South West Illinois News

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

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The BINA hearing was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Angela Craig.

The district held the public BINA hearing concerning the intent of the Board of Education to sell not to exceed $6 million school fire prevention and safety bonds and not to exceed $5.5 million alternate bonds for the purpose of improving the sites of and altering, repairing and equipping school buildings and facilities, including acquiring and installing a solar array. With no questions or comments, the meeting continued.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to adjourn the BINA hearing at 7:01 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:01p.m. 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.

With no public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the minutes of the March 14, 2024, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2024, at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.

Sparta Lincoln School Principal Lynda Loesing thanked the staff for their help with the students during the solar eclipse. She thanked Teachers Amy Buch and Angela Carter for all of their work for the Science Night. Stand for the Silent, which is an anti-bullying club, has read anti-bullying messages over the announcements all week. Those students have read to younger classes. They presented projects to the older students.

Principal Kelly Carpenter reported Evansville Attendance Center will participate in their final fire drill tomorrow, which the fire department will attend. There is a family that will take part in the fire truck experience that they won from the event last fall. The track team got first place in the OVC meet. Mrs. Carpenter acknowledged students Serenity Hesse, Sarah Kisro, Ella Walter, Paysley Jones, Bella Hood, Lainey Murray, Brynlea Keller, Brooklyn Schlueter, Kaylee Kempfer, Ruthie Orella, Kailee Duren, Hallea Keller.

Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley announced that the Vietnam Memorial Monument will be done soon. After school is completed this year, they will pour the foundation to set it up. Mary Ellen Thomas and the Patton Family want to donate money for scholarships. He has been in contact with attorneys. PSAT/SAT tests were held last week. He hopes to have the data at the next meeting. PaCE will meet next week for the next step. Prom will be held next weekend.

Superintendent Miesner thanked the administration, staff and bus company for everything they did with regard to the eclipse. Last year at this time, the Phonics curriculum was approved. This has led the district to look at all of the curriculum for K-12. That team has met each month. Next month they will bring a recommendation for a possible math curriculum. They want to provide the best curriculum for the students.

Rob Soderlund moved, Heather Price seconded to renew membership in the Illinois High School Association and to adopt and abide by the Constitution, By-Laws, Terms and Conditions and Administrative Procedures, Guidelines and Policies of the Illinois High School Association for the year of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the building budget requests for FY 25 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve the amended calendar for the 2023-2024 school year 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 adopt the 2024-2025 Notice of Regular Meeting Dates as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: Price. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the bid from Christ Brothers of Lebanon, Illinois, in the amount of $58,855 with the option of $8,000 for extending to the sidewalk. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve a varsity girls’ basketball team for the 2024-2025 school year at Evansville Attendance Center, with no extra cost to the school budget. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the roofing/solar project for all buildings as discussed. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Rheinecker, Cooper, Price and Craig. Nays: Allard and Pillers. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve the painting bid from Bradley’s Painting in the amount of $17,000 for painting of the vocational building and roof. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to adopt the Resolution authorizing issurance of general obligation alternate bonds of Community Unit School District Number 140, Randolph County, Illinois, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000 pursuant to the Local Government Debt Reform Act of the State of Illinois, as amended, for the purpose of improving the sites of and altering, repairing and equipping school buildings and facilities, including acquiring and installing a solar array and refunding certain outstanding bonds of said School District. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to adopt the Students Policy #7:60 Residence as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to enter into closed session at 7:42 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; the setting a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public act; and discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to come out of closed session at 8:07 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the March 14, 2024, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the retirement of Cathy Hess as Confidential Secretary at Sparta High School effective June 30, 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 Alison Yearian as Teacher at Sparta Lincoln School 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 employ Sandra Wasson as an 11-month Confidential Secretary for the 2023-2024 school retroactive to April 8, 2024, at an hourly wage of $18.50, 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, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to employ Erica Laxton as a full-time Teacher 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 licensure. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to employ Svetlana Netemeyer as a full-time Teacher 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 licensure. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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

Corey Rheinecker moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Dan Peck as a Volunteer Track Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2023-2024 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Price, Soderlund, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Heather Price seconded to approve John Watts as a Volunteer Assistant for the 8th grade play at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2023-2024 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Heather Price seconded to extend the leave-of-absence for Paraprofessional Heather Cleveland at Sparta Lincoln School through April 12, 2024. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund, Allard and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to rescind the employment of Brian Taylor, certified teacher, based on results from the employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Heather Price seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund, Allard and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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