September 2020 Board Minutes
September 15, 2020
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 September 15, 2020 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: Ron Coultas, Phyllis McGuire, Bill Jacquot, Shanna Eddinger, Jody Clanton, Trista Freeman and Steve Moore. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, WGS Principal Andy Stumpf, District Bookkeeper Angie Slagle and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
BUDGET HEARING
A public hearing on the proposed FY21 budget was conducted, with no questions or comments from the audience. Superintendent Blankenship indicated that the pandemic will have a long term effect on revenues and an amendment will likely be necessary in June.
Freeman motioned, with a second from Coultas, to approve the FY21 budget as presented. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Jacquot motioned, with a second from McGuire, to approve the minutes of the August 11th meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Coultas motioned, with a second from Jacquot, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
The principals reported on their enrollment numbers and both stressed appreciation for the efforts of their staff during these unprecedented times. Superintendent Blankenship noted a continuous ‘evolving’ to ensure staff and students are as safe as possible while still meeting educational needs. He also presented preliminary information on the transportation fleet district-owned vehicles and the need for roof replacement on the main portion of the WGS building. He will provide further details in October.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Freeman motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to adopt a resolution approving a feasibility study with the Bluffs CUSD #2. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
IASB POLICY SERVICES
Jacquot motioned to contract IASB to revise and update the current Board Policy manual through their PRESS service. Freeman seconded and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
CLOSED MINUTES
Jacquot motioned to make public the closed session minutes from July through December 2019. McGuire seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven 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 asked for questions or comments from the audience, and there were none.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 7:43 PM, a motion to enter into closed session was made by Jacquot and seconded by Clanton. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
A return to open session at 8:07 PM was motioned by Freeman and seconded by Eddinger. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was to discuss personnel items and collective bargaining.
PERSONNEL/COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACTION
Freeman motioned, with a second from Coultas, to accept the resignation of LPN aide Dianne Potter. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
McGuire motioned to employ Katie Dutton as part-time bus monitor and Julie Short as PreK bus driver. Clanton seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea: Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Freeman, to approve the one-year agreement with the teachers union.
Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, abstain; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being six yeas, one abstention and no nays, the motion passed.
McGuire motioned, with a second from Freeman to approve the FY21 stipend assignment list. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, abstain; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being six yeas, one abstention and no nays, the motion passed.
Coultas motioned, with a second from McGuire, to approve a 2.5% increase for administrative staff salaries for FY21. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, 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 8:12 PM.