South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met May 6.

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: Angela Craig, Howard Gallois, Kevin Holliday, Kenneth Kempfer, Jennifer Morgan 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 Corey Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dr. Schwemmer presented the Oath of Office to Corey Rheinecker.

With no public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to approve the minutes of the April 11, 2019, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young 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, Morgan, Young, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mr. Kempfer asked about the Best Man Company. That is the company that Dr. Jesse Jackson uses when he speaks.

The next regular board meeting will be June 13, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Sparta Lincoln School.

Sparta Lincoln School Principal Amy Price reported that the NWEA data results showed large gains. She thanked the City of Sparta for allowing the students to attend the carnival last week. Sparta Lincoln School held their Academic Banquet, Junior Beta Induction and K-4 Music Concert. The kindergarten classes will host a mini spa for mothers tomorrow. The band concert is next week. Mrs. Price also thanked the PTO for paying for the transportation for the field trips.

Principal Chris Miesner also thanked the PTO from Evansville Attendance Center for paying for their field trip transportation. Next week will be the Beta Induction, Athletic Banquet, Spring Concert, Carnival and Graduation. Student Jada Long was recognized for leadership and academic success by the Illinois Principals Association. Student Olivia Schilling attended the Jim Burnes Leadership Award luncheon. Three Evansville Attendance Center track athletes advanced to State.

Principal Scott Beckley reported that more scholarships have been awarded. SAT scores are now available. Baccalaureate will be held next week. There will only be 11 seniors in attendance. Mr. Beckley felt the Board needed to decide if the high school should continue with it. The students celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by fixing lunch for the teachers.

Dr. Schwemmer presented the Superintendent Shout-Out plaques to: Evansville Attendance Center Student Audrey Poppe and Adult Volunteer Sonny (Vernon) Kisro; Sparta Lincoln School Student Parker Klausing and Adult Volunteer Scott Rust; and Sparta High School Student Eli Hamilton and Adult Volunteers Tom & Charlyn Welch.

Katie Smith presented a $1,000 check donated on behalf of Sign Solutions.

Superintendent Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer reviewed the NWEA scores. She gave the Board of Education members a book on being a board member. Next year the Board will see Director

Reports in their board packets regarding technology, sports and building & grounds. Dr. Schwemmer is one of 5 superintendents in the state that has received her micro-credentials. She chose to earn it on personal communication to help her grow professionally. She conducted a survey on professional development. The teachers choose Dr. Jackson 63% with Donna Whyte next. The costs for Dr. Jackson and Donna Whyte will be written into the Title grant next year. She announced that May 3, 2019, was Scott Beckley Day. He was recognized by the Southern Illinois Substance Abuse Alliance regarding the prevention of opioid, alcohol and drug abuse. He served as the chairman for the last two years. The district will host a Parent University next year to get parents more involved in schools. Professional development will be held at the end of May that will focus on social/emotional learning.

The following committees were appointed:

Finance CommitteeAngela Craig and Corey Rheinecker

Building & Grounds CommitteeKevin Holliday and Kenneth Kempfer

Policy CommitteeHoward Gallois and Jennifer Morgan

Kevin Holliday moved; Howard Gallois seconded to accept the resignation of Susan Polino as Science Club Co-Sponsor at Sparta Lincoln School effective at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: Craig. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to accept the resignation of Katie Mense as Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School effective at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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

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

Kevin Holliday moved; Angela Craig seconded to accept the retirement request of Vicki Dierks as Cook at Sparta Lincoln School effective August 1, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Angela Craig seconded to approve the FY 2019 Tentative Amended Budget, to establish the Public Hearing on the Budget which will be held prior to the June 2019 board meeting, to publish notice of the Public Hearing and to display the FY 2019 Tentative Amended Budget in the district office for 30 days. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Registration begins in June for the IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference in Chicago.

Boys’ volleyball was discussed. It would be for grades 5-8. They could play teams from Red Bud, Smithton, Belleville and Collinsville. The only cost would be a coaching stipend and transportation along with referees. Mr. Gallois will get a cost analysis and find out how many teams are on the schedule. He might have a camp over the summer to determine interest. He will report back on the matter in June.

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

First readings were held for Instruction Policies #6:10 Educational Philosophy and Objectives; #6:15 School Accountability; #6:20 School Year Calendar and Day; #6:30 Organization of Instruction; #6:40 Curriculum Development; #6:60 Curriculum Content; #6:65 Student Social and Emotional Development; #6:70 Teaching about Religions; #6:80 Teaching About Controversial Issues; and Professional Policy #5:250 Leaves of Absence.

Angela Craig moved; Howard Gallois seconded to enter into closed session at 7:47 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: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mrs. Craig left the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

Alan Young moved; Howard Gallois seconded to come out of executive session at 9:04 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Young, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Kevin Holliday seconded to approve the executive session minutes as presented for the April 11, 2019, meeting. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved; Howard Gallois seconded to employ Becky Thompson as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with 11 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: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved; Howard Gallois seconded to employ Malori Thompson 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: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved; Howard Gallois seconded to employ Lyndsey Nichols as a Full-Time Teacher for the District with four 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: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Alan Young moved; Jennifer Morgan seconded to increase Hailey Kingston’s FTE from.6 to Full-Time Teacher for the District for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Young, Morgan, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Monica Kunkel 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, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved; Howard Gallois seconded to approve the extra-curricular recommendations for Evansville Attendance Center, Sparta Lincoln School and Sparta High School as presented for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Gallois, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: Kempfer and Young. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved; Alan Young seconded to approve Tracy Smith as Director of Building and Grounds effective July 1, 2019, with an annual salary of $48,000. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Young, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved; Kenneth Kempfer seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Gallois, Kempfer, Holliday, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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