SE Illinois News

New Hope Consolidated Community School District #6 Board of Education met April 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The New Hope Board of Education met on April 15, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. in the work room of the school.

President Jeremy Vaughan called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M.

Roll Call: 

Present: Jason Simpson 

Dan Devous

Brandon Fry

Ryan Green

Tom Barton

Jeremy Gray

Jeremy Vaughan

Absent: None

Also Present: Britany Pope, Superintendent

Melanie Hill          Debbie Webb

Jonathan Hase     Sara Wise

Tom Barton made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing approval of March 18, 2025 regular meeting minutes, acceptance of the treasurer’s report, and approval to pay bills. Second by Jason Simpson.

Voice Vote: Yea: Jason Simpson, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan

Nay: None Carried

Treasurer’s Report and current financial information. Bank balances as of March 31, 2025:

Fairfield National Bank Checking: $1,793,929.91

IPTIP: $1,079.68

Fairfield National Bank Money Market: $383,725.13

Fairfield National Bank CD: $545,272.21

Debbie Webb thanked the board for allowing her to come back and teach in second grade.

Mrs. Pope presented the Superintendent’s Report: We have a couple of leaks in the roof by the trophy cases and in the computer lab. Kehrer Brothers sent someone out who found a tear and re-caulked in some places. Another leak in Mr. Webb’s room is from a tear in the tin. The hole has been patched but will need replacement. There was no water leakage in the basement during the rain storms. The storm gutters are leaking at the seams and will need replacing. HVAC Phase 2 parts have been ordered in preparation for work in the summer. FOIA requests in your board notes were potentially AI generated. Our attorney gave a template on how to respond to those requests. We conducted our IAR testing last week. School speech contest winners are Jonah DeSanti, Alayna Johnson, and Brielle Curd. Jonah and Alayna will advance to the county speech contest. Statement of Economic Interests are due to the court house. New board member training required and all board members are required to do mandated reporter training. Quick review of quarter 3 expenditure and revenue reports show fund 30 and fund 90 are over budget. This is from the recent sale of bonds and will be adjusted when amending the budget at the end of the fiscal year. Items 9 through 14 are a list of end of year dates. Graduation is Friday, May 16th at 6:00 P.M.

New Business:

1. Jason Simpson made a motion to adjourn the current board sine die at 7:15 P.M. Second by Dan Devous.

Voice Vote: Yea: Jeremy Gray, Jason Simpson, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Vaughan

Nay: None Carried

Jason Simpson left at 7:16 P.M.

2. Jeremy Gray made a motion to appoint Britany Pope as President Pro-Tem. Second by Brandon Fry. There were no other nominees. Nomination passes unanimously.

3. President Pro-Tem Britany Pope called the meeting of the new board to order at 7:17 P.M.

Roll Call: Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Ryan Green, Jonathan Hase, Tom Barton, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan

Absent: None

4. President pro-tem Britany Pope administered the oath of office to board members.

5. Jeremy Gray nominated Jeremy Vaughan for president. Second by Dan Devous. There were no other nominees. Nomination passes unanimously.

6. Ryan Green nominated Jeremy Gray for vice president. Second by Tom Barton. There were no other nominees. Nomination passes unanimously.

7. Jeremy Gray nominated Ryan Green for board secretary. Second by Brandon Fry. There were no other nominees. Nomination passes unanimously.

8. Brandon Fry made a motion to set dates, times, and locations of regular board meetings as 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:00 P.M. during Central Standard Time and 6:00 P.M. during Daylight Savings Time. Second by Tom Barton.

Voice Vote: Yea: Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan, Jonathan Hase

Nay: None Carried

9. Jeremy Vaughan made a motion to appoint Tom Barton as WOVSED delegate. Second by Jeremy Gray.

Voice Vote: Yea: Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous

Nay: None Carried

10. Jeremy Gray made a motion to approve bid for HVAC replacement-phase 2. Second by Ryan Green.

Voice Vote: Yea: Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry

Nay: None Carried

11. Ryan Green made a motion to renew IESA membership for 2025-2026. Second by Jeremy Gray.

Voice Vote: Yea: Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton

Nay: None Carried

12. Tom Barton made a motion to approve consolidates district plan. Second by Jeremy Gray.

Voice Vote: Yea: Jeremy Gray, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Vaughan

Nay: None Carried

13. Ryan Green made a motion to approve dairy bid. Second by Brandon Fry.

Voice Vote: Yea: Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan

Nay: None Carried

14. Jeremy Gray made a motion to pay maintenance grant stipend to Britany Pope. Second by Dan Devous.

Voice Vote: Yea: Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan, Jonathan Hase

Nay: None Carried

15. Ryan Green made a motion to accept Cecily Attebery’s resignation and to advertise for cheer coach. Second by Tom Barton.

Voice Vote: Yea: Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous

Nay: None Carried

16. Jonathan Hase made a motion to rehire coaches and assistant coaches for 2025-2026 with the exception of cheer coach. Second by Ryan Green.

Voice Vote: Yea: Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry

Nay: None

Abstain: Jeremy Vaughan Carried

Jeremy Gray made a motion to enter executive session at 7:31 P.M. for personnel hiring, compensation, and student discipline. Second by Tom Barton.

Voice Vote: Yea: Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton

Nay: None Carried

Dan Devous made a motion to return to open session at 7:55 P.M. Second by Jeremy Gray.

Voice Vote: Yea: Jeremy Gray, Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Vaughan

Nay: None Carried

Dan Devous made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:57 P.M. Second by Brandon Fry.

Voice Vote: Yea: Jonathan Hase, Dan Devous, Brandon Fry, Tom Barton, Ryan Green, Jeremy Gray, Jeremy Vaughan

Nay: None Carried

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