June 2023 Board Minutes
June 13, 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 June 13, 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: Thad Walker, Bill Jacquot, Molly Traw, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore. Trista Freeman and Shanna Eddinger were absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WGS Principal Jessica Crawford, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
FY23 BUDGET AMENDMENT
A public hearing was conducted regarding the proposed FY23 Budget Amendment. There were no questions or comments, and Littig motioned to approve the amendment as presented. Walker seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Littig, to approve the minutes of the May 9th regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned, with a second from Walker, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid, including the necessary July bills. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
End of year activities were reported by the building principals, as well as an update of plans for the 2023-2024 school year. Superintendent Blankenship reported on summer maintenance projects and the new bus fleet. He indicated replacement of one or more Suburbans was being looked into, as well as the trade-in of a mower for a new model at a cost of $16,700.
CURRICULUM PURCHASE
Walker motioned to approve the recommendation of the curriculum committee for a new K-5 reading series at a total cost of $28,616. Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT
Traw reported on the recent Building Committee walk-thru which focused upon needed renovation and repairs at WHS. Projected costs are $10 million for needed renovations (safety improvements, elevator, asbestos removal, HVAC, commons upgrades and locker room improvements) while a new building is projected at $25 million. The next step is to obtain an estimate from the architect for development of preliminary details of new construction.
WGS CAFETERIA TABLES
Littig motioned to approve the purchase of new space saving cafeteria tables with logo designs for a cost of $64,000. Walker seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
CO-OP COMMITTEE
A recent Co-Op Committee meeting was held with representatives of Bluffs Schools, from which came the recommendation to renew the Academic Co-Op Agreement for another two years and to revise the maximum number of courses per student to four instead of two. Littig motioned to approve the renewed contract, with a second from Walker. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, nay; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being four yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
Tyler Devlin and Addy Welborne, WCC track coaches, presented information on starting a Cross County team at the high school level. This would be a self-funded activity, with no cost to the districts except occasional use of the activity buses. Littig motioned to approve the request, and Traw provided a second. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned to approve the committee’s recommendation to increase pay for officials. Walker seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig noted the ‘goal’ is to hold all junior high softball and baseball games at Bluffs, with all high school games at Winchester, acknowledging the Bluffs fields need renovations.
FISCAL YEAR START-UP
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Littig to approve the FY24 start-up by affirming the existing district policies and student handbooks, approving the FY24 meeting schedule, continuing to utilize all three local banks for district funds, continuing to use Miller, Hall & Triggs as legal counsel, and reappointing Angie Slagle as treasurer. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER PAY
Walker motioned, with a second from Littig, to increase substitute teacher pay to $105 per day. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
PRESS POLICY UPDATES
A first reading of the semi-annual PRESS policy manual updates and revisions was held, with a second reading and approval slated for the August 15th regular meeting.
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.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Littig motioned at 8:02 PM to enter into closed session. Jacquot seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned, with a second from Traw, to return to open session at 8:26 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of executive session was for personnel matters.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Traw motioned, with a second from Littig, to accept the resignations of Patti Arnold / cook, Wes Lashmett / Bass Fishing coach, Amy Davis / JH Volleyball coach, Kaitlin Wade Holder / JH Volleyball assistant coach and Chris Hurrelbrink / aide effective December 31, 2023. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Littig, to employ Alexis Carroll as Ag teacher and FFA advisor. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned, with a second from Traw, to approve coaches as recommended; Adrian Starks / Football volunteer, Kaitlin Wade Holder / JH softball coach, Megan Little / JH Cheer sponsor, Travis Sievers / JH girls basketball coach, and Ryan Little / JH boys basketball volunteer. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Litttig motioned, with a second by Walker, to approve a 5% pay increase for administrative staff; Kevin Blankenship, Becky Lashmett, Justin Mather, Angie Slagle and Denny Vortman. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.
