Macon Reporter

Blue Ridge Community Unified School District 18 Board of Education met July 17.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

I. Call to Order

Board President, Dale Schneman called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

II. Roll Call

Board Members in attendance were Carlos Burton, Franci Miller, Dale Schneman, Kenna Dunlap Johnson, Maureen Gilbert and Dion Lathrom. Chelsie Leffelman was absent.

Also in attendance were Superintendent Susan Wilson, Principal John Lawrence, Principal Katie Nichols and Recording Secretary Krista Voyles. Principal Ryan Peyton was absent.

III. Public Comments/Recognition of Guests

Sara Wrestler Chris Mitchell

Dylan Kelley Angela Mitchell

Michelle Rumple Pam Pease

Megan Dickman   Melissa Ward   Sara Wieber   Stephanie Sedberry   Kasey Sedberry   Megan Hardesty   Lindsay Mattingly   Jen White   Don Anton   Lori Friel   Pam Davis   Lindsay Wilkinson   Joh Yeagle   Pam Houser LaDawna Patrick   Kevin Rumple   Mary Russell 

Don Anton, President of The Blue Ridge Federation of Teachers, spoke concerning the staff dedication and the outlook currently and in the future for the staff and students.

A. Presentation - Fine Arts

Dylan Kelley, Katie Cole and Josephine Aldrich presented on behalf of the BRHS band and all of their accomplishments in the last year. A few of those accomplishments are that they performed in over 80 performances this year, including the 4th of the July parade and having done so for the past 35 years and the Memorial Day parade in Washington DC. The Knight to Remember Talent Show had another great turnout this year and it will be back for again next year.

Sara Wrestler presented her K-8 presentation for the 2018-2019 school year. The 2019-2020 school year has some exciting things coming its way. 4-8 grade art will now double in time. Rather than the 45 minutes a week, every other week it will now be once a week for 45 minutes. JH Chorus is making a comeback and the K-3 art and music program will be daily.

Sara Wieber presented on behalf of the BRHS art program. She had 3 goals in mind for this past school year and all of those goals were met. They were to make a mosaic mural in the Schneider cafeteria, Love for the Arts to replace HOIC Arts and a Student Purchase Award to be voted on by the teachers. There will also be an Art Appreciation class offered for the 2019-2020 school year.

IV. Board Communications

V. Board Committees

The finance committee met on July 17, prior to the regularly scheduled BOE meeting. The negotiations committee will meet on July 22 and the facilities committee will meet on August 14.

VI. Administrative Reports

A. Superintendent

Mrs. Wilson presented her report and highlighted a few areas. The City of Farmer City is installing a new circle drive in front of Schneider. This will be used for parent drop off/pick up. We are exploring installation of a sidewalk from the gym to the circle drive to support this new process. Cannabis will become legal in Illinois at the beginning of 2020. Policies will be updated shortly on how this will be handled in the schools. We received the IASB governing award 2 years ago and will be reapplying again this year. Kenna Dunlap Johnson, with Franci Miller’s assistance will provide some of the responses needed for the application. The shooting club will not move forward at this time, as we felt it would negatively impact the numbers of participants in the activities and sports already offered.

1. Quarterly Financial Report

Mrs. Wilson presented on the Financial Report and highlighted a few areas. The district audited has not yet been completed for the 2018- 2019 fiscal school year, so figures are not final. Preliminary numbers indicate that the district ended the fiscal year better than projected. The O & M fund balance is about $130,000 higher than the budget projected, with about $20,000 of that amount due to a reduction in power bills by the City of Farmer City.

2. Progress made on Strategic Planning goals

3. 2018-2019 District Accomplishments

B. Curriculum Coordinator

C. Operations and Maintenance D. Transportation

E. Technology

VII. Old Business VIII. New Business

A. Consideration of and action upon a Resolution authorizing the abatement of $740,000 from the Working Cash Fund to the Capital Projects Fund

Motion by Maureen Gilbert 2nd by Franci Miller to approve the resolution authorizing the abatement of $740,000 from Working Cash Fund to the Capital Projects Fund for Blue Ridge CUSD 18, as presented.

