SE Illinois News

Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 Board of Education met Jan. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of Harrisburg Community Unit School District #3, Saline County, Illinois, was held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, as announced by posted public notice and by mail. The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Chris Penrod, Mr. Kevin Dowdy, Mr. Ryan Lambert, Mr. Jonathan Russell, Mr. Brandon Henshaw, and Mr. Steve Smothers. Mr. Billy Smith was absent.

The following administrators were present: Dr. Amy Dixon, Scott Dewar, Natalie Fry, Debbie McGowan, John Crabb, Eric McCollum, Alesha Allen, Lana Bell, Amanda Stone, Elizabeth Dawe, and Andy Fehrenbacher. The following Unit #3 staff members were present: Keri Holland, Russell Hunt, Kyle Brames, and Joy Butler. The following members of the public were present: Tim King and Randy Smithpeters.

With a quorum of the members of the Board being present, President Penrod called the meeting to order and declared the Board to be in session for the transaction of business.

President Penrod led the Board, staff and attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss:

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees in an educational setting. Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

B. Security procedures and the use of personnel to respond to a reasonably potential danger to the safety of students.

C. The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

D. Student disciplinary case.

Upon a call of the President for a vote to be taken, it was determined the results of said motion carried. Board entered into Closed Session at 5:01 p.m.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to reconvene in open session at 5:41 p.m. Upon a call of the President for a voice vote to be taken, it was determined the results of said motion carried.

RECOGNITION AND COMMENTS FROM EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2023 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Dowdy, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Smothers, and Mr. Penrod voted yea. Mr. Henshaw and Mr. Russell abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to approve the Bills Due and Payable. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Russell seconded the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Russell seconded the motion to approve the Expenditure and Revenue Reports. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

The Board of Education reviewed the monthly Activity Fund Summaries from each building.

ADMINISTRATOR/COORDINATOR REPORTS

Superintendent – Dr. Amy Dixon

▪ The cast and crew of Matilda received compliments for their recent performance at the Illinois High School theatre festival at ISU.

BELA – Principal Alesha Allen

▪ Spring screening dates have been set. Appointments are being scheduled.

West Side Primary – Principal Scott Dewar

▪ The 100th day of school will be celebrated soon with special activities and events this day. East Side Intermediate - Principal Eric McCollum

Harrisburg Middle School - Principal Debbie McGowan

Harrisburg High School - Principal John Crabb

Special Education - Kim Williams

Technology, Media, Grants, Curriculum – Natalie Fry

▪ The CEO program will offer opportunities for Juniors and Seniors to apply to take this course next school year.

Transportation – Andy Fehrenbacher

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve the Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $4,500,000 General Obligation Refunding School Bonds, Series 2024, of Community Unit School District Number 3, Saline County, Illinois, for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding bonds of the District, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds and authorizing the sale of said bonds to the purchaser thereof. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to consolidate multiple activity accounts into a single account at each East Side School and the Harrisburg High School. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Dowdy seconded the motion to approve the calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of the December 19, 2023 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Smothers, Mr. Dowdy and Mr. Penrod voted yea. Mr. Russell and Mr. Henshaw abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Russell seconded the motion to approve the retirement of Beth Taylor effective the end of the 2023 - 2024 school year. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to approve the resignation of Hannah Proctor as Special Education Paraprofessional at BELA, effective immediately. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the resignation of Roberta Stephenson as Norris City EOC Aide, effective January 12, 2024. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Henshaw moved and Mr. Lambert seconded the motion to approve the request for FMLA of Kennedy Phelps Cockrum. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to employ Hannah Finley as EOC Aide at West Side School. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to employ Zach Pickering as EOC Aide at Norris City Annex. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to reassign Alexa Fulkerson to EOC Aide at HMS from lunchroom aide. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Lambert moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion that student #1608 be expelled from the Harrisburg CUSD 3-Harrisburg Middle School for possession of a weapon at school. The expulsion is for a period of time beginning January 18, 2024 and ending at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 School year. During the period of student 1608’s expulsion from school, student #1608 shall not enter upon school grounds, attend any home or away school event or participate in any school activity of any kind.

The board shall hold the expulsion described in the foregoing in abeyance conditional upon student 1608’s successful completion of the LAB School program. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Henshaw seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. Upon a call of the President for a voice vote to be taken, it was determined the result of said motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/967/hbg3/4030082/1-17-24_Bd._Mtg._Minutes.pdf