South Central Reporter

Southwestern Community Unit School District 9 Board of Education met Tuesday, March 18.

The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on March 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, Jason Oertel, Andrew Ruyle, Brad Schuchman, Dr. Kevin Bowman, Superintendent, and Kim Albert. Nicholas Strohbeck arrived at 7:43pm, and Jacob Reno was absent.

Public Comment: None

Correspondence and Recognition:

The board recognized Christy Spencer, who is a high school special education teacher, for being awarded the Those Who Excel Recognition. She will be awarded officially on May 17th in Bloomington. Mrs. Spencer has been a teacher at Southwestern for 31 years!! Congratulations to Mrs. Spencer!

Southwestern High School has seven individuals that are IL State Scholars!! Congratulations to them!

Administrator Reports:

Stephanie Renken, Special Education Coordinator, reported that the Special Education department is busy finishing IEPs for the year as well as starting to work on planning for the 2025-2026 school year.

Dr. Bearley, HS Principal, was absent, but Dr. Bowman, Superintendent, presented the video from the PBIS tv station that was made about our mascot, The Piasa Bird. The video is on the school website as well for viewing.

Middle School Principal, Mrs. Bowman, reported that the students will begin the IAR testing on March 31st. Also, the 8th graders will be going to the Holocaust Museum in St. Louis in the near future. Middle School volleyball has ended per Mrs. Bowman, and track has started. Teachers are working on curriculum mapping for next year already. Mrs. Bowman welcomed the middle school’s new custodian, Jack Harpole, and stated he is doing a great job!

Ms. Wooldridge, Shipman Principal, informed the board that the Shipman students had recently participated in their Reading Across America program and had their book blast. She reported that every student received at least one book to take home with many students receiving numerous books. Shipman Elementary will have four teams participating in Olympiad this year. Also, the drama club from the high school will be visiting Shipman this week to perform part of their school play as well as singing a few tunes from it as well.

Shipman students will be taking the IAR testing April 7th-April 11th. Ms. Wooldridge congratulated L. Kinder who is in the third grade for being selected by Scholastic for her writing skills!!

Mrs. Reed, Brighton North Primary Principal, also reported that her students recently participated in the Read Across America program along with Dr. Suess’s birthday week. Pre K recently held their screenings for the 2025-2026 school year. 37 screenings were done and more will take place in August for fall enrollment. Mrs. Reed thanked the whole team for conducting these screenings. Brighton North students are participating in a food drive this week to donate to the Crossroads Church. The church packages food for students who would benefit from it being distributed during the summer months. Also, Mrs. Reed reported on her efforts to secure Macoupin County as a recipient of Dolly Pardon’s Imagination Library; Growmark has covered the cost for this program!!

Medora Principal, Mr. Baumberger, thanked the Macoupin County Public Health Dept. for their help with Erin’s Law. He also reported that several Medora students had recently had a lemonade stand at school to raise money for a community service project. The stand done very well, and the students donated the money to buy several new recess items for Medora. Also, Mr. Baumberger reported that thanks to funds from the CTEI grant, the Mad Science program recently visited Medora and put on their program. The program explains about different careers involving science and conducts several experiments for the students to see. Medora will also have four teams participating in Olympiad again this year. Mr. Baumberger stated that he had recently attended the IL Reading Conference and had learned a lot and brought information back to the district to begin implementing. IAR testing will soon begin in Medora as well.

Superintendent Report:

Dr. Bowman reported that the current enrollment for the district is at 1153. Discipline is low and that is thanks to good families, teachers, and community in part.

The superintendent congratulated Christy Spencer for being a Those Who Excel recipient!! That is a great accomplishment and well-deserved.

He also congratulated the district’s seven IL State Scholars!!!

Dr. Bowman reported on the Southwestern Foundation for Educational Excellence banquet that was recently held. He thanked the Foundation for all they do for the students of Southwestern!

Superintendent Bowman gave a facilities update and stated that our schools will begin testing with IL Assessment for Readiness, IL Science Assessment, and ACT very soon.

Items for Discussion or Acknowledgement:

Sarah Bowman was present and spoke to the board about the South-Central Basketball League. She stated that Jason & Jill Darr had been the sponsors for years but had recently resigned which left herself and Aaron Bowman as the new sponsors. There were over 60 children that participated in the league this year. Mrs. Bowman indicated that there had been seven home games played at either the high school gym or the Medora Intermediate gym. The program lasts from Oct.-February, and it takes many volunteers to make this all happen. She reported on how much money they had collected and donated to several programs in the district. They are looking for new sponsors for next years program; anyone that is interested should contact herself or Aaron Bowman.

There were many supporters in attendance tonight to represent the possibility of having a HS Wrestling club sport at Southwestern. Mr. Neal Owens has worked hard on this proposition, and the board will be voting on this later this evening.

Mrs. Bowman and Ms. Wooldridge reviewed the Illinois School Report Card data for Southwestern CUSD #9. The district has continued to improve scores in English, Math, and Science the last three years. This is due to the hard work of students, staff, and administration on making academic improvements and progress each year. Great job!

