South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District 140 Board of Education met Feb. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice President Mekalia Cooper and upon the roll being called, Mekalia Cooper and the following members of the Board of Education answered present:  Jennifer Allard, Ryan Pillers, Heather Price, Corey Rheinecker and Rob Soderlund.  Absent:  Angela Craig.  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.

Vice President Mekalia Cooper led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

With no public comment requests, the meeting continued.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2025, regular meeting and the January 27, 2025, special meeting as presented. Roll call vote.  Yeas:    Allard, Rheinecker, Pillers, Price, Soderlund and Cooper.  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, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried. 

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for March 13, 2025, at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.

Principal Lynda Loesing reported that there were 22 students from Sparta Lincoln School that were selected for the Regional Office of Education Young Authors’ Contest.  Volleyball is off to a good start with a record of 8-3.  State testing starts in March.  Teachers are working hard to prepare for that by working with a math consultant.

Principal Kelly Carpenter announced that February 17 will be the Dairy Queen fundraiser for Evansville Attendance Center.  February 22 will be the first annual Randolph County All-Star basketball game.  March 10 will be Family Reading Night.

Sparta High School Principal Scott Beckley introduced the eight Illinois State Scholars.  They were:  Conor Dotson, Courtney Drake, Savannah Hall, Brody Montroy, Drew Montroy, Hannah Stine, Grace Vallett and Katie Vickery.

Mr. Beckley also reported that the testing switched to ACT this year.  The English and Science teachers have learned strategies to start incorporating into lessons.  SWIC has changed their guidelines for scholarships.  The top 20% of each high school attend for free, and now if a student has 8 credits and a 3.5 GPA, they can also get the scholarship.

Superintendent Miesner reported that the 8th grade promotion ceremonies will be held on May 22, 2025.  Evansville Attendance Center’s ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. with Sparta Lincoln School’s at 7:30 p.m.

There are eight projects at Sparta Lincoln School.  This started with the strategic planning.  Principal Loesing and Building and Grounds Director Tracy Smith started talking about the need for a better playground area.  The Health Life Safety Survey showed several areas that needed improvements.  Ongoing concerns with spaces in the building were also considered.  The projects will be completed over the next three years.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the building and grounds renovations at Sparta Lincoln School as presented with the Superintendent instructed to begin contract development.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:   Allard, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried. 

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the preliminary school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year as presented.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:   Allard, Price, Pillers, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  Rheinecker.  Motion carried. 

Rob Soderlund moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to enter into closed session at 7:24 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Soderlund, Allard, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to come out of closed session at 8:01 p.m.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Price, Allard, Rheinecker, Soderlund, Pillers and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the January 27, 2025, special meeting as presented.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Taylor Harbaugh as Assistant Softball Coach at Sparta High School effective January 15, 2025.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved,  Heather Price seconded to accept the retirement request of Sonya Stork as Cook at Evansville Attendance Center effective February 21, 2025.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of William Powell as the Boys’ Track Coach at Sparta High School effective January 7, 2025.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Jordan Beckley as the Baseball Coach at Sparta High School effective February 3, 2025.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to accept the resignation of Megan McDougal as the Girls’ Track Coach at Sparta Lincoln School effective February 6, 2025.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Soderlund, Allard, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to employ Andrew Kordys as a Full-Time Teacher for the District for the 2025-2026 school year with three 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, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to employ Abbie Lehman as a 6-hour Cook for the District for the 2024-2025 school year, with a start date of February 24, 2025, 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, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve a six-week leave-of-absence for Sparta High School Confidential Secretary Kaylee Schulein beginning approximately May 29, 2025.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Soderlund, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Nicolette Kordys as the Girl’s Track Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2024-2025 school  year.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Soderlund, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Andrew Kordys as the Head Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school  year.  Roll call vote.  Yeas:  Allard, Price, Pillers, Soderlund, and Cooper.  Nays:  Rheinecker.  Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m.  Roll call vote:  Yeas:  Allard, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Cooper.  Nays:  none.  Motion carried.

https://www.sparta140.org/_files/ugd/c42bd2_4024634238a14825a17d731b1f070471.docx?dn=021325%20minutes.docx