Mercer County School District 404 Board of Education met May 18.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Mercer County School District #404, Mercer, Henderson, & Rock Island Counties, Illinois, convened at a regular meeting in the Mercer County Intermediate School Music Room, at 6:30 PM.
Prior to Roll Call, President Bowns opened with a brief prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance.
ATTENDANCE
Board members present upon roll call: Balmer, Bieri, Bowns, Monson, Smock, Wagner and Yates. A quorum was present.
Absent: none
Administrators present: Superintendent Scott Petrie, Principals Day, Sedam, Koresko, Bush and Fleuette. Also in Attendance: Taylor Saey, Tammy Parchert, Dean & Lori Nelson, Jason Crawford, Marcelo Crawford, Julie Baker, Jim Campbell, and Recording Secretary Angie Baker.
Reporters: none
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 | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | - | V
O I C E | - | - | V
O I C E |
| Bieri | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | ||
| Bowns | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | ||
| Monson | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | ||
| Smock | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | ||
| Wagner | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | ||
| Yates | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE | AYE |
1.1 Meeting Minutes
a. Regular Meeting Minutes – April 13, 2022
1.2 Bill List
1.3 Treasurer’s Report
1.4 Financial Report
1.5 BCBS Health Insurance Account Statement
1.6 Resignation of Junior High Cheer Coach Ashley Clark
1.7 Resignation of Junior High 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach Brandon Hofmann
1.8 Resignation of High School Special Education Teacher Kay Hedrick end of 21/22 school year
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
REGISTRATION FEES FY23
2. There was a motion by Wagner, seconded by Smock, to table the vote on 2022-2023 Registration fees.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
MEAL FEES FY23
3. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Balmer, to approve the 2022-2023 Meal Fees as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
MILK BID FY23
4. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Yates, to accept Prairie Farms Milk Bid for FY23 as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
FUEL BID FY23
5. There was a motion by Bieri, seconded by Balmer, to accept Halcomb Oil Fuel Bid for FY23 as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
IESA MEMBERSHIP
6. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Smock, to approve the IESA Membership Renewal as presented.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
AUDIT FIRM FY22
7. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bieri, to approve Gorenz and Associates for FY22 Audit Firm.
Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
Balmer left at 7:19PM.
CLOSED SESSION
8. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Monson, to go into Closed Session at 7:24PM after a short recess for Personnel, Real Property, Negotiations, and Student Discipline discussion.
8.1 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)
8.2 Real Property
The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the District, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5).
8.3 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).
8.4 Student Discipline
Student disciplinary cases. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9).
Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
Closed Session started at 7:40 PM.
OPEN SESSION
9. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to come out of Closed Session at 9:15 PM.
Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion Carried.
HIRE NBE SPECIAL ED TEACHER
10. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to hire Aleeka Gentzler as New Boston Special Education Teacher for 2022-2023 school year.
Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
HIRE APOLLO 3RD TEACHER
11. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to hire Lindsay Childs Fearman as Apollo Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher for 2022-2023 school year.
Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
ADJOURN
12. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bieri, to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 PM. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion Carried.
OTHER REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
ADDITIONS/ DELETIONS
1. None
PUBLIC COMMENT
2. Lori Nelson and Tammy Parchert addressed the board in regards to the New Boston Elementary building. Lori asked the board to consider hosting a meeting where the community could attend and let the principals speak about the ways it could benefit students to be at a building in Joy. Tammy provided the board with a notarized petition signed by community members to move the elementary building to the Joy location.
CORRESPONDENCE
3. A thank you card was received from Mike and Kris Chausse thanking the BOE for the staff breakfast provided during Teacher Appreciation week.
BOARD COMMENTS
4. Mike Bowns thanked Mrs. Day for her time at MCHS stating she will be greatly missed and the graduation ceremony went very well.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
5. Nothing additional
FOIA REQUESTS
6. None
REGISTRATION AND MEAL FEES FY23
7. Registration and Meal Fees were discussed. Mr. Petrie recommended no changes to the registration fees for the 22-23 school year. He would like the board to discuss and consider removing registration fees in the future.
These fees are often burdensome to families as well as our staff keeping track of fees owed. Several districts around us have stopped collection registration fees.
Meal prices will remain what they were prior to the COVID pandemic.
School Food Authorities with a positive or zero balance are exempt from the PLE tool requirements and do not need to increase prices. These will go into effect at the start of the 22-23 school year.
BREAD MILK FUEL BIDS FY23
8. Two bids were received for fuel, Halcomb Oil and Blick & Blick Oil. Prairie Farms was the only bid received for milk. No bids were received for bread. Aunt Millie’s is no longer delivering to school districts. Kohl Wholesale has been contacted to supply bread/buns next school year.
BUDGET AMENDMENT
9. Mr. Petrie went over the Budget Amendments scheduled for next month pointing out the biggest change from the start of the fiscal year being the $18 million in bond sales. We have a substantial amount of money available. Estimated Ending Fund Balance under O&M is close to $15 million and $8 million working cash. The Budget Hearing is scheduled for the June 22nd, 2022 meeting. The amended budget is on display at the district office and on the website.
RTO POLICY AND PROCEDURES
10. Taylor Saey provided the board with information regarding Restraint, Time-Out, and Isolated Time-Out Policy and Procedures. 2019-2022 to date has had zero restraints/time outs/etc. The goal for 2022-2023 will be to have no more than ZERO physical restraints, time outs, and/or isolated time outs for any students. The focus will be to use preventive de-escalation strategies, trauma-informed practices, and restorative practices. Annual training will occur.
SCHOOL MEAL IMPROVEMENTS
11. Bill Smock suggested forming a committee, much like the Wellness Committee, to discuss ways to improve the meals that are satelited to the schools. He would like this committee to reach out to other districts that have satellite kitchens for advice and tips. Monmouth Roseville was mentioned as a district that transports meals.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
12. In addition to their written reports, the following was mentioned: Mr. Fleuette mentioned the result of the MAP tests. Scores were better than expected after the COVID years. 69% of Apollo students scored average or above average on the MAP testing.
Mr. Bush mentioned the 4th grade New Boston students went to the St. Louis Zoo and The City Museum on their field trip. The students were well behaved.
Mr. Sedam mentioned Student Senate raised $500 during change wars and donated the money to the Family Crisis Center. Fourteen of the track students are competing in the sectional track meet in Peoria.
Mrs. Day congratulated the two girls state track qualifiers. Eden
Mueller will compete in the 3200 & 1600 and is ranked 8th and 10th. Boys sectionals are next Thursday.
https://www.mercerschools.org/_files/ugd/6b636f_a4d1946ffa5b4337b6080c36dbbe9541.pdf
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