North Egypt News

Benton Consolidated High School District 103 Board of Education met Aug. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of the Benton Consolidated High School District #103 met in Regular Session at 5:00 P.M. in the District Board Room. President, Mark Minor called the meeting to order.

Opening prayer was led by Mitch Bennett. Kenny Irvin led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board members present: Mark Minor, President; Robin LaBuwi, Vice-President; Mitch Bennett, Secretary; Shane Cockrum, Marci Glover and Kenny Irvin. Board Member Absent: Mark Dyel.

Others present: Benjamin Johnson, Superintendent; Wade Thomas, Principal; Ron Giacone, Board Attorney; Ronda Suver, Board Recording Secretary; Ryan Miller, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director; Sara Handlin, Lyndsey Moore, Clydette Barnfield, Ron Winemiller, Jason Seddon, and Bonnie Seddon, Faculty & Staff; Students, Parents and Community Members.

4. EXECUTIVE SESSION

4.1 Appointment/Compensation/Discipline/Performance of Personnel

4.2 Possible Litigation

Executive Session – Robin LaBuwi made the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss the Appointment, Compensation, Discipline, and Performance of Personnel and Possible Litigation. Kenny Irvin seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

The Board; Benjamin Johnson, Superintendent; Wade Thomas, Principal; Ron Giacone, Board Attorney; and Ronda Suver, Board Recording Secretary entered into an Executive Session in the Executive Board Room at 5:03 P.M.

Open Session - The Board reconvened in an Open Session at 6:15 P.M. Mitch Bennett, Secretary called the roll. Answering present: Shane Cockrum – yes, Mark Dyel – yes, Marci Glover - yes, Kenny Irvin – yes, Robin LaBuwi – yes, Mark Minor – yes, and Mitch Bennett – yes.

Others present: Benjamin Johnson, Superintendent; Wade Thomas, Principal; Ron Giacone, Board Attorney; Ronda Suver, Board Recording Secretary; Ryan Miller, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director; Sara Handlin, Lyndsey Moore, Clydette Barnfield, Ron Winemiller, Karen Conner, MaryAnn Supancic, Jason Seddon, and Bonnie Seddon, Faculty & Staff; Students, Parents and Community Members.

5. CONSENT AGENDA

5.1 Approve Minutes: Regular Board Meeting Minutes, July 15, 2021

Executive Board Meeting Minutes, July 15, 2021

Special Board Meeting Minutes, July 29, 2021

Executive Board Meeting Minutes, July 29, 2021

Special Board Meeting Minutes, Aug 10, 2021

Executive Board Meeting Minutes, Aug 10, 2021

5.2 Approve Financial Report (July 2021)

5.3 Approve Payment of Bills (July 2021)

5.4 Review/Approve Final Reading Board Policy Updates-Press Plus Issue 107 

5.5 Review/Approve Project ECHO & STARQuest Regional Safe School MOU (ENCL A) 

5.6 Approve Intergovernmental Agreement for Standby Ambulance Service (ENCL B)

Robin LaBuwi made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Kenny Irvin seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, members voted as follows: Shane Cockrum – yes, Mark Dyel – yes, Marci Glover - yes, Kenny Irvin – yes, Robin LaBuwi – yes, Mark Minor – yes, and Mitch Bennett – yes. Motion Carried. A copy of Press Plus Issue 107 and Enclosures A and B have been attached to and made a part of these minutes.

6. ADMINISTRATIVE REMARKS

Mr. Johnson gave updates on the following:

• Project Updates

• Police Reform Legislation

Mr. Miller provided fall sports enrollment numbers.

Mr. Thomas provided the start of school enrollment numbers.

7. COMMENTS FROM VISITORS Sara Handlin, faculty member representing the Benton Education Association, asked the board to amend the Back to School Plan to require masks for all staff and students.

Mark Malkovich, community member, spoke in support of masks.

Jason Seddon, staff member, spoke in support of the right to choose whether to wear a mask. 

April Malkovich, community member, spoke in support of masks.

Jara Wilson, student, thanked the board for the first two weeks of school without masks.

Lyndsey Moore, BCHS social worker, commented that the best thing for students is to be in the building. 

8. OLD BUSINESS

9. NEW BUSINESS

9.1 Assignment of Personnel Kenny Irvin made a motion to approve the MOU with the Benton Education Association. Shane Cockrum seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried. A copy of the MOU has been attached to and made a part of these minutes.

Robin LaBuwi made a motion to approve Timothy McMeen as the Head Speech Coach and Interscholastic Drama Coach for the 2021-22 school year. Kenny Irvin seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

Robin LaBuwi made a motion to approve Chris Head as the head baseball coach for the 2021-22 school year. Kenny Irvin seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

9.2 Approve Tentative Budget and Set Hearing Date Robin LaBuwi made a motion to approve the tentative budget as presented and set the Hearing date for September 30, 2021 at 4:45 P.M. Mitch Bennett seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

9.3 Review/Approve Waiving 9-Day Policy for Attendance and the Semester Exam Exemption Policy for First Semester Kenny Irvin made a motion to waive the 9-day attendance policy and the semester exam exemption policy for the first semester of the 2021-22 school year. Marci Glover seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

Mark Minor read a statement and resigned from the board of education effective immediately. He thanked the community for allowing him to serve on the board for over 30 years.

Robin LaBuwi, Vice-President, presided over the remainder of the meeting.

9.4 Review/Amend Return to Learning Plan Mark Dyel made a motion to amend the return to learning plan as presented. Kenny Irvin seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

10. BOARD OF EDUCATION REMARKS Marci Glover commented on the difficulty of this decision.

11. ADJOURNMENT Mark Dyel made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 P.M. Kenny Irvin seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, all members present voted yes. Motion carried.

https://www.bentonhighschool.org/page/board-documents