Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met Sept. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The budget hearing was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice President Kevin Holliday.
Treasurer/Bookkeeper Tina Witherby presented the FY22 budget. With no questions or comments, the meeting continued.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to adjourn the budget hearing at 7:04 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Heinen, Cooper, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The regular meeting was called order at 7:04 p.m. by Vice President Kevin Holliday and upon the roll being called, Kevin Holliday and the following members of the Board of Education answered present: Mekalia Cooper, Angela Craig, Howard Gallois and Ron Heinen. Absent: Jennifer Morgan and Corey Rheinecker. Others present were: Recording Secretary Tina Witherby and members of the staff, community and press (County Journal).
Vice President Kevin Holliday led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Gail McElroy spoke to the Board of Education on commemorating 9/11, critical race theory and sex education. Dr. Schwemmer stated that any 9/11 commemorations would be organized by the principals for each building. The district currently has an abstinence program. The sex education standards have not been developed by the state yet. The district also teaches how to be responsive of different cultures, which is a different topic from CRT.
With no other public comment requests, the meeting continued.
Howard Gallois moved, Ron Heinen seconded to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2021, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Heinen, Cooper, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll, Cash Flow and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2021, at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.
Chris Miesner, Principal of Sparta Lincoln School, thanked the students and staff for a successful start of school. NWEA testing is almost finished.
Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley reported that he has heard many good comments about Mr. Miesner and Mrs. Eugea from people in the community. Sports participation numbers are up and homecoming activities will be in two weeks.
Principal Charity Eugea thanked the administrative team and community for their help. She also thanked the K-4 teachers who had to make the best of the air conditions problems. There are five schools signed up for the first Evansville Attendance Center Cross Country Meet. The school also received a mentor grant.
The Building and Grounds Committee has met regarding the new gymnasium. They are working to get the budget down.
Dr. Schwemmer reported that the sixth day enrollment showed the district is up over 30 students this year. More paraprofessionals are needed. The district met the requirements on the IDEA Special Education Performance Plan.
Howard Gallois moved, Ron Heinen seconded to approve the fiscal year 2022 official budget as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: Craig. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits report for the 2021 school year as presented and to post the report to the district website as required by law. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Ron Heinen moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the 2021-2022 transportation contract with Zweigart Bus Service as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Gallois, Cooper, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Teacher Clint Peck explained the need for a mini mill and how the classes and students would use it and benefit from it.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve going out for bid for a mini-mill for Sparta High School. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Heinen, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the bid for a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Work Truck in the amount of $41,833. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Heinen, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to enter into closed session at 7:43 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 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, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Ron Heinen seconded to come out of executive session at 8:19 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Heinen, Gallois, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the executive session minutes as presented for the August 12, 2021, meeting. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Cooper, Heinen, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Ron Heinen moved, Angela Craig seconded to authorize the destruction of the audio recordings of the Board’s closed session meetings up to and through March 2020, in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Craig, Gallois, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Ron Heinen seconded to employ Brandi Johnson-Rodgers as a 194-day Nurse for the District at $22 per hour for the 2021-2022 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a physical, drug screen and proper licensure. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Heinen, Craig, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Ron Heinen seconded to employ Bobby Klausing as the Building and Grounds Assistant for the District at $17.50 per hour for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Heinen, Craig, Gallois and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to increase Kaycee Dickey’s position as Custodian from 10-months to 12-months. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Amanda Orella as a Full-Time Paraprofessional for the District for the remainder of the 2021-2022 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: Gallois, Craig, Heinen, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to employ Veronica Frisch as a Full-Time Paraprofessional for the District for the remainder of the 2021-2022 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: Gallois, Cooper, Heinen, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Ron Heinen seconded to employ Sharena Trapps as a Full-Time Paraprofessional for the District for the remainder of the 2021-2022 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: Cooper, Heinen, Gallois, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Ron Heinen moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Megan Beelman as Student Council Co-Sponsor at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Gallois, Cooper, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Ashley Brown as the Assistant Coach for Girls’ Basketball at Sparta High School for the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Ron Heinen seconded to approve Heather Harris as the Assistant Coach for Girls’ Basketball at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Heinen, Gallois, Cooper and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Ron Heinen moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve Morgan Clinton as the Freshman Class Sponsor at Sparta High School for the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Gallois, Cooper, Craig and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve Michael Kelley as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2021-2022 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Craig, Gallois, Heinen and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen and Holliday. Nays: none. Motion carried.
https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/copy-of-board-of-education-meeting--1
Alerts Sign-up