South West Illinois News

Chester Community Unit School District 139 Board of Education met Dec. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 held a Regular Meeting, in High School FACS Classroom B217. President Debi Caraway called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm

Belton motioned, Malley seconded to enter into executive session at 6:02 pm for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Fricke. Nays: none. Motion carried.

James Krieg entered the executive session at 6:23 pm.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to return to open session at 7:30 pm. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none. Motion carried.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Comment

● No public comment.

Curtis Stoll, CPAI from Fick, Eggemeyer, & Williamson, CPA’s discussed Audit

Belton motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the consent agenda and items as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Fricke, Coffey, Malley, Krieg Nays: none. Motion carried.

● November 16, 2023 Regular & Executive Session Meeting Minutes

● November 30, 2023 Emergency Special Meeting Minutes

● Bills in the amount of $511,729 and payroll in the amount of $277,311.19

● Financial Reports

Athletic Director Report

CGS

● Regionals for boys basketball are January 24th and 26th 2024

● Regionals for girls basketball are January 9th and 11th 2024

● Volleyball started open gym and the season will begin in January

CHS

● Competition season for dance began December 16, 2023 at Herrin, the girls took 1st place in both divisions IHSA and IDTA

● Competition season for cheer began November 26, 2023 and they took 1st place at Alton which qualified them for the State meet in January

● Cher competed at Edwardsville and placed 5th out of 14 teams and qualified them for the ICCA championships in Springfield

● SICA All South selections for football were Davante Palacio, Zain Al-Jassim, and Gage Hopkins

● Academic All State selections for football were Ethan Colvis, Trentin Eggemeyer, Korbin Jany, Alex Williamson, and Garret Hopkins

● SICA All South selections for Volleyball were Mabry Wingerter, Jordan Buskohl, and Ellen McCormick

● Boys basketball’s 60th Annual CIT is January 8-13, 2024 with 8 teams competing

● Girls basketball took 2nd in the Sparta Invitational

● The Lady Jackets placed 2nd in the Gibault Candy Cane Classic to Columbia in the Championship game

● The 17th Annual LJMWC for girls basketball is January 2-6, 2024 with 8 teams competing

Curriculum Report

● January 9th and 11th, High School students will take Star Reading and Star Math

● Week of January 8th, Grades 4-8 will finish their Star Reading and Math testing as well as Aimsweb Winter Benchmark for Reading and Math will be administered to Grades 1-3

● Week of January 15th, Aimsweb Winter Benchmark for early literacy and early numeracy will be administered to Kindergarten

● All 11th grade students will take the ISA on Friday, March 1st

● All 9th and 10th grade students will take the PSAT on Friday, March 22nd

● All 11th grade students will take the SAT on Friday, March 22nd

● Seniors will not be in attendance on the PSAT/SAT date. They will have this day as a college day/career exploration day/scholarship work day

● The deadline for submitting accommodations requests to College Board for the Spring PSAT and SAT is on January 29th

Assessments and Dates for the 2023-2024 School Year

Spring 2024 Spring State Assessments

● January 17 - March 5, 2024 Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners - Grades K-12

● March 4 - April 19, 2024 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) - Grades 3-8

● March 1 – April 30, 2024 Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) - Grades 5,8,and 11

● Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) - Grades 9 and 10

● Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) - Grade 11

● March 13 - May 8, 2024 Dynamic Learning Map Alternate Assessment (DLM-AA)

Maintenance Report

● Trees lining the driveway down to the lower parking lot at the Grade school have been removed

● The interior main entrance of the high school as well as the letters above the entrance to the cafeteria have been freshly painted

● Over 12 emergency lights have been added along with several exit signs at both schools

● Currently working on hanging the Senior banners

● 3 large monitors have been installed in the gym, as well as 3 in the cafeteria and 1 in Mrs. Barton's office. They are all connected and running adverts, news, and menus

● A blockage was cleared in 1 of the 3 sewer lines at the Grade School and a broken sink line in the girls bathroom was repaired as well

● Several mobile cabinets have been assembled for teachers along with other furniture items, and new area rugs around the High School

Grade School Principal’s Report

● Dental Safari was at the school to conduct cleanings on November 30, 2023

● Community Give Back collected $580 which will go to Ryan Junger and family

● CGS and CHS Christmas donors include, Knighthawk and Wal-Mart, Coach Belton and the football team bought toys for CGS students and gift cards for CHS students, Wee Care of Jacob, St.John’s Chester Angel Tree, Ebenezer Church in Rockwood, Love Abby, Chester Memorial Hospital staff and Chester State Farm

