|
 The
first item on the agenda was to enter the Executive Session to
discuss employment, purchase of property and discussion of Executive
Session Minutes. The Board returned to open session at 7:09 p.m. The
first item of business was the approval of the consent agenda which
passed 6-0.
Under Recognition of Public, Mike Chandler played a sound bite from
a podcast concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI) and microchipping
of citizens.
Under Reports, Kevin Heid from the financial company Stifel,
reported on the schools bonded debt which includes the $9,680,000
bonds from the referendum to build the high school and the
$2,500,000 alternative bonds, also for high school construction. Mr.
Heid said our bonds are callable in the next two years, but he said
we will not find a better interest rate than what we currently have.
The bond on the referendum sunsets in 2033 and the alternative bond
sunsets 2036.
Mr. Lamkey reported that the district’s auditor would present the
Annual Financial Report at the November meeting and also announced
that Mrs. Burgard secured a $140,000 grant through the State Board
of Education for the Early Childhood program. Lastly, Superintendent
Lamkey shared remarks he encountered with a parent/teacher from a
neighboring school district. The parent has a senior student who has
participated in athletics against Mt. Pulaski for the past seven
years, giving her numerous opportunities to see our coaches and
students in action. She commented that our student athletes were
always hard workers, displayed good sportsmanship and carried
themselves in a manner that we could be proud of. Because we often
hear only the negative words from people in the public, Mr. Lamkey
took this opportunity to share the positive.
Mrs. Fricke commented on the discipline report which had one high
school student suspended out of school one day for being
disrespectful to staff and another student suspended two periods for
missed detentions. No grade school students were suspended.
Unfinished Business began with the approval to
purchase Veterans Park from the Park District for $250,000. This
purchase will allow the school district to own the property where
baseball and track takes place. It also gives the district incentive
to make improvements to the property as the official owners. Both
the Board and Park District anticipate this sale will lead to park
improvements that will benefit the entire community. The measure
passed 6-0.
The Board then voted 6-0 to pass a new Estimated Expense Report for
the upcoming Joint Annual Conference. By law, Board members are
allotted to have expenses paid for the conference which include
housing, travel, registration, food stipends and other necessities
which are all calculated by standards and rates set by the State of
Illinois.
Mr. Wilham and Mr. Brown, of the Policy Committee, then led a
discussion on the potential for non-certified district employees
receiving the benefit of having their out of district students
attend school in Mt. Pulaski tuition free. The current collective
bargaining agreement with the teachers allows for this practice to
take place, but non-certified staff are not included in this
agreement. The Policy Committee will meet next month to discuss this
topic next month along with other new policies and policy changes.
Mr. Brown and Mr. Wilham both agreed that they felt this would be a
good policy addition. The Board will consider this change at the
November meeting.
New Business began with two action items concerning Executive
Session Minutes. The first item posed to the Board was to consider
opening minutes from the last six months for public viewing. This
measure died for the lack of a motion. The second action item
involved the Illinois Statute which allows Boards to destroy
Executive Session Minutes older than 18 months old. The Board
approved this motion 6-0.
Each year the district must work with the Mt. Pulaski Educators
Association to discuss the prioritized list for the event of needing
to conduct Honorary Dismissal of certified staff. This list is
prioritized by considering teachers certification, teacher
evaluations and years of service to the district. This action is
required by law which also requires the Board to select a committee
to represent the district. The Board voted 6-0 to have
Superintendent Lamkey and Kathy Tschantz as the district
representatives. The list, created by the Joint Committee for
Honorary Dismissals, will be considered for approval by the Board in
December.
The Board next considered the renewal contract with
Health Alliance, the district’s health insurance carrier. Premiums
with Health Alliance were set to increase 29% over last year's
contract. After considering several options, the teachers union and
Mr. Lamkey both recommended changing vendors to United Health Care
which offered considerably lower premiums and comparable benefits.
