Quincy Reporter

West Central Community Unit School District 235 Board of Education met Dec. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting was called to order by President Schaley at 6:02 p.m. in the elementary cafeteria. The following board members answered roll call: Bigger, Chockley, Clark, Gullberg, Higgins, Schaley, and Vancil. President Schaley declared a quorum present. Also present were Superintendent Day, J. Shultz, K. Lafary, B. Taylor, B. Kugler, J. Kirby, J. Zaiser, and J. Hennings. Board Member Chockley left the meeting at 6:42 p.m., and returned to the meeting at 8:00 p.m.

President Schaley then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

GOOD NEWS ITEMS

WC hosted their annual music concerts, which were amazing!

Music Boosters hosted a "Pizza for Playgrounds" before the concerts with a free-will donation to go towards a new elementary playground.

The district received a memorial donation from the family of Nancy Tenant. The $20,000 memorial is to be split between the Athletic and Music departments.

Thank you to the Crossing Church of Monmouth and the Prisman Family for serving dinner to the Board and Administrators prior to the meeting.

APPROVE AGENDA

Motion by Clark, seconded by Gullberg to approve the agenda with the addition of 12C. Student Discipline, as presented. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

There were no comments from the public.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Clark, seconded by Gullberg to approve the consent agenda including the following items:

The minutes of the regular meeting of November 13, 2024;

Closed Session minutes of November 13, 2024;

The payment of all bills;

All activity accounts;

The treasurer's report for November 2024;

The approval of Press Plus Issue 117 on second reading;

On roll call the following members voted aye: Chockley, Clark, Gullberg, Higgins, Schaley, Vancil and Bigger. 7-0 Motion carried.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

We received one FOIA request during the last month: SmartProcure requesting vendor, materials and cost information for items purchased over the last three months.

Board Members Clark and Bigger and Superintendent Day provided a follow-up to the Triple I Conference they attended in November. All three recommended other board members to attend the conference if possible in the future as there are a lot of great sessions and an opportunity to learn from other districts around the state.

Superintendent Day presented the Board with information about the new Vision 2030 policy plan by IASA, IASB, IPA and IASBO. Board Members were encouraged to read the information provided and look for additional information on both the IASB and IASA website (www.iasb.com and www.iasaedu.org). In January the Board will consider adopting a resolution in support of Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is the follow-up to Vision 2020, which is what allowed for the change in education funding in Illinois. The hope is that Vision 2030 allows for additional changes in PreK-12 public education in Illinois to better the education system for our students, staff and community members.

Superintendent Day presented expenditure and fund balance information on our Education, O&M and Transportation Funds in order to comply with the Operational Funds Reserve law that is new to FY25. Comparing our last three years of expenses in each fund to the FY24 fund balances of those funds, we currently have less than 2.5 times the fund balance compared to expenses, which means there is nothing we need to do, except report the information at a Board meeting. If we were at or above that 2.5 limit, we would be required to write a fund balance reduction plan. We will report this information each December.

A discussion was held about the urgent need for additional bus drivers. We will place ads in the Quill, on Facebook, consider additional radio ads to help get the word out about the need. Without additional drivers, our district will need to consider other options to make sure our students arrive at school safe and on-time. Without at least 10 daily bus route drivers, we have to run double routes or consider not sending a bus to pick-up students. We encourage everyone who may be interested in learning more about becoming a bus driver to contact our District Transportation Director.

REPORTS

The Board reviewed and heard reports from the Building Principals K. Lafary, B. Kugler, and J. Kirby. District Technology Coordinator Jeremy Hennings. High School Athletic Director Joel Zaiser.

ACTION ITEMS

Motion by Clark, seconded by Schaley to approve the 2024 Tax Levy for a total levy amount of $7,289,779.00 (not including the bond amounts). The District's unaudited balances on June 30, 2024, Fund 10 - $8,649,219. Fund 20 - $2,410,741, Fund 30 - $95,597, Fund 40 - $854,906, Fund 50- $400,840 Fund 60 - $42,695, Fund 70 - $1,083,587, Fund 80 - $472,850, and Fund 90 - $648,424. On roll call the following board members voted aye: Clark, Gullberg, Higgins, Schaley, Vancil, and Bigger. 7-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Clark to approve the The District Cardiac Response Plan as presented. On roll call the following board members voted aye: Gulberg, Higgins, Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, and Clark. 7-0 Motion carried.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

The Board was reminded to contact President Schaley or Superintendent Day to request future agenda items.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Clark to adjourn to closed meeting pursuant of the Illinois Open Meetings Act - 5ILCS 120/2 (2) (16) at 7:21 p.m. to discuss the following subjects:

A. Personnel - The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity;

B. Negotiations - Collective negotiating matters between the school board and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

C. Student Issues - The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.

Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

The Board took a short break and reconvened in the District Office Conference Room at 7:26 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Bigger, Clark, Gullberg, Higgins, Schaley, and Vancil. Also present was S. Day.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Chockley to return to open session at 7:58 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Bigger, Clark, Gullberg, Higgins, Schaley and Vancil. 6-0 Motion carried.

The Board took a short break and reconvened in the elementary cafeteria at 8:02 p.m. On roll call the following members answered roll call: Bigger, Chockley, Clark, Gullberg, Higgins, Schaley and Vancil.

Motion by Clark, seconded by Vancil to approve the fall coach rehires.

On roll call the following members voted aye: Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, Clark, Gullberg, and Higgins. Board Member Chockley abstained. 6-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Bigger, seconded by Clark to approve the personnel items.

On roll call the following members voted aye: Schaley, Vancil, Bigger, Clark, Gullberg, and Higgins. Board Member Chockley abstained. 6-0 Motion carried.

Motion by Clark, seconded by Bigger to approve the resolution to release closed session minutes per exhibits A and B and destroy the verbatim recordings per exhibit C, as presented. On roll call the following members voted aye: Vancil, Bigger, Clark, Gullberg, Higgins, and Schaley. Board Member Chockley abstained. 6-0 Motion carried.

FUTURE MEETING DATE

The Board was reminded that the next regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Vancil, seconded by Clark to adjourn at 8:04 p.m. Majority of Ayes by Voice Vote. Motion carried.

https://www.wc235.k12.il.us/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/66aa8d0806ceb/Regular%20Meeting%20Mins.%2012.18.24.pdf