Macon Reporter

Meridian Community Unit School District 15 Board Met July 19.

Here are 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 Monte Hogan called the  meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. The following Members were in attendance: Monte Hogan, Chris Jones, Rebecca Kraft, Matt Roush and Kara Morey Members Herbert and Gorden were absent. Also in attendance were: Andy Pygott, Superintendent; Mindy McGuire, Middle School Principal; Lori Guebert, Elementary Principal; Kaleb Renfro, Athletic Director; Michelle Miller, Recording Secretary.  

Administrator Reports: 

Pre-K screenings will be held again on August 5. 

Back to School Night will be held on August 17 for the elementary students. 

On-line registration is open. August 3 is registration for new students and August 5 is registration for returning student who do not have access to the internet to register online. Payments can be made  online from the Meridian website or taken to the school office after August 5. 6th Grade Orientation video is available to students on the website. 

Back to School Sessions for incoming freshman will be held August 11 and August 12. NHS will hold its first blood drive on August 5. 

2021-2022 sports schedules are completed and can be viewed on 8to18 available on the Meridian website. 

Repair on the gym floor has been completed and looks good. 

Kaleb has arranged for the Macon Fire Department to cover football games this season as the Decatur Ambulance Service informed the district they would be unavailable. 

Congratulations to the following athletes: 

Drew Hurelbrink on his 3rd place finish in Class 1A track meet in high jump. 

Anna Enlow and Katy Hendricks-1st Team Unanimous Softball 

Audrey Wise and Lyric Greenwood- 2nd Team Softball 

Mitch Ripple- 1st Team Baseball 

Austin Clark- 2nd Team Baseball 

Lucas Clapp and Dylan Daughtery- Honorable Mention Baseball 

Superintendent: 

The District Tuition Waiver application was received by the State Board and will be presented to the General Assembly this fall. 

The wireless tower at RCC was replaced and the district is back to both wireless and fiber connectivity. The Board will meet at 5:00 p.m., prior to the August 9 Board meeting, to tour the facilities.

On a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Morey, the Board approved the consent agenda  which consists of June minutes, June financials and July disbursements as follows: Education $112,900.34 Building $46,252.12 

Transport $1,160.47 Tort $19,238.04 

Life Safety $5,603.68 TOTAL $185,154.65(does not include payroll) Also included was the resignation of Gary Cecil as elementary aide; Taylor Kircher as MDL/HS aide; and  the retirement of Adele Meyer, cook. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

The budget analysis was reviewed as well as the projected FY22 budget. 

The first reading of board policies revisions was presented. 

A Return to School Plan will need to be completed for the 2021-2022 school year and presented for approval at the August meeting. 

The district will also need to complete an ARP Funds Plan for grant compliance. 

Member Kraft expressed concerns she has with the current legal counsel for the district. On a motion by Member Jones, seconded by Member Morey, the Board appointed Tracy, Braun, Funk and Miller as legal counsel for the school district for the 2021-2022 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote 4-1 with Member Kraft voting nay. 

Peoples Bank of Macon, First National Bank of Pana and Busey Bank were approved as district depositors for the 21-22 school year on a motion by Member Jones, seconded by Member Morey.  Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Kraft, Prairie Farms was approved as the district’s milk provider for the 2021-2022 school year and tabled action on the food provider for 2021- 2022 at this time. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

The facilities request from Blue Mound Fall Festival was approved as presented on a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Jones. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

The Board approved the proposal of architectural services from UpChurch Group, Inc for the Meridian High School greenhouse project as presented on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member  Morey. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Kraft, a cooperative agreement between  Meridian High School and Central A&M High School for boys’ and girls’ soccer was approved as  presented. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

The JFL was given permission to begin practice and the official facilities request will be presented at the August board meeting.

The meeting adjourned to executive session at 7:36 p.m. on a motion by Member Kraft, seconded by Member Morey, 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 5-0. 

Member Roush, seconded by Member Morey, motioned to return to open session at 8:55 p.m. Motion  carried 5-0. 

BreAnna Adams was approved as high school cheerleading coach for the 2021-2022 school year on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Jones. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

Annette Meisenhelter was approved as Elementary Special Education Aide for the 2021-2022 school year on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Jones. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5- 0. 

Member Roush, seconded by Member Kraft, motioned to approve Leslie Wolpert as Elementary RTI  Aide for the 2021-2022 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

The Board re-hired the following coaches: Micah Sheppard, HS boys’ track; Ponce Palmer, HS baseball; Denna Williams, HS girls’ track; Greg Streeval, HS softball and Ashley Dawson, HS girls’ soccer, on a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Kraft. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

Carla Rambo was hired as a cook for the 2021-2022 school year on a motion by Member Roush,  seconded by Member Jones. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

On a motion by Member Jones, seconded by Member Roush, Kaleb Renfro was approved as interim  high school girls’ basketball coach for 2021-2022 school year. Motion carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

The Board approved Phil Stielow, Tricia Campbell, Shiela Rambo, Matt O’Brien and Jennifer Scorzak for  the Summer Technology Crew on a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Roush. Motion  carried on a roll call vote 5-0. 

Member Jones, seconded by Member Roush, motioned to approve Kyle Woolington and John Enlow as  volunteer coaches for middle school baseball for 2021-2022 school year. Motion carried on a roll call  vote 5-0. 

The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m. on a motion by Member Roush, seconded by Member Kraft. The  next regularly scheduled meeting will be August 9, 6:30 p.m. 

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1459470/7-19-21_minutes.pdf