South Central Reporter

Mt. Olive Community Unit School District 5 Board of Education met Sept. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education met in regular session on September 18, 2024 in the library. The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m. by President David Brunnwoth. Present at roll call were Brunnworth, Knes, Osmoe, Remer, Rimar, and Skertich. Also present were Superintendent Kelly, Secretary Durbin, Jennifer Stockstill, John Hanafin, Dennis Parish and Ken Loy.

Motion by Remer, seconded by Knes to adopt the agenda and approve the minutes of the special board meeting minutes of August 21st, 2024. All ayes. Motion carried.

Recognition, comments, and correspondence from employees and public:

A. Board Norms: Follow chain of command, assume positive intent, and mutual respect.

B. Board Values: Integrity, mutual respect, and excellence.

C. Board Priorities: Culture, academic performance, facilities (with a focus on safety), and finances.

D. FOIA request from Lake County Gazette dated 8/27/24

E. FOIA request from Lake County Gazette dated 8/29/24

F. FOIA request from Lake County Gazette dated 8/30/24

G. Dennis Parish – addressed the board

Motion by Rimar, seconded by Skertich to approve the bills and activity accounts as presented. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried

Financial Report for August 2024:

Mrs. Kelly reported the Education Fund is sitting at $1,319,280.78. The Building Fund is at $583,349.72. The Transportation Fund balance is $271,777.38. The Working Cash Fund is at $172,363.16. The total of all funds is $3,028,559.75

Budget Report: Revenues vs. Expenditures for August 2024:

Education Fund: 24% vs. 14%

Building Fund: 41% vs. 9%

Bond & Interest: 21% & 51%

Transportation Fund: 13% vs. 18%

IMRF: 45% vs. 10%

Site & Construction: 29% & 17%

Working Cash: 45% & 0%

Tort Immunity: 48% vs. 28%

Life Safety: 103% & 50%

Motion by Skertich, seconded by Knes to approve the financial report and the budget report for August 2024. All ayes. Motion carried.

Unfinished Business:

Motion by Brunnworth, seconded by Rimar to approve the Mt. Olive CUSD#5 Risk Management Plan. Roll call: All ayes. Motion carried

Motion made by Skertich, seconded by Remer to approve the Mt. Olive CUSD#5 budget for fiscal year 2025. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried

New Business:

Motion by Brunnworth, seconded by Knes to approve a resolution approving the transfer of funds from the Capital Projects Fund to the bond and interest fund established for the purpose of paying debt service on outstanding bonds to the district. The bonds are being used to pay for the district’s roofing and HVAC upgrades. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Loy, Miller, Talley is the district’s Accountant. Ken Loy presented the audit to the board for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The district’s financial rating is 4.0; which is the highest rating given by ISBE. The board approved the annual financial report.

Motion by Remer, seconded by Osmoe to approve the annual financial report presented by Loy, Miller, Talley, Certified Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Skertich, seconded by Remer to approve change order to the HLS project . This is to resurface additional areas of the roof (high school). Following this roofing project, all roofs will be under warranty for at least 20 years. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried

Motion by Remer, seconded by Knes to approve the bid for removal and replacement of the multipurpose room floor.. All 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Skertich, seconded by Rimar to approve the purchase of cell phones and service for Mt. Olive CUSD #5 Administration and Athletic Director.. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Principals’ Reports:

Mr. Martin reported the following:

• The school year is officially moving down the tracks with one month of classes behind us.

• I am happy to report that the overall culture and climate in the High School for students and staff remains positive.

• We have homecoming festivities and a dance happening next week.

• I looked at the data comparing the first month of last school year compared to this school year. Overall discipline and behavior incidents are down 54%.

• We did not have any In School or Out of School Suspensions.

• Mrs. Bertels has been a wonderful addition to our HS staff. I am excited to be able to work with her and grow the systems and protocols we have in the HS. Training has been tricky, but she is a self-starter and continues to be a very positive and energetic first point of contact for our students, parents and staff.

