Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met Jan. 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The regular meeting was called order at 7:01 p.m. by Board 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, Howard Gallois, Ron Heinen, Kevin Holliday and Jennifer Morgan. Absent: none. Others present were: Superintendent Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Principals Scott Beckley, Charity Eugea and Chris Miesner and members of the staff, community and press (County Journal).
Board President Corey Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Retired Custodian Larry Gaertner spoke to the Board of Education about outsourcing the food service. He felt that hiring outside help would disrupt the students. He would like to see the program stay as is.
Gail McElroy addressed the Board of Education regarding open bathrooms and locker rooms for the boys and girls to use together. She asked what the Board was doing about the governor’s decision. She also asked why CNN is being played daily for the students. She asked if other channels were offered. She also asked why the gym is being used for a vaccination site. She asked where the students were during this time, what the safety protocols were and why they weren’t using the mobile clinic for that instead. She was concerned that CRT issues were being taught in the district and felt the students needed more of a core education. Mr. Rheinecker explained that she can send her questions to the Superintendent to get answers.
With no other public comment requests, the meeting continued.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the minutes of the December 9, 2021, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll, Cash Flow and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: Holliday. Motion carried.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2022, at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.
Meghan Blechle, Heather Harris and Donna Whyte presented the reading improvement results for grades 1-3. Overall, they started the year at 50% who could read at or above average. They were tested at the end of the second quarter and now there are 68% who can read at or above average.
Mr. Scott Beckley, Sparta High School Principal, reported that One Goal, an organization through ISBE, will be implemented at Sparta High School. He will bring NWEA data to the next meeting. He would like to set graduation dates so the announcements can be ordered.
Sparta High School graduation will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022. The combined graduation for Sparta Lincoln School/Evansville Attendance Center will be held on Friday, May 13, 2022.
Superintendent Schwemmer recognized the recipients of the Superintendent Shout-Out. For November, the recipients were: Logan Lehde, Evansville Attendance Center; William Haynes, Sparta Lincoln School and Sara Stefani, Sparta High School. The recipients for December were: Chloe Adams, Evansville Attendance Center; Gavin Miller, Sparta Lincoln School and Braxton Parker, Sparta High School.
Angela Craig moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adopt the resolution abating the tax heretofore levied for the year 2021 to pay debt service on General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2015, of Community Unit School District Number 140, Randolph County, Illinois, in the amount of $656,362.50. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the overnight trip for Skills USA for state competition in Peoria, Illinois, in April 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: Cooper. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Ron Heinen seconded to approve the overnight trip for Life Savers to DuBois, Illinois, on February 18-20, 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig, Gallois, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to go out for bid for the main distribution panel and section to match the existing 600 amp breaker that can be changed out to a 400 amp chip in the new gym. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Kevin Holliday seconded to go out for bid for food service. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Holliday, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: Heinen, Morgan and Cooper. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to adopt the following the policies: 2:20 Powers/Duties of the School Board-Indemnification; 2:105 Ethics and Gift Ban; 2:110 Qualifications, Term and Duties of Board Officers; 2:120 Board Member Development; 2:150 Committees; 2:220 School Board Meeting Procedure; 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure; 3:40 Superintendent; 3:50 Administrative Personnel Other Than the Superintendent; 3:60 Administrative Responsibility of the Building Principal; 4:60 Purchases and Contracts; 4:80 Accounting and Audits; 4:110 Transportation; 4:120 Food Services; 4:150 Facility Management and Building Programs; 4:160 Environmental Quality of Buildings and Grounds; 4:165 Awareness and Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Grooming Behaviors; 4:170 Safety; 4:175 Convicted Child Sex Offender, Screening, Notifications; 5:10 Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment; 5:20 Workplace Harassment Prohibited; 5:30 Hiring Process and Criteria; 5:50 Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace, e-Cigarette, Tobacco and Cannabis Prohibition; 5:90 Abused and Neglected Child Reporting; 5:100 Staff Development Program; 5:120 Employee Ethics, Conduct and Conflict of Interest; 5:125 Personal Technology and Social Media, Usage and Conduct; 5:150 Personnel Records; 5:185 Family and Medical Leave; 5:200 Terms and Conditions of Employment and Dismissal; 5:210 Resignations; 5:220 Substitute Teachers; 5:250 Leaves of Absence; 5:260 Student Teachers; 5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays and Leaves; 6:15 School Accountability; 6:20 School Year Calendar and Day; 6:50 School Wellness; 6:60 Curriculum Content; 6:120 Education of Children with Disabilities; 6:130 Program for the Gifted; 6:135 Accelerated Placement Program; 6:180 Extended Instructional Programs; 6:220 Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Program, Responsible Use and Conduct; 6:300 Graduation Requirements; 6:310 High School Credit for Non-District Experiences, Course Substitutions, Re-Entering Students; 6:320 High School Credit for Proficiency; 6:340 Student Testing and Assessment Program; 7:10 Equal Educational Opportunities; 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited; 7:30 Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer; 7:50 School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools; 7:60 Residence; 7:70 Attendance and Truancy; 7:80 Release Time for Religious Instruction/Observance; 7:150 Agency and Police Interviews; 7:160 Student Appearance; 7:165 School Uniforms; 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment; 7:190 Student Behavior; 7:200 Suspension Procedures; 7:210 Expulsion Procedures; 7:240 Conduct Code for Participants in Extracurricular Activities; 7:250 Student Support Services; 7:260 Exemption from Physical Education; 7:290 Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention; 7:310 Restrictions on Publications, Elementary Schools; 7:315 Restrictions on Publications, High Schools; 7:340 Student Records; 7:345 Use of Educational Technologies, Student Data Privacy and Security; 8:70 Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities; and 8:100 Relations with Other Organizations and Agencies as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Gallois, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to enter into executive session at 7:54 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 collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Howard Gallois seconded to come out of executive session at 9:22 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Gallois, Cooper, Craig, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the December 9, 2021, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to accept the resignation of Hunter-Elise Rooks as Paraprofessional at Sparta High School effective January 5, 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve a 3-year contract with Charity Eugea as Principal at Evansville Attendance Center with an annual salary of $65,000 for the 2022-2023 school year; $68,000 for the 2023-2024 school year and $71,000 for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Jennifer Morgan moved, Ron Heinen seconded to approve Faith Argus and Roxy Mines as Volunteer Assistant Volleyball Coaches at Evansville Attendance Center for the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: Holliday. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to ratify a three-year contract with the Sparta Education Association. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Angela Craig seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:24 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Craig, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/copy-of-board-of-education-meeting--1
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