West Central Reporter

Brown County Community Unit School District 1 Board met July 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Board of Education was held on Monday evening, July 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Brown County High School band room. The meeting was called to order by President, Dawn Hughes. The meeting minutes were recorded by McKenzie Taute.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Reische, absent; Wilkerson, yea (via phone).

Attendance: Lan Eberle, Pollee Craven, Alex Ebbing (via phone), Lisa Hannel, Kris Gallaher, Jessica Robertson, McKenzie Taute.

Public Comment: None

Motion by Koch, seconded by Eichelberger, to approve the Consent Agenda. Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Correspondence: Hughes thanked Brown County State Bank for their monthly Affinity Card donation in the amount of $476.49.

Reports: None

Discussion Items:

Building Project: Eberle provided the following building project updates:

• Abatement work is ongoing in the northwest classrooms/hallway

• Abatement beginning in the high school main entrance

• Drywall work continues

• Framing is underway in the northwest IT closet

• Drop ceiling installation is underway in the locker room areas; lighting installation to follow

• Epoxy flooring installation is scheduled to begin in the locker room areas • Hallway locker installation is scheduled for the week of July 28

• ROE occupancy walkthrough is scheduled for July 31

Summer Food: Eberle informed the board that 7,357 meals were served in the month of June by the Summer Food staff.

Next Board Meeting – August 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Motion by Koch, seconded by Ingram, to approve the Following Handbooks for the 2025-2026 School Year:

• Brown County Elementary School

• Brown County Middle School

• Brown County High School/District

• Staff

• Exempt

• Substitute

• Coaches

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Eberle explained that pick up and drop off times for in-town bus stops are still being determined, and further details would be announced in the future.

Motion by Gregory, seconded by Koch, to approve the Implementation of In-town Bus Stops (pick up and drop off) for the 2025-2026 School Year.

• St. Mary School – 408 W. Washington Street

• Brown County Elementary School – 501 NW Cross Street

• Brown County Early Learning Center – 210 Country Lane

• Brown County Fairgrounds – 301 Fairground Street

• Hendricker Funeral Home – 406 S. Capitol Avenue

• Nazarene Church – 400 E. Franklin Street

• Brown County Public Library – 106 SW Cross Street

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Gregory, seconded by Koch, to approve the IHSA HeadStrong Concussion Insurance Plan.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Ingram, seconded by Koch, to approve the First Reading of PRESS Issue 119 Policy Updates:

• 2:80 Board Member Oath and Conduct

• 2:120-E2 Exhibit - Website Listing of Development and Training Completed by Board Members

• 2:130 Board-Superintendent Relationship

• 2:220-E4 Exhibit - Open Meeting Minutes

• 2:220-E7 Exhibit - Access to Closed Meeting Minutes and Verbatim Recordings

• 7:140 Search and Seizure

• 7:300 Extracurricular Athletics

• 8:80 Gifts to the District

• 2:220-E9 Exhibit - Requirements for No Physical Presence of Quorum and Participation by Audio or Video During Disaster Declaration

• 2:240-E1 Exhibit - PRESS Issue Updates

• 2:240-E2 Exhibit - Developing Local Policy

• 1:10 School District Legal Status

• 1:20 District Organization, Operations, and Cooperative Agreements

• 1:30 School District Philosophy

• 2:10 School District Governance

• 2:240 Board Policy Development

• 3:30 Line and Staff Relations

• 4:50 Payment Procedures

• 4:90 Student Activity and Fiduciary Funds

• 4:180 Pandemic Preparedness; Management; and Recovery

• 5:20-E Resolution to Prohibit Sexual Harassment

• 5:270 Employment At-Will, Compensation, and Assignment

• 7:40 Nonpublic School Students, Including Parochial and Home-Schooled Students

• 7:90 Release During School Hours

• 7:130 Student Rights and Responsibilities

• 7:325 Student Fundraising Activities

• 8:110 Public Suggestions and Concerns

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to approve the Destruction of Closed Session Meeting Recordings over 18 Months Old.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Ingram, to Authorize Superintendent to hire BCSD Staff as needed until the August 18, 2025, meeting.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Koch, seconded by Eichelberger, to enter closed session at 5:43 p.m. on the following subjects: 1. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Koch, seconded by Eichelberger, to return to open session at 6:01 p.m. Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Gregory, seconded by Eichelberger, to approve the minutes of closed session.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Gregory, to approve the Voluntary Transfer of Courtney Bereta – Elementary School Paraprofessional to Middle School Paraprofessional – effective beginning of 2025-2026 School Year.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Ingram, to approve the Resignation of Ethan Sefton - Middle School Baseball Coach – effective June 30, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to approve the Refusal to Accept Position for Abbigaile Ealey – Paraprofessional – effective July 21, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Ingram, to approve the Employment of Joseph Feenstra – Chorus Sponsor – effective beginning of 2025-2026 School Year. Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Ingram, to approve the Employment of Paytan Stech – Paraprofessional – effective beginning of 2025-2026 School Year (pending licensure).

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Koch, seconded by Gregory, to approve the Employment of Melissa Barfield – Paraprofessional – effective beginning of 2025-2026 School Year (pending licensure). Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, abstain; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, abstain.

Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to approve the of Employment Nick Vorhies – Volunteer Football Coach – effective July 21, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Gregory, seconded by Eichelberger, to approve the Employment of Jami Schuwerk – High School Assistant Volleyball Coach – effective July 21, 2025. Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to approve the Employment of Alex Ebbing – Interim Athletic Director – effective July 1, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Gregory, to approve the Employment of Belinda Yelliott – Assistant Golf Coach – effective July 21, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea.

Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Ingram, to approve the Employment of Gregory Clayton – Custodian – effective July 21, 2025 (pending successful completion of pre employment requirements).

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to approve the Employment of Rachel Martinez – Support Staff Substitute – effective July 21, 2025 (pending successful completion of pre-employment requirements).

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Gregory, to approve the Employment of Brooke Williams – Substitute Bus Driver – effective July 21, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Ingram, to approve the Resignation of Brooke Williams – Route Bus Driver – effective July 11, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Ingram, to approve the Resignation of Jami Schuwerk – 8th Grade Class Sponsor – effective July 16, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to approve the Resignation of Jami Schuwerk – Middle School Student Council Sponsor – effective July 16, 2025. Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to approve the Retirement of Pam Gregory – High School Custodian – effective August 2, 2025.

Roll call: Hughes, yea; Gregory, yea; Koch, yea; Eichelberger, yea; Ingram, yea; Wilkerson, yea. Motion Carried

Motion by Eichelberger, seconded by Koch, to adjourn at 6:10 p.m. Motion Carried by Acclamation

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