Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 Board of Education met Aug. 20.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 held their Regular Meeting in the High School Cafeteria. President Hammel called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members present: Debi Caraway, Charles Fricke, Trent Vasquez, Mitch Hammel, Dan Colvis. VIA PHONE: Tom Welge, Lorin Mott
A motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Colvis to approve the agenda and items as listed. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
No public comment was presented to the Board.
The Board of Education received correspondence from St. Louis Shriners Hospitals for Children thanking them for the donation received in memory of Carol Usher.
High School Maintenance Report:
• The high school parking lot has been sealed, striped, and numbered.
• The summer crew did a wonderful job cleaning the school again this year.
• The new ice machine for the kitchen has arrived and will be installed this week.
• Colbert gym floor was refinished the last week in July.
Grade School Athletic Report:
• CGS baseball and softball, as of right now, will have their seasons. The games have been reduced to 2 games per week; one of those games can be a double header. Their schedules have been rebuilt to follow current guidelines.
Coaches and players are following the necessary guidelines to ensure safety. There will be no state tournaments this year for the SIJHSAA, but regionals are still set to take place.
• Numbers for baseball and softball are 13 each; 7/8th grade students only.
• Cross country will begin the second week of school. Meets have been reduced to 2 meets per week with a max of 3 teams per meet. The cross country schedule has been rebuilt as well to follow current health and safety guidelines.
The first meet Chester will participate in will be the second week in September.
• As of right now, the rest of the junior high sports calendar is staying the same. A decision will be made on boys and girls basketball by the end of September.
High School Athletic Report:
• The IHSA released its plan for high school athletics this year. Many seasons have been moved around, shortened and strict limitations put in place. Every season will happen this year under this plan.
• Some of these restrictions led to completely rebuilding schedules from scratch and changing opponents. This also led to putting together a schedule of traveling to locations we have never been before. Hired officials had to be cancelled and new officials will need to be hired. Two restrictions that were most impactful for our district were: only being allowed to play conference opponents and play schools within our COVID region. The COVID region we are located in include the counties of Randolph, Washington, St. Clair, Monroe, Bond, and Madison. We are the southernmost city in our COVID region and the only BDC school. We have also lost all Missouri schools off our schedules, and given our location, this was a big hit to the schedules.
• The CIT and LJMWC have been cancelled for this year. We are trying to keep schools in it for next year, but this is becoming problematic.
• Athletic Directors across the state are working weekends and late nights scrambling to put together schedules, hire officials and implement new COVID safety precautions into their everyday athletic environment. The collaboration of AD groups in and around our region has been a saving grace.
• Cross country and golf are the only two seasons that CHS will be participating in this fall season.
• Due to the limitations of seasons for the fall, both cross country and golf participants have increased drastically. Cross Country will have 6 boys and 8 girls on the team. Golf will have 16 boys and 10 girls for 2020.
• Fall schedules are complete and have been sent to the media and are listed on our school website.
• We are still trying to print the orange pocket calendars.
• All schedules and coaching contacts are uploaded onto the high school website.
• The IHSA website has been updated with new staff and contact information. Also, all certification and registration has been submitted to the IHSA. We are ready to start our 2020-21 athletic season. Grade School Principal’s Report:
• Registration was held July 27 & 28. Most parents registered electronically.
• We are currently at 522 students in 1st-8th grades. We do not have a total for kindergarten, early childhood or prekindergarten yet. 75 students have not registered, so we are reaching out to them. We have had 26 requests for records; 22 were to a private school. 3 have said they are homeschooling and 2 have opted for online only. We have enrolled 25 new students for this year.
• Construction is almost complete. Thursday and Friday the A/C was turned on. The units are very quiet and cooled the rooms quickly. The teachers are very happy with the change.
• Mr. Grafton mentioned that the fresh-air unit for the grade school was produced, but had not arrived on site.
• CGS is ready for the first week of school. Students have been divided up to have the fewest number of students in an area at a time.
• There will be 5 locations where students will be screened prior to entering the school. Everything seems to be moving as best it can for the situation we are in.
• Teachers are back in their classrooms and anxious for their students to return. They have not been in their rooms long due to construction. Mr. Grafton truly appreciates their patience and help through this year.
• Mrs. Caraway complimented Mr. Grafton for the additional time he has spent getting the building prepared for this week, as well as the others.
High School Principal’s Report:
• Finalizing the registration process for all students.
• CHS would like to welcome Kristin Wolter, School Counselor; Emily Millburg, Agriculture Education Teacher; Amy Miller, Special Education Teacher; and Kay Rubach, Custodian.
• The teachers have been working to get their Google Classrooms ready for students.
• The building looks great. Big thank you to the custodians for all their hard work this summer.
• Students began coming in this week.
• We have a current enrollment of 366 students, with 350 students in-house and 16 at alternative programs.
• All remote beginning August 24, 2020.
Superintendent’s Report:
• PRESS Plus Policy Issue 104. No changes from the first reading.
