February 2020 School Board Meeting Minutes

Link to Video of February 20, 2020 Board of Education Meeting:  https://vimeo.com/392974398

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CARBONDALE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 165, CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS HELD FEBRUARY 20, 2020

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of School District 165 was held in the Carbondale Community High School Cafeteria, 1301 East Walnut Street, Carbondale, Illinois, on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. 

Upon roll call, the following members were present:

Linda Flowers                         Francis Tsung
Joe Hudgins                            Julie VanWinkle
Christopher Swims                 Brian Woodard          

The following member was absent:   Lana Galan    

Also present were:

Stephen Murphy                     Crystal Harsy
Donna Fager                           Dawn Taylor 
Ryan Thomas                         

President Woodard declared a quorum present and the regular meeting of February 20, 2020 was called to order.

Minutes: Motion by Swims, seconded by Hudgins, to approve the minutes of the regular scheduled meeting of January 16, 2020.  Roll call: Flowers, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Woodard voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

Old Business:  None

Public Comments: None

FOIA Requests: The Board received a listing of the 2019-20 FOIA requests received to date.

Teacher Receives NSF & NCTM Travel Grant: CCHS mathematics teacher, Erin Sagaskie, wrote and was awarded a travel grant from the National Science Foundation and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for $2,750.00 to attend the 14th International Congress of Mathematics Education in Shanghai, China, July 2020.

English Department Presentation: English Department Chair, Crystal Harsy, did a presentation for the Board regarding the English Department.

Payment of Bills: Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, to pay the remaining bills for the month of January 2020; and, those available for payment for the month of February 2020. Roll call: Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard and Flowers voted yes.  Nay, none. Motion carried.

Principal’s Report: Mr. Thomas reported the following:
∙Multicultural Festival Update
∙8th Grade Night
∙Black History Month Poetry Slam
∙Faculty vs. Students Volleyball Game
∙IHSA Academic All-State Student

Superintendent’s Report: None

Wellness Committee: Mr. Murphy updated the Board on the results of the 2020 Love Your Heart Contest.  He said 49 faculty and staff participated.  Of those, five were referred for additional follow-up.  Laurie Rendleman was the winner of the personal leave day granted by the Board for participating.  He said the Wellness Committee thanked the Board for supporting the promotion.

Bids for Science Lab Renovations, Security Entrance and Shop Renovations/Addition: Motion by Swims, seconded by Flowers, to acknowledge receipt of the bids received for the renovation of the science labs, a security entrance and shop renovations/addition; and, to award bids for the science lab renovations to the lowest responsible bidders as follows:

General Contractor-Base Bid $89,700.00--Fager-McGee, Murphysboro, IL

Science Laboratory Equipment-Base Bid $210,000.00--Fager-McGee, Murphysboro, IL

Mechanical Contractor-Base Bid $6,200.00--Heartland Mechanical, Murphysboro, IL

Electrical Contractor-Base Bid $15,553.00--Clinton Electric, Ina, IL

Plumbing Contractor-Base Bid $ 62,232.00--S.I. Piping, Carbondale, IL

Total Bid $383,685.00

Roll call: Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers and Hudgins voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

FY 2020 Property Tax Relief Grant Award Response: The Board received a copy of the Illinois State Board of Education’s FY 2020 Property Tax Relief Grant Award Response in their meeting packet.  The district did not receive the grant award.

2019-20 Mid-Year Graduates: Motion by Swims, seconded by Hudgins, to approve the February 20, 2020, mid-year graduation for the students as presented. Roll call: Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers, Hudgins and Swims voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

2020 Board Sponsored Activities: Motion by Swims, seconded by Hudgins, to approve the following 2019-20 Board sponsored activities: 

1. 2020 Top Ten Academic Student Banquet--The Board of Education President and Secretary will represent the Board of Education at the 2020 Top Ten Academic Student Banquet to be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at the SIU Student Center-Ballroom D.

