SE Illinois News

Galatia Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Sept. 25.

Here are 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, Elaine Jackson, Amy Richey, and Leslie Ferrell. B.J. Pigg, Bryan McCabe, and Holly Murphy were absent. Four (4) members present and three (3) members absent. Board President, Tim Pribble, called the meeting to order at 6:50 p.m. Also present: Superintendent, Shain Crank, HS Principal, Ashley Launius, and Recording Secretary, Michele Hankins.

President Pribble led the Board and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

VISITORS:

There were no visitors.

ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA:

Field Trip: Economic Class

Letter of intent with Bernardi Securities, Inc.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

1. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Jackson to enter Executive Session at 6:50 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity; matters of student discipline or review executive session minutes. Jackson-aye, Ferrell-aye, Pribble-aye, and Richey-aye. Four (4) ayes, motion carried.

B. J. Pigg entered the meeting at 7:05 p.m.

2. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to end Executive Session at 7:17 p.m. Jackson-aye, Pigg-aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, and Ferrell-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried..

3. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to approve the Executive Session minutes. Ferrell- aye, Pribble-aye, Pigg-aye, Richey-aye, and Jackson-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Resignation

4. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by Richey to accept Jacob Higgins's resignation effective September 29, 2023. Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

JH Assistant Basketball Coach

5. A motion was made by Jackson and seconded by Richey to approve Justin Woods as a junior high assistant boys' basketball coach for the 2023-2024 school year. Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Advertise Counselor Support Specialist

6. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to advertise for a counselor support specialist position. Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, Pribble-aye, and Pigg-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Egyptian Health FRD (Family Resource Developer)

7. A motion was made by Ferrell and seconded by Jackson to employ a Family Resource Developer contingent upon agreement with the Egyptian Health Department. Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Egyptian Health Counselor

8. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Ferrell to contract an Egyptian Health Counselor three days a week for $40,000 for the remainder of the 2023/2024 school year. Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Pigg- aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Advertise for Paraprofessional Aide

9. A motion was made by Richey and seconded by Jackson to advertise for a paraprofessional aide position.

Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, Pribble-aye, and Pigg-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Trap Cat Coach

10. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to dismiss Michael Baldwin as Trap Cat coach.

Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Trap Cat Coach

11. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by Jackson to employ Matt McLaughlin as the Trap Cat coach for the remainder of the 2023/2034 school year, pending background checks. Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

PRINCIPAL REPORT:

Student Handbook: Mrs. Launius presented the updates to the current student handbook that the Governor signed into law. Once the board approves the updates we will make the handbook available for the parents.

Fundraisers: The Freshman class will be putting on a Haunted House on October 21st. The Junior class will be hosting a craft and vendor event at the high school on October 28th.

High school boys' basketball out of state trip: The high school boys' basketball team would like approval to go to the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN, to play Zeigler-Royalton at 1:00 p.m. and then attend an NBA game later in the evening. This is a family event. The boys will be required to sell 75 tickets to participate. They will sit together as a team for the game. The parents will be responsible for all travel transportation and attending the game with their team player.

Mrs. Launius left the meeting at 7:48 p.m.

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT:

Illinois Science Assessment Scores: We have received our test scores and have scored slightly above the state average in all three grades that were tested.

Re-tint Windows: We have not received the quote for re-tinting the windows at the schools.

Grade School Tree: Stone's Outdoor Services removed the dead tree and did a very good job.

Solar Project: Mr. Crank presented the feasibility analysis from the Nextera Energy Company. The initial project will be approximately $1,430,000. The federal government through the Inflation Reduction Act will give a rebate of $572,000 for the solar project. Nextera did convey that they were uncertain how to claim this rebate, due to it being a new rebate, but they are checking into it. We will also receive $130,000 in state rebates. The total net savings over 35 years would be $2,441,722.

Mr. Crank said that we could finance the project through bonds. There are two different types of bonds: Series A, a three-year bond to cover the proposed rebates from the federal and state governments ($702,000). We will pay the bond back upon receiving the rebate funds. Series B would be for the remaining cost of approximately, $700,000 for 8-10 years. The current interest rate is 4-4.5%. A letter of intent for a bond will need approval to advance looking at different options for bonds. This will not commit us to the bond purchase but will give us an idea of what to expect.

The board members discussed the pros and cons of the solar project. Items for discussion included school insurance, security for the panels, fencing, and how other schools were financing and receiving their rebates. Mr. Crank will check into all of the items and will have a report at next month's meeting.

