Quincy Reporter

Quincy Public School District 172 Board of Education met Oct. 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

Meeting Convened

The Board of Education of School District No. 172, Adams County, Illinois, met in regular session on October 23, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Education Office, Room 214, 1416 Maine Street, Quincy, Illinois, in said school district.

Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by President Ali, who directed the secretary to call the roll. On he call of the roll, the following members were present and answered to their names: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following members were absent: None. Whereupon the President declared a quorum was present.

Moment of Silence

President Ali declared a moment of silence and reflection.

Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Ali.

Focus on Students – Good Things Going On!

Public Information Officer Bob Gough reported on Quincy Conference that was held earlier in the month. He said teachers were engaged and enjoyed the sessions. The keynote speaker sessions were well attended, even the last session on Friday afternoon. He thanked conference directors Emily Pool, Shelley Arns, Michaela Fray, and Airen O’Cheltree.

Baldwin PTA President Chrissie Duran reported on PTA activities at Baldwin including a welcome back for teachers’ night, back-to-school hot dog dinner for families, candy bar sales, book fair, and partnering with restaurants for a portion of sales. She said the PTA provides funds for field trips, technology upgrades, and numerous other staff and student needs.

Questions and Comments

President Ali opened the meeting to questions and comments to members of the Board, by members of the public and employees of the district, in compliance with state statutes.

Member Nichols reported that the Friends in Council group provided funding to add Sarah Atwater Denman’s image to the school plaque. Mrs. Denman was a member of this group that was founded in 1866.

Consent Agenda

It was moved by Member Troup and seconded by Member Arns to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:

a. Treasurer’s Report – September 2019

b. Minutes –September 25 and September 30, 2019

c. Check Register and JH/SH Activity Fund Reports

d. Acknowledge receipt of the Freedom of Information Log: September 21 through October 18, 2019 (Information Only) – None received.

On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following members voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Reports of the Superintendent

1. Staff Drawing. Two staff members were randomly selected from those who contributed to the United Way and the QPS Foundation campaigns for dinner with Superintendent Webb or a gift certificate. The United Way winner is Cami Mock, an administrative assistant at the Board Office. The QPS Foundation winner is Kelly Lammers, school nurse at QHS. Superintendent Webb noted that a record number of teachers donated to QPS Foundation this year.

2. Federal E-Rate Program. Superintendent Webb made this announcement as part of the requirements for participating in the federal E-rate program: Quincy Public Schools 172 participates in the federal E-rate program which is a program providing significant discounts on our building internet/data connections and services and for technology infrastructure. QPS is required to teach Internet Safety and to have Internet protection software in place to block access to harmful images. The District has both. QPS is required to acknowledge this in a public meeting and to ask if there are any questions or concerns about Internet Safety. Please let us know of any questions.

3. Threat Assessment Team and Protocols. Superintendent Webb explained recent amendments to the School Safety Drill Act which requires school districts to have formalized threat assessment teams and protocols. A threat assessment team will be formed at the district level to include an administrator, teacher, school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker or special education cooperative and at least one law enforcement official. The district team will be trained in the next few weeks. He said this just formalizes a process that is currently in place at the school level.

4. School Based Health Care. Member Troup presented the School Based Health Care Committee report. The committee reviewed two of the Trust Videos. These will be shown to employee groups. An update on students and family currently being served in the Hot Spotting Program was presented. The committee heard a report on the number of students who were not up to date on their immunizations and physicals by the October 15 deadline.

Building Committee

The Building Committee report was presented by Chairperson McNay. An update of punch list items for Denman and Baldwin was reviewed. Project Manager Dave Wombles was thanked and recognized for his tireless efforts on behalf of the QPS building project. Superintendent Webb presented Mr. Wombles with a Blue Devil coin.

District Improvement Committee – New Members

It was moved by Member Bailey and seconded by Member Arns to approve the following members to be added to the District Improvement Committee: Pat Arnold, Laurel Klinkenberg, Gelinda McCarty, and Rachael Petty. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following members voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Finance Committee

Chairperson McNay presented the Financial Committee report. The committee reviewed the monthly financial update, cash flow summary, check registers, and junior high/senior high activity funds. Valerie Flynn, a partner with Zumbahlen, Eyth, Surratt, Foote and Flynn, presented the district’s FY 2019 audit to the committee. There were no findings for the year ending June 30, 2019. Chief of Business Operations Ryan Whicker was highly commended for strengthening internal controls and improving review procedures. Chairperson McNay noted that last year there were four findings but in 2014, when Mr. Whicker started at QPS, there were 14 findings. The district has continued to improve each year under his guidance.

Human Relations Committee

The Human Relations Committee did not meet in October.

Policy Committee

The Policy Committee did not meet in October.

Executive Session

It was moved by Member McNay and seconded by Member Troup that the Board suspend the rules and go into executive session to discuss: a) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the School District; b) collective negotiating matters between the School District and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees; d) the sale or lease of property owned by the District; g) student disciplinary cases; i) pending, probable, or imminent litigation; and j) attorney/client privilege. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following members voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Resumption of Rules

It was moved by Member Troup and seconded by Member Arns to resume the conduct of the regular meeting under rules. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following members voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Student Discipline

It was moved by Member Troup and seconded by Member Bailey to adopt the recommendation regarding pre-expulsion agreement for one ABC Academy student, three QHS students and QJHS student. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Personnel Addendum

It was moved by Member Troup and seconded by Member Whitfield to approve the Revised Personnel Addendum. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following member voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried.

Adjournment

It was moved by Member McNay and seconded by Member Whitfield that the regular meeting adjourn. On the call of the roll, the following members voted Aye: Members Ali, Arns, Bailey, McNay, Nichols, Troup, and Whitfield; and the following members voted Nay: None. Whereupon the President declared the motion carried and the regular meeting was duly adjourned.

https://www.qps.org/wp-content/uploads/102319regmnt.pdf