East Central Reporter

Casey Westfield Community Unit School District C-4 Board of Education met Aug. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1) The Casey-Westfield Board of Education met in regular session at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, August 12, 2024 at the Unit Office, 401 E. Main, Casey, IL. Upon roll call, members present were Clement, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, Sharp, and Todd (phone). Administrators present were Kacie Rhoads, Jim Sullivan, Mike Shackelford, Audra Taylor, and Dalton McFarland. 2) The following visitors were recognized: Jennifer Harris, Lisa Huddlestun

2) Appoint new Board member to fill seat through April 2024.

Sharp moved, Gelb seconded the motion to appoint Lisa Huddlestun as interim member to the Board of Education effective immediately.

Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Sharp, Todd, Gelb, Clement, Fain, and Hickox. The President declared the motion carried. President Gelb administered Board Member Oath of Office to Huddlestun, who then took her seat at the Board table.

3) Act upon approval of consent agenda items:

A. Minutes of the regular meeting of July 15, 2024; special meeting July 30, 2024

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

C. Review of the financial and budgetary reports and approval of the current invoices for payment.

D. Approval of 2024-2025 Staff and Student Handbooks.

E. Approval of updated IHSA and IESA officials’ rates for the 2024-25 school year.

F. Approval of the C-W Logo for use on Casey State Bank student debit cards.

G. Approval of the SY 2024-25 Employee Extra Duty Roster.

H. Listed resolution and to post the tentative budget and set the date and time for the budget hearing. “Notice is hereby given by the Board of Education of the School District C-4 in Counties of Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Crawford and Jasper, State of Illinois, that a tentative budget for said district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 will be on file and conveniently available for public inspection at the Unit Office, 401 E. Main, Casey, IL in this school district from and after 8:00 A.M. on the 13th day of August, 2024. Notice is further given that public hearing on said budget will be at 7:00 P.M. on the 16th of September, 2024 at the Unit Office, 401 E. Main, Casey, IL.”

Mr. Shackelford presented the tentative FY 2025 Budget to be considered by the Board. He also recommended that the Board approve the placement of the tentative budget for public inspection and to set the public budget hearing for 7:00 pm on Monday, September 16, 2024 in the Boardroom at the Unit Office.

Motion by Hickox, seconded by Clement to approve the items in the consent agenda. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Hickox, Clement, Fain, Gelb, Todd, Sharp, and Huddlestun. The President declared the motion carried.

4) Administrator Reports

Jr/Sr HS Principal Jim Sullivan informed the Board that the IHSA season for Fall Sports officially started today. Jr. High Softball has started off the season with a 4-0 record. He also reported that enrollment at the Jr/Sr HS is expected to be unchanged.

Monroe Elementary Principal Kacie Rhoads commended the maintenance and custodial staff for their hard work over the summer. She reported that she saw many of the teachers in the building today, discussed the open house for 5th grade, and talked about the new Promethean boards in her classrooms. The Monroe PTO, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, has planned a Back to School Bash on Friday evening after school.

Superintendent Mike Shackelford reminded the Board that the 14th and 15th will be Teacher Institute days, with the 16th being the first attendance day for students. The Illinois General Assembly has set the SY 2025-26 minimum teacher salary at $42,411. The Board received a thank you card from the Martinsville 1st Baptist Church in appreciation of its contribution in memory of Dotti Lee. He informed the Board that Governor Pritzker signed legislation moving the first day to file petitions for Board of Education Elections from September 17 to August 20.

5) Addendum

6) 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 Clement, second by Sharp. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Clement, Sharp, Huddlestun, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, and Todd. The President declared the motion carried at 7:26 pm.

7) Act upon approval to reconvene to regular session.

Motion by Hickox, second by Sharp. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Clement, Sharp, Huddlestun, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, and Todd. The President declared the motion carried at 8:03 pm.

8) Act upon approval of closed session minutes of July 15 and July 30, 2024.

Motion by Clement, second by Hickox. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Clement, Sharp, Huddlestun, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, and Todd. The President declared the motion carried at 7:26 pm.

9) Act upon approval of employment recommendations.

The Board approved the employment of the following:

- Dakota (Cody) Strange as Jr/Sr HS Title I Aide for the 2024-2025 school year.

- Shannon Justice as Jr/Sr HS Teacher’s Aide for the 2024-2025 school year.

- Lisa Parker as Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor for the 2024-2025 school year.

- To approve the 2024-205 list of volunteer coaches and the 2024-25 employee extra duty roster.

10) Act upon the acceptance of a letter of retirement.

The Board accepted letters of retirement from Brent Ritter and Gina Ritter. Each will retire after the 2027-2028 school year.

11) Act upon the replacement of a single unit ventilator at the Jr/Sr HS by AirJordan HVAC at a cost of $5,144.20.

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

12) Conduct first reading of Board Policy updates

∙ 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure

∙ 2:265 Title IX Grievance Procedure

∙ 4:80 Accounting and Audits

∙ 4:140 Waiver of Student Fees

∙ 5:100 Staff Development Program

∙ 7:20 Harassment of Students Prohibited

∙ 7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited

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

13) Addendum

President Gelb asked about the scheduling of gyms in the District. Recent changes are based on the need to establish a better plan for gym use. The intent is to use the Roosevelt gym as the primary venue for all non-school sanctioned clubs and events.

This leaves the Jr/Sr HS and Monroe gyms more available for scheduling school sanctioned teams and clubs to use. Use of these gyms by non-school sanctioned clubs will be governed by the facility use policy and scheduled based on availability and application for use. President Gelb requested that written policy and rules be posted for everyone to view.

Fain asked about the expectations of volunteer coaches. Mr. Shackelford stated that volunteers should not be in charge of students on their own, without the supervision of the head coach or assistant coach. This is not an issue with the volunteers, but is intended to look out for the interest of the volunteer. All volunteers undergo the background checks and IHSA coaching programs required to be a volunteer.

14) Act upon approval to adjourn

Motion by Clement, Second by Gelb. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Clement, Gelb, Fain, Hickox, Todd, Sharp, and Huddlestun. President declared the meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1373/Casey_Westfield/4709535/Tentative_Minutes_8-12-24.pdf