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WC School Board Hears Enrollment Numbers Will Drop

At the Wednesday, January 16, 2019, regular board meeting of the West Central C.U.S.D. #235 Board of Education, Superintendent Markey presented the five-year enrollment projections. It is anticipated that enrollment will decline by approximately 44 students over the next five years.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.in the West Central Elementary School cafeteria by Board President Jodi Arnold. All board members were present at roll call.

President Arnold led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Under Good News Items the following items were highlighted:

• The board recognized four West Central High School Illinois State Scholars: Bradon Annegers, Kaari Durr, Molly Parsons, and Jenna Robertson.
• Parker Brownlee advanced to sectionals in bowling.
• The board recognized Miranda Gullberg, West Central #235 Speech-Language Pathologist, for receiving the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Award for Continuing Education.
• Stephanie Hilten, a 2011 West Central graduate, has been recognized as one of the 20 Under 40 by the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Stephanie earned her B. A. in Communication from WIU in 2015 and is the Director of Advancement at Carl Sandburg College.
• The Henderson County Handicapped Children's Trust Fund donated $3,500 to West Central to assist in meeting the needs of the handicapped children in Henderson County.
• The elementary continues to collect Box Tops. We just received our quarterly check of $328.30 for those collected from our community members. Please send them our way.
• The elementary collected 724 non-perishable food items during the month of December. These items were donated to FOCC to assist individuals within our community.
• The third graders at West Central Elementary voted to collect goodies for the Almost Home Animal Shelter in Henderson County instead of having a gift exchange this year. We were extremely proud of their decision to donate and their tremendous contributions!
• In partnership with Scholastic Books, the fourth graders at WCE collected 36 new pairs of pajamas during the holiday season to provide gifts to those in need.
• The 8th grade students visited the elementary in December to spend time with our Kindergarten students. They helped them skate, created holiday crafts, and participated in many STEAM challenges.

The agenda was approved as presented with no additions or deletions.

There were no comments from the public.

The board approved the Consent Agenda. Items approved under the Consent Agenda included the following:

• The minutes of the December 12, 2018, Regular Meeting and Closed Session.
• The December 2018 bills, December 2018 building Activity Account Reports, the December 2018 Treasurer's Report, and review of the District Financial Report.

Superintendent Markey presented to the board the District Vision, Mission, Beliefs, Strategies, and Goals that were developed based on the vision work and the November 3, 2018 Board Retreat discussion and data.

The board discussed the new instructional day guidelines and granted permission to schedule two additional SIP days in FY19. These two days will be February 28, 2019 and March 26, 2019. The board also granted permission for the administrative team to have discussions with staff about creative ways to utilize this flexibility in the future to achieve some of the district goals.

In other business the board:

• discussed the possibility of allowing FFA students to participate in trap shooting competitions through the FFA with FFA Alumni support.
• reviewed and heard reports from the building principals; Shane Tucker, Athletic Director; Melinda Frakes, District Technology Coordinator; and Shaila Ayer, District Psychologist and Special Education Director.
• approved allowing Nathan Defenbaugh to attend the 2018-2019 prom.
• approved the lease of a John Deere tractor and loader for one year in the amount of $7,000.
• approved the following proposed board policy revisions on First Reading:
• Policy 2:80 - Board Member Oath and Conduct
• Policy 2:80-E - Board Member Code of Conduct
• Policy 2:105 - Ethics and Gift Ban
• Policy 2:120 - Board Member Development
• Policy 2:150 - Committees
• Policy 2:170 - Procurement of Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Services
• Policy 2:260 - Uniform Grievance Procedure
• Policy 3:40-E - Checklist for the Superintendent Employment Contract Negotiation Process
• Policy 4:20 - Fund Balances
• Policy 4:40 - Incurring Debt
• Policy 4:45 - Insufficient Fund Checks and Debt Recovery
• Policy 4:80 - Accounting and Audits
• Policy 4:130 - Free and Reduced-Price Food Services
• Policy 4:130-E - Free and Reduced-Price Food Services; Meal Charge Notifications
• Policy 4:140 - Waiver of Student Fees
• Policy 4:170 - Safety
• Policy 5:20 - Workplace Harassment Prohibited
• Policy 5:20-E - Resolution to Prohibit Sexual Harassment
• Policy 5:30 - Hiring Process and Criteria
• Policy 5:60 - Expenses
• Policy 5:100 - Staff Development Program
• Policy 5:200 - Terms and Conditions of Employment and Dismissal
• Policy 5:220 - Substitute Teachers
• Policy 6:10 - Educational Philosophy and Objectives
• Policy 6:20 - School Year Calendar and Day
• Policy 6:60 - Curriculum Content
• Policy 6:120 - Education of Children with Disabilities
• Policy 6:135 Accelerated Placement Program
• Policy 6:190 - Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Activities
• Policy 6:230 - Library Media Program
• Policy 6:240 - Field Trips and Recreational Class Trips
• Policy 6:250 - Community Resource Persons and Volunteers
• Policy 6:310 - High School Credit for Non-District Experiences; Course Substitutions; Re-entering Students
• Policy 7:50 - School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools
• Policy 7:70 - Attendance and Truancy
• Policy 7:100 - Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students
• Policy 7:190 - Student Behavior
• Policy 7:250 - Student Support Services
• Policy 7:260 - Exemption from Physical Education
• Policy 7:270 - Administering Medicines to Students
• Policy 7:290 - Suicide and Depression Awareness and Prevention
• Policy 7:305 - Student Athlete Concussions and Head Injuries
• Policy 7:330 - Student Use of Buildings - Equal Access
• Policy 7:340 - Student Records
• Policy 8:25 - Advertising and Distributing Materials in Schools Provided by Non-School Related Entities
• approved the 2018-2019 District Seniority List for Certified and Support Personnel as presented.

The board entered closed session at 7:27 p.m. to discuss to discuss the following:

• 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.
• 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.
• Student disciplinary cases.
• The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.
• Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act, for purposes of semi-annual review of the minutes as required.

The board exited closed session at 8:09 p.m.

The board took the following action in regard to personnel:

• approved the request to rescind the retirement of Tamyra Rankin
• accepted the resignation of Jamie Meier as an Elementary Teacher effective January 29, 2019
• approved the employment of Cody Eaton as a Homebound Instructor
• approved the employment of Rhonna Hand as a Long-term Substitute from January 30, 2019 until the last student attendance day of the 2018-2019 school year
• accepted the resignation of Caralea Link as the WCMS Track Coach
• accepted the resignation of Nicole Ebert as the WCMS Cheerleading Coach
• approved the employment of Amanda Kane as the WCMS Cheerleading Coach
• approved the correction to previous board action and minutes regarding a teacher's intent to retire, and
• approved the administrative contract for Andrea Frieden as the WCES Assistant Principal.

The board approved the Resolution to release Closed Session minutes per Exhibits A and B.

The board was reminded that the next regularly scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the West Central Elementary cafeteria.

There being no other business to come before the board, the board adjourned their meeting at 8:16 p.m.