Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 Board of Education met March 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 held their Regular Meeting in High School FACS Classroom B217. President Vasquez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Members present: Nikki Malley, Charles Fricke, Matt Davitz, Debi Caraway, Lorin Mott, Trent Vasquez. Members absent: Randi Belton.
Motion was made by Mott and seconded by Davitz to enter into executive session at 6:00 p.m. for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Upon roll call Caraway voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Davitz and seconded by Mott to return to open session at 7:40 p.m. Upon roll call Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Caraway voted aye Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Mott to approve the agenda and items as listed. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
No public comment was presented to the Board.
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Meyer gave an RTI presentation to the board. RTI is an intervention for students that lack specific skills who are placed in the program through STAR testing. This data is required to identify what is missing, students are then grouped into RTI classrooms based upon missing like skills.
Maintenance Report:
∙ The bathrooms are now working in the track shed.
∙ Currently working on the emergency/exit lighting in track shed.
∙ A&W fixed the issue with the old building boilers at the high school.
∙ Roofing and repairs to the concrete block building above the track area is complete.
∙ Still waiting on the lockers to arrive at the grade school.
∙ Ice removal this year was extremely tough. A big thank you to the City for helping out with cinders. Mr. Paulus was so grateful he took them 2 smoked pork butts along with potato salad, baked beans, chips, soda, a four-layer dessert and banana muffins. Ty Malley smoked the pork butts and Oleva Clark made the rest.
Grade School Athletic Report:
∙ Volleyball ended their season as Regional Champs! Great job to the team and coaches.
∙ The track season is getting ready to start; 40 students have signed up.
High School Athletic Report:
∙ Baseball, softball and track practice officially began on February 28.
∙ The first baseball and softball games were held on March 14 at Marissa.
∙ Track began its season on March 17 at Murphysboro.
Curriculum Report:
∙ RTI is currently being planned for grades 6-11 using Star Reading and Math scores from the end of 3rd quarter.
∙ Spring 2022 ACCESS testing is completed.
∙ IAR testing is now open.
∙ ISA testing will take place for grade 11 on March 24 and on April 11 for grades 5 and 8.
∙ All 9th and 10th graders will take the PSAT on April 13.
∙ All 11th graders will take the SAT with Essay on April 13.
∙ End of year benchmark testing will begin the end of April through early May.
Grade School Principal’s Report:
∙ Parent/teacher conferences were scheduled for February 17 and 18. With conferences being cancelled due to weather, teachers were asked to reach out to the parents and were able to make contact with 435 of a possible 514 conferences (85%).
∙ Preschool and kindergarten registration will be held on March 22.
∙ PTS Walk-a-Thon is scheduled for April 21, with a rain date of April 28.
∙ Band solos and ensembles are being recorded and submitted again this year. We have 44 students performing solos and 27 students performing 9 different ensembles. All recordings have to be uploaded by March 26.
∙ Third quarter ended March 11.
∙ The Spring Concert is scheduled for Thursday, April 28.
∙ Various classes have begun scheduling field trips once again.
∙ Graduation is set for Thursday, May 19.
High School Principal’s Report:
∙ The Music Department is currently tied for 2nd in the Class B Solo and Ensemble Contest after student performances on March 5. We had 111 entries; 4 perfect scores.
∙ The Theater Department opens March 17. Everyone has worked so hard on the play. A huge thank you to Mrs. Hodge for all she did to pull this together.
∙ OKAW funds are flowing and purchases are coming in.
∙ The following students will be attending the SkillsUSA competition April 28-30.
- Automotive Services Tech - Gavin Cushman, Jordan Bybee, Alex Embrich, Jerald Copple, Dominic Govero
- Automotive Maintenance & Light Repair - Max Allwardt
- Welding - Dylan Kelkhoff, Brock Vasquez
∙ The Sting staff attended the Southern Illinois School Press Association conference and won the Blue Banner Award on February 23.
∙ Elks Student of the Month winners:
- September - Kaleb Rehmer & Abbigail Bollmann
- October - Jacob Cowell & Kailyn Absher
- November - Ethan Stumpe & Alyssa Seymour
- December - Jerald Copple & Emma Bryant
- January - Jared Landeros & Anna Childs
- February - Frederick Alvarez & Madison Kribs
- March - Ryan Springston & Lilith Lochhead
∙ We have six seniors that will represent CHS at the SISHSA Banquet at SIUC on May 2; Hannah Blechle, Abbigail Bollmann, Emma Bryant, Anna Childs, Madison Kribs and Alyssa Seymour.
∙ We are discussing combining Honors Night and Decision Day this year.
Superintendent’s Report:
∙ Pasero will schedule the “Starting Right” board training for June 22 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
∙ Legal issues surrounding the TRO on COVID mandates remain unresolved from the original Judge that issued the TRO. Until then, it has been recommended to suspend all mitigation mandates until further notice.
