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Carrier Mills-Stonefort Community Unit School District #2 Board of Education met Jan. 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I) Call to Order by: Mr. Scott Figg at 6:46 p.m.

II) Roll Call by: Mr. Clay Nolen

Present: Issac Craig, Rhonda Felty, Derek Field, Scott Figg, Ryan Lewis, Clay Nolen, Katie Whiting.

Absent: None.

III) Recognition of Visitors: None.

IV) Approve Consent Agenda: Motion by Mrs. Felty, 2nd by Mr. Lewis.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

V) Reports

A) High School Principal Report – Mr. Jerrell

Mr. Jerrell reported that the weight of the ice and snow broke the netting at the softball field. Mr. Scott Figg will ask the fire department to help him put the screen back up once the weather clears. We have a leak in the gym roof, which was an area we repaired 2-3 years ago. Vaughn Roofing has been contacted and will repair the roof on January 23. Mr. Doug Emery from BSN will give us a quote for two new backboards/rims, along with two new shot clocks. IHSA will make this mandatory during the 2026-2027 basketball season. The ROE #20 and State Fire Marshals had to cancel their inspection of both buildings due to the weather on January 10.

Mr. Ashton Martin sent the following three options in regards to fixing the potholes in the High School parking lot:

*Alternative 1: Excavate and undercut low lying area where majority of potholes are 2000 sf. Remove and dispose of 75 cubic yards of unsuitable soil that's causing parking lot to fail and settle under rock. Re grade and cut parking lot to get positive drainage flow in this low-lying area. Replace with geotechnical fabric on soil then place 10 inches of 3" bedding stone and cap with compacted 2 inches of CA6. (This will never have a problem again). Estimated cost $12,753.00.

*Alternative 2: Mill up area and recycle all material where potholes exist. Regrade and compact materials and put back just like it was. This will fix the potholes if problem continues over time, you can then reconsider Alternative 1 at that time. This would be my first option and see how it holds up. $2,950.00. We could incorporate one load of dry powder cement dust in this area as well for an additional $1,200.00. This would help stabilize the ground and help bridge any bad areas causing the potholes. Estimated cost $4,150.00.

*Alternative 3: Take small pile of rock that the school has in Parking lot fill in potholes and compact. This will fix potholes temporarily. Estimated cost $700.00. We will use sales tax money for the repairs. The Board would like to go with Alternative #1.

Mr. Jerrell explained that Senior Jace Cochran received a letter from Mr. Brad Nobbe, Vice President of Learning & Precision Ag, that he has been accepted into the Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners (SNP) Career Academy for the Fall of 2025. The SNP Career Academy is a technical school that trains students to work on John Deere equipment and is located in Wentzville, Missouri. Jace will receive free tuition, housing, and a starter tool set. This is a great accomplishment for Jace, because he was selected from a very competitive and talented group of students. Also, Senior Elli Taylor is 125 points away from joining the Wildcat 1,000 Point Club.

Mr. Jerrell also encouraged the Board Members to join us for the High School Pink Out Basketball Game on Tuesday, February 4 vs. Gallatin County. The game will begin at 5:30 pm, we have several events planned for that evening, and all proceeds will go towards the CMSF Pink Out Fund.

B) Grade School Principals Report - Mrs. Kuhlmann

Mrs. Kuhlmann reported that the boiler in the junior high hallway had to be repaired this month. A classroom heater in the K-2 wing has also had extensive issues and has been repaired several times throughout the last few months.

Mrs. Kuhlmann explained that the at the teacher’s in-service on Wednesday, December 4, teachers were informed on the upcoming Christmas events happening at the elementary school. Teachers also discussed the toy drive that student council is sponsoring. Teachers discussed second semester events as well including the upcoming Young Authors Program, as well as the school open house that will be set up as a Wildcat Showcase this year. Star Testing was completed during the week of December 2-6. Students who score at grade level and/or increase their score will receive a donut on December 17. Both the star incentive and the never been absent table have been helpful for increasing star scores and increasing attendance rates. At the recent district leadership team meeting, it was determined only 9 percent of the grade school students are currently truant, which means they have missed more than 9 days. 120 students were rewarded in December at the Never Been Absent Table for not missing a day in the month of November.

VII) Action Items

A) Consider Annual Maintenance Agreement with HSG.

Mr. Jerrell explained that this is the same agreement that we enter into with HSG every January. This service provides the following: 1) Furnish and install new filters for RTU’s four times per year, 2) Clean coils and heat wheels on RTU’s one time per year, 3) Lubricate motors two times per year, 4) Check air conditioning systems in April- all wiring, valves, and controls, and 5) Check heating system in October- all wiring, valves, and controls. We will be billed $625 each quarter, for a total of $2,500. This is maintenance and will be paid for out of the sales tax money. This is the same price and service as the last several years.

