The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
At the August 21, regular meeting of the West Central C.U.S.D. #235 Board of Education the board discussed the possibility of establishing a West Central High School E-Sports Team. Mr. Tucker shared information with the board about how it works and that there would be no cost to the district. Five players are needed to make a team. The season runs from January to April. Several area schools have an established E-sports team. The board tentatively agreed to move forward with establishing E-sports. The board will take official action on it at the September 25, 2019, board meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the West Central North Campus Library by Board President Arnold, with all board members present with the exception of Steve Lumbeck. Steve Lumbeck arrived at 6:07 p.m.
Also present were the following:
Paula Markey, Superintendent
Nancy Clark, West Central Board Secretary
Wesley Stewart, Student Representative to the West Central Board of Education
Kathy Lafary, West Central Elementary School Principal
Andrea Frieden, West Central Elementary School Assistant Principal
Joe Peters, West Central Middle School Principal
Jason Kirby, West Central High School Principal
Shane Tucker, West Central High School Assistant Principal
Shaila Ayer, West Central School Psychologist
Melinda Frakes, West Central Technology Director
Matthew Stewart, West Central Music Teacher.
President Arnold led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Under Good News Items, the following was highlighted:
District registration was well attended and many staff assisted with the process.
Thanks given to Eagleview for providing physicals during registration. This year they did 41 physicals.
We had 152 students who met their first reading goal for the summer reading program, which is sponsored by the Henderson County Library. The children read over 4,000 books this summer.
Thank you given to everyone who donated school supplies for both our students and our staff. They are greatly appreciated!
Thank you given to the West Central Board of Education for providing and serving lunch to our staff on the Opening Day Institute.
Bus Radios are installed and able to be used. The district is working on coverage over the bluff.
Thank you given to Nikki Mills and Shane Tucker for the photo backdrops. They were much appreciated and really set a positive tone for the beginning of the school year.
West Central High School Boys' Physical Education and Athletic Room lockers will be installed on Wednesday, August 28 and Thursday, August 29.
The board approved the meeting agenda as presented with the following Discussion Item addition:
VIII.E. Golf
The board approved the Consent Agenda as presented. Items approved under the Consent Agenda included the following:
the minutes of the July 17, 2019, Regular Meeting and Closed Session,
the minutes of the August 6, 2019, Special Meeting and Closed Session,
all bills as presented,
the Activity Accounts as presented, and
the District Treasurer's Report as presented.
The board heard a report from Superintendent Markey on the opening of the 2019-2020 school year. She reported on the first day institute, Back to School Night, the first student attendance days, and some building project updates.
The board discussed the low numbers out for the West Central Middle School Football Team. Seventeen students have communicated that they plan to play. As a result, the board has agreed to continue with the program for the 2019-2020 school year. .
The board discussed offering Athletic Admission Passes to West Central parents and community members. The board tentatively agreed to offer them and will take official action on it at the September 25, 2019, board meeting. Adult passes will be $60 and Senior Citizen passes will be $50. Senior Citizens will be considered those individuals who are 55 years of age or older. These passes will get the Athletic Admission Pass holder into all West Central Middle School and High School home events for one academic year. These passes will be only for the Athletic Admission Pass holder on the card and will be nontransferable. In addition, Gold Lifetime Passes will be given to any staff member upon retirement from the West Central School District.
There has been increased interest in the West Central High School Golf program; therefore, West Central will move forward with support of this program and hire a West Central High School Golf Coach.
The board reviewed and heard reports from the building principals; Shane Tucker, Athletic Director; Melinda Frakes, District Technology Coordinator; and Shaila Ayer, Special Education Director. The following were included in the oral reports:
a. West Central Elementary had 84% attendance at Back to School Night.
b. West Central Middle School had 130 families attend Back to School Night.
c. West Central High School has four new teachers and held a positive and energetic PRIDE Assembly to start the school year.
d. Meet the Heat Night is Friday, August 23 beginning at 5:00 p.m.
