East Central Reporter

Arcola Community Unit School District 306 Board of Education met Sept. 11.

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 High School Library at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 for the purpose of regular business.

President L. Shonkwiler called the meeting to order. The following members answered roll call: Stout, L. Shonkwiler, Conlin, Leyva-Sanchez, J. Shonkwiler, Wise, and Stenger.

Others present were: Tom Mulligan, Jennifer Frichtl, Amber Behrends, Kyle Shay, Nick Lindsey, Dave Porter, Mike Gomez, Mykah Gomez, Hugo Garza, Justin Glass, Malia Lester, and Ben Dockter.

Pledge of Allegiance

President L. Shonkwiler opened the Fiscal Year 2025 School District Budget Hearing. He asked if there were any questions regarding the budget. There were none so he closed the hearing.

President L. Shonkwiler recognized the visitors and asked for public comment. Mike and Mykah Gomez approached the board to discuss the district offering soccer. Mykah said she wanted to know if the school had reached out to any other districts to inquire about the possibility of doing a co-op program. Mike and Mykah were under the impression that the school was going to do that after they attended a previous school board meeting to discuss starting a soccer program.

Dr. Mulligan reported there had been a few FOIA requests recently asking for employee information and information regarding a former substitute teacher.

Dr. Mulligan welcomed the new teachers to the board meeting. The board members and the new teachers took turns introducing themselves.

Ben Dockter from Graham & Hyde provided the board with an update on the remaining items left to be completed on the two construction projects. As for the roofing project, the correct ceiling tiles just came in and the company will be here next week to install them and finish the remaining items on their checklist. The remaining items for the locker rooms are the light fixtures, the slope tops on the lockers, a thermostat, and the fire covers requested by the ROE. Discussion followed about what to do with the light fixture situation and who should be responsible for those additional costs. The board expressed their frustration with being a month past the projected project completion date and still looking at 90+ days to get the new light fixtures received and installed.

Motion by Stout, seconded by Wise, to approve the regular meeting minutes from August 14, 2024 and the Policy Committee meeting minutes from September 5, 2024. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by J. Shonkwiler, seconded by Conlin, to approve the Treasurer’s Report as of August 31, 2024 as submitted. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Wise, seconded by Leyva-Sanchez, to approve the payment of bills as submitted in the amount of $825,820.47. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by J. Shonkwiler, seconded by Stout, to approve the payment of payroll in the amount of $492,636.64. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Business:

Motion by Stout, seconded by Wise, to approve the 2024-2025 school district budget. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Wise, seconded by Conlin, to approve the annual FFA field trip to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Wise, seconded by Conlin, to approve the first reading of the PRESS Packets from June and August 2024. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Stout, seconded by J. Shonkwiler, to approve the extra-curricular fundraisers for the 2024-2025 school year. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Stout, seconded by Wise, to approve closing the Student IPad Replacement Damage, Monsanto Ag Fund, Name in Lights, Ray Trust Fund, and Elementary Flower Fund activity accounts. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Administrative Team Reports

The elementary school will be spending the year focusing on a different trait each month. The focus for September is kindness. All of the classes have read Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, which emphasizes the importance of treating others well, doing things to make sure we keep ourselves in a good space, and building community. The preschool potluck was a success with over 100 students and parents attending. Mr. Shay said that the 6th grade teachers have been meeting with the 7th and 8th grade teachers to help make the transition seamless. Mr. Lindsey said the students are really enjoying zero hour PE and that there haven’t been any issues with students lingering 9th hour. There are 116 high school students involved in at least one fall activity, which is over half of the students. SRO Smith has been busy visiting all the classes from preschool to high school. She also performed a mock traffic stop for the Driver’s Ed class. Mr. Lindsey updated the board about the auction for the old sports banners. He has sent pictures and measurements to the auction company and is waiting to hear back. Dr. Mulligan told the board they will need to discuss the electricity contract renewal next month as that is coming due in November.

Unfortunately, like everything else, the transmission and capacity charges have increased significantly. Dr. Mulligan said that he has been talking with the city and a few of the taxing bodies regarding TIF. It is possible the city will hold a public meeting for everyone the second week of October to discuss options.

Motion by Wise, seconded by Leyva-Sanchez, to enter into executive session at 8:02 p.m. to discuss (1) 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 and student disciplinary cases. Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Stout, seconded by Wise, to return to regular session at 8:37 p.m. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Conlin, seconded by Leyva-Sanchez, to accept the resignation of Terri Vaughn as Recess Supervisor. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Motion by Stout, seconded by Wise, to approve the employment of Karla Leal as Paraprofessional, pending successful completion of all paperwork and required procedures. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

Announcements: None

Motion by Wise, seconded by Leyva-Sanchez, to adjourn at 8:48 p.m. Roll call vote: Stout, aye; L. Shonkwiler, aye; Conlin, aye; Leyva-Sanchez, aye; J. Shonkwiler, aye; Wise, aye; Stenger, aye. 7 ayes. 0 nays. Motion carried.

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/426/Arcola_CUSD/4915800/Board_Minutes_-_Regular_Meeting_09.11.2024.pdf