Galesburg Reporter

Galesburg Community Unit School District #205 Board of Education met Jan. 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order/Roll Call 

The Community Unit School District #205 Board of Education met in closed session prior to the  special meeting at 5:00PM at the Lincoln Education Center, 932  Harrison Street, Galesburg, IL. The meeting was called to order by President Cervantez. The roll  was read and the following Members responded: Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps, Scherpe,  Walters (Via Phone), Rodriguez (7) Roll Call #1 

Member Walters entered the meeting at 5:21PM. 

Following closed session, it was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Phelps to move to open session. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps,  Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #2 

Consider Approval of Changing Account Signatories 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Walters to approve as presented. Dr.  Asplund stated that due to the retirement of an executive assistant, the District needs to change the  second signer on the activity accounts, removing Susan Hayes and adding Donna Palmer. On roll  call the following Members voted AYE: Lyon, Phelps, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Rodriguez,  Hunigan (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #3 

Consider Approval of Food Service Van 

It was moved by Member Walters and seconded by Member Lyon to approve as presented, Mrs.  Hamm stated that following the regular meeting when the District went to pay for the previously  approved van, Yemm stated that they couldn’t get the van because the manufacturer was no longer  producing 2020 vans and 2021 models will not be available until April, which is too far out for the  District to wait. The District recommends purchasing the second bid which was $1400 more. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez,  Hunigan, Lyon (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #4 

Presentation of In-Person Learning Plans 

Dr. Asplund stated that the in-person hybrid model is set to begin on Monday, February 1, 2021  and that he would like to recommend bringing all students back to in-person learning beginning  February 22, 2021, which would be a full five day all day school week. Virtual students would  follow the regular class schedule and be taught by their teacher. Dr. Asplund went on to discuss  that the biggest hurdle n the District is transportation. First Student was unable to train drivers due  to COVID but they have begun that process again. The District is short a few drivers to reach the goal of all students returning February 22, 2021. Mrs. Springer presented the diagnostic results for  the District from the start of school and the winter benchmark. Mrs. Springer detailed the decreases  in all grades and then moved to the junior high and high school level failures. Mrs. Springer stated  that in addition to the failing grades, twenty-six percent of students at Galesburg High School are  not on track to graduate and twenty-five percent of students who are within two credits of being  not on track to graduate. Staff members who had in person students this year spoke to the Board about their experiences. Staff Members were Bright Futures teacher, Libby Heidt, King Elementary  teacher, Angie Harshbarger, and Silas Elementary teacher, Valerie Erickson. Dr. Michaud, Mrs.  Springer, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Knuth and Mrs. Hamm discussed the classroom, food service and health  needs for students. Discussion by the Board ensued. 

Consider Approval on Status of E-Learning and In-Person Learning  

It was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Scherpe to approve returning to in-person  learning a full five days a week, all day beginning on February 22, 2021 as long as transportation  allows. Dr. Asplund stated that First Student has been unable to train new drivers but now that the  county is in phase 4 they can do so again and hope to have enough drivers to run all routes. Dr.  Asplund stated that if there is a delay to starting on February 22nd, he doesn’t believe it will be a  long delay. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Rodriguez, Scherpe, Walters, Cervantez, Hunigan, Lyon, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #5 

Adjournment  It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Rodriguez that the special meeting be  adjourned—8:17PM. On voice vote the following Members voted AYE: Lyon, Cervantez, Phelps,  Scherpe, Hunigan, Rodriguez, Walters (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #6 

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1122046/special_minutes_January_26__2021.pdf