May 2023 Board Minutes
May 9, 2023
The Board of Education, Community Unit School District No. 1, 149 South Elm Street, Winchester, Illinois counties of Scott, Morgan and Greene, met in regular session on Tuesday May 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Winchester Elementary School gymnasium.
President Steve Moore called the meeting to order with the following members answering roll call: Bill Jacquot, Shanna Eddinger, Trista Freeman, Molly Traw, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore. Ron Coultas was absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WGS Principal Andy Stumpf, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Traw motioned, with a second from Jacquot, to approve the minutes of the April 18th regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned, with a second from Traw, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
CANVASS REPORT
Traw reported on the canvassing of the April 4th election, with Shanna Eddinger being elected to a 2 year term, and Bill Jacquot, Aaron Littig and Thad Walker for four year terms. Freeman motioned to accept the results. Eddinger seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted:Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS / QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
President Moore asked the status of Freedom of Information requests, and Superintendent Blankenship reported there were none. President Moore then asked for questions or comments from the audience, and there were none.
ADJOURNMENT
President Moore adjourned the meeting sine die at 6:35 PM.
REORGANIZATION MEETING
ROLL CALL
President Moore called the meeting to order at 6:36 PM with the following members answering roll call: Thad Walker, Bill Jacquot, Shanna Eddinger, Trista Freeman, Molly Traw, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore.
NEW MEMBER
Thad Walker was welcomed as a new board member, with the Oath of Office requirement being fulfilled. Ron Coultas’ eight years of service to the Board was acknowledged.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Littig motioned, with a second from Traw, to re-elect the current slate of officers; Steve Moore - President, Trista Freeman - Vice-President, and Shanna Eddinger - Secretary. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
BOARD ORGANIZATION
Freeman motioned to affirm the existing district policies and student handbooks, continue with the meeting schedule as approved in June 2022, continue using all three local banks for district funds, continue using Miller, Hall & Triggs as legal counsel, and reappoint Angie Slagle as treasurer. Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
PRESS POLICIES
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Littig, to approve, upon second reading, the semi-annual revisions and updates to the PRESS policy manual. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
WHS HANDBOOK
Walker motioned to approve, upon second reading, the changes to the 2023-2024 WHS Student Handbook as proposed by the building leadership team. Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, no; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
CURRICULUM PURCHASE
Eddinger motioned to approve the purchase of 6th - 8th grade Language Arts / English curriculum as recommended by the curriculum committee for a total of $12,661.50. Traw seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
TECHNOLOGY FEE
Traw motioned, with a second from Freeman, to increase the student technology fee to $50 as recommended by the administration. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
SOFTBALL BLEACHERS
Littig motioned, with a second from Walker, to contribute no more than $37,575.00 towards the installation of new softball field bleachers as proposed by the Cougar Boosters, who will pay the other half of the cost.
Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, no; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
FY23 BUDGET AMENDMENT
Superintendent Blankenship presented the tentative amendments to the FY23 budget, which will remain on display until a hearing and action during the June 13th regular meeting.
QUESTIONS / COMMENTS
President Moore asked for questions or comments from the audience, and there were none.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Jacquot motioned at 8:06 PM to enter into closed session. Freeman seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Freeman motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to return to open session at 8:22 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was for student discipline and personnel matters.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Littig, to approve the personnel recommendations; accepting the retirement of Kim Gourley / bus driver and the resignations of Bryan Barnett / Ag teacher and Kendra Bass / WGS girls basketball coach and employing Andrew Crivilare / WHS English and Social Studies teacher. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:24 PM.
