Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met May 13.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The regular meeting was called 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: Mekalia Cooper, Ron Heinen, Kevin Holliday and Jennifer Morgan. Absent: Angela Craig and Howard Gallois. Others present were: Superintendent Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Principals Scott Beckley and Chris Miesner; and members of the community.
Board President Corey Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2021, regular meeting and April 24, 2021, special meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Cooper, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll, Cash Flow and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Holliday, Cooper, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2021 at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.
Principal Scott Beckley reported that 40 Sparta High School students will attend the two weeks of summer school. Thirty students will attend the ROE Ingenuity Program this summer. Signs for the new conference have been shipped. Baseball, softball, track and wrestling had successful seasons. Kayla Braun has broken records. Prom and graduation went well.
Principal Chris Miesner reported that Evansville Attendance Center Beta Club raised money that was then donated to the Twigs Program. Girls on the Run 5K will be held this Saturday. Mr. Meisner has met with some of the Sparta Lincoln School teachers and is looking forward to meeting all of them. There are around 100 students participating in the summer school from Sparta Lincoln School and 35 from Evansville Attendance Center.
Carol Epplin was presented with a plaque of appreciation from Board Member Mekalia Cooper.
Board Member Angela Craig entered the meeting at 7:08 p.m.
Gene Hanses with Guin, Mundorf, LLC, Attorneys at Law, explained they are working on the details but are very close on the language for the agreements for Holland Construction and Quadrant Architects. He requested the Board approve the agreements subject to final negotiation with counsel. This way the project will not be delayed.
Dr. Schwemmer has reviewed the NWEA and Lexia data. The district is compared to the national norms. The district is in the 80th percentile of the nation. The growth was outstanding.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the FY 2021 Tentative Amended Budget, to establish the Public Hearing on the Budget which will be held prior to the June 2021 board meeting, to publish notice of the Public Hearing and to display the FY 2021 Tentative Amended Budget in the district office for 30 days. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Ron Heinen moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the Building Budget Requests for FY22 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Morgan, Holliday, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the ViewBoard Purchase with CDW-G in the amount of $350,300, which will be paid with ESSER funds. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Craig, Cooper, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
These boards have interactive panels so the students can cast on the screen. The ROE is interested in the smartboards that will be taken down. This is a district-wide installation and will have a warranty also.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to renew membership in the Illinois High School Association and to adopt and abide by the Constitution, By-Laws, Terms and Conditions and Administrative Procedures, Guidelines and Policies of the Illinois High School Association for the year of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Substitute rates were discussed. Dr. Schwemmer will get the rates from surrounding areas for further discussion.
First readings were held for the 2021-2022 District Handbook and Extra-Curricular Handbook.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to approve the amended calendar for the 2020-2021 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Holliday, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The Board of Education has to approve changes in curriculum. New curriculum will be purchased using the ESSER II grant money. The teachers have worked to have vertical and horizontal alignment for curriculum.
Evansville Attendance Center Teacher Diane Chambers and Sparta High School Teacher Rachel Thies presented the Science curriculum.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the curriculum for Sparta High School Science and 6-8 Science as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Sparta High School Teacher Grace Hernandez presented the Social Studies curriculum.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the curriculum for Sparta High School Social Studies as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Heinen, Holliday, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Sparta High School Teacher Terry Mezo presented the Spanish curriculum.
Ron Heinen moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the curriculum for Sparta High School Spanish as presented for option 1 digital at $30,000. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Morgan, Holliday, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Sparta High School/Evansville Attendance Center Music Director Keith Shasteen presented the uniform considerations to the Board of Education.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the uniforms for Sparta High School band/chorus as presented in the amount of $18,000. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the AIA C132-2019 Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Adviser (as amended), with Holland Construction Services, Inc., in substantially the same form as presented, but subject to final negotiations and revisions approved by the District’s Superintendent and legal counsel. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the AIA B132-2019 Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect, Construction Manager as Adviser Edition (as amended), with Quadrant Design, Inc., in substantially the same form as presented, but subject to final negotiations and revisions approved by the District’s Superintendent and legal counsel. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the Resolution providing for the issue of approximately $5,600,000 General Obligation Limited Tax School Bonds, Series 2021, of the district for the purpose of increasing the Working Cash fund of the district, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax to pay the principal and interest on the bonds, and authorizing the sales of the bonds to Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The re-opening plan was discussed. The current plan will be to have in-person learning in the Fall.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to enter into executive session at 8:12 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Angela Craig seconded to come out of executive session at 8:48 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Craig, Cooper, Heinen, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the executive session minutes of as presented for the April 8 and April 24, 2021, meetings. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the resignation of Becky Thompson as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2021. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Craig, Morgan, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: Cooper. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the resignation of Abbey Miles as Cross-Country Coach at Sparta High School effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the retirement request of Kelley Gardiner as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2021. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the retirement request of Royce Barnett as Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School effective August 1, 2021. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Kevin Holliday moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the resignation of Jonathan Norton as Head Boys’ Basketball Coach effective May 13, 2021. Roll call vote. Yeas: Holliday, Morgan, Cooper, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: Craig. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to increase Leslie Meininger’s position as Custodian from 10-months to 12-months effective July 1, 2021. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the three-year contract with Chris Miesner as Principal at Sparta Lincoln School with an annual salary of $78,000 f or the 2021-2022 school year; $80,000 for the 2022-2023 school year; and $82,000 for the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the extra-curricular recommendations for Evansville Attendance Center, Sparta Lincoln School and Sparta High School for the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/copy-of-board-of-education-meeting--1
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