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 In
the first order of business, the Board went into executive session
to discuss the purchase of property, collective bargaining and
employment of staff. The Board returned to the regular session at
7:12PM.
Upon its return, the Board conducted an Amended Budget Hearing on
the FY2023 Budget. There were two adjustments performed on the
budget, one was the movement of funds from the Education Fund to the
Capital Projects Fund to cover costs incurred with the grade school
and high school paving projects from last fall. The other adjustment
moved funds from the Capital Projects Fund to the Bond and Interest
Fund to cover the costs of the district’s alternate bond and
abatement of taxes approved by the Board in December. With no
questions for requests from the public, the Amended Budget Hearing
was adjourned.
The Board once again called the regular meeting to order and heard
from two community members during Recognition of the Public.
The first action item was the approval of the Consent Agenda.
Superintendent Lamkey reported that there were no questions to the
district office concerning bills and that the sales tax revenues
once again topped $31,000 for February. The Board approved the
Consent Agenda 6-0.
Under Reports, Mr. Lamkey took questions on his
report and spoke of a FOIA request by Local Labs on all bills
connected to Lurie Children’s Hospital.
In Unfinished Business, the Board considered a request from Hartem
to co-op high school golf. Hartem has only one golfer for the
upcoming season and shares the same home course with the MPHS Golf
Team. After a discussion about athletic co-operatives, the Board
approved the co-op 6-0.
The first item under New Business was the adoption of the Amended
Budget. The motion carried 6-0.
Next, the Board discussed the district’s involvement
in the creation of a Logan County alternative school called the
Abraham Lincoln Academy. Four years ago, the district participated
in the Salt Creek Academy in Fancy Prairie, but it closed its doors
at the end of the 2019 school year. Since then, the school district
has been paying out of district tuition to Safe School in
Springfield when the need would arise for a student to attend an
alternative setting. The seven Logan County school districts and
Clinton have been in discussion this spring on considering a Logan
County alternative.
The Abraham Lincoln Academy will be located in
Lincoln at the Dugan Center, which was previously the Lincoln
Elementary School. All seven county schools and Clinton plan to
participate in the academy. Advantages in participating include a
cost savings, shorter transportation time for students, the
participating districts having more control over curriculum and
student well-being. Lincoln Elementary School District 27 will be
the host and the remaining 7 districts will work in an advisory
capacity.
The Board approved the agreement 6-0.
The Illinois State School Code requires all Board
professional development to have a pre- approved expense projection
prior to attending a training. The Board approved expenses to attend
the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago in November. Expenses include
lodging, conference registration fees, transportation and a Board
dinner. Costs for all members to attend the conference are expected
to be just over $12,000 for the four day event. The Board approved
the expenses 6-0.
In late May, the Mt. Pulaski Education Association (MPEA) and the
Board tentatively approved a new three year contract that runs
through the 2026 school year. The MPEA ratified the contract on May
26th. Highlights of the contract include 4% raises, an increase in
health insurance stipend and the addition of expense allowances for
staff. The Board adopted the contract with a 6-0 vote.
One responsibility of the Board each year is to
approve the administrative order of succession. The addition of a
full-time Activity Director changed the succession. In the absence
of a principal in either building would result in newly hired AD,
Trent Kavelman, to be second in command in either building. In the
situation both principals are not in district, Mr. Lamkey also steps
in. The plan was approved 6-0.
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The next three items involved staff handbooks. The
handbooks are designed to set clear expectations and provide
guidance for staff members in their day to day lives as employees.
There were no major changes to the handbooks which were approved 6-0
by the Board.
The same rising prices and recent jumps in inflation have also
affected the district's lunch programs. The district’s meal prices
have remained the same since the 2013 school year. All breakfast
prices and high school lunch prices will remain the same as they lie
above current costs per meal. Grade School lunch prices per meal are
42 cents below the costs to serve a meal. The district’s goal is to
provide low cost nutritional meals to all students. A spring survey
of central Illinois school districts revealed that even with this
price increase at the grade school, all Mt. Pulaski meal prices
remained below average. After some discussion, the Board opted to to
maintain its current prices.
The retirement of MPHS Drivers Education and Health Teacher Pat
Walsh left the district with the task of replacing his position.
Drivers Education and Health are two difficult positions to fill,
especially in the time of teacher shortages. Mrs. Fricke found a
strong, qualified replacement for Drivers Education, Pat, but he is
not licensed in Heath. Mrs. Fricke explained to the Board that while
we are still looking for a Health teacher, it is unlikely we will
fill the void as it is only part-time. In the meantime, MPHS has an
online curriculum that will be supervised by a licensed high school
staff member. That teacher will also provide instructional
assistance to students taking the online program. The district will
also look to fill the position with a Health Teacher at the first
availability.
Superintendent Lamkey has surveyed salaries for
Educational Support Staff (ESP) and found that Mt. Pulaski Schools
salaries are well below average. Last year, the district took steps
to increase ESP salaries, but the district remained in the bottom
half of salaries and often very near the bottom. In an effort to
retain and attract ESP employees, the district raised starting
salaries to $16/hour and also raised current employees salaries to
correspond to this raise.
This Board feels this bump in salary is needed as the
district continues to hire and retain highly qualified employees to
work with our students. The increase passed 6-0.
The last action item under New Business was the principal's salary
increases for FY2024. Each principal has a three year contract and
will receive a 5% raise for the upcoming school year.
The Board approved the pay increase 6-0.
Next on the docket was the Personnel Report, which was approved 6-0
containing eight hires and one resignation.
Hires
Tricia Campbell as MPHS Business and Computer Applications Teacher
Linda Smith as MPHS National Honor Society Sponsor
Tim MIlligan as MPHS Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach
Mackenzi Chandler, Summer Eskew, Ethan Payne, Becky Clarke and Mark
Graue as Summer Custodians
Resignations
Michelle Clark as MPHS Prom Sponsor.
The Board then entered Executive Session once again to discuss
employment of staff. After the Executive Session, the meeting was
adjourned with no further action being taken. The next regular
meeting will be held on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM in the MPGS
Learning Center.
[Sarah Farris
Administrative Professional
Mount Pulaski CUSD 23]
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