Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 Board of Education met June 12.
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, June 12, 2023. The meeting was called to order by President Jason Sample.
ROLL CALL
Secretary Zimbro called the roll with the following result:
Members Present: Barry, Garner, Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: J. Henry, N. Page, K. Jones, L. Zimbro, B. Gunter, R. Payne, N. Wingo, D. Wingo, S. White, P. Sample, K. Severs, C. Garner, A. Kramer, S. Moore, O. Page, D. Crocker, G. Tinsley, M. Lamczyk, B. Williams, T. Masters, L. Miller, D. Laur, K. Spotanski,
Visitors Present: None
PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE
None
REPORTS
SVEA: R. Payne read a statement prepared by members of the SVEA expressing concern with upcoming pay increases for principals and the number of educators leaving the district. Payne noted that the district has lost five teachers since January, 2023. SVEA union representatives reached out to those teachers that decided to leave the district this year, and some of the main reasons given for their resignation included compensation and benefits.
Payne noted that the union recognizes the jobs and decisions that the administrative roles have and stressed that the union is not against salary increases for those in those positions. However, she asked the board to keep the thoughts and concerns of the teachers in mind when voting for upcoming salary increases.
LABORERS' LOCAL 773: No report.
CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: B. Gunter shared that he and his crew have been working hard to get the building ready for the return of students and teachers.
K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones, Elementary/JH Principal, presented the elementary/junior high information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, upcoming events, and recent activities including graduation and student recognitions.
H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Page, High School Principal, presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, the high school graduation ceremony, special recognition for student achievements and upcoming activities and dates.
SUPERINTENDENT: Mr. Henry, District 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 FY24 lunch price schedule
Approval of the FY24 district depository resolution
Approval of the FY24 prevailing wage resolution
Approval of the FY23 amended district budget
2. As of this report, Phase I of the HVAC project is on-schedule. The necessary equipment has been delivered to Heartland Mechanical, and work began just before Memorial Day. Demolition is almost complete, and the contractor is installing new sheet metal ductwork and classroom equipment. Plumbing/pipe work and electrical work is expected to begin this week. The job foreman has already formulated a plan to get ceiling installation underway as soon as possible so that Mr. Gunter and his summer crew can get the classrooms cleaned and ready for school. Immediately following the board meeting, Mr. Henry offered to take anyone interested in seeing the project on a quick tour of that wing of the building.
3. The Fiscal Year 2023 amended district budget has been finalized using the most up-to-date expenditure and revenue estimates. Mr. Henry is optimistic that we will finish the year even better than projected. All told, he expects all operating funds to finish well, and believes some more of our HVAC project costs will be "booked" in June. While FY24 will have some expanded financial liability, he believes the District is well-positioned to handle that successfully, absent some unforeseeable circumstances.
4. Superintendent Henry attached a copy of an intergovernmental agreement that the Franklin County Sheriff has proposed for the provision of School Resource Officer (SRO) services for the 2023-2024 school year. The initial proposal has been significantly modified to address school district concerns and is very similar to an existing agreement in Jefferson County. As of this writing, Mr. Henry has requested (but hasn't received) a planned-addendum to the agreement that outlines the cost structure. Once the addendum is received, he plans to slate this item for board approval (likely in July, 2023).
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Spence to approve the consent agenda, consisting of the minutes of the previous meetings: May 8, 2023 (Regular Meeting), May 8, 2023 (Special (Reorganizational) Meeting) and May 30, 2023 (Special Meeting); Treasurer's report; the bills in the amount of $426,235.89 and salaries in the amount of $411,748.52; adoption of Fiscal Year 2024 regular board meeting schedule; adoption of Fiscal Year 2024 district depository resolution(s); adoption of Fiscal Year 2024 prevailing wage resolution; adoption of Fiscal Year 2023 amended district budget, as presented.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Barry, Garner, Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence
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 OR DESIGNEE TO APPROVE FALL/WINTER, 2023, FACILITY USE REQUESTS (OLD GYM FACILITY (SV RISING STARS); FOOTBALL FIELD COMPLEX (SV JR FOOTBALL)): A motion was made by Spence and seconded by Menser to authorize the District Superintendent or designee to approve 2023-2024 routine facility use requests from Sesser-Valier Jr Football and SV Rising Stars on a no-fee basis.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
APPOINTMENT OF BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS: President Jason Sample appointed the following as board committee members:
Board Negotiations Committee: Jason Sample, Kirk Packer, John Spence, Jennifer Menser
Board Policy Committee: Jason Sample, Becky Barry, Shane Garner, Clark Lance
DISCUSSION OF SCHOOL CAMPUS POLICE PATROL(S): Board Member Packer gave recommendations to help with future local police patrols and presence in the building, including providing key access to the Sesser Police Department and facilitating walk-throughs to help familiarize officers with the building and how to address any potential threat.
