Quincy Reporter

Mendon Community Unit School District 4 Board of Education met May 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

1. Call To Order

Arnsman - Duesterhaus - Duke - Farmer - Fleer - Humke - Janssen (all present)

Supt. Riddle and Bus. Mngr. Whelan (present)

Admins Dorethy-Ellerman-Klusmeyer (attended via zoom)

2. Approval of Agenda Motion:Fleer 2nd: Duke Vote: approved 7-0

Add: Julie Logan elem teacher - Change order for plumbing - PSIC renewal

3. Public Participation - Visitor and Comments (3 min. limit)

3.1 Special Recognition

3.1.1 Eli Mittermeyer -. Student of the Month

3.2 Visitors (all attended via zoom)

3.2.1 Shannon Whitehead - Senior Class Sponsor addressed the board

3.2.2 Ron Frericks - QFB Energy

3.2.3 Josh Arnsman

3.3 Correspondence

3.3.1 

Closed Session - The Board will enter Closed Session to discuss. A) tile appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees , specific individuals who serve as independent contractors, or specific volunteers of the School District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on complaint lodged against and employee, a specific individual who serve,as an independent contractor, 01· a volunteer of the 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; C) the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the District; D) the setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the District; E) the sale or purchase of securities, investments, or investment contracts; F) emergency security procedures; G) student disciplinary cases; H) the placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students; I) pending, probable, or imminent litigation; J) evaluation of attorney; K) approval of certain closed session minutes for distribution to the public; or other matters appropriate tor a closed meeting pursuant to the Open Meetings Act An Additional Closed Session may be necessary if all discussions are not concluded prior to returning to Open Session. Entered 7:55 PM Returned to Open Session 8:38 PM

4. Consent Agenda Motion: Janssen 2nd: Fleer Vote: approved 7-0

4.1 Approve April 15, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes

4.2 Approve Bills and Activity Fund Reports

4.3 Approve Bills Payable

4.4 Approve Fund Balances

4 5 Approve End of Month Report for Previous Month

5. Administrative and Committee Reports

5.1 Principal Reports

Mr. Dorethy shared the virtual graduation was nearly complete with only a handful of seniors left to record. This is still plan 8 at this point unless the governor does not allow relaxation of rules. The pick up and drop off went well for student materials. Mr. Klusmeyer shared the 8th grade promotion video has been shared on line. Mr. Ellerman said the staff was sad they did not get to "really" say goodbye to their students.

5.2 Business Manager Report (Financial Dashboard) The district is doing well and on track for the year.

5.3 Special Education Coordinator

5.4 Superintendent Report

This month has been almost the longest month we have had in a while. but at the same time has flown by with all the different bits of information and directives that have come from the governor, ISBE. IASA, IASB, as well as legal firms and insurance companies. The guiding factors for us as a district will be the legal and insurance guidance we receive as these will determine the "health" of our district in the long term. We will also prepare using the best guidance we receive on how to keep our students and staff safe and healthy.

The Governor's Restore Illinois plan places the return to physical school buildings in Phase 4 of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire state is currently experiencing Phase 2, but different regions around the state may reach Phase 4 at different times. You may have heard me say already that schools and districts should have a plan A, plan B, and plan C. When students return to physical school buildings, in - person instruction most likely w ill not look like it traditionally has before. Three of the main options we will explore are transitioning back to in-person instruction with social distancing, elearning (not remote learning) , and a hybrid of both in-person and elearning. All of these bring with them unique challenges. The main goal we are hearing across the nation/world is to limit the number of children in school buildings. At this point we are in the exploration phase of all of these options as I feel it is best to pause until we hear more from the governor and the legislature on plans moving forward.

Financially we are heading into an unknown time. known in some ways as we have experienced lack of funding before. Unknown in the aspect there are many variables that will come into play for funding for the 2020-21 SY. We are funded both through federal and state grants which at this point have not been determined. We are also funded with local funding through taxes and again we do not know the impact on the collection and amount of taxes we will actually receive due to COVID19. All factors point to being extremely conservative in budgeting.

I have met with our staff collectively and individually by buildings this past week via zoom. We shared together on how remote learning went these past two months. We discussed what we saw as positives and where we saw areas needing change. There was some very honest and insightful feedback provided. We also met and discussed next year and the possible scenarios we may face. It was a stark discussion which was sobering and somewhat depressing for some. But. the message I focused on was Unity School District wil l work together to provide the best educational experience we can for our students no matter what circumstances we are faced with next year. We finished the meeting by honoring the years of service to our district by staff. We have three I would like to highlight: Theresa Mast

- PreK teacher, Brad Voth - Drivers Ed Instructor both who have 20 years with Unity. We have one individual with 30 years of service to the Unity School District. Kathy Hoener - 5th, grade teacher!!! We had two retirees this year. Bill Nisbet - bus driver for 16 years and Bill Dorethy - HS principal for 15 years.

5.5 Building and Grounds Committee

5 6 Curriculum Committee

5.7 Finance Committee - met May 18

5.8 Policy Committee

5.9 Technology Committee

5.10 Transportation Committee

5.11 Public Relations Committee

6 Action Items

6.1 Approve any matter discussed in Executive Session as necessary, and limited to those matters authorized for discussion in Executive Session by motion of the Board and/or Personnel List

Approved 6-0 Janssen absent

MS Spec Ed Cross Categorical teacher Denise Presser and Julie Logan Elem teacher

6.2 Consider and take action on dairy bid for 2020-21 SY

Approved 7 -0

Prairie Farms

6.3 Consider and take action on bread bid for 2020-21 SY

Approved 6-0 Janssen absent

Kohl Who/es ale

6.4 Consider and take action on pest control bid for 2020-21 SY

Approved 7-0

Reliable Pest Contra/

6.5 Consider and take action on kitchen equipment bids

Approved 7 -0

Approve highest bid for al/ advertised equipment

6.6 Consider and take action on Energy Project Proposal

Approved 7 -0

Addition of drop ceiling and selection of RAB light fixtures

6.7 Consider and take action on temporary suspension of Policy 6:300 for the class of 2020

Approved 7 -0

Allows for COV/O19 Impact and allowances by ISBE

6.8 Consider and take action on the Class of 2020 Senior Trip Tabled

Consideration of use of funds was tabled until more is known from state

6.9 Consider and take action on PSIC renewal for 2020-21

Approved 6-0 Janssen absent

Even w ith the increase we are trending below most other insurance coops or companies

6.10 Consider and take action on Admin. Policy 4.180-AP3

Informational only for the board

Allows for COV/O19 Impact paying salaries from grants and is an administrative po/icy only

6.11 Consider and take action on Plumbing Change order

Approved 6-0 Janssen absent

Approve only the installation change order and not the removal of piping

7. Information Items

7.1 Elementary construction update

8. Adjournment

8.1 Adjournment 8:40 pm

8.2 Next Meeting - The next Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, in the Unity High School Band Room at 6:00 p.m.

http://www.cusd4.com/uploads/4/1/9/5/41958557/3550_001.pdf