South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met April 12.

Here is the minutes 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 community, faculty and press (County Journal.)

President Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

With no public comment requests for open session, the meeting continued.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2018, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig 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 May 10, 2018, at 7 p.m. at Sparta Lincoln School.

Jayson Baker of Evansville Attendance Center reported that student Alissa Fernandez placed second for sixth grade in the 2018 Poetry Contest at SWIC. The girls track team placed first in the OVC conference track meet. PARCC testing is underway. The Illinois Science Assessment testing will be next week. NWEA testing will be right after that. The paraprofessional position is still open. The volleyball team won regionals.

Principal Amy Price met with Perandoe to discuss the self-contained special education classroom. Mrs. Price thanked the Board of Education for allowing the district employees to work with consultants this year. They have been a great help. Sparta Lincoln School band and chorus placed first in a district competition.

Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley reported that Adrienne Carril will be competing in the state math team competition at the University of Illinois. Eleven new members were inducted into the National Honor Society. The 14-passenger bus took for forty trips this year.

Dr. Schwemmer recognized the following people for the Superintendent Shout Out: Evansville Attendance Center – Kevin Drake and Jacob Huether; Sparta High School –Talesha Brooks and Sarah Renner; Sparta Lincoln School – Sharon Holland and Zachary Hayes.

Dr. Schwemmer also recognized the Evansville Attendance Center volleyball team for winning regionals.

There are nine students at the high school that have committed and signed with a post-secondary institution. They have started a board at Sparta High School and those students have their pictures on the board. Dr. Schwemmer hopes the number will double next year. High school students will be given post-secondary portfolios to keep records of their school awards and community involvement.

The comptroller has released $315,000. Sparta District is expected to get $560,000. There are four tiers. Sparta District 140 is in tier 1 which means the district is not adequately providing for the students.

Dr. Schwemmer wrote a grant for healthy schools in the amount of $33,000. That money would go toward training the staff on trauma reform and resilience training.

Dr. Schwemmer would like to start an archive of historical Sparta District 140 items. She received a yearbook and diploma from 1929. She would appreciate if anyone has anything they would like to donate.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to accept the resignation of Jonelle Reynolds as Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School effective August 2, 2018. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Building Budget Requests for FY19 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the preliminary calendar for the 2018-2019 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: Kempfer. Motion carried.

The first day for students will be August 15, 2018. With the five snow days, the last day of school will be May 29, 2019.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the amended calendar for the 2017-2018 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the Sparta Lincoln Science Club overnight trip to Waterloo, Illinois, on May 4-5, 2018. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Quadrant Architects presented the results for the bids for Evansville Attendance Center gymnasium flooring, Sparta High School office renovation and Sparta Lincoln School flooring. The Health/Life Safety amendment for the gymnasium flooring will need to be amended. The office renovation and flooring will be paid with TIF funds. The bids will be presented again at a special meeting to be held on April 25, 2018, at the District Office.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adopt the English/Language Arts curriculum for grades K-8 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to approve the Deficit Reduction Plan for the FY2019, FY2020 and FY2021 years. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Alan Young seconded to adopt the 2018-2019 Notice of Regular Meeting Dates as amended. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Young, Byington, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The meetings will all be held at Sparta Lincoln School except for two meetings at Evansville Attendance Center.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Sparta High School Math Team State Competition overnight trip to Champaign, Illinois, on May 4-5, 2018. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adopt the School Board Policies #2:200 Types of School Board Meetings; #2:210 Organizational School Board Meeting; #2:220 School Board Meeting Procedures; and Student Policy #7:270 Administering Medicines to Students as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

First readings were held for School Board Policies #2:230 Public Participation at School Board Meetings and Petitions to the Board, #2:240 Board Policy Development; and #2:250 Access to District Public Records.

Kevin Holliday moved, Angela Craig seconded to enter into executive session at 8:18 p.m. to discuss items related to specific employee performance/hiring. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to come out of executive session at 9:37 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the executive session minutes as presented for the March 8, 2018, meeting. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Amy Miller as the Volunteer Assistant Track Coach at Evansville Attendance Center for 2017-2018 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Bert Byington seconded to employ Jamie Schoenbeck as a Nurse for Sparta Lincoln School for the 2017-2018 school year with a salary of $20 per hour subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screening, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Byington, Gallois, Kempfer, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Abstain: Craig. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Tracy Smith as the District Maintenance/Groundskeeper for the 2017-2018 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screening. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to employ Aseem Kelly as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with 2 years of experience for the 2018-2019 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screening, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:39 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/copy-of-board-of-education-meeting--1