South Central Reporter

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

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education met in regular session on December 18, 2024 in the library. The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by President David Brunnwoth. Present at roll call were Brunnworth, Essington, Knes, Osmoe, and Remer. Also present were Superintendent Kelly, Principal Scheller, Secretary Durbin, Jen Stockstill, Terry Swenson and John Hanafin.

Motion by Essington, seconded by Knes to adopt the agenda and approve the minutes of the regular board meeting minutes of November 20th, 2024. All ayes. Motion carried.

Recognition, comments, and correspondence from employees and public:

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

Board Values: Integrity, mutual respect, and excellence.

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

Dr. Kelly read a thank you card to Mt. Olive CUSD#5 Administration, Teachers and Staff from the Mt. Olive Care Center. They expressed their gratitude for the generosity shown to the community through their organization. Thank you to Sam Aramowicz for the Christmas card and cookies provided at the meeting.

Motion by Essington, seconded by Knes to approve the bills and activity accounts as presented. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried

Financial Report for November 2024:

Mrs. Kelly reported the Education Fund is sitting at $ 2,176,798.11. The Building Fund is at $764,287.50. The Transportation Fund balance is $ 376,458.60. The Working Cash Fund is at $230,926.12. The total of all funds is $3,548,470.33.

Budget Report: Revenues vs. Expenditures for November 2024:

Education Fund: 51% vs. 40%

Building Fund: 67% vs. 16%

Bond & Interest: 120% & 72%

Transportation Fund: 43% vs. 57%

IMRF: 75% vs. 37%

Site & Construction: 39% & 17%

Working Cash: 73% & 0%

Tort Immunity: 77% vs. 30%

Life Safety: 104% & 60%

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

Unfinished Business:

New Business:

Motion by Rimar, seconded by Skertich to approve the tax levy as presented. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Remer, seconded by Knes to approve the resolution abating a portion of the tax heretofore levied for the 2024 to pay debt service on General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2024. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

First Reading of Press Policy Issue 117.

The board discussed working with Litchfield School District to add Junior High Wrestling to the extracurricular coop agreement in the future. The board was in agreement that we should pursue this opportunity for students. Transportation was the only concern noted due to staffing shortages. The potential solution would be for parents to transport students to practices.

Motion by Remer, seconded by Essington to approve 5-year lease through American Capital for equipment (technology) lease. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

Principals’ Reports:

Mr. Martin reported the following:

We are wrapping up the first semester and putting a bow on it. It has gone by so quickly.

Here are some interesting facts that I told the HS staff last week during our staff meeting on Tuesday.

School Data for Semester 1

                                        23/24    24/25

Failing Grades                  33        16

50% Reduction

Behavior Incidents           445      178

60% Reduction

Major w/days                   117      17.5

Attendance                      92%    94%

Avg Daily Attendance     124      142

These stats can change some because there was still 9 day before the semester officially ended for 24/25 SY. However, their efforts and willingness to work together has helped to create a great school culture and climate in the HS.

This month we celebrated 9 new students inducted into the National Honor Society. Mrs. Davis did a great job of quickly relocating the event and making it feel warm due to HVAC issues.

Today about a dozen students helped Mrs. Schneider with creating the North Pole and letting elementary students meet Santa in the Library.

We recently celebrated our SAT Qualifiers with a catered lunch from FEMA’s. We had 31 students who had earned that incentive.

The Student Council hosted a successful blood drive on 12/5.

On December 10th, Holiday Helpers paid for a shopping trip and lunch for High School and Junior High students who need assistance with the holidays. Some of the students had never ordered their own meal at a restaurant. Another student said “ today feels like a dream”. Thank you to all of the hard work, support, and genuine care that this provided our students.

The VFW will also be helping some families of students with some presents and food baskets.

Officers from the Navy and Army National Guard came to talk with students. Specifically, juniors and seniors.

Kyle Bone and Sarah Lesko participated in the SIUE holiday band concert on 12/4.

Choir students sang in Blackburn’s Conservatory Choirs holiday concert two weeks ago.

