East Central Reporter

Casey Westfield Community Unit School District C-4 Board of Education met Jan. 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to order at 7:00 P.M.

1) The Casey-Westfield Board of Education met in regular session at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, January 27, 2025 at the Unit Office, 401 E. Main, Casey, IL. Upon roll call, members present were Clement, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, Sharp, Huddlestun, and Todd. Members absent- None.

Administrators present were Kacie Rhoads, Jim Sullivan, Mike Shackelford, Audra Taylor, and Dalton McFarland. 2) The following visitors were recognized: Jennifer Harris, Sara Richardson, Hannah Todd, and Lyn Cochonour.

2) A public hearing was held on a proposed renewal of full day SIP waiver. Mr. Shackelford explained that the District currently operates on a waiver that allows it to use four (4) full day School Improvement Days each year. The waiver expires at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Without the waiver, schools must schedule up to six (6) half-day school improvement days. The administration and faculty prefer the full day SIP Days for scheduling purposes and the community tends to prefer them, especially families with younger students, for scheduling child care. Jr/Sr HS teachers Jennifer Harris and Sara Richardson commented on the need to renew the waiver for reasons specified above.

3) Heather Beard of Kemper CPA Group presented the FY24 Annual Financial Report. Mrs. Beard reported that the Casey-Westfield school district had a clean audit for fiscal year 2024. She was happy to report that the District had no findings on its expenditures of federal funding during the year. Furthermore, the District has received a financial profile of 4.0/4.0, which is the highest profile a district can earn. Mr. Shackelford applauded Dee Scott for her work on the FY24 budget, which led to this recognition status.

4) Act upon approval of the following consent agenda items:

A. Minutes of the regular meeting of December 16, 2024 and for the special meeting of December 23, 2024;

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

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

D. To authorize the Superintendent to submit an application for the renewal of the Full Day SIP waiver with ISBE.

E. To accept the audit report and approve the District’s FY24 AFR as presented by Kemper CPA Group, LLP

F. To approve the 2024-2025 certified faculty Seniority List.

G. To adopt a resolution in support of Illinois Vision 2030

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

5) Act upon the approval of the purchase of a 2025 Chrysler Voyager LX Minivan with the BraunAbility wheelchair lift system from Southern Bus and Mobility at a cost of $66,362. The vehicle is purchased under the state-bid contract and funded through the federal IDEA Flow-Through grant.

Motion by Sharp, seconded by Hickox, to approve the purchase of a 2025 Chrysler Voyager LX Minivan with the BraunAbility wheelchair lift system from Southern Bus and Mobility at a cost of $66,362. Upon roll call, the members voting yea were: Huddlestun, Clement, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, Todd, and Sharp. The President declared the motion carried.

6) Act upon the adoption of a resolution to direct the Superintendent to enter into a guaranteed energy savings contract with GRP/Wegman.

Motion by Todd, seconded by Gelb to adopt a resolution to direct the Superintendent to enter into a guaranteed energy savings contract with GRP/Wegman. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Sharp, Huddlestun, Clement, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, and Todd. The President declared the motion carried.

7) Administrator Reports

Monroe Principal, Kacie Rhoads, reported that Mrs. Roseberry’s Class won the Christmas Door Decorating contest in December. They had Snoopy on his doghouse surrounded by Christmas decorations and the infamous Charlie Brown Christmas tree. The assembly with Duncan Kirkwood was a success and a great learning experience for the kids at Monroe. Mrs. Schmidt reports that her students are having a great time in 5th/6th grade choir. There are 25 members of the choir and they are working hard preparing for a performance during the end of the year awards banquet in May.

