Chester Community Unit School District 139 Board of Education met Aug. 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 August 17, 2023, in High School FACS Classroom B217. President Debi Caraway called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Davitz motioned, Belton seconded 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. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to return to open session at 7:30 p.m. Roll call vote.
Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comment
● No public comment was presented
Superintendent Mrs. Briggs introduced and welcomed all new Chester CUSD employees.
Caraway motioned, Malley seconded to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
● Agenda and items as listed:
● July 19, 2023 special meeting and executive session minutes;
● July 20, 2023 regular meeting and executive session minutes;
● Bills in the amount of $223,932.75 and payroll in the amount of $500,878.64;
● Financial reports
Athletic Director’s Report
CGS
● Baseball season started August 7th, Jr. Jackets are 2-3 to start the season
● Softball season started August 7th, Lady Jr. Jackets are 3-2 to start the season
● Tryouts for Cross Country are on the first week of school
● First home Cross Country meet is August 29th at Cohen
CHS
● Kids Dance Camp will be September 5th-7th and perform at the home football game on September 9th
● Cheer Camp was at Chester High School hosted by the NCA where 5 cheerleaders were nominated for All-American. Those 5 cheerleaders are invited to Hawaii for a NCA event. The board discussed this matter and it was tabled
● Soup/Gatorade football game is August 18th. Pictures will be taken at 5:30 pm, and the game is at 6:00 pm
● First home varsity football game is August 25th, Sophomore game on August 28th at DuQuoin, and Freshmen game at home on August 31st
● Volleyball season starts on August 22nd at Anna
● JV and Freshman volleyball tournaments have been added for this year
● The boys first golf meet was at home on August 15th where they became Inaugural Randolph County Cup champions
● The girls first golf match was on August 15th
● Cross Country opens their season at New Athens on August 21st
● Chester will be hosting the Regional Cross Country meet
● Chester High School sports now has a tab on the district website where you can keep up to date and see changes made to schedules in real time. It is directly linked to Big Teams Schedule Star.
● A Hudl camera has been installed on the high school football field and in the Colbert gym. Games will be streamed through Hudl and not NFHS. Fans can purchase and view individual games rather than a yearly subscription. Hudl can break down stats and send it to players and their coaches. Businesses will also be able to advertise on this site.
Curriculum Report
● Benchmark testing is scheduled for the week of August 28th
● Social Emotional Learning training is scheduled for all staff on August 25th. Second stop for K-8 and Character Strong for 9-12
Maintenance Report
● The remaining exhaust louvers for Colbert Gym have had the actuators replaces and are functioning as they should
● The closet in the corner of the media center room at the high school has been retiled
● In the next two weeks, 2 30 ft steel I-beams are being installed for the new scoreboard at the high school
● Power and outlets has been installed in the old kitchen at the grade school
● A teachers mailbox has been hung at the high school
● Several lockers at the high school have been fixed
Grade School Principal’s Report
● Online registration was July 25th and In-person registration was July 27th from 12 pm-6:30 pm and July 28th from 8 am-2 pm
● Kindergarten has been conducting screenings. We now have approximately 51 Kindergarten students, 40 Pre-K students for half days and 15 Pre-K students for a full day of school
● 632 Early Childhood-8th graders has been enrolled
● A Teachers Institute was held August 14th and 15th
● An open house for grade school students was August 15th from 5:30-6:30
● First day of school was August 16th
● Currently waiting for Sonitrol Cameras to be installed in the stairwells
● Pre-k’s open house is August 28th
● Early Childhood and Pre-k’s first day will be August 30th
● Kindergartens open house is August 22nd at 5 pm
● The first day for Kindergarten is August 23rd
● Admin fixed breakfast for staff on August 14th
● Renovations on the grade school are going well
High School Principal’s Report
● 85 of the 93 Freshman attended a Freshman Academy hosted by Chester High School on August 9th for questions and answers with the administration. The event included presentations, policies and procedures, and a selfie scavenger hunt
● Chester High School will host its second annual Open House event on August 23rd. This year will be a Saved by the Bell theme where parents and guardians get to walk the school according to their students schedule and have the opportunity to win prizes
● Chester High School is finishing up the final touches on their renovations
Superintendent’s Report
● Special Education and ELL team meetings
● Finishing up HVAC/roofing on 5-6th wings
● Continuing work on the Vestibule at the High School
● Architects reevaluating the specs for the concessions for the football field
● New doors have been added at the High School as well as a completed refinished parking lot
● Open bids this coming week for rekeying
● Teacher Institute training August 14th and August 15th
● Evaluating Athletic Admission Fees
● Umpires assigned for Softball and Baseball rainout dates
Davitz motioned, Fricke seconded to approve tentative budget to be placed on file for public inspection and adopt resolution to hold budget hearing on Thursday, September 21, 2023. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Belton seconded to approve the hazardous transportation resolution. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the application for payment #5 to Heartland Mechanical Contractors for Chester Grade School roof and HVAC replacement in the amount of $436,914.00. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
At this time, the Board discussed and tabled the pom pom fundraiser for High School Cheerleaders (selected 5) for the All American Cheer competition trip.
Fricke motioned, Belton seconded to approve the facility request from City of Chester for use of Grade School parking lot on October 20th-22nd, 2023 for Fall Festival visitor parking. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to approve the Memorandum of Understanding for a Technology Advisor. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve to pay umpires a maximum of 2 rain dates for baseball and softball games. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to approve the athletic admission fees as amended. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to approve Baysinger Architects request Board Authorization for Bid Analysis for Chester CUSD 139 Building Re-Keying with Zeller Construction - Marion, IL base bid at $62,500.00 and Alternate Bid #1 $91,250.00. The Board tabled Alternate Bid #2 for $153,800.00 at this time Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Davitz motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the supplemental positions for the 2023-24 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Davitz seconded to approve to employ certified and non-certified employees
● Dwight Lochhead as Technology Advisor for the 2023-24 school year
● Caroline Harrell as Grade School Paraprofessional at $14.10/hr pending certification and successful EHR background check results
● Michaela Young as District Administrative Assistant at $18.00/hr pending successful EHR background check results
● Beth Gibbs as Guidance Counselor pending paperwork and successful EHR background check results
● Jenny Cartwright as High School Head Track Coach for the 2024 season
● Jacob Wente as High School Head Baseball Coach for the 2024 season
Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Fricke motioned, Belton seconded to accept volunteer coaching positions
● Laverne Misselhorn as High School Girls Golf Volunteer for the 2023-24 season pending successful background check results
● Josh Hecht as Grade School Softball Volunteer for the 2023-24 season pending successful background check results
Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Belton motioned, Malley seconded to accept resignation of certified and non-certified employees
● Hannah Carlock as Pre-K teacher effective August 7, 2023
● Ryan Petrowske as High School Head Softball Coach effective August 14, 2023
● Kristan Uhrhan as Grade school Paraprofessional effective August 15, 2023
Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Krieg, Malley. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Motion by Belton and seconded by Malley to adjourn the meeting at 8:41 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.
https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3096/CCSD/3562815/August_17__2023_Regular_Mtg_Minutes.pdf
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