Arcola Community Unified School District 306 Board met Feb. 9.
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., for the purpose of regular business.
President Strader called the meeting to order. The following members answered roll call: Crane, Stout, Shonkwiler, Myers, Wesch, Arrol, and Strader.
Others present were: Tom Mulligan, Jennifer Frichtl, Angie Gentry, Megan Clark, Nick Lindsey, Amber Behrends, David Porter, Tiffany Jones, Adam Reel, Nathan Roberts, Dusty and Stephanee Griffith, Amy Fifield, Travis Drake, Tiffany Drake, Sarah Thomas, Julie Gauna, Tanya Miller, Kelsey Cortez, Ashlea McLane, Kyla Thornton, Tina Kelmel and family, Dustin Emberton, Rebel Emberton, LesLee Watkins, Christy Johns, Debbie Diaz, Darleen Drake, Glenn Drake, Alexandria Thomas, Bailey England, Eric and Amy Kauffman, and Loretta Fishel.
President Strader recognized the visitors and asked for public comment. Dr. Mulligan took a moment to explain the temporary restraining order (TRO) that had just been granted in the mask mandate lawsuit. Several members of the audience addressed the Board in regards to the masking requirement currently in place for all students and staff at Arcola CUSD #306. Most members spoke in favor of removing the mask mandate, arguing that the masks were not helpful in stopping the spread of COVID-19 and that they were causing more harm than good. Many argued that the masks were hindering students’ speech development and were having a negative impact on students’ social and emotional well-being. Many members thanked the school board for all the work they have done during the past two years, noting that it hasn’t been easy. One audience member requested that the Board keep the mask mandate in place due to staff and students who are immunocompromised and the concern for their health. She felt that the majority of the spread was due to activities outside of school and that the mask requirement does help prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Additionally, a couple of audience members posed questions for the Board to consider, whether they chose to go masks optional or stay with masks required.
There were no pending FOIA requests.
Motion by Stout, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the regular meeting minutesfrom January 12, 2022. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Wesch, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as of January 31, 2022 as submitted. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Myers, seconded by Wesch, to approve the payment of bills as submitted in the amount of $150,565.49. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Crane, seconded by Wesch, to approve the payment of payroll in the amount of $458,960.86. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Business:
Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Stout, to approve the second reading of school board policies from the November 2021 PRESS Packet. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Wesch, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the new 60-month lease for a postage machine with Sourcewell (formerly NJPA/Pitney Bowes) for a $59.51 monthly fee for the elementary school. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Stout, seconded by Myers, to approve an additional Art teaching position for the 2022-2023 school year. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Crane, seconded by Wesch, to approve the amended school calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Wesch, to approve not to conduct an RFP this spring for bank depository for the 2022-2023 school year. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, nay; Strader, aye. 6 ayes. 1 nay. Motion carried.
Before a motion was made, Dr. Mulligan presented the Board with his recommended changes to the Back to School Plan, which include making masks optional but not required and no longer excluding close contacts. His recommendation also allows the Board to reconvene to discuss additional mitigation strategies if the internal positivity rate goes above 5%. Discussion amongst the board members followed. Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Wesch, to approve the changes made to the Back to School Plan for 2021-2022. Roll call vote: Crane, nay; Stout, nay; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, nay; Strader, aye. 4 ayes. 3 nays. Motion carried.
Administrative Team Reports
Reports were all submitted. No one had anything additional to add.
Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Myers, to enter executive session at 8:28 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors, or specific volunteers of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor, or a volunteer of the District or against legal counsel for the District to determine its validity. Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Crane, seconded by Myers, to return to regular session at 9:00 p.m. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Stout, to approve the resignations of Katie Rutledge as HS Assistant Softball Coach and Kim Smith as Elementary Special Education Teacher (who plans to retire at the end of this year). Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Shonkwiler, seconded by Wesch, to approve the employment of Stephanie Flier as HS Assistant Softball Coach, Taylor Rodighero as Head JH Cheerleading Coach, and Allison Phillips as Rider Nation Sponsor. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Motion by Myers, seconded by Shonkwiler, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Board of Education of Arcola School District and the Arcola Education Association IEA-NEA regarding increasing the hourly teacher pay for summer school from $25 an hour to $35 an hour. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
Announcements: None
Motion by Wesch, seconded by Shonkwiler, to adjourn at 9:04 p.m. Roll call vote: Crane, aye; Stout, aye; Shonkwiler, aye; Myers, aye; Wesch, aye; Arrol, aye; Strader, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1923554/Board_Minutes_-_Regular_Meeting_02.09.2022.pdf
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