November 2020 Board Minutes
November 10, 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 November 10, 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, Bill Jacquot, Jody Clanton, Trista Freeman and Steve Moore. Phyliss McGuire and Shanna Eddinger were absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, WGS Principal Andy Stumpf, District Bookkeeper Angie Slagle and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Freeman motioned, with a second from Coultas, to approve the minutes of the October 13th meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Coultas motioned, with a second from Freeman, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
The administrators again acknowledged their faculty and staff for their efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and reported on events and activities within their respective buildings. Superintendent Blankenship announced the feasibility grant had been approved, and the study - which is expected to be completed at the end of this month - will be at no cost to either district. He noted a potential decrease in ISBE transportation funding is being proposed and therefore he recommends holding off on any fleet purchases for this year. Due to the delay in athletics, the student drug testing procedures have not been implemented.
COVID UPDATE
Superintendent Blankenship reported that while the confirmed cases of COVID are low, the ‘close contact’ quarantine process has caused a large number of student and staff absences. The lack of substitute teachers is creating a major problem that may cause sporadic one-day closures. These would be considered ‘Remote Learning For All’ days during which remote instruction would take place, as well as meal delivery. All attempts will be made to provide a 48 hour notification for parents. He specifically noted November 13th and November 20th as potential days where staff shortages - both COVID related and scheduled days off - were expected.
TENTATIVE TAX LEVY
The proposed tax levy was presented, using the same EAV and tax rate. With no increase over the previous year, a hearing is not required, however in the interest of transparency, President Moore announced a hearing will be held right after roll call at the December 15th regular meeting.
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
The IHSA has recently voted to ignore the IDPH / gubernatorial recommendations to postpone winter sports and declared November 16th as a start date. A legal opinion from our liability insurance carrier has stated that any covid-related claims resulting from not following IDPH guidelines would not be covered. Superintendents within the WIVC have discussed the need to take a common stance and follow the guidelines while encouraging IHSA to change their stance.
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 PM.
___________________________ `________________________________
Steve Moore, President Phyllis McGuire, Secretary
___________________________ ________________________________
Trista Freeman, Vice-President Becky Lashmett, Admin. Assistant