West Central Reporter

Carthage Elementary School District 317 Board of Education met June 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Amended Budget Hearing of the Carthage E.S.D. #317 Board of Education was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Board President Luke Burling.

Roll Call: Luke Burling/present; Linda Housewright/present; Dillon Darbyshire/present; Sean Dickerson/present; Derrick Nelson/present; Stephanie Fitch/present; Jacob Murphy/present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.

The Board reviewed the proposed Amended Budget. There were no individuals present wishing to address the Board regarding the Amended Budget.

It was moved by Mr. Darbyshire and seconded by Mrs. Fitch to adjourn the amended budget hearing at 7:05 p.m. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

The regular meeting of the Carthage E.S.D. #317 Board of Education was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Board President Luke Burling.

Roll Call: Luke Burling/present; Linda Housewright/present; Dillon Darbyshire/present; Sean Dickerson/present; Derrick Nelson/present; Stephanie Fitch/present; Jacob Murphy/present.

There were no additional agenda items to add.

Recognition of individuals wishing to speak on stated agenda items: Tim Parrish, Dan Wilcoxen & David Fox from Marine Bank presented their bids for the district’s interest bearing checking account and CD’s that are currently held at Marine Bank. The CD’s are due to mature on June 25, 2023 ($2,300,000.00) and June 29, 2023 ($1,000,000.00).

Administrative Reports – Mr. Day commented on the floor tile installation at the primary school and the progress the custodians have made in each building. The old desks/chairs that are being replaced, will be recommended for surplus in July. Mr. Day has purchased 36” extension arms for 3 of the school buses that will extend when the bus stop sign is out.

Five of the six new buses have been delivered. The sixth bus is waiting on the lift to be installed and should be here in October. We have another lift bus to use in the meantime. Mr. Day provided the board with an email update from BLDD regarding the study they are conducting in regards to construction of a K-8 facility. The Board would like to request the study be completed by the August 16th, 2023 board meeting. Mr. Day handed out a committee assignment worksheet for board members to consider which committee(s) they would like to serve on.

Mrs. Jacoby noted that the students enjoyed a nice field day at the end of the year, and work has started on the playground at the primary school. Mr. Day commented that we will see bills in July for playground equipment and mulch that need to be ordered before the end of the fiscal year.

It was moved by Mr. Darbyshire and seconded by Mr. Murphy to approve the consent agenda as presented. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

School Board Conference - Registration and housing reservations have been made for those who plan to attend. Amtrak reservations will also be made.

School Resource Officer – the board discussed several options and the pros and cons. They asked Mr. Day to provide details of the cost, etc. associated with hiring someone. Keeping the buildings secure was also discussed and Mr. Day will pursue options for the double-doors separating the primary school and Illini West High School.

It was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Dickerson to approve the FY23 amended budget as presented. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

Recommendations to approve the student handbooks for both buildings were tabled until July, pending the addition of verbiage regarding student suspensions.

It was moved by Mr. Darbyshire and seconded by Mrs. Fitch to approve the Middle School girls bathroom plumbing Proposal from Housewright Construction in the amount of $14,200.00, as presented. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Dickerson to approve the Middle School girls bathroom remodel Proposal from Housewright Construction in the amount of $14,705.00, as presented. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mrs. Fitch and seconded by Mr. Dickerson to approve the Middle School boys bathroom plumbing Proposal from Housewright Construction in the amount of $10,800.00, as presented. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Darbyshire and seconded by Mrs. Housewright to approve the Middle School boys bathroom remodel Proposal from Housewright Construction in the amount of $12,900.00, as presented. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mrs. Fitch and seconded by Mr. Darbyshire to approve the pre-payment invoice from Housewright Construction for 50% of the total cost for the Middle School boys/girls bathroom projects, in the amount of $26,302.50, as presented. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Burling to enter into executive session at 8:53 p.m. for the purpose of discussing personnel. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mrs. Housewright and seconded by Mrs. Fitch to exit executive session at 11:36 p.m. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Dickerson to approve the resignation of Chris Newkirk as custodian, effective May 31, 2023. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Darbyshire and seconded by Mr. Murphy to re-hire Jodi Burling as a paraprofessional for the 2023-24 school year, according to the pay scale stated in the contract between Carthage Elementary School District #317 and the Service Employee’s International Union Local Number 73. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/abstain; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 6-0.

It was moved by Mr. Darbyshire and seconded by Mr. Dickerson to approve Deborah Boyles as a paraprofessional for the 2023-24 school year, according to the pay scale stated in the contract between Carthage Elementary School District #317 and the Service Employee’s International Union Local Number 73. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mrs. Fitch and seconded by Mrs. Housewright to approve the summer employment of Jacob Rowland, at the summer custodian contract rate of $14.56 per hour. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Darbyshire to employ Sarah Amschler as a teacher, at the certified contract rate beginning with the 2023-24 school year, pending successful completion of her certified teaching credentials. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes;

Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Dickerson to approve the salary rate of $20.89 per hour for Danielle White as Bookkeeper for FY24. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Murphy and seconded by Mr. Dickerson to approve the salary rate of $20.63 per hour for Cynthia Smith as District Administrative Assistant for FY24. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

It was moved by Mr. Darbyshire and seconded by Mrs. Housewright to adjourn the meeting at 11:42 p.m. Roll Call: Mr. Burling/yes; Mrs. Housewright/yes; Mr. Darbyshire/yes; Mr. Dickerson/yes; Mr. Nelson/yes; Mrs. Fitch/yes; Mr. Murphy/yes. Motion carried 7-0.

 https://www.cesd317.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/62d0750bc6720/23%200621%20Amended%20Budget%20%26%20Regular%20Mtg.pdf