Galesburg Reporter

West Central Community Unit School District #235 Board of Education met March 15

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: Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley and Vancil. President Schaley declared a quorum present. Also present were Superintendent Day, J. Shultz, J. Hennings, K. Lafary, J. Peters, S. Ryner, J. Zaiser, Adam Annegers, Brenton Gray, Jordan Gray, John Johnson, Danielle Covert and Beth Weber.

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

GOOD NEWS ITEMS

Under good news items the following items were highlighted:

• Ms. Lewis, along with her 5th grade helpers, raised over $600 during the Send a Sucker to a Friend event, which has been donated to the FOCC and the Almost Home Animal Adoption Center in Oquawka.

• The Elementary PE Staff coordinated the Kids Heart Challenge and raised $9,724.35 for the American Heart Association. By doing so, WCE earned $1000 to purchase new PE equipment. 

• The Lion's Club continues to support our students by providing vision screenings at our PK Screening events.

• Our third grade students participated in ag related activities provided by Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau as well as our local FFA members.

• Melinda Frakes is fully retiring at the end of this month. She has been an asset to West Central as a teacher and technology support. We will greatly miss her and her wealth of knowledge.

APPROVE AGENDA

Motion by Lumbeck, seconded by Clark to approve the agenda as presented. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

John Johnson addressed the board with plans for the dirt work on the football field that will be completed by volunteers in the next few weeks.

CONSENT AGENDA

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

• The minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 15, 2023;

• The minutes of the Closed Session of February 15, 2023;

• The minutes of the Special Board Meeting of February 28, 2023;

•The payment of all bills;

• The activity accounts; 

• The Treasurer's Report for January and February 2023;

• The resignation of Steve Lumbeck as WCHS Assistant Football Coach;

• The resignation of Cody Eaton as WCHS Special Education Teacher, WCHS Head Boys' Baseball Coach, and SIP Team Member;

• The resignation of Dustin Brooks as WCHS Paraprofessional and WCHS Head Boys' Basketball Coach;

• The resignation of Pam Moore as a Substitute Teacher;

• The resignation of Melinda Frakes as Part-time technology;

• The approval of the 2023-2025 Public School District Calendar; 

• The approval to direct the Superintendent to begin work on the FY24 District Budget.

On roll call the following members voted aye: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, and Arnold 7-0 Motion carried.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Brenton and Jordan Gray talked with the Board about starting a Trap Shooting Team for West Central. They will work with the HS Administration for student eligibility. Shooting will take place at a farm in Stronghurst. Brenton and Jordan are licensed and insured through the Scholastic Clay Target Program. A parent meeting will be held in the near future to discuss the program and expectations for everyone interested in participating.

A discussion was held about registration fees for the 2023-2024 school year. Currently, at the high school some of the elective courses have course fees attached to them. Superintendent Day recommended that those fees be looped in with the general registration fee, instead of being separate based on course enrollment. The current registration fees are $55 for elementary, $65 for middle school and $75 for high school students (plus additional course fees). The recommendation is to increase the high school fee to $85 and remove the additional course fees, except for driver education and keep the same fees for both the elementary and middle school.

REPORTS

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

ACTION ITEMS

Motion by Arnold, seconded by Bigger to approve the lease of 2018 Chevy Cruze LT from Bruce Foote Chevrolet of Monmouth in the amount of $150 per month with one payment of $1800 due on July 31, 2023 as presented. On roll call the following members voted aya: Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Arnold, and Bigger. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Clark to approve the increase in umpire pay for the WCHS Baseball and Softball as presented. On roll call the following members answered voted aye: Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Arnold, Bigger and Clark. 7-0 Motion carried.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Board members were asked to contact Superintendent Day with future agenda items. Request were made to add football field work update, trap shooting, registration fees, and pay for scorekeeper's/ticket takers on the next agenda.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Clark, seconded by Bigger to adjourn to closed meeting pursuant of the Illinois Open Meetings Act - 5ILCS 120/2 (2) (16) at 6:46 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 Discipline - Student disciplinary cases.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

The Board took a short break and reconvened in the District Office conference room at 6:51 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, and Vancil. Also present were S. Day.

Motion by Lenahan, seconded by Bigger to return to open session at 7:31 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, and Vancil. 7-0 Motion carried.

The Board took a short break and reconvened in the West Central Elementary Cafeteria at 7:34 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, and Vancil.

PERSONNEL ACTION

Motion by Clark, seconded by Vancil to approve Joshua Higgins as a Volunteer WCHS Baseball and Softball Coach, as presented. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

Motion by Clark, seconded by Lenahan to approve Mike Seitz as a Volunteer WCHS Baseball Coach as presented. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Bigger abstained. Motion carried

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Vancil to approve Darren Steele as a Volunteer Baseball Coach as presented. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried

Motion by Arnold, seconded by Lumbeck to approve the position change of Jesse Molyneux from part- time title and part-time paraprofessional to a full-time paraprofessional as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, and Vancil. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Clark, seconded by Vancil to approve Samera Lesher as WCEL Teacher for the 2023-2024 school year as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, and Arnold. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Lenahan to approve Brian Sterett as District Maintenance Director as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Arnold, and Bigger. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Arnold, seconded by Bigger to approve Bob Stockham as WCMS Physical Education Teacher and WCMS Athletic Director for the 2023-2024 school year as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Arnold, Bigger, and Clark. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Lumbeck, seconded by Vancil to approve Lene Lox as WCMS Boys' Track Coach as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, Arnold, Bigger, Clark, and Lenahan. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Clark, seconded by Lenahan to approve Doug Brooks as a Long-term Sub for WCHS as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Schaley, Vancil, Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan and Lumbeck. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Clark, seconded by Vancil to approve James Wagner as WCMS Special Education/Physical Education Teacher, with an overload schedule, for the 2023-2024 school year as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Vancil, Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, and Schaley. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Arnold, seconded by Lumbeck to approve Amy McGowen as WCHS Teacher for the 2023- 2024 school year as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Arnold, Bigger, Clark, Lenahan. Lumbeck, Schaley, and Vancil. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Clark to approve a $250 stipend for Ross Parcel as interim WCMS Boys' Basketball Coach as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Bigger, Clark, Lenahan, Lumbeck, Schaley, Vancil, and Arnold. 7-0 Motion carried.

FUTURE MEETING DATE

The Board was reminded that the next regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The regular April Board Meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and be held in the elementary cafeteria.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Clark, seconded by Bigger to adjourn at 7:38 p.m. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

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