Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 Board of Education met Feb. 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 on Monday, February 13, 2023. The meeting was called to order by President Megan 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, K. Jones, N. Page, L. Zimbro, T. Masters, C. Basso, R. Payne, N. Wingo, B. Gunter, K. Spotanski
Visitors Present: Justin Mandrell, Zach Rounds, Christie Sweely, Clark Lance, Mary Threewitt, Mike Barry, Samantha Ketteman
PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence reported.
President Rounds asked for any public comments. Samantha Ketteman shared her opinion on the current high school girls basketball coach and program. She shared her concern of many girls quitting or not trying out that used to enjoy the sport, amount of losses over the last few years and fundamentals not being taught. Mike Barry shared statistics over the last few years showing amount of losses, turnovers and the drop of girls trying out or staying on the team. He shared concerns with the programs lack of conditioning including summer conditioning to better prepare the girls for their season. Rounds stated that the position is currently held by an active employee so discussion with the board, if any, would be held in closed session.
Mary Threewitt addressed the board with her wishes for the board to consider a wrestling team.
REPORTS
SVEA: Tracy Masters recognized fellow teacher and Sesser Area Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year, LeAnn Miller, for her positive accomplishments and all that she has done in her time with the district. Masters shared a concern the teachers have with the way some budget money may be spent and asked the board to consider using some of the funds to hire a social worker. Currently there are a large amount of "non-traditional students" (students that are not in a traditional household) enrolled. Some area schools have hired at least one social worker in recent years to address students' social/emotional needs.
LABORERS' LOCAL 773: No report.
CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: No report.
K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones, Elementary/Junior High Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, recent activities/news, upcoming activities, and state testing information. Jones also congratulated Mrs. Miller on her Chamber award.
H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Page, HS Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, upcoming activities including senior night for boys/girls basketball and cheerleading. Page shared information with the new ukulele band program and student achievements.
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 an amended school calendar for 2022-2023
Approval of the FY23 educational support personnel seniority list Approval of revised board policies (final approval)
2. Superintendent Henry attached a copy of a new, annual Series 2022 Bond Issue Post-
Issuance Tax Compliance Report for review. This annual report is recommended by Chapman & Cutler, the District's bond counsel. In Fiscal Year 2024, the timing of this report will be shifted to coincide with the District's annual audit.
3. Depending upon the candidate pool, the Board might need to hold a special meeting in late
February/early March to employ teachers for the 2023-2024 school year. If so, Mrs. Zimbro or Mr. Henry will reach out to board members to check possible dates/times.
4. The Board Policy Committee met on January 9, 2023, to review 41 policy updates/revisions.
The Committee agreed by consensus to recommend that the Board adopt all updates/revisions as presented. A copy of the Committee's minutes is attached.
5. Superintendent Henry attached a copy of a recent Freedom of Information Act request and the District's response to it for board members to review.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Menser approving the minutes of the previous meetings: January 2023 (Regular Meeting), January 2023 (Policy Committee Meeting); Treasurer's report; the bills in the amount of $196,132.13 and salaries in the amount of $380,853.65; approval of a 2022-2023 amended school calendar; approval of the FY23 Educational Support Personnel Seniority List; and approval of the revised board policies (final approval), 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
DISCUSSION/STUDY/APPROVAL OF HIGH SCHOOL BOYS & GIRLS WRESTLING PROGRAM: Mrs. Page distributed information gathered from a student interest survey she recently sent out to gauge students' interest in extracurricular programs that could potentially be offered. The survey was sent out to 8th – 11th graders and showed a variety of activities the students might be interested in.
Mr. Basso shared options/potential to co-op with area schools for boys and girls high school wrestling including Christopher, Waltonville and Benton. Basso shared pros/cons of partnering with schools and/or having a Sesser-Valier only team. He also shared approximate costs to start the program which would likely exceed $20,000.00 (not including salary/pay for coach(es)).
Rounds asked what positions/extra duties had been dropped due to lack of funds over the recent years and if that would cause any issues adding a new coaching position without addressing positions that were discontinued. Mr. Henry listed the positions and stated that the board would need to continue the discussion with the Sesser-Valier Education Association and Laborers" Local 773 before any decision could be made. He indicated that the issue was subject to interim collective bargaining with both bargaining units.
AUTHORIZATION FOR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNEE TO PURCHASE SCHOOL VANS (STATE CONTRACT): A motion was made by Spence and seconded by Sample to authorize the district superintendent or designee to purchase not more than two (2) school vans using the state bid list and to execute all documents necessary for the purchase.
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.
AUTHORIZATION TO SEEK PROPOSALS FOR PARKING LOT SEALING/STRIPING: A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Spence to authorize the district superintendent or designee to seek proposals for parking lot sealing/striping.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
CLOSED SESSION: At 7:04 PM, a motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Menser 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: 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 8:35 PM, a motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Spence 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.
President Rounds announced that, following a review/discussion of all relevant issues, the Board desires to pursue a cooperative high school wrestling program with another school, and the Board, by consensus, authorized applicable District personnel to pursue such a cooperative agreement.
PERSONNEL (NEW BUSINESS)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF EMPLOYEE RESIGNATION(S): A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Menser to acknowledge the following employee resignation(s):
HS Spanish Teacher: Megan Hale (effective at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year)
HS Mathematics Teacher: Melodee Garner (effective at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year)
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
EMPLOYMENT OF JHS BOYS TRACK COACH (SPAIN, LOGAN): A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Barry to employ Logan Spain as JHS Boys Track Coach.
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.
APPROVAL OF VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH(ES) AND/OR SPONSOR(S): A motion was made by Stacey and seconded by Barry to approve the following volunteer assistant coach(es) and/or sponsor(s):
HS Drama Club: Robert Moore
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 8:38 PM.
CERTIFICATION OF MINUTES
The above-listed account of the regular meeting of the Board of Education of Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District No. 196, held on Monday, February 13, 2023, at 6:00 PM, is, to the best of my knowledge, a true and accurate account of the aforementioned meeting.
https://cdnsm5-ss2.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5786889/File/Henry/FY23%20Board%20Meetings/Feb%2013,%202023,%20BdMtgMin.pdf
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