Galatia Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Oct. 24.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The regular meeting of the Galatia Community Unit School District No. 1 Board was held in the boardroom at the Annex. Roll call was taken, and those present were Tim Pribble, Brandi Hankins, Elaine Jackson, Bryan McCabe, Joy Richey, and B.J. Pigg. Aaron Allen was absent. Six (6) members present and one (1) member absent. Board President, Tim Pribble called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
VISITORS:
There were no visitors in attendance.
ADDITIONS TO AGENDA:
Roofing repairs bid.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:
1. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Pigg to approve the regular meeting minutes and budget hearing minutes of September 26, 2019. Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, Jackson-aye, and Hankins-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
2. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by Richey to approve the bills and payroll as presented with the addition of Ashley Launius mileage reimbursement of $166.46. Richey-aye, McCabe-aye, Jackson aye, Pigg-aye, Hankins-aye, and Pribble-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
3. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Pigg to approve the treasurer's report and co-mingled account as presented. Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, Hankins-aye, and Pribble-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no new business.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mr. Crank, Superintendent, presented several different proposed tax levies to the board. He explained in each proposal what the percentage rate and the anticipated change in the EAV (equalized assessed valuation) would look like. Last year we lost two million EAV in minerals. Some tax categories increased, but the overall loss on tax revenue was $17,000. We need to take into consideration potential legal changes. It is impossible to know when or if anything will take place, but IASA (Illinois Association of School Administrators) and other organizations believe some form of change will most likely pass. There is talk about the progressive tax that will go to voters. Not only would the constitutional amendment change the in language in it to freeze property taxes. The language is ambiguous. No one is sure if it is a freeze on rate or on the extension amount. Both would have an impact on the levy, but freezing the extension would be far worse, at least from the school perspective. Mr. Crank will be meeting with Dr. Kelly from IASA and will have him look at our tax levy and give input. The tax levy will be voted on during the November school board meeting.
4. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by McCabe to set the tax levy hearing on November 26, 2019, at 6:45 p.m. Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, and Hankins-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
The greenhouse at the high school is almost completed and needs approximately one thousand dollars to finish the electrical and place more rock for the floor.
5. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by McCabe to give one thousand dollars for the completion of the greenhouse. The money will come from the sales tax fund. Jackson-aye, McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, Hankins-aye, Pribble-aye, and Richey-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
The board agreed to reopen the teachers' contract for the clause dealing with retirement, and return the 3% to 6% and remove the $7500 retirement incentive. Mr. Crank and Mrs. Amy Richey, union president, will work on this collaboratively. No other section of the contract will be reopened.
6. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Richey to open the teachers' contract for retirement benefits only. McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, Hankins-aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, and Jackson-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
Bond Resolution:
7. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by McCabe to approve the resolution to transfer $115,000 from working cash to bonds and interest. The inter-fund loan will be paid back as real estate tax money is received. McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, Hankins-aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, and Jackson-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried
There was a discussion about the parent policy of only the parent/guardian being allowed to sign their child out at an extra-curricular activity. There will be no change to the policy.
The district is still looking for a physical education teacher.
8. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Hankins to post for a physical education teacher. Pigg aye, Hankins-aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, and McCabe-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
The high school convection oven is out of commission and is not repairable.
9. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Hankins to purchase a convection oven for $2,300 from our sales tax fund. Hankins-aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, McCabe-aye, and Pigg-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
Mr. Crank presented a bid from Joiner Roofing for health/life/safety roofing repairs to the elementary and junior high school roofs in the amount of $10,100. There was a discussion on getting an estimate on the high school roof which will have to be done in the near future.
10. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to accept the roofing bid from Joiner Roofing in the amount of $10,100 for the elementary and junior high roof repairs. Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, and Hankins-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
TRANSPORTATION:
Bus #23 needs a $3,100 fuel pump. There was discussion on whether to invest more money into Bus #23 or purchase another 14 passenger activity bus. We are continually repairing this bus. Trade-in value is only $2,500 in running condition. A new activity bus would be approximately $58,000. One of the benefits of an activity bus is that employed coaches/teachers can drive the buses. It was decided to let Shannon McFarland inspect Bus #23 and see if he thought just replacing the fuel pump would get the bus running again. The board tabled purchasing or leasing a bus until it was determined if Bus #23 was repairable.
Our new bus should be here the end of November, first of December. The bus did not come with cameras, Mr. Crank told Central States Bus Sales to install them.
Mr. Larry Harris, our substitute bus driver, quit today. We only have one substitute bus driver. We have three interested applicants for bus drivers. It was decided to let all of the applicants go to the bus driver's initial training class on November 2nd. If they pass the class, interview them, and send them forward with physical/drug screen, and driving test.
BUILDING & GROUNDS REPORT:
Mr. Crank reported that Mike Ewald, district architect, will be here in November to report about both gym projects.
We are still waiting on Custom Home Elevators to move forward at the high school with the new lifts. Mike Ewald, is making regular contact.
The leak at the Jr. High has been repaired. The air conditioner was removed and caulked really well around the window and it seems to have taken care of the problem.
Jim Rann from H.E. Mitchell will finish what little bit that is needed with the Jr. High exterior EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) this week. He will also do leak testing on the grade school west side to see if they can find a leak in the building.
The special education room ceiling at the elementary school has been repaired for a cost of $1,500.00.
The storage shed at the elementary needs cleaned out and shelves installed. It would take a couple of our custodians to clean out and organize the building on a Saturday. The cost will be approximately $750.00 in materials to build shelves.
The plumber found two out of three drains in the Home Economics room have collapsed. He will run a new drain line into an existing line to help with the draining.
The junior high computer lab had water seep through the floor. A fitting on the furnace had worked its way loose. It is repaired now, but we will have to buy more antifreeze for the system. The cost is $300 a bucket and we need 20 buckets.
ATHLETICS:
The high school volleyball regular season has ended. The junior high girls and boys' basketball seasons have started.
October 1st Galatia hosted its first cross country invitational tournament. Five schools were in attendance.
October 6th Galatia Bass Cats hosted a tournament at Crab Orchard Lake and won the tournament.
11. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Hankins to employ Melissa Shelton as a high school softball coach for FY19/20 school year, pending a background check. McCabe-aye, Pigg-aye, Hankins aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, and Jackson-aye. Six (6) ayes, motion carried.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/528901/October_24__2019_Signed.pdf
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