Macon Reporter

Argenta-Oreana Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education met Jan. 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Community Unit School District Number 1, Macon and DeWitt Counties, Illinois, (Argenta-Oreana Community Unit School District No. 1) convened at 6:00 p.m. in the Argenta Oreana Middle School/High School Library at 500 North Main Street, Argenta, Illinois pursuant to notice of regular meeting having been given in due form of law Todd Armstrong, President, in the Chair, and with a legal quorum as follows: Maria Lightner (arrived at 6:01 p.m.), Dick Logue, Jeff Schroetlin, Heather McConnell-Smith , Lori Sprague, Cory White, and Todd Armstrong. Also present: Damian Jones, Superintendent; and Sean German, Principal.

Staff comments were shared.

Administrative report was presented.

A written public comment from Justin Phillips regarding a board policy was read.

Dick Logue/Cory White, second, made a motion at 6:06 p.m. to open a public hearing concerning the Intent of the Board to Sell School Fire Prevention and Safety Bonds to Finance School Fire Prevention and Safety Projects. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Dick Logue/Maria Lightner, second, made a motion at 6:07 p.m. to close the hearing. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Cory White/Heather McConnell-Smith, second, made a motion at 6:08 p.m. to open the Property Tax Levy Hearing. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Dick Logue/Maria Lightner, second, made a motion to close the hearing. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong yes.

Lori Sprague/Maria Lightner, second, made a motion at 6:09 p.m. pursuant to the Open Meetings ACT – 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), which permits a closed session to consider the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific certified and/or non-certified employee(s) of the public body. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Maria Lightner/Lori Sprague, second, made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting at 6:24 p.m. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Jeff Schroetlin/Dick Logue, second, made a motion to approve the November 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes and the November 18, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes as presented. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Cory White/Jeff Schroetlin, second, made a motion to approve payroll and bills. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Heather McConnell-Smith/Jeff Schroetlin, second, made a motion to accept the resignations of Emily Manzella as fourth grade teacher at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year; Susan Daley as middle school second assistant volleyball coach; Yvonne O’Connor as MS Scholastic Bowl coach; and Heidi Hahn as RtI Academic Assistance Aide effective December 18, 2020. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Lori Sprague/Maria Lightner, second, made a motion to hire Mallory Christensen as Long-Term HS Spanish substitute teacher; Geoff Cowgill as HS Assistant Scholastic Bowl coach; and Tanya Dahl as district teacher. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Lori Sprague/Heather McConnell-Smith, second, made a motion to grant Maternity Leave/Unpaid Leave to Alexis Ziegler as requested and Unpaid Leave of Absence for Regina Moss for the remainder of the school year. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Dick Logue/Cory White, second, made a motion to select First Midstate Inc as Underwriter/Placement Agent and Chapman and Cutler LLP as Bond/Disclosure Counsel to the Underwriter/Placement Agent with respect ot the District’s General Obligation Bonds and General Obligation Refunding Bond as proposed. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong yes.

Maria Lightner/Lori Sprague, second, made a motion to approve a Resolution abating a portion of the tax for the year 2020 to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Refunding Bonds Series 2012 for Argenta-Oreana CUSD #1 as presented. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Maria Lightner/Lori Sprague, second, made a motion to approve a Resolution abating a portion of the tax for the year 2020 to pay principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds series 2017A for Argenta-Oreana CUSD #1 as presented. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Dick Logue/Lori Sprague, made a motion to adopt the Final Tax Levy as presented. The roll vote: Maria Lightner yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Maria Lightner/Cory White, second, made a motion to keep closed session minutes confidential and not for public inspection. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Heather McConnell-Smith/Jeff Schroetlin, second, made a motion to table Board Policy 4.180 PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS; MANAGEMENT; AND RECOVERY, and approve all other policies as presented. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-no; Dick Logue-no; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-no; Cory White-no; and Todd Armstrong-no.

Lori Sprague/Maria Lightner, second, made a motion to approve board policies 2.220 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING PROCEDURE; 2.250E2 IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE DISTRICT PUBLIC RECORDS AND WEB POSTED REPORTS AND RECORDS; 2.260 UNIFORM GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE; 2.260AP1 GUIDELINES FOR INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS FILED UNDER POLICY 2.260 UNIFORM GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, AND MISCONDUCT; 2.265 TITLE IX SEXUAL HARASSMENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE; 2.265AP1 TITLE IX SEXUAL HARASSMENT RESPONSE; 4.180 PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS; MANAGEMENT; AND RECOVERY; 5.10 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND MINORITY RECRUITMENT; 5.20 WORKPLACE HARASSMENT PROHIBITED; 7.10 EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES; 7.10AP1 ACCOMMODATING TRANSGENDER STUDENTS OR GENDER NON-CONFORMING STUDENTS; 7.20 HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS PROHIBITED; 7.20AP HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS PROHIBITED; 7.180 PREVENTION OF AND RESPONSE TO BULLYING, INTIMIDATION, AND HARASSMENT; 7.185 TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PROHIBITED; 7.190 STUDENT BEHAVIOR; 7.190AP2 STUDENT HANDBOOK-GANG ACTIVITY PROHIBITED; 7.190AP5 STUDENT HANDBOOK-ELECTRONIC DEVICES; 7.340 STUDENT RECORDS; 7.340AP1E1 NOTICE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND STUDENTS OF THEIR RIGHTS CONCERNING A STUDENT’S SCHOOL RECORDS; 7.345 USE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES; STUDENT DATA PRIVACY AND SECURITY. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-no; Heather McConnell-Smith-no; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Maria Lightner/Lori Sprague, second, made a motion to approve the Health Life Safety Amendment for Kimler Gym Replacement as presented. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Lori Sprague/Jeff Schroetlin, second, made a motion to approve the bid for demolition of Kimler Gym by Spirtas Wrecking Company for $272,720. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Information on the design by BLDD was presented.

Cory White/Maria Lightner, second, made a motion to approve the Treasurer Bond & Working Cash Fund Bond renewal as presented. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

Maria Lightner/Dick Logue, second, made a motion to adjourn at 6:51 p.m. The roll vote: Maria Lightner-yes; Dick Logue-yes; Jeff Schroetlin-yes; Heather McConnell-Smith-yes; Lori Sprague-yes; Cori White-yes; and Todd Armstrong-yes.

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1072752/Dec_20_Bd_Minutes.pdf