South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met March 14.

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 Scott Beckley, Chris Miesner and Amy Price; and members of the faculty, community and press (County Journal).

Board President Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

With no public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2019, regular 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 April 11, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Evansville Attendance Center.

Principal Scott Beckley reported that Sparta High School softball and baseball will start this week. There is a blood drive scheduled for March 22, 2019. SAT test preparation is still going on. NWEA testing is finished. SWIC placement testing has been completed, along with Running Start. Sixteen students tested and passed dual credit English 101. Freshman orientation has been held. There should be 363 students at Sparta High School next year.

Principal Chris Miesner reported that the Evansville Attendance Center students participated in Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Math Pi Night was held. IAR testing is going well. Volleyball will be playing in the regional tournament against Chester. Olivia Schilling received the Jim Burnes Leadership Award for Region 5 of SIJHSAA.

Sparta Lincoln Principal Amy Price reported that the staff at Sparta Lincoln School as been working on IAR, Science Night, Girls on the Run and the Beautification Project. Last week the staff and 6-8 grade students participated in 4E training.

Dr. Schwemmer presented the Superintendent Shout-Out plaques to: Evansville Attendance Center – Student Ava Reynolds and Adult Volunteer Carol Orella; Sparta Lincoln School – Students Latrice Littlepage and Adult Volunteer John Watts; Sparta High School – Student Myra Holman and Adult Volunteer Eric Manker.

Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer announced that the district is no longer on the financial early warning list. The district has shown conservative spending and is projected to maintain that through 2022.

As part of the Stop the Bleed Program, the district will get tourniquets in the event of a disaster.

The Illinois minimum wage increase will increase yearly. By 2024, it will be at $15. The district will follow the graduated step program.

The Department of Labor has released legislation that will make the district obligated to pay expenses for administrators for laptops and cell phones.

The $40,000 minimum teacher salary and 3% cap on TRS is still being debated.

Board Member Kenny Kempfer reported that the Sparta Lincoln School digital sign will be replaced soon.

Board Members Kenny Kempfer and Angela Craig met with the cooks. They are working hard to make the food more enticing to students.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to accept the resignation of Matt Blair as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to accept the resignation of John White as Teacher at Evansville Attendance Center/Sparta Lincoln School effective August 5, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to accept the resignation of John Vercellino as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to accept the resignation of Katherine Long as Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach at Sparta Lincoln School effective March 11, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to accept the resignation of Kelly Schlueter as Cross-Country Coach at Sparta Lincoln School effective March 11, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The first reading of the preliminary 2019-2020 school calendar was discussed. The school year will start on August 12, 2019, with two teacher institute days. Any recommendations for changes should be given to Dr. Schwemmer.

Kevin Holliday moved, Angela Craig seconded to renew membership in the Illinois High School Association and to adopt and abide by the Constitution, By-Law, Terms and Conditions and Administrative Procedures, Guidelines and Policies of the Illinois High School Association for the year of July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Terry Berchard with Quadrant Design and Architects Inc., presented a map of where the flooring will be replaced in Sparta High School. Alternate bids will be taken for the library and band room. The budget is $100,000, which will be paid with TIF funds.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve going out for bids for the Sparta High School flooring. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to approve the Sparta High School Skills USA overnight trip to Springfield, Illinois, on April 11-13, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Sparta High School FBLA overnight trip to Springfield, Illinois, on April 5, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The lighting proposal will provide a 50% savings in utilities.

Howard Gallois moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to approve the lighting proposals with Lime Energy as presented. 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 Professional Personnel Board Policy #5:260 Student Teachers; Educational Support Personnel Board Policies #5:270 Employment At-Will, Compensation and Assignment; #5:280 Duties and Qualifications; #5:285 Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus and Commercial Vehicle Drivers; #5:290 Employment Termination and Suspensions; #5:300 Schedules and Employment Year; #5:310 Compensatory Time-Off; #5:320 Evaluation; #5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays and Leaves; and Instruction Policy #6:140 Education of Homeless Children as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

First readings were held for Instruction Policies: #6:145 Migrant Students; #6:150 Home and Hospital Instruction; #6:160 English Learners; #6:170 Title I Programs; #6:180 Extended Instructional Programs; and #6:185 Remote Educational Programs.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the closed session minutes as presented for the February 14, 2019, regular meeting. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Young, Byington, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve Jeff Ledendecker as Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2018-2019 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Blake Patton as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with no years of experience for the 2019-2020 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: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Blake Patton as the FFA Sponsor at Sparta High School for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

School van usage was discussed.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Young, Byington and Rheinecker. Nays: Kempfer. Motion carried.

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