Mount Pulaski Board of Education
approves Back to School Plan
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[August 25, 2021]
The Mt. Pulaski CUSD 23 Board of Education called their regular
meeting for August 16, 2021 to order at 7:00 PM in the MPGS Learning
Center. All Board members were present with the exception of Mrs.
Combs.
The first item of business was the Consent Agenda, which included
the approval for the payment of bills, the sales tax report, meeting
minutes from July 19, 2021 and Transportation Hazard Resolution.
Superintendent Lamkey informed the Board that sales tax revenues
reported for May were up once again at $27,454 making the last three
months the highest grossing months ever. The Transportation Hazard
Resolution is passed each year to allow students south of the
railroad tracks and north of the Elkhart Blacktop in Mt. Pulaski to
receive school transportation due to the dangers. The Consent Agenda
passed 6-0
Next on the Agenda was the Recognition of Public. There were 21
visitors in attendance at the meeting with six individuals
requesting to address the Board. Two topics were discussed during
this time, with three visitors asking the Board to not follow the
mask mandate, two guests supporting the mask mandate and two of the
six discussing concerns with electives at the grade school.
After the Recognition of Public, Mr. Lamkey began a discussion about
the recent executive order issued by the governor that requires
masks to be worn inside of school buildings.
Understanding this is an issue that has impassioned the community,
he chose to explain why the mandate needed to be followed and the
Hilltop Back to School Plan 3.0 approved. He also invited school
attorney, Dennis Triggs, to answer any questions Board members might
have.
Superintendent Lamkey discussed how our district attorney clearly
stated that the mandate was within the Governor’s rights. Our
attorney also added that direct dismissal of the executive order
would endanger the district's Tort Immunity protection as it
pertains to COVID-19-related legal allegations.
In addition, the Illinois State Board of Education has also vowed to
revoke the Recognition status of any district that fails to comply
with the mandate thereby endangering school funding, student
graduate status and the district's standing as a recognized public
school. Athletes would not be able to participate as an IHSA if Mt.
Pulaski is not Recognized.
Mr. Lamkey also pointed out that ignoring the mask mandate would
also be a huge distraction to the start of the school year. In the
next 6 days, teachers would have to drastically change their
preparation for the school year including instructional activities
and room arrangements. Mr. Triggs then went on to answer specific
questions from Board members and also explained legal precedent and
procedures.
Superintendent Lamkey then highlighted changes in the Tentative
Hilltop Back to School Plan 3.0 and entertained discussion. This
discussion lasted for more than 2 hours and evoked great passion
from Board members and administration alike.
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Mr. Lamkey explained that the district was working within a cohort
of over 100 school districts called “Keep it Local”. The focus of
the cohort is to lobby the state government to regain local control
so the district can make local decisions concerning the pandemic.
Lamkey went on to explain how Mt. Pulaski by itself carried very
little leverage with the State, but a large cohort like “Keep it
Local” had more strength.
While opinions teetered back and forth through the discussion, the
Board voted to approve the Hilltop Return to School Plan 3.0, which
includes the mask mandate imposed by the State, with a 4-2 vote.
Board President Eric Cowan cited the desire to start the school year
without distraction and allow data to be collected so the Board
could make an informed decision on the matter in September.
In the Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Lamkey hit on a couple of
topics. His first topic was asking the Board's opinion about sharing
food services with Zion Lutheran School. Mr. Lamkey had been
approached by OPAA at Zion's request. The Board gave permission to
explore this option. Next Lamkey updated the Board on the Spring
Street sidewalk project, which the district hopes to complete later
this fall.
The Board then entered Executive Session at 10:30 pm to discuss
employment items and returned to open session at 11:02 pm.
The first item in New Business was the submission of the FY2022
Tentative Budget. Mr. Lamkey said the district office’s preliminary
work indicates that the district could expect to finish with a
surplus in the upcoming year. Specific details will follow at the
Budget Hearing in September. Superintendent Lamkey will work with
the Finance Committee to prepare a budget presentation.
The final item was the Personnel Report. Mr. Smith requested that
Tabitha Lourash be pulled separately from the report for a separate
vote. The motion to hire Mrs. Lourash as a paraprofessional died for
lack of a second motion. The Board then went on to approve the
remaining Personnel Report 6-0.
● Accept the resignation of Meg Baer as MPGS Assistant Softball
Coach and Charley Miller as MPGS Girls Basketball Coach
● Employ Brian Erlenbush as MPHS Track Coach, Brian Woodworth as
MPGS Assistant Softball Coach and Mackenzy Payne as MPHS Volunteer
Softball Coach.
● Accept the retirement of Sheila Myers as MPHS Business Teacher..
The meeting adjourned at 11:25 pm. The next regular meeting will be
September 20, 2021 in the MPGS Learning Center.
[Sarah Farris
Administrative Assistant
Mount Pulaski CUSD 23] |