|
 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.
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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]
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