South Central Reporter

Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 Board of Education met May 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on May 21, 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, Dr. Kevin Bowman, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, Recording Secretary. Nicholas Strohbeck was absent at the beginning of the meeting but arrived late at 7:24pm.

Public Comment: None

Correspondence and Recognition:

Congratulations to the following coaches/teams/groups:

Coach Brian Hanslow-500th career win milestone as a baseball coach

Southwestern High School Baseball Team-SCC Champions

High School Scholastic Bowl team & Coach Hasquin-county, conference, and regional champions-33rd in National competition

6th Grade ROE Olympiad Team-1st place

High School Yearbook Staff & Sponsor, J. Orban

High School Education Program students & Sponsor, S. Robinson

E. Wyman-State Track Competition-33rd in the two mile

Dr. M. Bearley presented the board with the district improvement plan slideshow. Each school in the district has a plan for improvement to help identify issues with students as well as how to engage more with students to help raise learning skills.

Administrator Reports:

Dr. Bearley thanked the coaches, staff, and maintenance for getting the locker rooms cleaned out prior to construction starting.

The other administrators did not report on anything other than the previous district improvement plan that Dr. Bearley elaborated on.

Superintendent Report:

Superintendent Bowman gave the current enrollment report of 1162 students.

Dr. Bowman gave the board a district update reporting on the following: · Thanks to teachers & staff for all they do for Southwestern CUSD #9 as well as the Board of Education!! Cake was delivered to all buildings & staff.

· Thanked staff for help with the Consolidated District Plan which is a consolidated group of grants that the district plans for each year.

· Construction update: tile removal has finished in the MPR. Staff will move classroom desks and cabinets soon. The athletic department, band and chorus, and drama club did a great job of clearing out the MPR prior to abatement starting.

· Pointer Electric restored electric to the bus garage and ran conduit for any future problems should they arise.

Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:

The board acknowledged the following resignations:

· C. Hagen-Assistant Football Coach & Full-time Substitute

· K. Chestney-Custodian

· C. Cairns-HS Cook

· D. Rowlee-3 hr. lunchroom monitor

· M. Butts-HS ISS monitor

· L. Anderson-HS Cook

Dr. Bearley presented information to the board regarding the school to work program. This program is for seniors. One senior is interested in working with the maintenance department at Southwestern to shadow and learn the trade. The senior would attend school half a day and work the other half of the day. The participant would be paid to work in this program. Dr. Bearley has obtained the required approvals to allow this to proceed. The board will vote on the school to work program later in this meeting.

Items Considered for Action…

Consent Agenda:

Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of April 30, 2024, as follows: Education Fund $7,336,339.00 Operations/Maintenance $5,338,547.00, Transportation $900,915.00, Working Cash $4,799,411.00, with the total being $18,375,212.00, County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for April was $50,666.87; May bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list-none this month…regular board meeting minutes from April 16, 2024, closed session minutes from April 16, 2024, permission to prepare budget for FY2025, and permission to set amended budget hearing for 6:45pm on June 18, 2024.

There were no questions regarding the consent agenda. Jacob Reno made a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented and Andrew Ruyle seconded the motion to accept the consent agenda.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, and Strohbeck

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Andrew Ruyle made a motion to approve Board Policy Issue #114 with Brad Schuchman seconding the approval of such.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, and Hanks

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Dr. Bowman presented the consolidated district plan which is used to apply for numerous grants throughout the year. He also thanked the staff that is involved with getting this plan ready to proceed. Donna Loy made a motion to approve the consolidated district plan with Jacob Reno seconding the motion to approve the plan.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, and Loy

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The board approved the 2024-2025 board meeting dates. Jenny Hanks made a motion to approve the dates being the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Donna Loy seconded the motion to approve the 2024-2025 board meeting dates.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Andrew Ruyle made a motion to hire Jeff Hall as the 8th grade boys’ basketball coach with Jason Oertel making the second motion to hire pending successful background check, EHR, and credential check.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Brade Schuchman made a motion to approve the school to work program. Donna Loy made the second motion to approve the school to work program.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Ruyle

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The Model Bullying Prevention Policy was presented to the board. Andrew Ruyle made the motion to approve the policy with Brad Schuchman seconding the motion to approve. Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, and Schuchman

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

An Installment Contract Authorization was presented to the board that is needed to complete the bus loans coming up.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, and Strohbeck

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Nicholas Strohbeck made a motion to approve the Certificate of Installment Contract Authorization with Andrew Ruyle making the second motion to approve. Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, and Hanks

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Donna Loy made a motion to approve the Agreement between the Board of Education and the Southwestern Education Association for the 2024-2026 school year. Jenny Hanks seconded the motion to approve the agreement.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, and Loy

Abstain: Oertel

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Brad Schuchman made a motion to approve the Resolution to Transfer Funds from O&M to Capital Projects funds with Jason Oertel seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The Student Handbook was presented to the board for approval. Brad Schuchman motioned to approve the handbook as presented with Nicholas Strohbeck seconding to approve the handbook.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Donna Loy made a motion to hire three summer workers (Q. Hasquin, B. Belangee, and M. Curtis). Nicholas Strohbeck seconded the motion to hire the three summer workers. Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, and Ruyle

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Hannah Wittman was hired as a Speech/Language Pathologist for the district pending her certification, successful background check, EHR, and credential check. Jason Oertel made a motion to hire with Donna Loy seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, and Schuchman

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

After a successful background check, EHR, and credential check, Erin Schrieber will be hired as a custodian after Jacob Reno made a motion to do so and Donna Loy seconded the motion with the following votes:

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Hanks, Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, and Strohbeck

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Jacob Reno made a motion to employ Mary Butts as the Full-time Substitute Teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. Jenny Hanks made the second motion to hire. Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Loy, Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, and Hanks

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Andrew Ruyle made a motion to move into closed session with Brad Schuchman seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Oertel, Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, and Loy

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 7:58pm

Jason Oertel made a motion to move back into open session with Andrew Ruyle making the second motion to do so.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reno, Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, and Oertel

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 9:02pm

As there were no other items for discussion, Andrew Ruyle made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Nicholas Strohbeck seconded to adjourn the meeting.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Ruyle, Schuchman, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Reno Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Meeting adjourned at 9:04pm

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