
The superintendent requested permission to post for a School Psychologist Intern. Nicholas Strohbeck made a motion to allow with Donna Loy making the second motion to allow.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, and Hanks
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Jacob Reno made a motion to move into closed session with Andrew Ruyle seconding to move into closed session.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Ruyle, and Schuchman
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 7:42PM
Andrew Ruyle made a motion to move back into open session with Brad Schuchman making the second motion to do so.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Ruyle
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
TIME: 8:50PM
As there were no other items for discussion, Nicholas Strohbeck made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Andrew Ruyle seconded to adjourn the meeting.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, and Schuchman
Nays: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Meeting adjourned at 8:52P.M.
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