Charleston Community Unit School District No. 1 Board Education met Jan. 18.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Education of Community Unit School District No. 1, Coles and Cumberland Counties, Illinois conducted their regular session meeting on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 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 Secretary Daniels for roll call.
The following board members were present:
Jason Coe, President
Scott Clarke, Vice President
Susan Daniels, Secretary
Charles Jarrell, Treasurer
Eva Ritchey
Brandon Wright
The following board member was absent:
Brian Gough
for Business Services
Kristen Holly, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services
Genia Lang, Recording Secretary The following staff members were present:
Todd Vilardo, Superintendent of Schools
Chad Burgett, Assistant Superintendent
Visitors 16 and 0 Members of Press
Under recognition, Dr. Clarke recognized CHS Principal Aaron Lock for implementing before/afterschool tutoring sessions to prep CHS students for SAT/ACT preparation.
Under public comments, written communications: President Coe asked if there were any comments, questions or written communications. No requests were received.
Dr. Vilardo reported that during the Board of Education Retreat held on July 28, facilitator Jim Burgett made the suggestion that was met favorably by our Board to address one standard or principle from the Code of Conduct at each regular Board meeting. Board member Eva Ritchey read the 5th principle and definition from the Code of Conduct.
Under Consent Agenda, President Coe asked if there were any items under the consent agenda that the Board of Education would like to remove for discussion. There were no requests from the Board of Education.
At that time, Dr. Vilardo reviewed the recommendations under the consent agenda. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
• Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 15, 2021.
• Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of December 2021.
• Approve the Activity Fund Reports for the CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending December 2021.
• Approve the summary of revenues and expenditures year to date as presented by Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett.
Mr. Burgett reported that he was researching the purchase a 2022 – 14 passenger activity bus to provide the district with more flexibility when transporting students. A recommendation could come forward at the February board meeting. He also reported that the playground equipment manufacturer has delayed the delivery of equipment due to the on-going material and labor issues. The timeline for installation has now been moved to the end of March or beginning of April.
Consent Agenda: New Business
Establish Activity Fund Account – Charleston High School
Establish an activity fund account for the CHS E-Sports Club at Charleston High School. The account will be subject to the state guidelines regarding the use of activity fund accounts.
Declaration of Surplus Inventory – Charleston High School
Declare referenced inventory from the Charleston High School Agriculture Department as surplus and available for disposal.
Closed Session Minutes
Approve the minutes of the closed session meetings held on October 12, 2021 and November 17, 2021; and further, not to make public the minutes of the closed sessions.
Consent Agenda: Employment
• Accept a letter of resignation from Justin Schwab as a custodian (2nd shift) at Carl Sandburg Elementary School, effective January 3, 2022.
• Accept a letter of resignation from Steve Pamperin as the Head Volleyball Coach at Charleston High School, effective November 15, 2021.
• Accept a letter of resignation from Amanda Hackett as an assistant volleyball coach at Charleston High School, effective November 30, 2021.
• Grant an intermittent Family Medical Leave of Absence to Rhonda Pedigo, Health Care Professional at Carl Sandburg Elementary School for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.
• Approve the employment of Abigail Thomas as a full-time Family Consumer Science teacher at Charleston High School, beginning January 20, 2022. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment.
• Approve the employment of Candace Miller as a full-time special education program paraprofessional at Charleston High School, effective January 20, 2022. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment.
• Approve the employment of Darin Doughty as a full-time supervisory paraprofessional at Charleston Middle School, effective for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment and funding through ESSER III grant funds.
• Approve the employment of Kyle Daniell as a full-time custodian (2nd shift) at Carl Sandburg Elementary School, effective January 20, 2022. This employment was contingent upon the receipt of all information required for employment.
• Approve the employment of Meagan Plant in the extra-curricular assignment as an assistant girls’ soccer coach at Charleston High School, effective for the 2021-2022 school year.
• Approve the list of substitutes and volunteers, effective January 20, 2022.
Mr. Jarrell moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion to approve items under IV through VII inclusive on the Consent Agenda.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Clarke, Ritchey, Wright, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under the Superintendent’s Report: Statement of Economic Interest Filings
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 CUSD #1 Administrative staff and must be filed with the County Clerk no later than May 1, 2022.
CHS Block Schedule
For the 2022-2023 school year, Charleston High School will move to a block schedule. CHS Principal Aaron Lock reported that the process of the development of the schedule has been ongoing for the past couple of years. He stated that input has been gathered from multiple stakeholders including staff, students, and administration. Mr. Lock explained that the block schedule would intend to limit the amount of actual homework for students. He provided examples of block instruction and answered questions from board members.
Mattoon CUSD #2 LIFT Program Presentation
Dr. Vilardo reported that Mattoon CUSD #2 has created a program, Leaders Innovating for Tomorrow (LIFT), that provides regional innovative career technical education programs for students residing within the Regional Office of Education #11 districts and students served by Eastern Illinois Area Special Education cooperative (EIASE). CUSD #2 administrator McLain Schaefer was in attendance and made a brief presentation about their LIFT Program, (power point included in official board book).
Mr. Schaefer stated the focus of the education center is to connect students to career pathways and programs focused on a combination of dual credit, certifications, internships, work-based experiences, industry credential, and leadership for the 21st century. The center will be located in Mattoon and will have six (6) floors of instruction that will serve up to 20 students at a time, in three sessions per day. He reviewed the instruction offered on each floor. He provided a timeline for construction, layout of the programs offered, registration for junior and seniors and seats available for each district based on high school enrollment. Based on enrollment, Charleston High School could have up to six (6) students per program that could attend with a per-seat tuition cost of $1,000.00 per “program,” which will be adjusted based on “staffing or programmatic costs” and “shared with sending districts after the tenth (10th) day of student attendance.” Mr. Schaefer fielded questions about the program from the Board of Education.
