Mt Pulaski CUSD 23 Board of education approves high school renovation bids

 

[April 16, 2024] 

The Mt. Pulaski CUSD 23 Board of Education called their regular meeting to order on
April 15, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the MPGS Learning Center, all school board members were in attendance with Chris Brown attending remotely.

The Board entered Executive Session to discuss the employment of staff, compensation of staff and student discipline. The Board returned to open session at 7:16 PM.

In the Recognition of Public, Mike Chandler addressed the Board on the areas of book banning, the first amendment, social media, medical screening, sex trafficking and organ harvesting.

The first action item was the approval of the Consent Agenda, which included minutes of the regular March 18th meeting, bills and sales tax revenues. Superintendent Lamkey reported that there were no questions to the district office concerning bills and that the sales tax revenues dipped to $29,000, which is typical for January. The Board approved the Consent Agenda 7-0.

Under Reports, Superintendent Lamkey discussed the proposed state budget for education compared to the Illinois School Board of Education recommendations. Both the Governor’s office and ISBE were in line with $360,000,000 being pledged to Evidence Based Funding and
$75,000,000 going toward Early Childhood Education. The disparity was in categorical grants (MCAT) with the Governor recommending the $31,000,000 while ISBE asked for $165,000,000.

Mr. Lamkey reported that while the state has not disregarded the potential payment for the 2006 construction grant owed to the district, there has been no money levied by the state to do so.

Mr. Lamkey will also be working to secure the best rate possible for natural gas through the Illinois Energy Consortium (IEC). That contract will begin May 1st.

In New Business, the high school and grade school recommended changes for the FY2025 student handbooks. The recommendations were the result of committees composed of board members, administrators, teachers and parents who reviewed the current handbooks and discussed potential changes. Each handbook was approved by a 6-1 vote.

Next there was a motion to change consequences in the current handbook in the area of student discipline. This item died from a lack of a second motion.

The Board then postponed a vote on hiring Bushue HR as a consultant for the district next school year. The Board questioned the 3-year contract and asked Mr. Lamkey if a shorter contract was possible. Mr. Lamkey will work with Bushue and report back to the Board for approval in May.

The administration then surveyed the Board for help in handing out diplomas and promotion certificates for the upcoming ceremonies. Mr. Martin and Mr. Wilham both volunteered to help with the grade school promotion ceremony and the high school graduation.

Over the past three months, the Personnel and Building & Grounds Committees have been vetting a new job description and evaluation for Building and Grounds Supervisor. The previous job description was cumbersome, and the evaluation tool lacked appropriate detail. Each committee approved the job description and evaluation tool and recommended approval to the Board. The measure passed 7-0.

Mrs. Fricke was set to make a recommendation of staff for the new high school special education position for next year. The candidate being recommended, Mark Clem, is certified to teach History and English Language Arts, but he is finishing up his special education licensure with Western Illinois University. In order to complete his licensure training, the district had to approve a memorandum of understanding with WIU before hiring Mr. Clem. The MoU basically ensures that the district will offer mentoring and coaching resources for the new teacher in his first two years. The Board approved the MoU 7-0.

Superintendent Lamkey next reported that the MPGS Building Leadership Team (BLT) completed the survey of grade school teachers to gather data for the potential renovation and construction plans at the grade school. The narrative of the survey was given to the Board and the MPGS BLT plans to present a prioritized list for the next meeting. Mr. Lamkey has scheduled meetings with the district architect from Graham and Hyde to meet with grade school staff as well as high school staff slated to have their rooms renovated this summer. Information from the grade school meeting will be used to create renderings and cost projections for a renovation/construction project at the grade school. The current target date for these plans is December 2024.

The Board next discussed upgrading the District Office furniture to replace the assorted mix of items that date as far back as 1995. The Board asked Mr. Lamkey to obtain a second bid and also discuss furniture options available from State Farm.

