Galesburg Reporter

Monmouth-Roseville Community Unit School District #238 Board of Education met Nov. 14

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order 

The Monmouth-Roseville C.U.S.D. # 238 Board of Education met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 in the LMC of the High School, 200 South B Street, Monmouth, Illinois. At 7:00 p.m. the meeting was called to order by President Brooks and the roll was read. The following Members responded: Brooks, Watson, Bratcher, Schumm, Gaule and Peeler (6). Roll call #1.

Pledge of Allegiance 

Board President Brooks led the Pledge of Allegiance

Consent Agenda 

It was moved by Member Watson and seconded by Member Bratcher that the Board approve and place on file the Consent Agenda as presented:

a. The Board received and placed on file the Minutes of the October 10, 2023 Regular Meeting, Open and Closed session minutes.

b. The Board approved the Treasurer's Report, Insurance Fund Report, Payrolls and Board Bills Report, Board Bills Detail, Principals' Reports and Activity Fund Reports.

c. The Board received and placed on file the October Financial Reports that included Delayed State Payments and Administrative Report.

Payroll 

Gross Payroll $993,015.47

Health/Life Insurance $ 81,146.30

FICA/Medicare $ 31,983.49

IMRF $ 16,495.11

TRS $ 13,315.84

Total $1,136,154.21

Board Bills 

Education Fund $417,011.00

Building Fund $100,052.21

Debt Service Fund $495,558.13

Transportation Fund $228,961.55

IMRF /SS Fund 0.00

Capital Projects Fund $235,883.94

Working Cash Fund 0.00

Tort Fund $ 1,447.45

Fire Prevention & Safety Fund $ 0.00

Total $1,478,914.28

On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Brooks, Watson, Bratcher, Schumm, Gaule and Peeler (6). Roll call #2.

Superintendent Reports 

Summative Designation:

ISBE has released their 22-23 summative designations for schools. We have four commendable schools and one targeted school (Lincoln). Lincoln received a targeted designation due to an underperforming subgroup (Children with Disabilities - CWD).

What are Illinois' Annual Summative Designations?

Illinois has four annual summative designations: Exemplary, Commendable, Targeted, and Comprehensive.

• Exemplary recognizes the highest performing 10 percent of schools. Comprehensive identifies the lowest performing 5 percent of schools.

Targeted identifies schools whose performance is overall above the lowest performing 5 percent of schools but that have one or more individual student groups whose performance is on par with the lowest performing 5 percent of schools.

All other schools receive a Commendable designation.

The junior high is actually in year 5 of a 4-year improvement cycle that was extended an additional year due to COVID. But it's easier to remember by saying they are in their 3rd year of implementation of targeted school improvement to raise achievement for Children with Disabilities.

19-20 - Planning Year

20-21 - Implementation Year la 

21-22 - Implementation Year 1b

22-23 - Implementation Year 2

23-24 - Implementation Year 3

The high school is their planning year of a 4-year school improvement cycle to raise achievement for Children with Disabilities

23-24 - Planning Year

24-25 - Implementation Year 1

25-26 - Implementation Year 2

26-27 - Implementation Year 3

It would be ideal if none of our schools were targeted, but this is an opportunity for each school to build the capacity to implement and sustain effective school improvement practices.

Soccer field lights:

This has been an interesting process thus far. Musco Lighting gave us a quote of $180,000 to $200,000 to install soccer field lights. Our architect said the project would come in at approximately $490,000.

I asked why there was such stark difference in estimates. Our architect estimated a similar project cost to a football field system. Some of the key differences are that football projects have larger and taller poles, additional track lighting, bleacher lighting, and ball tracker up-light fixtures (24 total fixtures on soccer compared to 37 on a football project).

All of these factors typically make soccer field lighting systems significantly less expensive than football systems.

Mucso is part of a purchasing cooperative (Sourcewell). The Musco representative said we could use Sourcewell to purchase/install lights thereby not taking the project out to bid. That did not seem right to me.

Our attorney said that Soucewell is not recognized in Illinois. Another local school district used Sourcewell to purchase field lights and experienced no issues in doing so, but there are always risks.

