Mt. Pulaski CUSD 23
Board votes to join energy consortium

 

[March 19, 2024]    The Mt. Pulaski CUSD 23 Board of Education called their regular meeting to order on March 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the MPGS Learning Center, all school board members were in attendance with Chris Brown attending remotely.

President Cowan shuffled the agenda to accommodate the Mt. Pulaski Honeybears Volleyball Teams as the Board honored them for the 7th grade state appearance and the 8th Grade State Championship. Both teams were awarded a celebratory dinner for their accomplishments. No other attendees requested Public Recognition.

Next, the Board entered Executive Session to discuss the employment of staff. The Board returned to open session at 7:32 PM.

The first action item was the approval of the Consent Agenda which included minutes of the regular February 21st 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 topped $34,000. The Board approved the Consent Agenda 7-0.

Under Reports, Mr. Lamkey first discussed a variety of items including the potential cost of adding shot clocks due to a change in IHSA rules, setting the FY2025 board schedule at the April meeting and the district’s search for additional bus drivers.

There was one Freedom of Information Act request from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association to obtain the names and emails of all retiring staff.

In New Business, Superintendent Lamkey introduced the Board to a program called Who We Play For. This is a supplemental medical screening that offers the opportunity to conduct non-invasive testing to determine any cardiac abnormalities that regular physicals may have missed. The district has agreed to pick up the $20 fee for any students whose family voluntarily wishes to participate. More information and dates will follow very soon. The Board directed Mr. Lamkey to proceed with planning for the program.

Next, Mr. Lamkey presented a purchasing program for natural gas through the Illinois Energy Consortium (IEC). This program is linked to Future Green who has helped Mt. Pulaski Schools save money on electricity purchases through a consortium as well. Nearly 200 schools are involved in the consortium which allows our district to have greater buying power creating lower energy prices. The district can expect nearly a 20% savings in energy costs. The Board voted 7-0 to allow Mr. Lamkey to negotiate with the IEC for future natural gas purchases.

The Building and Grounds Committee approached the Board about the need to replace the Veterans Park baseball field scoreboard. The current scoreboard can be very difficult to read in the waning hours of the day. The new scoreboard is slated to cost just over $24,000 including delivery costs. The Board approved the purchase 7-0.

Personnel Report was approved 7-0 containing 3 hires and 1 resignation:

Hires

○ Valerie Hauge as MPGS ELA Teacher
○ Lauren Spang as MPGS Interventionist
○ Cullen Tyson as MPGS Paraprofessional

Resignations

○ Kylee Francisco as MPGS Paraprofessional

Items of Information

● Mrs. Fricke

Senior for the Month of March is Colt Sellinger

Teachers participated in AI (Artificial Intelligence) Training during the March 8th School Improvement Day

PSAT and SAT testing will take place on April 12th

● Mrs. Lora

Handbook committee meeting was completed

IAR testing has begun

MPGS will host the Logan County Band Festival on Thursday, March 21st at the high school.

● Mr. Kavelman

The MPGS Boys Basketball teams finished their season with close regional losses. Mr. Kavelmen reported that there was great improvement from the beginning of the season to the end.

The MPHS performance of Clue was a great success with 442 people attending!

MPGS Girls Volleyball Team had a great season with the 7th grade advancing to state and the 8th Grade claiming a State Championship.

MPHS Girls Basketball team finished an injury riddled season with a 21-10 record and a trip to the regional championship.

A very young MPHS Basketball team finished the season with 13 victores and a 2nd place finish in the holiday tournament.

● Mr. Cowan

The Board presented Superintendent Lamkey with tickets to a Cubs game for his retirement gift.

The meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM. The next regular meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on April 15, 2024.

[Sarah Farris]