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 The Board entered Executive Session to discuss the employment and
evaluation of staff, compensation of staff and purchase of property.
The Board returned to open session at 7:00 PM. The Board returned to
Executive Session at the end of the general meeting to finish
discussion items.
There were no visitors requesting to speak during the Recognition of
Public.
The Board’s first business was to conduct a hearing for the transfer
of funds from the Education Fund to Operations and Maintenance and
finally to the Capital Fund. These transfers move reserves from the
Education Fund ultimately to the Capital Fund to pay for the $1.5
million in renovation costs at the high school and future expenses
incurred in the renovation and construction of a track/soccer field
at Veterans Park. No one from the public had questions during the
hearing.
Next, the Board held a hearing to amend the FY2024 Budget. The
district office amends the budget each year to create a clearer
picture of how money was received and spent during the school year.
The largest change in the budget will be reflected in the transfer
of funds from the Education Fund to the Operations and Maintenance
Fund and finally landing in the Capital Fund. There were no
questions addressed in this hearing either.
The first action item was the approval of the Consent Agenda, which
included minutes of the regular May 20th meeting, bills, and sales
tax revenues. The Board approved the Consent Agenda 6-0.
A new feature on the Board Agenda is the Good News item. This item
has been implemented to recognize the accomplishments of the school
district and the students and staff that make them possible. This
month focused on the Hilltop shotgun sports which recently was
crowned Trap Champions in the state of Illinois and Runner-Up in
Skeet. Coach Mott spoke about the team’s season and the dominance
they displayed in the state tournaments. All of the competitors and
coaches were recognized for their great success this spring and
received resolutions from the Board to commemorate their
accomplishments!
Under Reports, Superintendent Lamkey recapped his Superintendent
report and answered questions from the Board. He informed the Board
that renovations at the high school were on schedule and looking
good to start the school year without delay. The second item was a
report on the IASB Abe Lincoln Spring Dinner Meeting. Four board
members (Cowan, Mott, Wilham, and Brown) attended the meeting with
Mr. Spang at the end of May. The focus of the meeting was
brainstorming how to get more school districts involved in
governance. The fall dinner meeting is slated to take place in New
Berlin.
With no unfinished business, the Board moved on to New Business. The
first two action items moved $3,000,000 from the Education Fund to
the Building and Maintenance Fund and finally to the Capital Fund.
As previously explained, this transfer of money will allow for
$3,000,000 in capital improvements to the district, which include
renovations at the high school and improvements to the track, soccer
field, and baseball fields at the newly purchased Veterans Park. It
should be noted that none of these improvements to the school
district have required any additional local funding. In fact, these
improvements are taking place while local taxes have decreased over
the last five years. The two separate motions passed 6-0.
Next, the Board approved the amended FY2024 budget with a 6-0 vote.
The primary changes to the budget included the previously approved
transfer of funds to the Capital Fund.
Mr. Spang took the next opportunity to speak to the Board about the
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Last summer, state
legislatures approved a measure that allows school districts to feed
students for free, but the government did not appropriate funding to
support the measure. Mr. Spang explained CEP and recommended that
the school not become involved until funding is made available by
the state.
Mr. Lamkey next presented the FY2025 Capital Projects List, which
consists of one item: improvements at Veterans Park. While the
district is in the planning process for improvements at the grade
school, they will look to begin work that will build a track and
soccer field at the newly acquired Veterans Park. Work could begin
as early as this fall to begin improving the amenities at the park.
The motion passed 6-0.
The Board then approved a series of handbooks which included the
MPGS Faculty Handbook, the MPHS Faculty Handbook, and the MPCUSD23
Paraprofessional Handbook. These handbooks had minor changes and are
designed to guide employees to understand their responsibilities in
day-to-day activities. Each handbook was individually approved with
a 6-0 vote.
The Board then considered approving the PERA
Handbook. This is a mandated handbook that involves collaboration
between administrators, MPEA and teachers to design guidelines for
the evaluation of licensed staff. After being presented a summary of
the changes, the Board approved the handbook 6-0.
The next four items attended to the increase in
salary of Educational Support Personnel, administrators and
Instructional Coaches. The district has battled in recent years to
increase the wages of ESP staff to a place where the district can
maintain current employees and attract new staff. The district gave
all office assistants, paraprofessionals, custodians and Mt. Pulaski
kitchen staff a raise of $4/hour to bring starting district salaries
to $20/hour.
