Mercer County School District #404 Board of Education met June 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
PUBLIC HEARING
FY20 Amended Budget
The Public Hearing was called to order with Roll Call at 6:05PM. Board members present upon roll call: Bowns, Frieden, Smock (via zoom), and Wagner. A quorum was present. Dillavou arrived at 6:07PM via zoom.
Mr. Petrie went over the changes in the amended budget from the September tentative version. The most significant change being the ESSER Grant/CARES Act Funding we received to offset expenses from the COVID Pandemic in the amount of $225,000. Transportation fund also showed a savings due to the school closure and spring sports cancellations.
No public comments were made.
There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Frieden to adjourn the hearing at 6:14 PM.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
REGULAR MEETING
The Board of Education of Mercer County School District #404, Mercer, Henderson, & Rock Island Counties, Illinois, convened at a regular meeting at the Mercer County School District Office, 1002 SW 6th Street, Aledo, IL on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 6:15 PM.
Prior to Roll Call, President Julie Wagner led the group in the pledge of allegiance.
ATTENDANCE
Board members present upon roll call: Bowns, Dillavou, Frieden, Smock, and Wagner. A quorum was present.
Absent: Balmer joined via zoom at 6:37pm. Yates arrived at 6:49pm.
Administrators present: Superintendent Scott Petrie
Principals Day and Assistant Principal Andrew Hofer joined via zoom.
Also in Attendance: Secretary Angie Baker
Reporters: Cathy Decker via zoom.
RECORD OF MOTIONS & VOTES
| No. 01 | No. 02 | No. 03 | No. 04 | No. 05 | No. 06 | No. 07 | No. 08 | No. 09 | No. 10 | No. 11 | No. 12 | |
| Balmer | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | AYE | - | - | - | AYE |
| Bowns | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Dillavou | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | NAY |
| Frieden | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Smock | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | Abstain | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Wagner | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Yates | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | AYE | AYE | NAY |
| No. 13 | No. 14 | No. 15 | No. 16 | No. 17 | No. 18 | No. 19 | No. 20 | No. 21 | No. 22 | No. 23 | No. 24 | |
| Balmer | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Bowns | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Dillavou | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Frieden | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Smock | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Wagner | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
| Yates | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
CONSENT AGENDA
1. There was a motion by Frieden, seconded by Bowns, to approve the following items on the consent agenda.
1.1 Meeting Minutes
a. Regular Meeting Minutes – May 20, 2020
1.2 Bill List
1.3 Treasurer’s Report
1.4 Financial Report
1.5 BCBS Health Insurance Account Statement
1.6 Maternity Leave Special Education Administrator Taylor Saey
1.7 Resignation of Junior High Custodian Nick Jones
1.8 Resignation of High School Special Education Teacher Rowena Parsons
1.9 Resignation of Special Education Teacher Margaret Puckett at the end of the 23-24 school year
1.10 Resignation of Junior High Cheer Coach Stephanie Retherford
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
2. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Frieden, to approve the Amended Budget for FY20 as presented.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
3. There was a motion by Bowns, seconded by Smock, to accept the Prairie Farms Milk Bid for FY21 as presented.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
4. There was a motion by Frieden, seconded by Bowns, to accept the Aunt Millie’s Bread Bid for FY21 as presented.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
5. There was a motion by Dillavou, seconded by Smock, to accept the Halcomb Oil Fuel bid for FY21 as presented.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
6. There was a motion by Bowns, seconded by Dillavou, to approve the Milk prices for 2020-2021 school year as presented.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
7. There was a motion by Frieden, seconded by Bowns, to approve the Cook/Custodian Assignments for the 2020-2021 school year as presented. Roll Call: 4 Ayes, 1 Abstain. 0 Nays. Motion carried.
8. There was a motion by Frieden, seconded by Smock, to renew the Pedestrian Hazard Resolution as presented.
Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
9. There was a motion by Bowns, seconded by Frieden, to approve the Substitute Salaries due to minimum wage increase effective July1, 2020 as presented.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
10. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Dillavou, to approve Safety Policy 4.170 as presented.
Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
11. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Yates, to approve
the student handbook changes for the 2020-2021 school year as presented.
Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
12. There was a motion by Bowns, seconded by Smock, to adopt the Prevailing Wage Resolution as presented.
Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 2 Nays. Motion carried.
13. There was a motion by Frieden, seconded by Yates, to approve the renewal of the Blue Cross Blue Shield HSA plan as presented and the PPO Alternate 2 plan as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
14. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Frieden, to approve the Consolidated District Plan as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
15. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Frieden, to approve the Commercial Insurance Renewal as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
16. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Bowns, at 7:36PM to go into Closed Session after a short recess for Personnel and Negotiations discussion.
