SE Illinois News

Edwards County Community Unit School District 1 Board met Nov. 18.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the West Salem Grade School Science Room by President, Dale Woods. The following members were present: Jayare Buerster, Brian Mewes, Richard Wolfe, Lawrence Speir, Jr., Jo Rector and Andrew Spray. Also present was Superintendent, David Cowger; Principals, Preston Nelson and Dale Schmittler; Assistant Principal/Special Education Coordinator, Carrie Wells and Dean of Students, Joe Rivers.

Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Jayare Buerster to approve the following Consent Agenda items:

 Motion to approve the minutes of the open and closed sessions of the October 21, 2019 Regular School Board Meeting

 Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report

 Motion to approve the Bill List

 Motion to destroy board meeting closed session audio recording older than 18 months per State code

Buerster, Speir, Rector, Spray, Wolfe, Mewes and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Richard Wolfe to approve the minutes of the Special Board Meeting on November 7, 2019.

Speir, Wolfe, Spray, Mewes, Rector and Woods voted yes. Buerster abstained. Motion passes

Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Jayare Buerster to approve holding prom at the New Harmony Grainery in 2020.

Junior Class Officers addressed the board requesting permission to have the 2020 Junior/Senior Prom at New Harmony. The group stated several reasons for their proposal. Transportation will be provided for those who wish not to drive.

Buerster, Wolfe, Mewes, Speir and Woods voted yes. Spray and Rector voted no. Motion passes

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Richard Wolfe to approve a Resolution for the intent to issue Working Cash Bonds up to but not to exceed $1,800,000.00

In anticipation of potential bond sales the board passed a resolution with the intent to sell bonds up to but not exceed $1,800,000. These funds will be utilized to fund maintenance projects throughout the District.

Wolfe, Mewes, Spray, Speir, Rector and Woods voted yes. Buerster voted no. Motion passes

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by

Jayare Buerster to approve the tentative 2019 Tax Levy payable in 2020.

The overall levy is $3,045,570 and the aggregate levy is $2,745,570 which is an increase of 4.16% compared to the 2019 extension. Since the increase does not exceed 5% a Truth in Taxation Hearing is not warranted.

Speir, Rector, Buerster, Wolfe, Mewes, Spray and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

Motion was made by Jayare Buerster and seconded by Richard Wolfe to accept the 2019 School Report Cards

Report cards were presented by building administrators. All in all the schools were good and very comparable to State Averages. All school received the Commendable designation.

Buerster, Wolfe, Mewes, Spray, Speir, Rector and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

First Reading of ECHS Course Changes/Additions & Program/Teacher Additions

A couple class addition are being recommended for the 2020- 2021 school year, one is the addition of a Weightlifting PE Class and the other is Agriculture Structures Class.

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Jo

Rector to approve IMRF Resolution 6.72 – Compensation Paid Under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 Plan as IMRF Earnings.

To allow the District to consider Section 125 pretax funds as creditable income the District needs to pass a resolution stating the intent. During a recent IMRF audit, it was noted IMFR did not have this resolution on file.

Spray, Speir, Rector, Wolfe, Buerster, Mewes and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Jayare Buerster to accept donations for the purchase of a new AGS Nevco Scoreboard.

The donations received will pay for the board and the protective netting which covers the boards.

Mewes, Spray, Speir, Rector, Wolfe, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

First Reading of the following policies:

 Policy 4.190 – Targeted School Violence Prevention Program

This is a new policy. The policy requires school districts to develop and implement a Targeted School Violence Prevention Program. Each school will be required to develop a team and to access threats, classifying them, responding to, and managing threats and acts of targeted school violence.

 Policy 4.190-AP1 – Administrative Procedures – Targeted School Violence Prevention Program

The procedures proved guidance to establish a targeted School Violence Prevention Program. The procedures provide the roles of those who are part of the process

 Policy 4.190-AP2 – Administrative Procedures – Threat Assessment Team

This documents assists with the implementation of the Threat Assessment Team. It provides a glossary of terms the team needs to understand and all the stages of the team process from TAT formation, assessing and classifying threats, responding to and managing threats, and reporting threats to outside agencies.

 Policy 4.190-AP2, E3 – Administrative Procedures – Threat Assessment Key Areas and Questions

This document provides examples for Building-level Threat Assessment Team members to use when assessing reports of threats to the District’s environment.

 Policy 2.140 – Communications To and From the Board

This policy is updated to reflect the District’s requirement to have a link for individual board members or a general link for the board. Also, language was added as it pertains to the Open Meetings act and the Oath of Office taken by board members that individual members cannot reply to an email on behalf of the board.

 Policy 2.230 – Public Participation at School Board Meetings and Petitions to the Board

Due to a ruling by the Illinois Attorney General, the Public Participation at School Board Meetings and Petitions to the Board has been revised. This policy replaces our 1993 policy and has changed considerably. In the spirit of open public meetings, members of the public cannot be required to submit a request ahead of time. For an overall minimum of 30 minutes during each regular and special board meeting, any person may comment to or ask questions of the School Board, subject to the reasonable constraints established and record in the policy guidelines. During this time, there will be a 20 minute minimum of time for any one subject, when public participation takes less time than the minimums, it shall end.

 Policy 7.305 – Student Athlete Concussion and Head Injuries

The policy has been revised to reflect the school district’s obligation to hand out the IDPH brochure to a student and/or parents of a student suspected of having a concussion. Also, there is a requirement for athletic trainers to submit a monthly report to IHSA.

 Policy 7.305-AP – Administrative Procedures – Program for Managing Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries

Procedures have been revised to reflect the changes stated in Policy 7.305.

The Administrators presented their reports on the following:

• David Cowger – Superintendent

Cafeteria Report

Special Board Meeting November 25, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.

 Preston Nelson – Edwards County K-12 Principal

• Dale Schmittler – West Salem Grade School Principal

• Carrie Wells – Edwards County Special Education

Coordinator

• Joe Rivers – EC K-12 Dean of Students

Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Jayare Buerster that a Closed Session be called at 8:05 p.m. to discuss the following:

 Consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine validity

 Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees

 Discussion regarding probable or imminent litigation

 Consider Student Discipline

Wolfe, Buerster, Speir, Rector, Spray, Mewes and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

Motion was made by Richard Wolfe and seconded by Jo Rector that the Board come out of Closed Session at 8:15 p.m.

Mewes, Spray, Wolfe, Rector, Speir, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Jo Rector to employ the following for the 2019-2020 school year:

 Bethany Rotramel – ECHS Yearbook Advisor

 Erica Bishop – AGS Assistant Volleyball Coach

Mewes, Speir, Rector, Spray, Wolfe, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

Motion was made by Jayare Buerster and seconded by Jo Rector to approve the following Volunteer Assistant Coaches for the 2019-2020 school year:

 ECHS Baseball – Brian Maas, Nathan Utley, Christian Cullison, TJ Smerdon

 ECHS Softball – Jerry Beehn, Shaeli St. Ledger, Allison Wolfe

 AGS Volleyball – Shayla Potts, Gracie Perkins

Mewes, Speir, Spray, Rector, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Wolfe abstained. Motion passes

Motion was made by Richard Wolfe and seconded by Jo Rector to approve a FMLA Leave for Ashley Craig, teacher at ECHS.

Speir, Buerster, Mewes, Spray, Rector, Wolfe and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Jayare Buerster that the meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Spray, Mewes, Buerster, Wolfe, Rector, Speir and Woods voted yes. Motion passes

http://www.edwardscountyschools.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/53fe5652386ae/November%2018%2C%202019%20minutes%20with%20comments.pdf