SE Illinois News

Edwards County Community Unit School District #1 Board of Education met Sept. 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., Mark McDaniel, Wayne Doelling, and Jayare Buerster. Also present was Superintendent, David Cowger; ECHS Principal, Dale Schmittler; Kris Duncan; WSGS Principal, Mark Beckel and AGS Elementary Principal/Special Education Coordinator, Carrie Wells. Board Member Jo Rector entered the meeting at 7:07 pm; AGS Jr. High Principal/Building and Grounds Director, Kris Duncan entered the meeting at 7:30 pm; Board Member Kayla Bell was absent and Assistant Principal Joe Rivers was absent.

Motion was made by Jayare Buerster and seconded by Mark McDaniel to approve the following Consent Agenda items:

• September Board Agenda

• Motion to approve the minutes of the open and closed session of the August 20, 2024 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 Report

Doelling, Buerster, Speir, McDaniel and Woods voted yes. Bell and Rector were absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Mark McDaniel and seconded by Wayne Doelling to approve the Bill List.

Doelling, McDaniel, Speir, and Woods voted yes. Buerster abstained. Rector and Bell were absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Wayne Doelling and seconded by Mark McDaniel to approve the Edwards County Community Unit School District #1 Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.

The overall budget has revenues of $12,406,254 and expenditures of $13,363,313 with a difference of $954,059 in the red. This is a bit skewed due to the construction of a bus barn which would be paid for with District Sales Tax Funds.

Speir, McDaniel, Doelling, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Bell and Rector were absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Mark McDaniel and seconded by Jayare Buerster to reject all Bus Barn bids.

Due to higher than anticipated bids, all were rejected. The District will explore other options such as attempting to find a location for a vocational building on campus that would bypass having to construct a new bus barn.

Doelling, Buerster, Speir, Rector, McDaniel and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Discussion and First Reading of the ECHS Curriculum Proposal

The high school is requesting to add a Biomedical Science class to the curriculum beginning with the 2025 – 2026 school year. Lacey Arnold presented to the board and gave an overview of what the class entails.

Presentation of the Annual Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefit Report for the 2023-2024 school year.

This will be placed on the schools website.

Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Mark McDaniel to approve the following field trips over 150 miles:

• ECHS FCCLA to the Ignite Conference in Springfield, Illinois September 29, 2024 – September 30, 2024

Costs of the trip will be charged to the FCCLA and no costs will be incurred by the District.

Speir, Rector, Buerster, McDaniel, Doelling and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Wayne Doelling and seconded by Jayare Buerster to approve the following donations: • Half of the gate proceeds for the ECHS Volley for the Cure game to Wabash General Hospital’s Oncology Department

• A donation over $500 of a JLG Scissor Lift from Walmart DC

Speir, Rector, Buerster, Doelling and Woods voted yes. McDaniel voted present. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Mark McDaniel and seconded by Jayare Buerster to accept P/C/Liability & WC Insurance Bids from the following:

• Workman Compensation – Beazley

• P/C/Liability – Church Insurance Agency/Gallagher/Worthy Insurance Group

The total premium is $147, 818 which reflects a 3.33% increase.

Doelling, Speir, Rector, Buerster, McDaniel and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Mark McDaniel and seconded by Wayne Doelling to suspend the First Reading and Second Reading Requirement and Approve Policy 7:70 Attendance and Truancy

There were no changes to the policy. This was the 2 year review, per ISBE guidelines, and will be submitted to ISBE.

McDaniel, Doelling, Speir, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Rector voted no. Bell was absent. Motion passes

First Reading of the following policies:

Policy 7:60 – Residence

The policy has been revised to allow full time staff to enroll their children tuition free. Formerly, this was handled with a State waiver, however, this is no longer the case and Districts must adopt a policy to allow this continued practice. 

Policy 2:260 – Uniform Grievance Procedure 

The policy has been revised by addressing alleged sex discrimination in the workplace which was added in the “Filing a Complaint” section. Also, a section was added addressing harassment on the basis of race, color, or national origin (Policy 2:270). Finally, language was added addressing whether or not an investigation will be necessary under policy 5:120, Employee Ethics, Code of Professional Conduct; and Conflict of Interest.

Policy 2:265 – Title IX Grievance Procedure There are considerable changes throughout the policy which address new Title IX Federal Regulations. I will highlight the changes at the meeting but I have summarized below: 

• Under the definition of sex discrimination, the definition has been broadened 

• Conditions that will satisfy sexbased harassment as a form of Title IX Sex Discrimination has been broadened 

• General Definitions from 34 C.F.R. have been completely rewritten 

• Title IX Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response in the “Old 2:265 Policy” have been removed 

• Processing and Review a Report or Complaint has added – conduct “that reasonably may constitute Title IX Sex Discrimination” 

• Title IX Complaint Grievance Process has been streamlined as compared to the older version 

• Retaliation Prohibited section completely rewritten

Discussion was held regarding permits for the BOW Solar Project

The District will be required to submit a Building Permit to the ROE and meet any County Ordinances. This will be explored and reported back to the Board.

The Administrators presented their reports on the following:

• David Cowger – Superintendent

Kemper CPA Engagement Notice

Cafeteria Report

Sales Tax Report

IASB Wabash Valley Dinner Meeting

2025 SMPG

IECC Dual Credit Report

• Dale Schmittler – ECHS Principal

• Carrie Wells – AGS Elementary Principal/Special Education Coordinator

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)

• Kris Duncan – AGS Jr. High Principal/Building & Grounds Director

• Mark Beckel – WSGS Principa

Motion was made by Jo Rector and seconded by Wayne Doelling that a Closed Session be called at 8:18 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

• Consider Student Discipline

Speir, Rector, McDaniel, Doelling, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Mark McDaniel and seconded by Jayare Buerster that the Board come out of Closed Session at 8:34 p.m.

Doelling, McDaniel, Rector, Speir, Buerster and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Wayne Doelling and seconded by Mark McDaniel to employ the following for the 2024-2025 school year:

• ECHS Softball Coach – Chris Shelton

• ECHS Assistant Softball Coach – Hayley Kennard • ECHS Baseball Coach – Michael Snidle

• ECHS Assistant Baseball Coach – Nathaniel Schmittler Speir, Rector, Buerster, McDaniel, Doelling, and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Wayne Doelling and seconded by Jo Rector to approve the following Volunteer Assistant Coaches for the 2024-2025 school year:

• Kris Duncan – ECHS Baseball Volunteer Assistant • Christian Cullison – ECHS Baseball Volunteer Assistant

Speir, Rector, Buerster, McDaniel, Doelling and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Jayare Buerster and seconded by Mark McDaniel to employ Nickie Bailey as an Individual Aide for the 2024-2025 school year.

Doelling, Speir, Rector, Buerster, McDaniel and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

Motion was made by Wayne Doelling and seconded by Jo Rector that the meeting be adjourned at 8:24 p.m.

McDaniel, Buerster, Rector, Doelling, Speir and Woods voted yes. Bell was absent. Motion passes

https://cdnsm5-ss20.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_64932/File/September%2019,%202024%20with%20Comments%20.pdf