Chester Community Unit School District 139 Board of Education met March 16.
Here is the agenda provided by the Board:
The Board of Education of Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 held a Regular Meeting on March 16 2023, in High School FACS Classroom B217. President Trent Vasquez called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Mott motioned, Caraway 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. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Grade School Principal, Bill Grafton, was present in executive session. He exited the session at 6:03 and returned in session at 7:12 p.m. Superintendent Kimberly Briggs exited executive session at 7:12 p.m. and returned in session at 8:15 p.m. Bill Grafton exited the session at 8:15 p.m. Kimberly Briggs exited the session at 8:25 p.m.
Mott motioned, Davitz seconded to return to open session at 8:28 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Pledge of Allegiance
No public comment was presented to the board.
Caraway motioned, Mott seconded to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Fricke, Belton, Davitz, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
● Agenda and items as listed:
● February 15, 2023 regular meeting and executive session minutes;
● Bills in the amount of $313,469.09 and payroll in the amount of $513,158.03;
● Financial reports
High School Athletic Director’s Report
● Camryn Howie was selected to the girls Cahokia conference (IL Division) all conference basketball team.
● Gavin Schroeder and Chance Mott were selected to the boys Cahokia conference (IL Division) all conference basketball team.
● ESports got their first win last week in Smash Bros. against Belleville Althoff.
● First softball game was Monday, March 13 at home against Du Quoin.
● First baseball game was Tuesday, March 14 at home against Marissa.
● Track season has started. First indoor meet was on March 3rd at SIU Carbondale. The first outdoor meet for tomorrow, March 17th, has been canceled.
● Jacob Handel was named an Honorable Mention recipient to the IHSA All-State Academic team. He was one of only 50 students selected for this state award.
Grade School Athletic Director’s Report
● 5/6th boys and girls basketball season is over and the coaches have collected all uniforms.
● Volleyball 8th grade night was Monday, March 13 with a total of 9 girls.
● Volleyball regionals are to be played at Red Bud vs Red Bud on Thursday, March 16.
● Danielle Draves has volunteered to be the track coach.
● First track practice is March 20th. There are approximately 20 boys and 20 girls signed up.
Maintenance Report
● New wall in room 113 is up and plumbers will be called next week to do their work.
● Football field shed is leveled. Will put a skirt board around the bottom and finish the inside insulation, finish walls, receptacles, etc.
● Garet Burns mechanical will replace the exhaust fan on the Daikin unit over the science room at the high school and repair an issue with the same type unit at the grade school.
● There was an issue with power to the track shed but it was covered by Ameren Must have been an issue on the service pole. Every other circuit was dead in the breaker box.
● Cleaned the air intake grill in the grade school gym with Chris Gilmer. Takes 2 people about 3 hours to take it all down, blow the dust out, wipe it down and reinstall it.
● Going to replace the actuators in Colbert gym after the play is over.
● Water is not back on to the track yet but it will be back on and we will get the track cleaned up before the first track meet.
● Filters have all been checked or changed at both schools on rooftop units.
● Martin roofing came a couple of weeks ago and patched 2 roof leaks at the high school. Warranty work so there was no charge.
Curriculum Report
● Spring 2023 ACCESS testing was completed at the end of February. Testing materials have been packed and shipped out for scoring
● IAR testing, ISA testing and PSAT/SAT testing dates were shared
● Grade school teachers have been working in their grade level teams analyzing student reading data and addressing ways to modify (reading) curriculum for identified standards
● High school teachers have been working in their grade level teams, looking at student academic and behavior data in order to determine students who need additional support. Work will continue with individual intervention supports being put in place
Grade School Principal’s Report
● Parent teacher conferences were Feb 16th and 17th. Teachers were able to make contact for 461 of a possible 486 conferences (95%). There are 549 K-8th students currently enrolled.
● Preschool and Kindergarten registration will be held on Tuesday, March 21st.
● PTS walk-a-thon is scheduled for Thursday, April 20th with a rain date of April 27th.
● Positive Give Back raised $504 this month.
● Jr. High band students participated in solos and ensembles at Carterville Grade School on Saturday, Feb. 25th. Students earned 3 superior, 64 excellent and 7 good ratings. 31 events qualified for the state contest on April 29th.
