December 2021 Board Minutes
December 14, 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 December 14, 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, Molly Traw, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore. Trista Freeman entered at 6:34, and Bill Jacquot and Shanna Eddinger were absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WHS Principal Denny Vortman, WGS Principal Andy Stumpf, and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing was held regarding the proposed tax levy which has been on display and published as required. There were no questions or comments, therefore Coultas motioned to approve the levy. Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being four yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Coultas motioned, with a second from Traw, to approve the minutes of the November 9th regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being four yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned, with a second from Coultas, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
The building principals reported on student activities and upcoming events. Superintendent Blankenship noted Health Life Safety work was underway, with roof replacement bids expected to be available for action in January. He also reported the need for bat ‘exclusion’ at WHS and asked if there were any concerns with consolidating some of the district’s bank accounts.
SALES TAX ABATEMENT
Freeman motioned, with a second from Littig, to approve the annual abatement of $60,000 in sales tax monies to pay toward the WGS renovation bond. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
SALE OF BUS
Freeman motioned to accept the high bid of $4,825 from Jeremy Hayes for the purchase of Bus #15. Coultas seconded and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
POLICY UPDATES
A first reading of the semi-annual updates to PRESS policies was conducted, with action slated for January.
AUDIT REPORT
The report of independent auditors Zumbahlen, et al was presented by Suzanne Steckel. She noted it was a ‘clean opinion’, with no substantial findings of irregularities for fiscal year 2021.
MASK MANDATE
Superintendent Blankenship has attended several meetings with ISBE and IDPH officials regarding the mandate that masks be worn in all schools or face the loss of recognition and funding. He noted some districts are not enforcing the mandate, but that they are on the ISBE ‘radar’. The district’s attorney recommends compliance with the mandate, which was originally believed to be rescinded after the first of the year. He noted the recent rise in covid cases may delay any lifting of the mandate, and he will continue to campaign for local control and will report again in January.
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 Tara Moore announced her retirement at the end of the school term. Avery Maul spoke in opposition to the continued mask mandate.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Freeman motioned at 7:55 PM to enter into closed session. Coultas seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Freeman motioned, with a second from Littig, to return to open session at 8:23 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being five yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was for personnel matters.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Freeman motioned, with a second from Littig, to accept the resignation of Peggy Shelts as cook, and to employ Patty Hallas as cook and Cassandra Dolen for a permanent substitute for the remainder of the school term. Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Freeman, 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 8:26 PM.
