Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District No. 196 Board of Education met Nov. 14.
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 Rounds.
ROLL CALL
Secretary Zimbro called the roll with the following result:
Members Present: Acosta, Barry, Menser, Rounds, Sample, Spence, Stacey
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: J. Henry, N. Page, K. Jones, L. Zimbro, B. Gunter, R. Payne, K. Spotanski, L. Hacker
Visitors Present: Elisha Willmore, Christie Sweely, Jason Hoffard, Jackie Hoffard
PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE
PUBLIC COMMENT: President Rounds asked for any public comment. Acosta thanked the school for having local veterans come out and enjoy breakfast with the elementary school.
Christie Sweely introduced herself to the board and presented information regarding the addition of a high school wrestling team. Mrs. Sweely will be sending additional information to the superintendent for further discussion/consideration.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
REPORTS
SVEA: Leslie Hacker reported on the recent activities and fundraisers in which district staff and students have participated including Youth and Government, Outdoorsmen Club, and Teen REACH trips. Football season has concluded, and basketball has started up.
LABORERS' LOCAL 773: No report.
CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: No report.
K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones, Elementary/JH Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, recent events/activities, and upcoming activities. Recent activities included Fire Safety Presentation with the Sesser Fire Department, Red Ribbon week, Halloween parade and Parent Teacher Conferences.
H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Page, High School Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, upcoming calendar entries, recent activities, and congratulations for student achievements. Page congratulated Mr. Shadowens and his football team for concluding such a great season. The 36th Annual Outdoorsmen Club Deer Banquet is approaching as well as the 43rd Annual Deer Hunt.
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 the FY22 district audit (retroactive to October 11, 2022)
Approval of the HVAC project contract (retroactive to November 3, 2022)
2. Information regarding the 2022 tax levy, including the adoption of the tentative tax levy resolution for 2022, was included in the board packet. As the board considers the tax levy for 2022, Superintendent Henry strongly encouraged board members to utilize the following five (5) guiding principles (as the board has discussed in detail in the last 15 years):
Realization that the levy is based on unknown (projected) property values; Realization that this year's levy represents next (fiscal) year's local revenue; Realization that each year's levy impacts all future years' levies;
The need of the board to determine the appropriate balance between the fiscal responsibility (Are we levying enough to meet budgetary needs?) and fiscal excess (Are we levying too much to meet budgetary needs?); and
An understanding of the impact of the board's property tax levy on the district's property tax rate (a part of the overall rate for property tax payers in the district; steep, downward trend in rate over the past 9 years).
Please refer to two (2) property tax levy handouts (chart packet & presentation packet) distributed during the meeting as needed.
3. Mr. Jones, Mrs. Page, and Mr. Henry will present the 2021-2022 student performance reports during this meeting. Mr. Jones & Mrs. Page will present student assessment data, and Mr. Henry will present district summary data (separate handout) and his recommendations arising out of that information. He will also present some district summary information (demographics, finance, environment) that is part of the ISBE District Report Card. Separately, Mr. Henry provided copies of the three (3) 5Essentials Survey reports that ISBE conducts for schools for board review.
PRESENTATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Mr. Jones, Mrs. Page, and Mr. Henry presented a report regarding the 2022 ISBE School Report Card for the elementary school, junior high school, high school, and district, which included student performance on standardized tests (IAR & SAT), successful completion of the curriculum, attendance, and drop-out rates. They reported to the board on their findings as to student performance and their recommendations for curriculum or instructional changes as a result of this evaluation of student performance.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Acosta approving the minutes of the previous meeting: October 11, 2022 (Regular Board Meeting); Treasurer's report; bills in the amount of $192,907.59 and salaries in the amount of $444,306.87; approval of FY22 district audit (retroactive to October 11, 2022); and approval of HVAC project contract (retroactive to November 3, 2022).
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
(In order to utilize presentation equipment, meeting participants and guests moved to the High School Conference Room prior to the principals' and superintendent's presentation of student performance (outlined above).)
Superintendent Henry presented detailed information and recommendations regarding the 2022 tax levy. He reviewed historical tax levy/extension data, rate data, and the formulas that drive the final tax extension. He described the tax levy process (including how to capture new property growth in the District), filing requirements, and the property tax revenue timeline. He recommended that the Board adopt the tentative tax levy, as presented.
ADOPTION OF TENTATIVE TAX LEVY RESOLUTION: A motion was made by Acosta and seconded by Stacey to approve a Resolution Regarding Estimated Amounts Necessary to be Levied for the Year 2022 (Tentative Tax Levy), as presented.
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.
CLOSED SESSION: At 7:34 PM, a motion was made by Acosta 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 schedule for one or more classes of employees (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)
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.
RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION: At 9:16 PM, a motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Acosta to reconvene from closed session.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
PERSONNEL (NEW BUSINESS)
AUTHORIZATION FOR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT TO BARGAIN A SIDE-LETTER AGREEMENT WITH SESSER-VALIER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND A SPECIFIC EMPLOYEE: A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Spence to approve authorization for the district superintendent to bargain a side-letter agreement with Sesser-Valier Education Association and a specific employee.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
None
ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Acosta and seconded by Spence 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 9:18 PM.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pAGQLRRXKKb8Imr3PLNDOPbx2_RMNzZzJi-gAEK1fhM/edit
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