Sangamon Sun

Ball-Chatham Community Unified School District 5 Board of Education met Oct. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

REGULAR MEETING BALL-CHATHAM COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #5 - Closed Session - 5:15 p.m.; Regular Session - 6:30 p.m. (Wednesday, October 25, 2023) 

2. OPEN SESSION

Procedural: 2.1 Call Meeting to Order

Board President Tiffani Saunders called the regular meeting to order.

Procedural: 2.2 Pledge of Allegiance

All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Action: 2.3 Roll Call

Board Clerk Ashley Pennell called roll. Bryant, Calderon, Murphy, Phipps, Rediger, Strahle, and Saunders were present. Superintendent, Dr. Becca Lamon, was also present.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Action: 3.1 Approval of Agenda

Board President Saunders called for a motion to approve the agenda for the meeting of October 25, 2023. 

Bryant move to approve the agenda for the meeting of October 25, 2023. Upon said motion being seconded by Calderon, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

Action: 3.2 Action Items from Closed Session

Board President Saunders called for a motion to approve the closed session minutes of September 27, 2023.

Reidger moved to approve the closed session minutes of September 27, 2023. Upon said motion being seconded by Strahle, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

4. COMMUNICATIONS

Recognition: 4.1 2023 GMS Boys Baseball - State Champions

Mr. Kendall Gibson, GMS Athletic Director, announced that it is a privilege to recognize our GMS 3A State Champion Baseball team.  Under the leadership of Head Coach, John Hummel, and Assistant Coach, Nino Mattera, our baseball team brought home first place on their trip to Bloomington. In the State Tournament, this team battled through each game. They won each of their games in the final innings. They capped the tournament off with a 10-inning victory over Bloomington Evans by a score of 3-2. They finished their season with 17 wins and 6 losses. The members of the State Championship Roster are: Cole Woodward, Kody Sherwood, Connor Wietfeldt, Hunter Johnston, Charlie Tinsley, Gavin Conyer, Chase Ostermeier, Logan Osmonson, Ashton Hummel, Landon Leach, Owen Jones, Leyton Chopra, Kaleb Pennell, Laken Chabak, Calin Hinds, Brody Doan, Cameron Murphy, Carson Walkington, and Harken Clutts.

Recognition: 4.2 CACC Students of the Month

Dr. Andrea Rediger announced the students who were selected as CACC student of the Month for September in their area of study. The following were recognized: Trinity Caldwell - Audio/Video Production, Cooper Argo - Automotive Technology and Servicing, Lexi Daniels - Nursing Assistant, Ariana McNeill -  Nursing Assistant, Cade McNeill - Nursing Assistant, Erin Poani - Medical Assistant, Alex Braasch - Cosmetology, Brailynn Phillips - Cosmetology, Abigail House - Culinary Arts, Easton Martin - Fire Science, Jackson Dour - It Networking and Cybersecurity II, Camdyn Wood-Morris - Law Enforcement, Austin Harting - Welding II, and Claire Collins - Workplace Experience.

Presentation: 4.3 GMS Math: Big Ideas

Ms. Christine Lehnen, GMS Principal, shared the new math resources for the 2023-24 school year. She announced that they are using Big Ideas Math that uses hands on-experiences and allows the students to apply them to mathematical practices. She also shared that the lessons and instruction put emphasis on and allows for discovery-based instruction. Ms. Chelsea Cox provided a lesson to the board that she uses with her students on discovering algebraic rules for rotations. The presentation can be viewed here: GMS Math Big Ideas

Presentation: 4.4 Facilities and Grounds Presentation

Mr. Mike Dobbs, Director of Facilities and Grounds, provided his annual report. In this presentation he noted the completed projects for 2022-23, current projects for 2023-24, recommended projects for 2023-24 and potential projects for 2023-24. Ms. Dobbs shared the organizational chart for Facilities and Grounds and shared the number of custodians per school. He noted that the work orders had a completion rate of 90%. He shared the Health Life Safety Report card from the last 5 years, but indicated that this year, is still being completed. He then opened the floor for questions from the board. None were noted. The presentation can be viewed here: Facilities and Grounds Presentation

Information: 4.5 Class Size

Dr. Becca Lamon provided an overview of class size to the board. In this presentation she shared that class size is determined with the guidance of policy 6:200, and that decisions on class size for the following year are based on data in March and adjusted as student enrollment changes until the next school year starts. Dr. Lamon noted the currently elementary numbers. She shared that when elementary class sizes exceed the suggested class size four steps are taken: verifying of enrollments, examining time spent in the classroom by all students, considering moving students to another attendance center, and adding a teacher if enrollment exceeds the recommendation and steps 1-3 have no impact. Dr. Lamon shared that they will be starting student registration earlier to help determine the number of students sooner. The presentation can be viewed here: Class Size 

Information: 4.6 Citizens- Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning any Agenda Topic

None were noted.

