August 2021 Board Minutes
August 10, 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 August 10, 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, Bill Jacquot, Shanna Eddinger, Trista Freeman, Molly Traw, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, WGS Principal Andy Stumpf, and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Freeman, to approve the minutes of the June 15th regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Coultas motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
The building principals reported on the wrap up of summer maintenance and preparations for the 202-2022 school year. Superintendent Blankenship provided a brief update of legislative action and issues facing Illinois school districts.
OLD BUSINESS - FEASIBILITY STUDY
Superintendent Blankenship noted he had nothing new to report, and was directed to ask if the Bluffs Board would be willing to schedule a joint meeting to further discuss options.
FY22 BUDGET
The proposed FY22 budget was presented, and will be placed on display. President Moore announced a budget hearing will be held on September 14, 2021 at 6:30 PM.
POLICY UPDATES
A first reading was conducted on the semi-annual PRESS policy updates, with a second reading and adoption slated for the September meeting.
RETURN TO SCHOOL
The RTS plan as prepared by the administration (with masks being optional) has been negated by the Governor's mandate for masks in schools. Superintendent Blankenship has spoken with the district’s insurance carrier and attorney, as well as IASB and the local health department. He indicated there is ‘too much at risk’ to not follow the guidelines. Jacquot motioned to approve the RTS plan encompassing mask mandates, and to authorize Superintendent Blankenship to continue to lobby for local control in regards to masking. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, nay; there being six yeas and one nay, the motion passed.
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Coultas motioned, with a second from Freeman, to approve the updated Risk Management Plan for the district. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
JOB DESCRIPTIONEddinger motioned, with a second from Traw, to approve the Maintenance and Bus Supervisor Job Description as presented. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER PAY
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Freeman, to increase substitute teacher pay to $100 per day for the first 25 days, and then $110 per day starting on day 26. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, 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 then asked for questions or comments from the audience, and there were none.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Jacquot motioned at 7:58 PM to enter into closed session. Coultas seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, 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 8:42 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, 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 personnel matters and collective bargaining.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Freeman, to approve the collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union for a three-year contract. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Coultas motioned, with a second from Freeman, to re-employ RIF’d personnel Sami Killebrew, Breann Nichols Bobbi King, and Meagan Hettinger. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Coultas, to accept the resignation of Pamma Kaufmann. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Eddinger motioned, with a second from Littig to approve the administration’s recommendations for employment; Justin Mather/Mnt-Bus Supervisor, Sue Gutmann / regular route bus driver, Rusty Monroe / 4th grade teacher contingent upon TRS approval, Renee Chapman / special education with a substitute license, and Jenna Allen / certified ASL interpreter. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Coultas motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to approve the FY22 stipend assignments as presented. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Jacquot, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being seven yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Eddinger motioned, with a second from Freeman, to establish FY22 administrative salaries with a 5% increase. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, 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 8:47 PM.
