Macon Reporter

Meridian Community Unit School District 15 Board met March 18.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Meridian Community Unit School District Board of Education held a regular meeting on Monday, March 18, 2019 in the Board Room. President Vicki Carr called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. The following Members were present: Vicki Carr, Tony Etherton, Monte Hogan, Marie Jagger-Taylor and Matt Roush. Also present were: Dan Brue, Superintendent; Eric Hurelbrink, High School Principal; Andy Pygott, Middle School Principal; Lori Guebert, Elementary Principal; Michelle Miller, Recording Secretary.

Communications from Visitors: A parent and an aunt of a student expressed concerns to the Board in regards to a discipline issue at the middle school.

Eric Hurelbrink announced the high school Students of the Month for March: Rylie Casey, David Grimes, Robert Lecates, Sieara Taylor, Caleb Eickhoff, Hannah Warnick, Maggie Hale, Zeth Reed, Hailey Wendowski, Evan Atwater, Devynn Egbert, Hunter Chumbley, Kyle Farmer, Angel Barger, Hersch Coffman, Mason Pfeifer, Sydney Moore, Matt Sander, Audrey Wise and Travis Fuller.

Elementary Students of the Month were presented by Mrs. Guebert: 

Kindergarten: Pierce Cramm, Briley Conder, Ian Flack, Aubrey Frieden 

1st Grade: Hunter Crutchfield, Serenity Branham, Attison McNeely

2nd Grade: Jackson Olinger, Corbin Neihart, Amaya Galloway

3rd Grade: Bentlee Wicklund, Delaney Friedan, Reed Young

4th Grade: William Parton, Paytyn Grandfield, Aurelia Atwater, Charlotte Brown 

5th Grade: Hannah Patient, Summer Deadmond, Cierra Bliesner, Carson Ryan

Administrators gave their reports: The elementary book fair had another successful year. The first graders finished the Bookworm program reading 9,185 books! March 28 & 29 will be pre-k screenings for the 2019-2020 school year and Kindergarten screenings will be April 4. Ms. Bourisaw’s class won the Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom poster contest. They will receive a field trip to the Science Center in St. Louis as an award. The middle school students are currently participating in a Pennies for Patients drive, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. There will also be a Lip Smack and Crayola Crayon drive to benefit the children’s hospital the first two weeks of April. National Testing Day for high school is April 9th. Freshmen will take the PSAT 8/9, Sophomores will take the PSAT 10, and Juniors will take the SAT. Hannah Craft and Sam VonBehren will represent Meridian High School at the Macon County Regional High School Student Recognition luncheon. National Honor Society held their final blood drive. Enough units were collected to continue offering the Red Cross Scholarship. An anonymous $2500 donation was also received. Spring sports are underway. Girls soccer ended up with 15 girls dressed and playing for their first game. Chloe Moyer, Korey Damery and Drew Hurelbrink will represent Meridian in the Illinois Top Times indoor state track meet held in Normal.

Member Chris Jones entered the meeting at 6:54 p.m.

Mr. Brue has met with two contractors in regards to putting bathrooms in the elementary school by the gymnasium. Bids are expected in the next few weeks. At last month’s Ag Boosters meeting, the committee reviewed and made changes to the building plan for the Ag shop/classroom. Mr. Brue also reviewed the procedures in place for the District in regards to bullying.

The monthly budget analysis was reviewed. On a motion by Member Jagger-Taylor, seconded by Member Roush, the consent agenda was approved which includes February minutes, February financial reports and March disbursements as follows:

Education $322,269.35 

Transport $24,861.40 

Tort $550.00 

Building $40,101.99

IMRF $10,091.82

Life Safety $3,636.00

TOTAL $401,510.56

This only includes one payroll for March. Also included was the resignation of Melissa Galvin as elementary teacher and Lindsey Sheppard as Restorative Justice Coordinator. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0.

The Board Policy updates were presented. Mr. Brue highlighted four of the policies that have noteworthy changes.

One Board Member has asked that buses be checked for speed after receiving complaints.

With 6 ayes, the Board approved the IHSA Membership Renewal for 2019-2020, motioned by Member Roush, seconded by Member Jagger-Taylor.

On a motion by Member Jagger-Taylor, seconded by Member Roush, the Board approved the renewal of IESA memberships for 2019-2020. Motion carried with 6 ayes.

Member Herbert entered the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

There was discussion on a co-op with LSA for golf. The Board approved a High School Sports Co-op Agreement with Lutheran Schools Association for the 19-20 and 20-21 school year on a motion by Member Jagger-Taylor, seconded by Member Etherton. Motion carried 7-0.

On a motion by Member Jagger-Taylor, seconded by Member Herbert, the facilities request from Don Hendrian for use of the baseball fields this summer was approved contingent upon completion of the application. The fee was set at $75/weekend. Motion carried 7-0.

The meeting adjourned to executive session at 7:15 p.m. on a motion by Member Jagger-Taylor, seconded by Member Roush.

The Board returned to open session at 9:52 p.m. on a motion by Member Herbert, seconded by Member Etherton.

Member Herbert, seconded by Member Hogan, motioned to re-employ the following non-tenure teachers for the 2019-2020 school year: Cindy Ballance, Matthew Bates, Emily Brown, Tricia Campbell, Payton Cloe, Mary Bess Dotterweich, Chelsea Dunmire, Leslie Greer, Angela Grigg, Lee Hicks, Alyssa Holsapple, Heather Johnson, Evan Kershner, Dana Meisenhelter, Matthew O’Brien, Sarah Owens, Alice Reed, Megan Rhoades, Monica Shaw, Micah Sheppard, Stacy Shields, Colleen Veitengruber, Carissa Weakly, Britta Zucco. Motion carried 7-0.

On a motion by Member Herbert, seconded by Member Roush, the following coaches were re-hired for the 2019-2020 season: Michael Houran as high school girls basketball, Shannon Houser as middle school boys basketball, Mary Jane Hayes as middle school volleyball and Michael Houran as middle school girls basketball. Motion carried 7-0.

The Board approved a $1500 raise for all principals for the 2019-2020 school year on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Herbert. Motion carried on a roll call vote 7-0.

Member Roush, seconded by Member Etherton, motioned to approve Option #1 (2% raise) of the Non- Certified Staff Salary Proposals for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0. Member Herbert abstained.

Christina Wherley was hired as high school English teacher for the 2019-2020 school year on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Jagger-Taylor. Motion carried 7-0.

On a motion by Member Jones, seconded by Member Roush, the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held April 15, 2019.

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/359852/3-18-19_minutes.pdf