South West Illinois News

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

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, Corey Rheinecker and Rob Soderlund. Absent: Ryan Pillers and Heather Price. Others present were: Superintendent Chris Miesner; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Principals Kelly Carpenter and Lynda Loesing, Assistant Principal Jackie Smith; 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, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2025, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Rheinecker, Soderlund 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, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for April 10, 2025, at Evansville Attendance Center at 7 p.m.

Principal Lynda Loesing reported that the volleyball program had their first tournament. There were six teams that participated. The Sparta Lincoln volleyball team won the tournament. Golf starts soon at Sparta Lincoln School. There were 19 students who got excellent ratings and three who got superior ratings for their performances at the Solo and Ensemble Contest. Glo Bingo will be a fundraiser for the PTO. It will be held on Saturday.

Evansville Attendance Center Principal Kelly Carpenter reported that Evansville Attendance Center held a Family Reading Night. The Randolph County All-Star Basketball game was held at Evansville Attendance Center. She also thanked Vernon and Stephanie Kisro from Evansville for their help with snow removal on snow days.

Sparta High School Assistant Principal Jackie Smith announced that Changing Gears worked on the four-wheeler for the baseball team. They donated their labor and time. The Sparta Country Club has lowered the price for junior memberships to $200/year. Early graduation paperwork was reviewed so that students will have to state their reason for early graduation, along with the proper requirements.

Superintendent Miesner reported the roof work at the high school has been started again. It is projected to be done by the end of the month. Then they will start on the solar panels.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve the overnight trip for Sparta High School Skills USA to Peoria, Illinois, on April 24-26, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement for Cooperative Team Sponsorship for Football with Steeleville as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement for Cooperative Team Sponsorship for Wrestling with Steeleville as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

First readings were held for the 2025-2026 student/parent handbook and extracurricular handbook. The main change is on page 20 with the addition of Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services. It helps determine the priority for individuals with developmental disabilities seeking services. Caffeine pouches were also added to the list of products not allowed in the schools.

Rob Soderlund moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to enter into closed session at 7:18 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, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to come out of closed session at 8:21 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Soderlund, Rheinecker, Allard and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the February 13, 2025, regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Allard, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to accept the resignation of Tim Brueggemann as Custodian at Sparta Lincoln School effective February 27, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Allard, Soderlund, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to accept the resignation of Kristen Kelley as Teacher at Evansville Attendance Center effective August 1, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to accept the resignation of Kimberly Frazer as Teacher at Evansville Attendance Center effective August 1, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to accept the resignation of Thomas White as Volunteer Golf Coach at Sparta Lincoln School effective March 4, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Allard, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Rob Soderlund moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to accept the resignation of Eric Steely as the Assistant Baseball Coach at Sparta High School effective March 13, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Soderlund, Allard, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Abstain: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to employ Rebecca Niemietz as the Assistant Principal at Sparta High School with a one-year contract for the 2025-2026 school year, at an annual salary of $60,000. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Austin Carpenter as the Boys’ Track Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve Christopher Brooks as the Assistant Track Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Jacob Wente as the Head Baseball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper and Craig. Nays: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Thomas White as a Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Zac Drumwright as a Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Roger Gerlach as a Volunteer Golf Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Bobby Klausing as a Volunteer Golf Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Coooper seconded to approve Sydney Rheinecker as a Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Abstain: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve Allison Rheinecker as a Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Abstain: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Rob Soderlund seconded to approve Corey Rheinecker as a Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Soderlund, Cooper and Craig. Nays: none. Abstain: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve Mariah Reinhardt as a Volunteer Assistant Softball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Allard, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Coooper seconded to approve Drew Kordys as Athletic Director at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Allard, Rheinecker, Soderlund and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

https://www.sparta140.org/_files/ugd/c42bd2_324b877bfd45429cb7b2a23628ceb432.docx?dn=031325%20minutes.docx