South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District 140 Board of Education met March 14.

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: Jennifer Allard, Mekalia Cooper, Ryan Pillers, Heather Price, Corey Rheinecker and Rob Soderlund. Absent: none. 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 stated that she has done a lot of research about solar. She urged the board members to listen to other points of view besides what was presented at the February board meeting.

With no other public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2024, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2024, at Evansville Attendance Center at 7 p.m.

Principal Lynda Loesing recognized Sparta Lincoln Students for their performances at the Solo and Ensemble Contest. They will perform at the State IGSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest in April. The students were:

Emilee Little, Lilly Hart, and Delaney Hester--Excellent ratings on class C solos

Emma Stork--Superior (perfect) rating on a class C solo

Brooke Goodman--Excellent rating on a class B solo

Christopher Moreno-Sevilla--Superior (perfect) rating on a class B solo

Principal Kelly Carpenter reported Evansville Attendance Center students have been participating in book contest where the students raise funds and get books for their home library. A second grade student won the iPad. They also started Jump Rope for Heart. State testing is finished. There was a Family Reading Night. At the positive rewards party, there were 15 students recognized. There will be four students from Evansville Attendance Center participating at the All-Star game for basketball.

Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley announced that both the baseball and softball teams won their games. Four members of the Math Team were going to state. Sparta High School is working on PaCE framework to help students with their college and career expectations.

Superintendent Miesner proposed to take part in a manual and customization process with PRESS policies through IASB. After that process, the policies will be posted online with a link instead of Word documents.

Mr. Miesner provided pros and cons for the roofing project. At the last meeting, the pros were discussed. The cons would be the cost. It is weather-dependent based on how much sunshine there is. GRP split the costs to show the benefits from power savings.

There are two grants available for the district that deal with school mental health. The district will receive $25,000 toward a health professional. Mr. Miesner has also applied for the Stronger Connections grant that will provide more mental health programs and awareness.

Strategic planning has started. They reviewed the data from the surveys, the district financial position and condition of the buildings. A SWOT analysis was then done. The mission and vision statements have been revamped.

A discussion was held regarding the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Transportation at the end of the day may be a problem, but Rick Zweigart of Zweigart Bus Services, Inc., will work with the Sparta Police Department to get through the traffic. Mr. Miesner will let everyone know the decision by next week.

Rob Soderlund moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to adopt the Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of General Obligation Alternate Bonds in an Aggregate Principal Amount not to exceed $7,200,000 for the Purpose of Improving the Sites of and Altering, Repairing and Equipping School Buildings and Facilities, Including Acquiring and Installing a Solar Array. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Rheinecker, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The first reading was held for Students Policy #7:60 Residence.

Rob Soderlund moved, Heather Price seconded to enter into closed session at 7:48 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: Soderlund, Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to come out of closed session at 8:34 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the February 9, 2024, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Theresa Schanz as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Larry Ashley as Boys’ Basketball Assistant Coach at Sparta Lincoln School effective February 23, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Christina Wilson as Teacher at Evansville Attendance Center effective August 1, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to accept the retirement request of Kathleen Wolter as Paraprofessional at Sparta Lincoln School effective December 31, 2027. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to accept the resignation of Emily McElroy and Jesslyn Lewis as Cheerleading Co-Coaches at Sparta High School effective March 5, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to accept the retirement request of Tracy Stefani as Confidential Secretary and Accounts Payable Clerk effective March 25, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the retirement request of Kim Short as Secretary at Sparta Lincoln School effective December 31, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Leslie Meininger as Custodian at Sparta Lincoln School effective March 14, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve a leave-of-absence for Chelsey Wine as Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School from April 2, 2024, through the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to employ Elizabeth Kremer as a Full-Time Teacher for the District for the 2024-2025 school year with no years of experience, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, employment history review, physical and drug screening, along with proper certification. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to employ Stacie Ebers as a 12-month Custodian for the 2023-2024 school year retroactive to February 26, 2024, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, employment history review, physical and drug screening. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to employ Hailey Ogilvie as Paraprofessional for the 2024-2025 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check, employment history review, physical and drug screening, along with proper licensure. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to employ Heather Dierks as Accounts Payable Clerk and Executive Secretary to the Superintendent at $19 per hour retroactive to March 13, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard per moved, Heather Price seconded to approve a one-year leave-of-absence for Megan McDougal as Girls’ Track Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Nicolette Kordys as the Girls’ Track Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Eric Steely as an Assistant Baseball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve Keith Shasteen as the Bowling Coach at Sparta High School for the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Pillers, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: Cooper and Price. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Coooper seconded to approve Jason Kempfer, Stephen Miles and Corey Rheinecker as Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coaches at Sparta High School for the 2023-2024 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Abstain: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

https://www.sparta.k12.il.us/copy-of-board-of-education-meeting--1