Winchester Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met May 15.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
President Steve Moore called the meeting to order with the following members answering roll call: Ron Coultas, Steve Weder, Phyllis McGuire, Trista Freeman, Jody Clanton, Joe Little and Steve Moore. Also present were Superintendent David C. Roberts, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, WGS Principal Andy Stumpf, District Bookkeeper Angie Slagle and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
Minutes / Financials:
Coultas motioned, with a second from McGuire, to approve the minutes of the April 10th regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Coultas motioned, with a second from Weder, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Administrators Reports:
The principals provided an update on student activities and accomplishments as well as a report of upcoming events. Mr. Stumpf introduced Megan Hurrelbrink, who thanked the Board for hiring her as an elementary teacher last month. Mr. Roberts indicated he will be approving employee tuition request waivers for six students for the 2018-2019 school term.
Marching Band Eligibility:
Little motioned to consider both band and choir activities as ‘curricular’, and thus not subject to the same academic eligibility requirements as extra-curricular activities. Coultas seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, no; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
2018-2019 WHS Handbook:
Freeman motioned to approve the WHS handbook changes, with a second from Little. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, abstain; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being six yeas, one abstention and no nays, the motion passed.
IASB Presentation:
Larry Dirks from the Illinois Association of School Boards presented information regarding their strategic planning options. Options include a single meeting, all-day Saturday sessions or customization, with prices generally ranging from $400 to $3,000 on a time and materials basis.
WHS Lighting Project:
Brian Frericks from QFB Energy, the district’s current electricity supplier, provided information regarding upgrading all lights to LED with no out-of-pocket cost to the district. He indicated monthly energy savings from the changes would be be used to offset the work for five years, after which the district should see a decrease in the monthly electric bills. Coultas motioned, with a second from Weder, to approve the project for completion this summer. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman,no; Clanton, no; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and two nays, the motion passed.
NSIL Training:
Coultas motioned, with a second from Weder, to grant approval for six teaching staff members to participate in the NSIL Training which is scheduled to begin in February 2019. The program is funded by the Tracy Family Foundation and the district will provide time out of the classroom and transportation. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Easement Modification:
Little motioned, with a second from McGuire, to approve modification of the utility easement agreement with the City of Winchester to allow for placement of the Cougar Boosters football field bleachers. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, no; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, no; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and two nays, the motion passed.
WGS Handbook Changes:
A first reading of changes to the 2018-2019 handbook was conducted, with action slated for June.
PAT Playground Project:
The PAT has a plan to make the current WGS playground handicap accessible, as well as to provide a pathway to the playground, at an estimated cost of approximately $60,000. They have earmarked $25,000 to the project at this time, and are still awaiting word on additional funds, with hope the District will also contribute. Clanton motioned to grant approval for the project, and to finalize funding sources at the June meeting. Little seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Freedom Of Information Requests / Questions/Comments:
President Moore asked the status of any outstanding Freedom of Information requests, and Superintendent Roberts reported there were none. President Moore asked for questions or comments from the audience, and Darin Buhlig, president of the ESP union, suggested a May 30th / 31st date to begin contract bargaining. The meeting was set for 1:00 PM on May 30th.
Executive Session:
Clanton motioned at 9:36 pm to enter into executive session for personnel and student discipline matters. McGuire seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Clanton motioned at 10:47 pm to return to open session, with a second from Freeman. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Personnel Action:
Little motioned, with a second from Clanton to accept resignations of Jennifer Sellars, Sheila Killebrew and Sam Decker, as well as rescinding employment offer to Clayton Rothe due to his failure to accept. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Little motioned, with a second from McGuire, to employ Krista Kunz as WHS Business teacher and Kalli Fuhler as WGS Special Education teacher. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Little motioned, with a second from Freeman, to employ bus drivers Rusty Monroe and Cory Suhre, and Norvin Adams as technology coordinator/bus driver contingent upon receipt of a school bus license. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Little motioned, with a second from Clanton, to employ summer help; Melinda Waid/custodian, Bruce Williams/student grounds worker, and Grant DeWitt/part-time grounds worker. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Little motioned, with a second from Freeman, to re-employ basketball coaches Ryan Sichting, Brian Bettis, Jason Likes and Grant DeWitt. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, no; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
Little motioned, with a second from Coultas, to grant a 5% retirement bonus for David Roberts. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Little motioned, with a second from Coultas, to accept the retirement notice of David Roberts effective June 30, 2019. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Weder, yea; McGuire, yea; Freeman, yea; Clanton, yea; Little; yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Announcements / Adjournment:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:53 pm.
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