The question at hand is whether or not the Board would like to move forward with the project. If so, would they like to use Musco/Sourcewell or our architect for the project? 

As a side note, if we used our architect and the price came in at $180,000 to $200,000 I would recommend the Board move forward with the project. I could not recommend moving forward with the project at almost a half-million dollars with Musco or our architect.

After a short discussion the Board directed the Superintendent to proceed with the project using the architect.

Baseball Field Lights:

Musco gave us a quote for baseball field lights between $375,000 and $400,000. The architect bid for baseball lights was $583,000. After speaking with the Musco rep he told me his initial numbers were off and he feels the price of baseball lights would be near the architect's estimate.

Solar Energy Update:

Since the last Board meeting I spoke to Ideal Energy about the Board position on borrowing a significant sum of money for solar arrays throughout the school district.

I was asked if the Board would consider installing an array at one school (Junior High) as a way to bring solar to the school district.

The cost of the array would approximately be $585,612.

The array would be cash flow positive (minimally) the first ten years

The real payback occurs in years 11 through 25 ($880,157)

Is the Board interested in borrowing money to install an array at the junior high only? 

After some discussion the Board decided not to borrow money to install solar energy or an array at one school.

November 15th: School Board Members Day:

I want to publicly thank our Board of Education members for all that they do for our school district and community.

Board Correspondence 

None

Board Committee Reports 

The Health Insurance Committee minutes from the October 30, 2023 were presented to the Board.

Instructional/Operational Presentation 

A. Harding/Primary Instructional Presentation 

Principal, Katy Morrison, reviewed a presentation of the implementation of Amplify CKLA with the Board.

NEW BUSINESS 

A. Action/Approval of Tentative December 2023 Tax Levy 

Superintendent Fletcher informed the Board that the Finance Committee has recommended the Board adopt the Tentative Tax Levy Resolution.

Mr. Fletcher explained that for the balloon levy, he suggests using 10% as the anticipated percentage increase in EAV. The highest increase in EAV since the consolidation of Monmouth and Roseville was 9.18%. There are no major changes in the levy from the last year to this year. The balloon levy request will result in the Board needing to hold a Truth in Taxation Hearing in December. Mr. Fletcher told the Board the hearings have been held for the last 11 years regardless of whether or not they were required.

Member Bratcher moved to adopt the resolution setting the December 2023 Tentative Tax levy as presented and was seconded by member Schumm. On roll call all Members voted AYE: Watson, Bratcher, Schumm, Gaule, Peeler, Switzer and Brooks (7). Roll call #3.

B. Action/Approval of Health Insurance Plan Year 2024 

Mr. Fletcher reviewed the updated rates. Member Watson moved and Member Bratcher seconded to accept the health insurance plan as presented. On roll call and Members voted AYE: Bratcher, Schumm, Gaule, Peeler, Switzer, Brooks and Watson (7). Roll call #4.

PUBLIC COMMENTS 

None.

BOARD COMMENTS 

None.

GO INTO CLOSED SESSION 

At 6:55 p.m. Member Watson moved and Member Swtizer seconded to enter into closed session. Members voted AYE: Schumm, Gaule, Peeler, Switzer, Brooks, Watson and Bratcher (7). Roll call #5.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION 

Member Watson moved to return to open session at 7:34 p.m. and was seconded by Member

Gaule. On roll call all Members voted AYE: Gaule, Peeler, Switzer, Brooks, Watson, Bratcher and Schumm (7). Roll call #6.

ACTION TAKEN AS A RESULT OF CLOSED SESSION 

It was moved by Member Bratcher and seconded by Member Schumm to approve the personnel agenda as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Peeler, Switzer, Brooks, Watson, Bratcher, Schumm and Gaule (7). Roll call #7.

ADJOURNMENT 

At 7:38 p.m. Member Bratcher moved to adjourn the meeting. Member Schumm seconded the motion. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Switzer, Brooks, Watson, Bratcher, Schumm, Gaule and Peeler (7). Roll call #8.

https://www.mr238.org/board-of-education/agendas_and_minutes