Chester Community Unit School District 139 Board of Education met Nov. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 held a Regular Meeting on November 17, 2022, in High School FACS Classroom B217. President Trent Vasquez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Belton motioned, Mott seconded to enter into executive session at 6:02 p.m. for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and for student disciplinary cases. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Caraway motioned, Belton seconded to return to open session at 7:38 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comment
● Alicia Ebers expressed concerns about scheduling her children for parent-teacher conferences.
● Dwight Lochhead discussed the results of the teacher survey for Yondr sleeves.
Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Mott, Malley, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
● Agenda and items as listed:
● October 19, 2022 regular meeting and executive session minutes;
● November 1, 2022 special meeting and executive session minutes;
● Bills in the amount of $475,671.56 and payroll in the amount of $507,282.05;
● Financial reports
High School Athletic Director’s Report
● Varsity football won the Illinois Division of the Cahokia conference for the second straight year by defeating Red Bud at home. The team ended their season in the first round of the playoffs.
● Football playoff board has been updated.
● Volleyball finished their season with a record of 15-14.
● Girls basketball first game this week in the Sparta Tournament.
● Boys basketball begins next week at Anna Jonesboro and the first home game against Pinckneyville on November 23rd.
Grade School Athletic Director’s Report
● Attended a conference AD meeting.
● Boys basketball is going well. Took 2nd place in both the Marissa and PDR tournaments.
● 5th/6th grade boys are practicing 1-2 times a week and will begin games in December.
● Girls basketball is going well. Young team this year and they’re working hard.
● 5th/6th grade girls will begin games in January.
Maintenance Report
● Things are winter weatherized at the high school. Major repairs were done last winter and things are in good shape for the most part.
● Repairs from storm damage at the grade school have been made.
● Needing to replace a garbage disposal at the grade school kitchen again.
Curriculum Report
● RTI groups are meeting and will meet again following the mid-year benchmark testing in January.
● We currently have 58 ELL students in our district.
● 52 students will take the ACCESS test in January-February.
● Star testing and DIBELS benchmark testing will be administered in January.
● Entering accommodations requests for PSAT and SAT April test date.
● Spring 2023 Illinois State Assessment Dates were shared.
Grade School Principal’s Report
● Mrs. Handel, Mrs. Liefer and Mrs. Furuholmen hosted a native American day on Oct 17th.
● Parent teacher conferences were held on Oct 20th & 21st. We had 608 of 628 scheduled conferences.
● A parental survey was available to fill out during conferences. Average score was 38/40 or 95% satisfaction.
● Successful book fair. Each teacher received $75 worth of books for their classroom. Big thank you to Ms. Bierman, Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Shinabargar.
● Approximately 35 veterans attended the assembly on Nov 10th.
● PTS is in the process of scheduling Santa’s Kottage.
High School Principal’s Report
● Mrs. Appel took 24 Art Club students to the annual Steeleville High School chalk walk on Oct 27th.
● CHS Counselor, Casey Hawkins, announced that 4 seniors have been designated as 23-24 Illinois State Scholars.
● SADD organized events and dress up days for Red Ribbon week Oct 24th-28th.
● Student council held its annual Red Cross blood drive on Oct 26th.
● Mrs. Hammel’s English I class created their own children's book and then visited the second grade class.
● Student Council organized a Trick or Treat event and was a huge success.
● National Honor Society held its 2022 Induction Ceremony on Nov 9th.
● CHS administration has certified the early graduation of 4 seniors and are seeking board approval.
● Parent teacher conferences were held on Oct 20th & 21st and 22 parent surveys were submitted.
Superintendent’s Report
● Upgrading signs and paint on the drive at the high school to make a bus lane only.
● Review the lease with the driver's ed car. We will continue with the lease to own.
● 2022 Annual Summative Designations
● ARP-IDEA Flow Through Grant was approved, including a new Living Skills lab at the high school and playground equipment at the grade school for special needs students. We will also be purchasing new washers and dryers from the grant.
● Scheffel Boyle requested an extension on the audit until December 15th.
● Baysinger completed the building analysis on the high school. Recommendations to correct issues were presented.
● Updated the Star program to Star 360 to provide further assessment and analysis to assist students academically.
● Added AIMSWEB Plus to assist special education teachers with progress monitoring and help with identifying students’ deficit areas.
Caraway motioned, Mott seconded to approve board policy updates 5:220, 5:330 and 6:330. Roll call vote. Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
No motion was made to consider a trial period to eliminate Yondr sleeves.
Mott motioned, Malley seconded to approve Board of Education regular meeting dates for the calendar year 2023. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Mott seconded to approve a two-year contract with Lohman Lawn Care for HS at $500 and GS at $300. Roll call vote. Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Belton motioned, Mott seconded to approve early graduation for December 2022 for Isaac Earl. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Caraway motioned, Mott seconded to approve early graduation for December 2022 for Cody Johnson. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Caraway motioned, Davitz seconded to approve early graduation for December 2022 for Layden Martin. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Malley seconded to approve early graduation for December 2022 for Abagail Hicks. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
The board conducted first reading and discussion of Tax Levy.
Malley motioned, Belton seconded to approve a certified employee’s request for an unpaid leave of absence. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Caraway motioned, Belton seconded to approve to employ Carla McSmith as 12 month Grade School Secretary at $13.20/hr effective November 28, 2022. Roll call vote. Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Caraway motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the intent to retire from Shirley Stegmann at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year and approve participation in the 6% retirement benefit program the last four years as allowed in the collective bargaining agreement. Roll call vote. Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Belton seconded to move to terminate the employment of Makayla Murray, an at-will educational support employee, effective immediately. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Caraway seconded to approve Matthew Korando as high school volunteer assistant boys basketball coach for the 2022-2023 school year. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Mott motioned, Davitz seconded to approve Chett Andrews as high school volunteer assistant boys basketball coach for the 2022-2023 school year. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Caraway motioned, Malley seconded to approve the expulsion of student #2600093 for the period of November 17, 2022 - August 1, 2024 in accordance with parent waiver of expulsion rights. Upon roll call all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Motion by Belton and seconded by Malley to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
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