North Egypt News

Sesser-Valier Community Unit School District 196 Board of Education met April 22.

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, April 22, 2025. The meeting was called to order by Board President Shane Garner.

ROLL CALL

Secretary Zimbro called the roll with the following result:

Members Present:

Members Absent:

Staff Present:

Visitors Present:

Garner, Kirk, Lance, Packer, Rounds (Student Member), Sample, Spence Menser

J. Henry, N. Page, K. Jones, L. Zimbro, A. Kramer, K. Kramer, B. Bischoff, J. Lance, A. Bates, T. Fennes, C. Tharp, B. Harland, G. Tinsley, S. Lappin, L. Hacker, O. Page, M. Lamczyk, N. Wingo, D. Wingo, S. White, G. White, R. Towers

PUBLIC COMMENT & CORRESPONDENCE

Sean Payne addressed the Board regarding the Head Football Coach position.

REPORTS

SVEA: R. Payne shared activities and projects students and teachers have participated in over the month, including student testing, banquets, and spring concerts.

LABORERS' LOCAL 773: R. Towers listed projects and activities staff and students have participated in over the month, including the kitchen staff's recent state audit, field trips and end-of-year requisitions.

CUSTODIAL & MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR: No report.

K-8 PRINCIPAL: Mr. Jones presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, recent events, upcoming activities, and special student recognitions. Jones also thanked Mr. Ellis and his shop class for making storage cubbies for elementary students.

H.S. PRINCIPAL: Mrs. Page presented information regarding the following to the board: Trust fund, upcoming activities, recent events, and special student recognitions.

Mr. Jones presented the Sesser-Valier Elementary/Junior High School parent-student handbook proposed revisions for 2025-2026. He noted that there were no major changes and listed some updated language.

Mrs. Page then presented the Sesser-Valier High School parent-student handbook proposed revisions for 2025-2026. She summarized some of the changes made to the honor roll requirements and informed the board that most changes or updates to the SVHS parent-student handbook were consistent with the junior high school handbook changes/updates.

Mrs. Page also presented the 2025-2026 extracurricular rules and random student drug testing policy, noting that there were no changes recommended for the next school year.

Mr. Jones summarized the changes to the 2025-2026 Title I School-Wide Plan, including the updated mission statement and additional grades added to the Bridge program.

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 2025-2026 initial school calendar

• Approval of the 2025-2026 school handbooks and extracurricular rules

• Approval of an updated Title I School-Wide Plan

• Approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Consolidated District Plan

• Authorization for the district superintendent or designee to apply for state, federal, and/or private grants

• Approval/authorization of a facility-use request for the Sesser-Valier Devil Rays (VFW Baseball/Softball Field; with restriction(s); no fee)

2. The 2025-2026 school calendar is slated for approval via the consent agenda. Mrs. Payne,

Mr. Jones, and Mr. Henry met on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, to discuss SVEA feedback and the rate of response. As a result, Mr. Henry doesn't recommend any changes to the proposed 2025-2026 calendar at this time, but does recommend further study/consideration of some of the items discussed for subsequent calendars.

3. District Architect Paul Lunsford is in the process of scheduling a pre-construction meeting for Phase III of the District's HVAC project. Superintendent Henry expects that meeting to occur within the next 2-3 weeks, after which we should have an estimated work timeline for Summer, 2025.

4. Mr. Gunter received an estimate for entry door/glass replacement, and that estimate exceeds the $50,000 threshold that "triggers" competitive bidding. The estimating company also provided (at our request) replacement costs for the two, main-entry vestibules (interior doors). Mr. Henry recommends that the Board, by consensus, authorize himself and Mr. Gunter to engage the District Architect to facilitate the bidding process (if needed) for this project in preparation for a Summer, 2025, completion schedule.

5. Mr. Gunter has also contacted a regional pipe-lining contractor about beginning the process of lining the K-12 Complex cast iron sewer drain lines. Without a camera/video inspection of the lines, it's difficult for the contractor to provide an estimate. They will continue to work on this issue in an effort to complete at least some of this work during Summer, 2025.