In other business the board:
authorized Nancy Clark to take the steps necessary to change the signatory names on the West Central Elementary School Activity Account at the Bank of Stronghurst from Deb Cole to Kimberly Thompson.
authorized Nancy Clark to take the steps necessary to change the signatory names on the West Central Elementary School Imprest Account at Midwest Bank of Oquawka from Deb Cole to Kimberly Thompson.
approved and adopted the following Board policies on 2nd reading:
Policy 2:110 - Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers
Policy 2:140 - Communications To and From the Board
Policy 2:150 - Committees
Policy 2:140-E Exhibitn - Guidance for Board Member Communications, ( Including Email Use
Policy 2:230 - Public Participation at Board of Education Meetings and Petitions to the Board
Policy 2:240 - Board Policy Development
Policy 4:20 - Fund Balances
Policy 3:60 - Administrative Responsibility of the Building Principal
Policy 4:90 - Activities Fund
Policy 5:35 - Compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act
Policy 5:40 - Communicable and Chronic Infectious Disease
Policy 5:180 - Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity
Policy 6:40 - Curriculum Development
Policy 6:340 - Student Testing and Assessment Program
Policy 5:130 - Responsibilities Concerning Internal Information
Policy 5:310 - Compensatory Time-Off
Policy 6:110 - Programs for Students At Risk of Academic Failure and/or Dropping Out of School and Graduation Incentives Program
Policy 7:170 - Vandalism
approved accepting a $5,000 monetary gift from the Twomey Family with gratitude.
approved the Tentative FY20 District Budget and directed Superintendent Markey to place it on public display. The FY20 budget is a deficit budget of $1,136,037. Of that deficit $418,400 is expenditures for current life safety projects. This deficit is in part due to the fact that revenue for the life safety projects was received in FY16; however, some of the work is still being completed in FY20. Funds are available and were designated for these projects. Expenditures will be monitored closely to make every attempt to reduce expenditures and come in under budget.
The board entered closed session at 6:52 p.m. to discuss the following topics:
A. 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. ty.
B. Student discipline.
C. 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.
D. The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students.
The board exited closed session at 7:14 p.m.
The board took the following action in regards to personnel:
accepted the resignation of Marianne Gotaas as a full-time District Cook as presented with thanks for her service to the District,
accepted the resignation of Rose Garner as a part-time District Cook as presented with thanks for her service to the District,
accepted the resignation of Debra Paulus as a full-time District Cook effective September 30, 2019, as presented with thanks for her service to the District,
approved the transfer of Amy Bole to the WCHS 2nd shift position,
approved the employment of Carly John as a WCES part-time Title I Associate pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
approved the employment of Candy Robertson as a District Bus Driver pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
approved the employment of Shawna Swank as a full-time District Cook pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
approved the employment of Tracy Eastin as a full-time District Cook pending completion of all pre-employment requirements,
approved the employment of Lawrence Neff as a Substitute Bus Driver as presented,
accepted the resignation of Cody Eaton as the WCHS Sophomore Class Sponsor with thanks for his service to the District,
approved the employment of Ben Alexander as a WCHS Freshman Class Sponsor per the WCATS contract,
approved the employment of Logan Brown as a WCHS Freshman Class Sponsor per the WCATS contract,
approved the employment of Keith Blair as a WCHS Sophomore Class Sponsor per the WCATS contract,
approved the employment of Tiffany Ouellette as a WCHS Junior Class Sponsor per the WCATS contract,
approved the employment of Gary Denhart as the WCMS Head Football Coach per the WCATS contract and pending completion of all coaching requirements,
approved Shawn Gibbs as a WCHS Volunteer Assistant Bowling Coach pending completion of all volunteer and coaching requirements,
approved the 2019-2020 Extra Duty Assignments as presented, and
approved an amended three-year contract for Kathy Lafary as the WCES Principal as presented.
The board was reminded that the next regularly scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. with a Budget Hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
New staff are invited to attend so that they can meet the Board of Education.
There being no other business to come before the board, the board adjourned the meeting at 7:23 p.m.