Duquoin Community Unit School District 300 Board of Education met Nov. 19.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Zach McPherson - President
Trent Waller - Vice President
Brian Rodely - Secretary
Crystal Harsy - Member
Patrick Riley - Member
Kevin West - Member
Mark Woodside - Member
Administrators in attendance: Matthew Hickam - Supt., Cory Robbins - Business Manager, Diana Rea - Elem. Principal/Director of Instructional Services, Aaron Hill - Middle School Principal, Tim McChristian - High School Principal, Denise Woodsides - High School Asst. Principal.
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM.
II. Roll Call
Present - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside. Absent - Waller.
III. Reports
a. Building principals – Mrs. Rea, Mr. Hill, and Mr. McChristian shared the "Reasons We Are Proud" with the Board.
b. Superintendent – In recognition of Board Member Appreciation Day, Mr. Hickam thanked the Board for their service to the community. He also noted that the Annual Statement of Affairs would be in this week's edition of the Du Quoin Weekly. The Board was provided a copy of ISBE's District Report Card as well as the school report card summary documents from ISBE for each building. Mr. Hickam pointed out highlights of the reports and also shared a data report that will be used by the District Improvement Team to develop areas/goals for improvement.
IV. Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of the minutes of the special meeting of October 17, 2019 regular Board of Education meeting (including executive session minutes);
b. Approval of memorandum of agreement with Perry County Health Department;
c. Approval of Short-Term Substitute Training Agreement
d. Approval of Risk Management Plan.
A motion was made by Harsy, seconded by West to approve the consent agenda. Roll call vote: Yea - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
V. Financial Items:
a. Approval of the payment of bills for October 2019
b. Approval of the October 2019 financial report
A question was asked about payment reimbursing an employee for professional development travel expenses. Mr. Hickam stated that typically expenses are able to be paid by the district in advance, but on occasion an employee pays for conference registration or the hotel and the district reimburses. A question was asked regarding reimbursement for the transport of a special education student. Mr. Hickam stated that parents were reimbursed for covering their student's travel to the child's school of placement. A question was asked in reference to the district app which is an extension of the district website. The question was in regards to the updating of events listed. Mr. Hickam noted that he and the others responsible for inputting information on the app/website would continue to work to improve the information. A question was asked regarding the purchase of athletic uniforms and the re-institution of a uniform rotation. Mr. Hickam concurred with the idea and indicated that a rotation would be developed.
A motion was made by Woodside, seconded by West to approve the payment of bills for October 2019. Roll call vote: Yea - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Woodside, seconded by West to approve the October 2019 financial report. Roll call vote: Yea - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
VI. Public Hearing
a. DEA Representative – No comments
b. Public - No comments
VII. New or Unfinished Business
A. Consideration of proposal to name an athletic facility in accordance with board policy.
Discussion occurred based on the information known about the proposals to name the football stadium and the information shared from the committee meeting. Some discussion occurred regarding the policy and some members expressed the desire to have a recommendation made by the committee.
A motion was made by Rodely, seconded by McPherson to retain the existing naming for the football complex – "Van Metre Field”. Roll call vote: Yea – Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
B. Authorization to bid mowing services.
Mr. Robbins presented a brief summation of the past practice and the timeline followed for mowing services.
A motion was made by Riley, seconded by Harsy to authorize the bidding for mowing services. Roll call vote: Yea - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
C. Authorization of White & Borgognoni Architectural Services to conduct required 10-year Health/Life/Safety Review.
Mr. Hickam and Mr. Robbins noted the requirement of the review and intent to use it as a means of conducting maintenance/improvement.
A motion was made by Woodside, seconded by Riley to authorize White & Borgognoni to conduct the review. Roll call vote: Yea - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
D. Consideration of hiring policy addition.
A motion was made by Rodely, seconded by Riley to adopt the hiring policy addition as presented. (The policy will be added to Board Policy 5:30.) Roll call vote: Yea - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
E. Consideration of IASB resolutions to be considered at state-wide delegate Assembly.
Discussion occurred regarding each of the 18 resolutions that will be considered at the delegate assembly in Chicago at the Triple-I Conference. A consensus was gathered for each item.
F. Discussion and consideration of 2019 district property tax levy (payable in 2020). Mr. Hickam presented information and a recommendation for a tentative tax levy. Historical trend data for the district levy was shared with the Board. Mr. Hickam recommended a tentative levy with a total rate of 5.3902 (3.8977 not including the Bond & Interest levy).
G. Retirement of Jerry Smith, Attorney-at-Law.
The retirement of Board attorney Jerry Smith was announced. Mr. Hickam asked for permission to purchase a plaque to present to Mr. Smith for his years of service. The Board agreed. It was noted that discussion regarding future legal services would be addressed at the next meeting.
H. Extra-Curricular/School Group Travel Policy.
Discussion occurred regarding the policy in relation to the use of charter buses. It was suggested that the policy regarding bus arrangements (item 3 on the policy) be amended to include phrasing emphasizing "equitable treatment". In discussion, it was boiled down to the notion that either all groups participating in a trip/event (e.g. football, cheer, band, dance) should be able to ride on a charter or all should be on school buses, whichever administration determined to be feasible based upon numbers and financial considerations. Mr. Hickam noted the desired change in language and said he would make the amendment and share out the change so that it could be considered for adoption through the two-reading process.
VIII. Executive Session:
To discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, and performance of specific employees in accordance with 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1).
A motion was made by Harsy, seconded by Riley to enter into executive session at 8:38 PM to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, and performance of specific employees in accordance with 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). Roll call vote: Yea – Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
The Board returned to open session at 9:13 PM.
IX. Resignations/Retirement:
a. Denise Smith is requesting that her previous letter of retirement be rescinded and is submitting a new retirement date to be effective November 13, 2020.
A motion was made by Rodely, seconded by Riley to amend Denise Smith's retirement date to be effective November 13, 2020. Roll call vote: Yea - Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, West, and Woodside; Nay - none. Motion carried.
X. Employment of Personnel:
A. Additions to winter volunteer list.
A motion was made by Harsy, seconded by West to accept the additions to the winter volunteer list. Roll call vote: Yea – Harsy, McPherson, Riley, Rodely, and West; Nay - none; Abstain - Woodside. Motion carried.
XI. Adjournment
A motion was made by Harsy, seconded by Rodely to adjourned at 9:15 PM. Motion carried without objection.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/546682/November_2019_approved_minutes.pdf
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