● Mrs. Belton and Mrs. Cartwright sponsored and raised $6,121.71 for the Kids Heart Challenge for the American Heart Association.
● Students and teachers completed the 5 Essential Survey.
● Jr. High spring dance is scheduled for Friday, March 24th. The theme is cowboys and cowgirls.
● The handbook committee is working on a new student handbook.
● We have also begun working on next year's schedule.
● Would like for 2 board members to help pass out diplomas at graduation on May 18th.
High School Principal’s Report
● Elk Students of the Month for February were Aubrie Medford and Koby Jany.
● Mrs. Hawkins and administration visited the elementary schools to discuss next year's schedule and high school activities.
● Freshman preview night has been set for March 27th from 6:30-7:30 in Colbert gymnasium.
● Students and teachers completed the 5 Essential Survey.
● Mrs. Zeiger and the Spanish Club went on a field trip to St. Louis on March 7th.
● Mrs. Hammel’s English IV class went on their second field study trip to visit Benton and Carbondale High School Media Centers. They also went to Barnes and Noble and made their first official purchase of books to kick off the major upgrades to the school media center.
● Mrs. Miller took some of her students to the Workforce Transition Fair in Red Bud.
● Colby Kelkhoff, Matt James, and Branden Whitley finished 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the CCSI skills USA competition.
● CHS music department took home 5th place in the class B overall organizational band in the IHSA solo and ensemble contest.
● Mr. Springston received the Web Advisor of The Year Award from SIU.
● All teacher evaluations for the 2022–2023 school year are completed.
Superintendent’s Report
● The school improvement team met this week with Sheriff Peters, City Police, EMA and Fire Chief to complete the Crisis Management Plan.
● Dr. Segobaino from SWIC visited. We are continuing to establish transitional English and Math for high school students.
● Teacher Institute was this week on Monday with CPR training, AIMSweb Plus training and building meetings.
● Auditors are finishing up the audit.
● Monday they drilled for soil samples on the 2nd grade wing where they want to put the new footings.
● They replaced the units on the Kindergarten wing that were having problems.
● Interviewing for various vacant positions.
● Track, baseball and softball began this week.
Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the modernization for grade school and high school elevators from TKE at $469,476.52. Roll call vote. Ayes: Mott, Malley, Davitz, Belton, Fricke, Caraway, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The board conducted the first reading of proposed changes of the Intergovernmental Agreement Resolution with OKAW Regional Vocational System.
Caraway motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the amended 2022-2023 school calendar as presented. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Belton motioned, Mott seconded to approve the grade school facility request for use of the gym for the Spring Fling Resource Fair (in the event of inclement weather) on April 1, 2023, pending return of application. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
The board discussed allowing East Perry Timber Procurement, LLC to provide easement to access adjacent property and tabled the approval at this time.
Belton motioned, Malley seconded to approve the renaming of the high school library/media center to “Professor Sharp Library & Media Center”. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Mott motioned, Davitz seconded to approve a certified employees request for leave of absence through the 4th quarter. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Fricke, Belton, Davitz, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Mott seconded to accept the letter of intent to retire from Laura Howie at the end of the 2026-2027 school year and participation in the 6% incentive the last 4 years. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Fricke, Belton, Davitz, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Mott seconded to approve to employ Paula Ray as high school English teacher effective August 14, 2023. Roll call vote. Ayes: Mott, Malley, Davitz, Belton, Fricke, Caraway, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Belton seconded to approve to employ Erin Conley as high school Math teacher effective August 14, 2023. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Fricke, Belton, Davitz, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mott motioned, Fricke seconded to approve to employ Kasey Schultheis as social worker effective August 14, 2023. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Fricke, Belton, Davitz, Malley, Mott, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Mott seconded to approve to employ Jenna Uchtman as grade school Speech and Language Pathologist effective August 14, 2023. Roll call vote. Ayes: Mott, Malley, Davitz, Belton, Fricke, Caraway, Vasquez. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Motion by Davitz and seconded by Mott to adjourn the meeting at 9:21 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3096/CCSD/2964835/Mar_16__2023_Regular_Mtg_Brief.pdf
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