Galesburg Reporter

West Central Community Unit School District #235 Board of Education met Jan. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting was called to order by President Schaley at 6:00 p.m. in the Elementary Cafeteria. The following board members answered roll call: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Vancil, and Schaley. Arnold was absent. President Schaley declared a quorum present. Also present were Superintendent Day, J. Shultz, K. Lafary, J. Peters, S. Ryner, J. Kirby, J. Zaiser, J. Hennings, Jennifer Mills, Ray Mills, Erin McCannon, Preston White, Wendy White, Danielle Covert and a student.

President Schaley then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

GOOD NEWS ITEMS

Under good news items the following items were highlighted:

Paige Torrance completed all requirements and is an official licensed school nurse!

37% of the high school students qualify for the National Honor Society selection. This is based on their academic achievement and allows them to continue on in the selection process.

APPROVE AGENDA

Motion by Clark, seconded by Lenahan to approve the agenda with the addition of Student Discipline during closed session. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Preston White addressed the Board with concerns about student safety at the High School.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Clark, seconded by Bigger to approve the consent agenda including the following items:

The minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 14, 2022;

The minutes of the Closed Session of December 14, 2022;

The payment of all bills;

The activity accounts;

The Treasurer's Report for October 2022

The resignation of Sean Lyon as WCHS Math Teacher;

The retirement of Tamara Slater as WCMS Teacher;

The resignation of Rose Griffin as WCMS 6th Grade Volleyball Coach;

The resignation of Rose Griffin as WCHS Varsity Volleyball Coach;

The resignation of John Martinez as District Custodian;

The approval of 2022-2023 District Seniority List for Certified and Support Personnel;

The approval to remove Nancy Clark from the Middle School Imprest Account at Midwest Bank;

The approval to remove Nancy Clark from the High School Imprest Account at Midwest Bank;

The approval to remove Deborah Cole and add Rachel Westfall to the RevTrak Account at Midwest Bank;

The approval of maternity leave for Paige Leath;

The approval of maternity leave for Bonita Johnston;

On roll call the following members voted aye: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Vancil, and Schaley. 6-0 Motion carried.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

No FOIA request received this month.

Superintendent Day provided the Board with an update on the football field work. Our District Architect will put out a bid for reshaping the field with an alternate bid for drainage to consider at our next meeting.

Superintendent Day provided the Board with an update on the school farm. We have sold all of our corn and soybeans for the season and at the time of the meeting our fall calves were at the market. The plan to use the proceeds from this season towards our greenhouse project.

Superintendent Day presented to the Board on the District's Financial Report. A short discussion was held about the option to consider cashing out a CD in the future to fund facilities projects. Superintendent Day will monitor CD rates when our current CD's mature.

Superintendent Day presented an update on a variety of projects that have been discussed during the previous months and that will need to be decided upon in the future. Ameren power company is going to install a pole light on the power pole west of the elementary entrance (north of the dentist office). Superintendent Day discussed the estimate on adding an awning on the south entrance of the elementary school. We are still waiting on the detailed report for the 10-year health-life-safety inspection from the architects. We are waiting on estimates for the HVAC project areas that were not in the original project (HS Gym, HS Cafeteria, etc). We are working on repairing a portion of the middle school gym floor at the south entrance of the gym, due to some water damage. Our north campus sewer project is almost complete. The School Maintenance Grant was approved by ISBE, we will move forward with installing a new greenhouse at the high school. We will look into solar energy for the school district in the future, consider the initial cost and how it may help our energy bills

REPORTS

The Board reviewed and heard reports from the Building Principals K. Lafary, S. Ryner, and J. Kirby, and District Technology Coordinator J. Hennings and Athletic Director Zaiser.

ACTION ITEMS

Motion by Clark, seconded by Bigger to approve the PRESSPlus Board Policies Issue 110 on the second reading as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, and Clark. 6-0 Motion carried.

No action taken on the Annual Coaches Rehire Process.

Motion by Lumbeck, seconded by Clark to approve the Base Bid of $317,000 from Merit Construction for the High School Window project as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, Clark, and Lenahan. 6-0 Motion carried.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Board members were asked to contact Superintendent Day with future agenda items.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Clark to adjourn to closed meeting pursuant of the Illinois Open Meetings Act - 5ILCS 120/2 (2) (16) at 7:17 p.m. to discuss the following subjects:

A. 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;

B. Negotiations - Collective negotiating matters between the school board and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees;

C. Student Matter - The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

D. Student Discipline.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

The Board took a short break and reconvened in the District Office conference room at 7:30 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil. Arnold absent. Also present were S. Day, J. Kirby and J. Zaiser.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Lumbeck to return to open session at 10:02 p.m. On roll call the following members voted aye: Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, and Bigger. 6-0 Motion carried.

The Board took a short break and reconvened in the West Central Elementary Cafeteria at10:05 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, and Lumbeck. 

PERSONNEL ACTION

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Vancil to approve the employment of Kayla Crum as a WCES Title Paraprofessional as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Vancil, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck and Schaley. 6-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Vancil, seconded by Clark to approve the additional overload pay for Michael Holloran of 1/7 of the base salary as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley and Vancil. 6-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Vancil to approve Lainey Mills as a MS Volunteer manager as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Vancil. and Schaley. 6-0 Motion carried

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Vancil to approve the employment of Hallie Eisnnicher as WCHS Assistant Softball Coach as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil and Bigger. 6-0 Motion carried

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Vancil to approve the employment of Lene Lox as WCMS 6th Grade Volleyball coach as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, and Clark. 6-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Lenahan, seconded by Vancil to approve the employment of Michael Holloran and Ryan Muegge as SAT Prep Teachers for the 2022- 2023 school year and to receive a $1,000 stipend as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, Clark, and Lenahan. 6-0 Motion carried.

FUTURE MEETING DATE

The Board was reminded that the next regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. The regular February Board Meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and be held in the elementary cafeteria.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Lumbeck to adjourn at 10:08 p.m. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

https://www.wc235.k12.il.us/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/630e307255384/West%20Central%20C.U.S.D.%20%23235%2C%20January%2018%2C%202023%2C%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting.pdf