Motion: To approve the annual maintenance agreement with HSG.

Motion by Mrs. Whiting, 2nd by Mr. Lewis.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

B) Semi-Annual Review of Closed Session Minutes.

Mr. Jerrell reviewed the Closed Session Minutes from the following Board Meetings: July 15, 2024, August 19, 2024, September 23, 2024, October 28, 2024, November 18, 2024, and December 16, 2024. I recommend we leave the minutes closed for all of these dates. During these meetings we discussed students with IEP’s, student discipline issues, and/or truant students.

Motion: To keep the closed session minutes from July 15, 2024, August 19, 2024, September 23, 2024, October 28, 2024, November 18, 2024, and December 16, 2024 closed.

Motion by Mr. Lewis, 2nd by Mrs. Whiting.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

C) Consider 2024-2025 Sequence of Dismissal List.

Mr. Jerrell explained that we do this each year at this time. This is the list of employees along with the grades/subjects they are qualified to teach, and their grouping number based on the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010 (PERA).

Motion: To approve the 2024-2025 Sequence of Dismissal List.

Motion by Mr. Lewis, 2nd by Mrs. Felty.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

D) Consider Resolution in Support of Vision 2030.

Mr. Jerrell gave the following introduction of Vision 2030:

• At the Joint Annual Conference held in Chicago several months ago, education leaders from five statewide organizations introduced the Vision 2030 blueprint for excellence in K-12 public education.

• Vision 2030 was developed through an engagement effort that included input from more than 1,000 stakeholders, including locally elected school board members, statewide—from the southern tip to northern Illinois. It also reflects input from discussions with local educators who work tirelessly inside and outside of school buildings to improve outcomes for children from all backgrounds across Illinois.

Development of the Vision 2030 blueprint was led by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), Illinois Principals Association (IPA), Illinois Association of School Business Officials (Illinois ASBO) and Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents (IARSS).

• Vision 2030 is rooted in a shared belief that students learn best, and educators teach most effectively, when they feel safe and connected to one another and to their communities.

This is the single most important thing we can do to support both academic achievement and individual well-being—and it is something that has to be considered in our instructional approach, curriculum, student support services, and finances, so that local districts have the resources needed to ensure that our school buildings are safe.

• As you can see from the information in your Board Packet, Vision 2030:

o Provides a roadmap to enhance K-12 public education through future-focused learning, shared accountability, and predictable funding.

o Articulates a shared commitment to putting systems and processes in place that support all school districts throughout the state in sharing what works for our kids and our communities.

o Details plans to advance policy, legislative and fiscal solutions, leverage public resources, and preserve local flexibility and leadership so that the important decisions about curriculum and finances are made closest to home.

• To make a long story short, school districts across Illinois are being asked to express support for the goals and priorities of Vision 2030 by passing a resolution at a public meeting. A copy of this resolution was included in your Board Packet. It is important to note that the ability to demonstrate statewide support for Vision 2020, with more than 90% of Illinois school boards passing a similar resolution, was critical to generating legislative support for the passage of the Evidence-Based Funding formula. Vision 2020 also included enhancements to teacher recruitment policies, college and career readiness initiatives and the development of Illinois Balanced Accountability System, which establishes standards for K-12 student performance and school improvement in Illinois. These accomplishments have had a significant positive impact on both our finances and ability to more effectively support student success.

Motion: To approve the Resolution in Support of Vision 2030.

Motion by Mr. Craig, 2nd by Mrs. Felty.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

E) Consider Amended School Calendar for 2024-2025.

Mr. Jerrell explained that due to the winter storm that went through our region at the beginning of this month, we were unable to have school January 6-13. We will use our 5 Emergency Days and 1 Act of God Day. The last day of school will now be Friday, May 31.

Motion: To approve the Amended School Calendar for 2024-2025.

Motion by Mrs. Whiting, 2nd by Mr. Lewis.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

F) Consider Intergovernmental Agreement with Southern Illinois School District Cooperative Buying Group (SISDCB).

Mr. Jerrell explained that Mrs. Kim Nesler, the principal consultant for the Nutrition Department of the Illinois State Board of Education, just completed our cafeteria audit. She made us aware of a cooperative we can join, free of charge, that will help us secure better pricing for our bread, fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, paper products, and milk. The co-op will solicit bids for the group, give us the best prices, and we can decide if we want to use that company or not. Basically, instead of a company giving us a bid for our 450 students, as part of a co-op, we get pricing for 1,500-2,000 students, which is cheaper. After speaking with the head of the co-op, Mrs. Sarah Cluck, Mr. Jerrell would like for us to join this as well.

