West Central Reporter

Macomb Community Unit School District #185 Board of Education met Oct. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Board President Jill Myers called the meeting to order in the C.T. Vivian Library at Macomb Jr./Sr. High School. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll was taken with the following members present: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad.

Marshal Jordan, MHS English Teacher, presented his proposal for a trip to Italy for students in grades 9-12 to take place in the summer 2023. He gave an overview of the trip, costs, and fundraising possibilities. He requested the Board allow use of school email and display of posters to advertise and communicate with parents about the trip.

The Board recognized Carl Blome, Senior of the Month for the month of September.

Member Myers advised several members would attend the October 22 Legislative Lunch. Member Adams stated the 2021 resolution committee reports for the Joint Annual Conference are ready and that members should let the Board office know if there are issues they would like addressed in a particular way.

Dr. Twomey reported as follows:

• Construction report – the roof issue has delayed the facility completion date. Construction continues and the framework for the entrance has been put in.

• District Update

o ISBE Meeting – ISBE board and staff will arrive Tuesday morning. They will start the day with a performance by the marching band, followed by tours of the buildings. The meeting will begin at 10:30, with a break for lunch, then continue until 4:00 p.m.

o U of I testing – testing will begin next week. All students and unvaccinated staff PreK 6 will be tested. Grades 7-12 unvaccinated students and staff members will be tested. 

o ROE 26 and 33 have combined resources to create a professional development consortium. They are offering technical assistance with vertical alignment and social emotional learning coaching.

• FOIA Requests – Locallabs requested COVID data from a 7-day period.

• Spotlight: Dr. Twomey recognized Adrienne Graham, 1st Grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary, for writing and publishing a children’s book, “The Color of Friendship”, based on her life experiences. She has since published another children’s book, “Little Sisters are a Big Deal”.

• Macomb Educational Foundation Grant: awarded to Diana Kurasz, Music Teacher at Lincoln Elementary, in the amount of $2,118.94.

• IASB Awards – Dr. Twomey presented Master Board member awards to members Larry Adams and Kishor Kapale.

Member Adams moved, and member Gray seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented, which included the following: Minutes from the September 20, 2021 public hearing re: the 2021-2022 District Budget, Minutes from the September 20, 2021, regular Board meeting, Minutes from the October 5, 2021, special Board meeting, Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Board Report, Bills & Payroll, Financial Update on Life Safety Projects (.05 levy), Monthly Food Service Report, Monthly Activity Account Reports, State Funding Update, and WCISEC Financials. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.

Member Kapale moved, and member La Prad seconded, to approve and hold indefinitely the minutes from the closed meeting held during the September 20, 2021, regular meeting. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.

Member La Prad moved, and member Gray seconded, to approve personnel recommendations as follows:

Certificated Staff:

Request for Leave:

Shawna McLaughlin, Special Education Teacher, Edison Elementary School, request for leave to begin February 9, 2022, with a return date of April 19, 2022.

Mary Ann Severs, Art Teacher, Edison Elementary School, request leave to begin April 1, 2022, and extend through May 26, 2022.

Kara Wright, Speech Language Pathologist, Lincoln Elementary School, request for leave to begin January 31, 2022, with a return date of May 4, 2022.

Employment:

Natalie Goc, Student Support Specialist, Lincoln Elementary School, to be placed at Step 3, Master’s Degree, on the salary schedule, effective October 5, 2021 (replaces Wiechert).

Educational Support Staff:

Release from Duties:

Mykenzi Pemble, Program Assistant, Macomb Junior Senior High School, effective August 27, 2021.

Resignation:

Mindy Baker, Part time Custodian, Macomb Junior Senior High School, effective October 8, 2021.

Murphy Horrell, Custodian, Lincoln Elementary School, effective October 8, 2021. 

Abbie O’Hern, Program Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School, effective October 8, 2021. 

Zakary Piper, Program Assistant, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, effective September 30, 2021.

Change in Assignment:

Tim Sitzes, was Custodian, Macomb Junior Senior High School, now Custodian, Lincoln Elementary School, effective October 12, 2021 (replaces Horrell resignation). 

Employment:

Brett Brown, Custodian, Macomb Junior Senior High School, 40 hours per week, 12-month contract, effective October 4, 2021 (replaces T. Sitzes transfer).

Parris Grace, Program Assistant, MacArthur Early Childhood Center, up to 29 hours per week, student attendance days, effective October 12, 2021 (replaces Whitmer). 

Julia Wormer, Program Assistant, Lincoln Elementary School, up to 29 hours per week, student attendance days, effective October 12, 2021 (replaces O’Hern).

Co-Curricular:

Employment:

Hailea Hadsall, Girls Golf Coach, Macomb Senior High School, Level 5, Split stipend, 30%, effective September 27, 2021.

Emily Henderson, Science Club Sponsor, Macomb Junior High School, Level 8, effective October 1, 2021.

Emily Platt, Junior Class Sponsor, Macomb Senior High School, Level 8, Split stipend, 50%, effective September 23, 2021.

Gretchen Weiss, Fall Play Director, Macomb Junior High School, Level 8, effective October 13, 2021.

Megan Wurth, Assistant Softball Coach, Macomb Senior High School, Level 6, effective October 1, 2021.

Volunteers:

Josh Bryan, Boys Swim Coach, Volunteer, Macomb Senior High School.

Ana Dively, Volleyball Coach, Volunteer, Macomb Junior High School, and Macomb Senior High School.

Gracie Jones, Girls Swim Coach, Volunteer, Macomb Senior High School.

Tatumn Lantz, Volleyball Coach, Volunteer, Macomb Junior High School, and Macomb Senior High School.

Marc Musser, Boys Swim Coach, Volunteer, Macomb Senior High School.

Richard Sample, Boys Golf Coach, Volunteer, Macomb Senior High School. 

Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.

Dr. Twomey presented the official annual audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. He advised the audit process went well and district staff did a great job of providing the information needed. The accuracy of the information provided by district staff was impressive and the resulting audit reports were good. Member Gray moved, and member Adams seconded, to approve and accept the final audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 as presented. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.

Member La Prad moved, and member Torrance seconded, to approve a resolution temporarily transferring the powers of the Board to the Superintendent. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.

At 7:34 p.m., member La Prad moved, and member Torrance seconded, to hold a closed meeting for the purpose of discussing the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), collective negotiating matters, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2), the purchase or lease of real property, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5), security procedures, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(8), student discipline, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9), and pending or imminent litigation, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11). Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.

President Myers noted the next regular meeting of the Board would take place Monday, November 15, 2021 in the C.T. Vivian Library at Macomb Jr./Sr. High School.

The Board returned to open session at 8:49 p.m. Member Adams moved, and member Gray seconded, to adjourn 8:50 p.m. Members voting “yes”: Kapale, Gray, Adams, Torrance, Myers, and La Prad. Members voting “no”: none. Motion carried.

https://www.macomb185.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/779