South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met April 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice President Kevin Holliday and upon the roll being called, Kevin Holliday and the following members of the Board of Education answered present: Angela Craig, Howard Gallois, Kenneth Kempfer and Alan Young. Absent: Bert Byington and Corey Rheinecker. Others present were: Superintendent Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Principals Scott Beckley, Chris Miesner and Amy Price; Board Member-Elect Jennifer Morgan and members of the faculty, community and press (County Journal).

Board Vice President Holliday led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The results of the April 2, 2019, election were: Kevin Holliday 816 votes; Kenneth Kempfer 775 votes; Jennifer Morgan 763 votes; and Corey Rheinecker 908 votes. Therefore, Kevin Holliday, Kenneth Kempfer, Jennifer Morgan and Corey Rheinecker are the newly elected members for the four-year terms.

Dr. Schwemmer presented the Oath of Office to the newly elected board members.

Mr. Holliday appointed Dr. Schwemmer as President Pro Tem of the Board.

Kenneth Kempfer nominated Corey Rheinecker for President of the Board of Education. With no other nominations for the office of President of the Board of Education, Corey Rheinecker was declared elected by acclamation for a two-year term until April 2021.

Angela Craig nominated Kevin Holliday for Vice President of the Board of Education. With no other nominations for the office of Vice President of the Board of Education, Kevin Holliday was declared elected by acclamation for a two-year term until April 2021.

Mr. Holliday took over as President at that time.

Kenneth Kempfer nominated Angela Craig for Secretary of the Board of Education. With no other nominations for the office of Secretary of the Board of Education, Angela Craig was declared elected by acclamation for a two-year term until April 2021.

Kenneth Kempfer nominated Alan Young for Board Treasurer of the Board of Education. With no other nominations for the office of Board Treasurer of the Board of Education, Alan Young was declared elected by acclamation for a two-year term until April 2021.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to re-appoint Tina Witherby as District Treasurer and Recording Secretary to the Board of Education. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The Board of Education committees will be appointed at the May regular board meeting.

With no public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to approve the minutes of the March 14, 2019, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young, and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll, Cash Flow and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mr. Kempfer asked what Stand for the Silent was. It was for an anti-bullying assembly. He also asked about the consultants. He suggested canvassing the teachers to find out if the consultants are beneficial. Principals Price and Miesner told Mr. Kempfer they both receive valuable information from the consultants. There is enough data to show the academic improvement also. Consultants are paid with Title funds. Title funds are supposed to be used to help student achievement.

The next regular board meeting will be May 9, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Sparta Lincoln School.

Principal Chris Miesner recognized students and staff for their help with Evansville Attendance Center activities. Pi Night was a success. Rebecca Juelfs and Julie Tiemann organized that event. Diane Chambers and the Beta Club raised money for the American Heart Association. The volleyball team won regionals for the second year in a row. Stem Night was organized by Diane Chambers and Amanda Braun.

Principal Amy Price reported that the Sparta Lincoln School Volleyball team also went to State. Teacher Deb Jones will head up the Beautification Project over Spring break. The new electronic sign is up.

Principal Scott Beckley reported that the mock crash was held at Sparta High School. Prom will be April 13, 2019. On average there have been 20 students at the SAT test prep. This quarter 73 students have earned the opportunity to go off campus for lunch; only 18 students have gone out for lunch.

Dr. Schwemmer presented the Superintendent Shout-Out plaques to: Evansville Attendance Center Student Wyatt Bierman and Adult Volunteer Stephanie Heinen; Sparta Lincoln School Student Bella Restoff and Adult Volunteer Randy Bertetto; and Sparta High School Student Jenny Yang and Adult Volunteer Glenn Simpson.

Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer announced that she attended a legislative event that reported on a bill that will double gas tax because the roads need to be repaired. This bill will also do help schools. The district can apply for new gym construction that could be 75% funded. The new minimum teacher salary should be $32,076. The district is currently at $32,000. The Governor will focus on teacher shortage and broadband.

Dr. Peggy Allen and Anne Marie Garcia spoke to the Board of Education about the role of consultants.

The ROE handles truancies for the district now.

Mr. Kempfer reported that there are many students throughout the district with unpaid fees. Parents will be urged to apply for free/reduced lunch at registration.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to accept the retirement request of Terrie Thies as Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School effective June 1, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to accept the resignation of Rich Williams as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to accept the retirement request of Missy Biethman as Teacher at Evansville Attendance Center effective at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to approve the building budget requests for FY20 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to approve the preliminary calendar for the 2019-2020 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to approve the amended calendar for the 2018-2019 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Sparta Lincoln Science Club overnight trip to Ozark, Illinois, on April 11-13, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the bid from American Union Flooring of Murphysboro, Illinois, in the amount of $72,370 for the Sparta High School flooring. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Jennifer Morgan seconded to adopt the Notice of Regular Meeting Dates as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Kempfer, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to adopt 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 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

First readings were held for Instruction Policies #6:190 Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities; #6:210 Instructional Materials; #6:220 Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Program; Responsible Use and Conduct; #6:230 Library Media Program; #6:240 Field Trips and #6:250 Community Resource Persons and Volunteers.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to enter into closed session at 8:16 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and to discuss collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to come out of executive session at 8:47 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to approve Tina Witherby as Cheerleading Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to approve Andrea Pillers as Cross-Country Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Alan Young seconded to approve Ashley Brown as the Girls’ Basketball Assistant Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2019-2020 schoolyear. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Young, Kempfer, Morgan, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to employ Christina Wilson as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with three 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, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Alan Young moved; Howard Gallois seconded to employ Linze Dean as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with three 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: Young, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to employ Kathleen Keller 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, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to employ Becky Niemetz as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with three 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, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kenneth Kempfer moved; Howard Gallois seconded to employ Zachary Drumwright as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with one year 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: Kempfer, Gallois, Morgan, Young, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to employ Brittany Toler as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with two 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: Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to employ Malone Wall 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: Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:53 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Morgan, Young and Holliday. Nays: Kempfer. Motion carried.

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