Macon Reporter

Meridian Community Unit School District No. 15 Board of Education met Sept. 21.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Meridian Community Unit School District No. 15 Board of Education held a regular meeting in the Board Room, Macon Campus. President Chris Jones called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. The following Members were in attendance: Chris Jones, Clint Gorden, Adam Herbert, Rebecca Kraft, and Matt Roush. Member Kara Morey was absent. Member Monte Hogan entered the meeting at 7:44 p.m. Also in attendance were:

Andy Pygott, Superintendent; Eric Hurelbrink, High School Principal; Lori Guebert, Elementary Principal; Mindy McGuire, Middle School Principal; Kaleb Renfro, High School Athletic Director; and Michelle Miller, Recording Secretary.

The meeting began with the annual budget hearing for the FY21 District Budget. There were no questions or comments from the board or audience.

Mr. Pygott announced that Jerry Brockett, High School Ag teacher, was the recipient of the IAA New Ag Teacher Award. He will receive funds in the amount of $10,000 over the next five years to use towards supplies for the program.

Mr. Pygott then presented Board Member Matt Roush with a lapel pin from the Illinois Association of School Boards recognizing him as a Master Board Member.

Administrators gave their reports. All buildings participated in activities on Sept 11 to commemorate the day. Administrators also reported that in person learning went well for the first two week period and after a day of adjustments the remote learning for the following two weeks has been successful. School will resume in person on September 28.

Mr. Hurelbrink reported that he was contacted by Memorial Medical and they will no longer provide athletic trainer services.

Mr. Renfro reported the IHSA is allowing teams to participate in fall contact days through October 31. The IHSA also approved updates to the Return to Activities guidelines that waived the two games per week limitation, so he has been busy scheduling additional matches.

Mrs. McGuire reported that the IESA has announced that indoor sports can begin contact days on November 1.

Mr. Pygott reported on follow-up items: District does not currently have a contract with Pepsi; provided the Board with a chart of expenditures for COVID cleaning supplies; search continues for a truck/plow.

New items: the Board Policy Manual is available on the website as a subscription service from IASB; dissatisfaction with the new accounting/payroll system Powerschool; Fiber Optic installation in progress; Floyd & Associates provided the Annual Financial Report for review.

The District’s Financial Profile has been designated as “Recognition”, up from the “Watch” status the previous year. It was noted that the last time Meridian received a financial recognition from the State Board of Education was 2014.

The consent agenda was approved on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Herbert, which consists of minutes from August 10, 2020 and August 19, 2020; August financial and treasurer report; September disbursements as follows:

Education $286,100.11     Building $93,815.19

Transport $18,750.41        IMRF $9,725.82

Life Safety $1,182.10        Total $409,573.63 (includes one payroll)

Also includes the resignations of Suzie Bloomfield as Middle School Secretary and Jennifer Greenwood as Restorative Justice Coordinator. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0.

There was discussion in regards to the Return to School Plan. School will resume in person learning on September 28. Remote learning was put in place on Sept 14th for a two week period due to staffing concerns in the district. There was also clarification on COVID tracing and contact with the Macon County Health Department.

Memorial Medical is working on filling the vacant nurse position at the Macon campus. The previous nurse, however, is filling the vacancy until Memorial hires a permanent employee.

The Board feels Memorial is in breach of contract by not filling the position or being able to supply substitutes in time of need. The Board would like Mr. Pygott to explore avenues for hiring our own nurses.

Current budget analysis reviewed. Mr. Pygott again expressed concern with making the next bond payment.

The Annual Financial Report is available for review. There were no red flags identified in the AFR.

The preliminary specifications and bid documents have been provided by Upchurch. Mr. Pygott would like to adhere to the bid process schedule. Members of the Buildings and Transportation committee will review the documents and address any questions to Mr. Pygott. 1st Reading of Meridian CUSD #15 Board Policy Revisions.

The Raptor Visitor Management System is installed and in use.

The Prevailing Wage Adoption for 2020-2021 was on the agenda. School Boards no longer have to motion to adopt the prevailing wage effective January 1, 2019. The Illinois Department of Labor is responsible for the determination of rates.

FOIA request: From a local Operator’s Engineers Union for the work completed by Freeland Excavating. Response from the district was that this project falls under the $25,000 threshold for the documents requested.

Roof replacement on the District office wing is complete. Pay request for final payment were presented.

The PERA committee met on September 16 to discuss the Student Learning Objective (SLO) portion of the teacher evaluation. Due to the variance of student population this school year the SLO portion of the evaluation may not be applicable for the 20-21 school year.

On a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Kraft, the Board approved the FY21 budget for Meridian CUSD #15. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0.

Member Roush, seconded by Member Gorden, motioned to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Macon and Meridian School District. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0.

Member Roush, seconded by Member Gorden, motioned to approve the pay request of $30,676.50 and final pay of $17,640.00 to Top Quality Roofing. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0.

Meridian High School Graduation was set for May 22, 2021, 5:00 p.m. on a motion from Member Roush, seconded by Member Gorden. Motion carried with 6 ayes.

On a motion by Member Gorden, seconded by Member Kraft, the Board adjourned to executive session 8:13 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 6-0.

The Board returned to open session at 8:51 p.m. on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Gorden. Motion carried.

Member Roush, seconded by Member Herbert, motioned to employ Erin Janvrin as Middle School Secretary. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0.

Member Gorden, seconded by Member Roush, motioned to employ Rick Oldham as custodian. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0.

The Board approved a Resolution authorizing the deposit of $20,000 received from a former district employee into the debt service fund on a motion by Member Herbert, seconded by Member Hogan. Motion carried on a roll call vote 6-0.

The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m. on a motion by Member Roush seconded by Member Gorden. Motion carried 6-0. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be October 19, 2020, 6:30 p.m.

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/974326/9-21-20_minutes.pdf