2. 2020 Board of Education Student Artwork Presentation--The CCHS Administration, on behalf of the Board of Education, will present a certificate/cash ($200) award at the Awards Night Ceremony to be held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 14, 2020, at the Carbondale Civic Center.

3. 2020 Graduation--Dr. Brian Woodard will receive the Class of 2020 at the graduation ceremony to be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, May 16, 2020, at the Banterra Center.

4. 2020 Retirement Reception—TBD--Retirees: Gloria Jones and Marcella Morris

5. 2020 Carbondale Middle School Graduation--The Board of Education Vice President and CCHS Principal will receive the Carbondale Middle School Class of 2020 at their graduation ceremony.

Roll call: VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers, Hudgins, Swims and Tsung voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

Resignations/Retirements: Motion by Flowers, seconded by Swims, to accept the following resignations/ retirements as presented: 

a. Resignation of Maria Lenzini (CSBO Secretary/District Cashier) effective January 31, 2020.

b. Resignation of Meghan Carroll (Rebound Parent Educator) effective February 20, 2020.

c. Resignation of Meriam Lahlou (French Teacher) effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

d. Retirement of Emily Goins (Special Education Teacher) effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Roll call: Woodard, Flowers, Galan, Hudgins, Tsung and VanWinkle voted yes. Nay, none.  Motion carried.

Member Answers Roll Call: Member Galan answered roll call at 6:47 p.m.

Employment of Personnel: A motion was made by Swims and seconded by Tsung, to employ the following personnel as presented:

a. 2019-20 Extra-Duty/Extended-Time Personnel--Personnel:
Head Boys Track Coach: Jason Perry $2,267.50
Asst. Boys Track Coach: Jason Perry $2,267.50
Head Girls Track Coach: Ashley Ziegler $2,267.50
Asst. Girls Track Coach: Ashley Ziegler $2,267.50
Asst. Baseball Coach: Matt Duckworth $2,033.00
Asst. Baseball Coach: Tyler Leffler $2,500.00
Bilingual Ed. Class Overload—Spring Sem./4th Quarter: Arnold Taylor

b. Secretary to the CSBO/District Cashier-- Lauren Hannick as the full-time Secretary to the Chief School Business Official/District Cashier retroactive to February 17, 2020, at the rate of $14.00 per hour.

Prior to the vote being taken there was discussion regarding the process in which extra-duty personnel are employed and the division of their stipend amounts. Following the discussion, it was decided to table the extra-duty employments until the March Board meeting so that additional information could be provided. 

Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, to amend the previous motion to the following: to employ the following personnel as presented:

a. 2019-20 Extended-Time Personnel--Personnel:
Bilingual Ed. Class Overload—Spring Sem./4th Quarter: Arnold Taylor

b. Secretary to the CSBO/District Cashier
--Lauren Hannick as the full-time Secretary to the Chief School Business Official/District Cashier retroactive to February 17, 2020, at the rate of $14.00 per hour.

Roll call: Flowers, Galan, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle and Woodard voted yes.  Nay, none.  Motion carried.

2019-20 Volunteers: Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, to approve the following volunteer as presented:  Brian Chaney: Volunteer Baseball Coach.  Roll call: Galan, Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard and Flowers voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

Executive Session: Motion by Swims, seconded by Tsung, to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing information regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees and a student disciplinary matter (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)(9)).  Roll call: Hudgins, Swims, Tsung, VanWinkle, Woodard, Flowers and Galan voted yes. Nay, none. Motion carried.

The meeting recessed at 6:55 p.m. The executive session convened at 7:05 p.m. The executive session adjourned at 9:27 p.m. President Woodard stated no action was taken while in executive session.

For Your Information Items

2020 Chamber Banquet: The 2020 Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Banquet is Friday, February 21, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. at the SIU Student Center Ballrooms.

Spring Break: Spring Break is March 9-13, 2020.

March Board Meeting: The March Board of Education Meeting is Thursday, March 19, 2020.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.

MINUTES APPROVED: March 19, 2020