Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met February 8.
Here is the minutes as provided by the board:
The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Corey Rheinecker and upon the roll being called, Corey Rheinecker and the following members of the Board of Education answered present: Bert Byington, Angela Craig, Howard Gallois, Kevin Holliday, Kenneth Kempfer and Alan Young. Absent: none. Others present were: Superintendent Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer, Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Principals Jayson Baker, Scott Beckley and Amy Price; and members of the faculty and community and press (County Journal.)
President Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
With no public comment requests for open session, the meeting continued.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the minutes of the January 11, 2018, regular meeting and of the January 25, 2018, special meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll, Cash Flow and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The next regular board meeting will be March 8, 2018, at 7 p.m. at Sparta Lincoln School.
Mr. Baker announced that Evansville Attendance Center’s volleyball team started an I-Can tournament and collected canned goods for the Chester food pantry. The students had NWEA reward parties. A parent meeting was held and several issues were addressed. Each teacher will send home a weekly newsletter. The punch card system has been eliminated. The students have had flexible lunch times since the first of the year. Athletic gear can be stored in the locker room. There will be guests coming to the school to discuss cyber bullying and safety on the internet for the students. Mr. Baker has contacted NASA regarding a virtual astronaut visit. Discipline referrals are down, and positive referrals are up.
Principal Amy Price reported that Sparta Lincoln School will have Anne Marie Garcia as a consultant next week. The teachers have reviewed the math data. They have looked at the learning continuum to improve data. The boys’ basketball team were conference champions. Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams won regionals and competed at state. Sparta Lincoln students will be starting a Kindness Program. They will get weekly lessons on kindness. The PTO spaghetti dinner was a success. The money is used to support field trips.
Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley reported that there will be a College Job Fair on April 25, 2018, with 16 speakers. A College Fair will be set up also. Eighth grade students may come over to take part in that. Preliminary PSAT scores for ninth graders were reviewed. Mr. Beckley is in the process of talking to the architect about the options for the office renovation.
Dr. Schwemmer recognized the following people for the Superintendent Shout Out: Evansville Attendance Center – Stephanie Kisro and Abigail Zweigart, Sparta High School –Sparta Rotary Club and Jonah Boston and Sparta Lincoln School – Andrea Schulein and Isabelle Ware.
Dr. Schwemmer reported on the 2017 Science Assessment. Sparta Lincoln School and Evansville Attendance Center are above the state proficiency level. Camp Invention will be July 16-20, 2018. Seniors that have all of their credits for graduation and have a study hall or free period will get to be a teachers’ assistant at Sparta Lincoln School or Evansville Attendance Center.
Howard Gallois moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to accept the resignation of Brenda York as Maintenance/Groundskeeper for the District effective February 23, 2018. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adopt the Resolution abating the tax heretofore levied for the Year 2017 to pay debt service on General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2015, of Community Unit School District Number 140, Randolph County, Illinois. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mr. Rheinecker explained that the bond issue is paid for by the 1% sales tax for the addition of Sparta Lincoln School. It is funded by levying real estate taxes. If the district does not abate, taxes will go up. The money is in fund 60 to make the payment. It is abated on an annual basis.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to adopt the School Board Policy #2:105 Ethics and Gifts Ban and School District Organization Policies #1:10 School District Legal Status; #1:20 District Organization, Operations, and Cooperative Agreements and #1:20-AP Administrative Procedure – Checklist for Handling Intergovernmental Agreement Requests; and #1:30 School District Philosophy as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington, and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
First readings were held for School Board Policies #2:125 Board Member Compensation; Expenses and #2:125-E1 Exhibit – Board Member Expense Reimbursement Form and #2:125-E2 Exhibit – Board Member Estimated Expense Approval Form; #2:130 Board-Superintendent Relationship; #2:140 Communications To and From the Board and #2:140-E Exhibit – Guidance for Board Member Communications, Including Email Use; #2:150 Committees and #2:150-AP Administrative Procedure – Superintendent Committees; #2:160 Board Attorney and #2:160-E
Exhibit – Checklist for Selecting a Board Attorney; #2:170 Procurement of Architectural, Engineering and Land Surveying Services and #2:170-AP Administrative Procedure – Qualification Based Selection.
Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to enter into executive session at 7:22 p.m. to discuss items related to specific employee performance/hiring and student discipline hearing. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kenneth Kempfer moved, Howard Gallois seconded to come out of executive session at 10:43 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Kempfer, Gallois, Holliday, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the executive session minutes as presented for the January 12 and January 25, 2018, meetings. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Kenneth Kempfer seconded to approve a one-year contract with Jayson Baker as Principal at Evansville Attendance Center with an annual salary of $58,000 for the 2018-2019 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Kempfer, Holliday, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve Tarik Swenson as the Assistant Track Coach at Sparta High School for the 2017-2018 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Kelly Schlueter and Mark Riley as the Honors Banquet Sponsors at Sparta High School for the 2017-2018 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington, and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/copy-of-board-of-education-meeting--1
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