Carbondale Reporter

Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140 Board met June 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Unity Point Board of Education was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the President, D. W. Presley, with the following members present: Morteza Daneshdoost, John Longueville, D. W. Presley, Amanda Pangrazio and Sylvia Thoms. Others present were: Lori James-Gross, Michelle Brown, Chris Rogers, Leslie Varble and Mary Beth Goff.

Sylvia Thoms made the motion, seconded by Amanda Pangrazio to approve the Agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Due to the resignation of Board Member and Vice President, Dr. Craig Davis, the Board conducted an election. Amanda Pangrazio was elected the new Vice President. John Longueville was elected the new Secretary.

Sylvia Thoms made the motion, seconded by Morteza Daneshdoost to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2022, regular meeting, copy attached. Votes were as follows: Morteza Daneshdoost – yea; John Longueville – yea; D. W. Presley – yea; Amanda Pangrazio – abstain; Sylvia Thoms – yea. Motion carried 4-0-1.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Sylvia Thoms to approve the following Consent Agenda items:

- Approval of Bills

- Presentation of Financial Reports

- Jackson County SFST June Distribution

- Correspondence

- Resignation Letter from Dr. Craig Davis, Vice President of the Unity Point Board of Education

- Correspondence from Becky Borowitz on behalf of UPEA

- Application for Non-Resident Pupils of F/T Employees, Michelle Brown, Business Manager 

Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

D. W. Presley recognized Dr. Craig Davis for his service to Unity Point School.

D. W. Presley recognized guests and visitors that were present.

Public Comments

- Suzanne Phillips – Bus Driver – She enjoyed taking the kids from Environment Club on their field trip to the Memphis Zoo. She was impressed with how Melanie Spears, Environmental Club Sponsor, engaged with our kids.

- Becky Borowitz – read a letter from Courtney O’Dell, Jr. High Teacher. It read “My name is Courtney O'Dell, and my husband and I have three kids at Unity Point school. This past year they were in the first, six and seventh grades. As a community member, I am concerned about the current safety of my kids, and a lack of parent communication needed to help support our children at home. Additionally, our sixth and seventh graders are also concerned about their safety and lack of consequences for various actions. Towards the end of the year my seventh grader came home and said she had been bullied on the playground. She also indicated that this student has hit her several times on three different occasions. When we asked our sixth grader about it, he said he did not tell us because they did not want us to worry. He also indicated that he would watch at recess to see the student was not near him so he could avoid the situation from happening again. We assured him that this was not his responsibility. We also asked if he had told a teacher he said yes, and that they sent the child to the office. The next day my husband called and talked to an administrator. She knew what had happened to our child. She also indicated that the student was not allowed on a particular part of the playground. As parents, we became concerned about the lack of communication at that moment. In order to support our students, our children at home, we need to know what is happening to them. When we returned to the table with our children to address the situation after we had more information, our children also indicated that they do not feel like peers who commit such acts have appropriate consequences. For example, banning parts of the playground for the child that hit my son, instead of addressing the act doesn't seem justifiable. My sixth grader said that the student who hurt him did not miss out on anything, which is why he continued to be alert during recess after the incident. And my seventh grader chimed in and said she observed the same the last week of school when a fight broke out and a child was punched in the nose, resulting in a broken nose and the child that committed the act participated in all activities like everyone else for the rest of the week. My children want to feel safe at school, they want to feel that acts that happened to them are important enough to have consequences. Furthermore, as parents, we also want clear communication from administration to know what is going on at school to better support our children at home. Thank you for your time.”

UPEA Remarks – None.

D. W. Presley made the motion, seconded by Amanda Pangrazio to approve the 2022/2023 Board of Education Calendar. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Dr. James-Gross provided an update regarding current IDPH, JCHD, and ISBE Guidance; as well as updated District information pertaining to COVID.

John Longueville made the motion, seconded by Sylvia Thoms to adopt the Fiscal Year 2022 Amended Budget as presented. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Amanda Pangrazio to approve the fuel bid from Himes Oil Company for the 2022/2023 School Year. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

D. W. Presley made the motion, seconded by John Longueville to approve the May 2022, Issue 109 Press Policy updates as presented. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

John Longueville made the motion, seconded by Sylvia Thoms to adopt the Prevailing Wage Rate Ordinance. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Dr. Lori James-Gross, Superintendent, Leslie Varble, Principal for Instruction, and Mary Beth Goff, Dean of Students, provided the following Administrative Updates:

1. 2022/2023 Registration Update

2. CIT 2022/2023 Scope of Work

3. School Safety Procedures and Protocols

4. 2022/2023 Athletic and Kidz Klub Handbook Revisions

Sylvia Thoms made the motion, seconded by John Longueville to approve the 2022/2023 Athletic and Kidz Klub Handbook Revisions. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

D. W. Presley made the motion, seconded by Morteza Daneshdoost to enter into Executive Session at 7:07 p.m. to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; and to consider collective bargaining matters with UPEA. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Amanda Pangrazio made the motion, seconded by Morteza Daneshdoost to enter back into Regular Session at 8:31 p.m. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Sylvia Thoms to approve the minutes from the June 16, 2022 Executive Session. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Amanda Pangrazio to employ the following individuals for 2022/2023 School Year:

1. Bria Holford, Paraprofessional

2. Ruthie Mallet, Paraprofessional

3. Jennifer Payne, Paraprofessional

4. Kelsey Hagler, Paraprofessional

5. Mary Terpinitz, Full Time Sub/Jr. High Special Ed

6. Lafiet McDade, Athletic Director

7. Evelyn Perkins, EL Coordinator

Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

D. W. Presley made the motion, seconded by Morteza Daneshdoost to approve the classified personnel salary schedules for the 2022/2023 School Year. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

Board Remarks – None

Administrative Remarks – Retirement Party for Mike Mayes and Melissa Steeb – June 18th – 6:00 pm

Morteza Daneshdoost made the motion, seconded by Sylvia Thoms to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 p.m. Motion carried 5-0 with all voting yea.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vRRYToZpdr4oUJxAstrGtfXP3cX1QDyD/view