Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District No. 3 Board of Education met Monday, Jan. 23.
Here is the agenda as provided by Mahomet-Seymour CUSD No. 3:
Mahomet-Seymour COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT NO. 3 Champaign County, Illinois
Meeting of the Board of Education Regular Meeting
Held in the Middletown Prairie Board Conference Room Date: January 23, 2017
• Call to Order The meeting was called to order by President Max McComb at 7:02 p.m. He welcomed all present to the meeting.
• Roll Call Board members present for the roll call were: Max McComb, Cheryl Melchi, Merle Giles, Lance Raver, Jenny Park and Becky Ryherd. Also present were Superintendent Rick Johnston and Board Recorder, Jennifer Farm. Nezar Kassem joined the meeting at 7:27 PM.
• Pledge of Allegiance President McComb asked those in attendance to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Approval of Agenda Motion was made by Park, seconded by Raver, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed.
• McComb reviewed the Visitor Guidelines and called for any Public Participation forms.
• Consent Agenda Items McComb asked the Board if they would like to see any changes to the consent agenda. There were no changes.
• Minutes for the December 12, 2016 Tax Levy Hearing – Open Session
• Minutes for the December 12, 2016 Regular Board Meeting – Open Session
• Bills as presented
• Treasurer’s Report as presented
• Personnel Changes as presented
• Records management for the destruction of the verbatim records of all closed meetings for June, 2015. The written minutes of these meetings have been previously approved.
• Surplus Items – Books from Middletown Prairie Library, Headphones, Headphone Jacks and Cassette Tape Recorders
Motion was made by Ryherd second by Giles, to approve all items on the consent agenda. Motion was approved by “yes” vote, 6-0. Motion carried.
• Donations Superintendent Johnston read the November Donation List:
• Walk Chiropractic & Acupuncture: Middletown Prairie, Cash, $260.00
• MS PTO: Middletown Prairie, Cash, $859.67
• Anonymous: Middletown Prairie, Cash, $500.00
Motion was made by Melchi second by Park, to accept the donations as presented. Motion was approved by “yes” vote, 6-0. Motion carried.
• Communications from PTO, MSEA, Foundation, Visitors and Board Commendations PTO – none MSEA – none Foundation – Member Ryherd had a number of items to share on behalf of the Foundation.
• Celebrate Art will be led by Deanna Meek, and will be held April 9th at the High School.
• The Bulldog Bash is scheduled for May 12th and will be held at the City Center in Champaign this year.
• All grant requests were funded and teachers have been notified.
• The Alumni Association will induct its first members during homecoming on September 22nd. Public Comments – none
• Reports, Updates & Informational Items.
• Building Reports: Building Administrators: Principals submitted reports prior to the meeting. These highlights are part of the meeting packet on the website.
• Board Communication:
• Mr. Raver is impressed with the 5th grade Science Olympiad and appreciates the efforts from the teachers to make this a successful event. Additionally, the 8th grade Cheer Team placed 8th at State this year.
• Member Ryherd has been utilizing the Fieldhouse this winter and has a new appreciation for this facility. She sees young and old taking advantage of this community resource.
• Mrs. Melchi shared that she thinks it is wonderful the High School Physical Education department is collaborating with the University of Illinois.
• President McComb thanked all individuals for the time they spent helping with the Director of Instruction Interviews. McComb gave kudos to Jared Lynn and Chris Forman on the new website and mobile app. He also attended the Dance Competition at the High School last weekend, and shared “you could tell when someone came in the building, who had not seen the renovations – they were impressed.” Thank you to all!
• Financial Update: Trent Nuxoll: The December financial report was included in the board packet. CSBO, Nuxoll, shared that the state has paid the 4th categorical payment for fiscal year 2016, however he is not hopeful that we will receive the 3 planned payments for this fiscal year that were budgeted.
• Superintendent’s Report: Rick Johnston:
1. #93 PRESS Policy Update: This version of the IASB recommendations for policy updates is over 100 pages. Central office staff continues to work to build their summary and recommendations for the Superintendent Advisory Policy Committee. Once that information is compiled and the committee has the opportunity to meet, PRESS #93 will most likely be approved at the regular meeting in February.
2. Pre-Bid Meeting Review on Phase II: There was a strong contingency of construction companies represented at the Pre-Bid meeting last week. Eleven general contractors were in the mandatory meeting with over twenty subcontracting companies represented. Todd Powers and Andy Hoef led the meeting and the tour of the site answering questions as we proceeded.
3. Director of Instruction Hiring Process Update: The interview process has narrowed the candidates to a final two and those candidates are being vetted at this time. The final candidate will be presented at the February 13, 2017 regular meeting. As a side note, the PreK Principal position will be posted in early February state wide. An April 17, 2017 hire date for the final candidate is the target for that hire.
4. Health Life Safety ROE Visit: All buildings are currently being evaluated by the ROE office staff and state fire marshal inspector. We received solid preliminary reviews from the MSHS and MPE tours from last week. All three other buildings will be inspected Tuesday, January 24, 2017.
