Winchester Schools Logo

February 2022 Board Minutes

By Lashmett, Becky on March 18, 2022

February 15, 2022

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 February 15, 2022 at 6:30 PM in the Winchester High School Home Ec Room. 

President Steve Moore called the meeting to order with the following members answering roll call:  Ron Coultas, Shanna Eddinger, Trista Freeman, Molly Traw, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore.  Bill Jacquot was absent.  Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WGS Principal Andy Stumpf, and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.  

MINUTES / FINANCIALS

Coultas motioned, with a second from Littig, to approve the minutes of the January 18th regular meeting.  Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six 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; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea;  Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed. 

ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS

Recognition was given to the Students of The Month from both schools, as well as a report on student activities and upcoming events.  Superintendent Blankenship reported on ESSR funding, noted he would have a recommendation forthcoming on bank account consolidation, provided an update of recent fraudulent checks and asked for direction in obtaining health insurance quotations.

OLD BUSINESS / MASK MANDATE

In light of the recent court ruling negating the Governor’s mask mandate, Coultas motioned to make masks optional until further notice.  Eddinger seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted:  Coultas, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea;  Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed. 

EMPLOYEE TUITION WAIVER RENEWAL 

Freeman motioned, with a second from Eddinger, to begin the process of a renewal application for the waiver of tuition for children of full-time employees originally granted in 2017.  Roll call vote resulted:  Coultas, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea;  Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.   A public hearing will be held just prior to the March 15th regular meeting. 

ESPORTS

After hearing a presentation by BHS teachers Zach Morrisey and Jordan Mueller, Littig motioned to approve eSports as a new self-funded cooperative activity.   Eddinger seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea;  Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.

GRADUATION DATES

WGS promotion will be held on Thursday May 26th and WHS graduation will be held on Friday May 27th, both at 7:00 PM.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS /  QUESTIONS/COMMENTS  

President Moore asked the status of Freedom of Information requests, and Superintendent Blankenship reported there was one completed the same day it was received.  President Moore then asked for questions or comments from the audience, and there were none.

                                                                                                                        February 15, 2022  Page 2 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Freeman motioned at 7:33 PM to enter into closed session.  Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea;  Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed. 

Freeman motioned, with a second from Coultas, to return to open session at 7:51 PM.  Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea;  Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.   President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was for personnel matters. 

PERSONNEL ACTION

Eddinger motioned, with a second from Coultas, to accept the resignation of Patty Hallas as cook, to employ Danielle Fanning as cook, and to accept the retirement notice of Carolyn Schofield as certified aide at the end of the current school term.   Roll call vote resulted: Coultas, yea; Eddinger, yea; Freeman, yea; Traw, yea; Littig, yea;  and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.