Sangamon Sun

Ball-Chatham Community Unified School District 5 Board of Education met Jan. 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

OPEN SESSION

2.1 Call Meeting to Order - Board President Tiffani Saunders called the meeting to order at 6:33 PM.

2.2 Pledge of Allegiance - All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2.3 Roll Call - Assistant Superintendent Jen Farnsworth called roll. Bryant, Calderon, Murphy, Phipps, Rediger, Strahle, and Saunders were present. Superintendent, Dr. Becca Lamon, was also present.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

3.1 Approval of Agenda - Board member Ann Strahle moved to approve the agenda for the January 24, 2024, regular meeting. Upon said motion being seconded by Bryant, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

3.2 Action Items from Closed Session - 

Board President Saunders called for a motion to approve the closed session minutes of December 20, 2023. Calderon moved to approve the closed session minutes of December 20, 2023. Upon said motion being seconded by Rediger, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

COMMUNICATIONS

4.1 Leadership Recognition - The Board recognized Shelley Lynch and Jennifer Lewis.  Shelley served as the President of BCESPA for the past two years and Jennifer Served as the Treasurer for BCEA for the past two years.  Thank you for your leadership and service to the district.

4.2 Girl Scout Presentation - Junior Girl Scout Troop 6971 represents both the Chatham and Rochester communities and recently completed a Bronze Award Project in partnership with GIS and RIS counseling offices. The Bronze Award is the highest award scouts can achieve in their age group (5th grade) and is a project that must have a sustainable positive impact on their communities. The following scouts shared details about their project with the Board - Bella Brittin, Zoe Cormier, Ruby Funderburg, Elle Snyder, and Genevieve Utterback.  Their Project entitled Hey! Yay! Be Ok! focused on social-emotional health to redeuce student anxiety.

4.3 State Coach of the Year - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the state coaches of the year. Our own Mike Garber was named the Illinois Coach of the year! Read all about it here - https://www.ustfccca.org/2024/01/featured/2023-ustfccca-high-school-state-cross-country-coaches-of-the-year

4.4 Citizens- Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning any Agenda Topic - No visitors spoke on agenda items.

CONSENT ITEMS

5.1 Adoption of Consent Agenda Items - Board President Saunders called for a motion to adopt the consent agenda items.  Bryant 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."

5.2 Minutes of Regular Board Meeting, December 20, 2023

5.3 Minutes of Policy Committee Meeting, January 8, 2023

5.4 Minutes of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Meeting, January 9, 2023

5.5 Minutes of Facilities and Grounds Committee Meeting, January 10, 2023

5.6 Minutes of Finance Committee Meeting, January 16, 2023

5.7 Treasurer/Financial Report

5.8 School District Accounts Payable

5.9 School Activity Account Reports

5.10 FOIA Requests

5.11 Resolution to Dispose of Surplus and Non-Salvageable Equipment

PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

6.1 Adoption of Consent Personnel Agenda Items - Board President Saunders asked if any board member would like to pull any personnel consent agenda items for further discussion. None were noted. She then called for a motion to approve the personnel consent agenda items as presented. Bryant moved to approve the personnel consent agenda items as presented. Upon said motion being seconded by Redinger, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

6.2 Resignations

6.3 New Hires

6.4 Retirements

6.5 Transfers

6.6 Leaves of Absence

NEW BUSINESS

7.1 GMS Social Studies Resource Adoption - It was the recommendation of the Administration to approve the grades 7-8 Social Studies Curriculum Resources for the purchase price of $92,945.90 from Cengage Learning.  The Board President called for a motion to approve the adoption of the Middle Social Studies curriculum. Rediger moved to approve the curriculum adoption as presented. Upon said motion being seconded by Calderon, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

7.2 Bid for GHS Track - To administration requested to approve the bid for the Glenwood High  School track replacement project to Byrne and Jones Construction out of St. Louis, Mo. Byrne and Jones has a long history of installing and replacing sports tracks and is an ideal candidate for this type of work. In addition, they are the same contractor that replaced the track at Glenwood Middle School in 2022.  The overall cost of the project is estimated at $638,889 which includes all architectural fees and a 5% contingency to cover any unforeseen conditions.  There is also a unit price of $124.00/Sq. Ft. for any milling needs that may be exposed once the old track is removed. The project is scheduled to begin in May 2024 with a substantial completion date of August 2, 2024. The Board President called for a motion to approve the bid for the GHS Track replacement. Calderon moved to approve the motion as presented. Upon said motion being seconded by Phipps, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

