East Central Reporter

Mattoon Community Unit School District 2 Board of Education met Feb. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Community Unit School District Number Two met at 7:00 P.M., at Riddle Elementary School. Google Hangouts Meeting and a call number were also offered for those wishing to attend remotely due to COVID-19. The in-person meeting/remote meeting was in accordance with Illinois Gov. Pritzer’s suspension of certain open meeting act requirements because of COVID-19. 

The meeting was called to order by Board member Gary Kepley. President Michelle Skinlo attended the meeting via Google Meets. Skinlo and board members agreed that allowing a board member who was in person at the meeting to run the meeting would provide for enhanced audio and communication. 

ROLL CALL: 

Present: Gary Kepley, Ashli Overton, Susan Braun, John Hedges, Erika Weaver Michelle Skinlo 

Absent: Colleen Garner 

RECEPTION OF VISITORS: 

Kepley welcomed all those present. 

Agenda: 

Ingrid Minger, middle school media specialist, and MMS reading committee students Savannah Cole, Aydin Tariq, Alaina Hedges and Adriana Veach presented this year’s book selection for Read Across Mattoon. The book selected to promote to students and the community to read is “Space Case,” by Stuart Gibbs. Read Across Mattoon is celebrating its 19th year of promoting the joy of reading and literacy. With the pandemic, this year has posed challenges, however, Minger and the reading committee explained that a partnership with the Mattoon Public Library will offer “Space Case” online through an internet App called SORA (Student Online Reading App). Community members may download the book. This will replace the physical copies of the book traditionally dispersed throughout the community.  MMS also offers the book online for students. To promote the book, the reading committee created a Google website and a video which they presented for board members. 

The board recognized Dale Righter who served as a state representative and as a state senator. Righter decided not to seek re-election and his term as senator ended in January 2021. The board thanked Righter for representing the rural area and assisting projects that improved Mattoon and Coles County. The board also thanked Righter for his work as acoach and mentor to Mattoon High School cross country and track athletes. 

Non-Agenda: 

None 

Consent Agenda: 

The consent agenda consisted of the following items: 

-Approval of the minutes of the January 12, 2021 regular meeting and approval of the executive session minutes of the Board of Education as presented. 

-Approval of payment of bills as presented 

-Approval of monthly financial reports by fund 

-Approval of budget-to-actual-report 

-Approval of January 2021 Enrollment Report- 3,114 

-Approval of Freedom of Information Report 

The district received one FOIA request this month: 

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association requested the names and email addresses of any licensed staff retiring in 2021. Assistant Superintendent David Skocy fulfilled the request Feb. 3, 2021. 

Weaver moved, seconded by Overton to approve the consent agenda as presented. 

Roll call vote as follows: Overton, aye; Braun, aye; Hedges, aye; Weaver, aye; Garner, absent; Kepley, aye; Skinlo, aye. 

Nays, none. Motion carried.

BOARD ACTION TO APPROVE  THE PERSONNEL REPORT  M.C.U.S.D. #2: 

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. David Skocy presented the following C.U.S.D. #2 personnel report to the Board for approval: 

Certified Resignations – C.U.S.D. #2 

-Megan Cress, resigning as Mattoon 

High School mathematics teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year 

-Lee Ann Foster, retiring as Williams Elementary special education teacher, effective for the 2021-22 school year 

-Leah Wilson, resigning as Riddle Elementary School kindergarten teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year 

-Lindsay Bennett, resigning as Riddle Elementary School teacher, effective February 9, 2021 

Certified Appointments – C.U.S.D.#2 

-David Banyai, substitute teacher, effective immediately 

-Aaron McDaniels, substitute teacher, effective immediately 

Classified Resignations – C.U.S.D.#2 

-Jodi Ritter, resigning as Williams Elementary School supervisor, effective February 5, 2021 

-Jami McConnaha, resigning as transportation service center bus aide, effective immediately 

Classified Appointments – C.U.S.D.#2 

-Daniella Steinhaus, Williams Elementary School supervisor, effective immediately 

-Mary Chellino, a substitute supervisor, effective immediately 

Extra Duty Assignments – C.U.S.D. 

-Karen Brown, as Mattoon Middle School 7th grade girls’ volleyball coach, effective for the 2020-21 school year 

Overton moved, seconded by Hedges to approve the personnel report as presented. 

Roll call vote as follows: Braun, aye; Hedges, aye; Weaver, aye; Garner, absent; Kepley, aye; Overton, aye; Skinlo, aye. Nays, none. Motion carried. 

BOARD PRESENTATION OF SUCCESS STRATEGIES: MCUSD2’S PLAN TO ADDRESS COVID-19 IMPACT: (Information only) 

Christy Hild, assistant superintendent of student services, presented district wide plans to address the impact to students emotionally and academically from the COVID-19 pandemic. Locally, Hild said our kindergarten-second grade students have experienced delayed literacy development. 

Students in grades fourth-seventh grades demonstrate reduced progress in math. In middle school through high school years, there are increased concerns with sixth-12th engagement. 