6. Board Goals Status Update:

a. IASB compiles information and sends results/report to Board (expected before December 31, 2024)-Completed December 11, 2024

b. Board considers/approves new District mission statement and goals in thematic areas (2-3 goals in each area; likely in January, 2025)-Preliminary Draft (1" Reading) Completed January 13, 2025

c. Superintendent, in conjunction with goal-setting participants and other staff members, prepares/presents SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals under overarching Board goals (~3 months (~2 areas/month); February-April, 2025)

a. District Mission Statement: Final approval February 10, 2025

b. Goal #1 (Student Achievement/Curriculum): Preliminary Draft (1st Reading) Completed February 10, 2025

c. Goal #2 (District/Community Relations): Pending Board work to add goal(s)

d. Goal #3 (Programs/Services): Preliminary Draft (1st Reading) Completed March 10, 2025

e. Goal #4 (Finance): Pending Board work to add goal(s)

f. Goal #5 (Facilities): Preliminary Draft (1" Reading) Completed April 22, 2025

d. Board considers/approves Superintendent-proposed SMART goals (April/May, 2025)

e. Superintendent, in conjunction with goal-setting participants and other staff members, develops implementation/action plan to achieve goals

f. Board/Superintendent monitor progress/completion of implementation/action plans (with revisions as necessary)

Based on the Goal #1, Goal #3, and Goal #5 process, Mr. Henry recommends that the Board adopt one goal-area per month.

7. Mr. Henry included ten (10) Freedom of Information Act requests from ACB (ad.cuius.bonum) and the District's subsequent responses to those requests.

CONSENT AGENDA

A motion was made by Sample and seconded by Spence approving the minutes of the previous meeting, including closed session minutes: March 10, 2025 (Regular Meeting); Treasurer's report; the bills in the amount of $289,172.74 and salaries in the amount of $447,197.28; approval of the 2025-2026 Public School Calendar (Initial); approval of the Sesser-Valier Elementary/Junior High School student handbook for 2025-2026; approval of the Sesser-Valier High School student handbook for 2025-2026; approval of the district extracurricular rules and random drug testing procedures for 2025-2026; approval of the Title I school-wide plan; approval of Fiscal Year 2026 Consolidated District Plan (ISBE); authorization for district superintendent or designee to apply for state, federal, and/or private grants; approval of facility-use request (Sesser-Valier Devil Rays; VFW Baseball/Softball Field; with restrictions; no fee), as presented.

Roll call voting was as follows:

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

Nays: None

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

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF REVISED DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT AND BOARD GOALS (1ST READING): A motion was made by Kirk and seconded by Lance to approve Board Goal #5 (Facilities; 1st Reading), as presented.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared the motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION: At 6:54 PM, a motion was made by Lance and seconded by Packer to enter 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. Security procedures and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, a threatened, or reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(8), as amended by P.A. 93-79 and P.A. 93-422)

d. Student disciplinary cases (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9))

e. The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(10))

Roll call voting was as follows:

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

Nays: None

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

RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION: At 8:14 PM, a motion was made by Sample and seconded by Spence to reconvene from closed session.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

PERSONNEL

EMPLOYMENT OF ELEMENTARY SUPPLEMENTAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT TEACHER (KELLY, KELLY): A motion was made by Kirk and seconded by Packer to employ Kelly Kelly as an Elementary Supplemental Academic Support Teacher for 2025-2026, subject to and contingent upon her presentation of applicable licensure for the position and successful completion of a statutorily-required fingerprint-based criminal background check and employment history review.

Roll call voting was as follows:

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

Nays: None

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

EMPLOYMENT OF JHS ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHER (EUBANKS, MAZIE): A motion was made by Packer and seconded by Kirk to employ Mazie Eubanks as a Junior High School English/Language Arts Teacher for 2025-2026, subject to and contingent upon her presentation of applicable licensure for the position and successful completion of a statutorily-required fingerprint-based criminal background check and employment history review.

Roll call voting was as follows:

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

Nays: None

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

EMPLOYMENT OF DISTRICT COOK (BEERS, CASSIE): A motion was made by Sample and seconded by Spence to employ Cassie Beers as a District Cook, subject to and contingent upon her 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, Packer, Sample, Spence

Nays: None

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

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

HS Head Football Coach: Nick Wingo

Roll call voting was as follows:

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

Nays: None

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

APPROVAL OF EMPLOYEE MATERNITY LEAVE REQUEST (PAGE, OLIVIA): A motion was made by Spence and seconded by Kirk to approve a maternity leave request for Olivia Page, as presented.

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

APPROVAL OF SIDE-LETTER AGREEMENT(S) WITH BARGAINING UNIT(S) REGARDING EGYPTIAN AREA SCHOOLS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST FEBRUARY/MARCH, 2025, ASSESSMENT/ADDITIONAL PAYMENT: A motion was made by Lance and seconded by Spence to approve side-letter agreements with the Sesser-Valier Education Association and Laborers' Local 773 regarding Egyptian Area Schools Employee Benefit Trust February/March, 2025, assessment/additional payment, as presented.

Roll call voting was as follows:

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

Nays: None

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

OTHER BUSINESS

None

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

Voting was as follows: All voted yea. There being six (6) yeas and zero (0) nays, the president declared that the motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.

https://cdnsm5-ss2.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_5786889/File/Henry/FY25%20Board%20Meetings/Apr%2022,%202025,%20BdMtgMin.pdf