Macon Reporter

Meridian Community Unit School District 15 Board of Education met Oct. 21.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Meridian Community Unit School District No. 15 Board of Education held a regular meeting on Monday, October 21, 2019 in the Board Room. President Chris Jones called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Members were present: Chris Jones, Becca Kraft, Clint Gorden, Adam Herbert, Kara Morey, and Monte Hogan. Member Matt Roush was absent. Also present were: Andy Pygott, Superintendent; Eric Hurelbrink, High School Principal; Mindy McGuire, Middle School Principal; Lori Guebert, Elementary Principal; and Regina Ward, Recording Secretary.

In communication from the audience, Todd Collins spoke to the Board. He would like for the high school baseball field to be named after Brian Snitker. Brian is the manager for the Atlanta Braves and is a 1973 graduate of Macon High School. Mr. Collins stated he would head up any fundraising or whatever the Board needed for the project. There would be no financial burden to the District.

Sheila Moore, high school yearbook sponsor, addressed the Board regarding all the yearbook competitions they have been in. The 2018-2019 yearbook was the 25th edition. They entered the National Level Up competition and won. They also entered a video competition and was awarded best video.

The elementary early childhood program was designated Gold Circle of Quality for fiscal year 2019. Gold Circle programs have met the highest standards for quality in three areas: learning environment and teaching, administration, and training and education.

Elementary Students of the Month:

K – Elaina Kater, Wiley Rhodes, Henry Roush, ZoeyBell Brilley 

1st – Natalie VanScyoc, Briley Conder, Ava Rigsby, Braelynn Hott 

2nd – Zada Dudley, Landri Rowcliff, Matthew Pritts

3rd – Corbin Neihard, Cash Beasley, Beckham Bardfield

4th – Eleanor Moyer, Trenton Dowdy, Kaci Hayes

5th – Lailah Carr, Avery Canaday, Isabella Martin, Colin Reed

High School Students of the Month:

Caiden Scott, Wyatt Wilcox, Cole Rappe, Adison Clark, Audrey Jackson, Ella Snow, Maria Steiling, Jeremiah Renfro, Sydney Haddock, Blake Hunley, Matthew Rigsby, Zach Summers, Dominic Madding, Lola Shearer Davidson, Laney Jones, Haylee Wilson, Zoe Pramuk, Markus Jesse and Hannah Warnick.

The administrators gave their reports. The elementary raised $15,184 from their walkathon. The middle school is in the middle of their raffle fundraiser. This week is parent/teacher conferences for all grades. Each building presented their IAR test results. The high school had 34 juniors take the PSAT tests. Four seniors were named Illinois State Scholars. They were: Jesse Damery, Madeline Klinger, Savannah Mendenhall, and Ella Snow. Delaney Jones received a Rotary Writing Award and an award from School Newspaper Online for an article she did on the football team. Mr. Hurelbrink reported fall sports are wrapping up. Meridian will be hosting the high school boys’ basketball regional this year.

Mr. Pygott gave the Superintendent report. He discussed the E-Rate meetings he had regarding internet access. He presented to the Board the District Safety/Crisis Management Plan. The staff had an inservice on Friday, October 11th where Mr. Pygott went over the plan with them.

On a motion by Member Gorden, seconded by Member Morey, the consent agenda was approved which consists of the minutes from September 16, 2019, the financial and treasurer’s report from September 2019 and the disbursements from October 2019. Also included are the resignations from: Susan Hines, bus driver; Blake Bowman, part-time custodian; Conner Gross, middle school boys’ basketball coach; Stacia Logue, cook; and retirement from Carolyn Wetzel as Elementary Head Cook at the end of the school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

The policy committee and curriculum committee gave updates on their meetings.

Mr. Pygott gave his budget analysis with the year being a quarter done. He also went over the tax levy and discussed the process of this.

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Herbert, the Board approved the annual financial report for the 2018-2019 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Herbert, seconded by Member Morey, the Board approved the facilities request from the Meridian Youth Basketball, the South Macon Fire Department, and the Alumni Basketball. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

The Board discussed the District Risk Management Plan. On a motion by Member Kraft, seconded by Member Gorden, the Board approved the plan as presented. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Herbert, the Board adjourned to executive session at 8:39 p.m. for the purpose of discussing matters pertaining to the employment, appointment, or dismissal of specific employees or officers, purchase or sale of property, pending legal matters, student discipline, and negotiations. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Kraft the Board returned to open session at 9:12 p.m. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

Action taken from executive session:

On a motion by Member Herbert, seconded by Member Kraft, the Board employed Gary Cecil as a special education aide for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Hogan, seconded by Member Morey, the Board employed Julie McClarey as an RTI aide and library clerk for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Herbert, seconded by Member Hogan, the Board employed Megan Curtin as an RTi aide for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Herbert, the Board employed John Enlow as an assistant high school girls’ softball coach for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Gorden, seconded by Member Morey, the Board employed John Enlow as an assistant middle school boys’ basketball coach for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Kraft, seconded by Member Hogan, the Board employed Gracie Brookens as a part-time custodian. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Hogan, seconded Member Gorden, the Board employed Bob Hunter as a part- time bus driver after his retirement on October 31, 2019. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Herbert, seconded by Member Kraft, the Board appointed Scott Barr, Layne Kircher and Brandon Windell as volunteer coaches for middle school boys’ basketball, Maggie Comerford and Christina Field as volunteer coaches for middle school volleyball, Scott Barr and Jacob Brown as volunteer coaches for high school boys’ basketball and Mike Houran as a volunteer coach for high school girls’ basketball. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Kraft, the Board approved the amended retirement date for Keith Clark, Head of Maintenance, to July 2, 2020. Motion carried on a roll call vote of 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Hogan, seconded by Member Herbert, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Motion carried. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be November 18, 2019.

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/521832/10-21-19_minutes.pdf