• I am excited to say that we are working on a potential band supplement for this year as we navigate not having a full time band director. My hope is that we will have more information in that area coming out very soon.

• The Academic Foundation awarded Mrs. Close, Ms. Holliday, Mr. Lesko, Mrs. Spudich, and Mr. Bryant mini grants on September 11th. I know that our staff and students are appreciative of the additional support the Academic Foundation provides for our school district.

• All sports are in full swing. I want to note that academically we have not had one HS student athlete ineligible this school year.

• This year we have some 8th grade students coming up to take math in the HS. This will allow them to pursue more advanced math classes as they navigate HS. So far this seems to be going well. It took some time to get the students enrolled properly in the TeacherEase program.

• We have field trips to Springfield for the Workforce Careers Expo that showcases possible jobs in line with our pathways. Mr. Winsel will be taking students to the Worldwide Technology Raceway for the NHRA Midwest Nationals event. I have an update on the school course fees. I have provided the school board with an example of the fees going back to 2023 and moving forward tentatively through 2025-2026. Through my research and the conversations I had with the parent group I believe I better understand how we got to the disconnect on course fees. I also feel that the recommendations that I have made better align with the school’s vision to my understanding.

• I requested a mentor through the Illinois Principals Association and was awarded one with the cost being covered by an IPA grant for first year principals. My mentor is Dr. Allen Duncan an Asst. Superintendent in the Edwardsville school district. We will meet twice a month through the school year.

• We have had Army Recruiters, SIUE, SWIC and Lincoln Land in to speak with students about post high school opportunities.

• The American Red Cross came in on Monday to speak about the benefits of giving blood to the overall community. Student Council will host a few blood drives this school year.

Superintendent’s Report:

Dr. Kelly reported the following:

A. Informational Items

1. The administration reported on the grants provided to teachers from the Mt. Olive Academic Foundation. Thank you Roger Kratochvil and the Academic Foundation for supporting Mt. Olive Schools!!

2. The district has also been awarded a Breakfast Expansion Grant in the amount of $10,000 which will be used to purchase new cafeteria equipment and a new range oven. The district was also awarded the Stronger Connections Grant to continue work on social emotional learning and trauma informed practices. The total grant award is $161,650

3. Dr. Kelly will be sharing Mt. Olive School District’s journey regarding the implementation of social emotional learning at upcoming Superintendent conferences (IASA & AASA) along with other area Superintendents.

B. The board awarded the bid to Missouri Flooring Company to replace the multi purpose room flooring. Focus5 has donated $60,000 (total project will cost $103,200) towards this project. Thank you Focus5! This work will be scheduled for the summer of 2025.

C. The Health Life Safety Project (HLS) is going well. Glandt Roofing will begin work on the Junior High Roof soon then resurface the remaining areas of the high school roof. ENTEC is an HVAC automation company. When engineering is completed, for automation, materials will be ordered and work will begin in the high school first. Substantial completion is estimated for January 2025.

Motion by Remer, seconded by Rimar to enter into closed session at 8:15 p.m. for the following purposes as allowed under the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/1 et seq.): Discussion of the appointment, employment and dismissal of employees of the public body and collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives. Discussion of pending and probable litigation against, affecting, or on behalf of the Board of Education and the District. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Rimar, seconded by Skertich to return to open session at 8:53 p.m. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Osmoe, seconded by Knes to hire Alexis Zeller as ½ time paid HS Cheer Coach pending successful background check and employment history verification review. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Rimar, seconded by Remer to hire Janet Readenour as unpaid volunteer assistant HS cheer coach pending successful background check and employment history verification review. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Remer, seconded by Rimar to hire Alexis Fenton as Preschool Teacher’s assistant pending successful background check and employment history verification review. Roll call: 6 ayes. Motion carried.

The next regular board meeting will be at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in the school library at 804 West Main St., Mt. Olive, IL.

Motion by Skertich, seconded by Osmoe to adjourn at 8:57 p.m. All ayes. Motion carried.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VhL4PwrLHZxLRBLB-dQKXQKWXcWcvS3T/view