Calhoun Community Unit School District 40 Board of Education met July 31.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
A regular meeting, of the Board of Education in Calhoun Community Unit School District #40, consisting of Calhoun and portions of Greene Counties, Illinois was called to order by Board President Luke Fraley, Monday, July 31, 2023 at 5:33 p.m. in the Calhoun Elementary School Library.
Upon roll being called the following board members were present: Luke Fraley, Adam Gerson, Amanda Gress, Hannah Nelson and Angie Tepen. Jackie Baalman arrived at 5:35 p.m. Nate Sagez was absent.
Others in attendance were: Andrea Lee, LeaAnn Klaas, Cheri Burris, Christie Lorsbach, Tara Smith, Karen Baalman, Brian Lee, Riley Caselton, Mark Hillen and Steven Spencer.
A motion was made by Hannah Nelson, seconded by Angie Tepen that the Board of Education approves the agenda inclusive of:
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call of Members
III. Pledge of Allegiance
IV. Approve Agenda
V. Recognition of Visitors, Guests & Public Comments
- To preserve sufficient time for the Board to conduct its business, it is our public policy that each individual may speak for a maximum of 5 minutes unless prior arrangements have been made to speak longer.
VI. Consent Items
a. Adoption of Consent Agenda
b. Previous Board Minutes
i. Regular Meeting – June 27, 2023
ii. Budget Hearing – June 27, 2023
c. Expenditures
d. Financial Reports
e. Activity Accounts Report
f. Transportation Report
VII. Committee and Administrative Reports
a. Calhoun Elementary School
b. Calhoun High School
c. Superintendent
i. District Services/Maintenance Report
VIII. First Reading of Policy #112 Update
• 2:170 - Procurement of Architectural, Engineering and Land Surveying Services
• 4:45 - Insufficient Fund Checks and Debt Recovery
• 4:100 - Insurance Management
• 5:230 - Maintaining Student Discipline
• 7:305 - Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries
• 2:80 - Board Member Oath and Conduct
• 2:80-E Exhibit – Board Member Code of Conduct
• 6:10 - Educational Philosophy and Objectives
• 6:190 - Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
• 6:240 - Field Trips and Recreational Class Trips
• 7:275 - Orders to Forgo Life-Sustaining Treatment
• 8:25 - Advertising and Distributing Materials in Schools Provided by Non- School Related Entities
• 8:95 - Parental Involvement
IX. Action Items Prior to Executive Session
a. Consider Approval of
i. Extra-Curricular & Student Handbooks
ii. Establish Working Cash
iii. Transfer Funds
iv. Hazardous Routes
v. Athletic Schedule
vi. Various Items for Bid
vii. Scoreboard for Bid
viii. Water Agreement with Calhoun Co. Fair Board
X. Executive Session – For the purpose of discussion regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employee(s); legal counsel, collective negotiating matters or deliberations; board vacancies; evidence or testimony presented in a hearing where authorized by law; purchase or lease of real property; sale or purchase of securities, investments or investment contracts; security procedures; student disciplinary cases or any matter involving an individual student; litigation; self-evaluation, practices and procedures, or professional ethics; minutes of meetings lawfully closed; internal control weaknesses, potential fraud risk areas; establishment of reserves, settlement or discussion of claims, loss or risk management information, records, data, advice or communications from or with respect to any insurer of the District. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)
XI. Action Items Following Executive Session
a. Consider Approving Personnel Recommendations
XII. Other Business
XIII. Communication and Announcements
a. August 15 – Staff Returns
b. August 15 – School Board Meeting
c. August 17 – First Day for Students
d. Correspondence
XIV. Adjourn
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carried.
A motion was made by Amanda Gress, seconded by Jackie Baalman that the Board of Education approves items on the consent agenda which includes:
I. Consent Items
a. Adoption of Consent Agenda
b. Previous Board Minutes
i. Regular Meeting – June 27, 2023
ii. Budget Hearing – June 27, 2023
c. Expenditures
d. Financial Reports
e. Activity Accounts Report
f. Transportation Report
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carried.
