SE Illinois News

Fairfield Public School District 112 Board of Education met Dec. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of Fairfield Public School District No. 112, Wayne County, Illinois, held in the District Board Room, 200 West Center, Fairfield, Illinois, on Monday, December 16, 2024.

AGENDA #1 – Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M. by President Amy Sager, who directed the Secretary to call the roll.

AGENDA #2 – Roll Call – The Secretary called the roll and the following members answered to their names as called and were found to be present:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones

Members absent: Erica Burris

There being a quorum present, the President declared the Board of Education to be in session for the transaction of business.

OTHERS PRESENT: Rhonda Clark, Center Street Principal; April Smith, North Side Principal; Jayzale O’Neal, Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach; Meredith Flanagan, Citizen

AGENDA #3 – Board Vacancy

3.1 A motion was made by member Jason McCulley to appoint Caleb Higginbotham to the Board of Education to fulfill a partial term until 2025. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

3.2 Oath of Office – Caleb Higginbotham completed the Oath of Office.

AGENDA #4 – Roll Call – The Secretary called the roll and the following members answered to their names as called and were found to be present:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

There being a quorum present, the President declared the Board of Education to be in session for the transaction of business.

AGENDA #5 – Citizens Non-Agenda Items

5.1 Jayzale O’Neal spoke to Board regarding a move-in joining the basketball team

5.2 Meredith Flanagan asked the Board to allow her son to join the basketball team

AGENDA #6 – Approval of Minutes

6.1 A motion was made by member Brandon Berghaus that the Board of Education minutes for the Regular and Closed Session Meetings held Monday, November 18, 2024 be approved as prepared and made available to all Board of Education members. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #7 – Financial Reports

7.1 Treasurer’s Report – The Treasurer’s Report, dated November 30 2024 was presented as follows:

Education Fund $2,470,657.17

Building Fund $994,607.19

Debt Services Fund $115,437.89

Transportation Fund $210,237.15

IMRF Fund $626,541.67

Capital Projects $0.00

Working Cash Fund $1,355,371.43

Tort Fund $585,439.09

Fire Prevention/Safety Fund $289,259.83

Total $6,647,551.42

There being no additions or corrections, the President declared the Treasurer’s Report will stand approved as presented.

7.2 Payroll – Member Jason McCulley made a motion that the salaries for the District for the month of December be approved and ordered paid. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

7.3 Monthly Bills – Current bills, as listed, were presented for payment. After examination of the listed bills, member Jason McCulley made a motion to approve the bills for payment. The motion was seconded by member Brandon Berghaus, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #8 – Superintendent’s Report

8.1 Revenue to Expense Report

8.2 Food Service Report

8.3 Transportation Report

8.4 Second Reading of PRESS Policy 117

8.5 FY25 Tax Levy

8.6 Bleacher Inspection Report

8.7 Cardiac Response Plan

8.8 Vision 2030

AGENDA #9 – Action Items

9.1 A motion was made by member Amy Sager to approve PRESS Policy 117 as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

9.2 A motion was made by member Brandon Berghaus to approve the Tax Levy as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

9.3 A motion was made by member Amy Sager to approve the Cardiac Response Plan as presented. The motion was seconded by member Jason McCulley, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #10 – Principals’ Reports

10.1 Center Street

• Basketball has been in full swing. We will wind down basketball season in January.

• The Coltbacker Tournament was a huge success. The final totals are not in yet, but it is estimated that they made over $5000 over the weekend.

• We will have a pink-out basketball game on Monday, January 13th. The proceeds will go to Stacey Robbins as she continues her battle with cancer.

• We had a coin drive as well for Stacey and collected $1538. Coltbackers matched this total.

• Winter benchmark math and reading testing is complete. We are meeting tomorrow, but the scores look good.

• The 4th and 5th Grade Christmas program was held last Wednesday night. The kids did a great job.

• The 5th through 8th-grade band and choir program will be at Center Street this Wednesday, the 18th, at 6:00.

• Two fourth-grade students were chosen in our character incentive program to have lunch with the principal. I took them last week. I have two fifth graders who were supposed to go but were sick. I will catch them later this week or when we come back from break.

• The girls’ basketball 8th grade night will be Tuesday, January 7th. 8th grade band and choir members will be recognized on the same night.

• We had our crisis drill at Center Street with Officer Hopper and Chief Colclasure. It went well. There are a few changes that need to be made.

• FCHS will be here in January to register the 8th graders for classes. Jostens will also be here to measure for caps and gowns.

• This month Beta Club wrapped gifts for the Rotary Christmas Party. This included 32 children plus their siblings. On December 6th, the Beta Club had its annual Christmas Tree Angel shopping trip. Beta Club sponsored ten children. Members were able to spend $100 on their angels. The members enjoyed shopping and wrapping the gifts for their angels. Beta Club also made gift bags with snacks, lotion, and chapstick for the residents of Aperion. They also made a wreath to put on the resident's doors.

10.2 North Side

• Christmas programs were a success.

• Programs: Rotary Christmas, Donations for the Wayne County Humane Society, Guest Readers, and staff fundraiser.

• Title meetings and looking at growth from fall to winter in Benchmark – 10% more growth from this time last year.

• PTO – Santa Shop and Breakfast with the Grinch

AGENDA #11 – Board Members Request/Report

AGENDA #12 – Closed Session to Discuss Information Regarding Appointment, Employment, Retirement or Dismissal of an Employee, Labor Relations, Collective Negotiations, Litigation, Public Office Vacancy and Student Discipline (5ILCS 120/2a)

12.1 A motion was made by member Jamie Jones that the Board enter Closed Session at the hour of 6:58 P.M. The motion was seconded by Jessica Oliver, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jessica Oliver, Jason McCulley, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

12.2 A motion was made by member Jason McCulley that the Board end the Closed Session at the hour of 7:19 P.M. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jason McCulley, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #13 – Action Items

13.1 A motion was made by member Brandon Berghaus to hire Julie Hutson and Kelsey Brendal as long-term substitutes for the month of January. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jason McCulley, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

13.2 A motion was made by member Jason McCulley to accept the resignation of Ashley Rutherford as Paraprofessional. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jason McCulley, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

AGENDA #14 – Informational Items – None

AGENDA #15 – Adjournment – A motion was made by member Jason McCulley that the meeting adjourn at 7:26 P.M. The motion was seconded by member Jamie Jones, and on a roll call vote the following members voted yea:

Amy Sager, Jason McCulley, Jessica Oliver, Brandon Berghaus, Jamie Jones, Caleb Higginbotham

Members absent: Erica Burris

The President declared the motion passed.

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