DISCUSSION OF DISTRICT/BOARD PRE-EMPLOYMENT & POST EMPLOYMENT POLICIES/PROCEDURES/PRACTICES: Board members discussed the current pre- employment process and reviewed past practices. The Board discussed including not more than two board members in employment interviews and conducting exit conferences with employees who resign from the District. Superintendent Henry indicated that he would prepare draft policy language for Board consideration.
CLOSED SESSION: At 6:45 PM, a motion was made by Menser and seconded by Barry 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, Packer, Sample, Spence, Barry, Garner, Lance
Nays: None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION: At 10:21 PM, a motion was made by Barry and seconded by Menser to reconvene from closed session.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
PERSONNEL
EMPLOYMENT OF JHS ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER (BATES, AUDRA): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Lance to employ Audra Bates as JHS English- Language Arts Teacher, subject to and contingent upon her successful presentation of appropriate licensure/endorsement(s) for said position and completion of both a required, fingerprint-based criminal background check and a statutorily-required employment history
review.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Sample, Spence, Barry, Garner, Lance, Menser, Packer
Nays: None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
EMPLOYMENT OF LICENSED SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER (MELVIN, JENNA): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Barry to employ Jenna Melvin as a Licensed School Social Worker, subject to and contingent upon her successful presentation of appropriate licensure/endorsement(s) for said position and completion of both a required, fingerprint-based criminal background check and a statutorily-required employment history review.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Spence, Barry, Garner, Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample
Nays: None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEE TO LIBRARY SECRETARY (CLERICAL CATEGORY) POSITION (HARLAND, BRANDY): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Barry to transfer Brandy Harland to a library secretary (clerical category) position.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
EMPLOYMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL ASSISTANT COACH (VANWEY, JACOB): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Lance to employ Jacob Vanwey as High School Boys Basketball Assistant Coach, subject to his successful completion of both a required, fingerprint-based criminal background check and a statutorily-required employment history review.
Roll call voting was as follows:
Yeas: Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence, Barry, Garner
Nays: None
There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
TABLE APPROVAL OF A PRINCIPAL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT(S) AND/OR AMENDMENT(S) FOR ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL (JONES, KEITH) & HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL (PAGE, NATALIE): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Spence to table approval of principal employment contracts and/or amendment(s) for Keith Jones and Natalie Page, as presented.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
APPROVAL OF VOLUNTEER EXTRACURRICULAR COACH(ES) AND/OR SPONSOR(S) (KISELEWSKI, MCMURRAY, B. NEIKES, T. NEIKES, T. HOUGHLAND, B. MENSER, J. LANCE, VANWEY, HARLAND, BENEDICT, J. LANCE): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Barry to approve the following volunteer assistant coach(es) and/or sponsor(s).
JHS Girls Softball: John Kiselewski
JHS Boys Baseball: Tim McMurray, Bob Neikes, Tera Neikes, Tyson Houghland, Blake Menser
HS Boys Basketball: Jamie Lance, Jake Vanwey (retroactively effective May 31, 2023 to June 12, 2023)
HS Cheerleading: Brandy Harland, Jennifer Benedict
JHS Boys Basketball: Jaden Lance
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF EMPLOYEE RESIGNATION(S) AND/OR RETIREMENT(S): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Barry to acknowledge the following employee resignation:
JHS Girls Volleyball Coach: Karla Kistner (effective June 2, 2023).
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 Menser and seconded by Barry to adjourn.
Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 10:26 PM.
https://cdnsm5-ss2.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5786889/File/Henry/FY23%20Board%20Meetings/June%2012,%202023,%20BdMtgMin.pdf
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