Roll call vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

IX. Approval of Consent Items

Motion by Carlos Burton 2nd by Franci Miller to approve the consent agenda items listed on attachment A as presented, as well as the change in the typed and attached June 19, Board of Education meeting minutes. That change being the savings of $15,000 from the City of Farmer City, not $1500.

Roll call vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

A. Minutes from the Regular and Special Board of Education Meetings 

B. Financial Reports

C. Bills and Payroll

D. Accept the Resignation of District Employees

X. Closed Session

Motion by Franci Miller 2nd by Maureen Gilbert to move from open session to closed session for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, security, dismissal of specific employees of the District and semi-annual review of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under Illinois Open Meetings Act, at 7:39 p.m.

Roll call vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

A. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the district; collective negotiating matters between the district and its employees; on going, pending, or probable litigation. 5ILCS 120/2(c) (1).

1. Employment, Special Education Paraprofessional, Schneider School

2. Employment, Gr. 7-8 PE Teacher, BRIJHS

3. Employment, Librarian, District

4. Employment, Asst. Boys Basketball, BRHS

5. Employment, Assistant Girls Basketball Coach, BRIJHS

6. Employment, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, BRIJHS

7. Employment , Cook, Schneider School

8. Appointment, Volunteer Asst. Cheer Coach, BRHS

9. Appointment, Volunteer Asst. Boys Basketball Coach, BRIJHS

B. Semi-Annual Review of Minutes of Meetings Lawfully Closed Under Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5ILCS 120/2(c)

C. Pending or probable litigation

D. Collective Negotiations Matters

XI. Open Session

Motion by Dion Lathrom 2nd by Kenna Dunlap Johnson to move from closed to open session at 8:23 p.m.

Voice vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

Motion by Carlos Burton 2nd by Maureen Gilbert to approve the employment of

 Kaehla Shaw, Special Education Paraprofessional, Schneider

 Dan Fager, 7-8 PE Teacher, BRIJHS

 Sam Williamson, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, BRHS

 Greg Alvis, Assistant Girls Basketball Coach, BRIJHS

 Dane Houser, Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, BRIJHS

 Jacinta Smith, Cook, Schneider

for the 2019-2020 school term, as presented. 

Roll call vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

Motion by Franci Miller 2nd by Maureen Gilbert to approve the appointment of

 Polly Reynolds, Volunteer Assistant Cheer Coach, BRHS for a 1-year term during the 2019-2020 school year.

 Clay Stephens, Volunteer Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, BRIJHS for the 2019-2020 school term, as presented.

Roll call vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

Motion by Kenna Dunlap Johnson 2nd by Franci Miller to authorize the Superintendent to employ individuals for necessary positions prior to the August board meeting for Blue Ridge CUSD 18 for the 2019-2020 school term, as presented.

Roll call vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

Motion by Dale Schneman 2nd by Franci Miller to Open the executive session minutes from the last six months, December 2018-May 2019, of the Blue Ridge Board of Education because the Board finds a need for confidentiality does not exist.

Voice vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

XII. Good of the Cause Discussion

A. Superintendent Interview Process

A meeting will be held on August 5 at 7 p.m. to discuss the interview process, review resumes and develop interview questions for the hiring of the superintendent. A meeting on August 7 at 7 p.m. will be held to conduct the interviews of potential superintendent candidates.

B. BR CONNECT Follow-up Discussion

The board members would like to be available at school events throughout the school year to have an “Ask a Board Member” table. Mrs. Wilson will check with our attorney on the OMA rules and regulations for these events. She will also order a table covering that can be used and put together materials for the tables.

C. Development of wellness incentive program

A wellness program was discussed for student athletes, and possible staff to meet with a dietician to help kids understand what their bodies need and don’t need during athletic seasons.

XIII. Adjournment

Motion by Carlos Burton 2nd by Dion Lathrom to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 p.m.

Roll call vote. 6 ayes 0 nays Motion carried.

https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?mk=50335687&fn=minutes.pdf