7.3 Bid for GHS Roof Replacement Project (Phase III) - The Administration recommended the approval of awarding the GHS Roof Replacement Project (Phase III) to the Henson Robinson Company. The overall cost of the project is $944,658 which includes a 5% contingency and all architectural fees. The project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024 with a substantial completion date of August 1, 2024. The roof will have a 30-year warranty. The Board President called for a motion to approve the bid for the GHS roof replacement (Phase III). Bryant moved to approve the motion as presented. Upon said motion being seconded by Calerdon, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

7.4 District Hazardous Walk Zones - Dr. Lamon presented the Serious Safety Hazards walk zones for GES, GIS, GMS, and GHS for students who live within the 1.5-mile radius of these school buildings.  Deeming these locations as Serious Safety Hazards allows the district to provide bussing for students in these areas. The Board President called for a motion to approve the Serious Safety Hazard Zones. Rediger moved to approve the motion as presented. Upon said motion being seconded by Strahle, the Board President called for a vote. All board members voted "yes."

7.5 First Reading of PRESS Policies and District Reviewed Policies - The first reading of the following policies were presented to the Board as an information item on the agenda.

4:005 - Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items covered in other policies.

4:031 - Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items covered in Policy 8:080

4:032 - Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items covered in other policies.

4:041- Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items will be added to Policy 4:040.

4:042- Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items will be added to Policy 4:040.

4:081 - Legal reference update.

4:151 - Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items covered in other policies.

4:152 - Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items covered in other policies.

4:153 - Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items covered in other policies.

4:154 - Remove policy.  Not a PRESS policy.  Items covered in policy 8:30.

5:330 - Sick Days, Vacation, Holidays, and Leaves - minor formatting and language changes were made in response to a PRESS update.  The Child Extended Bereavement Act was added per law that went into effect on January 1, 2024.

6:015 - School Accountability - minor word changes in response to PRESS update

6:030 - Organization of Instruction - Update to legal references

6:050 - School Wellness - Updates to PRESS policy and the addition of some missing language.

6:060 - Updated to PRESS policy

6:230 - Correction to PRESS policy

7:060 - Updates to PRESS policy and removal of Non-Resident Student Admission language

COMMUNICATIONS

8.1 GHS Presentation on eHallpass - GHS administration (Green, Kwedar and Fletcher) provided an overview of the e-Hallpass program and the data that has been collected about the program for the 1st semester of 2023-2024.  145,000 instructional minutes have been gained back for students during the first semester.  A 20% decrease in Unexcused Absences was noted during the first semester of 2023-2024.

8.2 ESSER - 6-month update - Assistant Superintendent Farnsworth provided an overview of how the remaining ESSER funds are planned to be spent before September 30, 2024.

8.3 Curriculum and Instruction Annual Report - Assistant Superintendent Farnsworth provided an overview of the work in progress for the 2023-2024 school year that addresses items in the Strategic Plan and Portraits of a Graduate and Educator.  Staff have had training this year on the utilization of data reviews to improve instructional strategies.  A district ELL team has been formed.  Staff are providing more secondary instruction.  BCSD is in talks with UIS to become part of the Restorative Schools Network and GHS will be offering students the opportunity to earn the  Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy

8.4 Future Board Meeting Dates / Dates for 2023/2024 SY - Future Board meetings were shared, including an addition that was not on the agenda for a Closed Session on Monday, January 29 for negotiation prep and personnel matters.

Monday, February 5, 2024 at 5:30-7:30 PM - Policy Committee - District Office

Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 4:00 PM - Finance Committee - District Office

Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 4:00 PM - Facilities and Grounds Meeting - District Office

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 6:30 PM (Open Session) - Regular Board of Education Meeting - District Office

8.5 Citizens - Opportunity for Visitors to Address the School Board Concerning Any Topic - Rollo Saucier spoke on behalf of the Friends of the Park to thank all of the BCSD students who helped volunteer their time to set up and tear down Light the Park.  Justin Sinner shared his thoughts on Christmas celebrations.

ADJOURNMENT

9.1 Adjournment of Regular Meeting

Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 Board of Education Agenda - With no further business, the Board President called for a motion to adjourn. Calderon moved to adjourn, seconded by Phipps. All board members voted "yes."

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