• The FY21 proposed budget is on display to be adopted in September.
• Superintendent Pasero gave an initial projection for the budget to have a deficit in the operating funds due to a possible loss in revenues combined with an increase in expenditures as we try to address remote learning resource needs for students and teachers.
• Once the Digital Equity Relief Grant is approved, the hotspot cost will be applied.
• Approval of payment to contractors and subcontractors, A&W Plumbing, for HVAC project work completed as presented in the amount of $129,931.97.
• High school AC.
• COVID-19 plans are continuing to develop.
• Target for A/B would be September 14, hopefully our fresh-air unit is up and running at this point.
• New chromebooks are delayed, but we should have enough to get out to students that need them.
• Wireless hotspots are in, we will work to get them tagged and to families this week.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Fricke to enter into executive session at 7:30 p.m. for (A) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, and
(B) collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives. Upon roll call Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mrs. Caraway and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to return to open session at 8:04 p.m. Upon roll call Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mr. Welge to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
• Minutes of the July 16, 2020, special emergency meeting, regular meeting, and executive session;
• Minutes of the July 29, 2020, special meeting;
• Bills in the amount of $501,635.52 and payroll in the amount of $411,816.06 ;
• Financial reports.
After conducting the second reading, motion was made by Mrs. Caraway and seconded by Mr. Colvis to adopt PRESS Plus Policy Issue 104 as recommended by Superintendent Pasero. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mrs. Caraway to allow involvement of 2020 high school graduates in the rescheduled production of Shrek in March 2021. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Fricke to approve the disposal of electronic equipment as submitted
by QNS. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Welge and seconded by Mr. Colvis to approve the addition of high school activity (HSA) accounts; Environmental Science and Table Top Gaming. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mrs. Caraway and seconded by Mr. Fricke to approve the proposed BOE-CEA joint Memorandum of Understanding regarding workday and evaluations for the 2020-2021 school year as presented. Upon roll call Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr.
Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Colvis and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to approve the tentative budget of Chester School District 139 be placed on file for public inspection and to adopt a resolution to hold the budget hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., directly followed by the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Upon roll call Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to approve payment of $60 for junior high softball and baseball umpires ($10 increase) for the 2020 season. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Fricke to approve payment to contractors and subcontractors, A&W Plumbing, for the HVAC project work completed in the amount of $129,931.91. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Colvis and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to approve the contract agreement with School Bookkeeping Solutions Inc. in the amount of $1,660 per month for payroll services. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Fricke to approve the payment of $17,053.41 for services provided by a Perandoe Social Worker for 1 day per week during the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to accept the resignation of Luke Lochhead as 8th grade girls’ basketball coach. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Colvis and seconded by Mr. Fricke to accept the resignation of Ashley Lochhead as 7th grade girls’ basketball coach. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mrs. Caraway to accept the resignation of Adam Guebert as high school guidance counselor and as CHS student council co-advisor. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to accept the resignation of Nikki Maue as school nurse effective September 11, 2020. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Fricke to employ Clint Cowan as JV girls’ basketball coach for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mrs. Caraway to employ Niki McConnell as 7th and 8th grade girls’ basketball coach for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Colvis to employ Jackie Cushman as 5th/6th grade boys’ basketball coach for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Colvis to employ Jennifer Schroeder as grade school head volleyball coach for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mrs. Caraway and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to approve Trevor Kelkhoff and Ty Malley as grade school baseball volunteers for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to approve Eric Caby and Mike Astin as grade school softball volunteers for the 2020-2021 school year, pending fingerprinting. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mrs. Caraway to approve Kaitlyn Dillow as high school girls’ basketball volunteer for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mrs. Caraway and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to approve the attached supplemental positions as recommended for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Fricke and seconded by Mr. Vasquez to employ Leanna Kay Rubach as an 8-hour high school evening custodian at $11.00 per hour beginning August 12, 2020. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr. Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
Motion was made by Mrs. Caraway and seconded by Mr. Fricke to employ Kristin Wolter as high school guidance counselor for the 2020-2021 school year. Upon roll call Mr. Fricke voted aye, Mrs. Caraway voted aye, Mr. Vasquez voted aye, Mr.
Mott voted aye, Mr. Welge voted aye, Mr. Colvis voted aye, Mr. Hammel voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
The board held additional discussion about the timing of trying to get more students back on-site on a more regular basis. In particular, the concern is for the younger groups that struggle more in the remote learning situation. It was suggested that another board meeting be held when the fresh-air unit arrives to make a decision and allow parents time to plan for a transition into an A/B schedule. It was also suggested that the health department be invited back to give a current update to the virus concerns within the community to assist in the decision making.
Motion was made by Mr. Vasquez and seconded by Mr. Fricke to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 p.m. Upon roll call all members voted aye. 7 aye, 0 nay; motion carried.
https://www.chester139.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_105222/File/August%2020,%202020%20Regular%20Mtg%20Brief.doc.pdf
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