∙ Recommending approval of the E-Rate bid from QNS to complete networking upgrades in the amount of $7,139.59 for the 2022-23 school year. E-Rate has approved an 80% reimbursement for the work performed.
∙ Recommending approval to adjust rates for officials for the 2022-23 school year for high school football, volleyball and 5/6th grade basketball.
∙ Ms. Shinabargar was notified of receiving the FY22 School Library Grant for the district. I thank her for the work in securing those funds that will go to keeping the library materials up to date.
∙ Pasero will be asking for board approval on the mowing bid submitted by Lohman Lawn Service at a base price of $500 per mow, plus $30 per hour for additional weed pulling.
∙ Pasero has reached back out to the architect to see if there is an alternate solution to more quickly resolve the parking issue at a price the district could live with.
∙ The board received a copy of the amended 2021-22 school calendar and the proposed 2022-23 school calendar for approval.
∙ The board received a One-to-One draft plan to review prior to Pasero asking for formal approval in April.
∙ Bus driving positions are still available. Parents will be asked to drive when bussing is not available for extracurricular events.
∙ The production and delivery for the activity bus has been delayed until mid to late June.
Motion was made by Caraway and seconded by Mott to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Upon roll call Fricke voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
∙ Minutes of the February 16, 2022 regular meeting and executive session;
∙ Minutes of the February 28, 2022 Special Meeting and executive session;
∙ Bills in the amount of $616,139.58 and payroll in the amount of $477,135.08.
∙ Financial reports.
Motion was made by Davitz and seconded by Mott to adopt the amended 2021-2022 school calendar, reflecting six used emergency days. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Caraway and seconded by Davitz to adopt the 2022-2023 school calendar as presented with August 16, 2022 as the first day of student attendance. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Caraway to approve the emergency work provided by A&W Plumbing on December 7, 2021 to replace a failing water heater and for the installation of a bottle filler in the amount of $15,998.22. Upon roll call Mott voted aye, Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Davitz and seconded by Mott to approve the facility request from the Kids for Christ After School Program for use of the grade school cafeteria and two classrooms. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Malley and seconded by Davitz to accept the high school lawn bid as submitted by Lohman Lawn Care at $500 per mow, plus $30 per hour for additional weed pulling. Upon roll call Mott voted aye, Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Caraway to approve the recommended adjusted rates for officials for the 2022- 23 school year for high school football, volleyball and 5/6th grade basketball. Upon roll call Mott voted aye, Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Mott to approve the E-Rate bid from QNS to complete networking upgrades in the amount of $7,139.59 for the 2022-23 school year. Upon roll call Caraway voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
The Board tabled the formation of a Teacher Hall of Fame Committee at this time.
Motion was made by Caraway and seconded by Mott to accept the intent to retire from Robin Renfroe at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year and approve participation in the 6% retirement benefit program as allowed in the collective bargaining agreement. Upon roll call Caraway voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Davitz and seconded by Caraway to accept the intent to retire from Steve Browning at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year and approve participation in the 6% retirement benefit program as allowed in the collective bargaining agreement. Upon roll call Mott voted aye, Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Malley to accept the intent to retire from Lila Zeiger at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year and approve participation in the 6% retirement benefit program as allowed in the collective bargaining agreement. Upon roll call Caraway voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Davitz and seconded by Caraway to employ Courtney Hecht as grade school head track coach for the 2021-22 school year. Upon roll call Mott voted aye, Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Malley and seconded by Mott to approve Emily Millburg as high school softball volunteer coach for the 2021-22 school year. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Davitz to employ Morgan Atchison as grade school assistant track coach and as high school track volunteer for the 2021-22 school year. Upon roll call Mott voted aye, Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Caraway and seconded by Malley to approve Joe Crain as high school bass fishing volunteer for the 2021-22 school year. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Mott to employ Robert Dickson as 8-hour high school evening Custodian, beginning March 7, 2022, at $12.40 per hour. Upon roll call Mott voted aye, Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Caraway and seconded by Davitz to employ Melanie Carter as grade school Math Specialist beginning March 22, 2022. Upon roll call Caraway voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Fricke and seconded by Caraway to employ Jennifer Cole as Executive Assistant/Board Secretary at $16.00 per hour. Upon roll call Davitz voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Malley and seconded by Davitz to employ Jeannie Golding as Payroll/Human Resource Administrator for the 2022-23 school year as recommended. Upon roll call Davitz voted aye, Malley voted aye, Mott voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Caraway and seconded by Mott to approve an agreement to terminate a prior agreement between the Board and Sheri Coughlin and reassign as Office Manager/Accounts Payable effective July 1, 2022. Upon roll call Malley voted aye, Davitz voted aye, Mott voted aye, Fricke voted aye, Caraway voted aye, Vasquez voted aye. 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent; motion carried.
Motion was made by Davitz and seconded by Mott to adjourn the meeting at 8:34 p.m. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
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