South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met Aug. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting was called order at 7:00 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, Howard Gallois, Ron Heinen and Jennifer Morgan. Absent: Angela Craig and Kevin Holliday. Others present were: Superintendent Dr. Gabrielle Schwemmer, Recording Secretary Tina Witherby, Principals Scott Beckley, Charity Eugea and Chris Miesner; members of the staff, community and press (County Journal).

Board President Corey Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Gail McElroy thanked the Board of Education for opting out of the sex ed curriculum. She offered many resources for anyone interested.

Craig Valleroy spoke to the Board regarding the incident last year with a bus driver. He asked for the policies and procedures for handling a situation with a student. The Board of Education is waiting to get that from Zweigart Bus Services, Inc.

Board Member Angela Craig entered the meeting at 7:04 p.m.

With no other public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2022, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Abstain: Heinen. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll, Cash Flow and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for September 8, 2022, at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.

Sparta Lincoln School Principal Chris Miesner thanked the custodial staff. The building looks good. He also thanked the office staff. Sparta Lincoln School is 85% registered.

Dr. Charity Eugea also thanked the custodial and office staff at Evansville Attendance Center for going above and beyond for the school.

Principal Scott Beckley thanked the custodial staff and the student workers that helped over the summer. The parking area is done and will be able to accommodate most of the parking passes.

Superintendent Dr. Schwemmer reported that the school year will be started without masking. There will be no weekly testing this year for staff. There will be a coffee truck at the high school on Monday from 7-9 a.m. along with a breakfast buffet for staff. There will be active shooter training following breakfast. A block party will be held from 4-6 p.m. The open house will be from 6-7 p.m. Because of the long day on Monday, staff will be dismissed at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Dr. Schwemmer reviewed the results of the Illinois Survey. Overall, it seems recreational substance use is getting less. The 12th graders’ responses showed there was no illicit drug use. The kids do not eat meals with their families anymore. Parents do not talk to their kids about the risks of drugs, alcohol or drunk driving. Bullying was low. It was mainly name-calling. Overall, they feel the culture is positive. They have a trusted adult to talk to in their school. The administration will work with Comwell and focus on staff regarding the effects of burnout, substance abuse and marital problems.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to approve the FY23 Tentative Budget, to establish the Public Hearing on the Budget which will be held prior to the September 2022 board meeting, to publish notice of the Public Hearing and to display the FY 2023 Tentative Budget in the district office for 30 days. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Howard Gallois seconded to approve the 2022-2023 Risk Management Plan as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Gallois, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to adopt the Resolution Abating the Working Cash Fund of Sparta Community Unit School District #140, Randolph County, Illinois. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Five million dollars will be permanently transferred from the working cash fund to the capital projects fund for the Sparta High School Gymnasium Project.

Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan 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 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, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to come out of executive session at 8:19 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the July 14, 2022, meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Ron Heinen moved, Angela Craig seconded to accept the resignation of Angela Carter as Junior Beta Club Co-Sponsor at Sparta Lincoln School effective July 15, 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Craig, Morgan, Cooper, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Ron Heinen seconded to accept the resignation of Courtney Maisel as Speech Language Pathologist for the District effective July 20, 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Heinen, Morgan, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Howard Gallois seconded to accept the resignation of Valerie Ruebusch as Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School effective August 1, 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Gallois, Cooper, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: Craig. Motion carried.

Ron Heinen moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to accept the resignation of Matthew Penford as Crossing Guard at Sparta Lincoln School effective August 15, 2022. Roll call vote. Yeas: Heinen, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Daniel Wasson as the 11-month PC Technician for the District for the 2022-2023 school year with a start date of August 3, 2022, at $18 per hour, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screening, along with Computer TIA Certification within three years of employment. Roll call vote: Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Angela Craig seconded to employ Dana Hahn as a Full-Time Teacher with the District with seven years of experience for the 2022-2023 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: Morgan, Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Jerry Carpenter as a Full-Time Teacher with the District with 25 years of experience for the 2022-2023 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, Morgan, Craig, Heinen and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Abstain: Gallois. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Ron Heinen seconded to employ Kelli Coughlin as a Full-Time Teacher with no experience for the District for the 2022-2023 school year subject to and contingent upon proper licensure. Roll call vote: Yeas: Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to employ Alacyia Williams as a Full-Time Paraprofessional with the District with no experience for the 2022-2023 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote: Yeas: Gallois, Cooper, Heinen, Morgan, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Faith Argus as a Full-Time Paraprofessional with the District with no experience for the 2022-2023 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote: Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Ron Heinen moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Heather Cleveland as a Full-Time Paraprofessional with the District with no experience for the 2022-2023 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote: Yeas: Heinen, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Denise Andrews as a Full-Time Paraprofessional with the District with 7 years of experience for the 2022-2023 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Anne Nelson as a 6-hour Cook with the District for the 2022-2023 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote: Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Ron Heinen moved, Howard Gallois seconded to employ Robert Scott Venus as a 12-month Custodian with the District for the 2022-2023 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen. Roll call vote: Yeas: Heinen, Gallois, Morgan, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Ron Heinen seconded to employ Paul Gentry as a 12-month Custodian with the District for the 2022-2023 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, physical and drug screen. Roll call vote: Yeas: Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve Kati Long as the Co-Sponsor for Beta Club at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2022-2023 school year. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Ron Heinen moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve Kevin Bathon as a Volunteer Assistant Football coach at Sparta High School for the 2022-2023 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check. Roll call vote: Yeas: Heinen, Morgan, Cooper, Craig, Gallois and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Howard Gallois moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve Avery, Austin and Wesley Carpenter as Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coaches at Evansville Attendance Center for the 2022-2023 school year subject to and contingent upon successful completion of criminal history background checks. Roll call vote: Yeas: Gallois, Morgan, Heinen, Cooper, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the non-union non-certified staff pay increases for the 2022-2023 school year as presented. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Craig, Gallois and Heinen. Nays: none. Abstain: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Angela Craig moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to ratify the three-year contract with the Sparta Service Employees. Roll call vote: Yeas: Craig, Cooper, Gallois, Heinen and Morgan. Nays: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Howard Gallois seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Gallois, Craig, Heinen, Morgan and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.