Galesburg Reporter

Mercer County School District 404 Board of Education met Feb. 21.

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, February 21, 2024 at 7:02 PM. 

Prior to Roll Call, President Bill Smock opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

ATTENDANCE 

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

Absent: None. Smock left before closed session. 

Administrators present: Superintendent Scott Petrie, Principals Robertson, Ibouhouten, Cooper. 

Also in Attendance: Amanda Heinrichs, Andrea Hesse, Mike Bowns, two Bray Builders representatives Mark Miller and Nick Woodard, Riley King (live-streaming), Recording Secretary Leanne McDermott. Reporters: John Hoscheidt. 

CONSENT AGENDA 

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

1.1 Meeting Minutes --January 17, 2024 

1.2 Bill List 

1.3 Treasurer's Report 

1.4 Financial Report 

1.5 BCBS Health Insurance Account Statement 

1.6 Resignation of High School Custodian Bridget Hildestad 

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

FY25 PUBLIC SCHOOL CALENDAR 

2. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Balmer, to approve Option 1 of FY25 public school calendar. 

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

AMENDED FY24 PUBLIC SCHOOL CALENDAR 

3. There was a motion by Balmer, seconded by Monson, to approve the Amended Public School Calendar 2023-2024. 

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

HIGH SCHOOL GYM ROOF BID 

4. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Balmer to approve the High School Gym Roof bid from Sterling Commercial Roofing. 

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

HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 

5. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Yates, to direct Bray Architects to seek bid specifics for Phase 1 and Phase 2 as an alternate regarding the High School Construction Project. 

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 1 Nay. Motion carried. 

CLOSED SESSION 

6. There was a motion by Balmer, seconded by Monson, to go into Closed Session after a short recess at 7:20 PM. 

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

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 Review of Closed Session Minutes 

The discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) 

a. Closed Session Minutes from July 2023 – December 2023 

6.3 Security 

Emergency security procedures and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public or public property. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(8). 

6.4 Sale or Purchase of Investments 

The sale or purchase of securities, investments, or investment contracts. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(7). 

6.5 Sale or Purchase of Real Property 

The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5). 

OPEN SESSION 

7. There was a motion by Yates, seconded by Monson to come out of closed session at 8:08 PM. 

Voice: 6 Ayes 0, Nays. Motion carried. 

HIRE FY25 HS SCIENCE TEACHER 

8. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Balmer, to hire Megan Ward as FY25 High School Science Teacher. 

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried. 

HIRE PART-TIME BUS DRIVER 

9. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Yates, to hire Brian Dillie as part-time bus driver. 

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried. 

JULY TO DECEMBER 2023 CLOSED SESSION MINUTES 

10. There was a motion by Monson seconded by Yates, to keep closed session minutes from July 2023 to December 2023 closed. 

Roll Call: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried. 

ADJOURN 

11. There was a motion by Monson, seconded by Balmer, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 PM. 

Voice: 6 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried. 

OTHER REPORTS AND DISCUSSIONS: 

ADDITIONS/DELETIONS: 1. The addition of the resignation of High School Custodian Bridget Hildestad was added to the consent agenda. Due to the omission of the December 13, 2023 minutes, it will be tabled next month. 

PUBLIC COMMENT: 2. None. 

CORRESPONDENCE: 3. None. 

BOARD COMMENTS: 4. Julie Wagner reminded members of an invitation to Blackhawk County Division meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at the Stark Co CUSD 100 Jr./Sr. High School. 

FOIA REQUESTS: 5. There was a request from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association regarding FY24 retired teachers. 

21EAGLES WINTER NEWSLETTER: 6. Mr. Petrie stated that the 21 Eagles grant is set to end this year. The district is working with the ROE to continue this program with (at least) the high school. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL CALENDAR FY25: 7. The overwhelming response Mr. Petrie received from teachers were in favor of Option 1's FY25 calendar. This includes a March Spring Break and begins the school year with students attending tentatively August 15, 2024 and ending May 22, 2025. It is Mr. Petrie's recommendation the board adopt the FY25 calendar Option 1. 

https://www.mercerschools.org/_files/ugd/61ee79_f1e87ae5d0864b0aa9ea4d4d63b76edd.pdf