Community Unit School District No. 1 Board of Education met Jan. 15.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties, Illinois met in regular session at the Administration Building – 410 West Polk Avenue, Charleston, Illinois 61920 At 6:30 p.m., President Coe called the meeting to order and asked for roll call.
The following board members were present:
Jason Coe, President
Scott Clarke, Vice President
Susan Daniels, Secretary
Charles Jarrell, Treasurer
Brian Gough
Eva Ritchey
Matt Titus
The following staff members were present:
Todd Vilardo, Superintendent of Schools
Chad Burgett, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services
Kristen Holly, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services
Visitors 12 and 1 Member of the Press
Visitors 12 and 1 Member of the Press
Under Focus on Students and Good News Reports, Mr. Vilardo complimented the artwork display provided by the Charleston High School students. Heather Siegel is the art teacher.
Under Recognition: The Board of Education recognized the Charleston Rotary Club, the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, and Consolidated Communications for financial support to implement the Leader in Me transformation process this school year. Assistant Superintendent Kristen Holly stated that through this work, our students are developing a growth mindset, the 7 habits, to use at school and at home, and untapped leadership abilities. Mrs. Holly extended appreciation to the representatives attending for partnering with the district in that journey.
Mrs. Holly introduced the representatives from each group: Charleston Rotary provided grant funds to support the Leader in Me materials for Jefferson Elementary School students this year (and for other elementary students in future years). Rotary President Granville Colvin was in attendance on behalf of the Rotary Club. Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation and Consolidated Communications provided grant funds to support the Leader in Me materials for Carl Sandburg Elementary School students. Maggie Meylor was in attendance on behalf of the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation and Karen Louthan was in attendance on behalf of Consolidated Communications.
Under Public, Staff Comments, Written Communications, President Coe asked if there were any requests or written communications to the Board of Education. No requests were received.
Moving to Consent Agenda items, President Coe asked if there were any requests from the Board of Education to remove any of the consent agenda items for discussion. Hearing none, Mr. Vilardo reviewed the items under Consent Agenda.
IV. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
- Approve the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of December 18, 2019.
- Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of December 2019.
- Approve the Activity Fund Accounts for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending December 2019.
- Approve the summary of revenues and expenditures year to date as prepared by Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett.
VI. Consent Agenda: New Business
Closed Session Minutes
Approve the minutes of the closed session meetings held on July 17, 2019, October 9, 2019, November 13, 2019, and December 18, 2019; and further, not to make public the minutes of the closed sessions.
Destruction of Closed Session Verbatim Audio Records
Authorize the destruction of all closed session audio tapes beginning February 2017 through July 2018 for regular and special meetings. Further, authorize the destruction of closed session expulsion audio tapes January 2014 through December 2014.
VII. Consent Agenda: Appointment/Employment
- Accept a letter of resignation from Sharrell Stanley as a 1:1 paraprofessional for student #82284 at Carl Sandburg Elementary School, effective January 2, 2020.
- Approve the employment of Jena Borah as a full time Title 1 teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, effective for the second semester of the 2019-20 school year, contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork.
- Approve the employment of Mary Stanley as a part time program paraprofessional in the morning pre-school session at Mark Twain Elementary School, effective January 16, 2020, contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork.
- Approve the voluntary transfer of William Standerfer into the position as an English/Language Arts teacher at Charleston Middle School, effective for the 2020-2021 school year.
- Approve the employment of Kalyn Schable as the 7th grade boys’ track coach at Charleston Middle School during the 2019-20 school year, contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork.
- Approve the list of volunteer coaches in the Boys’ Basketball Program at Jefferson Elementary School during the 2019-20 school year: Brock Paul, Brayden Bouse, Kyle English, Matthew Brown, Jim Schmitz, Frank Luksander, Issac McPhail, and Brad Homann. These assignments are contingent upon the receipt of all required paperwork.
- Approve the list of substitutes and volunteers for Community Unit School District No. 1, effective January 15, 2020.
