East Central Reporter

Arcola Community Unified School District #306 Board of Education met Oct. 13.

Here are 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 Junior High Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 for the purpose of regular business.

Vice-President Crane called the meeting to order. The following members answered roll call: Crane, Stout, Shonkwiler, Myers, Wesch, and Arrol. Board member Strader was not present.

Others present were: Tom Mulligan, Jennifer Frichtl, Angie Gentry, Megan Clark, Nick Lindsey, Amber Behrends, and David Porter.

Vice-President Crane recognized the visitors and asked for public comment. There were none.

There was one FOIA request this month from a group called Local Labs out of Chicago requesting any electronic communications that the school had with the local health department regarding quarantining of students (during a specific week).

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Wesch, to approve the regular meeting minutes from September 8, 2021. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Wesch, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as of September 30, 2021 as submitted. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Stout, to approve the payment of bills as submitted in the amount of $172,095.15. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Myers, to approve the payment of payroll in the amount of $526,291.65. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Business:

Motion by Wesch, seconded by Stout, to approve the resolution allowing the Interfund Transfer from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Bond and Interest Fund for the use of sales tax proceeds to pay the annual Debt Certificates payment. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Stout, to authorize the superintendent to lock in a 36-month electricity agreement if the price is under $0.06. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Wesch, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the second reading of board policies from PRESS Packet, June 2021. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Administrative Team Reports

~~Mrs. Gentry, Principal, and Mrs. Clark, Assistant Principal, Arcola Elementary – Report submitted. Dr. Mulligan took a moment to explain to the board the current situation in the preschool classrooms. There are several students with significant needs this year and the administration feels that a self-contained special education early childhood classroom might be a solution to providing the best learning environment for all the preschool students.

~~Mr. Lindsey, Principal, and Mrs. Behrends, Assistant Principal, Arcola Jr/Sr High – Report submitted.

~~Dr. Mulligan, Superintendent – Dr. Mulligan told the board they would probably need to have a Building Committee meeting in the next month or so to discuss several items, including bidding the gym painting project, the boys’ bathroom renovation, baseball field follow-up, banner redesign, and the potential for parking lot work next summer. He also asked for the board’s opinion on re-opening the weight room and wallyball court to the public. They have been closed to the public since March 2020 due to COVID. The board felt as long as appropriate measures are taken and protocols are followed, it is okay to re-open those facilities.

There were no resignations to approve at the meeting.

Motion by Wesch, seconded by Stout, to approve the employment of Craig Vandeveer as HS Girls Basketball Assistant Coach, Mike Monahan as Elementary Paraprofessional, and Christa Sanchez as Elementary Paraprofessional. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Wesch, to approve the unpaid leave request for Mayra Lyons. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Wesch, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Board of Education of Arcola and the Arcola Education Association regarding the frequency of evaluations for tenured teachers. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Announcements: None

Motion by Stout, seconded by Arrol, to adjourn at 7:38 p.m. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye. 6 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.