To address these issues, Hild and a team of teachers created Acceleration Strategies. Those strategies include: 

-Increase time in school for all learners 

-Implement a Power Hour 

-Offer a targeted Stretch Time Intervention, K-12 

-At the March board meeting, Dr. Hild will present creative and strategic plans to extend summer learning to further support learners and their families 

BOARD PRESENTATION TO RETURN TO FULL DAY LEARNING BEGINNING FEBRUARY 16, 2021: 

Tim Condron, superintendent, presented a proposal to return to full day learning with the target start date of Feb. 16, 2021. Remote learning for all will continue on Wednesdays.  Condron said three conditions occurred to allow the district to return to full day learning: 

-Rapid COVID-19 testing for students and staff 

-Availability of staff vaccination 

-Removal of mitigations 

Condron said rapid COVID-19 testing will start Feb. 10. 2021 at Arland D. Williams Jr. Elementary School. It is a drive-thru testing procedure that received approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Coles County Health Department. Students and staff are highly encouraged to test weekly. 

Vaccinations were made available to teachers and staff because the state identified educators as essential workers. 

More than 500 staff and students were scheduled to receive the vaccinations the week of Feb. 1. 

Condron said removal of mitigations also made the decision to return to full time learning a reality. Up to 50 people are now allowed to attend meetings and events. Activities and sports were also resumed with players and coaches in attendance and up to 50 spectators. 

The district must maintain health and safety protocols including wearing face coverings, social distancing and frequent handwashing, health screenings, following guidelines on event capacity limits. 

A new virtual academy was created for those families who have requested to continue remote learning. The virtual academy allows teachers to focus on in-person and remote learners separately. Virtual academy offers one classroom per grade level, district wide, and will have a designated remote teacher kindergarten-fifth. The proposed virtual academy choice will be offered until the end of the third quarter (March 12, 2021). Franklin Preschool and Mattoon Middle School hours remain the same. The elementary school’s start and finish times are 8 a.m.-2:40 p.m. and the high school’s start and finish times are 9 a.m. -3 p.m. The students attend full day schedule Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 

BOARD ACTION TO APPROVE A 3-YEAR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE MATTOON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (MEA):

Tim Condron, superintendent, requested board permission to approve a 3-year collective bargaining agreement with the Mattoon Education Association. 

The Mattoon Education Association met January 20-22, 2021 with a team of school district administrators including Tim Condron, superintendent, Dave Skocy, assistant superintendent of human resources, Christy Hild, assistant superintendent of student services along with Ashli Overton, school board member and attorney Brandon Wright. The agreement was ratified January 27, 2021. The contract is for school years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024. The total overall board cost of the contract is 2.91 percent over three years. 

Weaver moved, seconded by Overton to approve the 3-year collective bargaining agreement with the MEA as presented. 

Roll call vote as follows: Garner, absent; Kepley, aye; Overton, aye; Braun, aye; Hedges, aye; Weaver, aye; Skinlo, aye. 

Nays, none. Motion carried. 

BOARD ACTION TO APPROVE A 3-YEAR NON CONTRACTUAL RATE SCHEDULE: 

Superintendent Tim Condron requested board approval for a 3-year non-contractual rate schedule. The schedule details non-contractual pay for various substitute positions, supervisors, and scorers, timers, and ticket takers. 

Weaver moved, seconded by Hedges to approve the 3-Year Non Contractual Rate Schedule. 

Roll call vote as follows: Kepley, aye; Overton, aye; Braun, aye; Hedges, aye; Weaver, aye; Garner, absent; Skinlo, aye.

Nays, none. Motion carried. 

BOARD ACTION TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR FRANKLIN PRESCHOOL ENTRANCE AND PARKING LOT: 

Superintendent Tim Condron requested board approval to solicit bids for an entrance and parking lot at Franklin Preschool. 

The proposed plan for the entrance includes installation of concrete surface for bus and vehicle traffic. Concrete or asphalt are proposed materials for paving of the parking lot. 

Hedges moved, seconded by Overton to solicit bids for Franklin Preschool entrance and parking lot. 

Roll call vote as follows: Overton, aye; Braun, aye; Hedges, aye; Weaver, aye; Garner, absent; Kepley, aye; Skinlo, aye. 

Nays, none. Motion carried. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: 

Hedges moved, seconded by Overton to adjourn to executive session at 8:03 p.m. to discuss matters pertaining to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees. 

Roll call vote as follows: Braun, aye; Hedges, aye; Weaver, aye; Kepley, aye; Overton, aye; Skinlo, aye 

Nays, none. Motion carried. 

Board member Gary Kepley declared the motion carried and the Board to be in closed session. 

Others present for the executive session were: Superintendent Tim Condron, Dave Skocy, assistant superintendent for human resources, and Christy Hild, assistant superintendent for student services.

OPEN SESSION 

RECONVENED: 

Board member Gary Kepley declared Executive Session closed and Open Session reconvened at 8:41 p.m. 

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m. A voice vote of ayes carried the motion. 

https://www.mattoon.k12.il.us/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/6048ed270d8c6/2-9-21%20Minutes%20%281%29.pdf