Carbondale Reporter

Murphysboro Community Unit School District 186 Board of Education met February 20.

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, January 16, 2018, in the Board Room at McElvain School, 593 Ava Road, Murphysboro, Illinois.

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

Board Members absent: Dr. Corley, Mr. Green.

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

Administrators Absent: Mr. Keener

Others present: Steve Carrington, Georgia Marshall, John Keller, Stacie Tefft, Matt Todd, Monica May, Melinda Pierson, Heather Parr, Janet Terry, Catlin Langellier, Sharon Fry, Dawn Taylor, Jim Siefert, students attending for class, parents attending for graduation discussion.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ms. Ward.

Mrs. Jaynes made the motion and Mrs. Doerr gave the second to approve the agenda with moving #5 under Old Business to #1 under Old Business; table #3 under New Business; and adding an informational item (Security) under New Business.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

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

District #186 regular board meeting minutes dated January 16, 2018

Tri-County regular board minutes dated January 10, 2018

Tri-County Bills for February 2018

Applications

Reports

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Miller made the motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to approve the bills for January 2018 as presented.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Runge - Aye

Mrs. Miller – Aye Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Dr. Corley - Absent

Mrs. Doerr - Aye Mr. Green - Absent Mr. Beavers – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Under Communications, Mrs. Jaynes made a motion and Mrs. Doerr gave the second to approve the intent to retire at the end of the 2020-2021 school year from Vivica Clark.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made a motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve the intent to retire from Jan Luecking effective the end of the 2017-2018 school year.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Runge announced that he would not be in attendance at the April board meeting.

Fish Bowl items were read.

There were two requests falling under the Freedom of Information Act from Illinois Retired Teachers Association requesting the names and emails for teachers who plan to retire at the end of the 2017-18 school year; second from MEA requesting information about a certified employee's interview process; contract/salary; posting for position. Information has been supplied.

Under public comment, Kristi Dunning stated she was attending the meeting to hear discussion regarding the 2018 graduation. She hoped that the board would consider all factors before settling on the date.

No employee comments were presented.

Under Old Business, Mr. Grode indicated that the administration has been looking at dates for Baccalaureate and Graduation. Given that not all emergency days have been used and the possibility of needing to use them, the final day of school has not been established. Mr. Grode deferred to Mr. Wilson for his recommendation on when to hold graduation events.

Mr. Wilson began by saying that he has been looking at either May 12 would conflict with a few athletes who may be involved in state competitions. May 19 may have too many conflicts. Sunday, May 20 was discussed.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to set Baccalaureate for 11:00 a.m. on May 12, 2018 and set Graduation for 6:00 p.m. for May 12, 2018.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Grode stated that not a lot has changed in regard to school funding. Districts are still waiting on the evidence based funding to come through. It is hopeful that by April there will be more detailed information will be available. They are still trying to work language and how funds will be distributed to school districts. The state's pension problems may be pushed to the local districts to pay. Any extra funding the district would receive would likely be used toward pensions.

Mr. Grode indicated that the construction at the high school is moving along. Walls are still scheduled to arrive and installed. The parking areas and front entrance have been moved. Traffic will likely be problematic. Staff and students have been very accommodating with the changes.

Mr. Grode presented a powerpoint on the benchmarking.

Mrs. Jaynes made a motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve the 2018-2019 school calendar as presented.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made a motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve the PRESS 96 updates.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

In regard to the seniority list. MEA met with Mr. Grode and Ms. Ward to discuss how the list is established. There is a better understanding; however, there may be proposed language change to the contract during negotiations.

An IMRF Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) program for non-certified employees was discussed at the January board meeting. The administration plans to have a cost study available at the March board meeting. If the board decides to proceed with the incentive, a resolution would need to be passed approving the incentive. At this time, the administration has determined that the best time period to offer the ERI program to benefit the most employees is for the retirement window of June 30, 2018 through June 30, 2019. More information will be presented at the March meeting.

Tri-County offers cash payments in lieu of health insurance and they are required to have a resolution on file allowing those cash payments to be included in earnings reported to IMRF. They have been doing this since 2007 without an official resolution. Tri-County's executive board has approved the resolution back dating to July 1, 2007. As the administrative district, Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Miller gave the second to approve the "Resolution to include Cash Payments Related to Health Insurance as IMRF Earnings" and backdate the effective date to July 1, 2007.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Runge - Aye

Mr. Beaves - Aye Mrs. Miller – Aye Mrs. Doerr - Aye

Mr. Green - Absent Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Dr. Corley - Absent

The president declared the motion carried.

The administration requested approval for a Health Life Safety amendment from the Illinois State Board of Education to replace the elevator at Murphysboro Middle School. The amendment will include the replacement of the elevator, as well as the abatement of asbestos, relocation of the MMS office and two classrooms displaced by replacing the elevator, and securing and/or sealing/closing off the existing elevator and elevator shaft.

Mrs. Miller made a motion and Mrs. Jaynes gave the second to approve the Health Life Safety amendment as presented above for the Middle School elevator project.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Runge - Aye

Mrs. Miller – Aye Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Mr. Green - Absent

Mr. Beavers – Aye Dr. Corley - Absent

Mrs. Doerr – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

The administration requested permission to bid for sound equipment for the high school auditorium as it was not included in the bid. Mrs. Doerr made a motion and Mr. Beavers gave the second to approve bidding for sound equipment for the high school auditorium.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Runge - Aye

Mrs. Doerr – Aye Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Jaynes - Aye

Mrs. Miller - Aye Dr. Corley - Absent Mr. Green - Absent

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Grode wanted to inform the board that trainings are available for Active Shooter training for schools. He will be looking further into this to select one for an in-service in the district. Hopefully, this will be conducted in April.

Mr. Beavers made the motion and Mrs. Doerr 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. Runge - Aye

Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Doerr – Aye Mrs. Miller – Aye

Dr. Corley - Absent Mr. Green - Absent Mrs. Jaynes - Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

The board moved to closed session at 7:54 p.m. The board returned to open session at 9:28 p.m.

Mrs. Jaynes made a motion and Mrs. Doerr gave the second to approve the closed session minutes from the regular meeting dated January 16, 2018

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

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Beavers made a motion and Mrs. Doerr gave the second to approve the latest recommendation for baseball coaching staff for 2017-18 (Andrew Winters head coach; Jordan Ellis assistant coach; Shea Baker and George Mucher JV coaches; Nathan Hinkle and Landen Harris volunteers).

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Mr. Runge - Aye

Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Doerr – Aye Dr. Corley - Absent

Mr. Green - Absent Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Mrs. Miller – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mr. Runge made the motion and Mr. Beavers gave the second to extend Mr. Grode's contract one year.

A roll call vote was recorded as follows:

Dr. Corley - Absent

Mr. Runge - Aye Mr. Beavers - Aye Mrs. Doerr – Aye

Mr. Green - Absent Mrs. Jaynes - Aye Mrs. Miller – Aye

The president declared the motion carried.

Mrs. Doerr made the motion and Dr. Corley gave the second to adjourn the meeting at 9:35 p.m.

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

The president declared the motion carried.

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