North Egypt News

Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 Board of Education met Sept. 18.

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, September 18, 2023. The meeting was called to order by President Jason Sample.

ROLL CALL

Secretary Zimbro called the roll with the following result:

Members Present: Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence

Members Absent: Garner

Staff Present: J. Henry, N. Page, K. Jones, L. Zimbro, B. Gunter, R. Payne, K. Spotanski, T. Masters

Visitors Present:

None

PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE

None.

REPORTS

SVEA: R. Payne reported that the school year is in full-swing, and staff are keeping busy.

LABORERS' LOCAL 773: No report.

CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: No report.

K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust Fund, recent events, enrollment numbers and upcoming activities including school improvement and teacher workshop dates.

H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Page presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, 2023-2024 enrollment summary, upcoming calendar entries including Traffic Safety Days, Blood Drive, Outdoorsmen Club events and homecoming week. Mrs. Page shared the success of the Career Clusters program that highlights different career paths and helps introduce students to a variety of career options. Page gave a special thanks to Angie Kistner for her generosity and help reaching out to community members and gathering information on the different career topics.

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):

a. Approval of field trips

b. Approval of administrator & teacher compensation reports

c. Approval of District/School Partner Agreement with Regional Office of Education #34 (Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy)

d. Approval of Illinois Century Network Broadband Master Service Agreement

e. Approval of Clinical Experience Agreement with Western Governors University

f. Approval of Fiscal Year 2024 School Maintenance Project Grant application

g. Approval of Fiscal Year 2024 Evidence-Based Funding Spending Plan

h. Approval of Fiscal Year 2024 District Budget (Initial)

2. Phase I of the District's HVAC project is almost complete. Heartland Mechanical has provided building automation system training and just lacks a few small items to be completely finished. Mr. Gunter is working on the daily schedule, and will make set-point adjustments over the next few weeks (changing only one thing at a time to be sure each adjustment is effective).

3. As of this morning, the ISBE School Maintenance Grant Program application system is still not available. As a result, Mr. Henry recommend that the Board act to approve a school maintenance grant that addresses building entry doors/glass/frames, not to exceed $100,000 (50/50 matching grant). As soon as the online application system is available, he will submit the project proposal to ISBE.

4. The Fiscal Year 2024 district budget (initial) is presented for approval at this meeting (see green summary sheet). As usual, Superintendent Henry expects to recommend a “clean-up” budget amendment in Spring, 2024, as we approach the end of the fiscal year (amended budgets are usually slated for final adoption in June).

This budget has been prepared as a conservative plan for the fiscal year using (hopefully) underestimated revenues and overestimated expenses. Following board approval, the FY24 budget will be filed in both Franklin & Jefferson Counties, as well as with the Illinois State Board of Education.

5. The District's auditor, Doug Ess (Glass & Shuffett, Ltd), will present the District's FY23 audit at the regular October board meeting (Tuesday, October 10, 2023).

6. Mr. Henry attached a copy of a recent Freedom of Information Act request and the District's response to that request for review.

A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Lance approving the minutes of the previous meetings: August 14, 2023 (Regular Meeting); Treasurer's report; bills in the amount of $640,739.71 and salaries in the amount of $392,723.58; approval of the administrator and teacher compensation reports; approval of field trips; approval of District/School Partner Agreement with Regional Office of Education #34 (Illinois Virtual Schools and Academy); approval of Illinois Century Network Broadband Master Service Agreement; approval of Clinical Experience Agreement with Western Governors University; approval of Fiscal Year 2024 School Maintenance Project Grant application; approval of Fiscal Year 2024 Evidence- Based Funding Spending Plan; approval of district budget for Fiscal Year 2024, as presented.

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence

Nays: None

There being five (5) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

APPROVAL OF SESSER-VALIER HIGH SCHOOL SPORTSMANSHIP POLICY: A motion was made by Packer and seconded by Spence to approve a Sesser-Valier High School Sportsmanship Policy, effective September 21, 2023, as presented.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being five (5) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

REVIEW/DISCUSSION OF LEGAL OPINION RE: VIDEO STUDENT RECORDS: The Board discussed a legal opinion letter regarding handling of video student records. Following the discussion, Superintendent Henry recommended that the Board hear from its attorney via a video conference at a subsequent meeting. The Board agreed, by consensus, to do so. No action was taken.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF BOARD MEMBER RESIGNATION (BARRY, REBECCA): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Lance to acknowledge the resignation of Board Member Rebecca Barry, effective August 15, 2023, as presented.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being five (5) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION: At 6:58 PM, a motion was made by Spence 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. The selection of a person to fill a public office, including a vacancy in a public office, when the District is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the District is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3))

c. Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular District has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the District finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the closed meeting minutes (5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11))

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Sample, Spence, Lance, Menser, Packer

Nays: None

There being five (5) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION: At 7:27 PM, a motion was made by Menser and seconded by Packer to reconvene from closed session.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being five (5) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

PERSONNEL (NEW BUSINESS)

TRANSFER OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL TO ALTERNATIVE CLASSROOM SUPERVISIOR POSITION (TOWERS, RACHEL): A motion was made by Menser and seconded by Spence to approve transfer of District Aide Rachel Towers into an Alternative Classroom Supervisor position, effective September 19, 2023.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being five (5) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

EMPLOYMENT OF EXTRACURRICULAR COACH(ES) AND/OR SPONSOR(S) (LAUR, LAMKE, STACY): A motion was made by Lance and seconded by Menser to employ the following extracurricular coach(es) and/or sponsor(s).

Freshman Class Sponsor: Dana Laur (retroactive to September 6, 2023)

Sophomore Class Sponsor: Madison Lamke (retroactive to September 6, 2023) Math Team Co-Sponsor: Martha Stacy

OTHER BUSINESS

None

ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Spence and seconded by Packer to adjourn.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being five (5) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 7:29 PM.

https://cdnsm5-ss2.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5786889/File/Henry/FY24%20Board%20Meetings/Sept%2018,%202023,%20BdMtgMin.pdf