East Central Reporter

Casey Westfield Community Unit School District C-4 Board of Education met July 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

In Regular Session at 7:00 P.M. on date of July 15, 2024

1. The Casey-Westfield Board of Education met in regular session at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, July 15, 2024 at the Unit Office, 401 E. Main, Casey, IL. Upon roll call, members present were Clement, Fain, Gelb, Hickox and Sharp. Administrators present were Kacie Rhoads, Jim Sullivan, Mike Shackelford, and Dalton McFarland. 2) The following visitors were recognized: Nancy Smitley, Jennifer Harris, Sara Richardson, and Lyn Cochonour.

a. Jennifer Harris asked about the progress of the HVAC system at the Jr/Sr HS. Mr. Sullivan informed her that the project is under way.

2. Appoint new board member to fill seat until April 2025 election. – Tabled

3. Appointment to fill the Board Secretary vacancy on the Board.

Sharp nominated Becky Clement as Board Secretary, Hickox seconded the motion.

Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Clement, Fain, Gelb, Hickox , and Sharp. The President declared the the motion carried.

4. Act upon approval of the consent agenda items:

a. Minutes of the regular meeting of June 17 and special meeting of June 20, 2024;

b. Destruction of the verbatim record of those meetings 18 months and older as authorized by Board Policy 220 and 220-E1.

c. Current invoices for payment and review of the financial and budgetary reports;

d. 2024-2025 Staff, Substitute, Support Staff, Student/Parent and Bus Driver Handbooks;

e. Certified Staff Evaluation Plan;

f. The IL-Empower School CWJSHS Improvement Plan for the 24-25 school year.

g. Renew the collaborative agreement between Casey-Westfield CUSD 4C and the Embarrass River Basin Agency for 2024-2025.

After discussion the Staff and Student/parent Handbooks were tabled until the August meeting. Motion by Sharp, seconded by Gelb. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Sharp, Gelb, Clement, Fain, Hickox, and Sharp. President declared the motion carried.

5. Act upon a proposal from Wright’s Furniture in Dieterich to replace carpet/tile in the Jr/Sr HS IMC and two rooms at Monroe at a cost of $28,883.73

Motion by Hickox, seconded by Sharp. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Hickox, Sharp, Clement, Fain, and Gelb. President declared the motion carried.

6. Act upon a proposal from Wabash Food Service to replace a combination oven and accessories at Monroe at a cost of $28,096.00.

Motion by Clement, seconded by Gelb. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Clement, Gelb, Fain, Hickox, and Sharp. President declared the motion carried.

7. Act upon the approval of Property/Casualty/Liability insurance renewal from Gallagher insurance for FY 2025 at a cost of $215,794.00

Mr. Shackelford reported that the District’s Property/Casualty insurance carrier informed the District, and many others, at the end of the fiscal year that it would no longer be serving schools in Illinois. This left a large vacuum in the industry that not many companies were able to handle at such short notice. The only quote available came at a 54% increase in premiums over FY 24. Mr. Shackelford recommended that the Board approve the quote, but immediately begin preparing to put Property/Casualty Insurance coverage out for competitive bids for January 2025.

Motion by Sharp, seconded by Hickox. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Sharp, Hickox, Clement, Fain, and Gelb. President declared the motion carried.

8. Act upon approval of the Clark County Enterprise Zone to add territory.

Nancy Smitley presented a request to add the Sassafras Ridge Event Center for inclusion in the Clark County Enterprise Zone.

Motion by Sharp, seconded by Gelb. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Sharp, Gelb, Hickox, Clement, and Fain. The President declared the motion carried.

9. Administrator Reports

Mr. Sullivan reported that the pavilion which is the center of the Warrior Wigwam project is up and work continues in that area. HVAC work continues at the Jr/Sr HS; IMC carpet has been delivered and work to install it will begin soon; the Football scoreboard is not working properly. Communications with NEVCO provide a short window for repair vs replacement. The scoreboard was erected in 2006 and NEVCO is unsure that the necessary parts are available to repair it. The cost for a technician to look at it is $1,500, and repair costs estimated in the $6,000 range, minimum, and would require a crane to separate the two parts. Cost to replace the scoreboard would be approximately $35,000. Getting it done in the timeline for the first home game is a concern in repairing or replacing the scoreboard. The tennis courts are ready to be repainted and the asphalt company has repaired some cracks in the track. Once ready, Midwest Tracks will apply the new rubber.

Mrs. Rhoads reported that the walls are complete at Monroe and painting will begin this week. The architect has informed us that the contractors will only paint what they have installed, leaving much of the hallways and classrooms needing repainted in order to match. There was discussion about the feasibility of the maintenance crew to finish the painting, as well as the prospect of the contractors repainting the entire wing while it is empty. A change order to paint the entire wing was presented by the contractor at a cost of $30,000. Mrs. Rhoads also reported that the resurfacing of the gym floor at Monroe is complete and it looks great.

Mr. Shackelford reminded the Board that online registration will be open from July 24- August 2. Information about that can be found on the District’s web page. The 2024-2025 school year will begin with Teacher Institute Days on August 14 and 15, with students returning on August 16. Commended the summer crew for the work they have done so far this summer.

10. Addendum

11. Act upon approval to adjourn to closed session under c1 (employment) and c21 (discussion closed meeting minutes) of section 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq. of the Illinois Open Meeting Act.

Motion by Hickox, seconded by Clement. After roll call, members voting yea were: Hickox, Clement, Fain, Gelb, and Sharp. President declared the motion carried at 7:30 p.m.

12. Act upon approval to reconvene to regular session.

Motion by Hickox, seconded by Sharp. After roll call, members voting yea were: Hickox, Clement, Fain, Gelb, and Sharp. President declared the motion carried at 8:29 p.m.

13. Act upon consent agenda items:

a. Act upon approval of closed session hearing minutes and closed session minutes of June 17, 2024.

Motion by Gelb, seconded by Clement, upon roll call, members voting yea: Gelb, Clement, Fain, Hickox, Sharp. President declared motion carried.

b. Act upon approval of employment recommendations.

The Board approved the employment of the following:

- Geoff Clarkson as Jr. High Special Education teacher for the 2024-25 school year.

- Saidee Truelove as 2 hour Kitchen support staff at Monroe for the 2024-25 school year.

- Garrett Miller as 2 hour Lunch/Recess Supervisor at Monroe for the 2024-25 school year

- Approved Berdeena Leturno as Preschool Special Education Long Term Substitute teacher for the 2024-25 school year.

- Approved the reassignment of Logan Stutesman from Jr/Sr HS Classroom Aide to Elementary Title I Aide for the 2024-25 school year.

c. Act upon requests for early graduation.

- The Board approved early graduation requests for three Casey-Westfield HS students.

14. Addendum

15. Act upon approval to adjourn.

Motion by Sharp, seconded by Hickox. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Sharp, Hickox, Clement, Fain, and Gelb. President declared the meeting adjourned at 8:34 pm

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1373/Casey_Westfield/4598929/Tentative_Minutes_7-15-24.pdf