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Any ESP staff who is near
retirement earned 6% raises to avoid any penalties upon their
retirement. Principals, Activities Director, District
Bookkeeper, Transportation Supervisor, Instructional Coaches,
Bus Drivers and Building and Grounds Supervisors received a 5%
raise. The Board approved the pay increases by a 6-0 vote.
The final action item of the evening was the Personnel Report.
The Board considered the following employment items:
○ Accept the resignation of Trent Kavelman as District
Activities Director
○ Accept the resignation of Joel Washko as MPGS Social Studies
Teacher and MPHS Baseball Coach
○ Accept the resignation of Allie Olson as Full-Time Substitute
Teacher
○ Accept the resignation of Hannah Bauser as MPGS
Paraprofessional
○ Accept the resignation of Cullen Tyson as MPGS
Paraprofessional
○ Approve Allison Duffy as MPGS Teacher
○ Approve Leah Peirantoni as MPGS Transitional Kindergarten
Teacher
○ Approve Trent Kavelman as MPGS Social Studies Teacher
○ Approve Jamie Anderson as MPGS Girls Basketball Coach
○ Approve Ryan Deibert as MPHS Boys Basketball Coach
○ Approve Ryan McVickers as MPHS Girls Basketball Coach
○ Approve MPGS Building Leadership Team: Jessica Awe, Ashley
Burgard, Lindsey Ford, Katie Gisinger, Jenna Kloba, Mindy
Switzer and Carly Powell
○ Approve MPHS Building Leadership Team: Michael Copley, Ryan
Deibert, Jamie Selinger, Linda Smith and Wyatt Waterkotte
○ Approve MPGS Mentors: Ashley Burgard, Jenna Kloba and Carly
Powell
○ Approve MPHS Mentor: Krissy Mercer
○ Approve Parent Educator and Screening Coordinator Stipends for
Ashley Burgard
The Board approved the Personnel Report 4-2.
Items of Information: President Cowan thanked Mr. Lamkey for his
5 years of service as the superintendent of the district. Mr.
Lamkey reciprocated the sentiment as he is retiring after 35
years in the field of education.
Athletics - Mr. Kavelman
● MPGS
○ Summer basketball open gyms have been taking place for boys
and girls with a high number of student-athletes participating.
● MPHS
○ SKEET STATE CHAMPS - 2024
○ SPORTING CLAY CHAMPS - 2024
○ TRAP - CLASS 2A - RUNNER UP - 2024
○ SKEET INDIVIDUALS
■ CLAY LEONARD 2ND PLACE
■ JAMESON LOWE 4TH PLACE
○ SPORTING CLAY INDIVIDUALS
■ HAWKEN CLAMPET 4TH PLACE
○ TRAP INDIVIDUALS
■ ALEC MARTIN 4TH PLACE
○ Boys & Girls Basketball are participating in summer leagues.
We are hosting a few games for each.
High School - Mrs. Fricke
● NWEA Map Conference June 27-29: Linda Smith, Michael Copley,
Jamie Selinger, Donna Koehler will be attending
● FCCLA Nationals in Seattle on June 28
● Online registration will open July 1 on TeacherEase.
● Fricke will be unavailable/on vacation July 10 through 15
● Annual safety review meeting on July 25
● CPI Training on July 30
● Office reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 31 - 8am to
3pm
● New Teacher Onboarding on August 1
● Chromebook pickup for Grades 10, 11, 12 - Monday, August 12,
from 2pm until 6pm, and Tuesday, August 13, from 5:30pm until
8:00pm
● Freshman Bootcamp - Tuesday, August 13 - 5:30pm until 8:00pm -
Freshmen will get their chromebooks at this time, rotate through
“need to know” stations, practice schedules and locker
combinations, and get lockers stocked.
Grade School - Mrs. Lora
● NWEA Map Conference June 27-29
● Online registration will open July 1 on TeacherEase.
● SRP Meeting July 25 @ 9:00 am
● CPI Training July 30
● Office reopens to the public on Wednesday, July 31 - 8am to
3pm
● New teacher orientation August 1st
The meeting adjourned at 8:24 PM. The next regular meeting will
be held at 6:00 PM on July 17, 2024 in the MPGS Learning Center.
[Sarah Farris]
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