Galesburg Reporter

Mercer County School District 404 Board of Education met July 19

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, 1002 SW 6th Street, Aledo, IL on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 6:30 PM. 

Prior to Roll Call, President Bill Smock opened with the pledge of allegiance.

ATTENDANCE 

Board members present upon roll call: Balmer, Lower, Monson, Nelson, Smock, and Wagner. A quorum was present.

Absent: Yates arrived at 6:34PM.

Administrators present: Superintendent Scott Petrie and Principal Robertson

Also in Attendance: Dustin Murray, Katie Dengler, and Recording Secretary Angie Dillie

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

V O I C E

V O I C E

AYE

AYE

AYE

V O I C E

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

V O I C E

Lower

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

Monson

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

Nelson

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

Smock

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

Wagner

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

Yates

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

AYE

CONSENT AGENDA 

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

1.1 Meeting Minutes

a. Regular Meeting Minutes June 21, 2023

b. Special Meeting Minutes June 28, 2023

1.2 Bill List

1.3 Treasurer’s Report

1.4 Financial Report

1.5 BCBS Health Insurance Account Statement

1.6 Resignation District Secretary Angie Dillie

1.7 Resignation of Apollo Paraprofessional Karlee Anderson Terry

1.8 Maternity Leave Junior High Special Education Teacher Mollie Finch

1.9 Resignation of High School English Teacher Seth Hankins

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

SCHOOL HANDBOOK CHANGES

2. There was a motion by Balmer, seconded by Lower, to approve the 2023-2024 School Handbook changes for New Boston Elementary, Apollo Elementary, and Mercer County High School as presented.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

PRESS POLICY QUARTERLY UPDATES 

3. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Yates, to approve the Press Policy Quarterly Updates as presented.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL

4. There was a motion by Balmer, seconded by Smock, to approve the Health Insurance Renewal as presented.

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

DISTRICT TREASURER CONTRACT

5. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Nelson, to approve the District Treasurer’s Contract as presented.

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION 

6. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Balmer, to go into Closed Session after a short recess for Personnel and Real Property discussion at 7:03PM.

6.1 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) 

6.2 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). 

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

OPEN SESSION 

7. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Balmer, to return to open session at 8:02PM.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried

HIRE ELC PARAPRO 

8. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Balmer, to hire Chelsie Carber as Early Learning Center Paraprofessional.

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE APOLLO PARA 

9. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Balmer, to hire Jillian DeFrieze as Apollo Elementary Paraprofessional.

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE HS COOK 

10. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Balmer, to hire Kim Hainline as High School Cook.

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

HIRE JH ASSISTANT 

11. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Balmer, to hire Dani SOFTBALL COACH Hagens as Junior High Assistant Softball Coach.

Roll Call: 7 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

ADJOURN 

12. There was a motion by Balmer, seconded by Monson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:09PM.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

OTHER REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS: 

ADDITIONS/ DELETIONS 

1 Addition: 6.9 Resignation of HS English Teacher Seth Hankins 

PUBLIC COMMENT 

2. None

CORRESPONDENCE 

3. Thank you cards was received for memorials sent to the families of Martha King and Deborah Breeden.

BOARD COMMENTS 

4. Julie Wagner reported that our Transportation Resolution approved at last months meeting had been accepted by IASB. The Resolution Committee will meet in Springfield on Friday, August 4th. Anyone willing to attend and present the resolution needs to contact Julie.

COMMITTEE REPORTS 

5. Julie Wagner discussed the Health Insurance Account information provided in the committee report stating the ending balance is down significantly from last year’s ending balance.

HEALTH INSURANCE 

6. Mr. Petrie discussed the health insurance renewal forms from Blue RENEWAL Cross and Blue Shield. The PPO & HSA Plan show an increase of 14% of the total annual premium from the prior year.

FOIA REQUESTS 

7. None

FOOD SERVICE 

8. Mr. Petrie discussed the Food Service Annual report that was provided ANNUAL REPORT in the board packet. We show a balance of $18,621.25 to reinvest in the food service program. Warmers were purchased for many of the kitchens this past year with expectations of purchasing a new walk in cooler/freezer at Apollo this coming year. We predict to break even under the new Community Edibility Program that begins FY24.

DRAFT DISTRICT 

9. Mr. Petrie provided the board with a draft of the District Goals for 2023- GOALS 2024 school year. A meeting will be scheduled for next month to discuss and write goals from items discussed at the forum and information received from parent surveys.

https://www.mercerschools.org/_files/ugd/61ee79_9bffda16c2a641f0bbfd43b8a29a4f4a.pdf