Galesburg Reporter

Galesburg Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education met May 13

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order/Roll Call 

The Community Unit School District #205 Board of Education met in closed session prior to the regular meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 6:00 PM at 940 W. Fremont St., Galesburg, IL. The roll was read and the following Members responded: Bess-Tabb, Boettcher, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Taylor, Scherpe (7) Roll Call #1 

Closed Session 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Bess-Tabb to move to closed session for the purpose of appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of an employee(s), negotiations, pending litigation and consideration of parent complaint per uniform grievance policy. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Bess-Tabb,  Boettcher, Rodriguez, Phelps, Lyon, Taylor, Scherpe (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #2 

Following closed session, it was moved by Member Lyon and seconded by Member Taylor to move to open session. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Boettcher, Lyon, Phelps,  Rodriguez, Taylor, Bess-Tabb, Scherpe (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #3 

Roll Call 

President Rodriguez called the regular meeting to order. On roll call the following Members responded: Scherpe, Bess-Tabb, Boettcher, Rodriguez, Phelps, Lyon, Taylor (7) Motion carried.  Roll Call #4 

Recognition of Public Comments 

Comments were made by community members Andrew Chernin, Andrea Robinson, Yolanda Nanez and Leslie Kelley. 

Presentations to the Board 

A. Student Council Report 

Olivia Owen, Student Council Representative, gave her last student council report. 

B. Shine in 205 

Dr. Asplund presented the May Shine winners, Silas Willard Elementary School Teacher, Leticia Camacho and Steele Elementary Teacher, Jennifer Carter. 

C. Recognition of Retirees 

The Board recognized the 2023-2024 District retirees.

E. Lombard Middle School Presentation 

Ms. Rebecca Hutton presented on Lombard Middle School. 

Approval of Consent Agenda 

A. Consider Approval of Minutes: 

 Monday, April 8, 2024, Regular Meeting 

 Monday, April 8, 2024 Closed Session 

 Monday, April 8, 2024, Special Meeting 

 Monday, April 8, 2024, Closed Session 

 Monday, April 15, 2024, Special Meeting 

B. Consider Approval of Payroll and Claims 

 Balance Sheet 

 Treasurer’s Report 

 Fund Balance Report 

 Revenue and Expense Report 

 Investment Performance Report 

 Accounts Payable 

 Check Register 

 Activity Accounts 

 Health Insurance Trust Fund Balance 

 Enrollment Report 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Lyon to approve the consent agenda as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Boettcher, Lyon, Phelps,  Rodriguez, Scherpe, Taylor, Bess-Tabb (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #5

FOCUS AREA #1: Relevant Skills that Lead to Employability 

A. Special Education Report 

No questions were asked. 

B. Student and Staff Supports Report 

No questions were asked. 

C. Curriculum Report 

No questions were asked. 

D. Building Reports 

No comments were made. 

FOCUS AREA #2: Facilities that Assist in Skill Acquisition 

A. Building and Grounds Report 

Member Phelps discussed changes that the committee discussed regarding the baseball fields.

B. Consider Right of First Refusal for the Sale of Churchill Junior High School Building Dr. Asplund stated that the city has a new buyer for the Churchill building and the District must vote to allow that to go through. It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member  Bess-Tabb to approve to not purchase Churchill back and allow the City to sell the building to its  current buyer. On roll call the following Members voted AYE; Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Taylor, Bess-Tabb, Boettcher (6) Abstained: Lyon (1) Motion carried. Roll Call # 7  

FOCUS AREA #3: Responding to the Changing Needs of our Community

A. Consider Approval of Board Policies: Section 7 (Second Reading) 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Taylor to approve as presented. On  roll call the following Members voted AYE: Rodriguez, Taylor, Bess-Tabb, Boettcher, Lyon,  Phelps, Scherpe (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #8 

B. Discussion Regarding Swim Co-Op 

Mr. Ray VanHootegem and Mr. Jake Miller discussed the swimming and diving program future concerns and requested doing a Co-Op with Monmouth Roseville to help program numbers so that the program remains able to compete. Discussion ensued. 

C. Consider Approval of Trip Requests 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Bess-Tabb to approve as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Scherpe, Taylor, Bess-Tabb, Boettcher, Phelps, Rodriguez, Lyon (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #9 

D. Discussion Regarding Senior Photos in Yearbook 

At the request of Member Bess-Tabb the Board discussed changes to senior photos and how the District shouldn’t be charging students for photos. The consensus was that each building will handle their own contracts and the directive for the 7-12 building is to find a vendor that doesn’t  charge families for senior photos that are being put in the yearbook. 

E. Discussion Regarding Joint Annual Conference 

Member Lyon requested that the Board discuss who attends the conference. Discussion ensued with the majority of the Board still wishing for all members to attend. 

F. Discussion Regarding Employees Students Attending District 

Dr. Asplund stated that a survey was done about who would be interested and at this point it appeared approximately 11 students would take advantage. State law was changed for the  process to be easier on Districts for allowing the changes to take place. The Board needs to  decide if they wish to allow out of District employee students to attend the District. 

G. Consider Approval of First Student Contract 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Boettcher to approve the contract as presented. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Taylor, Bess-Tabb, Boettcher, Lyon, Phelps, Rodriguez, Scherpe (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #10

PERSONNEL 

A. Consider Approval of Job Descriptions 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Bess-Tabb to approve as presented.  On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Bess-Tabb, Boettcher, Rodriguez, Scherpe, Taylor, Phelps, Lyon (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #11 

B. Consider Approval of Personnel Report 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Bess-Tabb to approve as presented. Dr. Asplund introduced Mr. Jeff Ewing, the newly appointed Principal for Galesburg Junior Senior High School. On roll call the following Members Voted AYE: Rodriguez, Scherpe, Taylor, Bess-Tabb, Boettcher, Lyon, Phelps (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #12 

D. Grievance Update—No new grievances and still two outstanding. 

E. Report on FOIA Requests 

Two FOIAs were received by Smart Procure and Kyle Spencer. 

Comments by Board of Education 

Comments were made by Member Boettcher, Lyon, Scherpe, Taylor and Bess-Tabb. Future Agenda Items—None 

Future Meeting Dates 

The next regular meeting is Monday, June 10, 2024 at 7PM. 

Adjournment 

It was moved by Member Phelps and seconded by Member Bess-Tabb that the meeting be  adjourned—9:05PM. On roll call the following Members voted AYE: Boettcher, Rodriguez, Taylor, Bess-Tabb, Lyon, Phelps, Scherpe (7) Motion carried. Roll Call #13 

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1121/Galesburg_CUSD_205/4455391/Minutes_May_2024.pdf