South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District 140 Board of Education met Jan. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Angela Craig and upon the roll being called, Angela Craig and the following members of the Board of Education answered present: Mekalia Cooper, Jennifer Morgan, Ryan Pillers, Heather Price and Corey Rheinecker. Absent: Rob Soderlund. Others present were: Superintendent Chris Miesner; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Principals Scott Beckley. Kelly Carpenter and Lynda Loesing; and members of the staff and community.

President Angela Craig led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Gail McElroy donated books to the school library.

With no other public comment requests for open session, the meeting continued.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the minutes of the December 14, 2023, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the Bills, Payroll, Cash Flow and Fund Balances as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Rheinecker, Pillers, Price, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2024, at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.

Sparta Lincoln School Principal Lynda Loesing reported there will be a book fair the week of January 22, 2024. She thanked Diana Casten and Cathy Tillock for organizing it. Junior Beta will be doing an outreach program for Cards for Seniors through Senator Terry Bryant’s office. Girls’ basketball plays in the regional championship game tomorrow.

Principal Kelly Carpenter reported that Evansville Attendance Center will also be participating in the Cards for Seniors outreach program. She has training soon for the Clever app. It allows students to check in daily. Teachers can see if their students are feeling negative and allows them to follow their emotions. The student blog will be up and going again soon. The PTO will have two big fundraisers soon with a pizza sale and euchre tournament.

Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley announced the Elevate K-12 Science program has been set up. Julie Holloway-Hurst funded the landscaping at the new gym. It’s almost finished except for some dirt work. The ceremony for retiring the jersey of Darius Jackson will be held January 19, 2024. The Sparta High School administration has been looking at the students on track for graduation. There are 95% of the freshmen on track. The sophomores are at 73%, with the juniors at 79%. The seniors are at 95% also. There are 7 who are questionable, but he feels 5 of them will make it.

Superintendent Miesner reported the strategic planning is set to start on January 22, 2024. He will provide updates to the Board.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to adopt the Resolution abating the tax heretofore levied for the Year 2024 to pay debt service on General Obligation School Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2015, of Community Unit School District Number 140, Randolph County, Illinois, in the amount of $653,262.50. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Rheinecker, Pillers, Price, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mr. Miesner reported that three more school improvement days were added to the calendar to allow for more professional development for staff. There is also a longer holiday break so staff will not have to come back on January 2nd.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the preliminary school calendar for the 2024-2025 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Price, Pillers, Cooper and Craig. Nays: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Heather Price seconded to set the annual graduation date for Sparta High School for the third Saturday of May. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve GRP as the District Performance Contractor. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Pillers, Price, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Abstain: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to enter into closed session at 7:16 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: Cooper, Morgan, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Heather Price seconded to come out of closed session at 7:56 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Price, Pillers, Morgan, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the December 14, 2023, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Rheinecker, Pillers, Price, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to accept the resignation of Tarik Swenson as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Rheinecker, Pillers, Price, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Heather Price seconded to terminate the employment of Arthur Markel, a maintenance employee, for just cause effective immediately and to authorize a Notice of Termination to be sent to Arthur Markel. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Price, Cooper, Morgan, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to employ Amanda Renner as a Full-time Teacher for the District for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year retroactive to January 2, 2024, subject to and contingent upon proper certification. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Heather Price seconded to employ Alexis Chambers as a Full-Time Substitute Teacher at $135 per day for the District for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, retroactive to January 2, 2024, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, employment history review, physical, drug screen and proper certification. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Morgan moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve Alexis Chambers as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for Girls’ Basketball at Sparta High School for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Morgan, Rheinecker, Pillers, Price, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Morgan seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:59 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Morgan, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/_files/ugd/63dffa_768ac2fcb9634ada92c6f3fc75a49fe4.docx?dn=11124%20minutes.docx