Edwards County Community Unit School District #1 Board of Education met Dec. 19.
Here are 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: Lawrence Speir, Jr., Richard Wolfe, Jo Rector, Andrew Spray, Jayare Buerster, and Brian Mewes. Also present was Superintendent, David Cowger; ECHS Principal, Dale Schmittler; WSGS Principal, Mark Beckel; AGS Jr. High Principal/Building and Grounds Director, Kris Duncan; AGS Principal/Special Education Coordinator, Carrie Wells and Assistant Principal Joe Rivers.
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Richard Wolfe to approve the following Consent Agenda items:
• Motion to approve the minutes of the November 21, 2022 Public Hearing – Truth in Taxation and the open and closed session of the November 21, 2022 Regular School Board Meeting
• Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report
• Motion to destroy board meeting closed session audio recording older than 18 months per State code
• FOIA Request
Minutes were corrected: under the 2022 Audit and Annual Financial Report Spray voted yes, however, the minutes reflected he abstained. Official minutes have been corrected.
Speir, Buerster, Spray Mewes Wolfe, Rector and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
APPROVE BILL LIST
Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Richard Wolfe to approve the Bill List as presented.
Speir, Wolfe, Spray, Mewes, Rector and Woods voted yes. Buerster abstained. Motion passes
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Lisa Glover from the ECHS Sports Boosters addressed the Board
Lisa addressed the board and informed them that the Boosters will be adding a new donation Tier and requested the District offer this level an annual sports pass. This will be brought back at the January meeting for official action.
Also, the boosters will expand into AGS and WSGS to help at these levels as well.
APPROVE ECHS CURRICULUM CHANGES
Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Jayare Buerster to approve the ECHS Curriculum changes for the 2023-20214 school year as presented.
Changes will consist of the following:
• Add Agricultural Engineering – Grades 11 and 12
• Change Ag Metal Fabrication 3 & $ to Advanced Metal Fabrication as a yearlong course open to juniors and seniors
• Add College Bound/Honors English IV
• Add Textiles and Design I grades 10, 11, and 12
• Add Informal Geometry
Buerster, Rector, Wolfe, Mewes, Spray, Speir and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF POLICIES
Motion was made by Richard Wolfe and seconded by Jayare Buerster to approve the Second Reading and Adoption of the following policies:
Policy 6.135 – Accelerated Placement Program
Language has been added addressing the requirement of districts to automatically enroll students that meet or exceed State standards in English, math, or science on a state assessment in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework. This would begin the fall of 2023. While we would be responsible to automatically enroll students they could opt out of the placement.
8.42 Policy 6.180 – Extended Educational Programs
This is a new policy for us, not new in general. I really don’t see it applying too much with the exception of some vocational opportunities. As we are looking at ways to provide as many opportunities for our students as possible, this policy may give us a little more flexibility to tailor some educational programs/opportunities to the needs of students.
8.43 Policy 6.310 – High School Credit for Non-District Experiences; Course Substitutions; Re-Entering Students
This policy has made a few minor adjustments that will allow the administration the flexibility to make determinations regarding classes taken outside of school for credit purposes. It also addresses the number of credit recovery classes a student may take.
Rather than painting ourselves into a corner, it provides us some latitude to make decisions based upon what we feel is in the best interest of the student.
8.44 Policy 7.70 – Attendance and Truancy
At the very end of the policy a little blurb was added that states this policy will be reviewed every two years. It will also be uploaded to ISBE. This will be handled exactly like we currently do with the bully policies.
8.45 Policy 7.150 – Agency and Police
Interviews
The law has changed how schools are to conduct agency and police interviews when a child is under the age of 18. We have made these changes in our operational procedures and need to need to update our policy. To sum it up, if the police are wanting to interview a child under 18, evert effort will be made to contact the parents. This policy does not apply to DCFS interviews.
Wolfe, Mewes, Speir, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Rector and Spray voted no. Motion passes
APPROVE FIELD TRIPS OVER 150 MILES
Motion was made by Richard Wolfe and seconded by Andrew Spray to approve the following field trip over 150 miles:
• ECHS Spanish Club to Louisville, Kentucky on December 16, 2022.
Rector, Wolfe, Mewes, Spray, Speir, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
APPOINT DCFS LIASON
Motion was made by Jayare Buerster and seconded by Brian Mewes to appoint Laura Holder, School Social Worker, as the DCFS Liason
This is a new requirement that took effect during the 2022- 2023 school year. This person will work with DCFS when students are under the care of DCFS.
Buerster, Speir, Wolfe, Spray, Rector, Mewes and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
ADMINISTRATION REPORTS
The Administrators presented their reports on the following:
• David Cowger – Superintendent
Cafeteria Report
Sales Tax Report
School Nutrition Programs Administrative Review Vocational Steering Committee Update
After School Tutoring
• Dale Schmittler – ECHS Principal
• Carrie Wells – AGS Elementary Principal/Special Education Coordinator
• Kris Duncan – AGS Jr. High Principal/Building & Grounds Director
• Mark Beckel – WSGS Principal
• Joe Rivers – K-12 Assistant Principal
INTO CLOSED SESSION
Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Brian Mewes that a Closed Session be called at 7:31 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
• Consider student discipline
Speir, Rector, Buerster, Spray, Mewes, Wolfe and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Motion was made by Andrew Spray and seconded by Brian Mewes that the Board come out of Closed Session at 7:51 p.m.
Wolfe, Spray, Rector, Speir, Mewes, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
RECOGNIZE VOLUNTEER COACH
Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Jo Rector to approve Sarah Orrel as West Salem Grade School Volunteer Assistant Volleyball Coach for the 2022-2023 school year.
Buester, Wolfe, Mewes, Spray, Speir, Rector and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
PPROVE FMLA LEAVE
Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Andrew Spray to approve a FMLA Leave for Robert Keortge, Custodian at the West Salem Grade School
Rector, Buester, Spray, Wolfe, Mewes, Speir and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
ADJOURN MEETING
Motion was made by Brian Mewes and seconded by Richard Wolfe that the meeting be adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
Wolfe, Mewes, Buester, Rector, Spray, Speir and Woods voted yes. Motion passes
https://www.edwardscountyschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=121415
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