SE Illinois News

Edwards County Community Unit School District 1 Board met March 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Edwards County K-12 Band Room by President, Dale Woods. The following members were present: Brian Mewes, Richard Wolfe, Lawrence Speir, Jr., Jo Rector and Andrew Spray. Also present was Superintendent, David Cowger; Principals, Dale Schmittler and Preston Nelson; Assistant Principal/Special Education Coordinator, Carrie Wells and Dean of Students, Joe Rivers. Board member Jayare Buerster was absent.

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Richard Wolfe to approve the following Consent Agenda items:

 Motion to approve the minutes of the open and closed sessions of the February 17, 2020 Regular School Board Meeting and the February 25, 2020 Special 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

 FOIA Report

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

Spotlight: AGS Science Fair Winners

Was postponed due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions

Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Brian

Mewes to amend the 2019-2020 School Calendar by removing any unused emergency days off the end of the calendar.

It is anticipated the final day of school will be on May 18th.

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

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Brian Mewes to approve the following field trips over 150 miles and/or overnight:

 AGS 7th Grade to Springfield, Illinois on April 23, 2020 with transportation costs paid by the District

 AGS 8th Grade to St. Louis, Missouri on May 8, 2020 at no cost to the District

 ECHS FFA to Champaign, Illinois on March 20-21, 2020 with transportation costs paid by the District

 ECHS Spanish Club to Nashville, Tennessee on April 24, 2020 at no cost to the District

All trips are contingent upon the COVID-19 pandemic conditions and restrictions.

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

First Reading of the following policies:

 Vacancies on the School Board – Filling Vacancies

Boards now have 60 days versus 45 to fill a board vacancy. Also, there was a little housekeeping by changing some wording. Those who are interest filling the vacancy shall submit a “resume” versus an “application.”

 2.100 Board Member Conflict of Interest

Language has been added addressing a conflict of interest in Federal and State Grant Awards.

 2.105 Ethics and Gift Ban Act

The entire Gift Ban Section has been rewritten and has had many revisions. Also, a new section regarding complaints of sexual harassment made against board members by elected officials has been added addressing ethical behavior.

 2.110 Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Members

A couple revisions to the policy under president duties are as follows: 1. Preside at all meetings & 12. Except when the board president is the subject of a complaint of sexual harassment, a witness, or otherwise conflicted, appoint a qualified outside investigator to conduct and independent review of allegations of sexual harassment made against a board member by another board member or elected official.

 5.250 Leave of Absence

Under Sick and Bereavement Leave, 3) has been revised to state “a licensed advanced practice registered nurse”. Under School Visitation Leaves, a “behavioral” meeting has been added. Also, “gender violence” has been listed in the Leaves for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, or Gender Violence.

 5.330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves

The policy has been revised to address instances where the District may want certification from an employee who has missed work after 3 days of personnel illness or 30 days for a birth or as the Board or Superintendent would require. There has been additional clarification regarding accumulation of sick day by showing the monthly accumulation.

 5.50 Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace

This policy has been updated to address the prohibition of E- Cigarettes, Tobacco, and Cannabis in the workplace. A section was added which provides clarification to “District Premises.”

 5.90 Abused and Neglected Child Reporting

Policy has been updated to reflect language added which addresses the Districts responsibility to notify the students’ parents/guardians as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Also, a new section was added which addresses Alleged Incidents of Sexual Abuse; Investigations.

 6.15 School Accountability

School districts now are required to administer a climate survey on a yearly basis in grades 4-12.

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Jo Rector to approve the following donations over $500:

 Anonymous donation in the amount of $3,000 to be applied to school lunches

 Anonymous donation in the amount of $28,000 to the athletic programs

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

Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by

Andrew Spray to approve the release of bus bids.

The District is seeking to purchase 1 71-72 passenger school bus.

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

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Jo Rector to approve the EC Panthers Basketball Camp for Grades K-2 on April 20-23, 2020 and Grades 3-5 on April 27-30, 2020.

Camp will be contingent upon COVID-19 conditions and restrictions.

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

The Administrators presented their reports on the following:

• David Cowger – Superintendent Graduation Dates:

ECHS Baccalaureate – May 10, 2020 at 8:00 pm 

ECHS Graduation – May 15, 2020 at 8:00 pm 

AGS Graduation – May 14, 2020 at 8:00 pm 

WSGS Graduation – May 12, 2020 at 8:00 pm

Cafeteria Report

Summer Maintenance and Summer Help ISBE E-Learning Plans and COVID-19

 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 Brian Mewes that a Closed Session be called at 7:51 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, Speir, Rector, Spray, Mewes and Woods voted yes. Buerster was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Brian Mewes that the Board come out of Closed Session at 8:45 p.m.

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

Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Richard Wolfe to employ the following for the 2020-2021 school year:

 All Tenured Certified Personnel – See Attached List

 All Non-Tenured Certified Personnel – See Attached List

 All Non-Certified Personnel – See Attached List

 Elementary Teacher – Taylor Grimes

 ECHS Head Basketball Coach – Russ Gerlach

 ECHS Head Girls Basketball Coach – Johnathan Henton

 ECHS Head Cheerleading Coach – Tiffany Cowger

 WSGS Head Basketball Coach – Bill Thomason

 EC Panthers Head Basketball Coach – Rebecca Brinkmann

 AGS Scholastic Bowl Coach – Tammy Krouse

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

Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Brian Mewes to approve the extension of the FMLA Leave for Tara Speir for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

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

Motion was made by Richard Wolfe and seconded by Jo Rector that the meeting be adjourned at 8:48 p.m.

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

https://www.edwardscountyschools.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/53fe5652386ae/March%2016%2C%202020%20Minutes%20with%20Comments.pdf