In closing, Dr. Vilardo pointed out that the intergovernmental agreement was included in board members information for review. He asked if there were questions regarding the agreement to contact him prior to the February 16, 2022 board meeting.
Mrs. Ritchey moved and Dr. Clarke seconded a motion to accept the Superintendent’s Report.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Ritchey, Clarke, Jarrell, Wright, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under New Business: Consultant Contract/Competency Based Education Consultant Assistant Superintendent Kristen Holly submitted a recommendation to employ Ellysa Hermanson from Hermanson Consulting Group as a consultant to support the professional development needs for competency-based education. She reported that Ms. Hermanson will provide up to 12 days (or hours that total 12 days) for $10,000. This fee will cover her time in the district plus travel, hotel, meals, and preparation time. The consultant fee will be paid out of the Federal Title II grant.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve the consultant contract with Ms. Ellysa Hermanson of Hermanson Consulting Group, not to exceed twelve (12) days or hours that total twelve (12) days during the period commencing January 20, 2022 and ending at the completion of the service period without further notice. Dr. Clarke moved and Mr. Wright seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Wright, Jarrell, Ritchey, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Update/Compensation Rates for Teacher Substitutes
The school district employs several people in part-time positions and also needs to employ substitutes when current employees must miss work. A wage schedule for part-time and substitute employees has been used by the school district in the past. Mr. Burgett reported that several school districts in the area have increased the substitute teacher rate of pay and provided a recommendation to increase the rate of pay in Charleston CUSD #1 from $90.00 to $105.00 per day.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve an increase in the substitute teacher rate of pay to $105 per day, effective February 5, 2022. Mr. Jarrell moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion.
Under discussion, the Board talked about making the increase at a higher rate of pay. Mr. Burgett stated that we could revisit the rate of pay when the wage schedule is updated usually in the March or April timeframe.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Clarke, Ritchey, Wright, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Establish Criteria for Calendar Committee/3-Year School Calendar
Assistant Superintendent Kristen Holly is planning the initial meeting for the Calendar Committee to begin the process of determining school calendars for the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 school years. It is beneficial to the process for the Board of Education to provide direction to the committee regarding the parameters relating to school attendance days. Once the Board of Education gives the direction, the District Calendar committee, made up of administrators, teachers, community members, and parents, are assembled to consider calendar options. The diversity of the calendar committee is important to include all segments of the district community for the best calendar options.
On the attached memorandum, Mrs. Holly is seeking input from the Board to identify any parameters to place on the options offered to the Calendar Committee. Parameters set by the Board could include the alignment of CUSD #1 Spring Break with EIU Spring Break and the earliest start date, for example.
Dr. Vilardo suggested that the Board of Education take action on the recommendation presented and then have discussion to establish parameters.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education establish parameters and guidelines for the school calendar committee. The calendars for the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 school years are expected to be presented to the Board of Education in February or March of 2022. The 2022-2023 calendar would be presented for adoption this spring, while the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 calendars would be presented for adoption in subsequent years.
Mrs. Ritchey moved and Mr. Wright seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Ritchey, Wright, Clarke, Jarrell, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Following discussion, the Board established the following parameters for the school calendar committee: 1) Later start date to begin the school year.
2) Spring break will not be a parameter to keep with Eastern Illinois Universities spring break.
Updated Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services
In accordance with the American Rescue Plan Act, our district is required to review and update its Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services no less than every six months. Our current plan was initially established through the Return to Learn Planning Collaborative team on July 15, 2021. On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, the Team met in the Dr. Nell Wiseman Media Center at Charleston High School in person or virtually through a Zoom format for the six-month review. The committee reviewed documents received from the Illinois State Board of Education, the Coles County Health Department and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Health Alert outlining new CDC Isolation and Quarantine Guidance as of January 6, 2022. A draft of the Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services was updated with new guidance and provided to the team for review.
Dr. Vilardo reported that on the evening of January 11, 2022, the IDPH sent new guidance to school districts. A copy of the updated Plan which includes the new IDPH guidance was provided in board members information for review. The Superintendent opened this topic for discussion among the Board of Education and fielded questions regarding the Plan.
Under discussion, the Board stated individual opinions and concerns in the Plan with possible changes in wording.
Following discussion, it was the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Education accept the Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services for Charleston CUSD #1 as presented. Mr. Jarrell moved and Mr. Wright seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Jarrell, Daniels
NAY: Wright, Clarke, Ritchey, Coe Abstain: none
Motion failed
Following further discussion, Dr. Clarke moved to accept the Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services for Charleston CUSD #1 with the following changes:
1) Strike language that makes reference to “vaccinated” and “non-vaccinated” persons. 2) Include a provision by which mask wearing would be recommended when our county’s COVID-19 cases are less than 50 per 100,000 persons.
3) Strike the “visitors” (#9) section.
Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Ritchey, Wright, Coe
NAY: Jarrell, Daniels Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 8:56pm, 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)
President Coe stated that during closed session, the Board of Education would review the results of the evaluation for Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. Clarke moved and Mr. Jarrell seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE Clarke, Jarrell, Ritchey, Wright, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 9:00pm, Mrs. Daniels and Mr. Jarrell left the board meeting.
President Coe appointed Mrs. Ritchey to serve as Secretary Pro-Tem through the conclusion of the meeting. At 9:15pm, Dr. Clarke made a motion to reconvene from closed session. Mr. Wright seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Wright, Ritchey, Coe
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
At 9:16pm, Dr. Clarke moved to adjourn from the board meeting. Mr. Wright seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Wright, Ritchey, Coe
NAY: none ABSTAIN: none
Motion carried
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1867190/1.19.2022_Regular_Board_Minutes.pdf
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