Galesburg Reporter

Knoxville Community Unit School District #202 Board of Education met Feb. 26.

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 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at 809 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, Mr. Steams, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Rose And the following absent: Mr. Scalf

Recognition of Visitors: John Venzzetti, Megan Schaefer, Mark Parrish, Tom Hoehn, Terrah Myers, Kim Steele, Dawn Cypert, Mallory Tolley

Also present were: Dr. Andrea Guerrero, Jodi Grace, Kelli Nelson, Jodi Keever, Michelle McClay, John Neubaum, Matt Maaske

2. Public Comments - None

3. Special Presentations

3 .1 John Venzzetti from Bernardi & Associates - Mr. Venzzetti presented the board members with two handouts. He explained the annual financial information disclosure report is a requirement of the district to notify bond investors of certain demographic information. He also provided a breakdown of potential savings for the district if the interest rates fall lower than the current rates for the 2014 bonds. Mr. Venzzetti stated that passing the resolution, the board would be setting the district up for success. The resolution would allow Bernardi & Associates to complete the work behind the scenes and follow the specific timeline.

Member Young motioned to go into closed section pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(l) - The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal council for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal council for the public body to determine its validity.

It was moved by Member Young and seconded by Member McCracken to go into closed session at 6:09pm.

AYE: Mrs. Young, Mrs. McCracken, Dr. Harshbarger, Mr. Steams

NAY: Mr. Ratermann, Mrs. Rose

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

It was moved by Member Ratermann and seconded by Member Young to go into open session at 6:28pm.

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

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

4. Consent Agenda

It was moved by Member Steams and seconded by Member McCracken to Table the Approval of Item 4 .1.1, January 29, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes.

AYE: Mr. Steams, Mrs. McCracken, Dr. Harshbarger, Mr. Ratermann,

Mrs. Young, Mrs. Rose

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Member Harshbarger questioned the baseball expenses in the amount of $5,000 plus and how bills are determined to be the district's responsibility versus what the Booster Club pays for and/or the activity accounts. Dr. Guerrero stated that the district is responsible for the game balls and helmets. Member Steams asked how bills are posted when the bill is split between district funds and activity accounts. Dr. Guerrero and Kelli Nelson (District Accountant) explained that the bill and the reimbursement from the activity account is run through the same line item fund. Dr. Guerrero asked that if any board member is questioning a specific bill to let the district office know ahead of time so they can pull the bill for verification.

It was moved by Member Steams and seconded by Member Ratermann the Approval of Item 4.2 Financial Reports - Bills Payable, Payroll and Other Financial Reports

A YE: Mr. Steams, Mr. Ratermann, Dr. Harshbarger, Mrs. McCracken, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Rose

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

It was moved by Member Harshbarger and seconded by Member Stearns to Amend Item 4.3.8 Resignation of Employee to include the name of the employee, Theresa Collister.

AYE: Dr. Harshbarger, Mr. Stearns, Mrs. McCracken, Mr. Ratermann,

Mrs. Young, Mrs. Rose

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

It was moved by Member Ratermann and seconded by Member McCracken the Approval of Item 4.3 Personnel as Amended.

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

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

5. Administration Reports

5 .1 President Report - Mrs. Rose reminded the board members and visitors that the March meeting will be held on March 18, 2024 due to Spring Break.

5.2 Superintendent Report - Dr. Guerrero reported that the district received a FOIA request. She shared that this has been a quarterly request and that the district is working on restructuring the financial information on the website therefore we shouldn't receive as many requests moving forward. Dr. Guerrero shared with the visitors the nature of the closed session regarding RIF's that have been previously discussed. As stated at the January meeting there will be no RIF's for certified staff. The district was able to absorb those positions through retirements and restructuring of the schedule. Congratulations to Mallory Tolley who was selected as the West Central Illinois Teacher of The Year.

5.3/ 5.4/ 5.5 Principal Report - All building principals provided the board with specific building reports. The reports included building goals, data, athletic records/recognitions and building projects. Mr. Neubaum reported to the board that Knoxville High School has seen an increase of Influenza A & B. The staff is diligently working with students regarding missing assignments. The Knox County CEO program shared program information to the sophomores and juniors. Knoxville Jr. High School is also seeing a large number of students being affected by influenza. Any student testing positive for Influenza B is out of school for five days. Staff at KJHS is also working with students to complete missing assignments. Intersession Camp letters were sent home with students, posted on social media, as well as the district website. The KJHS student council hosted the midyear Midwest Leadership Conference. There were around three hundred students from approximately fourteen schools that attended the conference. They received great reviews from the students and advisors. Mrs. Keever is also witnessing a large number of students absent due to illness. Mable Woolsey also sent home their Intersession Camp letters. Every student received at least six books from the January book blast. One School, One Book is up and running. Teachers and staff are recording chapters for families to listen to. Teachers are also having daily discussions and activities regarding the book.

6. New Business

6.1 It was moved by Member Steams and seconded by Member Ratermann the Approval of Resolution providing for the issue and sale of not to exceed $3,370,000 of refunding bonds of the District and for the levy of taxes to repay such bonds.

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

NAY: None

Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Future Item Discussion - Member Steams asked about the Electric Bus Grant that was discussed in October 2023 . Dr. Guerrero explained that the motion to approve the exploration & application for the Clean Energy Bus Grant & Lottery did not pass. Member Ratermann motioned the item however no board member seconded the motion. President Rose explained if the motion would have carried, this would have allowed Dr. Guerrero to submit Knoxville CUSD #202 name to pool of applicants with the possibility of being selected for the grant. Dr. Guerrero will provide more information if the opportunity to apply for the grant becomes available again.

7. Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Member Steams and seconded by Member Ratermann that the meeting be adjourned. The President put the question to the Board and the motion was unanimously carried and the meeting was so adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2723/KCUSD/4105390/February_26__2024_-_Minutes.pdf