Reception of Visitors / Public Comment:
Mark Hillen and Riley Caselton was present to give support to a coach.
Mrs. Burris introduced Karen Baalman, new high school secretary to the board.
Principals Report:
Calhoun Elementary School Principal Christie Lorsbach Report
The staff has been working, and with continue to work, with PD instructor Brandy Hempen. She is working with the staff on differentiated instruction. Brandy returned yesterday on July 24 to work with staff on developing their first-quarter plans and/or standard-based assessments.
Online registration update: We still have about half of our student body that needs to register online. If anyone asks, they are more than welcome to come in and we can assist them on the computer to complete the online registration for their child/children.
The building is coming along great with the cleaning and waxing of the floors.
The gym will be closed in the next 2 weeks to have a wireless sound system installed, as well as the floor being redone. It will reopen on August 7 for use.
The Title reports from FY 23 have been submitted and FY 24 is started. We are receiving less money each year through the Title Program since COVID.
A new company, Wagner Photo will be taking photos this school year.
9 new students so far for this school year.
Calhoun High School Principal Cheri Burris Report
The following students will be taking a course through the RISE program: Claire Gould - Criminal Justice / Corrections, Kristen Fester - Criminal Justice / Corrections, Haylee Armbruster - Criminal Justice and Taylor Klaas - Graphic Novels.
Karen Baalman is doing a great job so far as the new CHS Secretary. She has learned much about Skyward and has helped several parents with registration and questions they have.
Renovations continue with the locker rooms.
Ms. Fiene, Mr. Kiel, and Mr. Elmore have been coming into the school and preparing their rooms as well as lesson plans.
Handbook updates for 2023-24 School year:
First of all, I rearranged much of the handbook to make it more organized. I also deleted unnecessary information that can be found on our webpage. I reduced the Handbook from 50 pages to 30. Update Board names, faculty and staff, grade periods. Removal of Pandemic information. Fees and Lunch Fees- update fees. Health information- update with new law requirements “9th graders are required to submit an up-to-date physical exam and dental exam.” Removal of varicella vaccination requirement. Add anaphylactic shock information. Under Cell Phone offenses- add “in Lieu of a detention, a student can choose to have his/her phone removed and taken to the office for the rest of the day. Update course offerings, required courses, Foreign Language information, add Work-based learning information, RISE info, Grown your Own. Family Trips/Vacations: Add to #1: Family Trip request form must be completed prior to trip. Excused and Pre Arranged Absences: G. remove 5-day notice for religious observation (Change in Federal law) add-note needs to specify who the student can ride with if they are not driving. Absences: College visits- add one college visit day for sophomores. (WBL initiative). Student conduct- Book bags are to be kept in lockers and will not be allowed in the classrooms. (this had been removed during Covid)
Removal of Room/location fires, tornados, earthquakes, as this is already posted in rooms. Extracurricular: reduce most of this information, as it is stated in the Extracurricular Code. School Dances: Change from per quarter to per semester. Added Guidelines for Student Distribution of Non-School-Sponsored Publications. Added where to find information on Child Sexual abuse, Grooming and Boundary Violations as well as resources for parents.
Superintendents Report:
A walk through was completed with GRP in the locker rooms. The locker rooms were made ADA compliant but still needs some touch ups.
Library work is continuing. Found that the furniture is very expensive and will purchase a little at a time. The work is completed on the flooded classrooms at CES.
Will add another night for registration for people to come in and get assistance with the process. Brussels would like to start a Golf club with Godfrey/Alton schools.
District Services/Maintenance Report:
The month of July has been very busy with all the projects going on within the district. The library project is nearing completion. Painting is being done now and all the contents can begin being moved back in place. Flooring is currently being laid in the locker rooms. Windows are also being replaced at this time. Both projects are running on schedule for completion date of mid-August. The janitors have been doing a great job of waxing and cleaning floors at the schools and are nearly done with all the floors. There is a new sound system and scoreboards being installed in the elementary gym the last week of July. Hillyard is scheduled to be here on the 31st to refinish both gym floors. Rod has also been very busy catching up on maintenance work that had been let go while he was off. Several projects have been completed and many more are in the process of being completed before school starts.
