Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met May 4.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The special 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, Angela Craig, Howard Gallois, Ron Heinen, Kevin Holliday and Jennifer Morgan. Absent: none. Others present were: Acting Superintendent Chris Miesner; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Board Members-Elect Ryan Pillers, Heather Price and Rob Soderlund; and members of the staff.
Board President Corey Rheinecker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the terminations/mounting work in the Sparta High School gym addition by CTS in the amount of $23,418.88. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mr. Miesner reported that Holland is getting the parking lot ready for paving. There is a tree that will need to be removed. They found there is a memorial plaque for Ronnie Stork by the tree. The family has agreed that another tree can be planted that can be rededicated to him.
The HVAC delivery for the new gym has been delayed. They were to arrive on April 20, but will not be shipped now until July 7. They cannot start installing the gym floor until those are installed. The bleachers cannot be installed until after the floor has been installed.
Howard Gallois moved, Angela Craig seconded to enter into closed session at 7:06 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Roll call vote. Yeas: Gallois, Craig, Heinen, Holliday, Morgan, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Howard Gallois seconded to come out of closed session at 7:14 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Morgan, Craig and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Angela Craig moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to approve the three-year contract with Lynda Loesing as Principal of Sparta Lincoln School with a salary of $88,000 for the 2023-2024 school year; $91,000 for the 2024-2025 school year; and $94,000 for the 2025-2026 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Craig, Morgan, Gallois, Heinen, Holliday, Cooper and Rheinecker. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Mr. Rheinecker appointed Mr. Miesner as President ProTem of the Board.
Mr. Miesner announced the results of the April 4, 2023 election. They were: Two-Year Term: Albert Zinselmeier 357 votes and Ryan Pillers 782 votes. Therefore Mr. Pillers is the newly-elected member for the two-year term. For the Four-Year Term: Gordon Williams 383 votes; Rob Soderlund 736 votes; Angela Craig 710 votes; Matthew McElroy 391 votes; Meredith Klausing 398 votes; Christine Ledendecker 438 votes; Heather Price 633 votes and Jennifer Morgan 563 votes. Therefore, Rob Soderlund, Angela Craig, Heather Price and Jennifer Morgan are the newly-elected members for the four-year terms. Mr. Miesner presented the oath of office to the newly-elected board members.
Upon roll being called, the following Board of Education members answered present: Mekalia Cooper, Angela Craig, Howard Gallois, Jennifer Morgan, Ryan Pillers, Heather Price and Rob Soderlund. Absent: none.
For the office of the President of the Board of Education, Howard Gallois nominated Angela Craig. Heather Price nominated Mekalia Cooper.
Roll call vote for Angela Craig. Yeas: Cooper, Gallois, Morgan, Pillers, Price and Soderlund. Nays: none. Abstain: Craig.
Roll call vote for Mekalia Cooper. Yeas: Craig, Morgan and Price. Nays: Gallois, Pillers and Soderlund. Abstain: Cooper.
With a vote of 6-3 in favor of Angela Craig, Mrs. Craig was elected as President of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2025.
The newly-elected President took over for Mr. Miesner at this time.
For the office of Vice President of the Board of Education, Ryan Pillers nominated Jennifer Morgan. Howard Gallois nominated Mekalia Cooper.
Roll call vote for Jennifer Morgan. Yeas: Cooper, Craig, Pillers and Soderlund. Nays: Gallois and Price. Abstain: Morgan.
Roll call vote for Mekalia Cooper. Yeas: Gallois, Price, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: Morgan and Pillers. Abstain: Cooper.
With the tie vote, roll call resumed.
Roll call vote for Jennifer Morgan. Yeas: Cooper, Craig, Pillers and Soderlund. Nays: Gallois and Price. Abstain: Morgan.
Roll call vote for Mekalia Cooper. Yeas: Gallois, Price, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: Morgan and Pillers. Abstain: Cooper.
With the tie vote, roll call resumed.
Roll call vote for Jennifer Morgan. Yeas: Cooper, Craig and Pillers. Nays: Gallois, Price and Soderlund. Abstain: Morgan.
Roll call vote for Mekalia Cooper. Yeas: Gallois, Price, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: Morgan and Pillers. Abstain: Cooper.
Wither a vote of 4-3 in favor of Mekalia Cooper, Ms. Cooper was elected as Vice President of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2025.
For the office of Secretary of the Board of Education, Mekalia Cooper nominated Jennifer Morgan. With Mrs. Morgan being the only candidate nominated for the office of Secretary, Mrs. Morgan was elected by acclamation as the Secretary of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2025.
For the office of Board Treasurer of the Board of Education, Angela Craig nominated Howard Gallois. Jennifer Morgan nominated Ryan Pillers.
Roll call vote for Howard Gallois. Yeas: Cooper, Pillers, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: Morgan and Pillers. Abstain: Gallois.
Roll call vote for Ryan Pillers. Yeas: Cooper, Gallois, Morgan, Price and Soderlund. Nays: Craig. Abstain: Pillers.
With a vote of 5-3 in favor of Ryan Pillers, Mr. Pillers was elected as Board Treasurer of the Board of Education for a two-year term until April 2025.
The following committees were appointed until April 2025:
Finance/Personnel: Jennifer Morgan and Ryan Pillers
Building & Grounds: Howard Gallois and Rob Soderlund
Policy: Mekalia Cooper and Heather Price
The Notice of Regular Meeting Dates was discussed. The meeting day will change. This will be presented at the regular May board meeting to be held on May 11, 2023.
Mekalia Cooper moved, Angela Craig seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Gallois, Pillers, Price, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.
https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/copy-of-board-of-education-meeting--1
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