Mount Pulaski School Board approves tentative tax levy

 

[November 23, 2022] 

The Mount Pulaski CUSD 23 Board of Education called their regular meeting to order on November 21, 2022 at 4:30 PM in the grade school learning center. All members were present.

After Roll Call, the Board entered into Executive Session to discuss items dealing with Board evaluation of staff, employment, purchase of property, student discipline and collective bargaining. The Board returned to open session at 6 p.m.

Members Chris Brown, Doug Martin and Rob Smith excused themselves at the start of the public meeting.

In the Recognition of Public, Mike Chandler voiced concerns of the district's acceptance of federal and state funding as it relates to also following state and federal mandates.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda which included the payment of bills, the sales tax revenue report, Board Minutes from October 17, 2022 and Executive Session Minutes from October 17, 2022. The motion passed 4-0.

Under Reports, Superintendent Lamkey informed the Board that the parking lot at the high school was completely paved and the new lights were expected to be erected in early December. He then commented on the discipline report which included one suspension at the grade school and five suspensions at the high school.

In Unfinished Business, Mr. Lamkey reviewed the prioritization list completed by both Board and administration. Both groups placed the cosmetic and comfort items at the bottom of the list and focused on projects that were centered around student instruction and safety. The Board prioritized work in the 1963 high school building which would affect science, art and agriculture classrooms, while the administration focused on work at the grade school to renovate dated classroom space and create more classrooms for the district's growing needs. Superintendent Lamkey indicated that he thought the district could complete the Capital Project List in 3 or 4 years depending on contract negotiations and ever changing district needs. The Board was directed to dive into the list before the next meeting with a focus of what we most need for next school year. The plan is set to be approved at the December meeting.

Under New Business, Superintendent Lamkey gave a thorough overview of the process for tax levying and described the district's history and approach to the tax levy. While he cannot guarantee a specific rate, he anticipates that the tax rate will remain consistent in the neighborhood at 4.97. This is a noted decrease from three years ago when the tax rate was 5.3. The Board approved the tentative levy 4-0. The district will conduct a Truth in Taxation Hearing prior to the December meeting.
 

The annual district audit was postponed to the December meeting as the district's firm, KEB, was still putting the finishing touches on the report.

The Board then held a discussion on tax abatement for the upcoming year. Mr. Lamkey confirmed that the Board wanted him to use abatement to maintain the tax rate at the current level. The Board members reaffirmed Mr. Lamkey’s expectations and will vote on a potential tax abatement in December.

Principals Lora and Fricke recently revised the district’s Response to Intervention plan, RtI, to reflect the current practices in each building. RtI is a plan that uses interventions to supplement learning for those students who are not achieving at grade level. The Board approved the plan 4-0.

This past summer, a group of teachers and instructional staff from the district attended the NWEA Fusion Conference in Arizona. The conference is the crux in the district improvement planning as it educates our staff on how to use achievement data to make more effective decisions when designing student instruction. The conference is designed to challenge and inform educators who are novice, intermediate and experienced in the process. Mr. Lamkey reiterated that this is the most important instructional professional development that we do as a district because it drives most of our school improvement planning. The conference is expected to involve six to eight teachers at a cost of approximately $14,000. All funds used for this conference will be taken from Federal/State Title Grants. The Board approved the conference 4-0.
 

The last action of New Business was the approval of a contract with the Southern Illinois Public Cooperative, SIPC. This contract comes at no cost to the district, as it increases our district's buying power by working collectively with hundreds of schools and businesses from a three state area. The district is not bound to make any purchases with the cooperative, but it opens the door to savings opportunities and consultation with SIPC. The Board approved the contract 4-0.

The last item of business for the evening was the consideration of the Personnel Report. The following items were approved with a 4-0 vote:

● Melinda Scott as Bus Driver

● Colton Hagan as MPGS Boys Basketball Assistant Coach

● Alisha Wahls as MPGS as Scholastic Bowl Sponsor

● The resignation of Brian Erlenbush as MPHS Track Coach

Under Items of Information, Superintendent Lamkey indicated that the Policy Committee would meet prior to the next meeting to conduct the first reading of the policy update.

With no more business on the agenda, the Board adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

The next meeting will be December 19, 2022 at 5 p.m. in the MPGS Learning Center.

[Sarah Farris
Administrative Professional
Mount Pulaski CUSD 23]