The new buses have arrived and are being prepped for the start of the school year. Data Tronics installed the 2 way radios this week. Central States is sending out an installer next week to install stop arm cameras on all the buses. They forgot to install them before they were delivered. Adding these cameras to our buses will be very
helpful in identifying and stopping the passing of stopped school buses. Once cameras are completed the buses will be ready for service. Once again we are in need of a couple drivers if anyone knows someone looking for some extra income send them our way.
A motion was made by Jackie Baalman, seconded by Angie Tepen that the Board of Education approves the Elementary and High School Extra-Curricular and Student Handbooks for the 2023-24 school year.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Amanda Gress, seconded by Hannah Nelson that the Board of Education approves to establish working cash fund.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Hannah Nelson, seconded by Jackie Baalman that the Board of Education approves to transfer $175,000 from working cash to transportation.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Angie Tepen, seconded by Amanda Gress that the Board of Education approves annual Hazardous Routes for the District.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Adam Gerson, seconded by Jackie Baalman that the Board of Education approves the Athletic Schedules as presented.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Amanda Gress, seconded by Angie Tepen that the Board of Education approves to receive bids for items at CES and CHS.
Board polled:
absent for vote
Baalman – yes Nelson – absent for vote
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Adam Gerson, seconded by Jackie Baalman that the Board of Education approves to receive bids for the scoreboard.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – absent for vote
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Jackie Baalman, seconded by Adam Gerson that the Board of Education approves an agreement with the Calhoun Co. Fair Board to tap into the new water line with rural water
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries
Executive Session:
A motion was made at 6:21 p.m. by Jackie Baalman, seconded by Angie Tepen that the Board of Education enters into executive session.
For the purpose of discussion regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employee(s); legal counsel, collective negotiating matters or deliberations; board vacancies; evidence or testimony presented in a hearing where authorized by law; purchase or lease of real property; sale or purchase of securities, investments or investment contracts; security procedures; student disciplinary cases or any matter involving an individual student; litigation; self-evaluation, practices and procedures, or professional ethics; minutes of meetings lawfully closed; internal control weaknesses, potential fraud risk areas; establishment of reserves, settlement or discussion of claims, loss or risk management information, records, data, advice or communications from or with respect to any insurer of the District. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made at 7:13 p.m. by Hannah Nelson, seconded by Adam Gerson that the Board of Education returns to Open Session to continue meeting and take any appropriate action.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
A motion was made by Jackie Baalman, seconded by Angie Tepen that the Board of Education approves personnel recommendations as presented for the 2023-24 school year.
Resignation: Katherine Simon, Freshman Volleyball Coach
Vickie Cox, Special Route Aide
Retirements: Rod Hart, Maintenance Director; June 30, 2025
Teaching Hires: Jeannette Johnson, Project Based Learning at CJHS
ESP Hires: Andrea Roate, Paraprofessional
Emily McBride, Paraprofessional
Coaching Hires: Aaron Baalman, JH Boys Basketball
Amy Hurley, Freshman Volleyball Coach
Ann Gilman, HS Softball
Lauren Eilerman, Volunteer JH Softball Coach
Postings: CES Secretary
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
Informational Items:
August 15 – Staff Returns
August 15 – School Board Meeting
August 17 – First Day for Students
Correspondence
With no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Jackie Baalman, seconded by Amanda Gress that the Board of Education adjourns the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Board polled:
Baalman – yes Nelson – yes
Fraley – yes Sagez – absent
Gerson – yes Tepen – yes
Gress – yes
Motion carries.
https://calhoun40.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1-July-31-2023-Regular-Meeting-Mintues.pdf
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