Motion: To approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Southern Illinois School District Cooperative Buying Group (SISDCB).

Motion by Mrs. Whiting, 2nd by Mrs. Felty.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

VIII) Non Action Items

A) Statement of Economic Interest Form.

Mr. Jerrell explained that each year the Saline County Clerk/Recorder asks us to complete a Statement of Economic Interest form. These must be submitted to the Saline County Clerk’s Office no later than February 1.

B) Greater Egyptian Conference Update.

Mr. Jerrell provided a brief history and update of the Greater Egyptian Conference. The Greater Egyptian Conference, the GEC, was established in 1948. Carrier Mills-Stonefort joined the GEC around 1987. Currently, the GEC has 8 teams (Carrier Mills-Stonefort, Crab Orchard, Galatia, Gallatin County, Hardin County, NCOE, Pope County, and Thompsonville). Last year, Cobden and Elverado were interested in joining the GEC. During last year’s GEC Winter Meeting, a vote was held to consider the additions of Cobden and Elverado to the Greater Egyptian Conference. The vote was 4-4, so the motion did not pass. The four schools that voted “NO” (Gallatin County, Hardin County, NCOE, and Pope County) said that the distance to the schools was an issue, they did not want to make the GEC Tournament a 10-team tournament which would only guarantee you one game, and they feel the GEC is fine the way it is.

This year we started all conference basketball games at 5:30 pm. At the Winter Meeting, we discussed moving all basketball and volleyball games to a 5:00 pm start time for next year. A vote was held and the motion did not pass. Several schools voiced concerns over only having one gym (which hurt practice schedules), trouble getting bus drivers for an earlier start time, and difficulty with officials showing up on time.

Next, we voted on a motion to play all conference teams twice in volleyball. Currently, we play all conference teams twice in baseball, basketball, and softball. In fact, until this year, we also played all conference teams twice in volleyball. Like last year’s vote to add two teams to the GEC, the vote was 4-4, with the same schools voting the same way, and we will only play conference teams (NCOE) one time in volleyball. Also, a conversation was started in regards to eliminating the GEC Tournament at SIC after this year. This will be voted on at the Fall GEC meeting in August. Finally, we discussed updating the GEC Constitution and By-Laws.

Mr. Jerrell asked the Board if they had any questions or concerns in regards to the Greater Egyptian Conference? The Board requested that Mr. Jerrell look into providing them with other options in regards to the conference moving forward.

C) February Board Meeting: February 24, 2025 at 6:45 pm.

Mr. Jerrell reminded the Board that due to the Presidents’ Day holiday on February 17, the February School Board meeting will be held on the fourth Monday instead of the third Monday.

IX) Closed Session

Closed Session

Motion to move to closed session at 7:16 pm for #1, 2, 9, 10, and 14 from the closed meetings act (see attached) by Mrs. Whiting, 2nd by Mr. Craig.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

Move to Closed Session Minutes

Motion to return to open session at 8:14 pm by Mrs. Felty, 2nd by Mr. Lewis.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

Motion to approve the closed meeting minutes as read by Mr. Lewis, 2nd by Mrs. Felty.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

X) Action on Closed Session Items

A) Motion: To accept the resignation of Ms. Hailey Gwaltney as a Grade School Paraprofessional.

Motion by Mr. Lewis, 2nd by Mrs. Whiting.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

B) Motion: To hire Mrs. Allie Fugate as a Grade School Paraprofessional.

Motion by Mr. Lewis, 2nd by Mr. Figg

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

C) Motion: To approve the Administrators’ Contracts for the 2025-2026 school year

Motion by Mr. Lewis, 2nd by Mr. Nolen.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Nolen.

Nay: Mr. Field and Mrs. Whiting.

Absent: None.

D) Motion: To approve Mr. Eric Wolf and Mr. Brandon Munoz-Steele as volunteer 5th/6th grade basketball coaches, Ms. Ary Guyton as a volunteer Jr. High volleyball coach, Mr. David Betz and Mr. Jerry Choat as volunteer High School baseball coaches, and Mr. Marc Hutchison and Mrs. Leia White as volunteer High School softball coaches for the 2024-2025 school year.

Motion by Mr. Lewis, 2nd by Mr. Nolen.

Roll Call By: Mr. Nolen.

Aye: Mr. Craig, Mrs. Felty, Mr. Field, Mr. Figg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nolen, Mrs. Whiting.

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

XI) Adjourn

Motion: To Adjourn at 8:22 p.m. by Mrs. Felty, 2nd by Mr. Lewis.

Voice Vote: All approved Motion Passed

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