Sparta Community Unit School District 140 Board of Education Met Dec. 10.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The regular meeting was called to order at 7:02 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: Mekalia Cooper, Angela Craig, Kevin Holliday, Kenneth Kempfer and Jennifer Morgan. Absent: Howard Gallois. Others present were: Superintendent Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; and Principals Scott Beckley, Amy Laramore and Chris Miesner.
Board President Corey Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
With no public comment requests, the meeting continued.
Kevin Holliday moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the minutes of the November 12, 2020, regular meeting as amended. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Craig, Kempfer, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried. Mr. Kempfer had voted no on the tax levy motion at the November meeting.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Kempfer, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mr. Holliday asked what the invoices for Best Man Company were for. Jesse Jackson provided consulting services for the district. He had a Zoom meeting with all staff. Mr. Kempfer asked about the invoice for David Lerch. He provided training on Google Meets for the teachers.
The next regular board meeting will be January 14, 2021, at 7 p.m. at Sparta Lincoln School.
Mr. Chris Miesner, Principal at Evansville Attendance Center reported that the teachers have been working extremely hard. They are in the process of NWEA testing.
Mr. Gallois entered the meeting at 7:08 p.m.
Principal Amy Laramore reported that the Sparta Lincoln School staff have also been working hard to cover all duties as they have been short-staffed with several employees out. Everyone has gone above and beyond for the students.
Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley reported that everyone there is also working hard. They are in the process of starting an Apprenticeship Program.
Dr. Schwemmer reported that the Sanitation Specialist position is still open. The CDC changed the rules to 10-day quarantine so the district will be following that policy. The Transition Plan for the district will not need to be changed, though. A list of expectations will be presented to students, parents and staff when school resumes in January. Students who are failing a class will be strongly urged to return to in-person learning. There will be a Harvard student who will be at the schools for the second semester to work on his dissertation for rural education. He will help the students with F grades doing a mandatory rehabilitation.
Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the resolution stating the aggregate amount of taxes to be levied for the year 2020 is $4,317,356 not including the Bond and Interest Levy of $956,960 and that the aggregate amount of taxes to be levied for the year 2020 does not exceed 105% of the taxes extended in the year 2019. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Morgan, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: Kempfer. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to authorize the letting of a $46,943 lease for the purchase of computer equipment. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to adopt the Resolution Giving Notice of Withdrawal from Prairie State Insurance Cooperative. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to go out for bid for property/liability/auto insurance for the District. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the purchase of a digital sign for Evansville Attendance Center at a purchase price of $21,962. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Kempfer, Cooper, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
It will be a two-sided LED sign placed where the current sign is located. It will be paid using grant money and a donation from the Evansville Attendance Center PTO.
First Readings were held for the following Policies:
2:20-E Exhibit – Waiver and Modification Request Resource Guide
3:40 Superintendent
4:10 Fiscal and Business Management
4:55 Use of Credit and Procurement Cards
4:60-AP1 Administrative Procedure – Purchases
4:80 Accounting and Audits
4:90 Student Activity and Fiduciary Funds
4:120-AP Administrative Procedure – Food Services; Competitive Foods; Exemptions
4:150 Facility Management and Building Programs
4:175 Convicted Child Sex Offender; Screening; Notifications
5:30 Hiring Process and Criteria
5:185-AP Administrative Procedure – Resource Guide for Family and Medical Leave
5:190 Teacher Qualifications
5:270 Employment At-Will, Compensation and Assignment
6:15 School Accountability
6:20 School Year Calendar and Day
6:40 Curriculum Development
6:235-E5 Exhibit – Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
6:280 Grading and Promotion
6:300 Graduation Requirements
6:310 High School Credit for Non-District Experiences; Course Substitutions
6:315 High School Credit for Students in Grade 7 or 8
6:320 High School Credit for Proficiency
6:340 Student Testing and Assessment Program
7:100 Health, Eye and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; Exclusion of Students
7:140 Search and Seizure
7:300 Extracurricular Athletics
7:325 Student Fundraising Activities
7:340-AP1&2 School Student Records; Storage; Destruction of Student Records
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to enter into executive session at 7:26 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 the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to come out of executive session at 7:55 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to accept the verbal resignation of Georgette Smith as Part-Time Custodian and Crossing Guard at Evansville Attendance Center effective November 30, 2020. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Mary McMillan as a Part-Time Custodian for the District for 2 days per week, 2.5 hours per day and as a Crossing Guard at Evansville Attendance Center for 2 days per week, 1 hour per day for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Denise Holmes as a Part-Time Custodian for the District for 2 days per week, 2.5 hours per day and as a Crossing Guard at Evansville Attendance Center for 2 days per week, 1 hour per day for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Holliday, Kempfer, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve a Medical Leave-of-Absence for Diana Anderson until released from doctor’s care. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Craig, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve a Leave-of-Absence for Jamie Schoenbeck until approximately August 2021. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Gallois, Kempfer, Morgan, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Ashley Morgan as a 2.5-hour Supervisor at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2020-2021 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screening. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve Malone Wall as a co-sponsor for the Honors Banquet at Sparta High School for the 2020-2021 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Holliday, Kempfer, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
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