South West Illinois News

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

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The budget hearing was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Corey Rheinecker.

Treasurer/Bookkeeper Tina Witherby presented the FY20 budget. With no questions or comments, the meeting continued.

Alan Young moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adjourn the budget hearing at 7:04 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Young, Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:04 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.

With no public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the minutes of the August 8, 2019, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Kempfer, Young, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Alan Young moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Young, Holliday, Craig, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mr. Kempfer asked about the summer cleaning supplies. They are just now being paid.

The next regular board meeting will be October 10, 2019, at 7 p.m. at Sparta Lincoln School.

Principal Chris Miesner reported that the Open House and block party were great thanks to Parent Volunteers Ashley Kloth and Jenny Johnson. DARE will start this week at Evansville Attendance Center. NWEA testing has been completed and teachers are reviewing the data.

Mrs. Amy Price, Principal at Sparta Lincoln School, reported that the district had a scavenger hunt for employees for self-care. MAP testing is finished. Overall averages were above in math, reading and science. Donna Whyte has been helping with engagement.

Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley reported that the testing is complete at the high school also. He would like to set graduation dates right away to help parents plan. The fall sports teams have good numbers. The students have a new advisory period this year. There are 60 fewer students with a D or F this year as compared to last year. The Ag teacher would like to have a garden for the students. He would like to move the fence that runs between the gymnasium and vocational building. Perandoe has been easy to work with.

Sixth day enrollment was discussed. The district was down in students this year from last year.

Dr. Schwemmer recognized the following people for the Superintendent Shout-Out: Sparta Lincoln School – Addison Theobald and Debbie Bianchini; Evansville Attendance Center –Isabella Braun and Jenny Johnson; Sparta High School - Parker Haskenhoff and Michael Hall.

Dr. Schwemmer reported that the schools will focus on goal-setting this year. All students from kindergarten through 12th grade will set goals this year.

Howard Gallois moved, Alan Young seconded to accept the resignation of Russell Scales as Paraprofessional at Sparta Lincoln School effective August 20, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Young, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to accept the resignation of Teresa Jewell as Supervisor at Sparta Lincoln School effective August 20, 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to accept the retirement request of Rhonda Jones as Special Education Teacher at Sparta High School effective at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Steve Tripi of Schorb & Schmersahl, LLC, presented the FY19 audit.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the FY 2019 Audit as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the fiscal year 2020 official budget as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Holliday, Young, Gallois, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: Craig. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits report for the 2019 school year as presented and to post the report to the website as required by law. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adopt the Student Policies #7:10; #7:15; #7:20; #7:30; #7:40; #7:50 and #7:180 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Young, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to affirm that the District has reviewed Board Policy 7:180, Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment and that the policy complies with the requirements set forth in the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

First readings were held for Students Policies #7:160 Student Appearance, #7:165 School Uniforms, #7:170 Vandalism, #7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited and #7:190 Student Behavior.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to enter executive session at 7:37 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; 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; and to discuss minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to come out of executive session at 9:25 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to authorize the destruction of the audio recordings of the Board’s closed session meetings up to and through December 2017, in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Megan Klausing as a full-time Paraprofessional for the District 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: Morgan, Craig, Young, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Alan Young seconded to employ Lauren Bivens as a full-time Paraprofessional for the District 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, Young, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Melinda Jones as a full-time Paraprofessional for the District 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: Morgan, Craig, Young, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to employ Casey Fruits as a full-time Paraprofessional for the District 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, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Young and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Megan Greenhill as a full-time Paraprofessional for the District 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: Morgan, Craig, Young, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve Kelly Green as Sophomore Class Sponsor at Sparta High School for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Craig, Young, Gallois, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: Holliday. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Tommy Craig as Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2019-2020 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Gallois, Young, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Abstain: Craig. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve Dana Weber as the Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve Marie Russell as Head Coach for Boys’ Track at Evansville Attendance Center for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Young, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Jordan Beckley as Head Coach for Baseball at Sparta High School for the 2019-2020 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Gallois, Young, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Howard Gallois seconded to employ Randy Bertetto as a 2.5 hour per day Supervisor at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2019-2020 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screening. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Gallois, Young, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Sondra Penny as a 2.5-hour per day Supervisor at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2019-2020 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screening. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Craig, Young, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Kenneth Kempfer moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:34 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Kempfer, Morgan, Young, Craig, Gallois, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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