Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 Board of Education met May 16.

By Lhalie Castillo

Jun 30, 2017

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

The regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Rick Runge at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in the Board Room at McElvain School, 593 Ava Road, Murphysboro, Illinois.

Board Members present: Mr. Beavers, Dr. Corley, Mrs. Doerr, Mrs. Jaynes, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Runge.

Board Members absent: Mr. Green

Administrators Present: Mr. Grode, Mrs. Bush, Mrs. Ehlers, Mr. Keener.

Administrators Absent: Mr. Wilson, Mr. Huppert, Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Ellermeyer

Others present: Steve Carrington, Georgia Marshall, John Keller, Dawn Taylor, Laura Goetting, Katie Russell, Jessica White, Valerie Burgess, Heather Parr, Sharon Fry, Stacie Tefft, Matt Todd, Melinda Pierson, Monica May, Julie Sikorski, District Architects.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Doerr.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to approve the agenda adding an informational item under Old Business, Architects Presentation of Center for Performing Arts.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None, Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the consent agenda consisting of the following items:

District #186 regular board meeting minutes dated April 24, 2017

District #186 special board meeting minutes dated May 8, 2017

Tri-County regular board minutes dated April 12, 2017

Tri-County Bills for May 2017

Applications

Reports

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None, Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the bills for May 2017 as presented.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Miller - Aye Mr. Green - Absent Mr. Runge - Aye

Dr. Corley - Aye Mrs. Jaynes - Aye

Mrs. Doerr - Aye Mr. Beavers - Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Under Communications, Dr. Corley made the motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to approve a 6 week maternity leave at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year for Karla Baker, using her personal and sick leave days.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None, Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Doerr gave the second to approve the resignation as secretary from Tammy Tuttle effective May 22, 2017.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None; Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the resignation as EOC aide from Cheryl Hinkle effective the end of the school year.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None; Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Jaynes made the motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve Keith Jones to continue graduate study at Eastern Illinois University the summer 2017 semester (Practicum in School Leadership) and approved successfully credit hours be applied to his salary schedule.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None; Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve the resignation as golf coach from Kyle Smith.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None; Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the resignation as a certified Kindergarten teacher from Jaime Brown effective the end of the 2016 2017 school year.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None; Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Several Fish Bowl items were read.

Three requests falling under the Freedom of Information Act were presented:

(1) From Matt Todd (MEA requesting maintenance overtime for each month from July 2016-April 2017; board packets for each month from July 2016-April 2017; bills for each month from July 2016-April 2017.

(2) From James Bachman (Illinois Retired Teachers Association) requesting names and district email addresses of retiring Illinois educators for current school year and complete list of email addresses for all district/organizational employees.

(3) From MEA requesting fees associated with recent litigation/separation agreement and copy of agreement.

Information is being sent in accordance with the Act.

There were no comments made by the public or employees.

Under Old Business, the architects presented a brief power point presentation for the proposed Center for Performing Arts building. This provided a better understanding of what the building will look like and products used. The project is estimated to be bid in July.

Mr. Grode discussed the financial status of the district. Still no solution to the state budget crisis. There may be an appropriations bill passed. Mr. Grode is still concerned with the categorical money. The administration will continue to monitor the district's finances. This was an informational item.

Mr. Grode provided projected numbers for the elementary classrooms. Third grade will be higher than preferred. May need to post for a teacher. Special education classrooms will need to be reviewed, along with classroom aides. Meetings will be held with the elementary principals to discuss numbers and staff. This was an informational item.

In regard to board committees, this board has had committees of the whole --- meaning that that entire board discusses issues and vote on. Another way is to have a couple board members sit on a committee and report back to the whole board with information or a recommendation. Mr. Grode recommends that the board have a parent advisory committee and a discipline committee. Mr. Green and Mrs. Miller will be on parent advisory and Mrs. Jaynes and Mrs. Doerr will be on discipline. This was an informational item.

The district must submit a Title Plan. It explains how we address a student who is struggling - use benchmarks, interventions, RT, etc. A draft plan was provided to the board. This was an informational item.

Another informational item provided by Mr. Grode was next year focus. General John A. Logan will be focusing on the review of standard-based report cards, Carruthers, middle school and high school will be focusing on benchmarks, interventions and RTI. Will be looking at special education numbers and proper identification and service needs. All students assessment and focus will be data driven.

Under New Business and as part of the state waiver process for non-tuition paying students of full-time employees, the board must approve said students for enrollment. Mr. Beavers made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the following students for the 2017-2018 school on a tuition free basis: Logan Cheatham (12th), Garrett Speith (9th), Zoey Mucher (3).

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None; Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Press policy #94 was presented to the board. These updates to policy will be on review until the June meeting, at which time approval will be sought.

Student/parent handbook for 2017-2018 was distributed for review. Any changes or concerns will be presented at the June meeting. Approval will be sought in June.

Building management plans for 2017-2018 were distributed for review. Any changes or concerns will be presented at the June meeting. Approval will be sought in June.

Mrs. Bush presented information regarding changes in health insurance through Egyptian Area Schools Employee Benefit Trust. Our district will see a 5% increase based on our claims experience. This is actually low considering some districts are seeing up to 20%. Another significant change will be Express Scripts as the service provider for pharmacy claims. The district will still be on Plan E1. Laura Goetting, MEA insurance committee representative also attended the Egyptian Trust meeting concerning changes. Mrs. Bush is recommending the renewal with Egyptian Trust for 2017-2018 and believes it would be beneficial to begin to explore other health insurance coverage and would like authorization to work with the MEA insurance Committee on this matter.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Mr. Beavers gave the second to approve the district's continuation with the Egyptian Area Schools Employee Benefit Trust for the 2017-2018 plan year and to authorize the administration to work with MEA insurance committee to look into other health insurance options.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Miller - Aye Mr. Green - Absent Mr. Runge - Aye

Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Jaynes - Aye

Mrs. Doerr - Aye Dr. Corley - Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to move into closed session pursuant to Section 2 of the Open Meetings Act, 5 Illinois Compiled Statutes 120/2(c), to review:

1. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the district including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Miller - Aye Mr. Runge - Aye

Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Dr. Corley - Aye

Mr. Green - Absent Mrs. Doerr - Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

The board moved to closed session at 8:11 p.m. The board returned to open session at 9:26 p.m.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Doerr gave the second to approve the closed session minutes from the special meeting dated April 24, 2017 and special meeting dated May 8, 2017.

A voiced vote was recorded as follows: Aye - All; Nay - None; Absent - Green

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to voluntarily transfer Jacob Thompson from split night shift to night shift at General John A. Logan Attendance

Center.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Miller - Aye Mrs. Doerr - Aye Mr. Runge - Aye

Dr. Corley - Aye Mr. Green - Absent

Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Jaynes - Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Jaynes made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the employment of athletics and extracurriculars as presented, Larry McDaniel as night custodian at the high school, Jan Farmer as split custodian at high school/GJAL and student workers as follows:

Maintenance: Dustin Kelley, Ryan Chambers, Trent Moore, Holden Elardi Technology: Dawson Burk, Matthew Caskey, William Phoenix, Alexis Hernandez

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Mrs. Doerr - Aye Mr. Runge - Aye

Dr. Corley - Aye Mr. Green - Absent

Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Miller - Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to post for a Kindergarten and 3 grade teacher.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Miller - Aye Mrs. Doerr - Aye Mr. Runge - Aye

Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Mr. Green - Absent

Dr. Corley - Aye Mr. Beavers - Aye

The president declared the motion carried.