South Central Reporter

Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 Board of Education met June 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on June 18, 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 (arrived late 7:18p.m.), Andrew Ruyle, Dr. Kevin Bowman, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, Recording Secretary. Brad Schuchman and Nicholas Strohbeck were absent.

Public Comment: Many parents, students, and concerned citizens were present. Multiple people including the assistant soccer coach voiced concern regarding the soccer coach being dismissed. Coach Mitchell spoke to the board and visitors as well. President Oertel informed the crowd that employee issues could not be discussed in open session but would be discussed in closed session toward the end of the meeting, and Coach Mitchell is welcome to be present in the closed session.

Correspondence and Recognition:

Dr. Bowman, Superintendent, spoke regarding the Computer Science Grant that Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Dugas had applied for. The school was awarded $57,000 through this grant to be spent on computer science. Dr. Bowman thanked them for their time and expertise.

Administrator Reports:

Mrs. Nance, Assistant HS & MS Principal, was present and thanked all maintenance personnel, IT Department staff, and student helpers for the construction moving. She also stated that she is working to improve the PBIS program.

Mrs. Bowman, MS Principal, reported to the board on the end-of-year activities that were held at the MS. She also reported that the MS will be implementing a RTI program for the first time this coming year. Mrs. Bowman stated that the bathroom construction in the middle school is coming along very well.

Shipman Elementary School Principal, Ms. Wooldridge, thanked the Piasa Team for all their help this past year! She reported that all the summer school classes were being held at Shipman and it was going very well. She also thanked her building custodian, F. Knoche, and the extra custodial staff on the excellent job they are doing cleaning up the building for the start of the new year.

Mrs. Reed, BN Primary Principal, reported that Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. Kamp were teaching summer school at Shipman and thanked them for their help. Also, she indicated that Mrs. Hartman and Mrs. Price are tutoring this summer made possible by a grant. Mrs. Reed as well thanked the custodians for the quick job they are doing at Brighton North in getting the rooms ready for next school year!

Stephanie Renken, Special Education Coordinator, reported that she is finishing year-end work and starting on the scheduling, etc. for the coming year.

Mr. Baumberger, Medora Intermediate Principal, indicated that he had received the IAR results, and they looked very good. He thanked Mrs. Kallal for teaching summer school, parents for all their volunteer help, Amy Schneider for organizing the end of school party, and to the Piasa Team for their help! He also thanked Country Companies for providing plaques to the winners. Mr. Baumberger also thanked the Foundation for their help with different programs that benefit his building/students.

Superintendent Report:

Superintendent Bowman gave the current enrollment report of 1162 students once again.

Dr. Bowman gave the board a district update reporting on the following:

• Tentative award of computer science grant over $100,000 over the next three years

• HS renovation well underway. All the materials for the three roof projects arrived.

• Roloff Painting is busy in the schools.

• Possibly add MS girls’ softball as a school-sponsored sport

Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:

Superintendent Bowman spoke regarding the CEP information. He indicated that this program would be costly for the district. The district would need about 70% of the students to qualify for free and reduced meals for the district to break even.

Middle School Softball Coach was present and asked the board to consider making MS girls’ softball a school sport instead of a club sport. The team needs more support as far as funding. MS girls’ softball has been a club sport for at least nine or ten years.

The board acknowledged the following resignations:

• C. Ballard-2-hour lunchroom monitor

• S. Thornton-2-hour lunchroom monitor

• J. Harpole-custodian

• B. Seymour-instructional coach

• J. Fessler-Full time substitute teacher

Items Considered for Action…

Consent Agenda:

Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of May 31, 2024, as follows: Education Fund $7,025,541.00 Operations/Maintenance $1,323,278.00, Transportation $838,462.00, Working Cash $4,800,209.00, with the total being $13,987,490.00, County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for May was $47,736.66; June bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list-none this month…regular board meeting minutes from May 21, 2024, closed session minutes from May 21, 2024, and closed session minutes from July 2023 through December 2023 remain closed. Also, Dr. Bowman reported that the County Schools Facilities Sales Tax total was $612,000 which was up some this year.

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

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Jacob Reno made a motion to approve the appointment of the individuals identified in the attached list marked Exhibit A to the corresponding spring extra-curricular activities therein for the 24-25 school year. Andrew Ruyle made the second motion to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Dr. Bowman recommended that the bread bid for the 24-25 school year be awarded to Kohls who had the lowest bid submitted. Donna Loy made the motion to accept Kohls bread bid as well as Jacob Reno with the second motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Prairie Farms submitted the low bid for milk for the 24-25 school year. With that being said, Jason Oertel made a motion to approve the milk bid from Prairie Farms for the 24-25 school year with Donna Loy seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The Kohls bid for food and non-food was lowest for 24-25 school year. Donna Loy made a motion to approve the low bid from Kohls for food and non-food for the 24-25 school year. Andrew Ruyle made the second motion to Kohls to receive the food and non-food bid.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Jason Oertel made a motion to accept the bid from M & M Service with a fluctuating bid. Andrew Ruyle made the second motion to approve M & M Service with the fluctuating bid.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Community Sanitation submitted the low bid for trash removal with Andrew Ruyle making the motion to accept the bid. Donna Loy made the second motion for Community Sanitation.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The FY 2024 Amended Budget was discussed previously tonight at the budget hearing held just prior to the board meeting. There were no questions regarding the amended budget. Andrew Ruyle and Donna Loy made the motions to approve the FY2024 Amended Budget as presented.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Brian Hanslow submitted his retirement letter effective the end of the 2028-29 school year. Jason Oertel made a motion to accept Mr. Hanslows retirement with Jenny Hanks seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion to not approve the CEP Application was made by Andrew Ruyle and seconded by Donna Loy.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Donna Loy made a motion to approve the non-union and administrative salaries for the 2024- 25 school year. Jason Oertel seconded the motion to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Michelle Walden was hired as the 7th Grade Volleyball Coach after motions were respectively made by Donna Loy and Jenny Hanks.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion to hire Thea Lawson as the Middle School Secretary pending a successful background check, EHR, and a credential check was made by Andrew Ruyle and seconded by Jason Oertel.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Pending a successful background check, EHR, and credential check, Sarah Rutledge will be hired as the HS Chemistry Teacher. Andrew Ruyle made a motion for such, and Jason Oertel seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Jill Darr was hired as the Assistant Cheerleading Coach for football after Jacob Reno made the motion with Andrew Ruyle seconding the motion for such.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Kristen Reinhardt-Ross was hired as the HS Assistant Volleyball Coach with Andrew Ruyle making the motion to do so and Donna Loy seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Donna Loy and seconded by Jason Oertel to hire Blake Dempsey as an Assistant HS Football Coach.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

7.18 was tabled until after closed session.

Andrew Ruyle made a motion to approve Middle School Girls’ Softball as a school-sponsored sport with Donna Loy seconding to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Cheryl White was approved as a Lunch Monitor at Shipman Elementary. She will be moving from BN. Andrew Ruyle made the motion to approve this move with Donna Loy seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Andrew Ruyle made a motion to move into closed session with Jason Oertel seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 8:10 pm

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

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 10:16 pm

After closed session, a motion to retain Steve Mitchell as boys’ soccer coach for the 2024 fall session was made by Andrew Ruyle and seconded by Jenny Hanks.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Andrew Ruyle made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Donna Loy seconded to adjourn the meeting.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Meeting adjourned at 10:18 pm

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