Winchester Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Feb. 11.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education, Community Unit School District No. 1, 149 South Elm Street, Winchester, Illinois counties of Scott, Morgan and Greene, met in regular session on Thursday February 11, 2021 at 6:30 PM in the Winchester Elementary School gymnasium.
President Steve Moore called the meeting to order with the following members answering roll call: Ron Coultas, Bill Jacquot, Shanna Eddinger, Trista Freeman and Steve Moore. Phyllis McGuire and Jody Clanton were absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, 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 Freeman, to approve the minutes of the December 15, 2020 regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Freeman motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
The building administrators reported on student accomplishments and building level activities. Superintendent Blankenship updated the Board on the PRESS policy manual currently being developed as well as the Health Life Safety survey which is underway.
BOND REFINANCING
Coultas motioned, with a second from Freeman, to authorize Superintendent Blankenship to proceed with refinancing options for the current bond. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
SNOW DAY PROCEDURES
In lieu of using an emergency day for certain instances of hazardous weather, the administration plans to utilize ‘remote learning days’. For those full-time employees who cannot perform their duties remotely such as cooks and custodians, their time can be made up and they will not receive any reduction in pay.
MARCH MEETING
A conflict on March 9th with use of the gymnasium necessitated the change of date to Tuesday March 16th.
ATHLETIC TRANSPORTATION
The ‘compressed’ scheduling of athletics will cause transportation issues with the limited pool of available bus drivers. Therefore parents are being asked to provide transportation to and from home games both in Winchester and Bluffs.
SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE
Barriers to returning to regular dismissal time include limited cafeteria space and providing a duty-free lunch period for teachers who must supervise their classes for student lunch periods and also attend to remote students. John Borgens addressed the Board in support of returning to full-day. Dr. Blankenship noted most other area schools are experiencing the same issues, and emphasised the desire to ‘get back to normal’. Further consideration will be given in March, as changes in governmental regulations and guidelines are expected in the upcoming weeks.
GRADUATION DATES
Freeman motioned, with a second from Coultas, to hold 8th grade promotion on Thursday May 27th and graduation on Friday May 28th. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, no; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being four yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS / QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
President Moore asked the status of Freedom of Information requests, and Superintendent Blankenship reported there were none. President Moore asked for questions or comments from the audience, and there were none.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Freeman motioned at 8:20 PM to enter into closed session. Coultas seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Freeman motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to return to open session at 9:19 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was for personnel matters and collective bargaining.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Coultas, to approve junior high volleyball coaches Kelly Mast / head and Krista Kunz / assistant, and volunteer football assistants Brian Van Meter, Jared Plunk and Jeremy Readrdon. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Coultas, to employ Meagan Hettinger as One-on-one LPN Aide.
Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM.
https://www.winchesterschools.net/vnews/display.v/ART/6052457a36a0c
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