North Egypt News

Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 Board of Education met Oct. 15.

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 Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The meeting was called to order by President Shane Garner.

ROLL CALL

Secretary Zimbro called the roll with the following result:

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

Members Absent: None

Staff Present: J. Henry, K. Jones, L. Zimbro, B. Gunter, L. Hacker, B. Harland, S. White, G. White, R. Towers, T. Masters

Visitors Present: Tiffany Sulser, Brooklyn Petro

PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE

SVHS Student Brooklyn Petro addressed the board with concerns regarding the current Sesser- Valier High School semester exam exemption policy attendance component. Ms. Petro expressed that the attendance component is unobtainable for students with chronic illness that require frequent healthcare appointments and/or extended hospital stays, and asked that the Board consider an amendment to the policy.

REPORTS

SVEA: L. Hacker highlighted recent and upcoming activities teachers are involved in and noted that some members have met to form an insurance committee.

LABORERS' LOCAL 773: R. Towers gave praise to kitchen staff after experiencing fire alarm issues and having to come up with quick solutions so that students and staff were fed.

CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: No report.

K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust Fund, upcoming events, and recent activities.

H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones presented information on behalf of Mrs. Page regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, upcoming activities and recent events.

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 a library program media evaluation

• Approval of a food service agreement with Franklin-Jefferson Special Education District No. 801

2. Information regarding the 2024 tax levy, including the adoption of the tentative tax levy resolution for 2024, was included in the board packet. As the board considers the tax levy for 2024, Superintendent Henry strongly encouraged to utilize the following five (5) guiding principles (as the board has discussed in detail in the last 17 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; downward trend in rate over the past 11 years).

Please refer to two (2) property tax levy handouts (chart packet & presentation packet) as needed.

3. Mr. Henry attached a copy of an ISBE letter dated October 3, 2024, that outlines ISBE's data review of the District's special education program. The District "Meets Requirements" for implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

4. Mr. Henry attached a copy of one (1) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from North Egypt News and the District's response to that request for your review/information.

CONSENT AGENDA

A motion was made by Spence and seconded by Sample approving the minutes of the previous meetings: September 16, 2024 (Regular Meeting); Treasurer's report; bills in the amount of $204,543.25 and salaries in the amount of $415,885.48; approval of library program media evaluation; approval of Food Service Agreement (Franklin-Jefferson Special Education District No. 801), as presented.

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Garner, Kirk, 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

ADOPTION OF TENTATIVE TAX LEVY RESOLUTION REGARDING ESTIMATED AMOUNTS NECESSARY TO BE LEVIED FOR THE YEAR 2024: A motion was made by Kirk and seconded by Spence to adopt a Resolution Regarding Estimated Amounts Necessary to be Levied for the Year 2024, as presented.

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Garner, Kirk, Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence

Nays: None

There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

Superintendent Henry shared two options for the school speed zone signage and equipment with the Board. Discussion followed.

APPROVAL OF SCHOOL SPEED ZONE SIGNAGE/EQUIPTMENT PROPOSAL: A motion was made by Lance and seconded by Menser to approve the school speed zone Tapco Option #2 (flashing beacon, radar feedback signage).

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence, Garner

Nays: None

There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION: At 6:38 PM, a motion was made by Kirk and seconded by Spence 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)

c. 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, with the District is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3))

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Packer, Sample, Spence, Garner, Kirk, Lance, Menser

Nays: None

There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION: At 7:21 PM, a motion was made by Spence 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 (NEW BUSINESS)

Board Member Kirk recused herself from the next action of the Board.

EMLOYMENT OF ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHER (ROBERTS, ALEXIS): A motion was made by Packer and seconded by Menser to employ Alexis Roberts as an Elementary Classroom Teacher (Grades 1-6), subject to and contingent upon her successful completion of both a statutorily-required fingerprint-based criminal background check and employment history review, effective January 1, 2025.

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Spence, Garner, Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample

Nays: None

There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

Board Member Kirk resumed participation in the meeting.

EMLOYMENT OF DISTRICT CUSTODIAN (WEBB, JOHN): A motion was made by Kirk and seconded by Menser to employ John Webb as a District Custodian, subject to and contingent upon his successful completion of both a statutorily-required fingerprint-based criminal background check and employment history review.

Roll call voting was as follows:

Yeas: Garner, Kirk, Lance, Menser, Packer, Sample, Spence

Nays: None

There being seven (7) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

APPROVAL OF VOLUNTEER EXTRACURRICULAR COACH(ES) AND/OR SPONSOR(S) (LAUNIUS, PRESTON): A motion was made by Kirk and seconded by Lance to approve the following volunteer assistant coach(es) and/or sponsor(s).

• JHS Boys Basketball: Preston Launius

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. 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 Spence and seconded by Sample 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 7:30 PM.

https://cdnsm5-ss2.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5786889/File/Henry/FY25%20Board%20Meetings/Oct%2015,%202024,%20BdMtgMin.pdf