SE Illinois News

New Hope Consolidated Community School District #6 Board of Education met June 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The New Hope Board of Education met on June 17, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. in the work room of the school.

President Jeremy Vaughan called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.

Roll Call: Present: Dan Devous

Brandon Fry

Ryan Green

Jonathan Hase

Jeremy Gray

Jeremy Vaughan

Absent: Tom Barton

Also Present: Britany Pope, Superintendent

Melanie Hill Scott Webb

Jeremy Gray made a motion to approve the consent agenda containing approval of May 20, 2025 regular meeting minutes, acceptance of the treasurer’s report, and approval to pay bills.

Second by Ryan Green.

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

Nay: None Carried

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

Fairfield National Bank Checking: $1,503,137.40

IPTIP: $1,087.62

Fairfield National Bank Money Market: $636,239.82

Fairfield National Bank CD: $545,272.21

Mrs. Pope presented the Superintendent’s Report: IAR/ISA preliminary scores have been released. Science scores were at 88% and 90% meeting or exceeding. 5 Essentials Survey results showed many strong and very strong ratings with ambitious instruction at a neutral rating. AI Summit is on Wednesday. Board goals for next year are mostly the same with the addition of adding mentoring support for teachers. Joint Annual Conference registration is open. Jeremy Gray, Jonathan Hase, Tom Barton, and Britany Pope have been registered. In an update to the building and maintenance and the basement water leak, our attorney is in contact with Baysinger Architects and Bevis Construction and their counsel. We had a minor roof repair over the Science room. A boot came loose and has been patched. We discovered a leak in the mezzanine over the weekend. The leak is from old fittings and not the recent work that has been done. The leak was fixed today. New carpet has been ordered and shipped and will begin installation soon. HVAC work is on schedule for July. Barbre’s Woodworks came out to look at our scorer’s bench. They believe they can make us what we would like to have there. Richard Morgan from the ROE assured us it is just maintenance and not subject to ADA compliance.

New Business:

1. Ryan Green made a motion to abolish working cash fund. Second by Jonathan Hase.

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

Nay: None Carried

2. Dan Devous made a motion to adopt press policy update issue 118. Second by Brandon Fry.

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

Nay: None Carried

3. Jeremy Gray made a motion to approve amended budget for fiscal year 2025. Second by Ryan Green.

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

Nay: None Carried

4. Ryan Green made a motion to appoint Britany Pope as principal authority for the Illinois Funds account. Second by Dan Devous.

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

Nay: None Carried

5. Dan Devous made a motion to approve handbook changes for 2025-2026. Second by Brandon Fry.

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

Nay: None Carried

Dan Devous made a motion to enter executive session at 7:27 P.M. for personnel appointment, employment, and compensation. Second by Jonathan Hase.

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

Nay: None Carried

Dan Devous made a motion to return to open session at 7:45 P.M. Second by Brandon Fry.

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

Nay: None Carried

6. Ryan Green made a motion to approve wages for classified staff for 2025-2026. Second by Dan Devous.

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

Nay: None Carried

7. Dan Devous made a motion to hire Sheryl Eckleberry as paraprofessional for 2025-2026.

Second by Jeremy Gray.

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

Nay: None Carried

Dan Devous made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 P.M. Second by Jonathan Hase.

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

Nay: None Carried 

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