President Coe recommended that the Board of Education approve items under IV through VII inclusive on the Consent Agenda. Mr. Titus moved and Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Titus, Ritchey, Clarke, Gough, Jarrell, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Superintendent’s Report: Statement of Economic Interest Filings
Mr. Vilardo reported that as required by law, members of the Board of Education must annually file a Statement of Economic Interest with the County Clerk. The forms will be delivered to the Board of Education and must be filed with the County Clerk no later than May 1, 2020.
Mrs. Ritchey moved and Mr. Titus seconded a motion that the Superintendent’s Report was received by the Board of Education.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Ritchey, Titus, Clarke, Gough, Jarrell, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Moving to New Business: 2020-2021 District Calendar
At the regular board meeting held on January 16, 2019, the Board of Education adopted the GOLD Calendar B as the official school calendar for the 2019-2020 school year and to use GOLD Calendar B as a template to develop the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school year calendars. Assistant Superintendent Kristen Holly provided a copy of the official school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year for board members review. The school year will begin with an all staff institute day on August 11, 2020 and the first day of student attendance will be on August 12 with a half day of attendance scheduled.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve the 2020-2021 official school calendar as presented. Mr. Titus moved and Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Dr. Clarke and Mr. Jarrell expressed their concerns of the early start date of August 12 for student attendance.
Mrs. Holly reported that the calendar presented was for the second year of the current three- year round and largely mirrored the attendance schedule for the current school year. She stated that district staff have usually favored an early start date for the school year.
Mr. Vilardo stated that the board sets the parameters for the district’s calendar committee to use to develop three years of proposed calendars. However, the board still has to vote to adopt the calendar each year.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Titus, Ritchey, Gough, Daniels, Coe
NAY: Clarke, Jarrell
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Proposed Job Description/Director of Educational Technology (1st reading)
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education adopt, in tentative form, a proposed job description for the position of Director of Educational Technology on first reading. The tentative job description will be placed for public review until final adoption at the February 19, 2020 board meeting. Mr. Titus moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Titus, Clarke, Gough, Jarrell, Ritchey, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none
Abstain: none
Motion carried
Proposed Facilities Projects
Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett and the Facilities Committee met on January 8, 2020 to review a list of recommendations to be presented to the Board of Education. Mr. Burgett outlined the recommendations from the Facilities Committee totaling an estimated of $1.3M in total improvements affecting each of our district’s facilities.
- Ashmore Gym Lighting/Painting/Asphalt
- Carl Sandburg Drivet Repair/Painting
- CHS Band and Chorus Rooms (painting/lighting/sound)
- CHS HVAC Balancing/upgrades
- CHS/CMS Sidewalks at Softball/Baseball Diamonds
- CHS/CMS Football Field/Track Sound System
- CHS/CMS Running 2 Cat 6 Lines Per Classroom District Wide
- CMS ¼ Roof Replacement
- Jefferson HVAC Balancing/Upgrades
- Jefferson Tuck Pointing
- Jefferson Replacing Fiber in Three Racks
- Mark Twain LED Lighting
- Mark Twain Hallway Carpet Removal and Tile Replacement
- Mark Twain Parking Lots/Side Walks
- District Camera at North Parking Lot of Football Field/Track
- District Fiber Optics
Based upon the recommendation of Assistant Superintendent Burgett and the Facilities Committee and contingent upon available funds, it was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education authorize pursuit of district facilities projects during the spring and summer of 2020 as presented. Mr. Titus moved and Mr. Gough seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Titus, Gough, Clarke, Jarrell, Ritchey, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 7:04pm, President Coe recommended that the Board of Education adjourn into closed session to consider information regarding appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity. 5 ILCS 120/2/(c)(1)
Collective negotiating matters between the District and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5 ILCS120/2/(c)(2)
President Coe stated that during closed session, the Board of Education would review the results of the evaluation for Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. Titus moved and Mr. Gough seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE Titus, Gough, Clarke, Jarrell, Ritchey, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 7:48pm, Mr. Jarrell made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Ritchey, Clarke, Gough, Titus, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 7:49pm, Dr. Clarke moved to adjourn from the board meeting. Mr. Gough seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Gough, Jarrell, Ritchey, Titus, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/593538/January_15__2020_Regular_Board_Minutes.pdf
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