Galesburg Reporter

Mercer County School District 404 Board of Education met Jan. 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 at the Mercer County Junior High School Music Room, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 6:32 PM. 

Prior to Roll Call, President Mike Bowns opened with a brief prayer followed by the pledge of allegiance. 

RECORD OF MOTIONS & VOTES 

ATTENDANCE 

Board members present upon roll call: Balmer, Bieri, Bowns, Wagner and Yates. A quorum was present. Monson arrived at 6:58pm. Smock arrived at 7:05pm.

Absent: none

Administrators present: Superintendent Scott Petrie, Principals Cooper, Sedam, Bush and Fleuette. Also in Attendance: Julie Baker, Kayla Gowdy, Mario Pauley, and Secretary Angie Dillie Reporters: Jim Taylor

	No. 01	No. 02	NO. 03	NO. 04	NO. 05	NO. 06	NO. 07	NO. 08	No. 09
Balmer	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE	V O I C E	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE
Bieri	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE		AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE
Bowns	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE		AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE
Monson	-	-	-	-		AYE	AYE	AYE	Abstain
Smock	-	-	-	-		AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE
Wagner	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE		-	-	-	-
Yates	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE		AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE

	No. 10	No. 11	NO. 12	NO. 13	NO. 14
Balmer	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE	V O I C E
Bieri	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE
Bowns	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE
Monson	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE
Smock	AYE	AYE	Abstain	AYE
Wagner	-	-	-	-
Yates	AYE	AYE	AYE	AYE

CONSENT AGENDA 1. There was a motion by Balmer, seconded by Yates, to approve the following items on the consent agenda.

1.1 Meeting Minutes – December 21, 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 High School Guidance Secretary Erica Biddle

1.7 Resignation of Math Interventionist Amanda DeFauw end of 2022-2023

1.8 Resignation of JV Baseball Coach Pete Nelson

Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

RESIGNATION 2. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Balmer, to approve the Resignation of Assistant HS Principal, HS Athletic Director, and Head

Football Coach Andrew Hofer at the end of the 2022-2023 school year with regrets.

Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION TO ABATE 3. There was a motion by Bieri, seconded by Balmer, to approve the LEVIES ON SERIES Resolution to Abate Levies on Series 2022A as presented. 2022A Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION 4. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Balmer, to go into Closed Session for Personnel and Review of Closed Session Minutes at 6:52PM.

4.1 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)

4.2 Review of Closed Session Minutes

The discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)

Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

Monson arrived at 6:58PM.

Smock arrived at 7:05PM.

Wagner left at 7:06PM.

OPEN SESSION 5. There was a motion by Bieri, seconded by Balmer, to come out of Closed Session at 7:40 PM.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion Carried.

HIRE HIGH SCHOOL 6. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to hire Dani Hagens MATH TEACHER as High School Math Teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE NBE PARAPRO 7. There was a motion by Smock , seconded by Balmer, to hire Hali DeFrieze as New Boston Elementary Paraprofessional.

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE BUS MONITOR 8. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to hire Crystal Tammerino as a Bus Monitor.

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE BUS MONITOR 9. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to hire Lindella Crosby as a Bus Monitor.

Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 1 Abstain, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE SOPHOMORE 10. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to hire Kylie JV SOFTBALL COACH Stineman as the Sophomore JV Softball Coach.

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

REHIRE JH SPRING 11. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to rehire the Junior COACHES High Spring Coaches as presented.

Track: Monte Smith, Sam Whan, Dennis Clark

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE HS GUIDANCE 12. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Bowns, to hire Ashley SECRETARY Clark as High School Guidance Counselor Secretary. Roll Call: 5 Ayes, 1 Abstain, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

CLOSED MINUTES 13. There as a motion by Smock, seconded by Yates, to keep the closed session minutes from July 2022- December 2022 closed.

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

ADJOURN 14. There was a motion by Smock, seconded by Balmer, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion Carried.

OTHER REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

ADDITIONS/ DELETIONS 1. +6.8 Resignation of JV Baseball Coach Pete Nelson +6.9 Resignation of Assistant HS Principal, HS Athletic Director, Head Football Coach Andrew Hofer at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

+11.1 g. Hire HS Guidance Counselor Secretary

PUBLIC COMMENT 2. None

CORRESPONDENCE 3. None

BOARD COMMENTS 4. Julie Wagner mentioned the Multi-Division Regional Events scheduled for this spring. These events will take the place of the Black Hawk Division meeting. Both online and in person events are scheduled with the closest being Peoria.

COMMITTEE REPORTS 5. No additional comments or concerns from the Finance or Wellness Committee Meeting reports.

RESOLUTION TO ABATE 6. Mr. Petrie gave a brief summary of the resolution. This resolution abates LEVIES ON SERIES $160,000 of the tax levy passed last month and substitutes sales tax dollars 2022A to make the bond payment. Our borrowing model assumed up to $250,000 per year in abatements depending on our EAV and other levy considerations in order to maintain a flat tax rate of approximately $4.85.

FOIA REQUESTS 7. We responded to a FOIA request from SmartProcure for PO/Vendor information.

LOWELL JOHNSON 8. The Lowell Johnson Charitable Foundation awarded our elementary FOUNDATION buildings with funds to be used for educational projects, programs and supplies. In the past these additional funds have helped purchase the climbing wall at New Boston Elementary and the shelter at Apollo Elementary.

MCSEEF GRANTS 9. Mr. Petrie discussed the MCSEEF Grants that were awarded this school year, providing the board with a list of teacher recipients and the items they purchased with those extra funds. Continued support of that foundation is encouraged as they continue to support our educational staff. Julie Wagner added that the Looser Flake Foundation matched $10,000 in teacher grants and $5,000 in the endowment fund.

FACILITY UPDATE 10. Mr. Petrie gave an update regarding facilities. Administrators met with Bray on Jan. 6th to discuss details on both elementary projects. Demo furniture has been delivered to New Boston Elementary. They will meet with an interior designer in Feb. to determine what they want to purchase.

A $50,000 School Maintenance Grant has been awarded that will be put towards the High School Gym roof replacement. The roof is estimated at $575,000. The rest of the funds will come from Health Life Safety funds that we currently have.

ADMINISTRATIVE 11. In addition to their written reports, the following was mentioned: REPORTS Mr. Bush added that the Farmers Merchant Bank in Joy donated $4,000 to Ms. Duncan to put towards STEM pieces. They have also worked with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes providing the students with a financial literacy class.

Mrs. Cooper gave the board an update on the additional lockers that were purchased. The lockers need painted and installed, but have arrived.

https://www.mercerschools.org/_files/ugd/6b636f_32d40b716221418e93ff1cd229b99a08.pdf