June 2024 Board Minutes
June 11, 2024
The Board of Education, Community Unit School District No. 1, 149 South Elm Street, Winchester, Illinois counties of Scott, Morgan and Greene, met in regular session on Tuesday June 11, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Winchester Elementary School gymnasium.
President Steve Moore called the meeting to order with the following members answering roll call: Thad Walker, Bill Jacquot, Trista Freeman, Eric Peterson, Aaron Littig and Steve Moore. Shanna Eddinger was absent. Also attending were Superintendent Kevin Blankenship, WGS Principal Jessica Crawford, and Administrative Assistant Becky Lashmett.
BUDGET AMENDMENT HEARING
A hearing on the proposed FY24 amended budget was conducted, with no questions or comments. Littig motioned to approve as presented. Walker seconded and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
MINUTES / FINANCIALS
Littig motioned, with a second from Walker, to approve the minutes of the May 14, 2024 regular meeting. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Littig motioned, with a second from Peterson, to approve the financial reports and bills to be paid. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
Superintendent Blankenship provided a legislative update and reported the plans to focus on cost cutting over the next couple of years in response to state funding changes.
BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT
Superintendent Blankenship reported the preliminary results of the focus groups were that 36 million was ‘too much’ and the consolidation issue with Bluffs needs to be resolved. The next step is the community survey which should reach the public within a week. Results will be compiled by the consultant and reported to the Board in a Special Meeting to be held on July 23rd at 7PM.
FISCAL YEAR START-UP
Jacquot motioned, with a second from Littig to approve the FY25 start-up by affirming the existing district policies and student handbooks, approving the FY25 meeting schedule, continuing to utilize all three local banks for district funds, continuing to use Miller, Hall & Triggs as legal counsel, and reappointing Kirsten Pratt as treasurer. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
INTERCOM REPAIRS
Walker motioned, with a second from Peterson, to accept the bids of CILCOMM for intercom repairs - WGS $41,952 and WHS - $39,363; noting any equipment installed could be moved if a new building is constructed.
Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
FOUNDATION
The existing Educational Foundation has proposed a change in its bylaws to allow for equal representation between the school and the community. This will allow the annual disbursement of the Borg Scholarship in addition to the continued support of the district by the updated Scott County Community School District #1 Educational Foundation. Jacquot motioned to accept the by-law amendment and approve membership on the foundation board. Littig seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER PAY
Walker motioned, with a second from Freeman, to increase substitute teacher pay to $120 per day, with an increase to $130 after 26 days. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS / PUBLIC COMMENTS
President Moore asked the status of Freedom of Information requests, and Superintendent Blankenship reported there were none. President Moore then asked for questions or comments from the audience, and Donnie Campbell asked if the July 23rd meeting would be open to the public if surveys were being limited and was told the meeting is an open meeting and the consultants indicated it is one submission per device.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Littig motioned at 7:29 PM to enter into closed session. Peterson seconded the motion and roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Freeman motioned, with a second from Littig, to return to open session at 8:55 PM. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed. President Moore announced the purpose of the executive session was for personnel matters.
PERSONNEL ACTION
Walker motioned, with a second from Littig, to accept the resignations of Dominic LaSalle / band and Tamara Galloway / aide. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Jacqot motioned, with a second from Peterson to employ Patty Burchett / part-time custodian, Colleen Lovekamp / 1st semester Home Ec, Rae Hopkins / 2nd semester Home Ec, and Andrea Rose / 6th grade. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Walker motioned, with a second from Peterson, to approve coaches Sydney Rock / GS softball, Kelsey Mayner / HS volleyball assistant, Gabe Cox and Cole Howard as freshmen boys basketball volunteer coaches, Jamie Arnold and Reggie Smith as football volunteers. Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
Walker motioned, with Peterson providing a second, to approve a 5% salary increase for administrative staff.
Roll call vote resulted: Walker, yea; Jacquot, yea; Freeman, yea; Peterson yea; Littig, yea; and Moore, yea; there being six yeas and no nays, the motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS / ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:59 PM.
