Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District No. 196 Board of Education met Dec. 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Board of Education of Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District No. 196 was held in the High School Library at 6:00 PM. The meeting was called to order by President Megan Rounds.
ROLL CALL
Secretary Zimbro called the roll with the following result:
Members Present: Acosta (via telephone), Barry, Menser, Rounds, Sample, Spence, Stacey
Members Absent:
Staff Present: J. Henry, N. Page, K. Jones, L. Zimbro, B. Cross, P. Webb, K. Shurtz, D. Wingo, T. Masters, R. Payne
Visitors Present:
Rachel Towers
PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE
None
Public Hearing Concerning the Intent of the Board of Education to Sell Not-to-Exceed $2,000,000 School Fire Prevention and Safety Bonds (see attached Bond Issue Notification Act (BINA) Hearing minutes; incorporated into these minutes by this reference).
REPORTS
SEA: SVEA President, Rachel Payne, reported on the recent activities and fundraisers in which S-V staff and students have participated. Dana Wingo, Kasey Shurtz, Penny Webb and Becky Cross each gave introductions and shared a little bit about themselves and their history with S-V.
LABORERS' LOCAL 773: No report.
CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: Superintendent Henry presented the report on behalf of Brian Gunter. Henry praised B. Gunter and his hard work during the transition to District Maintenance Supervisor and for his help with the upcoming HVAC project.
K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones, Elementary/JH Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, recent events/activities, upcoming activities, and the SAP (Student Assistance Program) Christmas report.
H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Page, High School Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, upcoming calendar entries, list of students receiving special achievements and awards, and the CAP/TAP Christmas report.
Board Secretary, John Spence, had a concern/complaint that was brought to his attention concerning “vaping” in the student bathrooms. Students have complained of the inability to use the restroom because of the smoke/vapors. Mrs. Page and Mr. Jones agreed that they were aware of some vaping and have been making random stops in and around the student bathrooms. Mrs. Page listed some possible strategies to address the issue. Mr. Henry stated that the board does have a policy to address the matter and ability to increase random drug testing.
SUPERINTENDENT: Mr. Henry, Superintendent, presented the following information to the board:
1. The consent agenda for this month's meeting includes the following additional item(s):
Approval of two FY22 seniority lists
Approval of updated district depository resolutions
Approval of an amendment to the District's 403(b) plan
Approval of a resolution referencing disposition of obsolete equipment Approval of the 2021 tax levy resolutions
2. Following the board's adoption of the Tax Year 2021 levy this evening, the necessary documents will be filed in both Franklin & Jefferson Counties on or before the due date (last Tuesday of December, December 28, 2021).
3. Bids for the HVAC project are due and will be opened on Tuesday, December 21, 2021.
Following the bid opening, the District will begin working with the low bidder to negotiate the necessary contracts for the project in anticipation of approving those contracts at the regular January, 2022, board meeting.
Following the bid opening, Mr. Henry will prepare a document outlining the reservation of funds that will finance the project. That will help the district prepare for the upcoming January, 2022, bond sale, as well. (At this time, it looks like more than half of the project will be covered using grant funding and cash-on-hand.)
4. Superintendent Henry presented a recent FOIA request and the District's response to that request.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Menser approving the minutes of the previous meeting: November 8, 2021 (Regular Board Meeting); Treasurer's report; bills in the amount of $359,727.38 and salaries in the amount of $389,524.40; approval of licensed staff seniority list; approval of educational support personnel seniority list; adoption of district depository resolutions(s); approval of amendment to AFPlanServ 403(b) Volume Submitter Plan Document; adoption of resolution referencing disposition of obsolete school equipment; adoption of resolution authorizing final aggregate tax levy for year 2021; adoption of a resolution authorizing tax levy for fire prevention safety, energy conservation, disabled accessibility, school security and specified repair purposes for year 2021; adoption of a resolution authorizing tax levy for tort immunity for year 2021 and adoption of a resolution authorizing tax levy for special education purposes for year 2021, as presented.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Acosta, Barry, Menser, Rounds, Sample, Spence, Stacey
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
AUTHORIZATION FOR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT TO ADJUST INDIVIDUAL FUND LEVIES, NOT TO EXCEED BOARD-APPROVED AGGREGATE TAX LEVY FOR 2021: A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Stacey to authorize the District Superintendent to adjust individual fund levies, not to exceed the Board-approved aggregate tax levy for 2021, as presented.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Rounds, Sample, Spence, Stacey, Acosta, Barry, Menser
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
CLOSED SESSION: At 6:44 PM, a motion was made by Menser and seconded by Stacey to enter into closed session for the purpose of discussing the following exceptions to the Open Meetings Act:
a) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), as amended by P.A. 93-57)
b) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning the salary schedules for one or more classes of employees (5 ILCS 120/2() (2)
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Sample, Spence, Stacey, Acosta, Barry, Menser, Rounds
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION: At 7:15 PM, a motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Spence to reconvene from closed session.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Spence, Stacey, Acosta, Barry, Menser, Rounds, Sample
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
PERSONNEL (NEW BUSINESS)
EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM AIDE (TOWERS, RACHEL): A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Acosta to employ Rachel Towers as special education classroom aide effective January 1, 2022, subject to her presentation of evidence of sufficient college credit/qualifications to hold the position.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Stacey, Acosta, Barry, Menser, Rounds, Sample, Spence
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried. EMPLOYMENT OF DISTRICT CUSTODIAN (HOUSEWORTH, DANA): A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Acosta to employ Dana Houseworth as district custodian, effective January 1, 2022, subject to her successful completion of a required, fingerprint-based criminal background check.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Barry, Menser, Rounds, Sample, Spence, Stacey, Acosta
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
MOTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEE RESIGNATION(S): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Barry to acknowledge the following employee resignation(s):
• JHS Girls Volleyball Coach: Megan Lamczyk
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Menser, Rounds, Sample, Spence, Stacey, Acosta, Barry
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
MOTION TO POST THE FOLLOWING POSITION(S): A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Spence to post the following position(s):
• Special Education Teacher
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Rounds, Sample, Spence, Stacey, Acosta, Barry, Menser
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE A SHORT-TERM EMPLOYMENT CONTINUATION AGREEMENT (MALINEE, VERA): A motion to approve a short-term employment continuation agreement with Vera L. Malinee, as presented.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Spence, Stacey, Acosta, Barry, Menser, Rounds, Sample
Nays:
None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS:
None
ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Barry and seconded by Acosta to adjourn.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:19 PM.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pFq-Zzq6TbmYRujqZt2VOrNWOMmpsj6VtjePLkosXW4/edit
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