A short discussion was held regarding increasing the school fees. Computers are costing more each year and the district is looking to add $10 to computer fees as well as increasing fees for several high school classes.

The 2025-2026 School Calendar Hearing-Holiday Waiver for Casimir Pulaski Day was held with no objections.

The board reviewed the Asbestos Abatement bids for Summer 2025 work to be done. The low bid was from Talbert ICS for $158,000. This bid was recommended by the superintendent.

The construction bids for summer 2025 were also reviewed with the lowest bid being recommended.

Truck and snowplow package bids were also reviewed by the board and will be voted on further into the meeting.

HS gym basket winch bids were reviewed.

Resignations acknowledged by the board included: L. Unverzagt, HS Industrial Technology Teacher, E. Schrieber and M. Schrieber, HS evening custodians.

Items Considered for Action…

Consent Agenda:

Items discussed in the consent agenda included the following…the financial report with balances as of February 28, 2025, as follows: Education Fund $7,765,438.00, Operations/Maintenance $1,626,599.00, Transportation Fund $896,913.00, Working Cash $3,479,903.00, with the total being $13,768,853.00, County Schools Facilities Sales Tax Revenue for February was down a little at $56,433.42, March bills…Imprest bills…extra and substitute pay…substitute list…regular board meeting minutes from February 18, 2025…closed session minutes from February 18, 2025…Negotiations Committee minutes from February 25, 2025…approve lease agreement with Step-by-Step Inc. to provide before and after school program…and approve lease agreement with Illinois Valley Economic Development Corporation.

Dr. Bowman stated that the district is 67% thru the fiscal year, and we have received 84% of our revenue.

There were no questions regarding the consent agenda that was presented. Nicholas Strohbeck 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, Ruyle, Schuchman, and Strohbeck

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion to adopt the 2025-2026 Public School Calendar was made by Brad Schuchman and seconded by Donna Loy.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Dr. Bowman presented the board with the final amended school calendar for 2024-25. The last student day will be May 29, 2025, and Teacher Institute on May 30, 2025. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to approve the final amended school calendar for 2024-2025 with Donna Loy seconding the approval.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The board had discussed increasing school fees and decided upon the lower option as presented. Brad Schuchman made a motion to increase the school fees as presented in the lower option with Nicholas Strohbeck making the second motion to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The board approved the IHSA membership renewal for the high school. Motions were made respectively by Nicholas Strohbeck and Donna Loy.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

HS wrestling as a club sport was next on the agenda. Brad Schuchman made a motion to approve HS wrestling as a club sport, and Andrew Ruyle made the second motion to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The low bid for Summer 2025 Asbestos Abatement was from Talbert/ICS at $158,000. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to accept the low bid from Talbert/ICS with Donna Loy seconding the low bid from Talbert/ICS.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

There were two bids submitted for the Construction project Summer 2025. The low bid was awarded to HL Miller. There was a base bid plus Alternate #1 and Alternate #2. Brad Schuchman made a motion to accept the base bid from HL Miller along with Alternate #1 & #2. Nicholas Strohbeck seconded the motion as read.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Victory Lane Ford submitted a bid of $53,206 for a 2025 Dodge Ram 2500 truck with a snowplow. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to approve the purchase with Donna Loy seconding the motion.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A cafeteria worked requested a 5-day Leave of Absence. Jason Oertel made a motion to approve the LOA with Andrew Ruyle seconding the motion for such.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Donna Loy made a motion to authorize the Transportation Director to seek bids for three school buses, one 29 passenger lift bus, and one 29 passenger bus without a lift. Nicholas Strohbeck made the second motion to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Kassidy Gaither was recommended to be the National Honor Society Sponsor by Dr. Bearley. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to approve Mrs. Gaither as such, and Brad Schuchman made the second motion to approve.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

It was recommended to approve Billy Murray as a Volunteer Trap Club Coach; Donna Loy and Andrew Ruyle made motions to approve this, respectively.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

The low bid for the HS basketball goal winches was from Bulte Company. Andrew Ruyle made a motion to accept the low bid for the winches. Brad Schuchman seconded the bid for such.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A Brighton North Lunchroom Worker requested a leave of absence for the remainder of the 24-25 school year. Nicholas Strohbeck made a motion to approve the leave of absence with Donna Loy seconding the approval.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Mr. Baumberger, Medora Intermediate Principal, recommended hiring Mary Malham as a Medora Lunchroom/Recess Monitor. Jason Oertel made the first motion and Nicholas Strohbeck made the second motion to employ Mary Malham.

Roll Call Vote:

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

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, Strohbeck, Hanks, Loy, Oertel, and Ruyle

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 8:06pm

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

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

TIME: 8:50pm

Nicholas Strohbeck made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jason Oertel seconded to adjourn the meeting.

Roll Call Vote:

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

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Meeting adjourned at 8:53pm

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