SE Illinois News

Wabash Community Unit School District 348 Board of Education met Nov. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Wabash Community Unit School District #348, Wabash County, met in Regular Session on Monday, November 13, 2023 in Cafetorium of Mt. Carmel Grade School.

President Schuler called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Secretary Theresa Hocking called the roll. In addition to the secretary, those present were Tim Schuler, Gregg Wilcox, Susan Wood, Kyle Peach, and Jamie McCorkle. Janice Alka was absent.

Also present were Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer, MCJSH Principal Andy Shelby, MCGS Principal Brianne Foster, MCES Principal Jake Newkirk, MCJSH COO Steve Holt, Director of Transportation –Sharon Thombleson, Logan Crum –MCJH Dean of Students, Aaron Croft – District Testing Coordinator, Kevin Madden –WSJD, Kiley Alka –Parent, Rick Johnston –Citizen, and District Secretary Kim Zimmer.

President Schuler led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Consent Agenda

a. Minutes of Past Board Meetings

i. October 16, 2023 Regular Board Meeting

b. Monthly Bills

-Invoices Paid October 2023

-Bills Payable November 2023

c. Financial Reports

Cash Deposits        $ 483,592.56

Investments       $ 11,306,398.63

4 Fund                 $ 7,901,708.00

5 Fund                 $ 8,429,928.00

Breakfast/Lunch      $ -24,202.74

d. Correspondence

-Theresa Cunningham resigning as MCJSH Part Time Cook effective November 6, 2023 

-Steve DeStefano resigning as MCHS Apprenticeship Coordinator effective the end of the 2023-2024 school year

-Ian Kemper resigning as the MCGS Behavior Intervention Assistant effective November 8, 2023

-MCHS Industrial Arts Teacher Brittany Brown requesting maternity leave beginning January 22, 2024 and returning April 2, 2024

-MCGS 3rd Grade Teacher Julie Herman requesting maternity leave beginning January 16, 2024 and returning April 2, 2024

e. Administrative Reports

∙ Mt. Carmel Junior Senior High School Chief Operations Officer Steve Holt 

∙ District Curriculum/Grant Coordinator Michael Brewer

∙ Mt. Carmel Elementary School Principal Jake Newkirk

∙ Mt. Carmel Grade School Principal Brianne Foster

∙ Mt. Carmel Junior Senior High Principal Andrew Shelby

∙ Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer

A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Wood and seconded by McCorkle. A roll call vote was taken and all present voted AYE. Motion Carried. Alka was absent.

Reports –Aaron Croft, Logan Crum, Brianne Foster, and Michael Brewer Croft, Crum, Foster, and Brewer presented the test scores and said there is room for improvement. They are working with students, parents, and teachers to get the scores higher. Foster is hoping the new math curriculum will help the math scores in the grade school. Dr. Bleyer noted that switching from ACT to SAT had been a transition as well.

MCGS Student Leadership Group

3rd Grade Teacher Abby Carpenter presented the ‘League of Leaders’. The group consisted of grade school students who were student leaders. The students spoke about setting good examples and leadership in the school.

Superintendent’s Comments

Dr. Bleyer said the commemorative bricks were due to arrive at the stadium on November 14, 2023. He was planning on doing a completion walk through very soon.

Public Comments

Rick Johnston spoke to the board regarding his request to use the district’s facilities. He would like to see the board policy for Community Use of School Facilities updated.

Executive Session pursuant to Section 2 (C)(1) of the Open Meetings Act: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees”.

At 7:25 p.m. a motion to go into closed session was made by Hocking and seconded by Wilcox. All present voted Aye. Motion Carried. Alka was absent.

At 8:08 p.m. a motion to return to open session was made by McCorkle and seconded by Wood. Motion Carried. Alka was absent.

A motion to approve the minutes as read in closed session was made by Hocking and seconded by Peach. All present voted Aye. Motion Carried. Alka was absent.

New Business

Surplus Vehicle Bids

A motion to approve the highest bids for surplus vehicles was made by Hocking and seconded by Wood. A roll call vote was taken and all present voted AYE. Motion Carried. Alka was absent.

Tax Levy 2023 payable in 2024

Dr. Bleyer advised the board that the tax levy will be on display for one month.

FY24 School Maintenance Grant

A motion to approve the FY24 School Maintenance Grant was made by McCorkle and seconded by Peach. A roll call vote was taken and all present voted AYE. Motion Carried. Alka was absent.

Employment of Personnel

A motion to approve the following employment recommendations was made by Hocking and seconded by Wood:

NON-CERTIFIED

Samantha Tice -MCJSH Night Time Custodian beginning December 4, 2023

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Mike Cheesman -MCHS Assistant Wrestling Coach effective November 13, 2023

VOLUNTEERS

Jamie Tillotson -Volunteer for 5th/6th Girls’ Basketball beginning November 14, 2023 Abby Vaught -Volunteer for 5th/6th Girls’ Basketball beginning November 14, 2023 Shelby Barillas -Volunteer for MCHS Cheer Assistant Coach

All present voted Aye. Motion Carried. Alka was absent.

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was made by Wood and seconded by Wilcox. All present voted AYE. Motion Carried. Alka was absent. Meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1091/Wabash_CUSD/3833735/2023_11_13__Regular_Board_Meeting_Minutes_Approved.pdf