16.1 Personnel
The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)
16.2 Negotiations
Collective negotiating matters between the District and its employees or their representatives or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2).
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
17. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Bowns, to come out of Closed Session at 8:40PM.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
18. There was a motion by Bowns, seconded by Smock, to approve the rehire of the 2021 Spring High School coaches as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
19. There was motion by Bowns, seconded by Yates, to hire Jeremy Finch as the Varsity Wrestling Coach.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
20. There was a motion by Bowns, seconded by Smock, to hire Teague Smith as High School Dance Coach.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
21. There was a motion by Frieden, seconded by Bowns, to hire Brad Hofmann as High School Physical Education Teacher.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
22. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Bowns, to hire Josie Finch, Lillian Hucke, Catelyn Hofmann, and Sophie Bonaparte as summer workers.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
23. There was a motion by Wagner, seconded by Yates, to approve the Non Union Salaries as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
24. There was a motion by Balmer, seconded by Yates, to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 PM.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
OTHER REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
ADDITIONS/ DELETIONS 1. None
PUBLIC COMMENT 2. None
CORRESPONDENCE 3. There was a thank you card received from the family of Jeff Marston.
BOARD COMMENTS 4. None
5. Mike Bowns went over the Finance Committee report, mentioning the ESSER Grant (CARES Act) we received in the amount of $225,000 to offset costs related to the COVID pandemic.
6. Mr. Petrie discussed the bids received for bread, milk, and fuel for FY21. Some discussion was had regarding the language of the fuel bid. Transportation/Finance Committee will look into this further and may change the language for next year.
7. Mr. Petrie discussed the shift of the cooks and custodians for the 2020- 2021 school year. One cook resigned at the end of the school year and one retired. With the shift in cooks and the new head cook assignments, those vacancies will not be filled. The custodians were also shifted due to a retirement and a medical leave vacancy at the High School.
8. Mr. Petrie discussed the Pedestrian Hazard Resolution that has been in effect regarding the Intersection of Highway 17 and 94. ISBE advised that we review and renew this annually. It was discussed that there may be a need to apply in the future for an additional hazard resolution in Joy and New Boston due to students crossing Highway 17 in both cities.
9. Due to the minimum wage increase, substitute secretaries, cooks, paras, and summer workers were increased to $10/hr effective July 1, 2020. Substitute Teacher rates were also increased. These rates will need to be revisited in December due to the minimum wage increase that will take place January 1, 2021.
10. Changes were submitted to the Board from the High School, Intermediate, and New Boston Elementary School student handbooks. No changes were made to the Junior High and Apollo handbooks. Mr. Hofer and Mrs. Day discussed the changes to the Fast Friday guidelines at the High School. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the attendance requirement has been removed. The grade percentage has increased.
11. Mr. Petrie discussed the health insurance renewal forms from Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The PPO Plan shows a decrease of 7.19% and the HSA Plan shows a decrease of 6.99% of the total annual premium from the prior year.
12. Mr. Petrie discussed the renewal forms from Prairie State Insurance Cooperative (PSIC) and Workers’ Compensation Self-Insurance Trust (WCSIT). This renewal reflects an 18.2% increase overall.
13. We responded to a FOIA request from University of Wisconsin- Madison.
14. Mr. Hofer discussed the return to play policy that was created along with the Mercer County Health Department and approved by ISBE and IHSA. The plan has been in play for approximately a week with great success. 100 athletes are participating three days a week along with coaches to direct each group. Mrs. Day discussed the current Drivers Ed Program. This is for students that need to finish their driving hours due to the COVID pandemic. Temperature checks and mask wearing are required.
15. Mr. Petrie shared some information from the ISBE Board meeting held on June 17, 2020. No definite plans have been set. The local Health Departments are waiting on some direction as well. Building level groups consisting of administrators, teachers, and parents, have been organized for each of our five buildings and will begin meeting to discuss plans next week. We hope to present our district plan at the July board meeting once we receive direction from the State Board of Education and the IDPH.
16. In addition to the Admin Reports, Mrs. Day discussed the postponed Prom and Graduation dates set for July 24th and July 26th. If those dates do not work due to the COVID pandemic, Prom will be cancelled and a December date will be considered for 2020 Senior Graduation. This will be determined after we receive information regarding Phase 4.
https://c3b4a808-d871-4cf0-ada7-c6b91c9972f1.filesusr.com/ugd/6b636f_59100a600f6d476ebd20d9a410ec09ec.pdf
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