SE Illinois News

Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3 Board of Education met Nov. 19.

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 Tuesday, November 19, 2024, as announced by posted public notice and by mail. The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Billy Smith, Mr. Kevin Dowdy, Mr. Jonathan Russell, Mr. Steve Smothers, and Mr. Nathan Howton. Mr. Brandon Henshaw, and Mr. Ryan Lambert were absent.

The following administrators were present: Dr. Amy Dixon, Scott Dewar, Pam Rizkallah, Brady Mayer, John Crabb, Alesha Allen, Lana Bell, and Jason Varner.

The following Unit #3 staff members were present: Keri Holland, Russell Hunt, Kyle Brames, Jennifer Irvin, Joy Butler, Cindy Potter, Joni Saulsberry, Julie Martin, and Tina Mondino.

The following members of the public were present: Randy Smithpeters, Zechariah Underwood, Bella Teston, and Chris Penrod.

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

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

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss:

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees and those working as independent contractors. Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).

B. Security procedures and the use of personnel for safety.

C. Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

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

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to reconvene in open session at 5:38 p.m. Upon a call of the President for a voice vote to be taken, it was determined the results of said motion carried.

Public Comment – Zechariah Underwood and Bella Teston, High School Speech Students, along with Mrs. Tina Mondino, spoke to the Board regarding the Speech Team and the competitions.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Russell seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the October 15, 2024 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Russell, Mr. Smothers, Mr. Howton, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Dowdy abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Howton moved and Mr. Smothers 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. Howton 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. Howton 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.

RECOGNITION OF DISTRICT 3 SUCCESSES

Superintendent – Dr. Amy Dixon

▪ The district office is working to update and streamline employment data and district processes. We have rolled out new forms and time keeping measures for staff.

BELA – Principal Alesha Allen

West Side Primary – Principal Scott Dewar

East Side Intermediate - Principal Amanda Stone

Harrisburg Middle School - Principal Debbie McGowan

▪ Mrs. Dunn took a group of students to the Little Arlington Cemetery to clean the memorial crosses in honor of Veterans Day.

Harrisburg High School - Principal John Crabb

▪ Progress is being made on the new CTE Building.

Special Education – Brady Mayer

▪ All EOC Aide positions are tentatively filled.

Technology, Media, Grants, Curriculum – Natalie Fry

▪ Recently attended an AI workshop. Will present information to the staff after the new year. Transportation – Andy Fehrenbacher

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the estimate of the aggregate tax levy as presented. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Howton moved and Mr. Russell seconded the motion to approve the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve the Risk Management Plan. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Smothers moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the Executive Session minutes of the October 15, 2024 Regular Board Meeting. On a call of the roll, Mr. Russell, Mr. Smothers, Mr. Howton, and Mr. Smith voted yea. Mr. Dowdy abstained. Motion carried.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Amy Karnes as EOC Aide. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Russell moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to accept the resignation of Jami Weatherly as ES Paraprofessional. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Howton seconded the motion to approve the Medial Leave of Absence for Mary Steinsultz-Jones through January 1, 2025. 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 Emily Randolph and Catrina Butler as Prom co-sponsors. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Howton moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to employ the following EOC Aides. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

▪ Anita Tison – West Side

▪ Priscilla Branham – Norris City Annex

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers seconded the motion to approve Trevor Beere as HMS Volunteer Basketball Coach. On a call of the roll, the motion received a unanimous vote of yea.

Mr. Dowdy moved and Mr. Smothers 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 6:18 p.m.

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