South West Illinois News

Sparta Community Unit School District 140 Board of Education met April 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:01 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 and Corey Rheinecker. Absent: Rob Soderlund. Others present were: Superintendent Chris Miesner; Recording Secretary Tina Witherby; Principal Kelly Carpenter, 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 for open session, the meeting continued.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2025, regular meeting and March 25 and 31, 2025, special meetings as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for May 8, 2025, at Sparta Lincoln School at 7 p.m.

Sparta High School Assistant Principal Jackie Smith announced that the juniors took their ACT yesterday. The Pre-ACT was taken by sophomores and juniors last week in the Dawg Pound. There are 31 presenters lined up for the job fair tomorrow. Sparta High School has implemented a digital hall pass, which is working very well.

Evansville Attendance Center Principal Kelly Carpenter reported that Evansville Attendance Center hosted the All-Star Basketball game. Co-ops have been discussed with Steeleville St. Mark’s for girls’ softball and with Chester Catholic for basketball. Donuts with Grown-ups will be held next week.

Superintendent Miesner recognized Corey Rheinecker for his 10 years of service on the Board of Education.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper 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, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the building budget requests for FY26 as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the amended calendar for the 2024-2025 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Price, Cooper, Allard, Pillers and Craig. Nays: Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to adopt the 2025-2026 Notice of Regular Meeting Dates as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: Price. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the overnight trip for Sparta Lincoln School Science Club to Waterloo, Illinois, on May 2-3, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve the playground improvements at Sparta Lincoln School from Play Illinois, in the amount of $552,215.59. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve the Student-Parent Handbook and Extra-Curricular Handbook for the 2025-2026 school year as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to allow contingent approval of the change order with Samron Midwest Contracting regarding the school’s renovation project for replacement doors 100A, 100B and 110A. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Pillers, Price and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to enter into closed session at 7:17 p.m. to discuss items related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; student discipline cases; 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; and discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Pillers, Price and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Heather Price seconded to come out of closed session at 9:33 p.m. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve the executive session minutes of the March 13, 25 and 31, 2025, meetings as presented. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Heather Price seconded to terminate the employment of Michael Oakley, a Custodian, for just cause effective immediately and authorize a Notice of Termination to be sent to Michael Oakley. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Kyle Gerlach as Teacher at Sparta High School effective August 1, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to accept the resignation of Victoria Walter as Paraprofessional at Sparta Lincoln School effective March 28, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to accept the resignation of Justin Kostelac as the Boys’ Basketball Coach at Sparta Lincoln School effective April 9, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Heather Price seconded to accept the resignation of Hannah Fullerton as Teacher at Evansville Attendance Center effective August 1, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Allard and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Corey Rheinecker moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Crystal Rodgers as a 10-month Secretary at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2024-2025 school year starting May 1, 2025. Roll call vote. Yeas: Rheinecker, Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to employ Katelyn Shinabargar as a full-time Teacher for the 2025-2026 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: Price, Rheinecker, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to employ Sylvia Eisenmann as a full-time Teacher for the 2025-2026 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: Price, Allard, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Corey Rheinecker seconded to approve Ryan Peck as a Volunteer Assistant Track Coach at Sparta High School and Sparta Lincoln 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: Price, Rheinecker, Allard, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve Jaimie Smith as a Volunteer Track 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: Price, Allard, Rheinecker, Cooper, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve Tara Penny as a Volunteer Assistant Track Coach at Sparta Lincoln School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Allard, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

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

Mekalia Cooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve Corey Rheinecker as the Assistant Softball Coach at Sparta High School for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Cooper, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: Heather Price. Abstain: Corey Rheinecker. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Ryan Kordys as an Assistant Coach for Football at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Coooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve Seth Ferguson as an Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 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, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Tony Williams as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Price, Pillers, Rheinecker, Allard and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Heather Price moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve Jason Dobyns as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Price, Cooper, Rheinecker, Allard, Pillers and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Lance Glodo as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Cooper, Price, Allard, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Mekalia Cooper seconded to approve Will Price as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 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, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Brock Barnes as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 school year. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Jennifer Allard moved, Heather Price seconded to approve Steve Walker as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 school year, subject to and contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and employment history review. Roll call vote. Yeas: Allard, Price, Cooper, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Coooper moved, Jennifer Allard seconded to approve Jason Boston as a Volunteer Assistant Football Coach at Sparta High School for the 2025-2026 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, Pillers, Price, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

Mekalia Cooper moved, Heather Price seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:41 p.m. Roll call vote: Yeas: Cooper, Price, Allard, Pillers, Rheinecker and Craig. Nays: none. Motion carried.

https://www.sparta140.org/_files/ugd/c42bd2_91a3e2d462b34c75a7d342641c346c65.docx?dn=041025%20minutes.docx