|
 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.
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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] |
