East Central Reporter

Arcola Community Unified School District 306 Board met Nov. 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

A regular meeting of the Board of Education of Arcola Community Unit District #306 Arcola, Illinois was called to order in the Media Center at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 for the purpose of regular business.

President Strader called the meeting to order. The following members answered roll call: Crane, Stout, Shonkwiler, Thieman, Rothrock, Arrol and Strader.

Others present were: Tom Mulligan, Jennifer Frichtl, Lisa Sigrist, Angie Gentry, Cathy Brimner, David Porter, and Nick Lindsey.

President Strader recognized the visitors and asked for public comment. There was none.

There were no pending FOIA requests.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Rothrock, to approve the regular meeting minutes and closed session minutes from October 10, 2018 and the Building Committee meeting minutes from November 7, 2018.

Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Stout, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as of October 31, 2018 as submitted. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Thieman, seconded by Crane, to approve the payment of bills as submitted in the amount of $490,851.57. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Thieman, to approve the payment of payroll in the amount of $463,986.99. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Business:

Motion by Crane, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the change order in the amount of $16,386 from Morton Builders for the shed project to include additional concrete work. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Crane, seconded by Rothrock, to approve the tentative tax levy and the certificate of abatement and set a truth in taxation hearing for December 12, 2018 at 6 p.m. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Thieman, to approve the acceptance of the 2018 Arcola School District, Arcola Elementary School, and Arcola Junior-Senior High School reports cards provided by the Illinois State Board of Education. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Administrative Team Reports

~~Mrs. Gentry, Principal, Arcola Elementary – Mrs. Gentry stated she didn’t have much to add outside of her board report. She did remind everyone that they frequently post updates to the school Facebook page and the school website.

~~Mrs. Sigrist, Principal, Arcola Jr/Sr High – Rider Nation is wanting to possibly do a project where senior students would be able to paint a ceiling tile as a way for them to “leave their mark” on AHS. The student could choose to either leave their ceiling tile when they graduate or pay for a replacement tile and take the painted tile with them. This project is in the very early stages but if it is a possibility then Rider Nation would present the idea to the Building Committee. President Strader said he would be interested in hearing more on the idea. At the prompting of board member Dr. Arrol, Mrs. Sigrist briefly explained the difference between an in school suspension and an out of school suspension and what factors are involved in deciding which is given to a student.

~~Mrs. Brimner, Director of Special Services – Mrs. Brimner reported that they are no longer providing home instruction because the student has moved out of state. Currently, there are six students attending Bridges. Beckie Headrick has talked with Mrs. Brimner about Arcola Schools becoming a Unified Champion School through Special Olympics. In order to qualify three components must be met: hold a unified sports day where Special Olympic athletes practice with the interscholastic track team, participate in the Polar Plunge (which Arcola already does), and hold an assembly about respecting each athlete or take fans to the Special Olympics to cheer on our athletes.

~~Dr. Mulligan, Superintendent – Dr. Mulligan mentioned that the administrators recently met with Sally Carter from Royal Academy Day Care about her plans to open a day care/preschool facility in Arcola. The meeting was to discuss how the Arcola School District can partner with them.

Motion by Stout, seconded by Thieman, to enter executive session at 7:38 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body and student discipline. Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Rothrock, seconded by Crane, to return to regular session at 8:56 p.m. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Thieman, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the employment of Becky Diepholz as Evening Custodian Supervisor, Jared Edwards as Evening Custodian, Guthrie Gardner as Volunteer Assistant HS Boys Basketball Coach, and Travis Whisman as Assistant JH Boys Basketball Coach. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Crane, to approve the resignations of Leah Kays as Assistant HS Softball Coach and Mara Filicsky as Evening Custodian. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Rothrock, seconded by Stout, to approve the three health insurance plan options and rate increase of 12% for singles effective January 1, 2019-December 31, 2019. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout,

aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Thieman, seconded by Rothrock, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the Arcola School District and Arcola Education Association regarding health insurance. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Stout, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the recommended increase from $378 to $457 a month for the board contribution to health insurance for support staff. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Announcements: Dr. Mulligan took this time to remind the board members that they are mandated reporters. He also suggested moving the December Board Meeting to 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. All board members and administrators agreed that time would work.

Motion by Rothrock, seconded by Stout, to adjourn at 9:03 p.m. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Thieman, aye; Rothrock, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.