The Board approved United Health Care as the district's health
insurance vendor with a 6-0 vote.
Next on the docket was the Personnel Report, which was approved 6-0
containing 11 hires and 1 resignation.
Hires
○ Ryan Davis as MPHS Boys JV Basketball Coach
○ Jeff Clements as MPHS Boys Volunteer Assistant Basketball Coach
○ Tanker Wade as MPHS Boys Volunteer Assistant Basketball Coach
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○ Bella Wade as MPHS Girls
Assistant Basketball Coach
○ Heidi Zenor as MPHS Girls Volunteer Assistant Basketball Coach
○ Tiffany Kretzinger as MPHS
Cheerleading Individual Aide
○ Amanda Scattergood as MPHS Special Event Individual Aide
○ Joel Washko as MPHS Baseball Coach
○ Troy Burgard as MPHS Assistant Baseball Coach
○ Jared Washko as MPHS Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach
○ Gale Clark as MPHS Track Coach
Resignations
○ Troy Burgard as MPGS Baseball Coach
Items of Information:
Athletics - Mr. Kavelman
● Honeybears Basketball is having a strong season in both 7th and
8th Grade.
○ 7th Grade sits at 10 wins and 3 losses; with 2 of those losses
being by only a few points.
○ 8th Grade is 12-1. Their only loss is to WLB.
● 8th Grade Night for the Honeybears is Tuesday, October 24th.
● Bruins Basketball conditioning practices began this week.
○ Currently, 29 boys from 5th through 8th grade have shown up for
the first 3 days.
● 8th Grade Night for the Bruins is Monday, November 20th.
● Lady Toppers Volleyball will play their first round regional game
on Monday, October 23rd against Delavan @ 7:00 in Greenview.
● Lady Toppers Basketball begins practice on October 30th.
● Hilltoppers Basketball begins practice on November 6th.
● Mirrors, dry erase boards, wall decals, and perforated window
decals have been installed in the High School Weight Room.
● The new fan in the Grade School gym is installed and working very
well.
High School - Mrs. Fricke
● Senior-of-the-Month for September: Chloe Stone
● Senior-of-the-Month for October: Jayden Cherry
● Enjoyed a spirit filled Homecoming week which ended in a tie
between the Seniors and Freshmen.
● The marketing students enjoyed a field trip to Malibu Jack’s to
better understand what it takes to open a new business.
● Friday, November 3 - Three students are participating in Senator
Turner’s Youth Advisory Council.
● Old Banner Auction will occur online and end before the Draw Down
dinner starts on Saturday, November 4.
● Saturday, November 4 - Boosters Draw Down Dinner
● Friday, November 10 - Our Veterans Day assembly will be at 9 a.m.
The public is invited to attend. Grades 6-8 from MPGS and Zion will
also be in attendance.
● Saturday, November 11- DC Fundraiser dinner @ 5 p.m. in the
cafeteria. Meet the Toppers @ 6 p.m. in the main gym. The Alumni
game is @ 7:30 pm.
● Wednesday, November 15 - Junior High Band Concert @ 6 p.m. in the
HS Multipurpose Gym. High School Band Concert @ 7:30 p.m. in the HS
Multipurpose Gym.
Grade School - Mrs. Lora
● PASE Donuts with Grownups was a success, with over $2,500 in book
fair sales.
● Parent Teacher Conferences Thursday and Friday
● 8th graders will be going on a field trip to Chicago since they
missed it during the 5th grade year due to Covid, thanks to PASE!
● Hosted Logan County Choir Fest last night at the high school gym
and it was awesome!!! Kids were great and respectful and put on a
good performance.
● Old Banner Auction will occur online and end before the Draw Down
dinner starts on Saturday, November 4.
● Wednesday, November 15 - Junior High Band Concert @ 6 p.m. in the
HS Multipurpose Gym.
The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, November 20, 2023
at 7:00 p.m. in the MPGS Learning Center.
[Sarah Farris] |
