Southwestern CUSD No. 9 board reviews facility improvements

The school district's Special Olympics Basketball team brought home a bronze medal from State. | File photo

By LocalLabs News Service

Jun 19, 2016

The Southwestern Community Unit School District No. 9 Board of Education met March 15 to review bids for $386,000 in facility improvements.

The Southwestern CUSD No. 9 School Board includes seven members who make employment decisions for the district; oversee the annual budget, tax levies, major expenditures and all other aspects of financial affairs related to the district; evaluate and approve curriculum, textbooks and educational services; establish and support student disciplinary policies; and ensure an equal opportunity educational experience for all students.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the district:

SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 9

Piasa, Illinois 62079

REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES March 15, 2016

The Southwestern Board of Education met in regular session on March 15, 2016 at 7:10 p.m. in the Middle School Gym in Piasa, Illinois. Don Little-President asked Rose Bagley Recording Secretary to call roll showing those members present were: Don Little-President, Tim Baker-Vice President, Steve Reed, Dara Simmons, Mike Wegener, Brad Skertich Superintendent and Rose Bagley-Recording Secretary. Board members Randy Gallaher Secretary and Brad Gillespie were absent. Visitor’s sign-in sheet is attached.

President-Don Little led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment: None

Correspondence and Recognition:

Web Cunningham, sponsor for Toys for Tots, recognized each school in the District and the district as a whole for their outstanding contributions to the Toys for Tots program. The Toys for Tots campaign provided services in Jersey, Green, Calhoun and Macoupin counties with toys for 1,745 children. Of that total, 324 children were served in the Southwestern School District. $3,000 was collected at the Southwestern High School. Coach Hanslow has collected money from his students in PE and then goes and buys toys with the money. He has done this for 8 years and has collected over $8,000 in those 8 years from his PE classes to buy toys for Toys for Tots.

The Board received a thank-you note from the Mia Kessinger Family.

Students were recognized for meeting or exceeding the Illinois standards in Math or ELA on last year’s PARCC testing, High School students that met or exceeded Illinois standards on last year’s PARCC testing in Geometry or Language Arts and High School seniors that received a 24 or better on the ACT test were recognized.

Approval of the Minutes:

A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Mike Wegener to approve the minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting of February 16, 2016.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reed, Little, Simmons, Baker and Wegener

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Dara Simmons to approve the minutes of the Closed Session Meeting of February 16, 2016.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Little, Simmons, Baker, Wegener and Reed

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

March 15, 2016

Page 2

Review and Approval of Bills:

A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Don Little to approve the February Bills.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Simmons, Baker, Wegener, Reed and Little

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Tim Baker to approve the February Consent Agenda Bills.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Baker, Wegener, Reed, Little and Simmons

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Don Little and seconded by Mike Wegener to approve the February Imprest Bills.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Wegener, Reed, Little, Simmons and Baker

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Tim Baker to approve the February Extra Pay and Substitute Pay.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reed, Little, Simmons, Baker and Wegener

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Review and Approval of the Financial Report:

A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Mike Wegener to approve the Financial Report as presented showing a balance in the Education Fund of $2,434,944; Operations and Maintenance Fund of $1,104,531; Transportation Fund of $-94,726 and Working Cash Fund of $1,816,638. Mr. Skertich reported that there isn’t a budget yet in Springfield. We did receive $200,000 last month for categoricals. We received them earlier than we did last year. If we get a 3rd categorical oue budget will end with some surplus. If not, we will be about where we are now.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Little, Simmons, Baker, Wegener and Reed

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

March 15, 2016

Page 3

Committee Reports:

The Facilities Committee met on March 15, 2016. They reviewed the bids for the facility improvements this summer with a total of $386,645 cost. This includes Oil and Chipping the HS/MS/SH/BN Parking lots, Electrical Upgrades at the HS, Window Abatement at the HS and Window Replacement at the HS. They also discussed an issue with the track and a temporary patch was installed with a more permanent fix after the season has concluded. A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Don Little to accept the Facilities Committee Report.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Simmons, Baker, Wegener, Reed and Little

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Superintendent Report:

Employment:

Resignations:

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Don Little to accept the resignation of Angela Hartman, Pre-K Teacher, effective at the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Baker, Wegener, Reed, Little and Simmons

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Mike Wegener to accept the resignation of Steve Stanford, Music/Band Teacher, at the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Wegener, Reed, Little, Simmons and Baker