Sports Update- The boys and girls basketball seasons are going well. We are trying some new concepts to try and improve attendance for home games. Reduced price for students who dress with the theme of the game. Throwing out t-shirts at home games into the student and home fan sections. Wrestling has a match tonight and their next match is December 28th in Springfield.

Remodeling Stage One- We are relocating some of the pictures and trophies from the hallway into the main gym entry way and sports hallway. They will actually be seen more with this move and open up some space for something new in the interior hallway.

Spark of Innovation- Digitizing the graduation class photos and trophies. If we get the grant we applied for to redo the computer lab (which we should know by the end of January) this would be embedded into some of the technology classes with the intention to be put on the school web page. This would most likely be a multi-year project.

This last weekend Lili Anne Readenour had her signing day with Westminster College to attend school and play softball.

From the HS staff and myself we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mrs. Scheller reported the following:

School leadership team

devoted days developing the School Improvement Plan. Adding more members to the team to make it a well round group that represents all areas of the school.

Created a Stakeholders Advisory Group and met to discuss out SIP and discuss changes being made and what is yet to come.

Renaissance “STAR” Reading

and Math Assessment training. The team learned what reports we should be using and how to analyze the data to guide instruction and student growth.

Monthly virtual and in person meetings and PD with our learning partner.

Reviewing and analyzing data, creating spreadsheets for teachers to refer to when attending data meetings.

First Quarter: 262 behavior referrals

Second Quarter: 111 behavior referrals

This is a decrease of 151 referrals, a 57.6% decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter.

The Mrs. Fields fundraiser was a huge success. Students could earn some cool prizes: The funds from the fundraiser will be used to purchase materials for classrooms, incentives, for students and teachers, assemblies and guest speakers.

Mrs. Titsworth, Ms. Curtis, and I took 35 students to get shoes provided by All God’s Children Shall Have shoes organization.

Holiday Helpers here at school provide help to 18 families equaling 36 students. Mr. Martin and I took some JH and HS students to Edwardsville shopping for gifts.

Thank you to Mr. Schulte and his art students for decorating the hallways to get the holiday spirit started.

We are wrapping up the first semester with some holiday fun.

Daily holiday themed games, activities, trivia, etc

Door decorating contest.

Mrs. Schneider, NHS students, and other HS students helped put on another amazing Santa visit. I want to thank them for doing this for our students. The students loved it.

Superintendent’s Report:

Dr. Kelly reported the following:

Dr. Kelly is working with the Regional Office of Education and area Superintendents with the goal of bringing Dolly’ Parton’s Imagination Library to Macoupin County. This program is a grassroots, community-based, book gifting program started in 1995 to inspire a love of reading. High-quality, age-appropriate books are gifted monthly to children from birth to age 5, free to the family, regardless of their income. Children receive a book each month. More information will be provided on our progress at a later date.

The E-Learning Plan has been shared with families and is available on our website. Principals and teachers will be sharing out more information specific to their school and/or classroom. If you have questions about the E-Learning Plan, please contact your child’s principal.

The Health Life Safety Project is ongoing. HVAC repairs have been partially completed. Equipment has been ordered and additional repairs will be occurring over the next few weeks. HVAC automation is the next phase of the project. Substantial completion of the project is expected in January/February 2025.

Motion by Remer, seconded by Knes to enter into closed session at 7:55 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: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Osmoe, seconded by Rimar to return to open session at 8:40 p.m. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Remer seconded by Knes to hire Brad Snyder as a Substitute Bus Driver pending appropriate licensure and successful background check. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Remer seconded by Knes to approve the resignation of HS Head Volleyball Coach, Megan Skinner. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Remer seconded by Osmoe to hire Amber Girardier as Special Education Bus Monitor pending a successful background check and Employment History Verification Review. Roll call: 5 ayes. Motion carried.

The next regular board meeting will be at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in the school library at 804 West Main St., Mt. Olive, IL.

Motion by Osmoe, seconded by Knes to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. All ayes. Motion carried.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W5dgZsRKv_8DtkudS4url8vUwXni37sx/edit