|
 Public Hearing
Prior to the regular meeting, the Board conducted a public hearing
to discuss the e-Learning Plan. Being that there was no public
comment, the hearing was adjourned.
Regular Meeting
Roll call was then taken for the November regular meeting at 6:04 PM
with all members in attendance.
The Board voted 7-0 to approve the Consent Agenda, which included
payment of bills, sales tax revenue report, minutes from October 19,
2020 regular meeting, minutes from October 19, 2020 executive
session, minutes from the November 2, 2020 special meeting and
minutes from November 2, 2020 executive session.
In Reports, the Board viewed a Zoom presentation by OPAA! concerning
food services. OPAA! operates out of Missouri providing food
services for schools in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa and
Illinois. OPAA! conducted a feasibility study this fall to determine
if their services could provide profitable support for the Mt.
Pulaski food service program. The presentation described services
and outcomes for the district. The Board was very impressed with the
presentation and asked Mr. Lamkey to take the next step forward in
the process of considering OPAA! as a food service provider.
Superintendent Lamkey discussed a potential student survey, an
agreement with the park district and the district’s search for a
future principal. After receiving feedback on the draft survey, Mr.
Lamkey was directed to survey students on the effects of the
pandemic. He will work to issue the survey before Thanksgiving. Mr.
Lamkey then informed the Board that a draft agreement of park use
had been submitted to the park board and the district was waiting
for a response. The final highlight Mr. Lamkey reported on was the
process of selecting a replacement for outgoing high school
principal, Terry Morgan. Mr. Morgan retires at the end of this
school year and the district will interview candidates for his
replacement next month. The district had 20 applicants and narrowed
the interview field down to 6 candidates. An interview team will
meet with all 6 applicants on Saturday, December 12th to narrow the
finalist field down for a Thursday, December 17th, interview with
the Board Personnel Committee and Superintendent Lamkey. The Board
hopes to hire Mr. Morgan’s replacement at the January Board Meeting.
Under Unfinished Business, the Board revisited the consideration of
an athletic co-op with Hartem. After further discussion, the Board
determined that the arrangement did not offer MPCUSD23 incentive to
pursue the opportunity. Mr. Lamkey was directed to contact Hartem
and thank them for the offer, but at this time Mt. Pulaski would
decline the co-op opportunity.
Next, the Board discussed the effects of COVID-19 on the school
system with specific focus on metrics to extend the school day,
athletics and rising COVID-19 numbers in the immediate area.
Superintendent Lamkey offered different examples of metrics provided
by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) when considering
an appropriate time to extend the district’s school day. The Board
was in agreement that the current COVID-19 situation is too volatile
to consider an extended school day. It was recommended that we
revisit this concept before the holidays.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) continues to be at odds
with the IDPH about the start of winter athletic seasons. Mt.
Pulaski Schools recently suspended all extracurricular and
co-curricular activities due to rising infection rates behind the
legal guidance of district attorneys and our liability insurance
carrier. Our district once again will look again to bring these
activities back once non-essential activities are recommended. This
topic will also be revisited at the December 22nd Board meeting.
The Board adopted the e-Learning Resolution 7-0 which paves the way
for the option of utilizing remote learning on days the weather
forces the closure of school. This option could keep the district
from extending the end of the school year by using emergency days.
Superintendent Lamkey provided the Board with a Tax Levy
presentation. In this presentation, he described the process in
which the district levies for and receives local revenues. He
provided a look at recent tax rates, compared MPCUSD23 rates to
other Logan County schools and provided an outlook to the upcoming
Levy.
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The district is working to lower tax rates following the
construction of the high school. Earlier this fall, the district abated $140,000
of high school construction bonds which is a step toward lowering local tax
rates. The tax levy will be adopted in December, but the actual extension and
new tax rates will not be revealed by Logan County until spring.
Mr. Lamkey also expressed the need for the district to balloon
levy so that none of our local new construction (wind farms) is missed as new
revenue. Because school districts do not know how much property values will
increase from new construction, they are forced to guess and guess high to make
sure they do not lose an opportunity to receive revenues from new construction.
The bottom line is that this balloon levy does not raise taxes on current
property. Instead, it allows the district to fully collect new taxes on new
construction. The district will conduct a “truth in taxation hearing “prior to
the December regular meeting so the public has the opportunity to comment.
The district Personnel Committee was still working on addendums to the
memorandum of understanding that corresponds with the Hilltop Return to School
Plan 2.0. The committee hoped to get the plan to the Mt. Pulaski Education
Association this week. The Board voted to postpone the approval of the MoU until
the next meeting.
The Board then voted 7-0 to transfer funds ($635,542) from the Education Fund to
Capital Improvement Fund to pay for construction costs. The district has
anticipated using Education Fund reserves to cover construction costs that
exceeded the construction bond.
Hartem School District is sponsoring an addendum to the sales tax referendum
that would allow Logan County Schools to use current sales tax funds to hire
school resource officers and mental health professionals to work in schools.
This referendum does not raise taxes; rather it allows the school district to
gain flexibility in how they choose to spend these funds. Mt. Pulaski, Hartem
and the Logan County Sheriff’s Department have been collaborating together to
create an opportunity of incorporating resources officers into the schools.
Increased flexibility in the use of these revenues will benefit all schools and
not require an increase in local funding. The Board adopted the resolution, 7-0.
Superintendent Lamkey then facilitated a discussion considering the school
district applying for a tuition waiver for district employees. This waiver would
allow the children of school district employees, who do not live in the
district, to attend Mt. Pulaski Schools tuition free. The waiver, which would
have to be approved by the General Assembly, would offer an added benefit to
employees without attaching a cost to the district. The Board directed Mr.
Lamkey to move forward with the waiver.
During the school district’s recent troubles in replacing food service
employees, the question arose about whether a high school diploma was needed as
a prerequisite? After some discussion, the Board directed Mr. Lamkey to look
into altering job descriptions for cooks and custodial staff to prefer a high
school diploma, but not require. Mr. Lamkey will bring the adjusted job
descriptions to the December Board meeting.
In a limited Personnel Report, the Board voted 7-0 to approve Harriett Folkman
as a district cook. Mr. Lamkey also informed the Board that two more people
accepted positions on the Food Service staff.
The Board then entered into Executive Session at 8:10 pm to discuss student
discipline and employee topics. The Board returned from Executive Session at
8:35 pm.
Upon returning from Executive Session, the Board considered two action items.
The first item was the approval of a separate paraprofessional job description
that requires Certified Nursing Assistant licensure. The Board determined that
the requirements of this job were different than that of other paraprofessionals
and a new description was necessary to differentiate between the two positions.
The Board approved the job description 7-0.
In the last action of the evening, the Board voted 7-0 to approve a $1/hour
stipend for the newly created Paraprofessional/CNA position.
The meeting adjourned at 9:26 PM. The next regularly scheduled Board meeting
will be held on December 21, 2020.
[Submitted by Sarah Farris
Administrative Assistant
Mount Pulaski Community Unit District #23] |