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Mike Wegener to accept the resignation of Becky Woods, Teacher Aide, at the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reed, Little, Simmons, Baker and Wegener

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Employment:

A motion was made by Dara Simmons and seconded by Tim Baker to employ Sara Nolan, 2 Hour Lunch Recess Monitor, at Shipman Elementary.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Little, Simmons, Baker, Wegener and Reed

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

March 15, 2016

Page 4

Volunteer:

A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Don Little to approve Christopher Gushleff as a High School Soccer Volunteer for the 2015-16 School Year.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Simmons, Baker, Wegener, Reed and Little

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Leave of Absence: None

Substitute List:

A motion was made by Don Little and seconded Mike Wegener by to approve Substitute List #8 as presented.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Ayes: Baker, Wegener, Reed, Little and Simmons

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Enrollment and Suspension Report:

A motion was made by Dara Simmons and seconded Don Little to approve the Enrollment and Suspension Report as presented showing an enrollment of 1505, suspensions at 18 and 0 expulsions for the month of February.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Wegener, Reed, Little, Simmons and Baker

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

District Highlights:

Mr. Skertich reported that the Special Olympics Basketball team brought home a bronze medal from State. The High School Scholastic Bowl team won Sectionals and will be going to State competition this weekend. They will be going against the second ranked team in the nation.

Old Business:

Dara Simmons asked if anything had been done about scholarships for a student for the High School Europe trip and if one could be put in place for the Middle School Washington D.C. trip. Mr. Skertich said there is information on scholarships for these trips and he will get the information to them.

New Business:

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Tim Baker to approve the Southwestern High School Membership in the IHSA for the 2016-2017 school year. There is

no cost for this.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reed, Little, Simmons, Baker and Wegener

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

March 15, 2016

Page 5

A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Don Little to approve the Southwestern Middle School Membership in the IESA for the 2016-2017 school year. The cost being around

$745.00

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Little, Gillespie, Gallaher, Baker and Reed

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Steve Reed to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Honorable Dismissal of Educational Support Personnel.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Simmons, Baker, Wegener, Reed and Little

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Don Little to authorize the Resolution Authorizing Dismissal of Part-Time Educational Support Personnel.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Baker, Wegener, Reed, Little and Simmons

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Steve Reed to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Honorable Dismissal of District Teachers.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Wegener, Reed, Little, Simmons and Baker

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Tim Baker to approve Mesirow Financial for Brokerage Services for Property & Casualty and Workers’ Compensation Insurance.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Reed, Little, Simmons, Baker and Wegener

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Don Little and seconded by Mike Wegener to approve the Roloff Painting Bid for painting the exterior walls at the High School where windows are replaced, with the Superintendent to negotiate with them regarding the payment schedule.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Little, Simmons, Baker, Wegener and Reed

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

March 15, 2016

Page 6

The low bid for the oil and chip was by DeLaurent at $89,705.37. Tim Baker asked if we offer parking permits to every High School student. Mr. Bearley said we do but there are more students wanting them than there are spaces so there is a waiting list. They have looked into making more spaces by using the grassy area into a parking lot but it is very costly and the PE classes use the grassy area in front of the school. A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Mike Wegener to approve the DeLaurent bid of $89,705.37 for the Oil and Chip for the High School, Middle School, Brighton North and Shipman Elementary.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Simmons, Baker, Wegener, Reed and Little

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Tim Baker and seconded by Mike Wegener to approve Camp Electric at a bid of $32,440.00 for the High School Electrical Upgrade.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Baker, Wegener, Reed, Little and Simmons

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Steve Reed and seconded by Dara Simmons to approve Jun Construction’s bid of $232,000.00 for the High School Window Replacement.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Wegener, Reed, Little Simmons and Baker

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Tim Baker to approve Cenpro Services’ bid of $32,500.00 for the High School Window Abatement.

Roll Call vote:

Ayes: Reed, Little, Simmons, Baker and Wegener

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

A motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Don Little to go into closed session at 8:42 pm for “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.”

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Little, Simmons, Baker, Wegener and Reed

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

March 15, 2016

Page 7

At 9:20 pm a motion was made by Mike Wegener and seconded by Tim Baker to go into regular session.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Simmons, Baker, Wegener, Reed and Little

Nays: None

MOTION CARRIED.

Don Little announced that there may be a request for a volunteer for Middle School Softball soon.