Galesburg Reporter

Knoxville Community Unit School District #202 Board of Education met Feb. 27

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Community Unit School District #202, Knox County, met in a regular meeting duly called and held February 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at 600 East Main Street, Knoxville, Illinois, which is within the boundaries of said District. The President called the meeting to order and directed that the roll be called. Upon roll being called, the following members were found to be present:

Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young and Mr. Stearns

And the following absent:

Recognition of Visitors: Terrah Myers, Brant Herring, Jennifer Moffitt, Brande Pickel, Derek & Renee Powell, Nick Elliott

Also present were: Ralph Grimm, Kelli Nelson, Matt Maaske, Myles Stambaugh, John Neubaum, Jodi Keever, Brad Jacobson

3. It was moved by Member McCracken and seconded by Member Rose to approve the consent agenda with the addition of 3:15, to Consider the Approval of the Clayful Pilot at Knoxville High School for second semester of the 2022-2023 school year and the addition of 3:16, to Consider the Approval of Jamie Palmer as a volunteer coach for Knoxville High School softball.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young, Mr. Stearns

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

4. Public Forum

4.1 Public Comments - Brande Pickle spoke to the board regarding allowing homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities. Derek and Renee Powell both spoke regarding home schooled students being allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. Hadley and Adalyn Powell both spoke as homeschooled students, asking the board to allow them to participate in extracurricular activities. Shirley Shores also spoke as a taxpayer in support of allowing homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities.

4.2 Good Things Happening for Kids - The administrators presented a slideshow, showcasing events and activities going on in the district.

4.3 Superintendent’s Report - Mr. Grimm recognized board secretary Rebecca McCracken with a certificate from the Illinois Association of School Boards as a Distinguished Board Leader. Mr. Grimm discussed the architect proposals, Mr. Ratermann volunteered to be on the review committee to select an architect. The ROE will be on site April 12 and 13, 2023 for their audit. The District has purchased software to help with SB7. The software should make it easier to put together the Sequence of Honorable Dismissal list. Mr. Grimm discussed adding an extra teacher at the junior high school. He and Mr. Maaske have worked out an arrangement and the extra teacher is no longer needed. Mr. Grimm updated the board on the recent snow day and an issue with the all call system. The database was not updated and the call was not from a local number, Mr. Elliott will be checking on updating the number. Mr. Grimm had a recent meeting with Knox Warren Special Education, they are trying to address student and space needs. We are not the only district having this issue.

5. New Business

5.1 It was moved by Member Ratermann and seconded by Member Young for Approval of the bid for fencing around the playground at Mable Woolsey. Lovewell Fencing had the lowest bid of $36,100. District Sales Tax money will be used to pay for the project.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young, and Mr. Stearns

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

5.2 It was moved by Member Harshbarger and seconded by Member Rose to table the Approvla of the Proposed Revisions to Board Policies (Second Reading). They will revisit again in May.

5:250 Leaves of Absences

5:330 Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays and Leaves

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young, and Mr. Stearns

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

5.3 It was moved by Member Scalf and seconded by Member Harshbarger to revise or edit the current board policy on allowing home schooled students to participate in extracurricular activities.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mrs. Rose, and Mr. Scalf

NAY: Mr. Ratermann, Mr. Stearns

ABSTAIN: Mrs. Young

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

5.4 It was moved by Member Ratermann and seconded by Member McCracken for Approval of a quote from CDW-G for District Computer Network Anti-Virus Software protection. It will be 24/7 monitoring and $14,000 annually. We currently have no protection.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young, and Mr. Stearns

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

5.5 It was moved by member McCracken and seconded by Member Harshbarger for Approval of a Request to Transport two Monmouth - Roseville students to Arrowhead and High Road in the Quad Cities.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young, and Mr. Stearns

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

5.6 There was no action taken for Approval of the RFP document for Banking Services. 5.7 There was no action taken for Approval of the RFP for Insurance Services.

6. Discussion items -

6.1 First Review of Principal, AP/AD, IT Director and IT Technician job descriptions - Mr. Grimm presented updated descriptions, he had borrowed templates and had our current administrators update them.

6.2 Update on Board Policy 8:20 Use of School Facilities - The Board would like to see what other schools charge for use. Mr. Grimm will be putting together a list of current users. The board would like to get keys / fobs back and re-issue.

6.3 Follow up with the Board re: accelerating the PD for LETRS - Mrs. Keever has an accelerated timeline of June 1st. Title II funds can be used. There are currently 18 teachers training.

6.4 Revision to Board Policy 5:30 Hiring Process and Criteria - Mr. Grimm would like to add the sentence that requires a check of the state database for volunteers. It would not be a full check like we have done for regular employees. The board agreed this was a good idea.

6.5 First review of 2023-2024 School District Calendar - Mr. Grimm told the board the calendar committee met twice to discuss. Mr. Stearns asked about Election Day and Parent Teacher Conferences. Dr. Harshbarger asked about the long break after Christmas.

6.6 Review of District Sex Equity Survey - This is required, asking if there is an imbalance in our courses. The administrators will be sending the survey out. 

6.7 Review of Sports Interest Survey Results - The survey was sent out to 4th and 8th grade students to gauge their interest. The interests were baseball / softball, gymnastics, bowling, swimming and golf at the junior high. Mr. Stearns commented about a conflict of interest between junior high youth boards and Board of Education members.

6.8 District Trash Removal - Mr. Grimm informed the board the City of Knoxville will be increasing their cost for trash removal. He is planning on bringing quotes to the board next month for outside businesses.

7. Correspondence / Other Business - None

8. Future Agenda Items - All of the discussion items.

It was moved by Member Rose and seconded by Member Scalf to go into Closed Session at 7:55 p.m.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young, and Mr. Stearns

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

It was moved by Member Harshbarger and seconded by Member Young to go back into Open Session at 9:12 p.m.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Scalf, Mrs. Young, and Mr. Stearns

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

There being no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Member Ratermann and seconded by Member Scalf that the meeting be adjourned. The President put the question to the Board and the motion unanimously carried and the meeting so adjourned at 9:13 p.m.

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2723/KCUSD/2893526/February_27__2023_Minutes.pdf