5. CONSENT ITEMS

Action: 5.1 Adoption of Consent Agenda Items

Board President Saunders asked if any board members would like to pull any consent agenda items for further discussion. None were noted. She then called for a motion to approve the consent agenda items as presented. 

Calderon moved to approve the consent agenda items as presented. Upon said motion being seconded by Strahle, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes." 

Action (Consent),Minutes: 5.2 Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, September 27, 2023

Minutes,Information: 5.3 Minutes of Facilities and Grounds Committee Meeting, October 11, 2023

Minutes,Information: 5.4 Minutes of Finance Committee Meeting, October 17, 2023

Action (Consent): 5.5 Treasurer/Financial Report

Action (Consent): 5.6 School District Accounts Payable

Action (Consent): 5.7 School Activity Account Reports

Action (Consent),Information: 5.8 Second Reading of Reviewed District Policies

Information: 5.9 FOIA Requests

Action (Consent): 5.10 Show Choir and Jazz Ensemble Travel

6. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

Action: 6.1 Adoption of Consent Personnel Agenda Items

Board President Saunders asked if anyone would like to pull any items out of Personnel Consent for further discussion. None were noted. She then called for a motion to approve the personnel consent agenda items as presented. 

Rediger moved to approve the personnel consent agenda items as presented. Upon said motion being seconded by Bryant, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

Action (Consent): 6.2 Resignations

Action (Consent): 6.3 New Hires

Action (Consent): 6.4 Retirements

None

Action (Consent): 6.5 Transfers

None

Action (Consent): 6.6 Leaves of Absence

7. NEW BUSINESS

Action: 7.1 School Maintenance Project Grant

The administration is recommending BOE approval for submission to Illinois State Board of Education for School Maintenance Grant in the amount $50,000.00. ISBE required formal BOE approval as part of the grant application process. The District has received these grant monies in FY23, FY22, FY 20, FY14 and FY12. Monies have been made available again for this initiative. The grant requires 1:1 matching dollars. This grant will be used for the GHS lighting project. Board President Saunders called for a motion on the recommended action.

Bryant moved to approve the School Maintenance Project Grant between Ball-Chatham and Illinois State Board of Education as presented below. Upon said motion being seconded by Rediger, the Board President called for a vote.  All board members voted "yes."

8. COMMUNICATIONS

Information: 8.1 Future Board Meeting Dates / Dates for 2023/2024 SY

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 4:00 PM - Facilities and Grounds Meeting - District Office

Monday, November 20, 2023 at 5:30 PM - Policy Committee - District Office

Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 4:00 PM - Finances Committee - District Office

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 6:30 PM (Open Session) - Regular Board of Education Meeting - District Office

Information: 8.2 Citizens - Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning Any Topic

Julie McAlister, BCEA President, voiced her concern regarding the payroll issue that happened on October 6th. She also was the voice for the substitutes who only received a weeks worth of pay after the pay period was changed with no notification. 

Jessica Ogden, CES Teacher, shared the issue that she had with the October 6th payroll stating that she did not receive her pay until the Tuesday following the pay date. 

Mary Meisner, CES Teacher, shared how she witnessed all of the staff being stressed out after not receiving their checks throughout the day. 

Carrie Jeffries, Previous CES Teacher and Parent, voiced her concern regarding transportation issues. She also shared there was no communication that her student would be have to provide a breath-a-lizer at homecoming number times. She also voiced her disappointment in the payroll issue. 

Tina Greene, GIS Teacher, she shared that she is upset about having to pay out of pocket for insurance for something that should be a benefit. 

Rebecca Stork, GES Parent, voiced her concern for her student that is being bullied. 

9. ADJOURNMENT

Action: 9.1 Adjournment of Regular Meeting

Board President called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. 

Bryant moved to adjourn the regular meeting. All board members voted "yes."

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cusd5/Board.nsf/Public