5. Pioneer Matching Grant-($5000) We want to highlight a grant that was recently awarded to MSHS and the Ag Department from Pioneer Seeds. This matching grant allowed for classroom reconfiguration and upgrades in the Ag Department. Much needed and completed over Christmas break. Thank you for the support of Pioneer! 9) Regular Business
9. A. Unfinished Business
9. B. New Business
9. B.1. Mahomet-Seymour High School Corporate Sponsorship Program: Shannon Cheek Shannon Cheek, High School Principal, shared a potential three tiered sponsorship program for the high school reviewing key points. Much discussion and research have taken place over the last 9 months. Superintendent Johnston shared that this is not an easy venture and there is still work to be done. Mr. Cheek wanted to share the progress to date with the Board, and anticipates coming back to the Board at a future date with a final version of the program.
9. B. 2. Pre-K Fee Based Programming: Mary Weaver Mary Weaver (Director of Instruction) shared that the current Pre-K fee based tuition has not been increased in a number of years. After researching other area programs, it is recommended that the District raise its tuition to $400 per month. That is an increase of $110 per month. Member Melchi shared that the Districts Pre-K Program is high quality and is certainly underpriced. There was additional discussion regarding adding additional sections. Mrs. Weaver is recommending starting with this fee increase and re-evaluating.
Motion was made by Giles, and seconded by Melchi, to approve the Pre-K Fee Based Programming as presented. The motion was approved by “yes” vote, 7-0. Motion carried.
9. B. 3. Google Summit Memorandum of Understanding: Jared Lynn and Chris Forman Jared Lynn and Chris Forman shared information regarding the upcoming Google Summit that will take place at Mahomet-Seymour High School. The process started when Eduscape expressed interest through Area 4 LTC for a host school in downstate Illinois. Mr. Lynn and Mr. Forman applied to be the host site, researched this possibility and attended a competitor’s summit. Mahomet-Seymour was selected as the host site using August 7th and 8th, 2017 as the conference dates. This is an incredible opportunity for professional development for educators. There will be approximately 250 educators attending this summit.
Motion was made by Ryherd, and seconded by Park, to approve the Google Summit Memorandum of Understanding as presented. The motion was approved by “yes” vote, 7-0. Motion carried.
9. B. 4. Social Studies Curriculum: Shannon Cheek and Mary Weaver Principal Cheek and Social Studies Division Chair Keith Pogue shared upcoming changes in the Social Studies Curriculum with the BoE. These changes are a result of a new requirement from the Illinois State Board of Education, requiring high school students to have Civics credit prior to graduation. In order to add this semester long course many adjustments will take place in the Department. Mary Weaver shared that the District was also just notified that we are on the AP Honor Roll—one of 433 districts in the nation and 21 in the state of Illinois. MSHS was named in this year’s 7th Annual awards program and was also cited in the 4th Annual Awards for AP Honor Roll.
Motion was made by Raver, and seconded by Melchi, to approve the High School Social Studies Curriculum as presented. The motion was approved by “yes” vote, 7-0. Motion carried.
9. B. 5. Alternate Revenue Source Bond Abatement Resolution: Trent Nuxoll The Board adopted a resolution to abate all payments for the alternate revenue source bond series 2010 and series 2016C in the amounts of $151,950 and $159,120 respectfully. Instead, these payments will be paid using proceeds from the 1% sales tax.
Motion was made by Park, and seconded by Ryherd, to approve the Resolution abating the tax heretofore levied for the year 2016 to pay debt service on School Bonds (Series 2010 and Series 2016c) as presented. The motion was approved by “yes” vote, 7-0. Motion carried.
9. B. 6. Property Tax Abatement Resolution: Trent Nuxoll The Board approved this resolution which is related to the District’s use of the sales tax revenue for a strategy to help maintain property tax rates at a level rate the past several years. In calendar year 2016, the District received $2.2M in sales tax revenue. One-third ($746,000+) will be abated and will be paid using proceeds from the sales tax.
Motion was made by Raver, and seconded by Ryherd, to approve the Resolution abating a portion of the taxes heretofore levied for the year 2016 to pay debt service on certain outstanding bonds of the district as presented. The motion was approved by “yes” vote, 7-0. Motion carried.
9.B.7 Resolution to Transfer Capital Projects Fund Sales Tax Revenue to Debt Service Fund: Trent Nuxoll The Board approved this resolution which is an accounting function that allows the transfers of two abatement amounts (above) to the Debt Service Funds. Sales tax revenue must be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund; bond payments must be paid from the Debt Service Fund. $1,057,501.50 will be transferred.
Motion was made by Melchi, and seconded by Giles, to approve the Resolution to transfer sales tax revenue in the Capital Projects Fund to the Debt Service Fund as identified in the abatements approved by the Board of Education as presented. The motion was approved by “yes” vote, 7-0. Motion carried.
9.B.8 Consider Approval of a New Resolution for the Sale of Sangamon Property: Rick Johnston This item was tabled and no action was taken after a lengthy closed session.
10) Closed Session
McComb stated it was necessary to go into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing: 1. The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. 2. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity.
Motion was made by Kassem, seconded by Park, at 8:35 p.m. to go into Closed Session for the purposes stated by McComb. The motion was approved by “yes” vote, 7-0. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Raver, seconded by Melchi, at 9:48 p.m. to return to Open Session. The motion was approved, 7-0. Motion carried. (See item 9.B.8 for action item during this open session.)
11) Adjournment
With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:26 p.m.
Max McComb, President
Becky Ryherd, Secretary
Submitted by Jennifer Farm, Board Recorder
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