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 The
first item of business was the FY2022 Budget Hearing. Superintendent
Lamkey has made the Budget available for public viewing and received
no inquiries. Being that there were no additional questions, the
budget hearing adjourned at 7:05.
The Board then began the Public Hearing for Paving work. The hearing
is required by the Illinois State Board of Education if any Fire
Prevention and Safety Funds are to be used for paving. The Building
and Grounds Committee of the Board of Education identified the high
school parking lot and the grade school playground as projects of
focus on the Capital Projects List. Mr. Lamkey had no questions
presented to the district office. Being that there were no
additional questions, the paving hearing adjourned at 7:10.
The Board then completed Roll Call for the regular meeting. There
were 25 members in the audience with 6 requesting to address the
Board on the state’s mask mandate. The Board allowed all requesting
members time to address the Board and then thanked them for their
input.
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 August 16, 2021. Superintendent Lamkey informed the
Board that sales tax revenues reported for June were $28,039.95,
which maintains the recent trend of increased sales in Logan County.
The motion passed 7-0.
Under Reports, Superintendent Lamkey announced that the Mount
Pulaski Board of Education has been recognized by the Illinois
Association of School Boards as one of 35 districts in the state to
earn the IASB’s 2021 School Board Governance Recognition
designation. The Board will be honored at the IASA October Dinner
Meeting in Rochester, as well as at the Joint Annual Conference in
November. Mount Pulaski was the only district in the Abe Lincoln
Region to be selected. This recognition is designed to acknowledge
those school boards that have engaged in activities and modeled
behaviors that lead to excellence in local school governance in
support of quality public education. This is an outstanding honor
and a reminder of the incredible work we are doing in our district.
It not only represents the hard work of the Board, but also the
collaborative effort of our principals and staff.
In Unfinished Business, Mr. Lamkey updated the Board on changes to
current restrictions and local metrics. He noted that the district
has three students under quarantine with two students testing
positive. County-wide trends indicate that COVID-19 spread is
decreasing, but is still a concern. Logan County is one of 19
counties earning a reduced warning status. Discussion ensued
regarding the effectiveness of masks and current mitigation
measures. Administrators and teachers alike confirmed that the
school year is off to a great start and while masks are not
preferred, they are not taking away from the district's success. Mr.
Lamkey pointed out that
other larger districts are experiencing greater numbers of
quarantine due to their larger student population, while others saw
upswings due to foregoing the mask mandate.
President Cowan and Mr. Smith addressed the Board on the
ineffectiveness of masks, according to medical studies they have
encountered. Mr. Smith would like to seek alternative approaches to
the current mask mitigation practices that could improve student
well-being.
Superintendent Lamkey pointed out that students and teachers alike
were functioning at high and very successful levels to start the
school year and he would hate to endanger that success. Mr. Smith
said he would communicate with each Board member to determine if
there was interest to conduct a special board meeting to consider
alternative options.
In other unfinished business, Principal Fricke presented options on
replacing banners in the 1963 gymnasium. Options ranged from keeping
the old banners to replacing all banners in a uniform manner. Mrs.
Fricke will move forward with the option of replacing banners and
sharing design concepts with the Building and Grounds Committee.
The
Board then entered Executive Session to discuss personnel issues.
Under New Business, Mr. Lamkey and the Finance Committee delivered a
FY2022 Budget presentation. Superintendent Lamkey commented that all
funds are showing a surplus and minimum fund balances are being
maintained. The committee highlighted five year trends for revenues,
expenditures and fund balances, which are all trending up.
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The Finance Committee will meet again this fall to discuss
additional spending plans for the upcoming year. The Board approved the FY2022
Budget 7-0.
Next the Board approved the resolution allowing for Fire
Prevention and Safety funds to be potentially used for district paving projects.
The motion passed 7-0.
Mr. Lamkey then introduced the building principals and their building leadership
teams to present the FY2022 School Improvement Plans. The buildings presented
the plans jointly and highlighted the three goal areas: student growth,
curriculum and instruction and stakeholder collaboration. These goal areas were
derived from the District Improvement Plan that was approved by the Board in
January of 2021 and the Strategic Planning that took place in February of 2020.
Superintendent Lamkey acknowledged the work by the administration and staff,
stating “It is amazing what they have accomplished while navigating the
challenges of the pandemic.” This is the first time that the district has
collectively engaged in district and school improvement plans. This planning
process is cyclical and will enable the district to maintain systems of best
practices, accountability and evaluation each year. The plans are available for
public viewing on the school website. The plans were approved 7-0.
The district opened the door to a new student activity, e-Sports, through the
approval of a memorandum of understanding, allowing for the creation of a coach
for e-Sports. e-Sports is a gaming platform that allows students to participate
virtually against other schools across the
state. e-Sports is an up and coming activity that can lead to college
scholarships and career opportunities. The Board approved the memorandum of
understanding 7-0.
The Personnel Report hired the following positions:
● MPGS Paraprofessional - Alexis Kuznik
● MPHS e-Sports Coach - Anthony Lisenko
● MPHS Bus Aide - Emma Otto
● MPHS Assistant Baseball Coach - Troy Burgard
● MPHS Assistant Softball Coach - Rex Tschantz
● MPGS Assistant Baseball Coach - Gale Clark
● MPHS Volunteer Girls Basketball Coach - Carey McVickers
Accepted the resignation of Brian Woodsworth as MPGS assistant softball coach.
The Personnel Report was approved 7-0.
The two positions below were pulled from the Personnel Report to be voted on
separately. Each item passed 6-0 with one present vote.
● MPHS Paraprofessional - Sam Brown
● MPGS Volunteer Boys Basketball Coach - Doug Martin
Under Items of Discussion
● Superintendent Lamkey reminded the Building and Grounds Committee that a joint
inspection with the park boards of Veterans and Frazier Park need to be
scheduled in the upcoming weeks. Mr. Martin volunteered to schedule the meeting.
● Mr. Lamkey reminded the Board of the October 6th IASB Dinner Meeting in
Rochester. Mrs. Combs and Mr. Wilham each volunteered to represent the district
at the meeting.
● Mr. Lamkey then asked the Board if MPCUSD23 would like to host the March 1,
2022 IASB Dinner Meeting this spring. The Board enthusiastically supported the
opportunity.
The Board adjourned the meeting at 10:58 PM. The next regular meeting will be
Monday, October 18th in the MPGS Learning Center at 6:00 PM.
[Sarah Farris
Administrative Assistant
Mount Pulaski CUSD 23] |
