Brown County Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Nov. 20.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The meeting of the Board of Education was held on Wednesday evening, November 20, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Brown County Board of Education Office, 503 NW Cross St, Mt. Sterling. The meeting was called to order by Krupps. The minutes were recorded by Casey Perry.
On roll call, Blaesing, yea; Blakeley, yea; Fullerton, yea; Heinecke, yea; Hughes, yea; Krupps, yea; McCaskill, yea.
In attendance: Roger Ehert, Kris Gallaher, James McKay, Shelly Sheffler, Tracy Conley, Mckenzie Taute, Annie Fullerton, Kris McCaskill, Pollee Craven, Mary Ingram, Chelsea Howard, Cassie Lipcaman, Ashley Behymer, Lynn Tomlinson, Pete Jenkins, Dave Phelps, Chris Measel
Public Comment speakers: Kris McCaskill acknowledged that she along with staff within the district that very much appreciates the work that the Board Education, Administration, Technology and Maintenance provide. Tom Little stated that his relationship with Mrs. Phillips and the Principals has been great. He stated Mrs. Phillips and the Principals do care for their students and staff. Chelsea Howard spoke in response to her concerns about her daughter not receiving the attention she needs to progress in her reading and other learning because of the size of the class. She noted that last year this grade was divided into three sections and this year it is divided into two sections. It is a particularly needy group of children. Lynn Tomlinson added that as a teacher who had this year’s first grade as kindergarten students last year, she knows and understands that they are a very challenging group. She noted that she is concerned about students not receiving the more individualized attention they may need by being grouped together into two sections. She feels that teachers deserve to be able to help all of their students. Cassie Lipcaman stated that there are more and more special needs kids coming and kids who need more one-on-one attention. Mary Ingram stated that regardless of size, you have to look at demographics; class size numbers alone do not tell the whole story. They need smaller class sizes to be able to help with all students, not just special needs. Mr. Krupps addressed the anonymous letters sent to the Board with a reminder that the Board of Education works as a whole rather than one individual member alone. He also reminded the public that there is a process in place for airing concerns by utilizing the chain of command starting with the building administrator then the superintendent and then, finally, the board as a whole. A letter was signed by all board members and presented to the Democrat Message as “Letter to Editor” to be submitted and published in the DM which states the support of the current BCSD Administration and addressed points of interest regarding school district financing, organization and overall management. Superintendent Phillips noted that the class sizes of the current first grade were a point of contention in the general public during the last school year because each section had between 11-13 students in each of the three sections. There were people in the public who spoke despairingly against such small class sizes as a waste of school district resources at that time.
Motion by McCaskill, seconded by Fullerton, to approve the consent agenda, absent Financials.
McCaskill pulled financials from the consent agenda. Moving forward the Board would like for the financial reports to be a separate agenda item with specific notations of year to date expenditures in comparison to the adopted budget.
Roll call: Blaesing, yea; Blakeley, yea; Fullerton, yea; Heinecke, yea; Hughes, yea; Krupps, yea; McCaskill, yea.
Motion carried.
Motion by Blakeley, seconded by Hughes, for a Resolution providing for the issue of not to exceed $2,977,861 of General Obligation School Bonds of the District for working cash fund purposes, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds, and authorizing the sale of the bonds to the purchaser thereof.
Roll call: Blaesing, yea; Blakeley, yea; Fullerton, yea; Heinecke, yea; Hughes, yea; Krupps, abstain; McCaskill, yea.
Motion carried.
The Board discussed with the Elementary teachers in regards to their concerns. Krupps stated that School Board Members are unable to address issues individually. Therefore if there is a concern, it shall be presented to the Board as a whole. Teachers are concerned about communication within their building. Cassie Lipcaman stated an example of the lack of communication is that things are communicated through e-mail rather than face to face. Tom Little knows that staff is overworked, but he also believes that Administrators are hearing their concerns and addressing the issues as best is possible under the circumstances. Mrs. Phillips noted that she recognizes that teaching is very hard in these times and kids are coming to school with more and more issues. Consequently, she has been implementing a variety of options to assist in the greater good of the whole including adding a full-time school nurse, a school counselor in every building, a math specialist at the Elementary School, an additional Title I teacher at the Middle School, and the use of instructional coaches for teachers needing assistance. Pete Jenkins stated that he believes that the problems noted in the anonymous letters that were recently dispersed are due to lack of communication.
The Board discussed the Transfer of the Educational Broadband Service license to Adams Telecom Inc. Kris Gallaher presented a slide show with details of the Transfer. The Board will address at Decembers Meeting.
The Board Tabled the Approval of a Facility Plan for Year 1.
The Board discussed the IASB Resolutions to be considered at the upcoming IASB Convention where Board Member, Dawn Hughes will be serving as the delegate to represent Brown County School District Board of Education.
Administrative Reports: Mrs Phillips recognized Brown County Middle School as recently denoted “Commendable” by the Illinois State Board of Education as reported on the Illinois
Report Card which is the result of the thoughtful and purposeful work of the Middle School Administration, Teachers and Staff plus, of course, students and families. She noted that now all three buildings have reached the status of “Commendable” by ISBE. Congratulations to all for good work and accomplishments!
Motion by Fullerton, seconded by Heinecke, to go into closed session to approve any matter discussed in closed session as necessary including the approval of personnel employment, release, and other personnel items that may require action, and limited to those matters authorized for discussion in executive session by motion of the Board. Closed Session on the following subjects: a) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the School District; h) the placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students; i) pending, probable, or imminent litigation; or other matters appropriate for a closed meeting pursuant to the Open Meetings Act. at 8:13 pm.
Roll call: Blaesing, yea; Blakeley, yea; Fullerton, yea; Heinecke, yea; Hughes, yea; Krupps, yea; McCaskill, yea. Motion carried.
Motion by Blaesing, seconded by Fullerton, to return to open session at 9:53 pm.
Roll call: Blaesing, yea; Blakeley, yea; Fullerton, yea; Heinecke, yea; Hughes, yea; Krupps, yea; McCaskill, yea.
Motion carried.
Motion by Krupps, seconded by Blakeley, to approve the minutes of closed session.
Roll call: Blaesing, yea; Blakeley, yea; Fullerton, yea; Heinecke, yea; Hughes, yea; Krupps, yea; McCaskill, yea.
Motion carried.
Motion by Fullerton, seconded by Heinecke, Employment (Resignations, Hiring’s, Dismissals, Release, Reduction)
Personnel Listing-- November 2019 BOE Meeting
Approval:
Kaitlyn Ealy for National Honor Society Sponsor Garrett Phillips – MS Custodian
Jenna Yingling – MS Head Volleyball Coach
Resignations:
Jessica Flynn – ES Library
Reassignment:
Eric Jones to Dean of Students and MS Special Education Teacher Elizabeth Brand to ES Custodian from MS Custodian
Roll call: Blaesing, yea; Blakeley, yea; Fullerton, yea; Heinecke, yea; Hughes, yea; Krupps, yea; McCaskill, yea.
Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn by acclamation at 9:55 pm.
http://www.bchornets.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/DRAFT-Minutes-NOV19.pdf
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