HS Gymnasium Improvements: A quote from Sports Con for approximately $24,000 would include two new backboards, one of the goals by the stage would be able to be raised up and down, to keep it out of the way for plays, graduations, etc. It will also include new wall pads for both ends of the gym. This does not include any electrical costs. Mr. Crank will price an electronic roll down flag and have it for next month's meeting.

Ballfield Fencing: Mr. Tim Arnold is removing all the fencing around the ball fields. This is a savings of $7,500 on the ball field construction.

Parent Safety Meeting: There will be a parent safety meeting on October 2, 2023, as long as five people are interested in attending. This is just one of the areas Mr. Crank is trying to help the school connect to the community.

Bus Barn: The electricity for the bus barn is complete except for the service side of the project which will be completed by Ameren.

HS Plumbing: The high school kitchen has some plumbing issues. The sinks and the dishwasher do not drain. well. Griffin's Plumbing is working on a solution.

Facilities Use: There has been discussion about allowing non-school related groups to use the district's facilities when we are not using them. More information will be gathered on what other school districts allow and will be reported at the next board meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

TRANSPORTATION:

The new bus ordered last year has a completion date of October 16, 2023. We should receive the bus around the first of December.

Bus #11: Bus #11 has a door malfunction. Rick Pittman, the bus mechanic, will switch the electronic door to a manual door.

Athletic Director, Jim Foster is doing a great job.

OLD BUSINESS:

Solar Project

*See Superintendent Report.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA:

12. A motion was made by Richey and seconded by Pigg to approve the regular meeting minutes of August 22, 2023, and the special call meeting on September 18, 2023. Jackson-aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, Ferrell-aye, and Pigg-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

13. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by Richey to approve the bills and payroll as presented. Pigg-

aye, Ferrell-aye, Pribble-aye, Jackson-aye, and Richey-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

14. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to approve the treasurer's report and co-mingled account as presented. Jackson-aye, Pigg-aye, Ferrell-aye, Pribble-aye, and Richey-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

FY23-24 Adopted Budget

15. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Richey to adopt the FY23/24 school budget as presented at the budget meeting on September 25, 2023 at 6:45 p.m. Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, Pigg- aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Local Wellness Plan

The Local Wellness Plan is updated regularly as per the National School Lunch Program and can be viewed on the school website.

16. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by Ferrell to approve the Local Wellness Policy update. Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, Jackson-aye, Ferrell-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

HS Gym Improvements

17. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Richey to approve a quote from Sports Con for new backboards and wall mats for the high school gymnasium in the amount of $23,928.00. Pribble-aye, Pigg- aye, Richey-aye, Ferrell-aye, and Jackson-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Student Handbook Updates

18. A motion was made by Ferrell and seconded by Pigg to approve the updates to the Student Handbook for the FY23/24 school year. Ferrell-aye, Pigg-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Certificate of Deposits

Legence Bank is currently offering 5.12% a.p.y. (annual percentage yield) interest for an eight-month certificate of deposit. Our current certificates of deposits #4945 ($200,140.88) and #7734 ($339,693.31) are at a current rate of 4.06% a.p.y. The current certificates of deposits will not mature until February 24, 2024. To receive the new interest rate of 5.12% we will have a one-month interest penalty for the early withdrawal but we will make it up with the higher rate.

19. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Jackson to reinvest Certificates of Deposit #4945 ($200,140.88) and #7734 ($330,693.31) currently held at Legence Bank for a term of 8 months at the rate of 5.12% a.p.y. Pigg-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, Ferrell-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Out of State Boys Basketball Trip

20. A motion was made by Pigg and seconded by Jackson to approve the Galatia High School boys' basketball team to travel to the FedEx Forum at Memphis, TN, to play Ziegler-Royalton and then watch an NBA game on January 13, 2024. The team members will be transported by their family members. Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, Ferrell-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Tax Levy Hearing Date

21. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Richey to set the Tax Levy hearing date of November 28th, 2023. Pribble-aye, Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Pigg-aye, and Jackson-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Economics Field Trip

22. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to approve the high school economics class field trip to the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis, Mo, on October 3, 2023. Ferrell-aye, Pigg-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Letter of Intent

23. A motion was made by Pribble and seconded by Pigg to enter a letter of intent with Benardi Securities, Inc., for a solar project bond. Pigg-aye, Ferrell-aye, Richey-aye, Jackson-aye, and Pribble-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT:

24. A motion was made by Richey and seconded by Ferrell to adjourn at 8:55 p.m. Ferrell-aye, Jackson-aye, Pribble-aye, Richey-aye, and Pigg-aye. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/712/District/3667460/2023_September_25.pdf