Carbondale Reporter

Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 Board of Education met August 15.

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 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, in the Board Room at McElvain School, 593 Ava Road, Murphysboro, Illinois.

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

Board Members absent: None

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

Administrators Absent: Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Ellermeyer

Others present: Steve Carrington, Georgia Marshall, John Keller, Len Novara, Laura Goetting, Heather Parr, Matt Todd, Melinda Pierson, Allison Svanda, Kari Kilquist, Gail Beckman, Kelly Stroud, Brianna Jokisch, Darrin Fager, Yeyo Granados, Amy Karg, Jessica White, Emilie Collier, Kristin Biggs, Jim Siefert (Architect)

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by music teacher, Mrs. White.

Mr. Green made the motion and Mr. Beavers gave the second to approve the agenda as presented.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

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

District #186 regular board meeting minutes dated July 18, 2017

District #186 special board meeting minutes dated July 31, 2017

Tri-County regular board minutes dated July 18, 2017

Tri-County budget hearing minutes dated July 18, 2017

Tri-County Bills for August 2017

Applications/Reports

Approval of Tri-County FY18 Budget

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Mr. Green gave the second to approve the bills for July 2017 as presented.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Miller – AyeMrs. Doerr – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Mr. Green – AyeMrs. Jaynes – Aye

Dr. Corley – AyeMrs. Beavers – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Under Communications, Mrs. Jaynes made the motion and Mr. Beavers gave the second to accept the resignation as Student Advocate from Madison Presswood effective September 1, 2017.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Fish Bowl items were read.

There were two requests presented under the Freedom of Information Act. One from SmartProcure requesting vendor information, purchase order information and costs associated with purchases; Second from Athletico Physical Therapy requesting information about the district’s athletic training services. Information has been submitted.

No public comments/concerns were presented. Under employee comment/concerns, Ms. Svanda, representing the first grade teachers, expressed concerns of the need for an additional first grade teacher and possible classroom aides. The board asked more specific questions regarding the possibility of adding another teacher.

Melinda Pierson, social worker, supported the need for an additional first grade classroom. Melinda as MEA vice-president expressed her thanks to maintenance and custodians for getting the buildings ready. She also expressed how many teachers have put in their own time to prepare their classrooms for the Open House and the school year – mentioning that they were not compensated and was hopeful that something could be worked out better for them next year.

Mrs. Ehlers, GJAL Principal, expressed her thanks to her staff for all their hard work and time in preparing for the school year.

Under Old Business in regard to financial updates, Mr. Grode simply stated to contact local house representative and ask for their support of Senate Bill 1. It is imperative that this be passed in order to support local school district funding. He noted that a public forum was held last week at McElvain School to explain Senate Bill 1 last week. He was pleased with the attendance and again urged everyone to support SB 1.

Mr. Grode discussed projects that have been taking place this summer. Things have been coming together nicely. There remains some front entryway work to be completed at General John A. Logan Attendance Center. He is looking forward to having everyone back in the buildings.

Mr. Grode discussed class size, especially at first and fifth grade. These numbers may vary in the next month with move ins and outs. The board discussed the concern of the 1st grade numbers and had some questions. On a similar note of additional staffing needs, the district is needing a certified ESL/ELL person. The district currently has a bilingual aide that completed classes to meet this need and he is waiting on the results of his grades and certification. K-2 building is down two aides. With increased health needs of students, the nursing area will be monitored.

Under New Business, Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve Paragon Promotions for K-5 fundraising this school year.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Green made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the Salary and Compensation Report (PA 96-9434) as presented.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Bush distributed the FY18 tentative budget to be on review until September 19, 2017. Mrs. Doerr made the motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to set a budget hearing for 6:15 p.m., September 19, 2017 at McElvain School. The regular meeting will be held after the hearing.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

The summary of bids taken for the high school Center for Performing Arts were presented. Fager-McGee Construction Inc. was the responsible low bidder in the amount of $6,977,000 for the base bid. The board discussed whether to add the Alternate Bid #1 which included 4 classrooms in the amount of $559,000. It was concluded, due to financial uncertainties, to stay with the base bid. Therefore, Mr. Beavers made a motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to approve the low bidder, Fager-McGee Construction Inc., in the amount of $6,977,000 for the construction of the high school Center for Performing Arts as presented.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Beavers – AyeMr. Green – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Mrs. Jaynes – AyeMrs. Miller – Aye

Mrs. Doerr – AyeDr. Corley – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Grode and Mrs. Bush explained the possible need to issue bonds for work at the high school building. She is looking at an amount not to exceed $8,000,000. A bond hearing will need to be held prior to the selling of bonds. It is likely the hearing will be in September with selling of bonds in October. A more specific dollar amount will be given once insurance monies are received. The bonds will only cover work at the high school.

After discussion and review of the resolution, Mrs. Miller made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to approve the Resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation alternate bonds in an aggregate principal amount of $8,000,000 for the purpose of altering, repairing and equipping the Murphysboro high school building, building and equipping a performing arts center as an addition thereto and improving the site thereof as presented.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Miller – AyeMrs. Jaynes – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Dr. Corley – AyeMr. Beavers – Aye

Mr. Green – AyeMrs. Doerr – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Doerr made a motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve making interfund loans of up to $870,000 from Working Cash Fund to the Education Fund, up to $700,000 from the Operations and Maintenance Fund to the Education Fund and up to $100,000 from the Transportation Fund to the Education Fund as presented. It is noted that these loans will be repaid.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Doerr – AyeMr. Beavers – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Mrs. Miller – AyeDr. Corley – Aye

Mrs. Jaynes – AyeMr. Green – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Green made a motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to approve making contact with local banks to obtain a line of credit and/or tax anticipation warrants as presented.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Green – AyeMr. Beavers – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Mrs. Jaynes – AyeDr. Corley – Aye

Mrs. Miller – AyeMrs. Doerr – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Miller 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 – AyeMrs. Doerr – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Mrs. Miller – AyeMr. Green – Aye

Dr. Corley – AyeMrs. Jaynes – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

The board moved to closed session at 7:44 p.m. The board returned to open session at 8:16 p.m.

Mr. Green made the motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to approve the closed session minutes from the regular meeting dated July 18, 2017 and special meeting dated July 31, 2017.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve, as administrative district for Tri-County Special Education Joint Agreement, a “Resolution to authorize notice of dismissal, hearing rights, charges and bill of particulars for Steven Hammett”.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Beavers – AyeMr. Green – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Mrs. Miller – AyeMrs. Jaynes – Aye

Mrs. Doerr – AyeDr. Corley – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to employ the following:

Dana Batson – Secretary (Guidance high school)

Jason Geis – hs volunteer football coach

Jim Brown – mms softball coach

Seth Daniels – mms volunteer baseball coach

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mrs. Miller – AyeMrs. Jaynes – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Dr. Corley – AyeMr. Beavers – Aye

Mr. Green – AyeMrs. Doerr – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mr. Green gave the second to post for positions of Student Advocate at Carruthers and First grade at General John A. Logan Attendance Center.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Beavers – AyeMrs. Miller – AyeMr. Runge – Aye

Mr. Green – AyeDr. Corley – Aye

Mrs. Jaynes – AyeMrs. Doerr – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Jaynes made the motion and Mrs. Doerr gave the second to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2XlVvX7kb98SEVURjE4T2E1QktaaFVRdmk0NW5zREdCbEk4/preview