● 6th and 8th grade band concerts were held on December 7, 2023

● 1st through 4th grade band concerts were held on December 14, 2023

● The music program collected $2,387.81 from donations at the Jr.High and High school band concerts, as well as Mr. and Mrs.Colonel’s holiday light collection. All money collected will be donated to Chester Area Christian Food Pantry

● On December 20, 2023, the teachers put on their Annual Teacher Program for the students

High School Principal’s Report

● A Winter Holiday Celebration Extravaganza was held where the school came together and had a full day of fun and games

● Student council organized a dress up week and homeroom competition that ended with collecting over $1,300 for Ryan Junger and his fight against cancer

● 6 new large TV’s have been added above the doors that enter into the Colbert gym, above the door entering the kitchen, one above each of the concession stands, and one above the Sharp Media Center. The TV’s display information pertaining to important events, daily activities, lunch menus, concession stand menu and prices and are adjusted to welcome the community and can be event specific

Superintendent’s Report

Governance

● We were able to work with Chester Chrysler in getting a new lease on the Drivers Education new Jeep Compass

● Illinois Principal Association has approved a new evaluation tool for Principals called School Leader Evaluation Plan and will be working towards utilizing this new tool

● A new contract with the Chester Service Professionals has been ratified allowing all non-certified staff to receive a $1.50 raise this January

● Received a new activity bus

Budget/Finance

● Audit completed

● Annual Statement of Affairs was published in the newspaper

Building and Grounds

● A maintenance grant approved

● Flooring being completed over Christmas Break at the grade school

Classroom

● After break, we return on January 3 for Teacher Institute

Athletics

● Looking to add Trap Shooting and Jr.High golf team coaches

● Reducing entry fees for Chester High School students to athletic events, with identification $1.00 and no identification $2.00

Davitz motioned, Belton seconded to approve regular meeting dates for calendar year 2024. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Krieg seconded to adopt the 2023 Certificate of Levy for Chester School District as presented. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Belton seconded to approve the purchase of staff gift cards for Christmas. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Davitz seconded to approve Baysinger’s base bid with Samron Midwest Contracting, Inc.--Murphysboro for the Chester High School Office Renovations in the amount of $122,000.00. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davtiz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Belton seconded to approve the Resolution abating the taxes heretofore levied for the year 2023 to pay debt service on the District’s Taxable General Obligation Refunding School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), series 2022C Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davtiz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the proposal to change the admission cost for high school students to athletic events. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davtiz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Malley seconded to approve the Resolution agreement with Bank Of Montreal for a purchasing card. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davtiz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the Resolution authorizing and approving Chester Community Unit School District No. 139’s entry into a lease and purchase of a new 2023 Jeep Compass Latitude 4x4 to be obtained from Chester Chrysler Center, Inc. in accordance with section 10-22.25a of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10-22.25a for $32,582.50. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davtiz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Malley seconded to approve the CSP Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2023-2027. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davtiz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the increase on Adult lunches to $3.50 and an extra entree to $1.75. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davtiz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Malley seconded to approve the facility use by IDOC on January 3, 2024 for screenings. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Malley seconded to approve Natalie Castaneda as Grade School’s Volleyball assistant coach. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Fricke seconded to approve Shannon Wolff as Grade School’s Volunteer Volleyball coach. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Davitz seconded to approve Victoria (Toby) Gercis as Jacket Care worker at $14.10/hr effective December 15, 2023. Roll Call Vote. Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the resignation of Paige Hamilton as Jacket Childcare worker effective immediately. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Belton seconded to approve Alice Decker as part–time ELL Translator effective November 29, 2023. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Davitz seconded to approve Autumn Ogle for Grade School Paraprofessional at $15.60/hr effective January 3, 2024. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to approve Carah Sigmund for High School Paraprofessional at $15.60/hr effective January 3, 2024 pending successful background check. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Fricke seconded to approve Kaleigh Holley as part time High School Paraprofessional at $15.60/hr pending successful background check. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Krieg Nays: none Nikki Malley abstained. Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Malley seconded to approve retirement for Cafeteria personnel Susan Hughey effective end of 2023-2024 school year. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Malley seconded to approve addendum for Tim Blair for Assistant Principals contract. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Malley seconded to approve addendum for Robin Bartn for Assistant Principals contract. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Belton, Caraway, Davitz, Coffey, Fricke, Malley, Krieg Nays: none Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve request for FMLA for Sophia Durbin, Teacher, beginning on approximately November 27, 2024. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Belton seconded to approve request for FMLA for Esther Higgerson, Teacher, beginning on approximately February 1, 2024. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Belton motioned, Coffey seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

The next REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Education will be held Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. (Executive Session at 6:00 p.m.) in the Chester High School FACS Classroom B217 located at 1901 Swanwick Street, Chester, IL 62233.

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