President Cowan next opened up a general discussion about OPAA!, vaping/drinking, prom location and spring break conflicts. Board members indicated they have received feedback that the quality of food was on a decline in the district. Mr. Lamkey will work with OPAA! and pass along the Board’s concerns. The Board had no additional concerns about vaping and drinking at school. Board members once again brought up concern about prom being held outside the district boundaries. Some board members indicate that either the American Legion Hall or school should be used for the dance. Mr. Lamkey surveyed 28 central Illinois school districts and found that none of the 28 participating districts restricted where students choose to have prom. The surveyed districts indicated unanimously that the decision left to the students, sponsors and high school administration.

 The final item of the discussion concerned the timing of spring break and grade school volleyball state tournaments. This past year the tournaments coincided with spring break forcing some families and staff members to make a decision between travel and participating in the tournament. Two board members said they would like to consider amending the calendar to avoid such a conflict.

The bid process for the Summer 2024 MPHS Renovation was completed this past week. The following bids were awarded through a 7-0 vote:

● Window replacement of the 1963 high school west facing windows went to Gardner Glass from Taylorville at a cost of $69,700.

● Replacement of the MPHS 2006 roof went to Kreiling Roofing from Peoria at a cost of
$193,288.

● The general contractor for the remaining pieces of the renovation project went to Johnco Construction from Mackinaw for $1,178,000.

The total bid of the project came in at $1,440,988, which was lower than the anticipated bid. Work on the high school project will begin at the conclusion of the school year.

Personnel Report was approved 7-0 containing five hires and one resignation:

● Hires

○ Nichole Tobert as MPGS Science

○ Mark Clem as MPHS Special Education

○ Hannah Cameron as MPHS Head Volleyball Coach

○ Christopher Wilson as MPHS Head Soccer Coach

○ Rob Siebert as MPGS Volunteer Assistant Soccer Coach

● Resignations

○ Kaytlyn Newburn as MPGS Teacher

Items of Information

Athletics - Mr. Kavelman

● MPGS

○ Track and Field season is underway and the Logan County Track Meet will be on Wednesday, April 24th.

○ Scholastic Bowl will host their final two meets of the season (both at MPGS) this Tuesday, April 16th and Wednesday, April 17th.

● MPHS

○ Hilltoppers Baseball is currently 13-1

○ Track and Field is underway and will have their Tomahawk Conference Meet in Athens on Thursday, April 25th.

○ FCCLA parli pro team is going to Nationals in Seattle this summer! They got a gold placement at State!

○ We have another FCCLA state officer - Lupe Andrade

BOTH Schools - Coach Deibert and Coach Cameron are developing an 8-Week Training Program for students K-8 and 9-12 in June and July.

High School - Mrs. Fricke

● The April Senior-of-the-Month is Emarie Willis.

● SAT/PSAT was taken on Friday, April 12.

● NHS Induction Ceremony (6:00) and Senior Recognition Night (6:30) is Tuesday, May 7 - We’d love to have you here to support our seniors!

● Baccalaureate will be on Sunday, May 12, at the MPCC Sanctuary at 6 PM!

● 3 Student Council members attending an event tomorrow with Sally Turner to create a new bill.

● FFA week begins April 29 (cookout, games)

● All first time freshmen will be attending the Teens, Trucks & Traffic event on May 2.

● Morning of service on Friday, May 3.

● Prom on May 4.

Grade School - Mrs. Lora

● Finishing up IAR testing

● Class field trips coming up sponsored by PASE

● 8th grade promotion practice May 15

● 8th grade field trip May 16

● 8th grade Promotion May 17 @ 3:00 pm - 2:00 pm dismissal that day.

● Book, Art, and Science Fair

● Spring Concert April 26 @ 2:00 pm PreK - 4th

● May 8 JH Band Concert 6:00 pm

The meeting adjourned at 9:44 PM. The next regular meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on May 20, 2024.

[Sarah Farris]