South Central Reporter

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

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on February 18, 2025, 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-by telephone, Jason Oertel, Jacob Reno, Andrew Ruyle, Brad Schuchman, Dr. Kevin Bowman, Superintendent, and Kim Albert, and Nicholas Strohbeck was absent.

Public Comment: None

Correspondence and Recognition:

The board recognized Jaden Basnett for advancing to the IHSA Bowling Sectionals!!

Administrator Reports:

No administrators were present.

Superintendent Report:

Dr. Bowman reported that the current enrollment for the district is up to 1155 for the end of January and discipline issues were down.

District architects were at the high school for a walkthrough on February 11, 2025.

The district received the School Project Maintenance Grant worth $50,000 and it is a matching grant. This grant will be used to help pay for tile removal in the high school. The board will address the asbestos abatement and the Summer 2025 work at the March meeting.

Dr. Bowman stated that Holland Construction will be here February 24thto start work on the punch list to finish Summer 2024 work.

The yearly grant writing process begins now and runs through the end of May. Dr. Bowman stated that he will begin working on the Consolidated District Plan soon as well as others in the district. The yearly grants that will be worked on will be Title I, II, IV, IDEA, and early childhood education. Thank you to all staff helping with these.

Dr. Bowman reported that the district has used all five emergency days this school year and two Act of God Days. The last student day of attendance will be May 29th with the last teacher day being May 30th.

Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:

The District Report Card Data Review will be tabled until next month due to Principals Bowman and Wooldridge being absent. Anyone can look online at the district report card.

Again, the district was awarded the School Maintenance Grant of $50,000.

Neal Owens, parent, was present to discuss the possibility of Southwestern having wrestling as a club sport. The season for wrestling runs from early November-mid February. This would be for boys and girls both if enough interest. There are currently 20 students interested in wrestling. There would not be any matches held at Southwestern for at least the first year. The club would pay for everything themselves if need be. The head coach would be a paid position with volunteer coaches helping. This was discussed in length and will be voted on at the March board meeting.

It was presented to the board that the April board meeting date would need to be changed due to county clerk canvassing the election and getting the abstracts to each district.

Items Considered for Action…

Consent Agenda:

Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of January 31, 2025, as follows: Education Fund $7,576,512.00, Operations/Maintenance $1,547,370.00, Transportation Fund $888,809.00, Working Cash $3,468,689.00, with the total being $13,481,380.00, County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for January was up a little at $59,137.07, February bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list…regular board meeting minutes from January 21, 2025…and Closed Session Board Meeting Minutes January 21, 2025.

There were no questions regarding the consent agenda that was presented. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented and Brad Schuchman seconded the motion to accept the consent agenda.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A resolution abating a portion of taxes heretofore levied to pay principal and interest on $3,525,000. General Obligation Funding Bonds, Series 2017A of SW CUSD #9 was presented. Jason Oertel made a motion to approve the resolution abating a portion of taxes along with Brad Schuchman seconding the motion for such.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Four sets of double doors are needing to be replaced at Brighton North computer lab using health, life, safety dollars. The low bid was from Gardner at $31,500. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to approve the door bid with Brad Schuchman making the second bid to approve. Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The April board meeting date needs to be changed due to county clerk and election timelines. Jason Oertel made a motion to change the April Southwestern board meeting to April 23, 2025. Brad Schuchman made the second motion to move the board meeting to April 23, 2025.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Jack Harpole was hired as a Middle School Custodian pending fingerprinting results. Andrew Ruyle and Donna Loy made the motions for such.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Joe Behl, 7th grade Language Arts Teacher requested to be re-assigned to 7th grade Social Studies Teacher starting school year 2025-2026. Mrs. Bowman, Principal, recommended approving this re-assignment. Brad Schuchman made a motion to approve the re-assignment and Jenny Hanks made the second motion to approve the re-assignment.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Kelly Kleinschmidt, 7th grade Special Education teacher requested to be re-assigned to 7th grade Language Arts Teacher. Mrs. Bowman, Principal, recommended this re-assignment also. Donna Loy made the motion to approve the re-assignment with Brad Schuchman seconding the said motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The board was asked to approve an updated Middle School schedule for the 2025-2026 school year. Brad Schuchman made a motion to approve this, and Jacob Reno seconded to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Dr. Bowman requested the board approve reducing a vacant Middle School Language Arts teacher position. Andrew Ruyle made motion to approve the reduction with Brad Schuchman seconding the motion to reduce.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Donna Loy and seconded by Andrew Ruyle to hire Matt Hasquin as an Instructional Coach for the 2025-2026 school year.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

After a long search, it was recommended to hire Jennifer Daniel as a School Psychologist beginning with the 2025-2026 school year pending her successful background check, EHR, and credential check. The motions for such were made respectively by Jenny Hanks and Andrew Ruyle.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

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

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 7:40pm

Jacob Reno made a motion to move back into open session with Andrew Ruyle seconding to do so.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 7:57pm

Andrew Ruyle made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Brad Schuchman seconded to adjourn the meeting.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Meeting adjourned at 7:57pm

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