Jr/Sr HS Principal, Jim Sullivan, reported that 7th grade social studies students are studying Europe and comparing and contrasting the governments and economies of Europe and the United States. 8th-grade social studies students are learning about the early republic and the first five presidents of our country. Students continue making connections between our country’s original constitution and how it was amended to the constitution we know today. Students also conduct quick research about all US presidents throughout history while learning the President's Song. Jr. High ELA students finished 1st semester with a wide variety of book reports--from skits, talk shows, Booklets, vocabulary tests, and works of art to alternate book endings, students displayed their creativity and public speaking skills in ELA. The Seniors are getting excited about the senior trip. The senior trip is on March 4th, 5th, and 6th. Staff members going are Mrs. Keeney and Mr. Eckerty. Biology 2 students completed a laboratory investigation supporting their study of enzymes and biochemical reactions. Biology 1 and Basic Biology students are in the process of designing a controlled scientific experiment related to their study of plants and photosynthesis. Freshman Orientation & FAFSA Night January 29th. A New Leadership Class is being offered this semester. The choir is preparing music for our March concert. We have started musical rehearsals for "Annie Jr"; those performances are the last weekend in February. Congratulations to the following JH/HS Band students who are in the LIC Pep band: Will Cochonour, Kaitlyn McKinney, Kate Hall, Wade Winnett, Gavin Ridge, Savannah Scott, Kiara Shaw, Rachel Warfel, Emma Lowrey and Madi Gelb. JH Scholastic Bowl will begin next week. The FFA has started planting vegetables in the greenhouse and making more hanging baskets. FCCLA volunteers recently played BINGO with the residents at Casey Health Center. The members enjoyed this and plan to go again. They will be selling 8-inch cookie cakes for Valentine's Day. The members will be making and decorating these cakes. FCCLA week is February 10-14. We are planning some fun events for this week

Superintendent Mike Shackelford informed Board members that the Illinois Association of School Boards- Wabash Valley Region Spring meetings will be held on March 18 at Newton Elementary School. This professional development opportunity for Board members will offer breakout sessions in District “Hot Topic” discussions and a Board Presidents’ Roundtable. Registration is open. He received a FOIA request from the Illinois Retired Teachers’ Association in December, which was filled quickly. With the help of the CWEA Calendar committee, he has drafted 2 options for a potential 2025-2026 School Calendar. These options were presented to the Board for review. The final, official, calendar will be presented and approved by the Board in the February meeting. The Board heard a brief 2nd quarter update on the District’s budget. After the first 2 quarters of FY25, the overall revenues to expenditures are in line with the District’s adopted budget.

8) Addendum

9) 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 Meetings Act.

Motion by Sharp, seconded by Clement to adjourn to executive session. Upon roll call, members voting yea were, Huddlestun, Clement, Fain, Gelb, Hickox, Todd and Sharp. The President called the motion carried at 7:52 pm.

10) Act upon approval to reconvene to regular session.

Motion by Huddleston, seconded by Clement to return to regular session. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Fain, Gelb, Hickox, Todd, Sharp, Huddleston, and Clement. The President declared the motion carried at 8:49 pm.

11) Act upon the following consent agenda items:

A. Act upon approval of closed session minutes of December 16, 2024. B. Act upon recommendation to keep closed session minutes closed.

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

12) Act upon the approval of employment recommendations

The Board accepted resignations from Terrance Yates as JH Boys Track coach, effective immediately; Beth Reynolds as HS Spanish teacher, effective at the end of the 2024-25 school year

The Board approved the re-assignment of 1st grade teacher Tanya Duniphan to Elementary Special Education teacher effective for the 2025-2026 school year; approved the re-assignment of District Secretary/Transportation Secretary Brette

Cummins to be the District Financial Assistant/Bookkeeper/ IMRF Authorized Agent starting February 1, 2025.

The Board approved the employment of Lindsey Shawver as 6th grade Science teacher for the 2025-2026 school year; approved the employment of Heather Lee as JH Track Coach for the 2024-2025 season; approved the employment of Garett Kemper as HS Boys Tennis Coach for the 2024-2025 season; approved the employment of Jennifer Winschief as District Secretary/Transportation Secretary beginning February 1, 2025; and approved the employment of Brandi Sharp as Jr/Sr HS Health Professional for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year.

13) Addendum

14) Act upon approval to adjourn

Motion by Hickox, seconded by Gelb to adjourn the meeting. Upon roll call, members voting yea were: Todd, Sharp, Huddlestun, Clement, Fain, Gelb, and Hickox. The President called the motion carried at 8:54 pm

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1373/Casey_Westfield/5261715/Tentative_Minutes__January_27__2025.pdf