March 2021 Board Minutes
March 16, 2021
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 March 16, 2021 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, Phyliss 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.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Coultas motioned, with a second from Freeman, to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2021 regular 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 McGuire, 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 building administrators reported on student accomplishments and building level activities. Superintendent Blankenship updated the Board on the anticipated covid-relief funds which will be used in part for a proposed summer school program.
BOND REFINANCING
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Freeman, to approve a bond refinancing resolution which allows the future sale of bonds once the interest rate is at an optimum level. 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.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
The date for the presentation of the feasibility study to the Winchester and Bluffs boards was originally scheduled for March 23rd, but a change to April 15th was announced. The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the WGS gymnasium.
POLICY MANUAL
A first reading of the proposed policy manual as developed by IASB PRESS was conducted. The second reading and action will be slated for the April 13, 2021 regular meeting.
SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE
In light of the recent change in State covid-related guidance, the administration recommended returning to the regular full day schedule on March 22nd, with continuing re-evaluation. Jacquot motioned, with a second from Freeman to resume normal school day hours effective March 22, 2021. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, no; McGuire, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Clanton, yea; Freeman, yea and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
2021-2022 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Clanton motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to approve the 2021-2022 school calendar as presented by the administrators. 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.
USE OF FACILITIES
Jacquot motioned to approve spring/summer use of district facilities by youth athletic organizations and use of the WGS gym by IREC on June 11th-12th for their annual meeting. Clanton seconded the motion and 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 Kati Borgens inquired about the February gas bill for the schools.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Freeman motioned at 7:26 PM to enter into closed session. Eddinger 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 Eddinger, to return to open session at 9:04 PM. Roll call vote resulted: 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 for personnel matters, student discipline, board vacancy and collective bargaining.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Coultas motioned, with a second from Freeman, to grant tenure to Stacy Valentine, Tina Leonard, Amber Sichting, Amy Sutton, Claire Coonrod, Ryan Sichting, and Carl Wicklander and to re-employ all remaining non-tenured teachers for FY22 - Jacob Schumacher, Kalli Fuhler, Megan Hurrelbrink, Dakota Chumley, Krista Kunz, Lauren Brown, Megan Davis, Angie Heberling, Christina Stocker, Kenny Smith. 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 Freeman to issue a reduction-in-force notice to LPN Aide Meagan Hettinger, and notices of non re-employment for licensure to teachers Sami Killebrew, Breann Nichols and Bobbi King. 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.
Eddinger motioned to accept the resignations of Tina Brown, effective March 5th and Erin Studer, effective at the end of the term. 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.
Coultas motioned, with a second from Freeman to approve WGS track coaches Rusty Monroe / boys assistant, Robin Varner / girls assistant and Chris Fuller / volunteer; as well as bass fishing volunteers Richard Snodgrass, Jed Arnold, Jim Young, Scott McCleery, Steve Hoots, Kenny Smith, Chaz Walker, Wes Oxley & Rick Crews. 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
President Moore announced that letters of interest for the upcoming board vacancy would be accepted until April 12th. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:09 PM.
