Charleston Community Unit School District No. 1 Board Education met Feb. 16.
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 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
Eva Ritchey
Brandon Wright
The following board members were absent:
Brian Gough
Charles Jarrell, Treasurer
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
Genia Lang, Recording Secretary
Visitors 13 and 0 Members of Press
Under public comments, written communications: President Coe asked if there were any comments, questions or written communications. No comments 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 Brandon Wright read the 6th principle and definition from the Code of Conduct.
Under Consent Agenda, Mr. 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.
IV. Consent Agenda: Standard Items
• Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 19, 2022.
• Approve the bills and payrolls for the month of January 2022.
• Approve the Activity Fund Reports from CUSD #1 attendance centers, period ending January 2022.
• Approve the summary of revenues and expenditures year to date as presented by Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett.
VI. Consent Agenda: New Business
CHS Overnight/Out of State Trip Request – CHS Choral Department
Approve the overnight/out of state trip request for the Charleston High School Advanced Chamber Ensemble to participate in the International Competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan on February 10-12, 2022.
Establish Activity Fund Account – Charleston Middle School
Establish an activity fund account entitled, “CMS Classroom Courier” at Charleston Middle School. This account will be subject to the state guidelines regarding the use of activity fund accounts.
Resolution/Establishing Fiscal Year and Preparation of 2022-23 Tentative Budget
Adopt a resolution establishing Fiscal Year and Preparation of the Tentative Budget for the 2022-2023 school year, beginning July 1, 2022.
Request for Gifted Sick Leave Days
Grant 284 (two hundred eighty-four) gifted sick leave days to Tiffany Oakley a second grade teacher at Ashmore Elementary School.
VII. Consent Agenda: Employment
• Consistent with board policies, grant a Family Medical Leave of Absence to Aaron Taylor, a second grade teacher at Carl Sandburg Elementary School.
• Accept a letter of resignation from Eddie Williams. Mr. Williams is resigning from his position as Principal at Carl Sandburg Elementary School, effective June 30, 2022.
• Accept a letter of resignation from August Koester. Mr. Koester is resigning from his position as a Science teacher at Charleston High School, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
• Accept a letter of resignation from Katie Barr. Mrs. Barr is resigning from her position as a School Social Worker at Charleston High School, effective July 1, 2022.
• Accept a letter of resignation from Elizabeth Pippin. Ms. Pippin is resigning from her position as a Media Specialist at Charleston Middle School, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
• Accept a letter of resignation from Tiffany Richter. Mrs. Richter is resigning from her extra curricular assignment as the Cheerleading Coach at Charleston Middle School, effective February 4, 2022.
• Accept a letter of retirement from Tiffany Oakley, second grade teacher at Ashmore Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. This retirement is subject to the provisions of district policies and state law.
• Approve the employment of Kelsey Smitley in the extra-curricular assignment as the Cheerleading Coach at Charleston Middle School during the 2022-2023 school year.
• Approved the list of substitutes and volunteers, effective February 17, 2022.
Dr. Clarke moved and Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion to approve items under IV through VII inclusive on the Consent Agenda.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Ritchey, Wright, Daniels, Coe
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under the Superintendent’s Report: School Library Per Capita Grant Presentation Dr. Vilardo reported that the School Library per Capita Grant was submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education. Membership to this program makes the district eligible for resource sharing, availability of materials, networking opportunities, and additional funding for students and staff. The program is funded through the Office of Secretary of State. CUSD #1 Media Directors Elizabeth Pippin (CMS), Laura Hawk (Carl Sandburg), Kristin Runyon (CHS), Amber Spitz (Jefferson/Ashmore Schools), and Ashley Shamhart (Mark Twain) were in attendance and presented a power point presentation on the Illinois Standards Aligned Instruction for Libraries, (located in official board book). They provided a snapshot of how they are working with the students and teachers in their assigned schools.
Pre-School Round Up
This year, Dr. Vilardo announced that pre-school round up and Kindergarten pre-registration is being held at Mark Twain Elementary School on February 22, 23 and 24, 2022. On February 22 and 24, screenings are scheduled from 9:00am - 3:00pm and on February 23 from 12noon – 7:00pm. This screening provides the opportunity for parents to discover how their child is developing in the areas of speech, language, concepts and motor skills. Pre-School screening and Kindergarten pre-registration will also be held for Ashmore Elementary School on March 22 from 12noon – 7:00pm in the Ashmore Community Center. Appointments can be made at 349-3000. Later in the spring, a virtual “1st Step” Registration will be held for students that will be attending Mark Twain Elementary School. To register parents will complete registration on the district website under Mark Twain Elementary School. Details will be released at a later date.
Updated Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services
Dr. Vilardo reported that 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. Initially established through the Return to Learn Planning Collaborative team on July 15, 2021, our Plan was reviewed on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 and subsequently presented to the Board of Education at its regular meeting on January 19. Having made several changes to the Plan at its January 19 meeting, the Board of Education accepted the Plan on a 4-2 vote. At a subsequent special meeting held on February 8, 2022, the Board of Education made additional changes to the Plan on a 5-2 vote. Board members were provided the most recent Plan, which included the changes made at the February 8, 2022 Board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Kristen Holly and Special Education Coordinator Kristen Brown shared information about student and staff mental health and wellness and efforts to coordinate with school community. Through the RtI (Response to Intervention), they recently met with district counselors and social workers to assess and plan next steps. The District RtI committee will address these concerns and align goals for school support teams. Mrs. Holly discussed how schools are addressing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in each of the RtI tiers:
- Tier 1, (all students) Leader in Me, SEL time set aside.
