South West Illinois News

Chester Community Unit School District 139 Board of Education Jan. 16.

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 January 16, 2025, in the High School Juergens Gym. President Debi Caraway called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Malley motioned, Davitz seconded to enter into the executive meeting at 6:01 p.m. for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and to consider evidence or testimony presented in an open hearing or in a closed hearing where specifically authorized by law to a quasi-adjudicative body as defined in the Open Meetings. Act, provided that the body prepares and makes available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Timothy Blair, Grade School Principal was present during the executive session.

Amanda Middendorf, Grade School Teacher was present during the executive session.

Amanda Middendorf left the executive session at 6:31 p.m.

Timothy Blair left the executive session at 6:32 p.m.

Davitz motioned, Krieg seconded to come out of executive session at 7:29 p.m. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Coffey motioned, Malley seconded to enter into regular session at 7:34 p.m. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Comment

● Chuck Fricke - Recognized retired bus driver, Marsha Ehlers

Board Correspondence

● Thank you cards to the Board of Education for staff gift cards from Gail Kordys, Pam Fogerson, Mary Bohnert, and Sue Furuholmen

● Thank you card to Chester CUSD 139 for the donation made to St. Johns in memory of Barbara Holley from Tom Holley, Susan Holley, and Christine Goetz

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

● Agenda and items as listed:

● December 19, 2024 Regular and Executive meeting minutes;

● Bills in the amount of $309,268.51 and payroll in the amount of $609,888.77;

● Financial reports

Athletic Director Report

CHS

● Dance placed 3rd in Jazz and 2nd in Pom at the Nashville competition

● January 5th’s Cheer competition canceled due to weather

● Cheer camp for kids will be February 10th-13th with the performance taking place between the JV and Varsity games on February 14th

● The girls Basketball was the Consolation Champions of the Saxony Tournament (15 teams). Lexi Mott was selected to the All-Tournament Team

● LJMWC ended up canceled due to the weather and after numerous reschedules

● CIT for boys Basketball is set for January 13th-18th with 8 teams competing, Chester, Valmeyer, Perryville, Saxony, Valle, Gibault, New Athens, and Sparta

CGS

● Regionals for boys Basketball will take place January 29th and 31st

● 8th grade night is scheduled for January 23rd

● Regionals for girls Basketball will take place January 14th and 16th

● The first regular season game for Volleyball is January 28th @ RBL

Maintenance

● Samron Construction begun work on the new Early Childhood building

● Geisler roofing came out and performed multiple repairs on both roofs of the high school, along with above the gym at the grade school which was successful and have not seen moisture at this time

● Over Christmas break, the Colbert Gym floor was stripped and refinished and main vents at the grade school gym were cleaned as well

● Grease trap was cleaned at the high school and is now draining as it should

● Ran both plows, salting, and clearing of the parking lots during bad weather

Curriculum

● Fall to Winter Benchmark Data Presentation for Aimsweb grades K-3 and Renaissance Star grades 4-12

High School Principal

● CHS has enhanced its branding and signage, with the latest addition being the most significant to date

● We are pleased to welcome Kim Linthicum, Amanda Berry, and Ahmber Fraembs to the team as paraprofessionals

● The first semester grades have been finalized, and Class Rank, Honor Roll, and GPA calculations are now complete

● As we look ahead, we have begun the process of developing the 2025-2026 master schedule

● We are excited to announce the return of the Distinguished Yellow Jacket Award, which is scheduled for March 3rd

Grade School Principal

● Custodians worked diligently to maintain the cleanliness of the school and parking lot

● Students and staff enjoyed a special performance by the staff, which featured the championship mattress surfing team, including Mr. Blechle. Additionally, the PBIS party took place during this event where students had the chance to win various prizes throughout the day

● PTS meeting will be held at 6 pm on January 14th in the band room

● Volleyball open gyms have started and tryouts will be held soon

Special Education

● The special education students and staff are reviewing routines and procedures to adjust to returning to school after the extended break

● Second quarter IEP progress reports will be sent home along with the report cards within the next week

● The high school will now be offering an adapted health class this semester for those special education students who require additional support to earn the state required health credit for graduation

● The district was recently able to provide chromebooks with larger screens to several special education students with visual impairments, which will allow them to more easily see the material

Superintendent

Governance

● We have had 911 surveyors in the district this month

● I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our custodians for their incredible efforts through the

● winter storm

Budget/Finance

● Tax Levy Completed NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant

Building and Grounds

● They have been progressing with the Chester Early Childhood Center

● They completed all the signage on the HS campus this month

Classroom

● Due to the weather, we could not have our Professional Development Day. We will reschedule

Davitz motioned, Coffey seconded to conduct a 2nd reading and approval of Press Policy 4:140. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve program cost with Country Bloomers Lawn Care in the amount of $4408.65. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the updated mileage reimbursement form. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve barring Dillan Smith from school property and extracurricular activities for the period of January 16, 2024 until July 16, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Davitz motioned, Malley seconded to approve Kim Linthicum as High School Paraprofessional effective January 6, 2025 at $17.10/hr. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the Grade School and High School coaches for the Spring 2025 sports season as listed. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Davitz seconded to accept Shannon Wolff as Volunteer High School Volleyball coach. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to accept the Grade School and High School Volunteers for the Spring 2025 sports season as listed. Upon roll call, all members voted aye. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Coffey seconded to approve the resignation of Michael Heffernan, High School Football coach, effective December 30, 2024. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Malley seconded to approve the resignation of Jaden Mott. High School boys Golf coach, effective January 7, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Krieg motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the resignation of Margaret Schnoeker, Jr.High Assistant girls Basketball coach, effective January 15, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Fricke seconded to approve the request for FMLA for Robert Dickson, High School Custodian, beginning on December 18, 2024 to January 20, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Fricke motioned, Krieg seconded to approve the request for FMLA for Gina Hafertepe, Grade School Paraprofessional, beginning on January 15, 2025 to February 2, 2025. Roll call vote. Ayes: Caraway, Coffey, Davitz, Malley, Krieg, Fricke Nays: none. Motion carried.

Malley motioned, Krieg seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 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/5330092/January_16__2025_Board_Minutes.pdf