South West Illinois News

DuQuoin Community Unit School District 300 Board of Education met March 17.

Here are the minutes as provided by DuQuoin CUSD 300:

March 2016 Board of Education Meeting Minutes

Larry Valier – PRESIDENT 

Paul Brock -VICE- PRESIDENT

John Vancil - SECRETARY        

Dennis Cole - BOARD MEMBER             

Luke Davison – BOARD MEMBER

Karen Williams – BOARD MEMBER

Mark Woodside – BOARD MEMBER

The opening prayer was given by Rev. Erin Totten, Pastor of the Sunfield United Methodist Church representing the DuQuoin Ministerial Alliance. 

1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by President Larry Valier.

2. ROLL CALL: Present – Davison, Valier, Vancil, Williams, and Woodside; Absent – Cole and Brock

3. RECOGNITION: 

he Superintendent shared items of recognition of students and staff as submitted by the building principals.

4. CONSENT AGENDA:   

A motion was made by Davison, seconded by Williams to approve the consent agenda. Roll Call: Yea – Davison, Williams, Woodside, Valier, and Vancil; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.   

a. Approval of the minutes of the February 18, 2016 regular Board of Education meeting (including executive session minutes);    

b. Approval of the suspensions imposed by each school’s administration;    

c. Approval of the annual renewal of IHSA membership for DuQuoin High School;

5. FINANCIAL ITEMS:   

 A motion was made by Woodside, seconded by Davison to approve of the payment of bills for February 2016 and the February 2016 financial report. Roll Call: Yea – Woodside, Davison, Valier, Vancil, and Williams; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.6. 

PUBLIC HEARING:   

a. DEA Representative –Jean Ann Mathis, on behalf of the DEA, spoke to the Board about how well the recent negotiation session between the DEA and Board has progressed and looked forward to the next negotiation session on April 4th.   

b. Public – Monte Kuhnert addressed the Board regarding a request to retire the jerseys of former DHS football and basketball player Nick Hill. After consideration of the request, a motion was made by Woodside, seconded by Davison to approve the retirement of the high school football and basketball jerseys of Nick Hill. Roll Call: Yea – Woodside, Davison, Valier, Vancil, and Williams; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.         

-John Alongi Jr., representing the Perry County Soccer Association addressed the Board regarding a request for soccer to become a high school affiliated club sport. After discussion of the request, the Board directed representatives of the Perry County Soccer Association to meet with the High School Principal and Athletic Director to further discuss and address items relative to the proposal with approval of the request to be formally considered at the next Board meeting.

7. NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS:   

a. A motion was made by Woodside, seconded by Davison to adopt the 2016-2017 school year calendar as recommended by the DEA calendar committee (as per attached calendar). The 2016-2017 school year will begin with a two day Teacher’s Institute on Monday, August 15, 2016 and Tuesday, August 16, 2016 with the first student day of attendance being Wednesday, August 17, 2016. The 2016 school year calendar will end tentatively Wednesday, May 31, 2017 being the last day of student attendance and a Teacher’s Institute day on Thursday, June 1, 2017. Roll Call: Yea – Woodside, Davison, Valier, Vancil, and Williams; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.   

b. The District Business Manager shared information regarding the updating of the district’s risk care management plan. A revised plan will be submitted to the Board for their approval at the regular April Board meeting.   

c. A motion was made by Williams, seconded by Woodside to set the middle school promotion and high school graduation dates with the middle school promotion ceremony taking place on Friday, May 20, 2016 and the high school graduation ceremony taking place on Saturday, May 21, 2016. Both events will begin at 6:30 p.m. and be held at the DuQuoin State Fairground Grandstand. Roll Call: Yea – Williams, Woodside, Davison, Valier, and Vancil; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.  

d. The Superintendent shared information relative to amending the current school year district budget. A motion was then made by Williams, seconded by Davison to grant approval to the administration to prepare an amended budget and a hearing notice for the amended budget. The amended budget will be on file beginning April 19, 2016 with the amended budget hearing and formal approval to occur on May 19, 2016. Roll Call: Yea – Williams, Davison, Valier, Vancil, and Woodside; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.

8. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Williams, seconded by Woodside to enter into executive session at 7:15 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees and matters of collective bargaining. Roll Call: Yea – Williams, Woodside, Davison, Valier, and Vancil; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.   

-A motion was made by Davison, seconded by Valier to return to regular session at 9:13 p.m. Roll Call; Yea – Davison, Valier, Vancil, Williams, and Woodside; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.9. 

 RESIGNATION:   a. A motion was made by Davison, seconded by Williams to accept the resignation of Jo C. Dill as a High School Mathematics Teacher effective at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Roll Call: Yea – Davison, Williams, Woodside, Valier, and Vancil; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.10. 

EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL:  

a. A motion was made by Williams, seconded by Davison to re-employ all 1st, 2nd, 3rd year certified probationary continued contractual certified staff (as per attached); grant tenure to Brittnie Kellerman, Shaneille Piper, and Sandy Stanhouse; and re-employ all tenured certified staff for 2016-2017 school year. Roll Call: Yea – Williams, Davison, Valier, Vancil, and Woodside; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.   

 b. A motion was made by Woodside, seconded by Williams adopt an annual reduction-in-force resolution for certain extra-curricular positions held by non-DEA members in accordance with the contract between the DuQuoin Education Association and Board of Education (as per attached). Notices will be provided to the following non-DEA member employees: Justin Barrington – H.S. Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, Wade Crews – H.S. Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, Bailey Caldwell – H.S. Assistant Girls Softball Coach, Megan Taylor – H.S. Indianette Sponsor, Noah Coleman – H.S. Speech Team Coach/Play Director, Aaron Wright – M.S. Boys Basketball Coach and 5th/6th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, and Erica Cowan – E.S. Student Assistance Program Coordinator. Roll Call: Yea – Woodside, Williams, Davison, Valier, and Vancil; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.   

c. A motion was made by Williams, seconded by Davison to employ Amanda Pursell as an Elementary School Instructional Aide for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year. Roll Call: Yea – Williams, Davison, Valier, Vancil, and Woodside; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.

1. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Davison, seconded by Valier to adjourn at 9:16 p.m. Roll Call: Yea – Davison, Valier, Vancil, Williams, and Woodside; Nay – none. Motion carried 5-0.