- Tier 2, (students who are struggling): 1:1 small group counseling volunteer program called Half Hour Heroes. Mrs. Holly explained the program which involves volunteers ranging from college students to senior citizens making a connection with students. Having lunch, talking, and helping with schoolwork.
Mrs. Brown reported on the need to add staff and that the district has posted counseling positions. She stressed the importance of having a plan to help students in need in place.
The Board asked questions and participated in discussion about needs of the students and gave several other options on how the community can be involved.
Mr. Wright moved and Dr. Clarke seconded a motion to accept the Superintendent’s Report.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Wright, Clarke, Ritchey, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Under New Business: Intergovernmental Agreement between Mattoon CUSD #2 & Charleston CUSD #1 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 made a brief presentation about their LIFT Program and answered questions at the Board’s January 19th meeting.
Considering the information provided by Mattoon CUSD #2 about the LIFT program, Dr. Vilardo reported that the program as presented would align with the Board’s priorities and would be of benefit to some students. The essential question that the Board is advised to consider is the extent to which our district should assume the $1,000.00 minimum cost per student for non-district program tuition in light of the fact that our district currently does not assume the costs for other “tuition for service” programs such as dual credit or dual-enrollment programs (e.g., Lake Land College, Eastern Illinois University, etc.).
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education accept the Intergovernmental Agreement between Mattoon CUSD #2 and Charleston CUSD #1 and charge a fee to participating students in the amount of the LIFT program per seat tuition cost. Dr. Clarke moved and Mr. Wright seconded the motion.
Under discussion, the Board and administration talked about the course offerings at Charleston High School (CHS), block scheduling and tuition to program. It was noted that CHS offers most of the what the LIFT program will offer, the District does not pay the tuition charges for the Dual Credit programs offered through Lake Lake College and Eastern IL University, and traveling time to the program compared to block schedule. In conclusion, it was agreed that in order for students to participate in the LIFT program, the student must be in good academic standing and should assume tuition to the program.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Wright, Ritchey, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Right of Easement between Ameren Illinois Company and Charleston CUSD #1
Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett reported that the Ameren Illinois Company has requested a 20-foot-wide permanent easement across the east side of the property owned by Charleston CUSD #1 on the Charleston Middle School site. This request is due to relocation of power lines near the new tennis court location.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education approve the Right of Way Easement between the Ameren Illinois Company and Charleston Community Unit School District #1 as outlined. Mrs. Ritchey moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Ritchey, Clarke, Wright, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Charleston High School - Parking Lot Lighting Replacement Proposal
At the December 15, 2021 Board of Education meeting the Board approved bids to replace the CHS parking lots. Since then, Facilities Director Jim Kuykendall, has worked with Commercial Electric through the TIPS program, a purchasing cooperative, to secure estimates to replace the parking lots’ lights on the south and west end to align with the new parking lot design for Charleston High School.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education accept the proposal from Commercial Electric in the amount of $258,280 to provide and install parking lot lights on the new parking lots at Charleston High School. Mrs. Ritchey moved and Mr. Wright seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Ritchey, Wright, Clarke, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Contract Agreement – Journey Professional Counseling
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees across the globe have seen added stress in their work lives as well as their personal lives. Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett researched ways that the District could offer assistance to address the added stressors in CUSD #1 staff members lives and one way to support our staff was to provide assistance in securing counseling services.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education accept the Employee Assistance Services Agreement between Journey Professional Counseling (located in Charleston, IL) and Charleston CUSD #1 to provide two (2) counseling sessions for up to twenty (20) staff members, not to exceed $6,700. Dr. Clarke moved and Mrs. Ritchey seconded the motion.
On roll call vote:
AYE: Clarke, Ritchey, Wright, Coe, Daniels
NAY: none Abstain: none
Motion carried
Purchase of District Activity Bus
The 2001 Chevrolet Suburban that is used by the District to transport students and staff to activities and meetings now has 280,000 miles and is in constant need of repair. Assistant Superintendent Chad Burgett has researched the cost of a newer used Chevrolet Suburban with low miles and the cost of a 2022 14- passenger activity bus.
In comparison, Mr. Burgett reported that it is more cost effective for the District to purchase the activity bus. The activity bus will be purchased through Southern Bus & Mobility company located in Breese, Illinois through the Illinois procurement Program. The estimated cost of the activity bus is $61,044. However, he stated that there could be an increase of cost due to Chevrolet no longer making 2022 chassis and at this time they do not have an estimated cost of a 2023 chassis. Mr. Burgett stated that delivery time for the activity bus could be later fall of 2022. For board members review, Mr. Burgett provided information regarding the activity bus compared to a used Chevrolet suburban found on Cargurus.com.
It was the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board of Education authorize the purchase of a 2022 14-passenger activity bus through Southern Bus & Mobility at an estimated cost of $61,044. Mrs. Ritchey moved and Dr. Clarke seconded the motion.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1923498/2.16.2022_Regular_Bd_Minutes.pdf
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